Happily Ever After

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Happily Ever After

By Dahni
© 2023, all rights reserved

 

   Happily Ever After? Does this sound like anything biblical or scriptural? This does not seem like anything biblical or scriptural.

   This is a phrase that many people are familiar with, as am I. It has been a part of my life since I was a child. I still use it on a regular basis. So, I thought I would share why I still use this phrase and at least some of its history, History or Origin? Yes, it may not be exactly as you thought or think.

   If like me, you may have heard or read this as a child from some fairytale. Books and stories (fairytales – children or youth fiction mostly), often ended with some use of this such as —

“And (he, she, they) all lived happily ever after!”

   “Happily Ever After” or “Happy Ever After” is typically used as a formulaic ending to a fairy tale or children’s story. Later it was included in romantic novels to describe lovers, wedded or married bliss. Its literal meaning was —

“from then onwards and forever, happiness pervades”

   “Happily Ever After” or “Happy Ever After” got mostly lost, forgotten or fell out of favor when the 21st century happened. Children’s stories today are more Grimm’ (grim), than (bluebird and fairy godmother happy), Disney. By the way, “Happily Ever After” or “Happy Ever After” was never an ending to any of the Grimm Brothers fairy tales.

   The celebrated romance style novels written by Barbara Cartland in the past now avoid the idea that once the bride and groom say their ‘I do’s’ life would be forever idyllic and “Happily Ever After” or “Happy Ever After.”

   The first time that the term “Happily Ever After” or “Happy Ever After” is used in relation to marriage is in Giovanni Boccaccio’s translation of Il Decamerone, 1702 —

“Paganino, hearing the News, married the Widow, and as they were very well acquainted, so they lived very lovingly, and happily, ever after.”

   Whoop-ee-do-dah, there’s nothing there to do with the Bible but…

   Augustin Marlorat was a 16th century, French Protestant reformer. He wrote in – ‘A Catholike and Ecclesiasticall exposition of the Holy Gospell’ in 1570. Yes, that title was written correctly by me and the words were not misspelled. But Agustin wrote the following —

“But after that Christe rose againe from death, then they were apointed ordinary teachers of the church: & in this respecte this honor pertained vnto the ever after”

   And those words above are also written correctly and not misspelled.

   Then in 1574, just four years later, the same writer above said it like this —

“Moreouer John had commended faith sufficiently when he sayde, that the dead whiche dye in the Lord are happie ever after.”

A Catholike exposition vpon the Reuelation of Sainct John, 1574

   Hey, what can I say, this is the way he wrote and liekely spelled and pronounced words in those times. English is a hard language to learn!

   So, the phrase “Happily Ever After” or “Happy Ever After” in at least around the 16th century, meant or was referring to —

“everlasting eternal happiness in heaven.”

   Then the terms or phrases migrated in the 17th century and became “Happily Ever After” or “Happy Ever After.” This was when the princes and princesses of fairy-lore were forever-more (in this life anyway), locked into perpetual — love, romance, and wedded or married bliss.

   Then, I suppose, when children like myself grew up and we first realized life does not always or seldom turns out “Happily Ever After” or “Happy Ever After,” these terms got dropped. It may be the generation of children after mine or the next generation after them may have all grown up never knowing these phrases?

   Today, so many (including myself at times), have become jaded in our thinking, divided from one another, negative and so depressed, we don’t think about or believe in being “Happily Ever After” or “Happy Ever After” either anymore or not too very often. Those of us that grew up with these phrases have seen life throw us in the opposite direction with completely different and adverse consequences.

   If all this lovey-dovey ever after business make you want to gag, many people have riffed on “Happily Ever After” or “Happy Ever After” for what they think or believe are more real-like sentiments.

   I recently read a cynical expression recently and I cannot say that I have not thought something similar —

“crappily ever after is more like it.”

-somone on Twitter-

   What I call ultra-realism is in essence, void of imagination. Imagination is for and just for children correct? The child must grow up and put away their toys. Children must grow up. In part, this is realism, but ultra-realism is as if, there is no place in the world, for imagination. Do you realize our brains do not know the difference between what some call reality and what is imagined or projected in the brain?

   Imagination is the primary and instinctual work of children. It is until, it’s driven out of them. But by imagination— dreams are laid and incubated and visions fledge and fly. These often lead to inventions and technologies. Creativity is stirred, poured and painted on the world canvas. It increases both intellect and whole brain thinking. Imagination forms the notes in the ear and upon the pages of the human heart’s fervent desire for music. Imagination is – the freedom to breathe and think and produce. Imagination is a pulse and moves into and throughout the whole earth like the flow of blood. The great genius Albert Einstein wrote —

“Imagination is more important than knowledge.”

Albert Einstein

   My usage of the phrases “Happily Ever After” or “Happy Ever After” is mostly used with a certain image followed by these words —

“…at least once in awhile”

   I most often use the image to follow in celebrating someone’s birthday. I may use some emojis like: a cake, 🎂 a present, 🎁 a balloon, 🎈 and etc. But rarely do I ever send a birthday card or wish someone a Happy Birthday anymore. Call it my want to just be different, but I send the following image, instead.

   As said before, I most often add the following —

“at least once in while”

   I had a friend that passed away suddenly in July of 2022. She posted for her last time on her Facebook page the following, July 25th, 2022 —

   The same day (07.25.2022), I replied —

   Sadly, the very next day, my friend Kandy was gone. But I am still here and I can write and still encourage anyone that I still believe in being “Happily Ever After” or “Happy Ever After,” “…at least once in awhile!”

   Besides growing up with the fairytale and perhaps child-like phrases as “Happily Ever After” or “Happy Ever After,” where did I come up with and include, “…at least once in awhile!”

   There was this guy that was born in 1946. He is older than I am, but he was a contemporary of my time. His name is James William ???????. He is an American singer-songwriter, musician, author, actor and businessman. He is best known for his music, which often portrays an “island escapism” lifestyle. Together with his Coral Reefer Band, he has recorded many hit songs including one ranked 234th on the Recording Industry Association of America’s list of “Songs of the Century.” It was written in part in Austin, Texas and finished in Key West, Florida. Maybe you know the song “Margaritaville,” which came out in 1977? I have no doubt that this song introduced many people to or even made its namesake drink, a margarita, 🍸even more popular than it may have already been. And I am sure if not fortunes, at least a lot of money has been made from Margaritaville-like drinks and products and merchandise and have contributed to — “Happily Ever After” or “Happy Ever After” “…at least once in awhile!”

   Maybe you know James William ?????? by his nickname (his familiar but shortened real name), Jimmy Buffet?

   Twenty years later or on June 4th, 1996, he put out a new album called, ‘Banana Wind’ and one of the songs is —

Happily Ever After
(Every Now and Then)

“Some people never find it
Some only pretend
But me –
I just want to live Happily After
If only every now and then”

Excerpt from: Happily Ever After’ (Now and Then)
© By Jimmy Buffet, The album ‘Banana Wind’ Published June 4th, 1996

   So, whether for your birthday, any other day, any occasion in this life, for love, for forever in the there-after (eternity), I would each and everyone to be —

“…at least once and a while!”

   In the King James version of the Bible, the word “happy” is used 25 times. You should get out or get a concordance and look up every verse. But here are a few:

“Behold, happy is the man whom God correcteth: (corrects) therefore despise not thou the chastening of the Almighty:”

Job 5:17 King James Version

   All scripture from Genesis 1:1 – Revelation 22:21 is as it declares in II Timothy 3:16 is given by inspiration of God. These words, “given by inspiration of God” from the Greek is the one word theopneuustos, which literally means, “God Breathed. This “God Breathed Word” is profitable in three ways — for “doctrine” (which is right believing action), for “reproof” when we fail to apply the doctrine (making practical errors), and to get us back to the “doctrine”, and is therefore profitable for “correction,” which is to correct practical errors that have gone on for so long, false doctrines are the consequence. But God’s Word is profitable to correct these doctrinal errors and get us back to the right “doctrine” or right believing of His “God Breathed” Word.

   These three — doctrine, reproof and correction are instruction in righteousness. Now read the verse from Job again. Man, woman or child (“man” – is an all inclusive noun), is “Happy” if God corrects us and put us back to believing rightly.

“Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them: they shall not be ashamed, but they shall speak with the enemies in the gate.”

Psalm 127:5 KJV

   In the above verse, the word “quiver” is figuratively used for one’s children. Today, when population growth is slowing and people decide not to have children for fear of bringing them into a troubled world, they should and we all should, read this verse. And also, it is impossible to even sustain a culture without producing at minimum, 2-3 children per couple. I don’t know about you, but I’d be “Happy” about that!

“Happy art thou, O Israel: who is like unto thee, O people saved by the Lord,…

Deuteronomy 32:29 KJV

   This refers to an entire country —  Israel being “Happy.”

“For thou shalt eat the labour of thine hands: happy shalt thou be, and it shall be well with thee.”

Psalm 128:2 KJV

“Happy is that people, that is in such a case: yea, happy is that people, whose God is the Lord.”

Psalm 144:15 KJV

“She is a tree of life to them that lay hold upon her: and happy is every one that retaineth her.”

Proverbs 3:18 KJV

      The wisdom of God (“she is a tree of life”), and makes people “Happy!”

“He that despiseth his neighbour sinneth: but he that hath mercy on the poor, happy is he.”

Proverbs 14:21 KJV

     Having mercy makes one “Happy!”

“Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he.”

Proverbs 29:18 KJV

      Without vision people perish, but to those that keep God’s Word, they are “Happy!”

      These are but a few examples. Again, I encourage you to look up all the references to the word “Happy” in the King James Version of the Bible

      Oh I do believe that God does want us to be “Happily Ever After” or “Happy Ever After,” now, “every once in awhile” and for “ever after” throughout all eternity!

   Now if you want to dispute any of this, Go for it, but I did not write the Bible, I am just…

…a witness!

Dahni

The Sower and His Seed

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The Sower and His Seed

By Dahni
© 2023, all rights reserved

 

   I woke up recently from a dream and in it, the context was all about, “The sower and his seed.” I could not stop thinking about this parable. But first, let me share with you the evolution of this concept for me currently.

   Since it’s too cold here to stay outside for long, perhaps this is where the whole idea of “spring cleaning” comes from? Can’t go outside, stay busy, and find something to do, occupy my mind? Clean something? Well, this and that and those I was doing a few days ago. I was going through what you might think of as my stuff, too good to throw away. But after years of doing nothing with a lot of it, it was time to throw much away. During my new game of wad-toss-and-throw into the trash or playing a game of trash ball,🗑 I came upon a quote I hand wrote out on the page of a planner I used probably, over ten years ago; maybe longer.

In reading the quote, I could see why I copied it. I probably had every intention of sharing it. I never did. Then recently, I came across it and it apparently had the same affect on me as the first time I saw and saved it, but alas, forgotten it, until just the other day. Today was the day, to share it as it happened, March 14th, 2023. It is the exact same day of the morning I woke up thinking about, “The sower and his seed.”

I copied the quote and looked it up online to see if I had written it down correctly and to make sure the person attributed to have originated it was accurate. In so doing, I noticed there was another line to it. It was unique in that it explains and defines what the first line states. Together or separate, both of the lines are profound. So I decided to start with the first line and shared it as a post on my Facebook page. I promised to share the second line on the following day. But following is, what I wrote.

   You gots’ troubles? Are you a “Great Spirit?” I suspect you are. I really do not know anyone that is not. I do understand there are perhaps many that do not understand that they are not. There are just as likely, many that do not recognize that they are. But labels do not change the contents of one’s inner content. I came across this quote while cleaning up my stuff recently. I probably wrote it down a lot of years ago, but never used it. Today is the day!! Tomorrow, I will share the definition of “Great Minds,” with the second part of this quote.

“Great spirits have always encountered violent opposition from mediocre minds.”

— A. Einstein —

   For the following day (3/15/2023), I intended to write — yesterday we saw the contrast of “Great Minds” Vs “mediocre minds.” Today we will define the difference. By defining “mediocre minds,” by sheer logic, its direct opposite is— “Great Minds!”

“Great spirits have always encountered violent opposition from mediocre minds.
The mediocre mind is incapable of understanding the man who refuses to bow blindly to conventional prejudices and chooses instead to express his opinions courageously and honestly.”

― Albert Einstein ―

   Conclusion: If we are “Great Minds” and the WE I know are— “Great Minds,” WE need to stop bowing and WE need to especially, stop bowing blindly!

   By the Way, my sister informed me on my Facebook post, that today 3/14/2023 just happens to be, the birthday of Albert Einstein. Cool huh!  😎 Happy Birthday 🎂 Al!

   I like Albert Einstein a lot! It certainly is not because I can relate to him, I’m a genius like him or that I ever was or ever will be as smart as my man Albert! But just being around him (his words), just makes one smarter, don’t you think! 😉👍

   Well, what has this to do with “The sower and his seed?” First, let’s look at persecution.

“Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.”

II Timothy 3:12 King James Version (KJV)

   This is like Einstein’s quote of greatness encountering “violent opposition” and often by “mediocre minds.” Although this verse does not answer how “all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution,” it does say we shall— absolutely suffer (or endure) persecution. But no matter what kind of persecution we may endure (temporarily), God’s Word has an answer or the solution to that!

“Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?”

Romans 8:35 KJV

   Who? Anyone? Anything? Nope or Nay—

“Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.”

Romans 8:37

   Be it the evil we all know or can understand, or the evil that just harasses us or the evil that just completely ignores us, God will take care of us. We’ve got much more important things to do. Like what? Like sowing seed!

   Take a look at the whole parable from Luke, chapter 2—

“A sower went out to sow his seed: and as he sowed, some fell by the way side; and it was trodden down, and the fowls of the air devoured it. And some fell upon a rock; and as soon as it was sprung up, it withered away, because it lacked moisture. And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprang up with it, and choked it. And other fell on good ground, and sprang up, and bare fruit an hundredfold. And when he had said these things, he cried, He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.”

Luke 2: 5-8 KJV

   That was really quite straightforward and simple and easy to understand. But the last part of the last verse, “He that hath ears to hear, let him hear,” means we are going to understand the parable and understand it IF—

a. we keep reading
b. we are the right people to receive it”

   Let’s pick it up in verse nine (9) as Jesus Christ explains what we just read in verses 5-8 above.

”And his disciples asked him, saying, What might this parable be? And he said, Unto you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God: but to others in parables; that seeing they might not see, and hearing they might not understand. Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God. Those by the way side are they that hear; then cometh the devil, and taketh away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved. They on the rock are they, which, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, which for a while believe, and in time of temptation fall away. And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection. But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience.”

Luke 2: 9-15 KJV

   Of course, it is always great to illustrate something you are trying to communicate. I have no doubt Jesus Christ used real things people were familiar with in his day to explain his parables, to those that “had eyes to see and ears to hear.” He likely just pointed to examples in life, in his immediate surroundings to show and tell the Word of God. For myself, as it so happened to me today, I found a beautiful watercolor and the Christian who painted it. And her work is called, “The Sower and His Seed.” Don’t you just marvel whenever you are at the right place and time and say or do the right thing! I sure do! Probably because it’s not that often, but it should be. We are after all, children of the Greatest Mind!

   But I met Susan Minteer online, by way of her watercolor first and then I found her website and then I met her heart, through her works and her words.

   Try to view here image from her website as large as possible. There is much detailed treasure to be found! Now meet Susan—

“My watercolor paintings are an expression of gratitude to The Father for the blessings in my life. I enjoy country living and its continual supply of inspiration for landscapes. A lifetime of gardening gives color, shape and pattern to my floral paintings. Gardens and the countryside are in my roots and in my genes, a heritage shared with many of my viewers and collectors. The intent is to express my visual ideas with emotion, vibrant color, and lively design. I find joy in sharing both the creative process and the resulting artwork with others. I believe that because “we are His workmanship”, creativity is a part of our being. I am grateful for the opportunities I have to share these gifts.”

— Susan Minteer —

‘The Sower and His Seed’ By Susan Minteer, used by permission of the artist

   For more information about Susan and her work visit her website at — https://www.susanminteer.com

   Or better yet, go to her website and find her email. Send her an email and ask about ordering a print of her work ‘The Sower and His Seeds’

   But with the Word of God and this, what is it I saw for the first time ever? Remember the verses that state— “For God so loved the world…” and that He is “not willing that any should perish.” So, everyone has to hear the Word. We read that the Word of God is the “good seed.” It will grow wherever it is sown, but it will only prosper on good soil.

   We, God’s children, are supposed to be the sowers of His Word. And as sowers, we will witness the several places where the seed is sown.

   Some is sown and they hear and their hearts are hardened to keep them from believing and being made whole. They may persecute us.

   Some seed is sown and some with gladness receive, but they have no root and when temptation comes, they fall away. That hurts our hearts as we saw them change and then change back. That is another persecution.

   Some seed is sown and they hear, but turn to the riches and pleasures of this world. This hurts us deeply and could possibly cause us to doubt. This is another kind of persecution.

   Then finally, some seed is sown and we rejoice because it fell “on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience.” We and these are the “Greatest Minds” because, we are the children of the Greatest Mind!

   Now in conclusion, the incredible thing I saw for the first time ever? It is not my responsibility that the seed I sow is on ANY type of ground! That’s God’s job. I am just a sower.

“So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.”

Isaiah 55:11

   Now if you want to dispute any of this, Go for it, but I did not write the Bible, I am just…

…a witness!

Dahni

Music Opens the Heart to Receive the Word

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Music Opens the Heart to Receive the Word

By Dahni
© 2023, all rights reserved

    Music is beautiful and important to all people. But what is its purpose biblically or spiritually?

“And the priests waited on their offices: the Levites also with instruments of musick [music] of the Lord, which David the king had made to praise the Lord, because his mercy endureth [endures] for ever, when David praised by their ministry; and the priests sounded trumpets before them, and all Israel stood.”

II Chronicles 7:6 King James Version

“…the singers with instruments of musick [music], and such as taught to sing praise.”

II Chronicles 23:13

   One purpose of music, instrumental and/or the voice (which technically is also an instrument), we read from just two verses (there are many, many more), is for “praise.” And we read it was made to “praise the Lord.”

   These songs though instrumental, but especially the lyrics, should never contradict the scriptures. They should always be accurate. Why? “Because God Magnified His Word above all His Name.” – Psalm 138:2b

   Whether figurative (comparison), or literal (actually singing the scriptures), look at this next verse from Psalm 119.

“Thy statutes have been my songs in the house of my pilgrimage.”

Psalm 119:54

   It is interesting that in every verse of Psalm 119 (and it is a long Psalm with 176 verses), in some manner, God’s word appears in every verse. Did the Psalmist actually sing the scriptures? I do not know. Were the songs accurate according to the Word? Yes. Could they have been sung? Yes, absolutely! Now in just one verse of scripture we will see the other purpose of music.

“For Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the law of the Lord, and to do it, and to teach in Israel statutes and judgments.”

Ezra 7:10

   The other purpose of music biblically and spiritually is to “prepare” the heart to receive the Word, to “do it” and “teach” others. . Hint hint, “praise” and “preparation” may be to us, one and the same, as both “prepare” us to “praise” God for his Word, which He magnified above His name!

“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.”

Colossians 3:16

      Perhaps familiar to many is a tune to sing around Psalm 100.

“Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all ye lands. Serve the Lord with gladness: come before his presence with singing. Know ye that the Lord he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name. For the Lord is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.”

Psalm 100:1-5 KJV

   The Psalm, song or hymn I recall singing was as follows. I apologise I could not find a video of how this sounds that I was happy with.

Make a Joyful Noise

Verse:

Make a joyful noise unto the Lord,
All ye, all ye lands.
Serve the Lord, the Lord with gladness:
Come before his presence with singing.

Chorus:

Praise God— hallelujah, glory hallelujah,
Praise God— hallelujah, glory hallelujah,
Praise God— hallelujah, glory hallelujah,
Praise God

Know ye that the Lord he is God:
It is he that hath made us,
And not we ourselves;
We are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.

Chorus:

Praise God— hallelujah, glory hallelujah,
Praise God— hallelujah, glory hallelujah,
Praise God— hallelujah, glory hallelujah,
Praise God

Verse:

Enter into his gates with thanksgiving,
And into his courts with praise:
Be thankful unto him,
And bless, bless his name.
For the Lord is good;
His mercy is everlasting;
And his truth endureth
To all generations.

Chorus:

Praise God— hallelujah, glory hallelujah,
Praise God— hallelujah, glory hallelujah,
Praise God— hallelujah, glory hallelujah,
Praise God

   Now enjoy the following YouTube videos.

   First — ‘Savior Redeemer of My Soul’. This is just a beautiful song. What more could a heart desire than beautiful scenery, beautiful people playing beautiful sounds with beautiful instruments, beautifully dressed and adorned. Some are in tuxedos. The lead vocalist is wearing a suit. His voice, is it not a beautiful instrument? Well, of course it is! All the musicians, yes all of them are musicians, blend together. Their individual parts together make a whole and beautiful harmony. I’m sure you may have grown tired over my incessant use of the root word “beautiful,” but are not the following videos not unlike what many think of as— the outside Church of God? 🤗

   I love how this first video closes…

“…I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:”

John 11:25 King James Version

   The Second video (also outside), features the same vocalist we heard above and his wife (singing; also playing the piano), and their young daughter – the Crosby Family.

   The song or hymn they are singing is, ‘Come, thou Fount of every blessing.’ The hymn was written by Robert Robinson (1735-1790), who as a barber’s apprentice, was powerfully influenced by the preaching of George Whitefield.

   A favorite line in the last stanza, “Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it, prone to leave the God I love,” is thought to be particularly autobiographical, referring to Robinson’s early life, when his mother sent him to London to be an apprentice. It was during this time, according to hymnologist Kenneth Osbeck, that “he associated with a notorious gang of hoodlums and lived a debauched life” until he he was changed by God. This song is a reflection of this change that God wrought in Robinson’s life. 

   The lyrics, which dwell on the theme of divine grace, are based on 1 Samuel 7:12, in which the prophet Samuel raises a stone as a monument, saying, “Hitherto hath the Lord helped us” (KJV). The English transliteration of the name Samuel given to the stone is Ebenezer, meaning Stone of Help. The unusual word Ebenezer commonly appears in hymnal presentations of the lyrics.

   I want to note that beginning with my 69th birthday last December 13th, 2022, I set out to try and find to do things which mattered or make a difference in the lives of others. I looked at my age and looking at the treasure within me, I felt so far below what God has wrought in me. So, each week I set out to do ‘Acts of Kindness’ for 52 weeks, for as many people as possible. One of those weeks was about “preparing” and from that time, just a few short weeks ago, until Christmas Day 2023, I am preparing what is actually called a Dickensian Christmas. You know, Charles Dickens, ‘A Christmas Carol’ and Ebenezer Scrooge and all that stuff from those times. Interesting. I hope our Christmas will be interesting to those that will be here and memorable and “prepare” their hearts to “praise” God, just like Ebenezer was raised, to understand and keep the true meaning of Christmas.

   Few may write songs as powerful or more powerful than this one, but those who have had the joy unspeakable as this, can appreciate the lyrics and the music, just as if, they had written them and sung them themselves! They are like the unspoken words of heart filled of joy, by the divine and unmerited grace of God!

   “Prepare” your heart to “praise” God!

   Now if you want to dispute any of this, my outpouring or Bible quotations, Go for it, but I did not write the Bible, I was in deep internal and eternal joy or I am just…

…a witness!

Dahni

For Those Who Can Relate

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For Those Who Can Relate

By Dahni
© 2023, all rights reserved

   Just a few days ago, my wife Susan and I saw a movie, the ‘Jesus Revolution’ and we later talked about our individual perspectives at the time.

   For Susan, born and raised in NY, she was attending college in a very conservative town in Ohio. One of the cultural things of the times was a mini skirt (not the real short, short one, but skirts that were cut just above the knees. During her time in college, she enthusiastically attended a particular church denomination. She played her flute, sang in the choirs, participated in and in general, loved music and the church music program and some of the liturgy, when in English. Susan was derided about and asked not to wear her short skirts by church leadership. That was the end of that church for Susan. And good for Susan, not caving to stupid religious pressure! 👍

   For my part, the ‘Jesus Revolution’ was like returning (for about 2 hours), to the times, culture, hopes, dreams, clothing, hairstyle, drugs, sex, rock N’ roll, tune in-turn on-turn off, and the music, yes that powerful emotion-sparking music that defined our generation! I say “our generation” because, it was to all of us that. It was that to the age or of those that lived in these times.

   I was neither in CA or NY. I was not in any epic center where this movement started. I was in MO. I was in a college town with some 20,000 students coming from all over the USA and other countries as well.

   I was not a hippie or a Jesus freak, but a freak nonetheless. I was neither anti nor pro Vietnam. I was not an atheist or religious. What I was, like so many others were, was a searcher. I was searching. And I was starving to find something of significance, to the point of —aching hunger. I was empty too.

   I searched and looked everywhere, tried most everything, and found absolutely nothing. At my lowest possible point, I was found.

   Having lived through so many events this movie portrays, I can recall exactly— exactly where I was, what I was doing, and those I was with. I even had and read a copy of the Time magazine written by the man that researched these events personally and published it in Time Magazine, Junes 21st, 1971. Even earlier, May 14th, 1971, Life Magazine did an article on — ‘The Groovy Christians of Rye, NY’.

   Truly, this was a cultural explosion happening in the West and in the East and overtaking the country to all points N. S. E. & W. in the USA and into many countries across the world.

   Another man left his rigid church, stuck in tradition and religion. He had filmed a Biblical research class (Power for Abundant Living), that took nearly 33 hours to make when at those times (about 1967), hot lights forced him to only be able to handle 30 minute segments, before completely changing out of soaked clothing. Later, he went out to CA, specifically to Haight Asbury and taught a handful of these Jesus Freaks, and invited them to come to Ohio. A few did. In 1971 he rode his motorcycle all the way from OH to Rye, NY—A few did. What a culture shock that was for all concerned. God’s Word will either divide people or it will bring them together!

   From CA and NY this culture explosion or like the movie used the term, this mixing of ‘Nitro-Glycerin’ reached me in MO, about 1973. It greatly impacted my world and our entire family — grandparents, our mother and father, my brother, my sister and I. We were all hungry and looking for a vision, for the truth, a family and to make a difference!

   Now having seen this movie — ‘Jesus Revolution’ I am more sympathetic to the current so-called revival of our present times. This started in Asbury Chapel and University, in Wilmore, KY, just a few short days ago (2/8— 2/25/2023). Like my generation, this generation seems quite disillusioned with the way things are and are also, in search of answers. They too want to make a difference. 

   Like my generation, the current generation is in need of more than just a family, a release, and answers. They need leadership to guide them, as did we. We needed and all generations need— vision.

“Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth [keeps] the law [The Word of God], happy is he [plural – pronoun or we and she].”

Proverbs 29:18 King James Version

   And all of this must be centered upon and in the only thing that can accomplish all of these things, which is— the Scriptures, The Bible; The Word of God! I paraphrase, but one of the recurring lines from the movie is— “Let us search the scriptures together.”

   Christianity is not judgmental, unforgiving and rigid like religion, even if they have Christ or Christian in their name! Christianity is about forgiveness, healing, reconciliation, restoration, kindness, family, love and so much more and reaching the outcasts— the flawed, unsuccessful and miserable failures like me. Christianity is about making a difference! It is about knowing the truth and being made free by it!

“and ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”

John 8:32 KJV

   To read the text (7 pages), of ‘Groovy Christians of Rye, NY’, Life Magazine May 14, 1971 see:

https://tinyurl.com/mrxk7der

To read the text (11 pages) of ‘The Alternative Jesus: Psychedelic Christ’— Time Magazine, June 21, 1971 see:

https://tinyurl.com/mryv8pyv

Another small article also appeared, ‘Religion: Many Things to Many Men’— Time Magazine, June 21, 1971 see:

https://tinyurl.com/bdzfkcwb

   Jesus was baptized by John. Jesus baptized others, but look what John said about this in the book of John.

“…he that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me, Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him, the same is he which baptizeth with the Holy Ghost [Holy Spirit].  And I saw, and bare record that this is the Son of God.”

John 1:33,34 KJV

   Look what Luke says in the book of Acts.

“For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost [Holy Spirit] not many days hence.”

Acts 1:5

   From a legal point of view, this verse could mean, with the coming of the greater (baptism of the holy spirit (God’s Gift), by God who is Holy Spirit (with caps), the lesser (water baptism), terminates.

   The Apostle Paul baptized only a few, but in order for them to believe to receive the greater (holy spirit), he baptized them in water. But look what is recorded in the first book of Corinthians.

“For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect.”

I Corinthians 1:17

   It is really quite simple to understand. Jesus Christ came to fulfil the law. Part of that was to be baptized in water, by John. By law, Jesus himself, baptized others in water. But the 12 apostles in the church saw this entirely new baptism, during an hour of prayer. They saw cloven tongues of fire sit upon each of them. This fire originated from God who is Holy and he is Spirit (both words intended with the first letters of each word in capital letters). It was possible by the work of his son, Jesus Christ, who ascended up far above the heavens and sat down upon the right hand of God. He sat down because, all was complete. It is in his name, his completing all that this holy spirit of God, spilt off into 12 separate flames and it sat (was complete), upon each of them. This was the first time, anyone had ever been born again or baptized, in the name of Jesus Christ. This baptism was not water, but with and in (totally within), holy spirit (the same essence as God almighty). It is called seed. It is God’s spirit, His seed, his children in those baptized in the name of Jesus Christ in holy spirit of The Holy Spirit, which is the Father, God the Creator of the Heaven(s) and the Universe. It is God in Christ, in His Children. All that God is, is in Christ. All that is in Christ (His firstborn), is in His holy children.

   I mention these things so we can understand the truth and not interpret the next image from the movie, ‘Jesus Revolution’. As I’m sure it is intended, we see a longhaired man with his back to us. He is in the water pointing towards heaven. Is he bidding those on shore to come and be baptized? Intentional? I think yes. Is this symbolic of what Jesus did around the sea of Galilee. I think yes. Is this symbolic as if Jesus Christ is the image here? Intentional? I think yes. Were they doing this water baptizing thing  in the 60’s, 70’s and etc.? Yes. Are they still doing this today? Yes. Is it accurate, according to God’s Word? No.

   So view this movie or read the book with this understanding and of the backdrop of any so-called revival taking place currently. Having said all of that, there are some wonderful points and quotes from the movie being made by some of those that were in it, from their interview in the following YouTube video. Enjoy.

   Now if you want to dispute any of this, these times or Bible quotations, Go for it, but I did not write the Bible, I  was in them or I am just…

…a witness!

Dahni

 

Bee-lieve?🐝

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Bee-lieve?🐝
By Dahni
© 2023, all rights reserved

   Manna was the supernatural food God gave to the Israelites during their 40-year wandering in the desert. The word “manna” means “What is it?” in Hebrew. Manna is also known in the Bible as the “bread of heaven,” “corn of heaven,” “angel’s food,” “bread of life” and “spiritual meat.” Remember the words “bread of life,” we will come back to it later. But where do we find this “manna” in the scriptures?

“And when the dew that lay was gone up, behold, upon the face of the wilderness there lay a small round thing, as small as the hoar frost on the ground.”

Exodus 16:14

“And the house of Israel called the name thereof Manna: and it was like coriander seed, white; and the taste of it was like wafers made with honey.”

Exodus 16:31

Coriander Seed

“And the manna was as coriander seed, and the colour thereof as the colour of bdellium.”

Numbers 11:7

   Well, this is all pretty descriptive: small “like” corriander seed, descriptive of its small size in comparison. Tastes like honey, descriptive of its sapor (taste) and the color of  “bdellium.” What is “bdellium” or wazit? Bdellium is any of several African or west Asisan trees of the burseraceous genus Commiphora that yield a gum resin. It is the aromatic gum resin, similar to myrrh, produced by any of these trees.

Bdellium Resin

   Not long after the Jewish people had escaped Egypt and crossed the Red Sea, they ran out of the food they had brought with them. They began to grumble, recalling the tasty meals they had enjoyed when they were slaves.

   God told Moses he would rain down bread from heaven for the people. That evening quail came and covered the camp. The people killed the birds and ate their meat. The next morning, when the dew evaporated, a white substance covered the ground. The Bible describes manna as a fine, flaky substance, white like coriander seed, and tasting like wafers made with honey.

   Moses instructed the people to gather an omer, or about two quarts’ worth, for each person each day. When some of the people tried to save extra, it became wormy and spoiled.

   Manna appeared for six days in a row and for 40 years. On Fridays, the Hebrews were to gather a double portion, because it did not appear on the next day, the Sabbath. And yet, the portion they saved for the Sabbath did not spoil.

After the people gathered the manna, they made it into flour by grinding it with hand mills or crushing it with mortars. Then they boiled the manna in pots and made it into flat cakes. These cakes tasted like pastries baked with olive oil. (Numbers 11:8)

“And the people went about, and gathered it, and ground it in mills, or beat it in a mortar, and baked it in pans, and made cakes of it: and the taste of it was as the taste of fresh oil.”

Numbers 11:8

Gathering “Manna”

   Skeptics have tried to explain manna as a natural substance, such as a resin left behind by insects or a product of the tamarisk tree. However, the tamarisk substance appears only in June and July and does not spoil overnight. But what about some other natural substance provided with insight of naturally occurring phenomenon?

   God told Moses to save a jar of manna so future generations could see how the Lord provided for his people in the desert. Aaron filled a jar with an omer of manna and put it in the Ark of the Covenant, in front of the tablets of the Ten Commandments.

   Exodus says the Jews ate manna every day for 40 years. Miraculously, when Joshua and the people came to the border of Canaan and ate the food of the Promised Land, the heavenly manna stopped the next day and was never seen again.

“Then said the Lord unto Moses, Behold, I will rain bread from heaven for you; and the people shall go out and gather a certain rate every day, that I may prove them, whether they will walk in my law, or no. And it shall come to pass, that on the sixth day they shall prepare that which they bring in; and it shall be twice as much as they gather daily.”

Exodus 16:4, 5

“I have heard the murmurings of the children of Israel: speak unto them, saying, At even ye shall eat flesh, and in the morning ye shall be filled with bread; and ye shall know that I am the Lord your God. And it came to pass, that at even the quails came up, and covered the camp: and in the morning the dew lay round about the host. And when the dew that lay was gone up, behold, upon the face of the wilderness there lay a small round thing, as small as the hoar frost on the ground. And when the children of Israel saw it, they said one to another, It is manna: for they wist not what it was. And Moses said unto them, This is the bread which the Lord hath given you to eat.”

Exodus 16:12-15

“And the children of Israel did so, and gathered, some more, some less.
“And when they did mete it with an omer, he that gathered much had nothing over, and he that gathered little had no lack; they gathered every man according to his eating. And Moses said, Let no man leave of it till the morning.”

Exodus 16: 16-19

“Notwithstanding they hearkened not unto Moses; but some of them left of it until the morning, and it bred worms, and stank: and Moses was wroth with them. And they gathered it every morning, every man according to his eating: and when the sun waxed hot, it melted [and thus it was spoiled]. And it came to pass, that on the sixth day they gathered twice as much bread, two omers for one man: and all the rulers of the congregation came and told Moses. And he said unto them, This is that which the Lord hath said, To morrow is the rest of the holy sabbath unto the Lord: bake that which ye will bake to day, and seethe [boil] that ye will seethe [boil]; and that which remaineth over [is left over], lay up for you to be kept until the morning.”

Exodus 16: 20- 23

   So, there were two ways to prepare this “bread” or “Manna” bake it or boil it. Whatever was left over was kept for the following day (the Sabbath = Saturday), when they were not supposed to work.

   Some people tried to gather more each day, but surprise, surprise, it would not keep, but spoiled. We are talking here about dew covering the ground. How thick was this dew? I do not know. But in order for there to have been dew, the ground had to have been holding moisture, which was also necessary for there to have been other life forms such as vegetation and insects etc. In order for this “bread” or “manna” to spoil, it had to have organic matter and moisture content. Then, the earth warmed up (the heat of the day), and this leftover “manna”, was spoiled.

“And they laid it up till the morning, as Moses bade: and it did not stink, neither was there any worm therein. And Moses said, Eat that to day; for to day is a sabbath unto the Lord: to day ye shall not find it in the field. Six days ye shall gather it; but on the seventh day, which is the sabbath, in it there shall be none. And it came to pass, that there went out some of the people on the seventh day for to gather, and they found none. And the Lord said unto Moses, How long refuse ye to keep my commandments and my laws? See, for that the Lord hath given you the sabbath, therefore he giveth you on the sixth day the bread of two days; abide ye every man in his place, let no man go out of his place on the seventh day. So the people rested on the seventh day. And the house of Israel called the name thereof Manna: and it was like coriander seed, white; and the taste of it was like wafers made with honey.”

Exodus 16:24-31

   Having called this manna “bread” it is not coincidence that Jesus Christ was referred often to as, the “bread of life.”

   God is God and can do and does miraculous things for people, but he also follows the laws of the universe and naturally occurring phenomenon. Do you recall Joshua and the people marching around the city of Jericho and then the wall fell flat? The marching is not what caused that. The Jordan River lies on a fault line, where two plates of land are shifting northeast at different speeds. An earthquake likely fell the walls and the Jordan river was damned up just as Joshua and the people went over into the ‘Promised Land’. The awesome-ness about these things is not some unexplained miracle, but God knew long before and prepared his people, for the right moments in time.

   Though I do not know what they are, could not some natural phenomenon have occurred that caused the 10 plagues of Egypt? I do not have a problem believing this or see anything that could possibly contradict the scriptures. To me, what is cool about this is that God knew what was coming and prepared his people.

   And now, what about some naturally occurring phenomenon like Manna? Could it have been a yellowish resin-like substance and about the size of coriander seed, from insects? What if these insects were a ground nesting species of insects? Due to the desert’s temperatures (cool-cold at night), and warm to hot days, could these insects left this resin while they slept at night and then gather it for their nests early in the morning, after the dew melted, but before the heat of day? Maybe they and the children of Israel came to gather at different times? No scriptures show that Israel took all of this “manna” from the ground. They were giving a specific allotment, per person, per day. Maybe whatever was left was more than enough for these insects? What about the Sabbath and there was no “manna” on the ground? Do or did these insects also rest on the 7th day? Maybe they gathered twice as much the day before, to rest on the 7th day? Were they instinctively living — the law of rest?

   Well, what is it (this), or wazit’? What if the insects were a particular species of ground nesting bees? What if this “manna” or “bread from heaven” was Bee pollen? I don’t know, but this is surely a logical and plausible possibility!

Bee Pollen

   Bee pollen is a mixture of flower pollen, nectar or honey, and bees’ digestive enzymes. What is it or wazit’ good for? It is a super food – Rich in vitamins, minerals, trace elements, enzymes, amino acids, and antioxidants. Use as an aid in recovering from illness, digestive discomfort, lack of vitality, and as an overall restorative component for good health, pollen has become noted by the alternative medicine world as a superfood.

   Is bee pollen small like coriander seed? Yes. Does bee pollen have the color like bdellium resin? Yes.

   Can bee pollen go bad or could bee pollen spoil? Yes.

   Bee pollen has a high moisture content, around 25%. That is enough for bacteria and fungus to proliferate if given enough time and the right conditions. It is best to use within the first 24 hours or so, unless frozen. Bee pollen today, is often freeze-dried to preserve its properties and flavor.

   When foraging bees fly from flower to flower, they pick up pollen, pack it into pellets, and carry them back to the hive with their legs. By the way, generally speaking, flowers grow up from the earth and bees, flying from flower to flower is technically heaven as defined as – any place above the earth. So the term “bread of heaven” is accurate.

   There are some species of bees whose nests are, on the ground.

   The pellets (bee pollen), are stored as food for the colony. Beekeepers use pollen traps at hive entrances to collect the pollen. Why, because bee pollen is best preserved immediately after harvest by freezing, slow drying or by freeze-drying.

   What about collecting two days worth, when Israel was not supposed to work on the Sabbath (Saturday)? Would the bee pollen spoil as it did when people tried to collect more than a day’s share? For this, the people ate their daily or first ration and then they could grind the rest into cakes mixed with oil (likely olive oil). Baking is one of two ways Israel could prepare their daily “manna” their, “give us this day our daily bread.” Besides helping to prevent burning when they cooked these pastry-like cakes, olive oil is a preservative.

   So what do you think? I am excited to share this with you. I have wanted to know what “manna’ was, ever since I first heard about it when I was a young child. Like I said, do I know this for certain? No, but I am quite excited about its real possibility! So what do you Bee-lieve? 🐝

Ground Nesting Bee

   Now if you want to dispute any of this (Bible quotations), Go for it, but I did not write the Bible, I am just…

…a witness!

Dahni

Revival

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Revival
By Dahni
© 2023, all rights reserved

The Ashbury Revival in Wilmore, KY and its affects on other Churches and Communities

   Is this real? Is this a real revival? I have read articles and articles about this and its history. I have seen posts all over social media. I have seen videos about this. Much of this has come from sincere and albeit good-hearted and good-intentioned people, some of whom I personally know. Is this real? I do not know. I am not there and neither am I moved to be. As from one that has studied God’s Word for over 50 years, I can only write two things: my personal observation of published events and what the Bible says.

   Of all that I have read and seen about this so called revival, now in its about 10th consecutive day is, what is clearly missing. No one has or is saying anything about God’s Word. There are no scriptures backing up this ‘thing.’ OK, so what does the Bible say?

“For if the word spoken by angels was stedfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompence of reward; How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him; God also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to his own will?”

Hebrews 2:2-4 King James Version

   First, the Word of God (the rightly divided word of God), needs to be spoken or taught privately or publicly. See: II Timothy 2:15 “rightly dividing…” With “rightly dividing,” the truth by sheer logic, could possibility be wrongly divided. Here is an example of rightly dividing the truth. It is a prophecy in the Old Testament, about the future coming of the Messiah, Jesus Christ.

“To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, and the day of vengeance of our God…”

Isaiah 61:2 KJV

   Even in English we can see that there are exactly 16 words above: 8 to the left and 8 to the right. Now, let me ask, do you think Jesus Christ “rightly divided” God word? Did he ever speak any or part of this verse from Isaiah? Open your Bibles to the book of Luke and chapter 4.

   Jesus Christ had spent 40 days and 40 nights being tempted in the desert. Look what is the first thing he did.

“And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up: and, as his custom was, he went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and stood up for to read. And there was delivered unto him the book of the prophet Esaias. And when he had opened the book, he found the place where it was written, The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, To preach the acceptable year of the Lord. And he closed the book, and he gave it again to the minister, and sat down. And the eyes of all them that were in the synagogue were fastened on him. And he began to say unto them, This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears.”

Luke 4:16-21

   40 days and 40 nights, after which he was hungry and thirsty, but all we read is that the first thing he does is teach God Word. But before that, out of respect for God’s Word, Jesus stands up and he reads the first part of the verse in Isaiah, we read before. Those words “To preach the acceptable year of the Lord…” are just eight (8), words in number. He read them and only those eight words and the scroll was closed and the people, their eyes were “fasted on him,” I would think were waiting for what he had to say next. Then he sat down why, because the custom was if you were going to read from God’s Word you stood up. Then, if you were going to preach (publicly expound the scriptures), or teach, you sat down so that all knew you could be and should be still teaching the truth, but not necessarily from the scriptures, and you would maybe not be telling the truth. This custom was to assure others that you were reading from God’s Word and it was for respect to God and for His Word to stand up while reading. Where does this respect idea come from? What does God think of His own Word and what does He have to say about his Word?

“…for thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name.”

Psalm 138:2b KJV

   Notice this verse does not say God set His word above his name or “above all” His name. He, God, “magnified His Word above all His name!” His name represents all He has ever done, is doing now or shall ever do. God has a great respect for His own Word. So did Jesus Christ. What is so important? Here is another verse I am quite sure most, if not everyone has heard in some manner and with likely, or at least, one changed word. Look at the book of John and in chapter 8:32

   And the truth will set you free? Is this what John 8:32 says?

“And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”

John 8:32 KJV

   “Ye” is just the King James language for the pronoun “you.” The next word “shall” is not the word will or maybe, but “shall,” which is the absolute tense or absolutely. It does not then say your truth or my truth, or any other truth, other than, “the truth!” And “the truth” “shall” (again in the absolute tense or absolutely), “make” not set you free. What difference does it make? It makes a great deal of difference to God and it should to you, anyone and I. It is a matter of the integrity and accuracy of God’s Word. If we cannot trust Him in every word that — He means what He says, where He says it, when He says it, How He says it and to whom He says it, it makes all the difference as between night and day and between error and truth. And unless it is “the truth,” none can be “made free!”

   Perhaps if the doors to a jail cell were opened, the prisoner could be set free. But if they just stayed in their cell with the door opened, they might have been set free, but they are certainly not— “made free!” God not only want’s to set the captives free, He wants to take them out of captivity and prepare them to live free. That’s what being “made free” means! And the only way to be absolutely “made free” is, to absolutely know — “the truth!”

   Let us go back to Jesus Christ in Luke 4. Why did he only read half, the first half and the first eight (8), words from Isaiah 61 – “To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord,…,” close the book (scroll), and then say, “This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears,” it is very, very simple. Had he read the other 8 (eight), words or the entire verse from Isaiah 61, the whole Bible would fall apart! “The acceptable year of the Lord” was for the day and time in which he spoke. “The day of vengeance of our God,” is sometime in the future. When is this? I do not know, but it is — sometime in the future.

   Are there any examples in scripture one could call a revival or a movement of God in culture? Yes! Under the leadership of one man (the Apostle Paul), beginning with about 12 households, Paul taught and disciples taught by the space of about 2 years and three months, to all which dwelt in Asia (Asia Minor), Jews and Gentiles. They heard the Word of God, God’s Magnified and Rightly Divided Word and it was confirmed by signs, miracles, and wonders. Mind you, this was done by word of mouth, face to face – each one reaching one, from house to house and without mass media, mass communication, mass transportation, without the Internet, pre-planned marketing campaign or a major crusade-designed plan in advance, by all the churches!

“And this continued by the space of two years; so that all they which dwelt in Asia heard the word of the Lord Jesus, both Jews and Greeks.”

   See: Acts 19 What was really the motivation and end result of all of this?

“So mightily grew the word of God and prevailed.”

Acts 19:20

   What not only grew, but “mightily grew”? What “prevailed” to the point it got into the entire culture? God’s Word! Was it “magnified”? Yes! Was it “rightly divided”? Yes! Did it “make” people “free”? Yes! Was it confirmed by signs, miracles and wonders? Yes! Don’t take my word for it, just go back and read Acts, chapter 19!

   In conclusion, let us read one last time, from Hebrews 2 –

“For if the word spoken by angels was stedfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompence of reward; How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him; God also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to his own will?”

Hebrews 2:2-4 King James Version

   A movement of God, a revival, a crusade or whatever it is, begins by first speaking God’s Word “rightly divided“. Why, because is is only “the truth” that can “make you free!” Then, the signs miracles and wonders follow. This is still, the only way to do it!

   Now if you want to dispute any of this (Bible quotations), Go for it, but I did not write the the Bible, I am just…

…a witness!

Dahni

Clouds of Glory

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Clouds of Glory
By Dahni
© 2023, all rights reserved

   I have been awed and drawn to clouds, sunrises, and sunsets, since I was a child. I came to know the name of my favorite type of clouds, cumulous. Those are the big puffy, cotton ball-like, marshmallows or pillow-like clouds my brother and I would often see. When the sun was going down and it was cooler, but still light out, my brother and I would often climb up onto our roof in the summer, lay down facing the sky and imagine all kinds of wonderful shapes, faces and things as the clouds seemed to move across the heavens.

   When I became a somewhat knowledgeable Christian (of the scriptures), I heard about the “Clouds of Glory.” This was an expression used when speaking about Jesus Christ and his return for those dead in Christ and those alive at his return, otherwise called, the Gathering Together.

   People and artists, perhaps ever since Jesus Christ ascended into heaven, have wondered what these “Clouds of Glory” at his return might look like. I too have wondered on this for most of my lifetime.

   I have been to many states in our country, “many”, but not all of them. I have been to several countries across this globe of ours, “several,” but not many or all of the something numbering about 172 countries. Still, there is one thing that has been quite clear to me. Though the type of clouds may be named the same, they are still different, everywhere I have ever seen them. My explanation of this phenomenon is, the Artist, our God, is infinitely diversified in scope and reach. 

   Let us look at few scriptures and see where the idea of “Clouds of Glory” has come from. Jesus Christ, on the day of his ascension was standing before his 12 disciples/apostles. Then at some point, Judas Iscariot departed and the angels spoke unto the other eleven disciples/apostles, which were of Galilee or Galilean.

“And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight. And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men [angels] stood by them in white apparel; Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.”

Acts 1:9-11 King James Version (KJV)

   According to what we just read, “this same Jesus” at some point is going to come back through a “cloud” at the exact same spot he left from. Then he will go into the city of Jerusalem, into the temple and before the ‘Holy of Holies’, proclaim himself as King of Kings and Lord of Lords. But this is after he comes for his saints (the dead in Christ and those alive in Christ when he returns). Then (time), he comes with his saints. The Bible is very clear about these events and the words “with” and “for”.

“For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:”

I Thessalonians 4:16 KJV

“And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.”

Matthew 24:30 KJV

   And that verse from Matthew above may likely be where the idea of the ‘clouds of glory’ come from? But what might these clouds look like?

LOW CLOUDS (less than 6,500 feet)

   Cumulus clouds look like fluffy, white cotton balls in the sky. They are beautiful in sunsets, and their varying sizes and shapes can make them fun to observe! Weather prediction: Fair

Cumulus

   Stratus clouds often look like thin, white sheets covering the whole sky. Since they are so thin, they seldom produce much rain or snow. Sometimes, in the mountains or hills, these clouds appear to be fog. Weather prediction: Fair, but gloomy

Stratus

   Cumulonimbus clouds grow on hot days when warm, wet air rises very high into the sky. From far away, they look like huge mountains or towers. Weather prediction: Look out for rain, hail, and tornadoes!

Cumulonimbus

MID-LEVEL CLOUDS (6,500-23,000 feet)

   Altocumulus clouds have several patchy white or gray layers, and seem to be made up of many small rows of fluffy ripples. They are lower than cirrus clouds, but still quite high. They are made of liquid water, but they don’t often produce rain. Weather prediction: Fair

Altocumulus

   Altostratus clouds are gray or blue-gray mid-level clouds composed of ice crystals and water droplets. The clouds usually cover the entire sky. Weather prediction: Be prepared for continuous rain or snow!

Altostratus

   Nimbostratus clouds are dark, gray clouds that seem to fade into falling rain or snow. They are so thick that they often blot out the sunlight. Weather prediction: Gloomy with continuous rain or snow

Nimbostratus

HIGH CLOUDS (16,500-45,000 feet)

   Cirrus clouds are delicate, feathery clouds that are made mostly of ice crystals. Their wispy shape comes from wind currents which twist and spread the ice crystals into strands. Weather prediction: A change is on its way!

Cirrus

   Cirrostratus clouds are thin, white clouds that cover the whole sky like a veil. These clouds are most commonly seen in the winter, and can cause the appearance of a halo around the sun or the moon. Weather prediction: Rain or snow will arrive within 24 hours!

Cirrostratus

   Cirrocumulus clouds are thin, sometimes patchy, sheet-like clouds. They sometimes look like they’re full of ripples or are made of small grains. Weather prediction: Fair, but cold. However, if you live in a tropical region, these clouds could be a sign of an approaching hurricane!

Cirrocumulus

All the descriptions and images of clouds above are from:

https://scijinks.gov/clouds/

   The sun draws water from the sea. Have you ever read or thought of such a thing? Well, the ancient Greeks were very logical and used words to explain such physical or real phenomenon that they also believed, were produced by the gods. These rays are sometimes called ‘backstays of the sun’. These are also known as crepuscular rays. Crepuscular means “twilight” as this is usually, but not always or exclusively, when they may be seen.

   Crepuscular rays are shades of sunlight from below the horizon shining through openings and edges of clouds into the evening sky during sunset. They primarily occur when sunlight travels through broken clouds, but also happen when the light travels through other objects under the right conditions.

   Due to its mystical or supernatural appearance, this phenomenon has been adopted and used by different religions and cultures to portray a form of higher power or divine presence. It is no wonder they are commonly referred to as, “god rays” or God’s rays.”

   Crepuscular rays are more noticeable during the late afternoon and early evening because, the beams of sunlight are most visible when there is a strong contrast between light and darkness. These conditions are optimal during sunset.

   The crystalline paths become visible to the naked eye when particles of dust in the atmosphere are touched by the light. It is a “reality parallel.” The same effect, though not with light touching particles of dust, we see by looking at a railroad track as it reaches into the distance.

   The Greek word αποσπερνός apo + spao means to draw out or away from like a knife or sword from a sheath. Sun Drawing Water is phrase based on an old Greek belief system that the rays of sunlight pull water into the atmosphere. The clouds fill up and rain will come soon.

   In 1872, artist William Trost Richards painted ‘Beach with Sun Drawing Water.’ We can see how the idea of “God’s rays” came about. When I see these rays, I like to imagine that wherever they are touching the earth, miracles are occurring there. I call them, ‘Miracle Rays’ or ‘God’s Miracles Rays.’

“Beach with Sun Drawing Water” by William Trost Richards

   Artist Arthur Garfield Love painted a work he called, ‘Sun Drawing Water.’ His paintings did not always represent the real objects. He was one of the school of abstract painters. But in 1925, he had written a poem which he entitled ‘A Way of Looking at Things’ and his abstract painting of  ‘Sun Drawing Water’ was done in 1933. to illustrate his poem.

“The sun draws water from the sea,…”

Except from the poem ‘A Way to Look at Things’
by Arthur Garfield Love (1925)

   In the fall of 2003, my wife Susan and I were on our way back home to New York. We had just left Boston, MA and were just outside of the city, when it was close to sunset. We were so astounded at what we saw, I had to pull over and take pictures.

   A copy of the following photograph hangs in my office and is available on my website for sale, along with my other ‘cloudscapes’ or photographs of clouds. I said earlier in this post that I have for a long time, been awed and inspired by clouds. I have known about crepuscular rays and this figure of speech, “Where the Sun Draws Water,” for many years. But I did not know the ancient Greeks used these words and gave this explanation, thousands of years ago. But I named my picture, “Where the Sun Comes to Draw Her Water.”

“Where the Sun Comes to Draw Her Water.”
(outside of Boston, MA)
© 2003 By Dahni, all rights reserved

   If you are interested in viewing my collection of photographs and artwork under the category of ‘cloudscapes’, click the following link:

https://dahni.com/Cloudscapes.htm

   I have seen and I’m sure you have seen many sunrises and sunsets, paintings and photographs with awe-inspiring clouds. Perhaps like me, you too have longed wondered, what these “Clouds of Glory” might look like?

   I felt like the “Clouds of Glory” would be these huge clouds with the sun shining through them and rays everywhere. Then, Jesus Christ would appear in the middle and he, the son of God (God’s firstborn), would “draw” first, all those dead in Christ and then all those alive in Christ at his coming. This “second coming” has two parts. First he comes “for” his saints (“heaven’s holiest”), the dead in Christ and then those alive at his coming (second). This is referred to as, “Our Gathering Together unto him.”

“Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him,”

II Thessalonians 2:1

   It is here and now interesting, about the word “draw” Look at this verse –

“And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will DRAW all men unto me.”

John 12:32

   What if in keeping with the ancient Greek belief that the sun draws its rays, its backstays or corpuscular rays or miracle rays or God’s rays from the water. What if the return of Jesus Christ is marked by a tower of clouds, ascending from the earth and water and there appears a  round opening with Jesus Christ in the midst? Since heaven is technically anyplace above earth, what if the feet of Jesus Christ at this time are neither on land or touching the water?  He would then have his feet still technically, in heaven and that he would be drawing others up to him is accurate.

   What if the following picture is like what it will be when Jesus Christ comes “for” his saints and the dead in Christ rise first, and then they (those Christians), which are alive at the time? What if this cloud formation is over water and on land in the horizon? No one knows the day time and hour. And no one knows what these ”Clouds of Glory” will look like. But what if, it is like the following photograph I found, but do not know who the photographer is that took it? 

Coming in the Clouds of Glory? Unknown photographer

   Now if you want to dispute any of this (Bible quotations), Go for it, but I did not write the the Bible, I am just…

…a witness!

Dahni

A Beautiful Life

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A Beautiful Life
By Dahni
© 2023, all rights reserved

Lilias (Isabella) Trotter (14 July 1853 – 27 August 1928)

A Passion for the Impossible: The Life of Lilias Trotter

“Art critic John Ruskin enthusiastically proclaimed her potential as one of the best artists of the nineteenth century, but Lilias Trotter’s devotion to Christ compelled her to surrender her life of art, privilege, and leisure. Leaving the home of her wealthy parents for a humble dwelling in Algeria, Lilias defied sterotypes and taboos that should have deterred any European woman from ministering in a Muslim country. Yet she stayed for nearly forty years, befriending Algerian Muslims with her appreciation for literature and art and winning them to Christ through her life of love.”

Excerpt from the book

Ruskin mentions Lilias

This is Lilias’ sketch Ruskin may have been reffering to

A Blossom in the Desert: Reflections of Faith in the Art and Writings of Lilias Trotter

“Lilias Trotter believed that God had two textbooks—Scripture and creation—and she studied both. Day by day for decades, Lilias recorded in words and watercolor paintings her observations of God through nature and people. A Blossom in the Desert showcases exquisite art and inspirational writings from her many devotional books, journals, and letters. Her humble insights and reflective watercolors, combined with words from Scripture…a keepsake you’ll treasure.”

Excerpt from the book

   Lilias Trotter was the inspiration for the song, ‘Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus. It is also know as, ‘The Heavenly Vision.’ It was written By Helen Howarth Lemmel, © 1922. This song was written when she was physically blind, but spiritually, 20-20.

“There lies before us a beautiful life, one with passion for giving
that shall be poured forth to God, but spent out for man.”

Lilias Trotter

   For more about Lilias Trotter, see:

https://liliastrotter.com/

   Now if you want to dispute any of this (Bible quotations), Go for it, but I did not write the the Bible, I am just…

…a witness!

Dahni

O’ Soul Are You Wearied or Troubled

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O Soul are You Wearied or Troubled
By Dahni
© 2023

   The following is a favorite hymn of mine and likely one of a man I greatly admire. He was my father in the Word, Dr. Victor Paul Wierwille. On some occasions when I sat in one of his live teachings and if she were available, he would have this particular young woman sing this song, a cappella (without instruments). I apologize that I could not find a recording of her singing and neither do I remember her name. For myself and others, its words and melody are pure and sweet, and I personally cannot recall my eyes welling up with tears and felt them fall. But it was only recently that I knew who wrote this song, when and why.

   The song is ‘Turn your eyes upon Jesus’. It is also known as, ‘The Heavenly Vision’ It was written in 1922 by Helen Howarth Lemmel. Here is a video, which provides some background about not only this beautiful song, but this beautiful woman as well.

The inspiration for this song came from a track and artwork called ‘Focused’ by Lilias (Isabella) Trotter. When the song was written, Helen Howarth Lemmel was physically blind, but she could spiritually see 20/20.

 

https://unveiling.org/focussed-2/

To follow are the lyrics.

 

Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus

(aka The Heavenly Vision)

By Helen Howarth Lemmel

©1922

 

O soul, are you weary and troubled?

No light in the darkness you see?

There’s light for a look at the Savior,

And life more abundant and free!

 

   Turn your eyes upon Jesus,

   Look full in His wonderful face,

   And the things of earth will grow strangely dim,

   In the light of His glory and grace.

 

Thro’ death into life everlasting,

He passed, and we follow Him there;

O’er us sin no more hath dominion–

For more than conqu’rors we are!

 

   Turn your eyes upon Jesus,

   Look full in His wonderful face,

   And the things of earth will grow strangely dim,

   In the light of His glory and grace

 

His Word shall not fail you–He promised;

Believe Him, and all will be well:

Then go to a world that is dying,

His perfect salvation to tell!

 

   Turn your eyes upon Jesus,

   Look full in His wonderful face,

   And the things of earth will grow strangely dim,

   In the light of His glory and grace

 

I found the following lovely version of this hymn that is sung and signed. Enjoy.

 https://youtu.be/QXWS1bMI_a0

   Now if you want to dispute any of this Go for it, but I did not write the story, as a teller, I am just…

…a witness!

Dahni

Consequence or Result

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Consequence or Result
By Dahni
© 2022, all rights reserved

   The Snobbery and Deceit of an Intellectual Idiot – A Closed Mind –

How to Be, Become or Stay A Fool

   Now any one of those could have certainly been the title of this post, but I’ll keep what is written. I will explain.

   I was listening to a conversation between two people. They were discussing the anxiety of an individual, which at one point they wanted to be taken to some Urgent Care because, they felt like they were going to die. I entered myself into the conversation. Let me ask a couple of questions:

1. If a merry heart or a happy heart could be like good medicine, would you want to know about it, IF it were possible to remove the anxiety?
2. If it was wrong and consequential to have anxieties, wouldn’t you want to know how, IF it were possible to get rid of them?

   The first response was simple, “No.” So I repeated both questions. Then they rolled their eyes and said, “I know what is coming next.” To this I responded, “So you really don’t want to know and you just want to criticize what you think I might say?”

   Though I did not quote the verses verbatim or give reference, here they are to follow:

“A happy heart is good medicine and a joyful mind causes healing, But a broken spirit dries up the bones.”

Proverbs 17:22 Amplified Bible (AMP)

“Do not be anxious or worried about anything, but in everything [every circumstance and situation] by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, continue to make your [specific] requests known to God.”

Philippians 4:6 AMP

   The answer to both questions I asked should have been simply, Yes, I would want to know, but what I got was, “So where do you think the right answers are: Buddhism, Judeo/Christian (etc.)?”

   Again I asked, “Do you really want to know?” “OK.”

   “It is really very simple. There is a difference between belief or believing in something or someone, and believing something or someone. The word believe, is a verb which connotes action. If one acts, one either gets the results or the consequences.”

   The conversation was over when they wanted to argue that results and consequences are the same thing and some anxieties and fears are good for you.

   I do not expect anyone to believe me about anything, just because I say so. I do not expect everyone to know what I know. But I do expect anyone and especially anyone seeped in empirical evidence, is degreed and highly educated, but has something missing, to at least have an open mind! To me, they are just an intellectual snob and an idiot (“ones own” – self-centered). To me, they are no different than any other that cannot believe, except for what can be perceived by one or more of their five senses. I’m not asking anyone to accept anything blindly or by blind faith. I don’t expect anyone to accept anything, especially NOT, by blind faith.

   I have a bold declaration to make here. I challenge anyone to find anything in the Bible where God says or it is implied that He or any of His representatives (including Jesus Christ), say, tell, have commanded or command (not even imply or suggest), anyone to to accept anything by faith or blind faith! Much but not all of the problem is the word “faith”. In the Greek (from which English versions of the Bible were translated from), “faith” is the Greek word pistis. It is correctly translated as believe, believing or faithfullness, depending on how it is used in the verse where it is written.

“But without faith (Greek pistis = belieivng), it is impossible to [walk with God and] please Him, for whoever comes [near] to God must [necessarily] believe that God exists and that He rewards those who [earnestly and diligently] seek Him.

Hebrews 11:6 AMP

   I suppose I was not a good witness? Or actually, they really didn’t want to know, have already made up their mind and by default, if I don’t believe as they do, I’m the idiot?

   Each man and woman and child will need to make the decision that they are either going to believe what the world says or what God says. Either/or, one needs to study. For a Christian, this is not a suggestion, but a commandment of God and is at least, common sense. How can one become confident in or trust anyone or anything of which they have no knowledge and understanding? Impossible!

“For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,” declares the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways And My thoughts higher than your thoughts. For as the rain and snow come down from heaven, And do not return there without watering the earth, Making it bear and sprout, And providing seed to the sower and bread to the eater, So will My word be which goes out of My mouth; It will not return to Me void (useless, without result), Without accomplishing what I desire, And without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it.”

Isaiah 55:9-11 AMP

   So how about God, how does He feel about His own Word?

“..for thou [God] hast [have] magnified thy [Your) word above all thy [Your] name.”

Psalm 138:2b King James Version

      God’s name represents all he has ever made, formed and created and all He is presently or that He ever will. That speaks a lot about how much confidence and trust and knowledge and understanding He has in His own Word. Perhaps we you give it heed? Maybe we (anyone), should read it and allow it to speak for itself?

   God knows we need to see proof. He knows we have 5 senses. He made, formed, created our bodies, souls and spirits to be able to handle His word by our five senses and spiritual senses. God’s advertising/marketing program is – signs, miracles and wonders. That’s how we know we are on the right track, that we are doing the right thing and we get the results of what His Word says we will receive when we believe. And when and where we do not receive what his Words says, we either do not know what His Word says and therefore don’t believe, we will receive the consequences. Believing is a law, a universal law and it is the same for saint or sinner.

Consequence or Result

   As nouns, the difference between ‘consequence’ and ‘result’ is, a ‘consequence’ is that which follows something on which it depends; that which is produced by a cause. A ‘result’ is, that which concludes; the conclusion or end to which any course or condition of things leads, or which is obtained by any process or operation; ‘consequence’ or effect.

   As verbs the difference between ‘consequence’ and ‘result’ is that ‘consequence’ is to threaten or punish (a child, etc.) with specific ‘consequences’ for misbehavior while ‘result’ is to proceed, spring or rise, as a ‘consequence’, from facts, arguments, premises, combination of circumstances, consultation, thought or endeavor.

   As an interjection ‘result’ is an exclamation of joy following a favorable outcome.

   A result of a particular action or situation, often one that is bad or not convenient: Not making a will can have serious consequences for your children and other family members.

1. Scientists think it is unlikely that any species will actually become extinct as a ‘consequence’ of the oil spill.
2. I told the hairdresser to do what she wanted to my hair, and look at the ‘consequences’!
3. Well, if you insist on eating so much, you’ll have to suffer/take (= accept and deal with), the ‘consequences’!

Modern Examples:

“But today, planned obsolescence has broader and more serious consequences.”

From The Atlantic

“I thought of those individuals, and their portrayal in the film, during an exchange about the financial crisis and its consequences.”

From The Atlantic

“And we’re going to talk about the consequences of all that transportation.”

From NPR

“But facing into the winds of this strange primary season, we can see how this denial yielded other consequences, too.”

From NPR

“Unfortunately, leaving the workforce to take care of a child can have negative life-long economic consequences, from lost wage growth to lower retirement savings.”

From CBS News

“The inevitable consequence is that patients will receive lower-quality, higher-cost care.”

From Washington Times

“Some of these deficiencies were inherent in the structure of today’s federal government, but others were a consequence of flawed leadership.”

From Foreign Policy

“It could break at any moment, with catastrophic consequences.”

From Slate Magazine

“Just as before, the consequences of falling behind will be devastating.”

From CNN

“So consequences have to be paid if he is to be just.”

From CNN

“She’s seen all the problems and the unforeseen consequences.”

From NPR

Source: https://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/dictionary/english/consequence

Etymology:

consequence (n.) late 14c., “logical inference, conclusion,” from Old French consequence “result” (13c., Modern French conséquence), from Latin consequentia, abstract noun from present-participle stem of consequi “to follow after,” from assimilated form of com “with, together” (see con-) + sequi “to follow” (from PIE root *sekw- (1) “to follow”).

Meaning “that which follows from or grows out of any act or course” is from c. 1400. Sense of “importance, significance” (1590’s) is from notion of being “full of consequences.”

result (v.) early 15c., resulten, “occur as a result, arise as a consequence of facts, arguments, etc.,” from Latin resultare “to spring forward, rebound” (in Medieval Latin “to result“), a frequentative from the past participle of resilire “to rebound” (see resilience). The etymological sense is rare in English, mostly in poetry, now obsolete. Related: Resulted; resulting.

   The word ‘result’ is a synonym of ‘consequence’. The word ‘consequence’ is a synonym of ‘result’. Synonyms are similar words, not an identical words. All words have meaning. These two words though similar, do not mean the same thing. Their origins differ in first known usage and intended meaning. Consequence was something with, together to follow, whereas a Result is, to spring forward, to rebound.

    Used in a sentence of comparing differences, ‘consequence’ and ‘result’ would be accurate as opposed to using either word to mean the same thing, which would be both confusing and inaccurate. Though similar, a result is a result of a result is not clear, just as a consequence is a consequence of a consequence is not clear. This is more or less lettuce salad and would make words useless, as a tool for communication. 

Lettuce Word Salad — close – similar, but not identical

   Do we end any and all conversations to argue over results and consequences being the same thing and some anxieties and fears are good for us, or do we at least keep an open mind and actually read what God (if He exists), the creator (if there is such an entity), of the heavens and the earths (past, present and future), says in His Word that He magnified above all his name (all He ever has created, is creating or will ever create)? Make up your own mind, but remember this, IF what His Word say is true, wouldn’t it make for just simple common sense to take a look? And even IF, it were not all true (but it says of itself that it is), wouldn’t we all just be better off and happier going nowhere to some cool place and peace of mind that doesn’t exist? No, that’s not being blissfully ignorant because, studying the Word builds believing and believing brings results — signs miracle and wonders.

“So then faith [pistis – beliving] cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”

Romans 10:17 KJV 

      How do we hear, to the end that we believe?

“Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”

II Timothy 2:15 KJV

      Remember Hebrews 11:6, “without believing it is impossible to please Him [God]? Remember that believing comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God? Hearing and believing is to study as, study is to hearing and believing. This is a mathematical axiom that things equal to the same thing are equal to each other.

   Now if you want to dispute any of this (Bible quotations), Go for it, but I did not write the the Bible, I am just…

…a witness!

Dahni