The digging all done (see “A Most Challenging Beginning“), it was time to start building up. Starting from a concrete floor requires forms. Check out the process and results at “Taking Forms.”
Archive for the ‘General’ Category
Progress at The Digs
Posted in Capentry, General, Project, tagged Carpentry, Concrete Forms, Project, Workshop on February 20, 2025| Leave a Comment »
Ex Nihilo
Posted in Baptist Catechism, Creating, Faith, General, God Thoughts, God's Word on February 16, 2025| Leave a Comment »
Out of nothing?
We create in the sense of making something not previously thought of or produced by man or else improving on previous creations. But we absolutely do not, nor can we, nor should we ever claim to create something out of nothing. And since we cannot even conceive of how that happens, many skeptics, even, if not especially educated ones, deny that it is possible and deny the creation of all things by God, even though Creation screams it. Logic also attests to its necessity since anything which has a beginning must have been created by something totally outside of itself, with sufficient power and intelligence to pull it off. Our God, as revealed in Scripture, is an infinite, immaterial spirit, all powerful, uncaused First Cause. Our ability to create in the sense of using existing materials to make something new is a testimony to our being made in the image of God (Zechariah 12:1), but we simply don’t speak to the emptiness, bringing about loveliness, order, information, and persistence of the material world.
The debate has too long raged over how many genders there be. God declares that he made them male and female (Genesis 1:27), end of discussion. If we don’t stand on the Word of God, we don’t stand at all, nor long will we stand. And consider the privileges of being created in His image. Dominion over the creatures and all of creation come first and most tangibly to our minds, but knowledge of self, God, and the world, and righteousness before God which was at first given and still available through His Son, are better and bigger.
All glory be to our Creator!
Question 13: What is the work of creation?
Answer: The work of creation is God’s making all things [out] of nothing, by the word of his power and all very good.
Genesis 1:1, 31; Hebrews 11:3; Exodus 20:11; Romans 4:17.
Question 14: How did God create man?
Answer: God created man male and female, after his own image, in knowledge, righteousness, and holiness, with dominion over the creatures.
Genesis 1:27-28; Colossians 3:10; Ephesians 4:24.
A Most Challenging Beginning
Posted in General, Project, Work, tagged Clearing, Digging, Project, Recycling, Workshop on January 26, 2025| 1 Comment »
Toward the end of last year, I declared that I would reveal why my blog frequency had dropped off. This entry is the beginning of fulfilling that promise. After moving to East Tennessee in August of 2022, I was busy cleaning up the yard and arranging the house. I had it in my mind to build a workshop, perhaps a bit larger than the 12 x 20 shed I had constructed at the last permanent residence wherein we dwelled for 21 years (1). The most obvious place to put it for access and non-obstructiveness/obtrusiveness, was the back corner of the lot. However, there suspiciously resided there a rectangular area of brush. When I began to clear the vines and shrubbery, it revealed construction debris. I began to sort it for recycle, reuse (as filler), and reduction of payment for the landfill for acceptance (2). To see what I was up to for the initial months of this project, check out “Much Rubbish” (3).
- Obviously, permanent is more of a functional word than accurate word here.
- I had never lived in a locality where the public could not take their trash, even debris to the dump without a significant fee.
- Nehemiah 4:10
Confidence and Humility
Posted in Connotations, Dependence, General, Reflection, tagged Confidence, Humility, self-assurance on January 16, 2025| Leave a Comment »
While reading an article on the need for lineman to build, maintain, and repair our electrical grid infrastructure, I did a double take at a quote from a lineman for a need for confidence and humility while being a lineman. All sorts of questions arose in my mind.
Is it possible to have both confidence and humility? If so, is it desirable or useful? Why do we think them antithetical?
Oxford Languages:
Confidence- the feeling or belief that one can rely on someone or something, firm trust; the state of feeling certain about the truth of something; a feeling of self-assurance arising from one’s appreciation of one’s own abilities or qualities
Humility- a modest or low view of one’s own importance; humbleness
If you are paying attention, you immediately see the assumed antithesis between these two concepts. On the one hand, “a feeling of self-assurance…”, while on the other hand, “a modest or low view of one’s own importance.” It seems that we have our answer: These concepts are mutually exclusive.
Not so fast! There is another contradiction, or at least variance, that must be reckoned with. In dictionary definitions, there are different entries (1,2,3… and so forth) representing different uses and connotations of the word. I have clumped the three main entries for confidence into one definition, separated by semi-colons (2). In all three entries for confidence, there is “someone”, “something”, or “self” trusted or believed. If that someone trusted is self, then it is hard to be simultaneously humble. Though the two words aim for different goals, namely “abilities or qualities” as opposed to “one’s own importance”, a high view of abilities and qualities does not particularly co-exist with a low view of one’s own importance.
However, if the something or someone being relied upon, trusted or believed, is outside of oneself, confidence and humility may co-exist and thrive. The best, most reliable object of trust is God the Creator and Savior.
Paul, in comparing believers with false teachers, contrasts the two by saying that believers “put no confidence in the flesh” (Philippians 3:3). Or least ways we should not, because when we do it means we are trusting self rather than God. By denying God, we are denying that “Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow.” (James 1:17) We should be humble, “so that no one of you will become arrogant in behalf of one against the other. For who regards you as superior? What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as if you had not received it?” (1 Corinthians 4:6b-7) Our abilities and qualities are all gifts from God. There is no place for us to be self-confident. However, we may be confident in God’s gifting and enabling while being humble since none of it comes from us.
In fact, our confidence in our God-given abilities is an acknowledgement of the greatness of the Giver. Acknowledgement of His gifts may also be a demonstration of humility, as we continually point to His gracious gifting and enabling. From the lineman’s point of view, the humility can keep us safe, while the confidence can enable us to complete our tasks well. Before God, that is how I want to live my life and fulfill my purpose.
- https://www.bing.com/search?q=confidence+definition&form=ANNTH1&refig=08ac3596b2d0443f8e9270eb877d7249&pc=HCTS&pqlth=10&assgl=21&sgcn=confidence+definition&smvpcn=0&swbcn=10&cvid=08ac3596b2d0443f8e9270eb877d7249&kpratsg=1&hsmssg=0
- The words are quoted accurately but not in the exact framework of numbered bulleting.
First Advent Celebration 2024
Posted in Advent, Day of the Lord, Family, General, Grandchildren, Person of Jesus, tagged Advent, Christmas, Faith, Family, Grandchildren, Hope, Jesus on January 7, 2025| Leave a Comment »
First Advent Celebration is a better moniker for the day that most people called Christmas. It more precisely indicates what we are celebrating, the first coming of the Savior, in the flesh. So, I am developing the habit of remarking Blessed First Advent Celebration to you or Blessed Advent Celebration. The word “First” is included, of course, because God says there will be a second advent: “so Christ also, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time for salvation without reference to sin, to those who eagerly await Him.” (Hebrews 9:28) This is also the reason that Advent Celebration is adequate (1), since any proper consideration of and thanksgiving for His first advent will lead to consideration and anticipation of His second.
Besides consideration of His coming and the result of rescue from sin based on the death of the God-man, we remember His many ancillary benefits: family, material provision, friends. My wife and I enjoyed the consideration of eight of our grandchildren at our eldest son’s house. If you would like to participate, click on meet and greet of these “Developing Youngsters.”
- …and easier to say and be understood,
What is God?
Posted in Delights, General, Glory, God Thoughts, tagged Attributes, attributes of god, Catechism, Essence of God, God, Spirit on December 29, 2024| Leave a Comment »
Shouldn’t it be “Who is God?” That is a simpler question to answer. The God revealed in the Bible is the only true God, and there is no other (1).
But how do you describe the substance of something so utterly different than anything we understand? It seems like an unreachable goal. And yet, God has condescended to reveal much about Himself to His creatures in the Word of God so that we may know Him and glorify Him. The latter part of this statement brings up another question: Do you delight in God for His benefits, or do you delight in Him for who He is? Delighting in Him for His benefits is great and encouraged by such passages as Psalm 103, but delighting in Him for who He is, is a more glory-ascribing, higher calling.
I was reading Psalm 119 recently. In the psalmist’s ecstasy over God’s statutes, I can only claim that perspective and desire as a far-off ambition of which I have made the smallest, little progress. But herein may be found the danger of loving Him only for His benefits over His essence. We have a tendency, as many among “god-believing” people in our society do, of making God in our own image as a doddering grandpa, an impotent, weak, fair god who makes us feel good. When we are confronted with the true God of the Scriptures who is so utterly different from us, we are at best afraid and at worst repulsed. We do share the characteristic of having a spirit, but we live in a tactile, concrete existence far removed from His timeless, noncorporal experience. We are woefully finite, only eternal from this day forward by His Spirit’s enabling, and as changeable as the waves and tides. God doesn’t just feel awesome and transcendent, He is.
In the catechism question for today, all of His attributes fall under the superlatives of eternal, infinite, and unchanging, with no dilution of one character trait by another (2). Furthermore, the list of attributes given covers all of the categories, but it does not begin to plumb the scope or depth of them. For example, what about goodness? His goodness is expressed in kindness, mercy, compassion, provision, salvation, common grace, pleasures, purpose, and more.
So then, what is God?
Question 8? What is God?
Answer: God is a Spirit, infinite, eternal, and unchangeable, in his being, wisdom, power, holiness, justice, goodness, and truth.
John 4:24; Psalm 89:14, 90:2, 147:5; James 1:17; Revelation 4:8; Exodus 34:6-7; 1 Timothy 1:17; Numbers 23:19
- Deuteronomy 4:35
- Love does not lessen justice, for example, nor vice versa.
A Frozen Head Hike
Posted in General, Hike, Nature, Outdoors, Thanksgiving, Waterfall, tagged Frozen Head State Park, Hike, Outdoors, Waterfall on December 22, 2024| Leave a Comment »
Times, they are a changin’. My extended family has had a Thanksgiving tradition that has built up over 35+ years. We gather at my oldest brother’s house, eat lunch together, play flag football, watch a football game, go for a hike the next day, and meet back at my brother’s house for “haystacks” (1). Other parts to this tradition, like night-before soup supper have come and gone. Number of attendees at this gathering have varied from somewhere in the teens to over 60. Visits to in-laws, children, sickness, friends and classmates have caused a constant flux in the numbers. This year there were 24 souls in attendance, greatly reduced from just a few years ago. That did not dampen our joy at sharing the thankfulness for all that God has provided, family being high on the list. My generation, the four siblings were there, however, I am the only one from that generation who still plays in the flag football game. The group agreed that the next morning, which was supposed to have temperatures in the teens, was not a good time to hike for young and old. I convinced my older brother to go out on a hike anyway. Though I have hiked many places over many years, I had never been in Frozen Head State Park. He said that there was a 3-mile hike to a waterfall. It was far better than not going at all, and the prospect of just two of us meant that we could converse more deeply and catch up.
Present pursuits have limited my hiking and blogging. It explains why three days before our First Advent Celebration (2), I am just now blogging about a Thanksgiving hike. Pictures and commentary at “Two Frozen Head Waterfalls.”
- “Haystacks”, as my sister-in-law labeled them, is an individual’s mixture of salad parts topped with meat (turkey most usually or ground beef), cheese, salsa, beans, and whatever else is available and lacking whatever the individual does not prefer.
- It doesn’t slip off the tongue quite so easily as Merry Christmas, nor does it meet traditional muster, but it is more accurate.
Epistemology
Posted in Assurance, Baptist Catechism, Doctrine, Faith, General, God Thoughts, Questioning, theology, Truth, Work of the Holy Spirit, tagged Baptist Catechism, bible, christianity, Faith, Jesus, Questioning, Sources of Truth, theology, Truth, Word of God on November 27, 2024| Leave a Comment »
How do we know? How do we know we know?
I would like to propose a definition of “know”: to perceive and be convinced of truth. Since truth is what is in accordance with fact or reality rather than what is thought to be, knowing something that is not true is not knowing but believing something to be true that isn’t. This definition of truth accepts that truth is an absolute, not a perception or belief apart from reality.
So, back to the question: How do we know? How do we know that what we believe and claim to be true is in fact true? Not being omniscient, we must rely on (believe, hold presuppositions) sources of truth. Evidence for the truthfulness of a source is important. There are two types of evidence: internal and external. Question 5 of the Baptist Catechism gives both concerning the Christian’s source of truth.
Question 5: How do we know that the Bible is the Word of God?
Answer: The Bible evidences itself to be God’s Word by the heavenliness of its doctrine, the unity of its parts, and its power to convert sinners and to edify saints. But only the Spirit of God can make us willing to agree and submit to the Bible as the Word of God.
The internal evidences are “heavenliness of its doctrine” and “the unity of its parts”. The former points to its high view of God and accurate view of man. The latter demonstrates its internal consistency even in the light of 40 authors in 66 books over 1500 years.
The external evidences are its “power to convert sinners” and “[power] to edify saints”. Lives are changed. This is the reason that personal testimony is so important and persuasive. The Bible is not just a set of facts and rules. It is a life-giving change agent. Other external evidences such as scientific discoveries, archaeology, logical arguments, historical confirmations, and answers to prayer, are useful, removing barriers to open-minded skeptics, but the Word of God opened to us by the Spirit of God is our only solid, unchangeable, ruling source of truth and knowledge.
Practical Physics
Posted in Capentry, General, Project, Random thoughts, tagged Carpentry, diy, interior-design, Leverage, Science, technology, Torque, Woodworking on November 24, 2024| Leave a Comment »
Working alone on carpentry projects has its challenges, especially when it involves 16′ treated lumber (1) I was building a double beam from two 2″ x 8″ x 16′ treated boards that needed to span 13 feet. I set clamps in place to retain the boards as I set each one in place one at a time, one end at a time. When it came time to screw the two boards together for increased strength to support the carport roof, I wanted the tops of the two boards to be flush. One had a crown (arch along the board) of over 1/2″. The other one had no crown, being amazingly straight. They were far too stiff to force flush by hand while I screwed them together. I decided to let gravity do the work for me. I extended an 8′ 2 x 4 about 7′ over one side and clamped it in place. It did the trick (See the set-up at “Leverage“.)
Later, I was curious how much force the 2 x 4 was exerting on the boards to straighten them to flush. Given that 1′ of the 7′ was canceled out by the 1′ hanging over the other side, I had 6′ of board torquing on the 2 x 8’s. Torque = force x lever arm. The center of gravity of the 6′ or torquing board was at 4′. That is the lever arm. The weight of 6′ of 2 x 4 (really 1 1/2 x 3 1/2) varies with exact species and water content. This board was kiln dried but laid in the rain the other day. There are online calculators for board weight (2). Mine was somewhere in the neighborhood of 6 lbs. Therefore, the torque = (6 lbs) x (4 feet) = 24 foot-pounds. That would be the same as hanging my 150 lb person on a board extending about 2 inches from the board. I was actually surprised that it took no more effort than that. I would have only had to exert a little over 20 pounds at the base of my fingers at 14 inches on a lever arm (3). However, that is more challenging than it appears since I am standing on a ladder and needing to force the screw into the board and hold this pose, which involves some core strength, while I use my driver to install at least 1/2 dozen screws. I was not able to get into a position to merely lean on the board. Gravity assist was much easier.
- My wife and some of my friends say that I should ask my friends for help, but they would stand around most of the time while they waited for me to prep for the heavy lifting. My wife and a few of my friends also think that I have too much time on my hands, since I have time to write blog entries like this one.
- https://www.builderscalculator.com/lumber-weight-calculator
- My forearm is a standard 18″ cubit (elbow to middle fingertip). The pads at the base of my fingers are one handbreadth (4″) less.
Infallible
Posted in Baptist Catechism, Doctrine, Experience, Faith, General, theology, tagged Baptist Catechism, Faith, God Thoughts, Inspiration, Practice, theology, Truth, Word of God on November 22, 2024| Leave a Comment »
Can you think of anything infallible? There are certainly things that are trustworthy and consistent, but only two things are truly infallible, God and His Word.
Question 4: What is the Word of God?
Answer: The Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments, being given by divine inspiration, are the Word of God, the only infallible rule of faith and practice.
2 Peter 1:21; 2 Timothy 3:16, 17; Isaiah 8:20; Matthew 5:17- 18; 1 Corinthians 2:13; Psalm 19:7-8.
Contained in a limited 66 books of Old and New Testament as witnessed by internal evidence (1), these were then confirmed by the church fathers and counsels as the whole of the Bible, the Word of God (2).
This communication from God is most narrowly declared to be the “only infallible rule”. Only is quite the exclusive word and declaration. Cannot experience or conscience or reason or observation or evidence also be used? These may only be used as they agree with and confirm what the Word of God says, but all of these other rules are fallible. They do not hold a candle to the brightness in trustworthiness of God’s Word. We must submit to this Bible as our rule, our guide, our instructor and manager, the very words from our King.
To what part of life does the Scripture apply? It should have full reign over “faith and practice”, belief and conduct, which includes perspective, intention, speech, emotion (3) Right practice arises from right belief and right belief arises from right teaching which arises from truth which arises from the Word of God. If you base your faith and practice on any other foundation, you will be led astray and ruined.
God’s Word is declared to be truth by Jesus: “Your Word is truth.” (John 17:17b) The source of God’s Word is the inspiration of God resting upon the biblical authors (2 Timothy 3:16), directed or moved by the Holy Spirit (2 Peter 1:20-21).
In a world awash with truth claims from Empiricism to Historicity to Existentialism to Spiritism, the Bible stands out by boldly claiming to have an exclusive corner on truth. Jesus, as its author and defender, claims Himself to be “the way, the truth, and the life, no one comes to the Father except through Him.” (John 14:6) All other truths, for the devout follower of Christ, are considered true to the extent that they line up with the Word of God.
May our practical (actual lived out) theology grow in alignment to our stated (what we argue for) theology.
- “Thus says the Lord”, 2 Peter 3:14-16, “The word of the Lord came to me saying”, John 5:37, 12:49, etc
- https://www.historyinthebible.com/supplementary_pages/church_fathers.html, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Development_of_the_New_Testament_canon
- In all of this list, our ability to perfectly align our faith and practice to God’s Word is beyond our capabilities, and no more so that in our short-term emotional responses, but we can do as David did, pour out our woes and come around to declaring God’s goodness, righteousness, and provision.
Three Books?
Posted in General on November 20, 2024| Leave a Comment »
The second blog entry that I ever wrote was published on July 24, 2007, called “Two Books“. It is an introduction to a set of articles about Naturalism vs. Christianity as they relate to Science, or in a narrower sense, Creation vs. Evolution. Since the time of Augustine, scholars have spoken of two books of revelation, the Book of Nature and the Book of Special Revelation, the Bible.
Recently, I was considering the 3rd question of the Baptist Catechism (Collins, 1693), which asks, “How do we know there is a God?” The answer gives three reasons (three books?): “The light of nature in man, and the works of God, plainly declare that there is a God; but His Word and Spirit only, do effectually reveal Him unto us for our salvation.”
Which is it, two or three? The works of God, the Creation, and the light of nature in man are in actuality two volumes of the Book of Nature. Upon deeper inspection, the volume of the light of nature in man has two sections, the moral code written on the conscience and the ability of man to reason. These are strong pointers to the reality and attributes of God.
The Book of Nature in all of its parts cannot bring a person to salvation. It does, however, bring a person to account before God: “For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse.” (Romans 1:20) In a more positive sense, this accountability can be used in pre-evangelism to open the heart of the skeptical to hear the Gospel. I know of a professor at LSU who was challenged by a Christian student as to how he knew what he was claiming to be true about evolution. It so set him to thinking about the subject that he went searching and eventually found Christ.
First Things
Posted in Baptist Catechism, Blessing, General, God Thoughts, theology on November 17, 2024| Leave a Comment »
As we began the catechism questions in the worship service, The Catechism starts off with questions of highest import.
Question 1: Who is the first and best of beings? Answer: God is the first and best of beings.
Isaiah 44:6; Psalm 8:1; 96:4; 97:9, 1 Samuel 2:2
First has more than one meaning. Chronologically it means first in time, or in this case, eternity. Additionally, it means first in position, rank, or accomplishment, as it says in Isaiah 44:6-7a: “Thus says the Lord, the King of Israel and his Redeemer, the Lord of hosts: ‘I am the first and I am the last, and there is no God besides Me. Who is like Me? Let him proclaim and declare it…”
He is best: “O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is Your name in all the earth, who have displayed Your splendor above the heavens!” (Psalm 8:1) Being best of beings extends far beyond power and glory. “There is no one holy like the Lord…” (2 Samuel 2:2a) Holy is so unreachable and unfathomable to us. We can better understand and appreciate a best being who “…is righteous in all His ways and kind in all His deeds.” (Psalm 145:17)
He is best at being best, that is, He is best at any and all areas of which you may think.
Question2: What is the chief end of man? Answer: Man’s chief end is to glorify God and to enjoy him forever. 1 Corinthians 10:31; Psalm 16:11, 37:4, 73:25-26; Isaiah 43:7
What is our purpose for existing, our reason to remain alive, the goal around which we should center our lives? The answer given is twofold when the question asks for just one. I think that they are really one answer given from two perspectives, God’s and ours. Enjoying God, while obviously a great benefit to us, is the ultimate way to glorify God. Our passion of enjoyment of Him communicates more solidly than words that He is valuable and worthy of my attention, worship, witness, relationship, obedience, and our whole life. The more I cherish and desire Him, the more He is glorified. Therefore, do not look at your belief in God as a responsibility to be fulfilled but a relationship to be sought out.
Keeping Busy
Posted in Cutting Wood, General, Project, tagged Chainsaw, Cutting Wood, Projects, Work on October 18, 2024| Leave a Comment »
I have many irons in the fire, some of them red hot pokers. Others need patience because they just won’t heat up, that is, make progress. Check out a few of my recent efforts at “Never a Dull Moment“.
Some Random Physics
Posted in General, Science, tagged Impulse, Momentum, Physics, Science on October 14, 2024| Leave a Comment »
My grandson was shooting me with a Nerf gun. Having few “bullets”, he had suction cup and round tipped projectiles. The round ones stung a bit. I wondered why. I thought of two reasons and my daughter thought of one. The suction cup-tipped projectiles flex when they strike, reducing the force of impulse by increasing the time of deceleration of the projectile, since Impulse = Force x time. Secondly, the round-tipped projectiles are thicker, and therefore more massive, increasing momentum from a heavier tip, since Momentum = mass x velocity. Thirdly, given the same force of propulsion, the better aerodynamics of the round tip would increase the speed at contact, increasing the momentum and impulse, since mass x velocity = Force x time (Momentum = Impulse). Physics is quite practical and satisfying in explanation. Perhaps some time I will tell you how to prevent a fireplace from smoking up a room.
Superscription Decryption (1)
Posted in Dependence, Faith, General, Praise, Psalm, tagged bible, david, Faith, God, Psalm 56, psalms, Sadness, Trust in God on September 15, 2024| Leave a Comment »
The superscription of Psalm 56 is one of the lengthier ones, but casual inspection lends little understanding. These subtitles to psalms were part of the original Hebrew (2), and they should be heeded as inspired Scripture which instructs, encourages, exhorts, and corrects (2 Timothy 3:16). The directions to the choir director indicate that the psalm, as are all psalms, are for public worship. This particular one is for the congregation to worshipfully hear from a choir. David indeed made it a statute that music be included with worship and the sacrifices and led by skilled men assigned to the task (3).
The present choir directive under consideration seems to be to a song, given by name, and a setting. The song, “Jonath Elem Rehokim”, is translated, “The dove of the distant terebinths”. The dove is seen as a faithful and forlorn bird, because they partner and mate for life and their call is melancholy (thus Mourning Dove). The terebinth (not to be translated as “oak”, as it is sometimes mistakenly translated (4)) is a small, resinous, Mediterranean tree from which turpentine is extracted. I think that the dove, distant, and terebinth sound sad. The song is not extant, but I feel sure that this was a sad tune for the sad subject of man who “man has trampled” (v.1), “they distort my words” (v.5), and “they attack…lurk…watch my steps…waited to take my life” (v. 6).
The setting adds to the sense of foreboding of the psalm. David wrote it either at the time or in memory of the time when the Philistines seized him in Gath. Though it does not say “seized” in 1 Samuel 21:15-19, this event was probably the one alluded to, David feigning madness before the Achish and the Philistines at Gath. It was a low point for David, exceeded only by his sin with Bathsheba and murder of Uriah her husband. In Gath, because of fear (v.12), David pretended to be mad, humiliating himself with scribblings and saliva running down his beard. And yet, David praises and trusts in God in this psalm and Psalm 34 (5), for his protection, direction, and future. May we all.
- hopefully
- https://www.crossway.org/articles/10-things-you-should-know-about-the-psalms/#:~:text=10%20Things%20You%20Should%20Know%20about%20the%20Psalms,Psalter%20consists%20of%20five%20%E2%80%9Cbooks.%E2%80%9D%20…%20More%20items item #5
- 1 Chronicles 15:19, 16:5,7,37, 25:1-2,6
- https://evangelicalfocus.com/zoe/16065/the-terebinth-tree-and-cultural-prostitution
- See Psalm 34 superscription; It is thought that Abimelech is a title, Achish a personal name for the same person.
An Easy Cruise and Views
Posted in Fellowship, General, Hike, Nature, Outdoors, tagged Fellowship, Hike, Outdoors, Views on September 9, 2024| Leave a Comment »
Since I returned from my trip to the Northeast in June (“Challenging, Tiring, and Inspiring” and 5 others), I have focused on a project around the house, purposely setting aside hiking. Saturday before last, I took a break from that project and went hiking with my partner and two guys I recently met. We had the easiest 10-mile hike I believe that I remember through a shady forest of reasonably old trees to some decent views, all the while conversing over things of substance in good fellowship. Check out a few pictures at “Pinnacle Mountain Fire Tower“.
His Voice
Posted in General, God Thoughts, tagged God Thoughts, Voice of God on August 24, 2024| Leave a Comment »
Psalm 29 exalts the glory of God revealed through the voice of the Lord. When I am giving praise to Him, I think to praise His attributes, His works, His name, and His mercy and grace, but not His voice. His voice is a metaphor for His communication, His Word, which is audible and written and the very essence of His Son (Hebrews 1:1-2, John 1:1, 14). His voice, i.e. His Word, is eternal, powerful, life-giving, efficacious, and instructive.
So efficacious is His voice that it spoke all things into existence from nothing. He spoke man into existence (Genesis 1:26), completing the task with His hands and His breath (Genesis 2:7), His very Spirit.
His voice has given manifestation to His will, His very intentions which are accomplished (Isaiah 55:11). He spoke audibly to Moses in the cloud and in the tabernacle, instructing Israel in His statutes and ways. He spoke to Jesus in the hearing of the people in order to exalt and confirm His Son. He, Jesus, spoke many words of healing, salvation, condemnation, and instruction for the purpose of revealing who He is and His power. He spoke again to Saul on the road to Damascus in order to ordain him to build the church among the Gentiles and extend God’s communication to His people.
He will speak again to raise the dead, judge the wicked, reward those who He has declared righteous, and institute His personal and eternal rule.
The psalmist emphasizes the glory and sovereignty of God’s voice, but he concludes by proclaiming that God will give strength and peace to His people. Praise God for His mighty voice!
A Bright Morning
Posted in Beauty, Exploring, General, Hike, Nature, Outdoors, Poem, tagged Baxter State Park, Glacial Pond, Hike, Naure, Outdoors, Poem on July 20, 2024| Leave a Comment »
My fast and furious vacation was only 10 days, for reasons of scheduling and finances, so why am I still talking about it 3 weeks later? Well, it was that good, and I like to tell stories. Please be patient; I will be done soon.
I slept in on my 8th day of vacation, not arising until 5:30. The sun was up, the woods were calling, I could sleep later another day. I arrived at the trailhead of my last hike, Kidney Pond, at just before 7 AM. I didn’t have a goal other than to enjoy the scenery one more time, so I hiked a short distance to find a spot where I could get to the shoreline and sit down. The morning was glorious, bright, cloudless with a light breeze sufficient to keep the insects away. The sun was already high, and I was looking into it, which caused the other shoreline where there were cabins to be shadowy. It felt as though I was all alone, though in such situations, I only feel the lack of people. As time goes along, I am trusting and feeling more of God’s presence as I lean into Him, therefore, I am aware that I am never alone. The details of this very trip, how everything fell into place with incredible moments in nature and with people, both family and friends as well as strangers, strengthened my sense of His presence. It is days like these that we must remember when more difficult and mundane days challenge our resolve to live thankful and trusting.
I have some pictures and commentary of this last wee hike at “Last Morning in Baxter“, but before you go there, I’d like to share the poem that began coming to me as I strolled the 1/2-mile back to the vehicle, completing it in my journal:
Kidney Pond, Baxter State Park, ME, 7:30 AM 6/21/24
Morning sunlight glimmer
Water deeper, dimmer
Woodpeckers pecking away
Bullfrogs calling their way
Water on granite boulders lapping
Breeze cooling, stirring, laughing
Mountains against bluest sky
Spruce, fir, pine, cedar point high
Alone ‘til now when far across
Fishermen cast in shimmer loss (1)
Voices few but come on breeze
Just in shadow of far trees
Water lilies bob on the gentle swell
Almost blooming, all is well
So, God gave me this final pleasure
At Kidney Pond I drank full measure
I left B.S.P. probably never to return, but I take a piece of it home with me as memories. For me, this is what vacation is all about, making memories and learning to make more memories in the daily challenges, opportunities, and privileges of life, whether a bright day by a beautiful pond or a rainy day of further darkening skies. God is worthy and I benefit.
- A little artist license with the verb agreement
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