Indian religious twist led to "Zero", 0 led to Atheism

I read recently that the introduction of the concept and numeral "zero" led to the philosophy of atheism. Prior to the usage of 0 in mathematics, the "starting point" of numbers was "1". This was in line with many religious beliefs that there is One beginning force, God, or Unity. I'll have to post back again when I read through the essay enough times to truly understand the implications of "zero" on our world view. But it's interesting.

Another essay in this same book, "Sacred Geometry" (can't recall the author) posits that all the "stuff" that we encounter is vibrations. Sound waves are interpreted by our ears, light waves (or particles behaving as waves... whichever) are interpreted by our eyes, etc. Atomic particles are vibrating. Even the "empty space" between planets is now thought to be some stuff that is slightly vibrating. And the spiral patterns of the galaxies are the residual shape of the pattern created by a sonic boom. There was some primal original beginning of the vibrations, as if the stars themselves were spoken into existance. :) Another thing that I want to read more about.

Today, when I was waxing poetic about these two subjects, one of my math students asked me, "Why do you like math so much?" How do you answer that? I stared at her for a moment, then replied that I just think it's so cool that math is actually in everything: architecture, astronomy, biology, chemistry, computers, design, economics, electronics, engineering, food science, Graphic art, music, quilting, sculpture, physics (WAY cool), radio technology, satelite usage. But I think it's really cool that the proportions of pi, phi, and the Fibonacci sequence are mathematical forms that are found so often in the natural world, it can't be an "accident." So, I guess that make me quite the geek. (I actually have 2 different books entitled "Sacred Geometry" and one called "Mathematics: Is God Silent," that I read for personal enrichment and enjoyment.) Yikes! But I also let my teenager dye her hair purple, repeatedly! And have been contemplating tatoos (even though Oropher disapproves). So, maybe I'm more balanced than the "White and Nerdy" guy.

Gamer Devo. Rough Draft

I’ve been having fun with video games this week. It’s Fall Break, and although I have some work to catch up on, both house work and school work, I’ve allowed Raikana and I to play a lot. Not being a fanatic gamer, it’s taken me a while to work through one or two games. I confess, I prefer kid “smash and grab” games. “Jak & Daxter,” and now “Ratchet & Clank” are my favorites. When I recently got stuck in R&C I began a new game of “Van Helsing.” Now, I can notice some standard layouts in gaming that I didn’t notice when I was a novice. I will preface this next part with “Usually.” I realize there may be deviations, and as you can see, my game knowledge is very limited. But, in the cases I have seen, the “money” and "health" icons lead you to the place the game wants you to go next. If the game gives you a new weapon, you will have an “easy” enemy on which to use it just around the corner. You have to fight some low level baddies to gain proficiency and “health” so you can get ready to fight the “boss.” If you want to stay safe and comfortable and just gain “money” you can stay in the sections you have been in before, re-fighting low level baddies. But you aren’t fulfilling the purpose of the character in the game. Stick with me now. Our Christian life is like this.

When you start in your Christian life, God gives you all these wonderful feelings of freedom, love, spiritual power and closeness with Him. These are like the “money” or “health” icons in the beginning of a game, getting you to move in deeper to the next area.

When you begin to pray, and see results, you want to pray more and do more. You want to share the gospel and are not ashamed. Then, you run across temptation, or someone who doesn’t respond well, or outright abuse, or even a delayed answer to your prayers. Man, this “game” just got harder. What do you do? You can go back to where it’s safe: sitting in church, biding your peace at work, buying your groceries in silence. Or you can get tough, press on, and move forward. In game terms, you can fight back, learn new tricks, upgrade your weapons through use. God gives you both the weapons and the training for the next spiritual battle. It’s up to us to use them.

When I first started “Van Helsing” I got stuck right away. I couldn’t even get into the town I was supposed to go to. I didn’t know you have to push the “open doors/pick up items” button. Sometimes, we get stuck in our Christian life because we don’t know that we can “seek, ask, and knock.” At some points in a game, you need to “knock” or “open.” But some doors require double knocks, or even a shotgun blast to get through. In my life, I’ve run up against closed doors. I knew about the “seek, ask, and knock.” But I had to learn the Greek meaning of the words: keep on seeking, keep on asking, keep on knocking.

Recently I’ve been reading a lot of fiction, playing a lot of games, and busying myself in housework and schoolwork. These are good things. But, they were “areas” of the “game” I had visited before. I have been avoiding the next step. Unfortunately, as many have lamented, there is no “Pause” button on real life. You kids do not wait around for you to get on with training and being their good example. Opportunities to pray or share the gospel are there only a short time. If you miss them, they are soon gone. In a game, you can often back track to pick up those missed items. Here in Real Life, kids grow up, people move on, and moments slip away.

Our pastor said, in his review of his previous message that we are “here” now. Doing what we did to get “here” from “last there” will only keep us “here.” That won’t get us to the next “there.” He said, “they are good things that you’re doing. They may have been vitally important at the time. But the time will come when you have to put those good things aside, and go where God leads you next.”

So, my questions to ponder in my heart are, what good things was I doing to get to where I am now? What does God want me to keep doing? And what do I need to let go, in order to pick up the next thing? (Another gaming reference: “I can’t carry that. I’m carrying too much already.” You might have heard that from the games I call “slash-grab and go shopping” games.)

Musings on Psalm 24

Psalm 24
A Psalm of David.

The earth is the LORDS (Yehovah) and the fullness thereof; the world and all they that dwell therein.
For He hath founded it upon the seas, and established it upon the floods.
Who shall ascend unto the hill of the LORD (Yehovah)? Or who shall stand in his holy place?
He that has clean hands, and a pure heart, who has not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully.
He shall receive blessing from the LORD (Yehovah) and righteousness from the God (Elohim) of his salvation (yeshah).

Hands
Heart
Soul
Word

all of these must be pure and blameless to come before God.

I did a lot of dictionary looking up of the words in that verse. It helped some.

If your Hands, Heart, Soul and Word are pure, you will receive righteousness from God, who saves.
But it seems that if we could have pure hearts, clean hands, dedicated souls, and true words on our own, then we wouldn’t need God’s righteousness applied to us. Hmmm.

Romans 3 seems to speak directly to this.

We know “all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God,” (Rom. 3:23) so we can’t have clean hands, heart, soul and word by ourselves.

But now (after Jesus) apart form the Law (doing it on our own) the righteousness of God has been shown (in the life of Jesus), even the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus for all who believe (Rom. 3:22). All who believe have been justified (made right before God) as a gift by God’s grace, through the redemption in Jesus, (Rom. 3:24). Jesus paid the price in his own blood. This demonstrated God’s righteousness, because in His great patience, He passed over all the sins we did before, (Rom. 3:25-26).

The way I see it: (I like things nice and linear, If A then B, if B then C, etc.)

• We all were born into sin

• Jesus’ blood paid for our sins

• We believe, put our faith in, Jesus

• God looks at the righteousness of Christ instead of our own “goodness”

• God gives us salvation- lets us into heaven

Something like that. In Psalm 24 it’s not that straightforward. But when I read it aloud, and actually say Yehovah and Adonai, I feel very connected with His Spirit, very worshipful.

Be Transformed

After reading “C Grace”s thoughts on Romans 12:2, it seemed worthwhile to meditate on that scripture myself. Unfortunately, my mind is not so organized when left on its own. In order to have meaningful meditation I really need to look things up, and write things down. (Maybe it's more like research, but that's what I do.) Here are some notes I’ve taken on Romans 12:2.

Rom 12:2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.

The first part of the verse says, “Be not conformed to this world. . .” It seems like this means, “don’t be molded to its image.” Part of that is when we put on an act, or worse, keep acting like our old self. After salvation, we became children of God, and his soldiers. When we act in a way other than that we are conforming to the world. And when you act a part long enough, eventually, you start believing it.

The next part of the verse says, “But be Transformed. . .” Luckily, it also says how to do this, “by the renewing of your mind. . .” When I searched the Bible further to get some examples of renewing the mind, I found the mother-lode in Ephesians 4. Here are the “suggestions” included in that chapter, paraphrased by me.

1. “Lay aside the old self, and put on the new self” Eph 4: 22-24.
2. In your anger, don’t sin. Don’t let the sun go down on your anger. Eph. 4:26 (even if you can’t make it up with the person or situation you are angry with, you can settle it in your mind by giving the situation over to God.)
3. Don’t steal, but work for what you get. Eph. 4:28.
4. Don’t talk trash, but use words that give grace to those who hear. Eph. 4:29.
5. Don’t grieve the Holy Spirit. Eph 4:30 (Imagine all the ways we can do that!)
6. Set aside all bitterness, wrath, anger, slander and malice. (see second point) Eph. 4:31.
7. Be kind, tender-hearted, and forgiving. Eph. 4:32

Why do you Transform yourself by renewing your mind in these ways? The next part of the verse says, “So you may prove (know) what the will of God is. . .” Again, I looked up verses dealing with the will of God. What is the will of God?

1. 2Co 7:10 For the sorrow that is according to the will of God produces a repentance without regret, leading to salvation. . .
2. 1Th 4:3 For this is the will of God, your sanctification. . .
3. 1Pe 2:15 For such is the will of God that by doing right you may silence the ignorance of foolish men.
4. Heb 10:36 For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God, you may receive what was promised.
5. 1Jo 2:17 The world is passing away, and also its lusts; but the one who does the will of God lives forever.

It seems that the will of God is for us to be sorry for our sins, which produces repentance, which in turn leads to salvation. God also wants our sanctification. (Another topic of discussion.) He wants our right actions to silence the foolish. He wants us to do his will, so we may receive what was promised, eternal and abundant life.

Romans 12:2 continues by stating that the will of God is good, acceptable, perfect. Again, I looked up these words to help me get a grip on them.

Fist is “Good.” Thayer defines this as useful, pleasant, agreeable, happy, excellent, distinguished, upright, honorable. An example of “good” used elsewhere is in Matt 12:35 “The good man brings out of his good treasure what is good…”

Next is “Acceptable,” described by Thayer as being well pleasing. Eph. 5:10 tells us that we should be “trying to learn what is pleasing to the Lord.”

The third aspect of God’s will is “Perfect.” Again, I used Thayer’s definition of “complete, brought to an end, finished, consummate human integrity and virtue.” An example of this in scripture is James 1:17 “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. “

So, during my reading, searching, and thinking, I’ve decided that I need to read all of Ephesians 4 and 5, maybe as often as each day for a while. The Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge gives this Overview to Ephesians 5:

Eph_5:1, After general exhortations to love; Eph_5:3, to flee fornication; Eph_5:4, and all uncleanness; Eph_5:7, not to converse with the wicked; Eph_5:15, to walk warily; Eph_5:18, and to be filled with the Spirit; Eph_5:22, he descends to the particular duties, how wives ought to obey their husbands; Eph_5:25, and husbands ought to love their wives, Eph_5:32. even as Christ does his church.

This seems a good place to start “trying to learn what is pleasing to the Lord.”

Holy Spirit

Last night in our Bible Study, my husband, MTM asked us to comment on the Holy Spirit. We were reading the following scripture, a very nice bit about the Trinity.

13 By this we know that we abide in Him and He in us, because He has given us of His Spirit.
14 We have seen and testify that the Father has sent the Son to be the Savior of the world.
15 Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. -1 John 4: 13-15

I think he meant to focus on the outward "proof" that we are 'of God' because a.) we testify that Jesus is the Son of God, b.) we testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Savior, and c.) His Holy Spirit is in us. So we looked at the "Fruit of the Spirit" Gal. 5:22 ff. We also looked at other aspects of the Spirit of God:

• John 14: 16-17, the Helper, and Spirit of Truth.
• John 14:26, the Helper who will teach all things.
• John 16:13, the Spirit who guides.

A young couple who have just joined us were concerned about our views on the subject of "baptism of the Holy Spirit." It's understandable, since this is a topic of much debate in many churches. They had left a church where "Spirit baptism" was quietly used as a means to seperate leaders from other members.
Our take on it is this: it's in the Bible. Acts 10:44-47 shows the Gentiles to whom Peter was preaching have the gifts of the Holy Spirit "poured out on them." So, I think, when a person accepts Christ as their Savior, they receive the Holy Spirit. At times, they receive the Gifts of the Spirit at the same time. However, this wasn't the case for me, or people in my church. You were saved, and had confidence of that salvation. But there were no manfestations of Spiritual Gifts such as in Acts 10. Years later, after my initial conversion as a child, I asked God for more of Him, for the Gifts of the Spirit to manefest in my life. About 24 hours of praying later, I was overcome by the Spirit of God during worship. I had a CD playing ("Heart of Worship") and was singing, when I had to start praying. It felt like a pressure inside, and tears welled up in my eyes and spilled over my cheeks. For many minutes, the length of a song, I poured out prayer in some other language. It was very intense and emotional, which was really strange, because I wasn't feeling either before. I mean, I was just doing the household chores, when *BAMM* it overcame me.
Now, in my private prayers, I often find myself speaking like this. We have had experiences with wild church services where everyone was going :lalalalalalalalalalalalalalalalal all at the same time. And we've had people pray over us, one at a time, in quiet tones of reverance, and give an interpretation imediately. I can only say, the Holy Spirit is the Spirit of God, and He gave gifts to the early church folks, and He can still give those gifts today.

New Book this week, Virtuous Woman

Although I haven't finished "Captivating," by John and Staci Eldredge, (even though it's wonderful), I bought a new book (full price too) at Hasting's yesterday. Now, first you have to know, I was raised Presbyterian: Soveriegnty of God, John Calvin, Francis Schaeffer, catechism, sit still, be quiet, wear panty-hose and semi formal dresses, sing those hymns which are written in bizzare keys for operatic sopranos with solemnity and reverance... nothing wrong with any of that, mind you, but in me, as a young person, it fostered rebellion. The "Betty Crocker" type of "Virtuous Woman" that was held up as a model was a.) unattainable, and b.) repulsive. Even though, in my own searching the scripture, I found "Little Miss Perfect" in Proverbs 31, and all the other references to being a submissive wife, I just couldn't force myself to believe that I should grow up to be what the women in my church were modeling.
Now I know that some of them were not submissive, they were just door-mats. Some of them were not virtuous, they were just content with the status quo. Some of them were not pious, they were just educated. I want to grow to be more and more like Christ, but he wasn't a wife and mother, exactly. Hmmm.
One of the many books I looked at while at the store is this book that I bought, "The Virtuous Woman: shattering the superwoman myth," by Vicki Coutney. I wasn't really sure about it until I flipped to the middle and found this passage:

I realize that many women my be somewhat hesitant to embrase the concept that a virtuous woman ould have a feisty side to her when it comes to fighting for noble causes. In fact, I was amazed to discover that the actual Hebrew word used for "virtuous" in Proverbs 31:10 is chayil. . . . Most often when chayil is used, it is translated "army" and "valor" or "valiant." Other English owrds substituted for the word chayil are "host," "forces," "power," "might," "strength," and "strong." -page 80

That was enough for me to buy it. I'll see how it goes.

Different Template

I didn't like to read white on black anymore. :-)

What is Hope?

Our Bible Study “homework” questions for June 8th, were:

"What is hope?" and "To what are we called?

Another Blogger, “C Grace” asks these same questions on June 14, a week later.

"What is the goal of our salvation? What are we hoping for?

My initial reaction is to define Hope as looking forward to something which may or may not happen.

To think about the questions, “What is hope? Or What are we hoping for?” I read ahead to 1 John 3 and found these verses.

1Jo 3:2 Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not appeared as yet what we will be. We know that when He appears, we will be like Him, because we will see Him just as He is.
1Jo 3:3 And everyone who has this hope fixed on Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.
1Jo 3:4 Everyone who practices sin also practices lawlessness; and sin is lawlessness. (ASV)

3. All of us who look forward to his Coming stay ready, with the glistening purity of Jesus' life as a model for our own. (MSG)

John Gill’s notes say this:

“though they are sons, they do not appear now as such, as they will do, when they shall be introduced into their Father's house, . . . besides, they will appear then not only to be kings' sons, but kings themselves, as they now are; they will then inherit the kingdom prepared for them, and will sit down on a throne of glory, and have a crown of righteousness, life, and glory, put upon them. . .”

So, this makes me think of two things. The first relates to the Eldredge Books P.T. let me borrow. (I am grateful and indebted to him for that!) We have hope because we have been made (by being called) children of God. I hope for the future because, even though I don’t look or always act like a princess, or ruling Queen, I will! I look forward to Jesus’s return, not only because I long to see him, but because I long to be what he’s promised to make me. I imagine it’s how Lucy felt when she was in England, longing for the promised return to Narnia. It’s how Eowyn felt, doing menial chores, taking care of women and children, or trudging miles to arrive at a seemingly hopeless battle. But her hope was that the King would return and be victorious, and she would be set up as a ruling Princess.

Robertson’s Word Pictures says that in verse 3, the word is “resting upon” as a location, as opposed to “looking to.” The foundation of the dream, or hope, is Jesus. We follow him and walk as He walked, because we remember that through his love, we have been made children of God. Verse 2 even says, “when He appears, we will be like Him.”

The second thing I thought of was the parallelism between verses 3 and 4.
Paraphrased:
“Everyone who has hope founded on Jesus purifies himself, because Jesus is pure.”
“Everyone who practices sin practices lawlessness, because sin is lawlessness.”
It seems as though hope and purification go together, and are further defined by what they are not. Someone who has this hope of seeing Jesus and completing the transformation into a Child of God will not practice sin, but will use Jesus’ life as a model of purity.

My friend Doc said: (see Grace-Study.blogspot.com)

A quick thought on hope. To hope is to be in a position of dependence. If the desired outcome or the finished product was within our power/ability to accomplish, it wouldn't be hope.

Here too hope is a position of openness and vulnerability. That which is hoped for may or may not occur. It seems that it comes back to dependence. If hope is a position of dependence, the question is: On what or on whom are you depending? I guess that brings us to faith.

So:

What is hope? It is the eager anticipation of abundant, eternal life, both now and after the death of the body, based on the foundation of the redemptive work of Jesus.

What are we hoping for? The fulfillment of the call/invitation to abundant, eternal life.

What is the goal of our salvation? To what are we called? Life, abundant, eternal LIFE.

Some more verses on hope:

Eph. 1:18 I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you will know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, 19 and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe.

Eph 4:4 - 6 There is one body and one Spirit, just as also you were called (invited, bidden) in one hope (anticipation) of your calling; 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 one God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all.

Joh 10:10 "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.” (Jesus says.)

Tit 3:7 so that being justified by His grace we would be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

I wish I knew What I'm Supposed to Do

"Sometime later, the voice in our heat dares to speak to us again, more insistently this time. Listen to me- there is something missing in all this. You long to be in a love affair, an adventure. You were made for something more. You know it."

--John Eldredge, "The Sacred Romance"

Yes, I am longing for the adventure. Our Pastor spoke on taking risks. An email came to me that said this:

If you do not cut the moorings, God will have to break them by a storm and send you out. Launch all on God, go out on the great swelling tide of His purpose, and you will get your eyes open. If you believe in Jesus, you are not to spend all your time in the smooth waters just inside the harbour bar, full of delight, but always moored; you have to get out through the harbour bar into the great deeps of God and begin to know for yourself, begin to have spiritual discernment.

Chambers, O. (1993). My utmost for his highest : Selections for the year.

I haven't been sleeping well. Waiting is so hard. What is it I am supposed to be doing with my life? What risk am I to take? What ministry is my calling? It was May 21 when MTM and I talked about buying a large house to turn into a B&B. THAT is crazy, a huge risk. But is it our calling? I'm not 100% sure. Not even 50%. I know its something we've always wanted to do.

I just wish I could be certain of what it is I'm supposed to do.

Hello, Another Blog

I mainly joined blogger.com so that I could post on the Bible Study page we've got. http://grace-study.blogspot.com
But perhaps I'll use this space for something having to do with the Journey through this life. It might be a good spot for musings from life at VWPC.