November 19, 2008 7:51 AM
Mac wrote:
Another strange one. It surely must be all about obedience. GOd says, and we do. We never do read about any of those thousands of people (or accompanying animals) defying God and going up the mountain. I wonder if any did. I wonder just how many disobeyed God's commands. As you know, today, several people do. They lie, cheat, steal, murder, hate, lust....the list goes on and on. People of today, world-wide, disobey God. And the fate of course, is death....spiritual death starting from physical death and lasting forever.
Let's just hope that we don't disobey too much, and that Jesus will keep on covering our sins, so that we won't 'be put to death'.
Interesting comment from Rich yesterday about fathers-in-law. I too, would like to be a spiritual advisor. I am going to be able to get that opportunity as my son-in-law and his family move in with us for a few months right after Thanksgiving. I will keep these Scriptures in mind....thanks, Rich. Reply to this
November 19, 2008 8:47 AM
Johnbob wrote:
Yes thanks to Rich as well. Sad to hear about your father-in-law. I still have not learned enough Spanish to have a close relationship with my father-in-law. I need to get my Spanish into gear again... Reply to this
November 19, 2008 9:55 AM
Sam wrote:
JB----I didn't know you were married to a Spanish lady. I am as well. Socorro is her name...born in Mexico, grew up in Chicago. Her Dad and Mom speak english, but prefer spanish. I speak it very little. Reply to this
November 19, 2008 9:34 AM
Johnbob wrote:
Good questions, Mac. Along those lines, I still have a hard time emotionally understanding the "God of the Old Testament" vs. "The God of the New Testament". I know it is the same God, but it just seems that maybe God treats us differently??? I haven't seen anyone struck down (the last one in the Bible, I think, is Annanias and Sapphira). But even brothers from those times who were in sexual sin (1st Corinthians), causing divisions, saying that Jesus didn't come in the flesh, etc. were all excommunicated vs. put to death. You look in the old testament and even disobeying your parents was punishable by stoning if I recall. I have felt like I was going to be destroyed many times after I had been in sin. It definitely a subject to contemplate. Anyone have any views to help me?
Part of my thinking was that Israel was a physical kingdom, while we are in a spriritual kingdom.
So maybe God was being strict in this chapter because of what had happened previously when he gave very simple directions. Maybe the people were so hard-hearted that they didn't see God for who He really was. Maybe it has to do with His holiness (remember Moses and burning bush). It is a deep question. Many times I don't feel that I respect or revere or 'fear' God enough. Maybe this verse is to remind us of our place. There is a country song by Josh Turner called 'Me and God' and while I understand his intentions in the song (Jesus did call his disciples friends), I have always been uncomfortable with it because it puts us on an equal level with God, which I don't think is the case. God departed the Red Sea, sent amazing plagues, freed the Israelites, and that is just within the first part of 1 old testament book. We have talked about this before, but we read this and it just doesn't sink in how incredible these miracles were - how powerful He is.
So while the punishment he laid out was harsh, I believe it was needed to remind them that God is really awesome and they need to remember their place and be humble and have faith and probably most importantly -- obey! Reply to this
November 19, 2008 9:48 AM
Tony wrote:
You have to wonder, after seeing all the miracles that God did in their presence, how could they falter in their belief? I think your analogy is a good one, the physical kingdom of the Israelite verse the spiritual kingdom of God today. Reply to this
How was your colonoscopy yesterday? I assume this was just part of a routine physical? I was trying to think of a catchy name for the procedure.... Reply to this
November 19, 2008 10:10 AM
Sam wrote:
Went well. He found one very small pollup...will be doing pathology on it and I have a consult followup on the 2nd. Please pray nothing wrong....thanks. Reply to this
November 19, 2008 9:44 AM
Tony wrote:
God descended down the mountain in fire. Was the mountain burned up or did everything live? It must have all lived as Moses was called up to go and speak with God. Mount Sinai was covered with smoke, because the LORD descended on it in fire, Moses spoke and the voice of God answered him, then, the Lord DESCENDED to the top of the mountain and called Moses up. It is interesting that God came down to the top and Moses came up. You would think the people would have no problem following Gods laws after everything they had witnessed. We are a stupid and stubborn people. We have the answers right here in front of us and yet we still don't get it right. Twice God told Moses, vs21 & vs24, to warn the people not to come up the mountain or they would die. How often are we warned or told not to do something yet we still do. We have not progressed much. Read a scripture last night at a bible study, I think I got just as much from the study as Dustin maybe a little more. The verse is Ephesians 5;14, "Wake up, O sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you." We, mostly me, need to wake up and see what the Lord has planned for us. I apologize to you all for having now input for the last week. Reply to this
November 19, 2008 1:42 PM
Johnbob wrote:
Great as always to hear from you Tony. I agree - how many times have I struggled with sins that are enticing but in the end are absolutely fruitless and damaging. It's not like God didn't tell me so through his word and his Spirit a hundred times... So I have been doing better lately with my 'character' sins - (partly by reading Proverbs and Exodus with you guys). Hopefully I can learn from my previous failures (unlike the Israelites - though maybe they did in this circumstance?) and obey God. Reply to this
Another strange one. It surely must be all about obedience. GOd says, and we do.
We never do read about any of those thousands of people (or accompanying animals) defying God and going up the mountain. I wonder if any did. I wonder just how many disobeyed God's commands. As you know, today, several people do. They lie, cheat, steal, murder, hate, lust....the list goes on and on. People of today, world-wide, disobey God. And the fate of course, is death....spiritual death starting from physical death and lasting forever.
Let's just hope that we don't disobey too much, and that Jesus will keep on covering our sins, so that we won't 'be put to death'.
Interesting comment from Rich yesterday about fathers-in-law. I too, would like to be a spiritual advisor. I am going to be able to get that opportunity as my son-in-law and his family move in with us for a few months right after Thanksgiving. I will keep these Scriptures in mind....thanks, Rich.
Reply to this
Yes thanks to Rich as well. Sad to hear about your father-in-law. I still have not learned enough Spanish to have a close relationship with my father-in-law. I need to get my Spanish into gear again...
Reply to this
JB----I didn't know you were married to a Spanish lady. I am as well. Socorro is her name...born in Mexico, grew up in Chicago. Her Dad and Mom speak english, but prefer spanish. I speak it very little.
Reply to this
Good questions, Mac. Along those lines, I still have a hard time emotionally understanding the "God of the Old Testament" vs. "The God of the New Testament". I know it is the same God, but it just seems that maybe God treats us differently??? I haven't seen anyone struck down (the last one in the Bible, I think, is Annanias and Sapphira). But even brothers from those times who were in sexual sin (1st Corinthians), causing divisions, saying that Jesus didn't come in the flesh, etc. were all excommunicated vs. put to death. You look in the old testament and even disobeying your parents was punishable by stoning if I recall. I have felt like I was going to be destroyed many times after I had been in sin. It definitely a subject to contemplate. Anyone have any views to help me?
Part of my thinking was that Israel was a physical kingdom, while we are in a spriritual kingdom.
So maybe God was being strict in this chapter because of what had happened previously when he gave very simple directions. Maybe the people were so hard-hearted that they didn't see God for who He really was. Maybe it has to do with His holiness (remember Moses and burning bush). It is a deep question. Many times I don't feel that I respect or revere or 'fear' God enough. Maybe this verse is to remind us of our place. There is a country song by Josh Turner called 'Me and God' and while I understand his intentions in the song (Jesus did call his disciples friends), I have always been uncomfortable with it because it puts us on an equal level with God, which I don't think is the case. God departed the Red Sea, sent amazing plagues, freed the Israelites, and that is just within the first part of 1 old testament book. We have talked about this before, but we read this and it just doesn't sink in how incredible these miracles were - how powerful He is.
So while the punishment he laid out was harsh, I believe it was needed to remind them that God is really awesome and they need to remember their place and be humble and have faith and probably most importantly -- obey!
Reply to this
You have to wonder, after seeing all the miracles that God did in their presence, how could they falter in their belief? I think your analogy is a good one, the physical kingdom of the Israelite verse the spiritual kingdom of God today.
Reply to this
I know the song by Turner....it SHOULD be titled "God and I(Me).....oh well.
Reply to this
Mac,
How was your colonoscopy yesterday? I assume this was just part of a routine physical? I was trying to think of a catchy name for the procedure....
Reply to this
Went well. He found one very small pollup...will be doing pathology on it and I have a consult followup on the 2nd. Please pray nothing wrong....thanks.
Reply to this
God descended down the mountain in fire. Was the mountain burned up or did everything live? It must have all lived as Moses was called up to go and speak with God. Mount Sinai was covered with smoke, because the LORD descended on it in fire, Moses spoke and the voice of God answered him, then, the Lord DESCENDED to the top of the mountain and called Moses up. It is interesting that God came down to the top and Moses came up. You would think the people would have no problem following Gods laws after everything they had witnessed. We are a stupid and stubborn people. We have the answers right here in front of us and yet we still don't get it right. Twice God told Moses, vs21 & vs24, to warn the people not to come up the mountain or they would die. How often are we warned or told not to do something yet we still do. We have not progressed much. Read a scripture last night at a bible study, I think I got just as much from the study as Dustin maybe a little more. The verse is Ephesians 5;14,
"Wake up, O sleeper,
rise from the dead,
and Christ will shine on you."
We, mostly me, need to wake up and see what the Lord has planned for us. I apologize to you all for having now input for the last week.
Reply to this
Great as always to hear from you Tony. I agree - how many times have I struggled with sins that are enticing but in the end are absolutely fruitless and damaging. It's not like God didn't tell me so through his word and his Spirit a hundred times... So I have been doing better lately with my 'character' sins - (partly by reading Proverbs and Exodus with you guys). Hopefully I can learn from my previous failures (unlike the Israelites - though maybe they did in this circumstance?) and obey God.
Reply to this
Hey Rick...you there?
You must be on about Day 30 of The Love Dare. How's that been going? Have you seen any big change in either of you?
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20
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In Africa it's summer or winter now?
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