Sunday, January 4, 2009

Theology 101...


Rule #6: "All" means all that's all all means.

"It's not the parts of the Bible I don't understand that bother me, it's the parts I do understand."---Mark Twain

Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.---(Proverbs 3:5-6)

Yesterday found me curled up, sobbing like a school girl as my gall bladder had a fit. Today finds me facing surgery in the next couple of weeks with no insurance and no finances to speak of.

But who may abide the day of his coming? and who shall stand when he appeareth? for he is like a refiner's fire, and like fullers' soap: And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the LORD an offering in righteousness.---(Malachi 3:2-3)

The refiner's fire was slowly heated up to force all impurities to the surface where they can be skimmed off. The refiner was finished when he could see his reflection in the molten metal. Fuller's soap was a whitening agent in processing wool, a process that included beating the wool and scrubbing with Fuller's earth, a concoction of urine and clay. In short, processes that folks like Joel Osteen and Rick Warren quietly step around but that are necessary if we wish to be brought before the Lord...

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.---(1 Peter 1:3-9)

I don't know how often I'll be posting over the next couple weeks. I do pray that neither I nor you dodge the refiner's fire or the Fuller's soap that may come this year...blessings, grace and peace to you and yours, Br'er Shaygetz

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