Does the Term Scriptures Refer to the New Testament?

Tradition says Timothy was born in the year 17 and died in 97 at the age of 80.

 

But as for you,  continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings,  which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.

 

If Timothy had access to the sacred writings from childhood the term scriptures does not include the New Testament since Timothy was around 30 years-old when the first book of the New Testament was written.. 

Catfish Grabs Pigeon

You've mentioned when you were going off to college folks warned you would lose your faith. When kids who have gone away to college return home they mention how their friends, parents, people at church etc have changed. In reality those people have remained the same the college student has changed. Change of environment changes folks' perspective.

 

Evolution is a long, slow process an endless saga of trials and errors and apparently impossible to witness and is happening today. Most church goers don't question. That is not me. My mother told the story of when I was in kindergarten she would walk me to school. One day I almost beat her back to the house. She was upset and asked me why I had left school but my answer did not make sense. She walked me back to school and asked the teacher what had happened. The teacher told her I had come in and asked her what we were going to do today. The teacher said "same thing we did yesterday" and I said "I've done that" and left.

 

Most folks who read the bible do not question and a common answer is "God did it." Ask them how Noah and his wife's descendants developed into the races and the answer is "God did it." Evolution is the process of change in all forms of life over generations.  

 

Before they have a hissy fit Christians should understand what scientists believe and what they say. Scientists accept theories as theories educators teach theories as facts. The Nebraska Man was discovered in 1922. After years of scientists believing it was a missing link it was discovered to be a pig's tooth. One piece and some scientist defined a human being. If Christians would read more they would not get so upset.

 

God created the heavens and the earth everything else is conjecture and speculation. Physicists like Stephen Hawkins believe the universe is expanding. It is only natural to wonder what would I find if I could reverse the process.  Hawkins believes he can take the universe back to a billionth of a second before the big bang. He says that billionth of a second is the mind of God. Is he right?  

 

I have no idea how God created the heavens and earth and it does not matter. Moses(?) wrote "and God made the two great lights—the greater light to rule the day and the lesser light to rule the night—and the stars and God set them in the expanse of the heavens to give light on the earth, to rule over the day and over the night. . . When you think of great lights do you think of things that reflect? The moon is not a light. It reflects light so the sun rules over the day and by the moon as proxy the night. Suppose the moon looked like a light to Moses?

 

Original purpose of this note: there are large river catfish in southern France that have developed an appetite for pigeons. The link below is to a video that shows catfish approaching the shore line, grabbing a pigeon and dragging it into the water. If this catches on I wonder how it will affect the evolution of the pigeons and the evolution of the catfish? Ever wonder why no one teaches baby fish to avoid anything that looks like a "j"

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vimM-UH0vRs

 

John Jenkins
865-803-8179  cell
Gatlinburg, TN


Email: jrjenki@gmail.com
Blogs: http://littlepigeon.blogspot.com/
          http://alumcave.blogspot.com/

 

"I have always told you some version of the truth." 

Jack Nicholson "Something's Gotta Give" 

Do We Really Want to Get Government Involved?

 

As much as Christians complain that other groups are intolerant Christians are as a practice as intolerant as any group if not more so. Take the individual who blocked Bob's presentations. Attendance would be voluntary and the individual could have just not attended but since he or she did not like it no one should attend.

Such as the Christian's attitude toward same-sex marriage and abortion I don't like it so no one should be allowed to do it. Though wringing their collective hands worrying about government intervention in our religious traditions we want government to involve itself into the lives of others. A week or so ago I heard an interview of a woman from Texas who had an abortion and she talked about her experience.

Do we want to give government the authority to punish woman asking for a legal medical procedure?

Texas law says the doctor must talk to the woman about certain things before she can have an abortion. After she gets this information, her doctor must wait 24 hours before the abortion can be performed. The law also requires that she receive a sonogram from the doctor (or agent) who will be performing the abortion at least 24 hours before the abortion is to occur. If she lives more than 100 miles away from the nearest abortion provider, she can waive this requirement, but she will still be required to have a sonogram by the doctor performing the abortion. It will need to occur at least 2 hours before the abortion, rather than 24 hours before.

Once she arrives at the doctor's office, and before the sonogram, she will be asked to sign a sonogram/abortion election form. This form certifies that she is aware of the law and its requirements. The doctor will also give her materials to read.

During the sonogram, the doctor is required to display the sonogram images and make the heart beat audible. She may decline to view the images and listen to the heartbeat. The doctor must also provide a verbal explanation of the sonogram results. Only women who certify on the sonogram/abortion election form one of the following criteria can decline to hear the verbal explanation:

• the pregnancy is a result of a sexual assault, incest, or other violation of the Penal Code that has been reported to law enforcement authorities or that has not been reported because she reasonably believes that to do so would put her at risk of retaliation resulting in serious bodily injury;
• the woman is a minor and obtaining an abortion in accordance with judicial bypass procedures under Chapter 33, Family Code; or
• the fetus has an irreversible medical condition or abnormality, as medically documented in the woman's medical file.

These exceptions are evidence that the requirements of the law are intended to punish the patient since none of the criteria has anything to do with the claim the fetus is a human life and the concern is how the conception came about. Apparently the manner of the conception determines the humanity of the fetus.

This is an example of government trying to govern a moral issue.

 

Do we want to get government involved?

 

 

John Jenkins

865-803-8179  cell

Gatlinburg, TN

 

 

 

Email: jrjenki@gmail.com

Blogs: http://littlepigeon.blogspot.com/

          http://alumcave.blogspot.com/

 

 

 

 

 

"Think for yourself and let others enjoy the privilege of doing so too."

 

---Voltaire

 

 

Mislead by the Invitation

In the parable of the sowers Jesus portrayed four types of hearers. Jesus described the second soil, "When they hear the word, immediately receive it with gladness." But, Jesus warns, "They have no root in themselves, and so endure only for a time." Jesus knew the reality of being heard by crowds who had no desire to truly follow Him. Jesus knew the possibility of the "emotional response."

Some disagree with Jesus and believe the "emotional response" is the reason to extend an appeal for a public decision, "The Invitation." The problem is that in their attempt to work out their own standing before God by their own efforts people have the tendency to do something of merit that prompts many to respond to the evangelist's appeal. An evangelist with a commanding personality may convince many into what is considered to be an act of religious merit through some public act.

Many go away from the "altar," told that they are now Christians, knowing that they are not changed one bit. They assume, falsely, that their action has made them right with God. 

The Invitation

The practice of "offering the invitation" has its beginning in the 1800s. The system has been refined and used to such an extent it has become most congregations primary act of evangelism.

 

Christians claim biblical support for what they choose to do. While Jesus called people publicly i.e. "Follow Me," or "Whosoever shall confess me before men, him will I confess before My Father which is in heaven" nowhere does Jesus give altar calls. While Jesus called men to Himself neither he nor the apostles appealed for people to "come forward" as either a testimony to their decision or as an act of accepting Jesus.

 

To what was Jesus calling people? Was it to make a "one time" decision about him or to follow him all their lives? "The Invitation" gives the impression that it was to a "one time" decision. The there is "confessing Him before men". Was Jesus saying that by a single act of confession one became a believer or was he teaching that one mark of real faith is a life that continually confesses Him? Again, "The Invitation" leads many to trust in a "confession," though they openly live in rebellion to Him throughout their lives.

 

Jesus and the apostles called people to repentance and faith but nowhere do we see either used any form of "The Invitation" to either bring people to faith or to confirm their faith.

The Age of Speed

In his book "The Age of Speed", Vince Poscente tells a story of how in 1991 he raced across a tightrope---and not in the metaphorical sense. He was an Olympic speed skier. France had the best team in the world so he went to France to train with them. In one of the exercises, the coach challenged each of the athletes to walk from one end of a tightrope to the other as fast as they could without falling. 

 

One after another, each started across the tightrope, believing they could win. And one after another, each failed. No one won the race because no one could stay on the rope. They'd hold their arms out to their sides, keep their eyes on the rope, and carefully place one foot in front of the other. They would concentrate their energy on going fast and not falling---but then they would fall, again and again.

 

After they were thoroughly bruised and humiliated the coach told them a secret: to go fast stop focusing on the rope, and start focusing on the destination. Find a clear point of focus on the opposite end of the rope and keep your eyes on that point.

 

One after another, they climbed to the starting point of the tightrope course, took a deep breath, paused for a moment, looked up to find a focus point at the end of the course. Each started racing across the rope, never taking their eyes off the target. Each got across the tightrope without falling---and with great speed. He said it was like magic. The balance they thought they couldn't grasp was effortless, the footwork that seemed clumsy and impossible was natural, their frustrations were gone and they could concentrate on speed. Once the target was clear and they stayed focus on it, the path and the process were simple---they were balanced and fast.

 

It occurred to me GSMCOC has no goal, no target, no focus. Our classes and our sermons are meandering time fillers with no real destination in view. A major goal of the assembly is to not be too long. GSMCOC needs to find a focus point at the end of the rope and never lose sight of it. That focus would be our authentic purpose. When we have our focus on our purpose, we can get from the beginning to end of any course with ease, balance, and speed.

 

Talking to Marc last week he mentioned the elders will be meeting once a month at the building on Sundays and other times if required and that they had not decided how they will organize. With 25% of the leadership in a different country, 25% in a different county, 25% in a different city and a preacher in a different county doesn't inspire confidence that Pigeon Forge will be affected.  It took 11 months to appoint elders I guess we couldn't handle too much change. We need an Activities Director.

John Jenkins
865-803-8179  cell
Gatlinburg, TN


Email: jrjenki@gmail.com
Blogs: http://littlepigeon.blogspot.com/
          http://alumcave.blogspot.com/

 

"Censorship is telling a man he can't have a steak just because a baby can't chew it."

 

---Mark Twain

 

 

If You Oppose Abortion, Don't have One

Do we want to give government the authority to punish woman asking for a legal medical procedure?

Texas law says your doctor must talk to you about certain things before you can have an abortion. After you get this information, your doctor must wait 24 hours before your abortion can be performed. The law also requires that you receive a sonogram from the doctor (or agent) who will be performing your abortion at least 24 hours before the abortion is to occur. If you live more than 100 miles away from the nearest abortion provider, you can waive this requirement, but you will still be required to have a sonogram by the doctor performing the abortion. It will need to occur at least 2 hours before the abortion, rather than 24 hours before.

Once you arrive at your doctor's office, and before your sonogram, you will be asked to sign a sonogram/abortion election form. This form certifies that you are aware of the law and its requirements. The doctor will also give you materials to read. One of those materials should be the Resource Directory listed on this webpage.

During your sonogram, the doctor is required to display the sonogram images and make the heart beat audible. You may decline to view the images and listen to the heartbeat. The doctor must also provide a verbal explanation of the sonogram results. Only women who certify on the sonogram/abortion election form one of the following criteria can decline to hear the verbal explanation:

·         the pregnancy is a result of a sexual assault, incest, or other violation of the Penal Code that has been reported to law enforcement authorities or that has not been reported because she reasonably believes that to do so would put her at risk of retaliation resulting in serious bodily injury;

·         the woman is a minor and obtaining an abortion in accordance with judicial bypass procedures under Chapter 33, Family Code; or

·         the fetus has an irreversible medical condition or abnormality, as medically documented in the woman's medical file.

These exceptions are evidence that the requirements of the law are intended to punish the patient since none of the criteria has anything to do with the claim the fetus is a human life.

During the 2003 session, the Texas Legislature passed the Woman's Right to Know Act (House Bill 15). Under this law:

·         A doctor who is to perform an abortion (or the doctor's agent) must tell the woman that benefits may be available to help with medical care before, during, and after childbirth.

·         The father is required to help support the child whether or not he has offered to pay for an abortion.

·         Government and private agencies can counsel the woman in preventing pregnancy, or refer her to a doctor for medications or devices to prevent pregnancy, including emergency contraception for victims of rape and incest.

·         The woman has the right to look at printed information. If she chooses to see the material the law describes, the doctor (or the doctor's agent) shall give her a copy at leas 24 hours before the abortion is scheduled. The doctor (or agent) may instead mail her the materials, with delivery restricted to her, at least 72 hours before the abortion is scheduled.

As much as you oppose abortion do you really want to give government this authority? I do not. If you oppose abortion as I do, don't have one but give others the privilege to decide for themselves.

Was the Creation the Beginning or Was The Beginning the time God Created the Heavens and Earth

Everyone believes what they choose to believe I know I do. The problem often is a distance between what people believe and what truth is. Folks, as convinced as we believe Genesis 1:1 can be translated:

 

• As a statement that the cosmos had an absolute beginning (In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth).
• As a statement describing the condition of the world when God began creating (When in the beginning God created the heavens and the earth...).

 

They say that by the 2nd century the first translation had become the dominant one. I wonder what was believed before Genesis was written and up to the second century.

 

Those same folks claim modern scholars believe that the second is closer to the original meaning. At least both beliefs accept that God created the heavens and earth. 

Woolly Mammoths

While there is absolute truth I do not believe what is taught as truth is necessarily truth or even remains truth. The church at one time persecuted scientists who differed with the church's view of truth relative to the universe. Recently I read a book "Frozen in Time" by Michael Oard. The subject was Woolly mammoths, the Ice Age, and the Bible.

 

During the Middle Ages it was thought woolly mammoth remains were prehistoric giants. Historians at the time taught they were actually elephants that died during the military campaign led by Chinghiz Kan others taught they were elephants that had run away from Hannibal's army as it crossed the Swiss Alps. Some taught that if they looked upon a carcass they would die. It was thought the giant animals lived underground and tunneled forward and backward. They concluded the remains found along riverbanks were of animals that came near the surface to smell the air or see the light and immediately died. During the 15^th century a Chinese emperor wrote a book in which he supported the belief the carcasses were the remains of five-ton rodents who lived beneath the earth's surface. The "freshness" of some meat from the carcasses encouraged their belief the animals were still living underground and that they died upon viewing the light. Today we do not agree their truth was truth.

 

Some folks believe the Ice Age was around 2000 BC during a time we think Abraham lived.

 

Concerning my question earlier on the meaning of the word day, Sunday you said you believe it is a 24-hour day since all other places it is translated a 24-hour day. Seems reasonable but do we need to allow for the translator's preconceived idea influencing his translation? As I mentioned I do not understand Hebrew and have no idea as to the variety of English meanings the original word has.

 

When God said "let the dry land appear" does it suggest land already existed underneath the seas? David wrote in Psalm 104 "The mountains rose, the valleys sank down to the place that you appointed for them." Could David be suggesting God used natural activity to shape the dry land? Natural could suggest a very long period of time. Does it matter? Only to the extent of how we react to those who believe differently than we believe. Like those folks in the Middle Ages we can only go with what is known at the time and change as new information comes available. 

 

Evening and morning defining a day is more like the Jews than our way of figuring a day.

List of Prohibited Books

GSMCOC has reinstated the Index Librorum Prohibitorum (List of Prohibited Books) maintained by the Catholic Church from 1559 until 1966.

The aim of the list was to protect the faith and morals of the faithful by preventing the reading of immoral or works containing theological errors. The various editions of the Index also contained the rules of the Church relating to the reading, selling and pre-emptive censorship of books, including translations of the Bible into the "common tongues". To avoid future situations rules should be made available to all members of GSMCOC.

Canon law still recommends that works concerning sacred Scripture, theology, canon law, church history, and any writings which specially concern religion or good morals, be submitted to the judgment of the local Ordinary an officer of a church or civic authority who by reason of office has ordinary power to execute laws.

Such officers are found in hierarchically organized churches of Western Christianity which have an ecclesiastical law system. In the Episcopal Church, an ordinary is a diocesan bishop. In Eastern Christianity, a corresponding officer is called a hierarch "president of sacred rites, high-priest." With such a list in place the GSMCOC ordinary needs to be identified.

Within civic governance, notably in the southern United States, the role of the county ordinary historically involved the discharge of certain, often legal or legally related, tasks falling to city or county authorities, such as licensing marriages and adjudicating claims against an authority. 

Favorite Thing?

Recently I read an article in a magazine about a woman who for five years has survived stage IV cancer and is thriving. The article said

"Just four days before undergoing a life-or-death surgery to remove the cancer that has spread to her lungs, Edith is doing one of her very favorite things. She attends a 7:30 a.m. service at St. James by-the-Sea Episcopal Church, down the street from her home north of San Diego. There she sits in the same place as always, next to the stained-glass window portraying Jesus in the Olive Garden."

While other religious organizations have their buildings open other than Sunday / Wednesday we lock our buildings and install security alarm systems.  People unfamiliar with such systems will hesitate to enter the building out of concern of triggering the alarm.

Ira North made comments that would cause one to believe he spent time at the church building but I do not know how much. Based on his writings he did not think too much of empty buildings sitting idle.  

Granted few members live close enough to make it an easy thing to stop by the building  for a 7:20 a.m. service but that is another issue. For those who want to they cannot so our multi-million dollar edifice sits empty. But at least we "pray for the sick" or at least we tell God we are.

I can only imagine the comfort Edith experiences and I wonder if any of the "sick of our congregation" would consider it one of their favorite things to do. When you are dying or think you are dying it just might become one.

 

John Jenkins
865-803-8179  cell
Gatlinburg, TN


Email: jrjenki@gmail.com
Blogs: http://littlepigeon.blogspot.com/
          http://alumcave.blogspot.com/

 

 "Undertake not what you cannot perform but be careful to keep your promise."

---George Washington

Living the Way We Pray

I knelt to pray when day was done
And prayed, "O Lord, bless everyone,
Lift from each saddened heart the pain
And let the sick be well again."

 
And then I woke another day
And carelessly went on my way,
The whole day long I did not try
To wipe a tear from any eye.
I did not try to share the load
Of any brother on the road.
I did not even go to see
The sick man just next door to me.

Yet once again when day was done
I prayed, "O Lord, bless everyone."

But as I prayed, into my ear
there came a voice that whispered clear,
"Pause now, my son, before you pray.
Whom have you tried to bless today?
Gods sweetest blessing always go
by hands that serve him here below."

And then I hid my face and cried,
"Forgive me, God, I have not tried,
But let me live another day
and I will live the way I pray."

 

Fwd: Keep Your Pinkie in the Air Please

Are our assemblies formal because we dress up or do we dress up because our assemblies are formal? Who decided we should dress up when we go to church? Nowhere does the bible command or even insinuate that we should dress up. In fact doesn't requiring or at least expecting formal attire for the assemblies smack of putting the material over the spiritual?

 

Did Jesus dress too shabbily to be permitted in our pulpits? In some congregations if the preacher preached without a coat and tie he would join the ranks of the unemployed. Some congregations have the audacity to require coats and ties before one can serve communion. They call it appropriate attire. Appropriate to whom?

 

One of the most twisted, unbiblical and illogical lines of reasoning ever invented goes something like this: "We should dress up for church because we should wear our best for God." That statement embodies everything that is wrong with our assemblies. It localizes God, limits worship to a place, disregards Christianity as a way of life, misses the purpose of the assembly, alienates the less fortunate, misleads our children, formalizes the occasion and emphasizes externals.

 

Being immodest, inconsiderate and insensitive are always going to be wrong whether one is at the assembly or the mall. To establish appropriateness beyond that is to create a criterion for judging and ostracizing. James said:

 

"My brothers, show no partiality as you hold the faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory.  For if a man wearing a gold ring and fine clothing comes into your assembly, and a poor man in shabby clothing also comes in, and if you pay attention to the one who wears the fine clothing and say, 'You sit here in a good place,' while you say to the poor man, 'You stand over there,' or, 'Sit down at my feet,' have you not then made distinctions among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?"

 

For the sake of trying to "look good" and "put our best foot forward" we have developed a formalism in our assemblies that alienates the disadvantaged, attracts our social equals, and places a burden on those who need love but end up worrying about being accepted. James continued:

 

"Listen, my beloved brothers, has not God chosen those who are poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom, which he has promised to those who love him?"

 

Maybe we have a shortage of those "rich in faith" because we have an abundance of those "rich in attire." Our culture says "clothes makes the man" but God does not say clothes makes the Christian.

 

If we have formal assemblies because we wear formal clothes we should change our clothes. If we wear formal clothes because our assemblies are formal we should change our assemblies.

 

"So speak and so act as those who are to be judged under the law of liberty."

 

That is the big difference from the liberty to make laws.

 

"For judgment is without mercy to one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment."

 

Those first Christians kept no rituals, acts, traditions or obligations---except to help each other grow in love. The author of Hebrews tells us

 

"And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works,  not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near."

 

We assemble to encourage each other to love and good works. Paul tells us

 

"I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.  [2] Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect."

 

Worship is to present our bodies as living sacrifice. The bible does not even suggest that we assemble to worship God.

 

Support for much of how we "do church" and what we teach today comes from a time when priests kept the laity dependent upon them.

 

If we do not have bible support for everything we do we are no different than any other "religious" group, i.e. Christian, Jew, Muslims, Hindus, Moonies, Heaven's Gate etc.

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

John Jenkins
865-803-8179  cell
Gatlinburg, TN


Email: jrjenki@gmail.com
Blogs: http://littlepigeon.blogspot.com/
          http://alumcave.blogspot.com/

 

[shouting to several prisoners]
Barney Fife: "Now here at the Rock we have two rules. Memorize them until you can say them in your sleep. Rule number one: obey all rules. Rule number two: no writing on the walls."

Rightly Handling the Word of Truth

 

Paul told Timothy: "Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth", i.e. learn to distinguish between the laws and commands God gave to people in other ages and the laws he expects us to keep t. That was good advice then and it is today. We have failed. We take the bible as "God said it, I believe it" and misapply what God said and what he meant.

 

We are not commanded to build an ark of gopher wood simply because God once told Noah to do so. This was once a command of God, it does not apply to any other people and God never intended for it to be so. It is included as part of the Old Testament simply to provide historic information of God's dealings with man before the Christian Age began.

 

There are many examples such as when the Israelites were commanded to place blood on the door posts of their houses, or to offer animal sacrifices as burnt offerings to God. "The Lord spoke to Moses, saying, "Command the people of Israel and say to them, 'My offering, my food for my food offerings, my pleasing aroma, you shall be careful to offer apply to me at its appointed time.' And you shall say to them, This is the food offering that you shall offer to the Lord: two male lambs a year old without blemish, day by day, as a regular offering. The one lamb you shall offer in the morning, and the other lamb you shall offer at twilight; also a tenth of an ephah of fine flour for a grain offering, mixed with a quarter of a hin of beaten oil. It is a regular burnt offering, which was ordained at Mount Sinai for a pleasing aroma, a food offering to the Lord." Even the casual observer understands these commands are recorded merely to provide historical information of God dealt with people before Jesus came; "For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope."

 

Christians must understand which parts of the bible are historical records of laws and events in past ages and which directly to us to be kept in this, the Christian Age.