Yes, there is a point to this, but first leave your guesses in the comments section

Instructions: Read the Bible verses below. In the comments section, name the book, chapter, and verse where scripture #1 and scripture #2 can be found. Thanks!

1—”If the Lord’s monument is not discouraged that it cannot give victory, neither His audience glorified that it cannot be obeyed.”

2—”For magistrates in this manner entertained the government so that they commissioned themselves the only student, so that any credit for themselves should not be lost, rather held on to forever in fulness of life.”

Answers will be posted next Sabbath.

 

Third Tithe—Yes or No?

Ok, so now to the point. I’m posting again because I recently heard that several COG groups have decided that it is no longer necessary to keep third tithe. Actually, I guess I’m misrepresenting the point. The groups do not teach that we should not pay third tithe, but rather that the government pays this tithe for us. In their view, social security, welfare, etc. pay for these needs. As the money for these services comes from the taxes that we pay, they have determined that we already pay more than a third tithe to support the widows, orphans, and strangers among us. But is this the right decision. I don’t believe that it is, and I have several reasons for feeling this way. In the spirit of keeping the posts short, I am listing them below (with color added) without much comment. Please let me know if you have any questions after reading them.

1. Very simply, God says to pay third tithe every third year. None of the COG groups (that I know of) are denying this, so I’m not sure how the issue of third tithe viability ever came up.
2. God expects us to learn to be like Him. I think some people feel that the plan is for us to make it into His Kingdom in the first resurrection and then train there. Yes, there will be some training there, but honestly, if we aren’t training now, then what is the purpose of this life. One of the roles that God plays is that of provider. Every three years, God gives us a chance to play that role for others. We do not become the provider for those that we give third tithe to. However, as distributor of the money that God has provided for those people, we learn to assess need, determine the amount needed, and how to be fair to others. I believe this is a HUGE lesson that we must learn now and not in the future. If we leave it up to the U.S. government to become the provider for the needy, then we miss out on a wonderful chance to be like our Creator. Can we really pass up that opportunity?
3. Speaking of the government becoming the provider for the needy, where does God ever give us the opportunity to pass off a responsibility that HE gives to us on to someone else?
4. The idea behind social security is that we pay our own. We pay in, and at retirement age, we receive it again. Paying into social security, in theory, does not pay for anyone else. It only pays for us. How does this fulfill the third tithe law?
5. The governmental systems, including social security and welfare are corrupt. The idea of social security failed years ago. The social security taxes that we pay go either to those now collecting social security or straight to whatever government coffer Congress chooses. The welfare system rewards the needy who have more children with more money. The purpose and intent of third tithe was never to provide government funding or make a career out of having children. To equate the two is really unfair to God.
6. Tax returns—Many of us get tax returns. Sometimes, it’s possible to get more in the return than was actually paid in to the government. If all that money comes back to us, then how are we paying third tithe?
7. This point is dependent upon how you keep 1st and 2nd tithes. There are some who tithe on their gross income and those that tithe on only the net, as they consider that their increase. When a person tithes only on the net because they feel that the money they paid in taxes was never their money, how can they claim that the money they paid in taxes fulfills third tithe? It was never their money from the beginning.
8. It strengthens our faith—I can say from personal experience that our own third tithe years never seem to work on paper.  On paper we never have the funds to pay our bills, but in the end those years up being some of our most profitable. I have heard this from others as well. This can only be credited to God and His blessings for obedience. If this was not from God, then why would He seem to continually bless it?

So anyway, just a thought.

 

Blog Format

I plan on adding to the blog on a more regular basis if I can, but the format will change to some extent. I just wanted to post a quick note as to why. While my posts before included quotes from scriptures and sometimes more text than needed, I no longer have the time to do that. What I do post will still be based on the Bible, but the quotes will not necessarily be posted in the blog itself. If anyone has a question about what I’ve posted, please feel free to leave the question in the comments section. I will cite the scriptural references there. This should help with “preaching to the choir” a little bit. If someone already knows which verses I’m referring to, then there is not a necessity to post them. If a person does not know which verses I’m referring to, then I will be happy to list them in the comments section if someone asks.

 

Happy Sabbath

It’s been some time since I’ve posted a blog here. I’m not sure of the reason, but I’m posting tonight.

First, let me wish everyone a happy Sabbath! What a great blessing from God. The opportunity to shut off the world for an entire 24 hours is only something God could have designed. Don’t waste a second of it.

 

Truth

This is truth:

Everything else is politics.

 

Seeking comments

I have to start work in less than 10 minutes, but I wanted to post this question about Atonement. There are lots of aspects that can be discussed about the Day of Atonement, but I want to know your opinion on the part about afflicting our souls. Why are we required to afflict our souls on the Day of Atonement?

I know there have been many sermons on this topic, but I think there are probably depths of symbolism to this that we have not necessarily considered. Do we afflict our souls because when satan is put away, Isaiah 58:6 will be fulfilled and the “bands of wickedness” will be loosed? Is it because we, in some small way, are paying our part of the penalty for afflicting so many other souls when we sin? We know that sin hurts everyone, and we bear some responsibility in that. (Yes, Christ’s blood covers our sins, but there is still the principle of reaping what we sow).

I have some ideas, but I’m wondering what everyone else thinks—and I’m five ten minutes late for work. :0)

I have some links that I hope to post this week, but what a busy time of year this is! I will see what I can do.

 

Feast of Trumpets

Happy Feast of Trumpets to everyone!

I don’t know about anyone else, but often I find that at the end of Holy Days and Sabbaths, I often wish I’d made better use of the time. Not that I do anything wrong, necessarily, but time could always be more wisely spent. In particular on the Holy Days that only come around once every year. Given that this is time that God has given us to share with each other and Him, it seems very regrettable to waste any of that time. I note this now, at the beginning of the Feast of Trumpets, so that hopefully I can spend this time the way God intended. On that note, I hope everyone has a great Feast of Trumpets and benefits from everything that God offers us on this special day.

 

Mind or Body—Part 2

More from Kathy Downs . . .

This principle of maturing also applies spiritually.  Gaining technical knowledge of God’s Word also helps us to function with more spiritual consistency.  God tells us that our thoughts are not His thoughts.

[Is. 55: 8-9]  “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways,” says the LORD.  “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts.”

How limited we are compared to God! Our thoughts must become His thoughts.  In my case God was/is allowing the disability to help me grow spiritually.

As I started walking around the age of six my confidence was not there due the fact of being unstable.  With each step there was great fear of falling as well as being hurt.  Within time confidence was developed, even though, there were and are still times that I fall, but I get up to continue towards my destination.

Is not that is what it is like walking by faith?  When we first start to walk by faith, we fall in fear that we will get hurt. As our spiritual legs strengthen, our faith/confidence in God becomes more stable.  With each and every trial we see even more clearly our Heavenly Father and Brother are there encouraging us towards that awesome destination.

[2 COR. 5: 7] For we walk by faith, not by sight. Gal. 5; 22, is brought to life; faith/faithfulness and longsuffering/patience which is needed to continue forward.

Involuntary movements are a part of the disability.  Overcoming these took many years of mind and body conflicts.  An able-bodied person tells his body what to do, and it automatically does it.  I must force the message from the brain to the hand to have the hand do what it should automatically.

With years and years of controlling the body from the mind I have very little involuntary movements.  Overcoming ourselves very much falls in the same category.

[John 16: 33] “These things I have spoken to you, in Me you may have peace.  In the world you will have tribulation, but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”

We are to take on the mind of Christ by controlling our minds and not think involuntary   Forcing the involuntary thought to a controlled thought with the Holy Spirit. For we do what Rom. 12: 21, says, Do not be overcome with evil, but overcome evil with good.   As long as we have Phil. 2: 5, in place; Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus.

Anything to do with the brain is complicated. This describes my disability, cerebral palsy, which resulted from lack of oxygen to the brain, causing brain cells that control the motor to not function. Throughout the years, to a degree, I learned how to simplify some things in order to do more.   When others come in contact with me, not knowing the things that I do, this adds complications to my life.  This helps me understand why we humans tend to make Christ out to be complicated even with God’s Spirit.  The Bible speaks about the simplicity of Christ Jesus.

[2 Cor. 11: 3] But I fear, lest somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, so your minds may be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.

The plain truth is that we need to take God at His Word and do not out guess or out figure or out reason Him.  The knowledge and understanding that we are gaining should be deflating us.  By being deflated growth comes much more easily with permanent Righteous Character changes.

Another lesson is quite a difficult one for us to understand. This is not showing partiality or not being a respecter of persons.  As Rom. 2: 11 says, for there is no partiality with God. Along with:

[Luke 20: 21] And they asked Him, saying, “Teacher, we know You say and teach rightly, and You do not show favoritism, but teach the way of God truly.

You see, God sees the pearl and not just the shell outside.  He has that pearl in a shell for it to develop into a beautiful jewel. When others see me, what they see is the shell.  They see a cripple, without a mind or with a limited mind.  It is often beyond their thinking  that there is a pearl developing.  What is interesting to me, either knowingly or unknowingly, they think that I am not able to see past their unwillingness to see the pearl.  We must get past the shell on the outside to see that pearl on the inside.   This scripture can help:

[1 Peter 1: 17] And if you call on the Father, who without partiality judges according to each one’s work, conduct yourselves throughout the time of your sojourning here in fear.

As we live this principle, the ones who were willing to get past the shell see how God has thus far been developing the pearl inside. That shell means nothing to God but that pearl means Eternal Life to God.

In the end these two scriptures will be established in our lives:

[Deut. 10: 17] “For the LORD your God is God of gods and LORD of lords, the great God, mighty and awesome, who shows no partiality nor takes a bribe.
[Acts 10: 34] Then Peter opened his mouth and said:   “In truth I perceive that God shows no partiality.”

It takes a person who is applying God’s Mighty and Awesome Spirit to reach this.

As Ps. 121: 2 says, My help comes from the LORD, Who made heaven and earth.  And Ps 124: 8, says, Our help is in the name of the LORD, Who made heaven and earth.  It appears to me that it is difficult for able-bodied persons to come to grip with this concept.  I probably come across to others that I am very independent.  It is not as much as being independent as it is I trained my body to function a certain way to do the task at hand.  If there is a need for help, I would ask, or, receive help when offered.  God wants us to come to the realization that we can do nothing without Him. Some interesting scriptures referring to Christ:

[John 9: 33] “If this Man were not from God, He could do nothing.”  Jesus Himself even said, in John 5: 19] Then Jesus answered and said  to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He sees the Father do; for whatever He does, the Son also does in like manner.”  John 8: 28] Then Jesus said to them, “When you lift up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am He, and that I do nothing of Myself; but as My Father taught Me, I speak these things.

As the words of Jesus explain, He was taught by the Father and He put into motion what the Father gave Him.  Why do we perceive ourselves better than our Elder Brother?

We cannot even die unless it is the Father’s will. Think about it with Christ’s words in Matt. 26: 39] He went a little farther and fell on His face, and prayed, saying, “O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me, nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will.”, Mark 14:  36] And He said, “Abba, Father, all things are possible for You.   Take this cup away from Me, nevertheless, not what I will, but what You will.”  Luke 22: 42] …, saying, “Father, if it is Your will, remove this cup from Me, nevertheless, not My will, but Yours, be done.”

The Father determines our death so why do we fight when it comes to how we should live?  The carnal mind is against God, Rom. 8: 7] Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be.  Rom. 8: 6] For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.  Which means that the spiritual mind submits to God for it becomes a process however long that it may take to reverse the carnal mind set into the spiritual mind set.

This disability to me is a way of life because it has been this way since birth.  Therefore, I can relate to how God wants us to be living His Way of Life.  When we are called it is into a totally different way of life, which at the start is hard to comprehend.  This scripture is brought to our minds to begin the process.  John 14: 6] Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life.  No one comes to the Father except through Me.”

The Father wants us to incorporate His Way into every aspect of our lives so that we will not know any other way.   Would it not be an honor to read this about us, Acts 18: 25-26] This man had been instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in spirit, he spoke and taught accurately the things of the Lord, though he knew only the baptism of John. So he began to speak boldly in the synagogue.  When Aquila and Priscilla heard him, they took him aside and explained to him the way of God more accurately. Instead of it being second nature to us it becomes first nature to us.  We automatically are living His Way without giving it a second thought not knowing any other way just like I am with the disability.   Which is more important to God, physical or spiritual healing?  Think about this question, keeping in mind the body decays and the spirit go back to God.

In the Old Testament there is description of people hearing, seeing and leaping which is physical healing.  Is. 35: 5-6] Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped.  Then the lame shall leap like a deer, and the tongue of the dump shall sing. For waters shall burst forth in the wilderness, and streams in the desert.  As in the New Testaments when someone sees they are receiving the Truth, when they hear they understand the Truth.  Here in John 8: 32] “And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”  Once that we begin to understand the Truth we realize the blessing that was given to us from God.  Due to the fact there is no longer spiritual blindness and deafness.

As Matt. 13: 16-17] “Blessed are your eyes for they see, and your ears for they hear, “for assuredly, I say to you  that many prophets and righteous men desired to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it.  In agreement is Luke 10: 23-24] And He turned to His disciples and said privately, “Blessed are the eyes which see the things you see; “for I tell you that many prophets and kings have desired to see what you see, and have not seen it, and to hear what you hear, and have not heard it.”  The latter is precious to God because it interrupts Spiritual healing.  Our minds and not bodies are being healed for the greatest gift of all—Eternal Life.

Some have assumed that I accept the disability, when I mention that I do not accept it; instead I cope with it. There is an indentation that when something or a situation is accepted it will not change.

I know the disability will change, if God decides to heal me before death, if not, at the resurrection.  In, Eccl. 3: 3, we are comforted with these words, and a time to heal; mom not using this verse, taught me, (she was not in God’s church) that God could heal you any time but you died disabled God decided not to.

As far as the Word of God is concerned, that is what I accept.  It does not change.  We are told in Heb. 13: 8] Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.  Heb. 1:  12] …, But You are same, and Your years will not fail.”   While we gain knowledge and understanding this is what Jesus Christ is doing with us as the first of Heb. 1: 12 shows, Like a cloak You will fold them up, and they will be changed. …  When others want me to be healed, I am not that concerned about being healed.  I use the disability as a spiritual learning device, it is a tool.  Most important God has known for several years that I use it for a learning tool.

Most importantly, God has known for several years that I use it for a learning tool.  I am not ready to let go of this tool there is many more lessons to learn spiritually.  The next time you see a disabled person do not limit yourself or that person; most of all God.  Believe me, when God calls a disabled person He does not limit that person spiritually.  Instead, think on these things.  I hope this will help you see them as God sees them.  In addition, I hope you will learn from these parallels as I have.

Kathleen Downs

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Mind or Body—Part 1

Below is the first part of a study done by Kathy Downs.

What do you think the most important part of a human being is to God? We are told through scriptures that the body returns to dust and man’s spirit returns to God (Ecc 12:7). Then the dust will return to the earth as it was, and the spirit will return to God who gave it.

The goal in writing this is to help you focus on what our Heavenly Father focuses on, the mind and heart and not the physical body. Why? The mind contains our thoughts and the heart contains our emotions.

For this reason we must bring every thought into captivity and develop self-control (2 Cor 10:5), casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ (Gal 5:23)…self control.

I am a 51-year-old woman who has cerebral palsy since my first moments of life. Following a breech birth, the attending physician dropped me, resulting in cerebral palsy. I have lived on my own for the last 25 years; I have been trained to do so, especially by my mother.

By having a disability I gain insight into two important aspects of being human – mind and body. In order for me to accomplish a task I must concentrate on what needs to be done, bringing my thought into captivity. Next, I must bring my body under control to put that thought into motion, which leads to self-control, controlling my body.

I was advised in my early twenties by a minister to do some research about the disability. He commented that by doing so that I would understand what I am dealing with. I took his advice and ran with it, and here are some lessons that I discovered.

As I learned about the disability there were understandings into the inner workings of the limitations, which help me see my limits more clearly. The description that I read of the disability is that of involuntary movements and spastics, which comes across to others as though my body is twisted and in pain.

God wants each one of us to understand where our limits are for us to rely on Him more fully in every facet of life. Once I understood the technical aspect of the disability, I came to understand my own thinking process more clearly. As I started to mature mentally and emotionally, in addition, I was maturing spiritually. As I matured in these ways, I gained a higher level of understanding that helped me function with a little more consistency working with the disability.

More to come . . .

 

Criticisms

Just wanted to note that while I think most of what I put on this blog is true, I understand that I’m sometimes wrong. If I’m using scriptures in the wrong way or have said something that you disagree with, please leave a comment saying so. We’re all in this together, so I need to be corrected when I’m wrong. If you’d rather not leave a comment on the post, you can email me: pickledgrapefruit@gmail.com

It will be especially important as I’m trying to “look at love from both sides now” so to speak. At any rate, I am trying to look at it from all the different angles we see in the Bible. Thoughts, comments, and correction would be greatly appreciated.