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Saturday, February 02, 2008

Sat, 02 Feb 2008 00:24:20 GMT

I have spent most of the fall months of 07 working out the meanings of the descendent lineage of Abraham’s genealogical tree. – Especially, the Esau branch. My initial curiosity in this line was sparked by a study heshewethree was doing in 1^st Samuel in September and, a wondering on my part, what in the world Amalek had done that warranted such extreme ire on the part of our usually merciful God. (ref. 1^st Samuel 15:3).

As I worked out the meanings of each name logogramatically, a pattern began emerging from name to name that sent thrills up my spine. God was speaking to me from His word like never before.

It is my intention – Lord willing – to share this discovery. I have already started that sharing with the name Amalek in my last posting and will be working backwards up Abraham’s tree. But first I think it would be helpful to comprehend a commonly used phrase in a slightly different light.

Many times throughout the Biblical writings we see the phrase “and he begat sons and daughters. – Of late, I have come to regard this phrase a little differently.

After many years of digging into Old Testament writings and, attempting to find meanings for the many enigmatic names, I have come to regard this phrase as equating with the effect(s) and influence(s) of a cause.

As an example, instead of the reading "And the days of Adam after he had begotten Seth were eight hundred years: and he begat sons and daughters" in Genesis 5:4 I now have a tendency to interpret this scripture, and others like it, as “…. and he begat many effects and influences throughout his remaining years".

If this theory has any validity at all, then each genealogical string in the Bible could have the propensity – and potential – of becoming a daisy chain of cause and effect. – In fact, the various glimpses I saw of this emerging pattern are the very star-bursts of understanding that sent those thrills up my spine.

Wednesday, January 30, 2008

Wed, 30 Jan 2008 06:00:36 GMT

Amalek

When viewed from a logogrammatic perspective, the Hebrew word qlme (Amalek) means “repetitive mundane-ness”. – In short, drudgery; boring; never-changing sameness; same-oh, same-oh.

I used to live in Mesa, Arizona where the sun shines, what at times seemed like, forever. There were two things we could always count on from April to October. – The sun was going to shine and it was going to be hot. I tell you this to make the point that even sunshiney, wished-for things get boring if there is no variety. – No change.

A tone with no vibrato is just a frequency without a song. – Boring.

A life without variety boils down to existing, merely to exist. – Boring.

A religion without variety (without change) can have no repentance and, consequently, no redemption. – Same-oh, same-oh in religious circles produce no spiraling, uplifting effect, only endless circles of busyness with no direction, purpose or salvation effect.

I see Amalek as a product of the Amalekites, rather than as the patriarch of that clan, as some do. – After all,, he is the great-grandson of Isaac; whose father, Abraham fought with the Amalekites even before Isaac was born. Genesis 14:7

The Amalekites appear to be more a state of persuasion, than a specific gene pool of peoples. – A lifestyle, perhaps or an advocate of some particular persuasion. In my view, the term atheism would fit into this classification process quite nicely. – Right along with words like Catholic or Keynesian or hippy or charismatic.

The Blue Letter Bible identifies the Amalekites as people of lapping. Doesn’t that mean they are all going around in repetitive circles?

It also identifies Amalek as dweller in a valley.

It sounds to me as though Amalek lived in a rut and all he and his cronies ever accomplished was running around in circles like a bunch of dogs chasing their tails.

The God of the Israelites dwells upon the mountain tops of all existence and He is desirous that all His people join Him amid such majesty. He desires to baptize each of us within His unlimited panoramas; encourage us with His never-ending horizons of hope. Here is where wisdom and hope abound – even find their birthing. Here is where the spirits that kindle exciting inspirations reside. Here life is always vitalized, never dull or forever mundane.

Scratching out an existence amid the rocks and rills of the mountain-top is never an easy task. It is here that the winds of adversity blow their strongest. It is here that the heat of the day never quite offsets the cold of the night. It is here that life finds its toughest adversary. But it is here – along side Christ and our Heavenly Father – that faith finds fertile ground and enduring strength. It is here that spirituality and inspiration thrive and flourish. It is here that God’s will is always accomplished.

Life is much easier down in the valleys where Amalek and the Amalekites dwell. It is more level there and easier to move about and its alluvial plains are usually rife with the riches of material abundance. Its streams abound with food and thirst-quenching drink. Life in the valley is addictively comfortable. – So comfortable, no one who dwells there ever wants it to truly change.

They seem to enjoy this repetitive mundaneness of their lives, for they resist God’s inspiration at every turn. They complain about life in general, too. They murmur at how bored they are. They even pray that they might find some way to make their lives more exciting. Then, reject every answer that comes their way.

When Moses tried to introduce the Israelites to different ways of worshiping God, they balked, they murmured, they refused to hear Moses instructions. They lashed out at him wished that they had never left Egypt. There, at least they had some degree of comfort. In short, they rejected the guidance given to them through Moses who in turn, was inspired by God. They refused to change their ways.

Exodus 17:8 Then came Amalek and fought with Israel (Joshua) at Rephidim.

Rephidim is interesting in that it represents the idea of "the introduction and demonstration of different ways."

The way I read Exodus 17:8, when the Israelites came to Rephidim – in other words, up against testimonials and demonstrations trying to show them a better way – they rejected any idea that the way they had always done things could possibly be bettered. Obviously, they had no faith nor trust in the way God was trying to show them. They placed more trust in their own council than that of God’s spirit-led inspiration.

Joshua was sent to do battle with the Amalikites. Whenever Moses up on the mountaintop overseeing the battle, raised his arms to make contact with God, Joshua’s armies would prevail. But, whenever Moses lowered his arm – thus losing connection with God – the Amalekites would start winning.

Jesus fought these same battles with the Pharisees and Sadducees. He tried introducing change to their traditional ways, they would not hear of it. They saw him as a threat and they crucified him.

How does God look upon those who dwell down in their comfortable little valleys of rut living? 1^st Samuel 15:3 gives us a clue when the Lord said onto Saul. ------ Now go and smite Amalek, ------- utterly destroy all that they are, ------ spare none of them; -------- slay the man and the woman, ------ the infant ------- the suckling, ------ the ox ----- every sheep, camel and ass.

God wants such behavior annihilated. – Yes, annihilated He doesn’t want any of it, not a shred, to remain as an obstacle to His Holy Spirit.

As you read this please consider the relationship you have with your Lord. Ask yourself, am I a mountain-top dweller dwelling at the side of God full of trust and faith, listening to and obeying the influence of His Spirit? Or do I tend to dwell where I find it most comfortable? - Down in valley-like niches where boredom reigns supreme; where the Holy Spirit of God is still being hanged upon a cross, crucified and silenced by insistence upon personal comfort?

Wednesday, January 16, 2008

Wed, 16 Jan 2008 18:15:50 GMT

Thank you all so very much for your comments to my last posting. I appreciate each and every one of you.

Suzanne. I’m sorry you have not been feeling well this whole last year. Arline and I are praying that the coming year will bless you beyond measure; that your beautiful spirit will not diminish in any way, but only brighten. God bless.

Sandy. Bless you. Our spirits seem to be kindred in many ways. I appreciate your studies, the insights you display in your writings and especially the angle of approach you take as you tackle each subject. – Quite often, it helps me see the subject from a different view point that theretofore had been unknown to me.

Bernie. I have learned so much from your writings. I wish I had more time to digest each volume of your postings in the intimate detail they deserve. – Keep up the good work, brother.

Eddieray. Yes, I realize now that certain understandings I had were not part of God’s TRUTH (thus, absolute). But before the revelation of a more perfect truth, I sincerely and truly believed that it was God’s TRUTH. – I taught those truths to my own children, right along with other people’s children. I would have willingly gone into battle to protect those tenets of my foundation, even lay down my life for their survival. I have never purposely believed – or placed my trust – in anything that was false. – That would be absurd. No! Everything I believed in (placed my trust in) was truth, …….. as I knew it to be at the moment.

Now I wonder, what other currently perceived truth I hold near and dear to my heart will fall victim to the next revelation.

Please pray for my #3 GRAND-daughter, Jacqui Lynn. As I type this, she is over the Atlantic Ocean on her way Rustinburg, South Africa for a 5 month long mission caring for HIV-orphaned children with YWAM.

I couldn’t be more proud than I am at the moment.

Monday, January 14, 2008

Mon, 14 Jan 2008 05:48:04 GMT

First off, let me apologize to all you dear friends for not responding to your gracious enquiries of my well being over the last few months. – I should have.

My sudden silence, at first, was brought about by a sudden shift of understanding with respect to my relationship with God’s truths. – Some of the truths that I had long considered solid and firm, suddenly turned to dust with new revelation and I watched them crumble before my eyes.

I used to work in the aerospace industry and at one time was very familiar with the function and use of gyroscopes in our nation’s guided missile and aircraft navigational systems. – They provided the reference platforms against which all peripheral data collected throughout the rest of the system was measured. – They provided the whole operating system with “orientation”.

With the system of my acquaintance, if the gyro lost it orientation, it would go into a state of what we called “chatter”. – i.e., it would frantically oscillate about seeking its foundation, and if not found, would continue to do so so violently that it would self-destruct if we didn’t shut down its power source.

I mention all of this because that is approximately the state I found myself in last fall when all of this started. – I temporarily lost a portion of my foundation – watched it melt away beneath my feet – and I suddenly found myself caught up in the grips of despair, confusion and wondering what next long understood truth was going to begin slipping through my fingers like beach sand.

Also, since Thanksgiving, I have not been feeling real well. – A Gastro/intestinal thing that seems to be somewhat better now.

I have not been lazy with my word study during these times, however, and have spent a great deal of time working on a name that sparked my curiosity during one of heshewethree’s 1^st Samuel studies last fall. – Amalek.

Hopefully, this study will be ready for posting soon.

Friday, September 28, 2007

Fri, 28 Sep 2007 10:29:42 GMT

There are three Hebrew words that have been translated as herb in the Old Testament. Deshe, chatsiyr & eseb. – All three are employed in Prov, 27:25 and a fair idea of the differences is evident there. Also, here is a comparative study I just completed of Gesenius, Strong’s and my own thoughts that I would like to share. – First Gesenius thoughts, emboldened, then Strong’s or my own in brackets and parenthesis, respectively.

asd = deshe = #1877 = first sprouts of the earth, tender grass [from 1876; a sprout; by analogy, grass:--tender grass, green, tender herb]. (That which springs forth every spring season. Usually a lighter green than the more mature plants). – (Young and tender).

ryux = chatsiyr = #2682 = grass ready for mowing [grass - from the greenness of a courtyard, a leek, hay, herb.] (That which is green and has grown sufficiently enough to be used for fodder, but not yet mature or with seed). – (Equating, I would suppose in extrapolation, with fresh understandings not yet fully comprehended. - Tender new understandings seen in the first light of a new day).

bse = eseb = #6212 = The most mature, (headed out, full of seed, ready for or nearing harvest time). [From an unused root meaning to glisten or be green; grass or any tender shoot:--grass, herb]. (That which glistens = reflective of God’s light. – Thus regeneratively productive).

Saturday, September 22, 2007

Sat, 22 Sep 2007 08:46:27 GMT

I have been placed on a pulpit committee at my church and I and two others are trying to find someone to pastor our little church. If any of you out there know of someone who has heard the Lord’s calling in this regard, please contact me here on this site. If not, I request prayer for our effort.

We are an independent Christian church located in a rural community in Eastern Oklahoma serving nearly 30,000 people within a 20 miles radius. We currently have about 35 to 40 in regular attendance.

The position would be that of a full time shepherd to this rather small elderly flock of widely diversified talents and loves for the lord.

The person we seek should be experienced (although not required), energetic, youth oriented, forbearing and able to blend varied talents and diverse loves for the Lord into an effective and affectionate body of Christ. A present youth or music minister with fluency in Spanish would be a decisive plus. A parsonage is available, the salary is negotiable.

Thursday, September 20, 2007

Thu, 20 Sep 2007 09:25:33 GMT

This is in response in part to comments made by heshewethree and eddieray with regard to my last post. I write this in an attempt to clarify the way I see the creation story for everyone’s benefit.

I’m afraid that such unconventional, nontraditional thinking as I am about to present might be regarded as blasphemous. I’m sorry if by doing so, I offend anyone’s sensibilities, but this theory, as presented, is the only way that I have found that I can reconcile Adam/adamah and iysh/iyshshah being used – almost interchangeably – throughout the Old Testament.

No one really knows how or why God created every thing that He did. No one was ever privy to His motivations, intentions or hopes, either. Imaginations – based upon the various definitions of God’s word, suppositions derived from Biblical stories or observed facts discovered while studying the nature He created – paint the only scenarios of such a majestic birthing event or provide any peek into the patterns of its workings.

The creation story as I see it.

First of all – as I have said before – I don’t see Adam as a man, I see him as humankind. “… male and female created He them” and “on the day that He created them, He called their name Adam.”

Since the Bible tells us that God is love, I suppose love was probably God’s (1) motivation, (2)His intent and (3) His focus in creating ---- everything. – I have no problem seeing all three of these forces continuing to work within His mighty dynamic today, either. – The three-ness of such a package is a trinity of spiritual-ness grinding, sawing, hammering or whatever, all things into place. – Basically, it is God’s heart, mind and soul busily at work, swirling mightily like billowing clouds about the project at hand. - Constructing, arranging into place, exacting the final perfecting touches upon His grand and wonderful masterpiece. God made no mistakes. God makes no mistakes. Everything He created and maintains was/is as perfect as He.

Yes even sinful Adam I see, not as a mistake or something gone awry, but as part of God’s overall, grand design.

When God created Adam (i.e., humankind), I don’t see Him creating robotic creatures. – Robotic in the sense that all were the same; thought the same; did everything the same; sensed the world about them the same.

No, in my way of thinking God made the humankind species as perfectly as He did everything else. – Perfect and uniquely different as each tiny snowflake.

Since Adam was created in God’s image, I see a being of heart, mind and soul like He is – an earthly, Spiritually-led trinity, if you will. And since God is love in the ultimate, He endued His creation with that same dynamic affection for other’s round about them.

But Adam would have to freely choose to love Him. Robotic love, or love that touched and hugged only when He pulled a string or pushed a button just wouldn’t be the kind of love I see God desiring or designing.

For this reason, I see God giving Adam (humankind) the ability to discern and make choices, and as a result, enabled them to reflect God’s love in multiple, varied and glistening ways. At least, I suspect, God would want any reflecting love of His to be as dynamic and awesome as His love for us.

This sort of thinking of course requires that Adam (humankind) should be outfitted with an abundance of another three-ness:

(1) There must be options from which Adam can choose.

(2) There must be a hunger generated within Adam for motivational and fueling purposes, and

(3) There must be an insatiable lust that does not wane till a complete and total fulfillment is reached.

In other words, I see God wanting Adam (humankind) to:

(1) Choose to love him. – Indeed, forsake all things (anything and anyone else) and place Him first and only in importance.

(2) Reach out in love toward Him with a ravenous, insatiable hunger. And

(3) to activate that love for God – and neighbors about – with everything humanly possible. – Exhausting self at the foot of the cross in the manner of Jesus, and doing so with all fullness of mind, heart and soul.

Then and only then, whenever any love is shown, God will see value as its essence is truly on display.

But in my view, God wasn’t done yet. He needed some way to determine the depth, tenacity and fullness of any displayed love.

It is because of this possible desire of God that I see Him giving Adam (humankind) license to explore the fullness’s of life, and doing so with a specific purpose in mind. – He wanted us to learn empirically; to make mistakes; wrong turns; bad choices. He fore-knew that we would taste the fruit He told us not to partake of, given the oportunity.

Why? So that repentance would be necessary. – You see? I believe Jesus our savior hanging on the cross for our sins was planned even before the world was created. – A part of the very beginning of things, not some after the fact quick fix idea for a “whoops I goofed” something.

After all, if one is not a sinner, there is nothing to repent of or turn away from.

No, I believe God wanted us to learn from the errors of OUR ways and He placed the tree of the knowledge of good and evil in the Garden of Eden just for that reason.

Such a thought brings to mind the ways of a shepherds staff guiding a flock. Kind of like a “oooooh that looks yummy, lets go get some, ouch, that hurts, lets go the other way now” type of scenario.

And as we learn that that glowing burner is painful, or that speeds kill, or that poison is ruinous to life and – if we survive – we gradually advance through the maturing process. – Becoming stronger, wiser and more faithfully trusting with every step along the way.

Summarily – The way I see it

God made Adam (humankind). Period. – Ge 1:26

Both male and female made He them. Period. – Ge. 5:2

Within each male and female He placed the ability to love. Period. – Ge 1:27

And since God is love, He then quickened their lifeless bodies by breathing His love into them with the spirit of His Spirit. Period. – Ge 2:7

But apparently God didn’t want herds of robots manning His creation so He allowed their love two inclinations (choices). – (A) Loving self only (iysh/iyshshah) or (B) sacrificing self and loving Him and other humans with all mind, body and soul (Adam/adamah). Period.

Note: This is the only way I know of to explain the presence of both Adam and Iysh within the same body.

The serpent – which is defined by Strong’s Dictionary as that which hisses (i.e., I call it temptation) – spoke only to iyshshah (the side (i.e., rib) of mankind that thinks only of self). Iyshshah found it tasty and then fed it to Iysh, the weaker side of Adam. Period.

Now perhaps I read Genesis 2:18 differently than anyone else. “Then the LORD God said, "It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper fit for him."

The way I read this verse is as follows: “Then the LORD God said, "It is not good that the man should merely exist (i.e., there should be a purpose for his being): I will make him a helper. Period.

First of all, the idea of “fit for him” is not directly supported with a Hebrew word in my interlinear at all. It may well be an inference found in the Hebrew word ezer (interpreted as help meet), but if that be the case this verse could just as well have been referencing God as well as Adam. – In other words this verse could just as well read: “Then the LORD God said, "It is not good that the man should merely exist (without any purpose); I will make a helper fit for myself." – Hypothetically, “Hmmm, I think I’ll start making me some angels to help me around this place.”

Then with a glimpse of a final product in mind, God began perfecting and shaping and molding – maybe even a little whittling on – this humankind named Adam. Period. Ge 2:21 And the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept: and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof;

God’s very first act in His supposed refurbishing project was the removal of those parts (that side – i.e., rib) of Adam that would cause him to vary off course on his way to God. – iyshshah (the characteristics of Iysh) were extracted from Adam. – A cleansing, if you will, of worldly tendencies. The very first excising of any imperfection, accomplished by non other than Doctor God Himself. Period.

Friday, September 14, 2007

Fri, 14 Sep 2007 00:37:00 GMT

Have you ever thought about what the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil might be?

Have you ever wondered if it was even fruit at all? – That maybe it was something spiritual – you know, unseen – like maybe a “product of” (or “a result of” or “a consequence of”) knowing something is good or bad?

Every time without fail, whenever knowledge is gained, innocence falls. – The very moment something is learned, not knowing it (i.e., innocence) disappears. – And once innocence is gone, it’s gone forever.

Adam and Eve quite ably proved this fact. Their innocence fell away the moment they learned they had disobeyed God.– They had tasted the fruit of knowing the law and then realized their shortfall (sin) and that they had no defense. – They were naked and they were ashamed. – Their pride was born at that moment.

The question I’m wondering about is: Did Adam and Eve even know what disobedience was before they tasted the fruit of understanding right from wrong?

I have heard the statement, “when there is no law, there is no crime”. God had laid down a law to Adam and Eve, “thou shall not partake …” But???

Well parallel to the above statement, there is a similar phrase: Where there is no knowledge of wrongness, there is no guilt.

Adam and Eve did realize guilt and rightly so.

For when there is no guilt, there is no conviction.

And when there is no conviction, there is no repentance.

And when there is no repentance, there is no salvation.

And when there is no salvation, there are no helpmates generated for the Kingdom of God.

Is this what you see God doing here? – Setting things up so that Adam and Eve in tasting the fruit, create the need for, then provision the way of the cross?

Friday, September 07, 2007

Fri, 07 Sep 2007 09:38:39 GMT

Will we – can we – as Christians ever inch ourselves far enough up the plank of this teeter-totter of Christ-likeness we strive to emulate, that it tips to the other side?

At what point does this balance-scale read self-less instead of self-ish? …Read you, you, you rather than me, me, me?

When will the never-ending complaints of God’s people uttering, “God, I have been used” transform into the hallelujahs of, “Praise God, I have been used?”

When will we finally see ourselves truly as servants to God’s kingdom instead of Royalty of it?

We are the Royal priesthood of believers, but only when we truly sacrifice ourselves to the role of being servants ……. to that Kingdom.

The John 17:20-26 Phillips translation reads thusly, "I am not praying only for these men but for all those who will believe in me through their message, that they may all be one. Just as you, Father, live in me and I live in you, I am asking that they may live in us, that the world may believe that you did send me. I have given them the honour that you gave me, (I have served you as you have served me) that they may be one, as we are one - I in them and you in me, that they may grow complete into one, so that the world may realise that you sent me and have loved them as you loved me. Father, I want those whom you have given me to be with me where I am; I want them to see that glory which you have made mine - for you loved me before the world began. Father of goodness and truth, the world has not known you, but I have known you and these men now know that you have sent me. I have made your self known to them (for I have served them) and I will continue to do so that the love which you have had for me may be in their hearts - and that I may be there also.

In Christ

Gary

Thursday, September 06, 2007

Thu, 06 Sep 2007 11:03:42 GMT

I had a relative that I had to disassociate myself from, at least in a way. It was my mother who loved me dearly and proved it many times over. Now that sounds oxymoronic doesn’t it? J But it was true.

I loved her dearly as well and tried to prove it many times, but never was I able to have the relationship with her that I imagined a mother and son should be having.

I could never please her. Period. And when I would try to disassociate myself from her, she would find me and pick, pick, pick at me incessantly until I came around to doing things her way.

Finally I discovered that if the distance were great enough – like half way across the nation – I could get some relief from her never-ending negatives and thus be able to live our lives according to my wife’s and my own design.

But even then, there were annual visits that – if they were to extend longer than three days – the same uncomfortable scenario would quickly attempt resurrection.

Mom’s gone now, God rest her soul, but the hurt – now regret - remains. – She tried so hard to perfect someone she loved, that she destroyed.

I’m here to tell you, that what goes around does come back around. I am a perfectionist much as my mother was. Because of that, I have driven my children from me as readily as my mother did me. And now I am seeing the same perfectionist tendencies being passed on to even another generation. I was not as demanding of my children as my mother was me, but it was there and my children are even less demanding of there children. But, ….. BUT, the need for perfection prevails, if not being enhanced.

I publish this confessional so as to hammer home an awareness of the two things in my life that got in the way of a perfect J one. – Pride and self.

Pride. Every chore I did, it had to be done perfectly and Lord help anyone who messed it up, or didn’t do their part correctly, or got in my way as I was accomplishing it, or spilled something on my masterpiece. I took pride in my work and still do. When one is in that state of mind, ineptness is the unpardonable sin.

Self. I did all of the pride things for the benefit of self. Self is insatiable I have learned, and requires tasty tidbits of pride and recognition and respect and all the baubles and beads of life as a regular diet.

I now know that it was self that destroyed the relationship of Mom and I. My self and her self were constantly at odds with one another, neither giving in, neither submitting to the will of the other, both trying to love the only way they knew. I now know that self is eating away, cancerously, at the foundation of all that comes behind me, too.

Now that I know that self is as destructive as it is, I see that that was what Jesus was trying to show us with the sacrifice of His life – His self – that we might live. He threw out all the old rules of behavior and just loved His God and His neighbors (those close to Him) with all that He had. I also know that there is no way that mortal man can get control over such a monster as self except by and through the presence, and the appropriate degree, of Jesus in their lives.

Just because something is virtually unattainable, however, doesn’t mean such a goal should never be attempted. – We should at the very least, lean toward that higher plateau.

I use to sing 1^st tenor in an a cappella chorus during my high-school days. One day during practice, the choral director beat his wand against the music stand to get our attention, halting the current exercise. Pointing his wand directly at me he said, “you have been flat on that (whatever the note was) every time we go through this piece. The next time as you approach that note, I want you to think higher, then reach for it with every thing you have.” It worked.

Unfortunately, I have not been as successful in ridding self of self as I want to be. It’s a daily struggle, nay, an hour by hour even minute by minute struggle.

Please hear my words and always reach for that higher level. – The way of Jesus.

In Christ

Gary