Steve's space: July 2018

Tuesday, July 31, 2018

John Stossel - Pay for Your Own Stupidity!

Friday, July 27, 2018

"The sun began to be darkened": The strange cloud over much of the world in 536 AD changed history dramatically

"The sun began to be darkened": The strange cloud over much of

the world in 536 AD changed history dramatically

Thursday, July 26, 2018

Chasing rabbits

“Chasing Rabbits”

A farmer is plowing his field when he suddenly spots a rabbit darting away. He jumps off his tractor and begins chasing it. Finally, he gives up and climbs back on his tractor. Before long another rabbit is spotted, and off he goes again. By the end of the day, the farmer has chased a dozen or more rabbits - but his field is not yet ready for planting.

“Chasing rabbits” is a colorful way of describing the person who is constantly distracted from what is important. It’s the label I would give to those who were glued to their screens this past Tuesday to watch a skyscraper-climbing raccoon. What were they neglecting as they closely followed the lengthy saga of this nocturnal daredevil?

If you don’t know what I’m talking about, a raccoon was spotted on Tuesday on a ledge of a St. Paul, Minnesota office building, about two floors up. Despite efforts by maintenance workers to rescue the critter, it began climbing. Many hours later it was finally trapped (safely) on the roof of that 25-story building.

I’m told that the video of this event went viral as it happened. I don’t know how many that means, but “viral” usually suggests tens of thousands or far more. The attention of all these people was focused on a raccoon!

Jesus spoke of the danger of “chasing rabbits” when it comes to our souls when he explained part of His Parable of the Sower: “Now he who received seed among the thorns is he who hears the word, and the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful” (Matthew 13:22).

There are so many distractions in this world, and we invite many of them into our lives. By allowing our smartphones to alert us to incoming texts, breaking news, sports updates, etc., we invite distraction. What do we neglect by allowing ourselves to be so distracted? Are the things that distract us really so important?

When Jesus was a guest in her home Martha fell victim to this danger. While her sister Mary “sat at Jesus’ feet and heard His word ... Martha was distracted with much serving” (Luke 10:39,40). There is nothing inherently wrong with serving; it has to be done at times. But what was Martha missing because she was “distracted”?

Jesus commented on the wisdom of Mary: “But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her” (Luke 10:42). We are taught in God’s word that “one thing” is needed for us, too.

Make priorities and keep them. Find ways to shut out distractions. “... seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness” (Matthew 6:33).

~~ Timothy Hall

Wednesday, July 25, 2018

Jezebel

Jezebel was a Phoenician princess (a daughter of Ethbaal, king of Sidon), who married King Ahab of Israel and enticed him to sin (1Kings 16:31; 21:25). She was a tyrant who corrupted her husband, as well as the nation, with pagan adultery. She was a worshipper of the Phoenician god Baal and a zealous missionary, she supported 850 prophets of Baal and Asherah (1Kings 18:19) and sought to suppress the worship of the Lord 1 Kings 18:4, 13). Jezebel was Elijah's formidable adversary; even instilling fear in him (1 Kings 19:1-3). Her influence in Israel was strong during the reign of her husband and her sons Ahaziah and Jehoram. Her power extended to the southern kingdom of Judah, where her daughter Athaliah became queen (2 Kings 8:18).

Tuesday, July 24, 2018

The man who invented the original formula was injured in the Civil War, so he became addicted to morphine. Then he thought that if he drank cola with cocaine in it, it would get him off of morphine.

Monday, July 23, 2018

Discover the 66 Books of The Bible

Thursday, July 19, 2018

Why did Jesus call the Canaanite woman a dog?

Why did Jesus call the Canaanite

woman a dog?

Tuesday, July 17, 2018

"Super Father" Genghis Khan has up to 16 million male descendants

Silence

I think silence is a wonderful thing, if for no other reason that the 21st century is so loud. We are always surrounded by noise from traffic, from other people, from televisions, radios, stereos, headphones, telephones, notification sounds from electronics… We know that God is still there in all of our noise, but He is so much easier to discern in silence.

Then, of course, there is the noise of our own thoughts; I have things to do, where are my keys, bills are almost due, the car is making a funny noise, I think I forgot something at the store… next time I see so and so I’m giving him a piece of my mind, I’m going to tell him…

Oh yes, silence is a wonderful thing, you see silence is very much about being silent, for how else can we hear God?

Monday, July 16, 2018

We should be good stewards of our material resources, wasting not. I think it is important for us to avoid being a burden upon others if it is at all possible. At the same time, it is also important that we be quick to give to those who have a real need, for how can we say that we love our brother and sister, all the while refusing a legitimate need? No, we shouldn’t become enablers to enable people to waste their resources and very often it is hard to be sure where the need actually comes from.

Yet as the rich man said, “I may have lost millions in business, but I never lost a cent that I gave away.”

Has it occurred to Mr. Trump’s critics that he pulled out of that Iran deal because it was Mr. Obama who was willing to give away the store for a deal, and not Mr. Trump?