Good books on Genesis

Prof. Dr . John Byl suggests some good (and warns against some not so good) books on Genesis, here:
http://bylogos.blogspot.com/2010/03/good-books-on-genesis.html

How blessed can one be?

Kinders, skoonkinders, kleinkinders - HOE geseënd kan mens wees?

Garden wedding... under the chuppah

My last-born, Lilli and her husband, Jurie Verster, celebrate their wedding at Shady Acres, Potchefstroom.

Count your blessings...

Count Your Blessings
Ephesians 1:3
Words by Johnson Oatman, Jr., 1856-1922
Music by Edwin O. Excell, 1851-1921
Verse 1
When upon life's billows You are tempest tossed,
When you are discouraged Thinking all is lost,
Count your many blessings Name them one by one,
And it will surprise you What the Lord hath done.

Chorus:
Count your blessings Name them one by one.
Count your blessings See what God hath done.
Count your blessings Name them one by one.
Count your many blessings See what God hath done. (Read on)

"Your children are not your children..."

Another Kahlil Gibran poem:

On Children

Your children are not your children.
They are the sons and daughters of Life's longing for itself.
They come through you but not from you,
And though they are with you yet they belong not to you. (read on)

Pain

And a woman spoke, saying, "Tell us of Pain." (Read on under comments)

Accommodation Error

The theological principle of Accommodation is that God, while being in his nature unknowable and unreachable, has nevertheless communicated with mankind in a way in which humans can understand and respond.

Prof John Byl discusses different kinds of accommodation in an article here: http://bylogos.blogspot.com/2010/03/accommodating-error.html (Read on under comments)

“Hoofstroommens” Hoffie Hofmeyr vat Julian Müller aan

WONDERLIK om te weet mens is nie stem roepende in die woestyn nie! In BY van Beeld, vandag , nie elektronies beskikbaar nie (lees verder)

Famous Jerusalem Synagogue Rebuilt

The Hurva Synagogue in Jerusalem's Old City, which has already been destroyed and rebuilt once in its 300-year history, has been restored once again. Ynet reported that on Monday [March 15], the new Hurva, located in the Jewish Quarter, was inaugurated. While the Jewish people were excited to see the synagogue rebuilt, following decades of lying in ruins, Hamas used the synagogue as a call for Palestinians to riot, which took place earlier this week, according to www.JerusalemOnline.com news. (Read on under comments)

Evolution’s onslaught on christianity world wide?

The Dutch Reformed Church is not the only church that is suffering from an onslaught of evolutionists. Those who are interested, can read here:
http://bylogos.blogspot.com/2010/03/dubious-dutch-connections.html

Mother Teresa's Daily Prayer

Dear Jesus,

Help me to spread Thy fragrance everywhere I go.
Flood my soul with Thy spirit and love.
Penetrate and possess my whole being so utterly that all my life may only be a radiance of Thine.
Shine through me and be so in me that every soul I come in contact with may feel Thy presence in my soul.
Let them look up and see no longer me but only Jesus.
Stay with me and then I shall begin to shine as You shine, so to shine as to be a light to others.

Mother Teresa's Daily Prayer

Happy birthday, Ernie!

May God abundantly bless you on your 42nd birthday, may His lovingkindness enfold you all as you celebrate this day (Ps 42:8). May the words of Is 42:3 be true throughout this new year.

What do YOU think of Jesus?

First we have to look at how God reveals Himself to us. It is said that God reveals himself to man by general revelation (nature) and by his Word (specific revelation). And then there is a third way, which is often forgotten: through Jesus Christ “God ... hath in these last days spoken to us by his Son... (Heb 1:1-2).

In Matthew 16:15 Jesus asks his disciples “Who do you say I am?” So now we can also ask the question : what do I think of Jesus, the one through whom God reveals himself to us?

Father-child relationship

Very few human relationships can as aptly be used to show how God relates to us, and how we should relate to Him, as a father/child relationship does.

God as Father is not a New Testament concept. Take for instance in Psalm 10:14 , where God is called the Father of the fatherless.

The most well-known place where Jesus addressed God as Father, is in the Lord’s Prayer (Mat 6:9), where He also teaches us to call Him so. In Mark 14:36 He uses a term of endearment, "Abba"", like the word “Daddy” in addressing God. This echoes in Rom 8:15 where Paul says we cry “Abba” Father when we call on the Holy Spirit.

Calling God “Father”

“I dared to call Him Father” is a book on the fascinating true story of Bilquis Sheikh, a Muslim woman who became a Christian. Why was it a DARING act to call God “Father”? Unlike Christianity, Islam does not have a separation between Father, Son and Holy Spirit and simply views God as the unique creator and ruler of the universe, so calling God “Father” is unthinkable for them.

Wordless song

Wordless song within the waters,
whales draw breath and dive and sing.
Hymns no human tongue can offer
set the ocean echoing.
Wordless singers wake our wonder;
what can human voices bring?
We will offer words for praising
God the Maker of all things.

Wordless song in early morning,
songbirds sing as day draws near.
Carols publishing their presence
please the waking human ear.
Wordless singers claim their places,
with a flag of song unfurled.
We will sing the name of Jesus,
word of joy that claims the world.

Wordless song within the forest,
wolves are howling in the night:
haunting psalms outside the circle
cast for us by campfire light.
Wordless singers, like the Spirit,
on whose pleading we rely.
Let us dare to name the yearning
in the Spirit's wordless cry.

--Richard Leach, 1994

Bad habits and how to break them....

For a while, I want to focus on bad habits and how to deal with them. First we have this habit, and then the habit has us...

This Chinese proverb says it all:
"First the man takes a drink; then the drink takes a drink; then the drink takes the man”.

The love of Jesus for us...

“Who can measure this love? Christ gave up the comfort, joys and adoration of heaven to be sullied by the soil of Earth and to carry the sins of sinners. His bearing of agonizing pain through beatings, nails in His hands, the spear in His side, the thorns on His head all exemplify the measure of His love” (Spirit filled Life Bible).

Close-up....

Thanks for the beautiful flowers, Ernie!

Man’s need to connect with others

Of course man’s deepest longing is for God ( as was said in the previous posting). But man also has a need to connect with others, for community and intimacy, relationship and impact rather than self-esteem, as is often said. Larry Crabbs says there is healing for ourselves and our relationships in connecting with other people (please also read the posting on one anothering).

Man’s deep longing for God

According to Larry Crabb: “Each of us has what I like to call a Hollow Core in our personality, a central part that is empty but yearns to be filled”. This “innermost being” is either a place which is filled by the spirit of God, or it becomes “a monstrous power that relentlessly contols the core direction of our lives.”

“One anothering”...

No man is an island, a wise man once said. It echoes one of the Bible’s important messages, namely “one anothering”. "Love one another," "bear one another's burdens," "submit to one another," and "encourage one another”, are phrases which underscores this message.

Heaven's letters....

Heaven's letters cannot be read by earthly eyes....

Praise releases blessings and satisfaction

Psalm 63: 1-5: This is not a silent prayer (v 3). The fruit is affirmed relationship with God( v 1). The Psalmist utters deep intensity of feeling and gratitude (v 4). The result is that his personal needs will be met (v 5).

Praise God whatever your circumstances are – remember that praise may even open prison doors! (Acts 16:25-26)