A Warped Sense of Humor.

 A Warped Sense of Humor.

 

Spoke with Lance last night. Mentioning the surgery, he assured me that if the old woman was left with just a stump on that side that he would be happy to make me a pretty, shiny peg leg. He is good with wood that way. But then he decided that it might need to have a metal case so that the kids could start a collection of those fridge magnets. That way, every time they took a trip, they could bring back a magnet to slap on the stump. He could just imagine someone asking me if a trip to Barbados had been fun. Of course, the answer would have to be that just one of the kids had brought back a magnet. Crazy kid! We got some good laughs out of it anyway.

 

Jennifer is nearly here according to my Google find app. That is one of the neatest things on my phone. Even Thompson can be tracked with that thing. He has a tag on his collar that can be made to beep. Well, beep beep! A lady just delivered flowers with a note but no name. Suspect my friend John. He’s like that.

 

Jennifer is already wrangling hens. She found one sitting on top of six eggs and just panting to beat the band. Jenn put her in the water bowl to cool her off. With two broody hens, keeping the little hen house closed up is about the only way to make those two hens stay with the others.

 

We put the fresh sheets on the bed and are waiting for the soft blankets to finish drying. Everything is nice and clean—not mopped, but cleanish. Will have to call Maria to mop the floors this next week.

 

Jenn is in the kitchen carving up a cantaloupe. Of two purchased, this is the only one that is the right texture. The hens will take care of the one that had harder flesh. As long as something has no salt in it, they can deal with it. Did you know that salt will kill a chicken? Mother-in-law accidently put salt in her big container where she kept her sugar. Made a cake and it was horribly salty. Disgusted, she threw the thing out the back door to the hens. Killed several hens that day.

 

Sterling called and said he has an appointment with a foot doctor to try to do something about his toe fungus. Kay Brough told me that she had to wear sandals year ‘round because of that crud. Guess it must be awfully easy to hurt one’s toes because of such stuff. Anyway, all we can do is pray it will heal up. Then Sterling has to teach a Bible lesson on Thursday on the seventh chapter of John. Bet he will do just fine. Christ said that no man knows when Christ will return, but only the Father. As long as we are doing our best to be faithful to His laws and be as kind to others as we can, not much more can be expected.

 

Thank you to ALL of you for your prayers.

 

Rest well, my friends. You are loved.

Preparation for Absence.

 Preparations for Absence.

 

Have you ever thought about all the things you do in a day that are actually necessary? Yes, we all goof off some each day, but if the household includes any critters, we have to consider the things that keep them healthy and happy. Around here it is only two dogs and sixteen hens, but they matter. Also, we have a trash day schedule. Not a biggie, but still. Have a feeling Jennifer won’t have to worry about unlocking the main gate for Blake to mow and weed eat unless we get some more (highly unlikely) rain this month. And then there are the peculiar quirks associated with the actual running of appliances around here. The microwave oven happens to pull an inordinate amount of electricity, so the coffee maker and microwave cannot be running at the same time. One or the other, but not both. Will try to remember to mention this to Jennifer, but the old woman should be back in the house quickly enough that it won’t matter. Only spending overnight in the hospital.

 

Two hens are broody right now and really don’t want to get off the nests in the little brooder. Neither welcomes any “intruders” for laying eggs either! And Thelma, the turken, has been hopping the front fence in order to look for another place to lay her eggs. For a while, she made a nest in the iris bed out front and each day required a trip out there to pick up her egg. Such fun—Easter egg hunting can be year ‘round!

 

The Kindle app on my notebook has been telling me that it has no internet connection. Frustration. Jenn said that it has something like one thousand books downloaded on it. Oh well. Reading for me is what TV is for other folks. Eventually maybe the old woman will get the necessary steps down to ridding the “library” of the finished books and a quick look at the ones recently downloaded.

 

It looks like some schools are learning that the electronic tablets and other technology are doing more harm than good for students’ ability to learn. In Sweden they are going back to real books and actual writing papers because the reading and writing levels fell so drastically without books. Well, duh. Just because we CAN use technology does not mean it is the best. We have at least one school here in WF which has an F in scholastic leveling. Our entire system is lacking when children can’t read and write before they enter the sixth grade. Won’t even tell you the story of the young woman who came to me to ask if she could quickly learn to read and write since she was given a sports scholarship to MSU but was unable to accept it because the coaches always had someone else to do her school work for her. That is beyond sad. It is outrageous. That is the system failing.

 

Was talking to a friend about how many children are in WF and have zero books in their homes. Our parents read to us and had us sit on their laps and learn about turning pages to get to the story. Can you believe how many children have never learned to sit and turn pages on a real book? The time spent with children is never wasted when we read to them.

 

Lately my study has been involved in the Torah lessons, but you will be spared more of that for a bit. Sterling and his silly sister talk about the lessons and the commentaries that sometimes disagree on what the scriptures say—at least in my opinion. He believes that these fellows that are lifetime students in Greek, Hebrew, and Aramaic have a better understanding of what things mean. That is probably true, but when it all boils down to it, a pattern was laid out in the seven holy days and then in the signs given by Christ. It is always possible to try to fit puzzle pieces in the wrong spots, but sooner or later, it all comes down to the Law: One God, His son, the Word, and the love that was given to us with grace. If we have love for God, love for our fellow man, and care for others as much as for ourselves, we are probably doing our best to please God. Anyway, that is my hope.

 

Rest well, my friends. You are loved.

More from Lessons on the Torah.

 More from Lessons on the Torah. 

 

God didn’t redeem Israel from Egypt by means of the Law; God FIRST redeemed them as a free gift of deliverance from bondage, and then a few months after their redemption He brought them to His holy mountain…. Mt. Sinai… to give them His Law. I propose that this is same pattern that is unchanged and intended for all Believers. FIRST we receive Christ, THEN we receive God's commandments. Because without first receiving the Lord, and more importantly the Lord accepting us, we have no ability to properly carry out His commands in the spirit they were intended. Let me say this another way:  Yeshua says in His Sermon on the Mount that The Law, the Torah, is our manual for living the redeemed life, as a member of the Kingdom of Heaven. It is not (and never was) a means to redemption. 

 

The Law tells us what sin is, and it reveals to us our sinful natures.

 

The Law, the Torah, gives us the knowledge and consciousness of sin. I suspect that most of you accept that rather easily because that generally is the standard doctrine in most denominations. Yet in the same breath it is equally as often said that the Law was and remains ONLY for the Jews. Here is the question: if God intended that the Law was ONLY to be studied and obeyed by the Jews, how is it that a gentile Christian can say that a Jewish-only Law is OUR source for the knowledge and consciousness of sin if it does not apply to us? 

 

Going into more of the lesson on the Law: ^RSV 2 Thessalonians 2:1-4 ¹ Now concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our assembling to meet him, we beg you, brethren, ² not to be be quickly shaken in mind or excited, either by spirit or by word, or by letter purporting to be from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord has come. ³ Let no one deceive you in any way; for that day will not come, unless the rebellion comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of perdition, ⁴ who opposes and exalts himself against every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, proclaiming himself to be God.

 

Who is this man of lawlessness? We all understand that he is the Anti-Christ, don’t we? So what does this man's lawlessness refer to? Is he disobedient to Roman law? To Syrian law? To American law? To International law? Is the anti-Christ simply a modern super-scofflaw like Jessie James or Bonnie and Clyde who has no regards for the different laws created by the many different societies and nations? When the Bible refers to law it only ever means one thing: The Law. The Torah. The Laws of Moses. God’s laws. Our possible entry into the Kingdom of Heaven is certainly not measured by manmade laws. So this man of lawlessness is the epitome of a worker of Torah-lessness. He is a man who will thumb his nose at God’s laws and commandments, and God’s moral definitions of good and evil. 

 

Therefore The Law is important and valid and relevant for us not only for the several reasons we’ve discussed, but because if we don’t know The Law we will hardly be able to recognize the Anti-Christ who will be primarily known by him being anti-Law…..being against God’s Torah. Being against the Law of Moses. Being a worker of lawlessness. 

 

Bottom line: This warning about lawlessness is not to pagans. This warning is to those who claim to rely on Yeshua's name, and who claim to be part of the Believers' congregation the world over. Some of these people will be intentionally counterfeit in order to inflict harm; others will deceive themselves and think they can claim Christ, but at the same time deny God's commandments and do what is right in their own eyes. Yeshua calls these the "workers of lawlessness" and they will be denied entry into the Kingdom of Heaven. 

 

It had never occurred to me that both the Jews and later the Christians despised each other—one because the Jews had the Law, and the Christians because they did not understand that grace was given through the fulfilling of the law. Jesus plainly said that He did not do away with the law—not even a tiny bit. It is up to us to learn to love others the way that God gave His love. But we have a helper. May we continue to learn to love.

 

Rest well, my friends. You are loved.

Happy Surprise!

 Happy Surprise!

 

Maggie Sewell came this morning before it got hot and brought a sweet gift—Burkett pecans from The Pecan Shed! Those are about the tastiest pecans you can find anywhere. Think they are mostly grown in Clay County, but don’t quote me on that. Anyway, thought it was so sweet of her and David to think of me and to bring me such a nice gift. Mixed in with other nuts and dried fruit, the stuff is good for my digestion and keeps me from getting hungry for junk food.

 

Just cut up a bunch of celery and mixed that with some canned artichoke hearts and heart of palm to go with roast beef and diced tomatoes with chili peppers. Yummy! Can hardly beat good veggies like that! A pan of tomatoes with roast beef and veggies will make two or three meals.

 

Patty said that her friend Debbie assured her first that the person had already been caught, but one of the hospital patients escaped this morning. Kinda spooky since these are the criminally insane. They don’t have anything to lose. The employees used to be able to tackle any that got out, but now they can only speak to them and call the police. Rolling my eyes here!! Nevermind what the escapee might do to someone in the neighborhood!

 

Roxie went on a little trip around the yard this morning and had Patty pretty disgusted for not returning when called. She threatened to get one of those shock collars! Now that is pretty serious for Patty. She said she used up all her oxygen just trying to get her to come back and then had to honk the horn a few times to get her to return. She has a police whistle, but that takes too much air for Patty. One lung is hardly enough when a person gets upset or excited.

 

Sterling called last night and we talked about how Christ taught at the Feast of Tabernacles and how HE was the water of life. So many references are made to rivers of water in the Bible. This morning on one of those pop-up web things an article talked about how the fish would die if they dove too deep because of the lack of oxygen. In the way they talked about it, they were trying to explain how Christ knew that the fishermen needed to throw their nets out again early in the morning—and sure enough they filled their nets because the fish had to come up for oxygen. Christ knew that. HE was master of the designs. Just things that interest me and Sterling. He has a lesson to teach this next week for the men’s meeting and he wants to be sure that he has the sources right. Understand completely.

 

Truly hoping that my balance improves after this surgery. Feel like a wobbly ol’ cow trying to get around. Granddad Pollard used to talk about how all the cows in Arkansas had short legs on one side or the other just from trying to stay on the mountains to graze. Know he would get a kick out of teasing me. Miss that old man.

 

Let us pray for the kindest solutions that mankind can develop. And let us never take part in hateful speech or thought about others.

Rest well, my friends. You are loved.

Just Three Rooms.

 Just Three Rooms.

 

Lay thinking last night about the arrangement of my bedroom. Sylvia’s crate is a major hassle to even move around, but the way the two doors are situated in that room, nothing but the current layout really works. Anyway, put my stepstool on the other side of the bed along with a little table and the under-the-mattress handle that helps me pull up and prevents me from falling out of bed. Got most of the dust bunnies annihilated and the floors in the bathroom and bedroom mopped. While Gregg and Vickie were here yesterday evening, Vickie cleaned the living room for me. It still needs to be mopped, but maybe the old woman can get that done later today. Have to vacuum the kitchen first. It’s always something, but at least three rooms are a little bit better.

 

Gregg filled up two large bags full of sticker plants and threw them in the trash bin. Have a feeling that bin is going to be a major problem to take across the street. If it is just absolutely too heavy for me, will ask the neighbor to take it across for me. Max is a good kid/man.

 

It seems like the older one gets, the younger everyone else seems. Ever notice that? Have also noticed that some of the folks we see often at places like Sutherlands are getting a little older, too. But isn’t it nice to be able to recognize the same employees that have worked at a place forever! Have gone to a couple of vet clinics where the front reception employees are never the same. Hmm. Makes a person wonder if the working conditions or the boss’ attitude is a problem.

 

Michelle Malay brought me a DVD player to hook up so we could watch some funny and happy movies. We talked about some movies we had watched that are definitely not PC. Blazing Saddles was one of the ones that made me just about fall over laughing. We tried to name some of the folks in those movies whose names we could actually remember. Lewis used to like the ones with James Garner in them. We both would go around saying things like “puberty hit ‘er hard!” It reminds me of taking Jennifer’s boys to see Up. We had to listen to “SQUIRREL!” all afternoon. Such good memories. Wish we could have done more of those kinds of things with them.

 

Guess no more eggs will be leaving this hill for a while. If Jenn tries to make it home on a weekend or two and Lance comes to give her a break, those eggs will all be taken to Ft. Worth. Grayson griped that he did not get any the last time his mom came up. Maybe he could come the second weekend and let his mom go home to be sure the laundry is done and things are squared away down there. It’s a long trip just for eggs!

 

Blake should be here soon to attack the crab grass. That stuff has just gone wild and wooly since we had the two rains earlier. Still have not mixed up the vinegar, Epsom salt, and Dawn to kill the grass out on the sidewalks. Oh well.

 

Just noticed that the old woman forgot to roll up the new water hose out front. It really does not need mowing out there anyway. Maybe the driver will go around it. Not too enthusiastic about going out right now anyway. Will wait to go to United until tomorrow morning, too. Will take tag renewal notice with me as well. Two birds, don’t ya see. Will also try to remember to eat a good sandwich out of this roast beef before leaving the house. Not good to go grocery shopping on an empty stomach. Now just trying to be sure to take the list!!

 

Got a call from Nikki, Dr. V’s nurse. She told me to be at the hospital at 7, but Dr. V said 6. Guess which hour will be seeing us there. She also told me it did not matter what clothes were on me upon arrival since they would strip me and let me “enjoy” a gown. Don’t you just think those gowns are the nicest way to be butt naked! Guess it won’t bother me for long one way or the other. Will only be there overnight, but Jenn will have to come home and take care of the critters. SO glad to have her here.

 

Blake did a great job on the grass—as usual. He said the crab grass was just loaded with moisture. Too bad we can’t have a goat or two out here to eat all that stuff. A horse would founder, but a goat would love this stuff.

 

Let us all pray for the teachers and students who are or will be attending classes now. Let us pray that everyone will have a good attitude no matter what. May the teachers have patience, the parents have understanding, and the students willing hearts. And may all the lessons produce a mind of reasonableness and a search for truth.

 

Rest well, my friends. You are loved.

Now to Wait.

 Now to Wait.

 

Next Tuesday is surgery day. Asked Dr. V today about walking afterwards, but he was more inclined to discuss the range of motion needed to keep the leg in the right position to heal. Guess that makes sense. No trying to sleep with the knee flexed. He wants it lying straight away. Guess the old woman will adjust. Jennifer giggles and tells me that this make break me of sitting on my legs. Danged kid!

 

Spent some time trying to decide what kind of “activities” that will be done these next few weeks. Sterling said not to push to do stuff that normally gets done around here. May ask Maria to come do the house next Wednesday if that suits Jennifer. After the appointment this morning, went straight to the feed store and have already unloaded two sacks of feed and put the big sack of dog food in its bin in the kitchen. Have a couple of roasts on in the crockpot to cook to keep us for a few days next week. Will let Jenn decide what she wants to do about meals. She does not eat very much and seldom the kind of stuff that is considered food around here. Peppers and romaine, English cucumbers, avocados and that sort of thing keep me relatively happy. Will try to fill up the fridge with easy stuff for us before next Tuesday. We can always have scrambled eggs and bacon or just scrambled eggs. Funny that the old woman hardly ever eats eggs. Also, have a big Ziplock of nuts and dried fruit pieces for nibbling that Jenn should enjoy. Sent off and got some pistachios to include with the other nuts. Those are Lance’s favorite. Tried to find some good pecans at the feed and seed store this morning, but they did not have any just plain ones.

 

Just threw together a salad for din-upper. Barely had any Romaine left, and the two regular cucumbers were just a wee bit bitter. That is why English cukes are so good—they don’t have to be peeled and they are always tasty. Had a couple of carrots already peeled and grated those into the mess. They are always good. Mexican shredded cheese and some Ranch dressing just about takes care of the situation. No tomatoes. Tomatoes are better on bacon and tomato sandwiches with a slice of pepper jack cheese. Yum.

 

Hoping that Gregg gets here this afternoon or the old woman is going to have to wobble out to the fence row on the east lots to look for stickers. Surely don’t want Blake to mow a bunch into the rest of the grass. Those things really hurt. Guess God had His reasons for making grass burrs, but these are just nasty!

 

The zinnias and some marigolds are showing out in the front flower bed, but the tomatines are pretty well taking over the place. Had no idea those were even in among my seeds. Vickie planted them for me, but bet she had no idea either. The little fruits are the kind they put in green sauce for enchiladas and other stuff. Have never eaten one plain, but guess it might be interesting to try.

 

The avocadoes put into my salad today were a bit bleah. The problem with letting someone else pick your groceries for you is that they just reach and grab without actually feeling of the things. These were a bit shriveled. Sigh. Oh well. Beats wobbling around over half an acre of concrete floor.

 

Have you ever given any thought to Ruth? She came back to the nation of Israel with her mother-in-law after her husband died. She could have stayed in the land where she had lived before she met him. But she decided to go back to the land where he and his mother had lived before. She was not an Israelite, but a Moabite. But my guess is that she was a fairly good-looking young woman. At least she felt determined to take care of herself and her mother-in-law. She learned to glean the corners of the fields where they settled. She may have had to put space between herself and some of the young men who were working those fields, too. Use your imagination. She did not have a husband to protect her, only her common sense. But she was loyal to Naomi (MIL) and returned to Bethlehem to live. She was noticed by Boaz, the owner of the grain fields, and he told the threshers to be sure to leave enough standing wheat for her to gather enough for her needs. Then Naomi noticed the amount and told Ruth that Boaz was a kinsman. Threshing wheat by hand is tiring work, so it was no wonder that Boaz was not immediately awakened when Ruth lay down at his feet one night and covered her feet with his blanket. You know the story. He decided he wanted her and bargained for her with one other kinsman. Their son was named Obed. And from that child came a king—our savior. However many generations it may take, God seems to always have things worked out ahead of time. If we knew where we were to glean the fields, don’t you feel that we would do it with a glad heart if we knew that the outcome would be a miracle? Do today your very best to put your hand to gather what is before you—good works, kindnesses, and encouragement for others. God still performs miracles.

 

Rest well, my friends. You are loved.

Sleepy Sunday.

 Sleepy Sunday.

 

We got a lovely rain this morning that will make the grass take off again and give the lawn keeper plenty to cut. Love, absolutely LOVE the green grass. Green was Lewis’ favorite color. He was convinced that it was God’s favorite color, too.

 

Finally got the clothes taken from the dryer, folded, and put away. That and cooking some beef rib meat with a potato and an onion has been about the sum of my activities today. Finished one mystery book and started another. Cozy mysteries are so much fun—trying to figure out the who and the why makes me think twice, but the settings in these books are all about the English countryside. This particular author has an edgy resistance to the overbearing presence of the government in everyone’s life. The contrast with the amount of government oversight in America with that in England is really strange. How either nation ever became so strictly uptight about anyone’s habits of living surprises me. Even Patty and the old woman spoke about that this morning when we talked about the habits of neighbors and cutting grass. We have one neighbor who hardly ever cuts a field of high grass that can become a dangerous fire hazard. But all we can do is talk to the code enforcement office folks. It’s about the same in most cities, probably, but it is pretty disgusting when people make things along the neighborhood look trashy. Sterling was saying that he has one neighbor who just throws trash out in front of his home in bags without picking it up. Stupidity. Laziness. Argh!

 

Eventually, when most of the hens are gone from this hill, the chicken coops will come down unless the old woman manages to create a greenhouse out of two parts of the coops. But meanwhile, Sterling said that we need to do some experimenting with water collection (from air) and producing electricity with magnets. It has been interesting to see that water can be collected simply by keeping a plastic cover over a hole in the ground. It might take several holes and covers to have enough to drink for even one person, but it makes sense that it would do in an emergency. Sterling thinks the same can be done with magnets to produce electric lights or whatever is needed. Fascinating ideas, but these things are already happening in some places in Africa and KIDS have figured out how to do it!

 

Told Patty this morning that my knee is feeling SO much better right now before it is time to do surgery. She reminded me that the old woman has not been ON the silly leg that much lately. Well, duh.

 

Sitting here thinking about the contrast between England and America. England has hardly an inch of land that has never seen the footfalls of people. And America has land that has never seen the footprints of anyone. In England, battles have taken place from one end to the other wherever people have settled. In Alaska, some places have never been explored, much less settled. Not sure, but the same may be true about the Canadian lands.

 

Saw a headline on the computer this morning that said the earthquake in Russia had affected Death Valley. Who knows what wrinkles have been bunched up in the earth’s crust! God knows and has told us that these things are just the beginning of things to come. The salt water along the eastern coast has begun to go up the creeks from the ocean and the salt is killing the fields planted there. No corn, no wheat means no food. Might be a good idea to learn to like—and plant—turnips!

 

Guess it is about time to go count the hens and see if any of them are hiding out again tonight. Have two that have gone broody and want to sit on eggs. Sigh. And two are molting with feathers flying all over the place. Guess it is just that time of year.

 

Rest well, my friends. You are loved.

Visits and Such.

 Visits and Such.

 

Michelle Malay made it to WF today to pick up her groceries at United and then stopped by to drop off some movies and a DVD player. She wants to be sure that the old woman stays entertained while recovering. Hoping that Jennifer knows how to make these things work, but at the same time am pretty aware that the kids have made it easy for me to watch movies or whatever on Prime and something else. Guess that pretty well shows how often a movie is on the agenda around here. The notebook that Lance gave me has the Kindle app on it, and Amazon keeps me able to stack up tons of books that do not have to be dusted. Have even gone back a few times and re-read something that really appealed to me the first time.

 

The dogs have been almost as active as the old woman today—not much going on. Other than washing a blanket and some clothes (ALL of my summer shorts!), the old woman has not accomplished doodly. Oh well. Made some chicken salad that turned out pretty good. Thompson and Sylvia got to lick the bowl like a couple of kids with cake batter! And yes, the bowl has been thoroughly cleaned!

 

Very short conversation with Patty today. Think she is tired and ready to not have any company for a bit. At least Roxy is doing well despite the storm we had the other day. She is letting Patty sleep all night.

 

Read some of the scriptures mentioned in the last blog post this morning and decided to go back into the Torah lessons by Bradford and see what he has to say about those in Isaiah and Zechariah. Should be interesting. So much to learn.

 

Forgive me if this is a short post. For some reason the old body is especially tired tonight. Who knows if sleep will help, but it can’t hurt. SO glad that God gives us rest in this lifetime.

 

Rest well, my friends. You are loved.

The Electrical Storm.

 The Electrical Storm.

 

We had a real dandy storm this afternoon. Lightning knocked out my computer or the things that make it work. Anyway, here we are again on the FIRST day of August! Amazing how quickly time moves on.

 

The storm also gave us a good downpour that the dogs and the old woman watched as it crossed over Lake Wichita. Love to watch storms like that when it is obvious that nothing is too dangerous about them. Of course, that lightning was not anyone’s joke. Sylvia wanted under the desk, and the old woman felt pretty much the same way!

 

Last night Jennifer told me that she had received a notice for jury duty, so a call to Dr. Vietenheimer’s nurse gave our request for an excused absence letter validation. The nurse said that she should have the letter to me by Tuesday. Here’s hoping! For sure the old woman would not be able to be alone by August 19—just seven days after surgery. Might could, but not happily.

 

Talked to Michelle Malay twice today. She is supposed to be here bright and early in the morning. The last time she came to WF, the county was mowing the six-foot tall grass on the sides of the road and stirring up all the livestock—deer, porcupines, pigs, and assorted creatures. One small little Bambi jumped out and hit her truck, but apparently it did no damage to either the critter or her truck. Praise God!

 

Maggie Sewell came early this morning and picked up three dozen eggs and brought more egg cartons. Right now, the cartons are not really needed, but as sure as folks stopped bringing them, we would desperately need them! Life as usual.

 

Have not been interested in what is going on in this old world for the most part today. But had an interesting conversation with Sterling about Bible study and his group of men who gather every Thursday to discuss things from the Bible. Some of the men are deadest against any kind of commentary and feel that ONLY the Bible should be read rather than some man’s opinion. Sterling said that he told the group that these men who are dead now but had spent their entire lives studying the Hebrew scriptures were bound to have a better understanding of what the Bible says than what an old country boy like him would know. Don’t know if these men realized the insult in that statement, but if they don’t get it, they will eventually.

 

Anyway, Sterling reminded me of a scripture about the nation of Israel. Have you ever wondered how many years are in a generation? According to the Jewish way of looking at things, it is 77 years. It has been 77 years since Israel became a nation. Anyway, here is something that is of interest:

Isaiah 11:11 indicates the significance of Israel becoming a nation in 1948, for it refers to God recovering “the second time with His hand the remnant of His people” (NASB77). The “second time” refers to the regathering—in belief (her future state)—at the conclusion of the seven-year tribulation (Matthew 24:31). The present Middle East peace crisis will reach its climax in the nations staggering and stumbling over Jerusalem, the “cup that causes reeling” (Zechariah 12:2, NASB95). The fact that Israel is reestablished as a nation and regained control of the entirety of Jerusalem’s eastern half and Old City (since the Six-Day War in 1967) is a general indication that God is bringing the church age to completion.

 

For me, it is an excellent reinforcement of God’s promises. HE will have things done in His will.

 

Rest well, my friends. You are loved.