The Blank Page
Remember when you had that English composition due and all that you have for your efforts is the dreaded blank page? Writer’s block is what it is called I believe...
The same goes for this columnist. Often the idea will not form, the concept will not jell or the words just won’t come.
It is just too bad that I don’t have the help that Paul, Timothy, Peter and Luke had!
As Paul wrote: “For I want you to know, brothers, that the gospel that was proclaimed by me is not of human origin. For I did not receive it from a man, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ. “(Gal. 1:11-12)
Also Paul writes to Timothy: “Every scripture inspired of God is also profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for instruction which is in righteousness. “ (2Ti 3:16)
It is sad to note that some people go so far from this statement to question the accuracy of the scriptures in an effort to deny the inspiration of God’s Word. Probably, if you do so, you then can ignore scriptures that you don’t like! Note that God tells us that scripture is profitable for correction, for instruction...if you don’t like to be told that what you do is wrong, then well, just state that the teacher is wrong!
Again, Paul wrote to Timothy:”For of these are they that creep into houses, and take captive silly women laden with sins, led away by divers lusts, ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. And even as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also withstand the truth. Men corrupted in mind, reprobate concerning the faith. But they shall proceed no further. For their folly shall be evident unto all men, as theirs also came to be. “
(2Ti 3:6-9)
The re-writing of scripture to fit human wants instead of learning from God is not a new thing to happen. Men and women have done this since Paul’s time.
But also, people have turned to the scriptures knowing that the words are the true source of comfort, hope, faith, love and salvation.
God’s word is true, inspired by Him, or as some versions translate, God breathed. While Paul’s pen wrote, God inspired!
Now wouldn’t that be just great for that English paper! Until next time on My Front Porch.
Thursday, October 16, 2003
Sunday, October 12, 2003
Beam Me Up Scotty!
When I was a kid, back in the ‘60's, I watched Captain Kirk on the television show “Star Trek” flip open his little radio and send that famous line to his engineer on the spaceship, “Beam me up, Scotty!” (He never said beam me up, Fred!)
Just about forty years later, I also flip open my little phone, but I don’t say “beam me up!”, usually it is to take a call from my wife or daughter or to call one of them.
What amazes me, in case you are wondering where I am going with this; is that what was a t.v. prop in the 1960's is now a real to life communication device. On Star Trek they were called communicators, not radios, which they were, to sound futuristic and all.
Today we call them cell phones, but really, you could still say “Hand me my radio, please”.
Cell phones sounds so much more modern.
Another scene in the t.v. series was with some futuristic salt shakers. The shakers where so future looking that they had to insert the line” pass the salt shaker please” into the show to identify the salt shaker! (They ended up as Dr. McCoy’s famous medical scanners.)
T.V. shows that portray the future are common, so are people who like to be serious and try to figure out what the future holds for all of us. But, it might as well be used on Star Trek for all the good it does.
James writes to us in chapter four, verse 14: “You do not know what tomorrow will bring. “
The future is hidden from us, what is in store for us tomorrow is not for us to know. All we need to know is that Christ died for us and we will, in the future, be with Christ in heaven. There is a future that you can be certain about!
When I was a kid, back in the ‘60's, I watched Captain Kirk on the television show “Star Trek” flip open his little radio and send that famous line to his engineer on the spaceship, “Beam me up, Scotty!” (He never said beam me up, Fred!)
Just about forty years later, I also flip open my little phone, but I don’t say “beam me up!”, usually it is to take a call from my wife or daughter or to call one of them.
What amazes me, in case you are wondering where I am going with this; is that what was a t.v. prop in the 1960's is now a real to life communication device. On Star Trek they were called communicators, not radios, which they were, to sound futuristic and all.
Today we call them cell phones, but really, you could still say “Hand me my radio, please”.
Cell phones sounds so much more modern.
Another scene in the t.v. series was with some futuristic salt shakers. The shakers where so future looking that they had to insert the line” pass the salt shaker please” into the show to identify the salt shaker! (They ended up as Dr. McCoy’s famous medical scanners.)
T.V. shows that portray the future are common, so are people who like to be serious and try to figure out what the future holds for all of us. But, it might as well be used on Star Trek for all the good it does.
James writes to us in chapter four, verse 14: “You do not know what tomorrow will bring. “
The future is hidden from us, what is in store for us tomorrow is not for us to know. All we need to know is that Christ died for us and we will, in the future, be with Christ in heaven. There is a future that you can be certain about!