I have what I call the Prospector's
Bible Study; it's based on the idea that if you're looking for
something, you're more likely to find it than by accident. You make a
list of things you're interested in, say free will, or end of O.T.
Law. Then, with notebook, pen, and list, you read part of the Bible,
taking notes.
What I found was that you not only
find gems this way, but you find better mining tools; a very present
case of to he that has, more will be given...I ended up with
something like a read between the lines Bible study. But instead of
the former list of things to keep an eye out for; the new list has
principles. These are to a large degree speculative, I don't hold
them as concrete, or etched in stone as it were. In fact, the whole
point is to see if I can solidly confirm them in the Bible.
One of the things I'm definitely
seeing is this thing about anti mediocrity. That's not a
comprehensive way of saying it, it has to do with the idea that God's
will is for people to move in the direction of their heart's moral
compass. Be ye hot or be ye cold. If you're interested in His ways,
pursue a knowledge of them. If not, don't use His name in vain. You
might think that adding His title to the word damn is taking His name
in vain; but I would consider it a secondary definition. The book of
Proverbs shows that it has to do with calling yourself one of His
people, but not living it. The Gospel of Matthew has another example
of this principle. See chapter13, verses 3-15. Note that vs 9 is a warning to
the people hearing His parable. Take a close look at verses 12 and
15.
I've heard it said that Jesus was born
in such humble circumstances so that all people could relate to Him.
Now I'm wondering if there's another reason: Do you want His message?
Had he been born in a different economic strata, He might have
followers because He had a certain style, or had degrees from some
institution. As it is you have His teachings, you have to decide
whether to pursue them.
.
Your destiny is in your desire.
I think that the above contains
another of these paradoxes I'm seeing in life; I just didn't want to
dilute that last line with an aside. I don't want to engage in a game
of exact semantics, so don't hold me to rigid definitions of words
like will and desire in the part about “God's will is for people to
move...” I hold to the idea that God wants, desires, wishes, would
have joy in all men repenting and being part of His Kingdom. But His
will is that you go one of two directions. I want Him to help me
understand paradoxes and truth. Seeing these paradoxes brings a
certain comfort in knowing that when a difficult thing happens in my
life, it doesn't mean I'm on His B list.
Did you hear about the new ruling in
Mexico?!? Now you can get a 2 year marriage license? Um, folks, this
guy no habla Castiliano, but that's_not_really_marriage, for your
information. I have this tendency toward reductio ad absurdum, it
leads me to making advertising layouts for the occasion. How about
one where the main copy says:VEILS Y VIVA! Below, smaller copy: For
all the weddings and seasons of life. Then a group of pictures, all
small, and symmetrical in size, arranged neatly; the pictures show a
woman in bridal veils and gowns, as she ages. Below that, more copy
about a “group” plan of weddings, whereby a persons pays once and
gets all future weddings planned and catered. Copy: For all the
seasons and weddings of your life, we'll be there, highlighting the
dignity and grace you've gained, the friends and songs, the blah and
blah...the uncertainty, the kids without a real home, the lack of
investment in the future...what a wreck.
It wouldn't take much effort to turn
this into a quick cartoon, but I hesitated at the question: Am I
mocking God's ways and His word? Probably not, just highlighting
those that do.
