Filled my medicinal marijuana (MM) prescription today. A nice lunch w/ Cori and Lily. Finally got to the BBH. Slept a little because I tried 2 MM gummie bears. 1 too many! :/ Just ate popcorn. I like popcorn.
1. *** What! my soul, has he been so long about thy salvation, and will not he accomplish it? - Has he from everlasting been going forth to save me, and will he lose me now? *** What! Has he carried me in his hand, as his precious jewel, and will he now let me slip from between his fingers? - Did he choose me before the mountains were brought forth, or the channels of the deep were digged, and will he reject me now? *** Impossible! I am sure he would not have loved me so long if he had not been a changeless Lover. *** If he could grow weary of me, he would have been tired of me long before now. *** If he had not loved me with a love as deep as hell, and as strong as death, he would have turned from me long ago. => Oh, joy above all joys, to know that I am his everlasting and inalienable inheritance, given to him by his Father or ever the earth was! Everlasting love shall be the pillow for my head this night! 2. A Grief Observed - 3. "should write a book" - only 4x? Dang. 4. Accordance. POOR One lacking material goods, honor, and power. Recent anthropological and sociological studies have shown that the “poor” is not just an economic concept, but is more especially a question of honor, social status, a lack of power that led to oppression. In the OT different blocks of traditions emphasize different aspects. The legal texts regulate the treatment of the poor, seeking to protect the poor, widows, orphans, or strangers (Lev. 19:9-10; 25:25, 35). The prophets show a concern for those economically exploited. They protest the oppression of the poor at the hands of the greedy. Isaiah attacks those landowners who amass vast properties (Isa. 5:8), and condemns the denial of rights to the poor (10:2). Amos draws attention to the oppression of the poor (Amos 2:7; 4:1; 5:11). The wisdom [p. 1071] traditions view poverty from different perspectives. Proverbs sees poverty as one’s own fault (Prov. 6:10-11; 10:4, 15; 13:18; 21:17), while for Job poverty results from political and economic exploitation. Job argues his innocence through his defense of the poor (Job 29:12, 16; 30:25; 31:16). The Psalms present God as the defender of the poor (Ps. 22:26[MT 27]; 35:10). The narrative literature of the Pentateuch and Deuteronomistic history show little interest in the poor, concerned more with critiquing the kingship. Three groups within Israelite society — widows, orphans, and strangers — experienced poverty as particularly harsh. In a society structured upon the male as the worker, the widow and orphan struggled to survive: powerless, they depended upon the good will of others (Deut. 24:17). The strangers, as ones who did not belong, had no bonds to their new society. These groups shared a common poverty: a lack of status whereby the powerful and unscrupulous took advantage. Concern is expressed for their precarious social status (Prov. 31:9; Ps. 82:3) — what others had done to them to cause their poverty (Ps. 10:2; Isa. 32:7). In addition to economic considerations the NT also focuses on the lack of honor, social status, and powerlessness which led to the oppression of the poor. The Epistle of James stands out as a writing concerned for the poor, who lack power — they are at the mercy of the rich. The rich “have dishonored the poor” who have no rights — the poor are brought to court by the rich (Jas. 2:6). The rich are boastful and arrogant, relying solely upon their own power (Jas. 4:13-17). Wealth has brought honor to the rich and shame to the poor (Jas. 2:1-7). True religion is defined as “caring for orphans and widows in their distress” (Jas. 1:27) — two groups identified with the poor in the OT because they have no rights or power to defend themselves. In the Synoptic Gospels the life-styles of John the Baptist (Mark 1:6), Jesus (vv. 38–39; 11:12), and the disciples (1:18, 20; 2:23–25) embrace poverty. Matthew opens Jesus’ teaching with a blessing on “the poor in spirit” (Matt. 5:3), while Luke 6:20 has simply “the poor” whose status is lowly, whose spirit is crushed by their powerlessness. This saying implies that the poor also enter the kingdom. It challenges the arrogance of those who deny status to the poor by refusing them their rights. They will be part of God’s kingdom that reinstates their honor and power. The Gospel of Luke shows an empathy for the poor and hostility toward the rich that is more pronounced than in the other Gospels. Again the status of the poor is championed, e.g., in the parables of admission to the messianic banquet (Luke 14:15-24) and the rich man and Lazarus (16:19–31). The other NT writings pay scant attention to the poor. Paul is chiefly concerned with the collection for the poor in Jerusalem (Gal. 2:10; Rom. 15:26). In 2 Cor. 8-9 Paul calls upon the wealthy to give as much as possible so that economic inequality could be bridged. 1 Peter is written to the “homeless” in the Diaspora. In a sense it reflects the “strangers” of the OT. The good news proclaimed to them (1 Pet. 1:12, 25) imparts a sense of dignity and status (1:5, 9; 2:9–10). 5. Comeback to 6. Not yet 7. Cori. BBH 8 I am a little past the 6 year mark in my wonderful brain tumor journey. A couple months ago I removed myself from my doctors and my meds. I know, I know, not the smartest thing to do. I don't care. What appears to be helpful now is walking and writing. I do not know to what extent but I am self-aware enough to know it is positive. Consequently, I will walk and talk. I have chosen to talk via this Blog. I am almost positive it will have no value to my friends who read it, though I hope they do read it, but I am hoping I can leverage this for greater healing within my frontal lobe.
First, I need to sort of layout the borders of the puzzle. What do I really want to talk about? For now, here are a few things that are possibilities: 1. God speaks to me. He does! What did He say to me this morning? 2. Write a review on the current books I have read or are reading (also Accelerate). 3. Books I have wanted to write. How many times have I said- I should write a book on <this> 4. 7-App Journey. I have so many wonderful Bible resources. I will choose my top 7 and go through one each day/week. M- Logos, Tu- Olive Tree, W- iBooks, Th- PocketBible, F- e-Sword, Sa- WordSearch, Su- Accordance 5. What about online? BlueLetter, YouVersion, Precept, BibleHub, Bible.org, StudyLight, Bible Tools, lmw.org, SonicLight, BibleGateway, Austin Bible 6. GMO stories 7. Family updates 8. Deep Thoughts Then I can categorize them and review them in the right navbar :) |
AuthorErv Thomas is married with two children and is a Mechanical Engineer. Archives
March 2023
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