2 New Resources

You may have noticed I've added a couple of new resources to the right. The first will be fun as we see where people who read this blog come from. Tip of the hat to Larry for that one.

The second one (found on Andrew's site) is definitely NOT fun. In fact, I almost didn't put it there because while it intrigued me at first, it soon began to annoy me. I'm not much for distractions while I'm trying to do something like read a blog, so that little counting number thing irritated me. After a time I noticed it was counting faster than a second per number and I thought: "Hmm, someone got the timer wrong." Soon thereafter, it dawned on me:

It's NOT counting seconds, it's counting how many people are dying!

Ouch! More than 1 per second. You know, we don't think about that stuff often enough (if at all). Each number racing past represents a person Jesus created and died for. Each one represents another spirit leaving this physical 3D plane and moving on to higher (or lower) spiritual dimensions. Each one is known intimately by their creator. And each one is either celebrated or mourned as they make that move.

Now I'm saddened too. For almost all of these people, I can't make a bit of a difference. I never knew them; never came in contact with them; never had a chance to tell them about Jesus and their eternal spirits.

But there are some that I do know. They don't pass without my knowledge, but as each one leaves this realm, I must ask myself what I have done to either let them in on "the secret," or help them know Jesus better.

It's a personal question; directed at me. I require an answer from myself. But as I come to account for my actions or lack thereof, you too must ask a similar question of yourself. It's a personal question; directed at you.

BLESSING:
May you ask the right question of yourself and may it change the way you look at the people around you. May you be a huge influence on their lives by helping them know of their eternal spirits and the eternal lover of those spirits.

And may more of those speedily counting numbers to the right be a reason for celebration than mourning.

The First Presentation of the Gospel

When does the Bible first present the Gospel message of Jesus Christ? Matthew? Isaiah? How about Genesis. Genesis 5 to be specific. Take a moment and look it up. Do you see it?

"The first genealogy!" you say. "Those things? I just bleep over them!"

Why do you do that? Doesn't the Bible say: "ALL scripture is God-breathed and useful for teaching . . . " (2 Timothy 3:16)?

I learned an awesome tip the other day listening to a teaching tape (mp3) by Chuck Missler. When the Bible lists a genealogy or list of names, put the name meanings together and see what the sentence says! Tricky, huh?

So NOW take a look at Genesis 5:1-29. Adam means "man," Seth means "appointed," Enos(h) means "mortal," Cainan means "sorrow," Mahelal(eel) means "the blessed God," Jared means "shall come," Enoch means "teaching," Methuselah means "his death shall bring," Lamech means "the despairing," and Noah means "rest."

Put that sentence together (with a couple of connecting words) and you get:

Man('s) appointed (to) mortal sorrow. But the blessed God shall come down teaching (and) his death shall bring the despairing, rest.

Sometimes it may be harder to put them together coherently, because some names may mean more than one thing. But all that aside, isn't this AWESOME?

Even at the beginning of time (as we know it), God was hinting at his planned redemption of his people! The more I learn about the God of the Bible and his Word to us, the more I see how very much we DON'T know. And the more I see how incredible he is!

Now try this with the lists of the tribes of Israel- they're often written in differing orders- maybe for a different message? Or maybe the Apostles? There are certainly plenty of other genealogies. Any other name lists you can think of? Anyone out there willing to do some research- fill us in on what you find!

BLESSING:
May you begin to discover the brilliance of our God, Yahweh. May you learn of the incredible ways he has worked throughout time to reach and connect with us. May you know his great love for his creation- especially his great love for you!