A third grader's lesson in economics

 Once again I am back in my deer stand trying to make sense of what our elected politicians are doing or maybe the real question should be, trying to do with our economy.

When we hear of their reckless spending policies I wonder not if, but when, and where will it all lead us as a nation.

As I contemplate these serious implications, my mind goes back about 40 years when Ruth and I spent a few months in the country of Zimbabwe in southern Africa.

We went there with the idea of helping a ministry with a building project.

As a little side note, the way we got there is interesting.

Ruth and I have spent over 40 years traveling to different parts of the globe either helping with building projects or teaching.

The way that we are guided to these projects starts with a prayer something like this; "Lord, there is someone on this planet praying and asking you to send someone with my skills and talents to help them fulfil their mission. I am asking you to get us connected so I can be the answer to their prayers."

I have never heard too many people pray that prayer before, but with the motivation to be the answer to someone's prayers, how can you miss? Needless to say, we have been to some interesting places and have had some exciting and fulfilling experiences.

Late in the fall of 1985 I heard of a mission base in Zimbabwe, southern Africa that had a need for someone with building skills. Upon hearing of that need I checked on the plane fare to Zimbabwe. After finding the cost of tickets, I dismissed the idea, it was more than we could afford.

But, day after day and night after night I couldn't get the need out of my mind and so one night I went to the phone and called the mission base in the capitol city.

As it turned out the staff was just walking out of a morning prayer meeting when the phone rang. The director answered the phone and after some formalities I asked him what he was praying for. He said, "We have been praying for three years for someone to come and help us with this building project and no one has come."

I answered, "I don't know how, but I will come." A short time later some friends from church heard about our dilemma and they came up with the money.

Now, back to my lesson in elementary economics. 

Where ever we have traveled in the world we have had to exchange U.S. dollars for their currency. Here is what we learned. Normally the amount of our dollars that it would take to buy a dozen eggs would be exchanged for the amount of money that it would take to buy a dozen eggs in their currency.

The exchange rate at that time was one American dollar for one Zimbabwean dollar. One Zimbabwean dollar would buy you a dozen eggs.

Let me tell you what has happened in that country since that day and the lesson that we can learn from it.

Zimbabwe had just had a civil war and the country exchanged Democracy for Socialism. 

The government started printing money to fund their agenda and they printed lots of it.

It wasn't long before the exchange rate went to one American dollar for 500 Zimbabwean dollars.

They printed more money to try to print their way out of their problem, but it only got worse. 

Eventually over a few short years here is what happened.

I have a currency collection with currency from about half of the countries in the World. My son adds to that collection on birthdays. 

One birthday I received a Zimbabwean bank note from my son Jeff for 200,000,000,000 dollars, that's 200 trillion dollars and it had an expiration date. By the way, that note would buy 3 eggs.

Shortly after that the whole monetary system collapsed and the country adopted the American dollar for their medium of exchange. 

I hope that history doesn't repeat itself.

Someone once said something like this, "One thing that we can learn from history is that we don't learn anything from history."

Now that I have penned these words I can get back to deer hunting.

Righteous Indignation

 In the eleventh chapter of Mark we see Jesus approaching Jerusalem with the express purpose of proclaiming himself as the long awaited Messiah.

In contrast to a conquering king who would ride in on a white stallion he makes his entrance as a humble peaceful servant riding on a lowly donkey.

He is fully aware of his mission to earth to be killed as a sacrificial lamb for the sins of all mankind.

One of the first places that he visits upon his arrival is the temple where sacrificial lambs are being bought and sold for Passover. 

The outer courts of the temple was to be a place set-aside for the gentile believers so they could have a place to pray.

Instead, Jesus finds that vendors have taken over the space to turn it into a market place.

Jews and gentiles were bringing their lambs to be offered as sacrifices only to find that in order to qualify they must be inspected by temple priests to see if they have any physical defects. 

Upon close inspection these worshipers found that their lambs failed to meet the standards of the temple priests. The good news though, according to the priest, was that a perfect lamb could be purchased from them.

There was a small technicality in that their currency would have to be exchanged for temple currency. Of  course the exchange rate was highly inflated but if one wanted to make his sacrifice those were the terms.

After exchanging their currency they found that the price of a acceptable lamb was also inflated.

This is the reason that Jesus gets upset and messes things up in that market environment and calls the place a den of thieves. 

While reading this account and thinking about it I had an interesting thought.

Thinking back about 30 years or so I thought about the shepherds who raised sheep around Bethlehem.

If you remember, Jesus was born in a stable or barn in Bethlehem that was used to shelter livestock probably during inclement weather.

I was wonder if lambs were born in this same stable where Jesus, the lamb of God was born.

I then wondered was it possible that here in Bethlehem the temple priests purchased their lambs that they sold for Passover lambs that had actually been born in the same stable that Jesus the lamb of God was born.

As I study the scriptures I find that their are no coincidences in God's economy. 

This sounds like something that God would orchestrate.

What's in your heart?

 A few days ago I was sitting in my deer stand waiting for the forest to come alive at day break. I usually get there a half hour before daylight so I have time to allow thought to roll through my mine without any outside stimulus.

I love it when Biblical truths unfurl in my mind as The Lord enlightens me with answers to questions that I have had lately.  I am learning that if I don't write them down immediately they will evaporate within a few minutes and I can't recall them no matter how hard I try.

Fortunately my deer blind is enclosed and I have a Bible, a legal pad, and pens in there for just such a time.

There is a lot of controversy between people of different Christian persuasions as to what is the correct or acceptable formula when someone prays the sinner's prayer to get saved. 

I have heard the arguments on what words must be used or what posture one must be in, and other techniques before a person can step over the line between darkness and light.

One of the approaches that I know to be sound is, "The Roman's Road," found in the book of Romans. It begins with Romans 3:23 and ends with Romans 10:9-10. As I was thinking about this controversy my mind asked this question, "Wouldn't the last scripture in this series summarize what is needed?"

So, we go to these two verses and here is what they say, " If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is by believing in your heart you are made right with God, AND it is by confessing with your mouth that you are saved."

As I was thinking about those two verses my mind kept coming back to the conjunction and its importance. The conjunction is, "AND." Another thought that I had was to get some help with the meaning of this word, "Conjunction," so I looked it up and here is what I found, 

"Conjunction -----a compound proposition that is true IF and only IF all of its component prepositions are true." Here is what this tells me; the two propositions in  verse 9 involve confessing with one's mouth AND believing in one's heart.  Both of these propositions must be true or there is no, "Born again experience." They are equally valuable. 

Without a pure heart saying the correct words is meaningless.  But, isn't that what Jesus meant in the sermon on the mount when he uttered these words in Mathew 5:8, "God blesses those whose hearts are pure, for they will see God."

That verse asks the question, what is a pure heart?

We can get another clue when we study the grammar in John 3:16.

History tells us that Jesus of Nazareth lived and as a result of this historical fact most people believe ABOUT him, but the preposition ABOUT is not the same as the preposition IN.

Where you spend eternity is determined which preposition you insert in this Bible verse.

Natural man has a compartmentalized heart where each aspect of his life does not influence the other parts. Some of these compartments include; "work habits, your marriage commitments, work habits, relating to our children, our relationships, language on Sundays, language other six days, what we watch on the internet, etc."

A man with a pure heart has no compartments, every aspect of his life is integrated into all of the others.

Jesus warned us about not having a pure heart when he said in Mathew 7:21, "Not everyone who says to me Lord, Lord, (confesses me or believes about me) shall enter the kingdom of God."

So you see, the conjunction AND and the preposition IN are what determines who has a pure heart and where they will spend eternity.

  

What is the tie that binds? Part 2

If you have not read part one, then part two will not make much sense to you, so please read part one first.

In part one I promised to try to find a possible link between the end of Mark chapter 9 and the beginning of chapter 10 so as to make application to my own marriage.

When we are thinking about marriage we have to go back to the original marriage to see what God had in mind.

When we go back to Genesis chapter two we see that on the sixth day of creation God made the living creatures and when he finished his creation and he saved the best for last. He created the most magnificent creature of them all, man, and why was this creature the most magnificent of them all, because he made man in his own image. 

On day seven he took the day off to admire his creation because he had a really grand plan for the next day, the eighth day. He made a helpmate for the man.

He put Adam to sleep and removed a part of his side, a bone, a rib, and from it he fashioned his best work yet, the most beautiful creature in his Universe, a woman.

Incidentally, the bride of Adam was created on the eight day and the bride of Jesus, the church, was also created on the eighth day, resurrection day, and she came from the side of Jesus, the 2nd Adam.

After this simple surgery, Adam was an incomplete man because part of his anatomy was missing. The missing part was in his helpmate.

Adam knew that he was incomplete because something just didn't feel right on his side, there was a void where one of his ribs should be. He tries to explain this void in Genesis 2:23, "This one is bone from my bone and flesh from my flesh. She will be called woman because she was taken from man." 

And in verse 24 we read, "This explains why a man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife, and the two are united into one."

Verse 24 tells us that the man is only complete when his wife stands by his side. No one else can make him a complete man, not even his father or mother.

Now, if we go back to the last verse in Mark chapter nine we learned, "You must have the qualities of salt among yourselves and live in peace with each other."

Everyone knows that salt adds or enhances flavor to food. Some folks say that food without salt is bland, boring, or just not complete.

Here is an interesting fact. People are attracted to the opposite sex who have qualities different or opposite from theirs. One of the laws of physics tells us that opposites attract.

When a man who is weak in some qualities marries a woman who is strong in those qualities they compliment each other and become a whole person when they are standing at each other's sides and working together. Interestingly, the world and its worldly seers say just the opposite. Just look at the dating apps.

 Too much salt, however, occurs when one mate Lords it over the other. A person like that is said to be salty.

Salt is also used as a preservative. When I was a boy we didn't have electricity or a refrigerator. My folks used to pack fresh meat into a stone crock surrounded by salt.

Salt kills micro organisms that spoil or actually decay meat and without these deadly micro organisms meat retains its nutritional value and taste. 

In Ephesians chapter 5 Paul gives us the qualities of a healthy marriage. He instructs men to love their wives and women to honor their husbands. 

These two verbs, love and honor, compliment each other. By loving and honoring each other, the participants in the marriage are careful to be on guard protecting their mates from influences that would be harmful or even destroy them.

They encourage each other and are always discerning the subtle little things that could spoil and eventually destroy their relationship.

In the first part of Mark 9:50 Jesus warns us with these words, "Salt is good for seasoning. But if it looses its saltiness, how do you make it salty again?"

The answer to that question is, "You can't." Once impurities are mixed with salt it looses its properties and according to Jesus' words in Mathew 5:13, "You are the salt of the earth. But if salt looses its flavor, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled on by people."

Could this be the reason why 50% of the marriages in America are thrown out and trampled by people?

So, getting back to the original question that precipitated this whole discussion, "What is the secret ingredient for holding a marriage together?"

Could it be SALT?

Could the covenant made between a man and a woman on their wedding day be called, "A salt covenant?"

My question to you the reader is, "Does any of this make sense?"

What is the tie that binds? Part one

 At the end of Mark chapter nine, Jesus says something very interesting and intriguing. "Salt is good: but if the salt has lost its saltiness, with what will you season it? Have salt in yourselves, and have peace with one another."

I was wondering what he could of meant with this verse so like most curious Bible students I consulted several commentaries to see what men who are much more intelligent and educated than I had to say. Of course, they all mention the fact that salt adds flavor to food and it is a preservative. In days gone by people used to preserve their meat by packing it in salt.

I guess I was looking for an explanation a little more edifying, something that I could use in my own life.

So, after praying, using James' advice in chapter one verse five which says, "If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you." I then set out to find what hidden treasures there might be in Mark nine's final verse.

By reading on into chapter 10 we see Jesus giving a pretty clear explanation on how he feels about marriage, divorce, and remarriage. Verses 6-9 says, "But God made them male and female from the beginning of creation. This explains why a man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife, and the two are united into one. Since they are no longer two but one, let no one split apart what God has joined together." He goes on to say in verses 11-12, "Whoever divorces his wife and marries someone else commits adultery against her. And if a woman divorces her husband and marries someone else, she commits adultery."

Incidentally Paul speaks to this issue in his letter in first Corinthians chapter seven. His instructions pretty much parallels Jesus' teaching.

The purpose of this article is not to give my position on divorce and remarriage but to gain some insight on how to preserve marriage. If we could discover the secret to a healthy marriage then divorce wouldn't even be an issue.

Ruth and I will be celebrating 60 years of marriage next July. When we celebrated 50 years I looked up the statistics on how many couples celebrate 50 years together. The statistics tell us that 1 in 20 or 5% make it.  Incidentally the statistic for 60 years is 1 in 100 or 1%.

Going for the long shot seems to be a lofty goal, albeit a difficult one. 

So, are there any secrets or tips or is there a prescription to help make it happen?

When I contemplated this challenging  study I wondered if the end of chapter 9 and what he addresses in the beginning of chapter 10 is somehow connected.

One of the principles of hermeneutics is context.

I do realize that there is probably a few days between the events of these two chapters and there certainly are a few miles of distance between the events but I still wondered, "Could there be a connection?"

One of my goals in writing articles, and I learned it when I wrote newspaper articles, is to keep them short. So, I know that this may not seem fair but I am going to continue this search for valuable nuggets next week.

 

MALADY--any unhealthy, morbid, or desperate condition

 There is a very contagious malady that we see in the liberal politicians today that is reaching epidemic proportions. It is called NARCISSISM.

To get a better understanding on what this sickness is I went to the dictionary and here is what I found; "Narcissism is an erotic gratification derived from admiration of one's own physical or mental attributes, being a normal condition at the infantile level of personality development."

This inquiry was precipitated by a thought that I had recently that went something like this; "What is the motivation behind all of the liberal politicians who put the GREEN ADGENDA ahead of everything else, even what's best for the country and the planet?" 

I have come to the conclusion that whether they will admit it or not, they want to leave a legacy that will be remembered throughout the rest of time as THE MAN WHO SAVED THE PLANET. Incidentally, Jesus didn't come to save the planet, but those living on the planet.

When you think of that very selfish motive, what does that make them in their own eyes? 

You guessed it, a god.

Its clear what you and I think of this warped view, but what does God think of this?

Interestingly, he addresses this very thing in the FIRST of his commandments; 
"You shall have no other gods before me."

If they have no intention in keeping the FIRST of his commandments can we expect them to have any respect for the other nine?

I am thinking specifically of  #6, abortion,  #7, sexual perversion,   #8, stealing,  # 9, lying. After all, in their own eyes, the end justifies the means.

A few years ago I used to write a newspaper article for a small town newspaper where we lived. I never had one of my articles refused no matter how controversial,  If I were still writing those articles, this one probably wouldn't make the cut.

What is the secret to the abundant life?

 John 10:10 shows us two paths that we can walk on as we journey through life. 

"The thief's purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. Jesus'  purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life."

The first part of the verse gives us Satan's plan for our life. He wants to kill our body, steal our joy, and destroy our marriages and families.

The second part of the verse shows us God's plan for our lives.

If God's plan is for us  to have a rich, full, and abundant life, how can we make that happen?

That's a question that should be foremost on everyone's mind.

In  the 12th chapter of Romans, Paul gives us instructions on how to make that happen.

"And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice, the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him. Romans 12:1

"Don't copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn God's will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect." Romans 12:2

The first point that he makes is for us to give ourselves completely to God and then he says not to copy the behavior and customs of this world.

Did you catch the contrast in these two points?

Let's go back to the beginning and see how we got ourselves into this fix.

As we look back at Genesis we see God showing Adam around the garden. As they come to the middle of the garden he shows Adam two trees. Genesis 2:9 "The Lord God made all sorts of trees grow up from the ground, trees that were beautiful and that produced delicious fruit. In the middle of the garden he placed The tree of life and The tree of the knowledge of good and evil." 

It was God's plan that his children eat from The tree of life so that they could have a rich,  full, and abundant life. Remember John 10:10?

He warned Adam not to eat from the second tree as that curses one with The knowledge of good and evil.

The custom and behavior of this world is to take full control of our lives so that we can make the decisions as to what's best for us. No one can decide for us what is right and wrong.

You know the story, you know what their choice was. Given the temptation to make their own choices was too much for Adam and Eve and they made the carnal, worldly choice.

"I want to be able to choose between good and evil because I know what's best for me." They chose the way of the World.

Here is the result of a recent survey of 1000 evangelical pastors. 39% of these pastors said, "There is no absolute moral truth and each individual must determine their own truth." And here is the result of such belief, Over 1/3 of the surveyed pastors believe "Good people" can earn their way into heaven. That makes GRACE pretty cheap.

Jumping back to the book of Romans again in chapter 12 verse 3 we find Paul warning us, "Don't think that you are better than you really are."

The World's ways, customs, habits, reasoning, and wisdom have no room for God's plan for our lives. 

Here is a subtle truth: If we are following the world's wisdom in our choices instead of looking for God's wisdom and guidance, then we are EATING FROM THE WRONG TREE.

God has made each of us uniquely with a unique personality and he has gifted each of us to compliment our personality.

If we use our unique God given gifts to compliment the gifts that he has given to our Christian brothers and sisters we will be like a healthy body with all parts functioning in accordance with our abilities and strengths.

The abundant life is found when we are eating from THE TREE OF LIFE in the center of the garden, in the center of God's will doing his will.

Here is the sad truth. There is a very narrow path leading to THE TREE OF LIFE, whereas the path leading to the other tree is well worn and wide. Matthew 7:13.

 Proverbs 4:27 tells us that the narrow path described in Matthew 7 is very narrow, its only one footprint wide.  "Do not turn to the right or the left; keep your foot from evil."

In a healthy body all of the parts compliment each other to allow the body to function as it was designed to so that it can reach its full potential.

A healthy Christian compliments the other members of his church body so it can reach its full potential.