The Tower of Babel

This is a subject that came up in my therapy session the other day. I want to take a look at this story from Genesis and see how it relates to us today.

Now the whole world had one language and a common speech. As men moved eastward, they found a plain in Shinar and settled there. Genesis 11:1-2 NIV

Those verses seem to have no inner meaning, but understand that the hold world spoke on language. Makes sense since Adam and Eve started the human race we should all speak on language.

They said to each other, "Come, let's make bricks and bake them thoroughly." They used brick instead of stone, and tar for mortar. Then they said, "Come, let us build ourselves a city, with a tower that reaches to the heavens, so that we may make a name for ourselves and not be scattered over the face of the whole earth." Genesis 11:3-4 NIV

Now the Verse three talks about building materials. Verse four is where it gets interesting. Why did they want to build a tower to the heavens? The answer can be found with further study. The tower was created for reasons of, pride and rebellion against God.

Now, keep in mind that the Lord built the earth for this reason:
Then God said, "Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground." Genesis 1:26 NIV

The Lord did not want us to come together in this way, but to rule over all the earth.

But the Lord came down to see the city and the tower that the men were building. The Lord said, "If as one people speaking the same language they have begun to do this, then nothing they plan to do will be impossible for them. Come, let us go down and confuse their language so they will not understand each other." Genesis 11:5-7 NIV

Why does the Lord want to make things impossible? I don’t have an answer to this one and may never have till the day I die. Now think about how confused the people where.

So the Lord scattered them from there over all the earth, and they stopped building the city. That is why it was called Babel—because there the Lord confused the language of the whole world. From there the Lord scattered them over the face of the whole earth. Genesis 11:8-9

Today we have many different cultures, different languages and countries. I am an American I am suppose to speak English. French people speak French. Mexicans speak Spanish. There is a reason why the good Lord made it this way. I fear for the future, because now a day we are tiring to unite the whole world with things like the Euro, free trade agreements and so on. Does man kind really think they can undo the Tower of Babel? You be the judge.

Striving to be Rich

Then Jesus said to his disciples, "I tell you the truth, it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God." Matthew 19:22-24 NIV

Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, "How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!" Matthew 10:23 NIV

He has filled the hungry with good things but has sent the rich away empty. Luke 1:53 NIV

So why strive for riches? The Lord put a big halt to my striving for riches. Striving for riches is almost a sin in my book:

"You shall not covet your neighbor's wife. You shall not set your desire on your neighbor's house or land, his manservant or maidservant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor." Deuteronomy 5:21 NIV

Are you trying to keep up with the Jones? Are you eating good when your neighbor is starving? Keep in mind the Bible tells us in many spots that its harder for a rich man to go to heaven than a poor one.

I feel that a Rich man is one that has more money than they know what to do with. Poor in this article is in my mind middle class to the homeless. Its good to be prepared for the future, but don’t waste your time looking for riches.

The poor are shunned even by their neighbors, but the rich have many friends. Proverbs 14:20 NIV

When I was in the military, with plenty of money to blow it was amazing how many friends I had. Now, I budget my money a lot better and all those old friends seemed to just disappear. Only true friends have stayed in touch with me. If your one that flaunts your money STOP and see who your friends really are.

A warning to all those so called pastors that drive nice new cars and have nice new clothes. Pardon my language but, what the hell is wrong with you? A poor man will go to your church and see what you have done with your riches and feel shunned. Take the time to know that poor man. Spend time living in their shoes for a night. Your actions cause many to not even walk in the door. The Lord has moved you to a great calling and not only do you look for riches, you shun the poor. Jesus never wore a suit also, he rode a donkey.

Bottom line Jesus gave you everything he can also, take it all away. Do not flash your money. When Jesus puts it on your heart to help your fellow man DO IT. When you do it keep in mind that he also asks us to do it out of love not for the Thank yous.

Opportunity Knocks…are you listening?

I spent two months in a course for PTSD called Cognitive Processing Therapy. Part of the course dealt with finding the best in anything. You may be asking, what in the world am I talking about? I will give you an example. After the current war in Afghanistan my memory has gotten really bad. So, how is that good? Well, first of all I can watch a movie more than once without knowing the ending. I meet new people everyday and best of all I got a good excuse to forget my wife’s birthday.

Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord's will is. Ephesians 5:15-17 NIV

Do you ever think of the worst thing that has happened to you. Take time to think how that can be a positive. I really won’t bore you with everything I learned in the course. The class was able to show me positives in everything from war to rape. Take in mind one of my favorite parts of the Bible.

There is a time for everything,

and a season for every activity under heaven:
a time to be born and a time to die,

a time to plant and a time to uproot,
a time to kill and a time to heal,

a time to tear down and a time to build,
a time to weep and a time to laugh,

a time to mourn and a time to dance,
a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,

a time to embrace and a time to refrain,
a time to search and a time to give up,

a time to keep and a time to throw away,
a time to tear and a time to mend,

a time to be silent and a time to speak,.
a time to love and a time to hate,

a time for war and a time for peace.

Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 NIV

There is a time for everything under the sun. Whatever you go through the Lord has a purpose. You may never see the reason, but trust me there is one. It is only a matter of how you deal with it. Do you react positive? Are you stuck in the negative? I really need to take this to heart I am a very negative person right now.

"So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.” Luke 11:9 NIV

Let the Holy Sprit talk to you he will show you the positive over time.

End Times "hoopla"

I am one who is fascinated by the end times. People say its coming and it is, that I can not doubt. I will have articles on the end times. One thing to keep in mind its coming and has been coming even before Adam and Eve stepped foot on the Earth.

"No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man.” Matthew 24:35-37 NIV

Well, it is safe to say that most of you that are reading this know the Bible to be the word of God, to be truth. Then why question it in regards to the end times. There are signs that point to it, but if you live in the word there is much to be said in practicing it. I can tell you with 99% certainty that I will take a crap in a half hour or so. We as humans on this Earth can only control what the Lord puts in our control and nothing else.

"No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. Be on guard! Be alert! You do not know when that time will come.” Mark 13:31-33 NIV

For the end times, Jesus makes it clear that we are not in control of the time. I know that man uses the end times as a way to manipulate man to follow Christ. The end is coming, save yourself, except the Lord. Sorry to inform you, but the Lord also gave all man free will. Worry about yourselves. We like to judge people, but understand that in previous blogs we see that this is not an option.

Bottom line…
- Study the Bible
- Understand that you only control yourself
- Humans where granted free will by God (Not you)
- Except God or face your own problems (I have been here trust me God is easier)
- No one can predicate the time and coming of the Lord (He has got freewill too)
- Do not worry about the end my friends (Worry will only hurt you)

P.S. I still haven’t taken a crap. I cant predict crap either so, its normal.

Fear of the Lord

And the Lord appeared to him the same night and said, “I am the God of your father Abraham; do not fear, for I am with you. I will bless you and multiply your descendants for my servant Abraham’s sake.” Genesis 26:23-25 NKJV

Then they will call on me, but I will not answer; they will seek me diligently, but they will not find me. Because they hated knowledge and did not choose the fear of the Lord, They would have none of my counsel and despised my every rebuke. Proverbs 1:28-30 NKJV

The Bible tells us in many occasions not to fear the Lord, so why would the Bible also tell us to fear him?

But He said to them, “Why are you fearful, O you of little faith?” Then He arose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm. Matthew 8:26 NKJV

The best passage I could find in regards to an answer to fear of the Lord is…
And he commanded them, saying, “Thus you shall act in the fear of the Lord faithfully and with a loyal heart: Whatever case comes to you from your brethren who dwell in their cities, whether of bloodshed or offenses against law or commandment, against statutes or ordinances, you shall warn them, lest they trespass against the LORD and wrath come upon you and your brethren. Do this, and you will not be guilty. 2 Chronicles 19:9-10 NKJV

So we act in fear of the Lord. It took me a long time to understand this for myself. You should not be fearful in the lord as an evil being. Think of the Lord as a court. Most people obey the Law because of the consequences. You screw up to bad you go to jail, that in it self keep most from committing crime. Now, understand that if you break the laws of the Lord you will no longer live. So, fear him as you would a police officer, do not fear the Lord like you would fear a bully.

Common Sense and the Sabbath.

The Sabbath as for the Old Testament is clearly stated as a day of rest in many Scriptures and falls on the last day of the week. That means Saturday.

For it is written: “Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your manservant or maidservant, nor your animals, nor the alien within your gates. For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.” Exodus 20:9-11 NIV.

Our current world makes this hard to do. My wife has to work two jobs to help make ends meet currently. Does this make my wife a sinner? I don’t think so. Jesus brought some common sense to the mix (Thank God).

At that time Jesus went through the grainfields on the Sabbath. His disciples were hungry and began to pick some heads of grain and eat them. Matthew 12:1 NIV

Are the disciples sinners, as far as this Verse is concerned?

When the Pharisees saw this, they said to him, "Look! Your disciples are doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath." Matthew 12:2 NIV

Well, who in the world is the Pharisees and do they have the right to question Jesus?

For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 5:20 NIV

In the Verse above I see that the Pharisees are pretty much the bottom of the food chain when it comes to the kingdom of God.

He said to them, "If any of you has a sheep and it falls into a pit on the Sabbath, will you not take hold of it and lift it out?” Matthew 12:11 NIV and Jesus continues on “How much more valuable is a man than a sheep! Therefore it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath.” Matthew 12:12 NIV

Do you happen to see the common sense of the above Verses? The Sabbath is meant for doing GOOD. Keep the Lord in your heart and you will do good that day. For me every day is a form of the Sabbath. Take heart to the Sabbath day. If you recognize it on Saturday or Sunday I feel that it really doesn’t matter.

Also, I hear many people criticize people that work on Sundays. I hope that this opens your eyes, oh yea by the way… “Do not judge, or you too will be judged.” Matthew 7:1 NIV. That’s in there too.

Sorry for my absence

I am currently suffering from PTSD from the wars in both Iraq and Afghanistan. I will do my best to post a new post every day for as long as I can.