Especially in the Old Testament, I love reading about the characters of history. Just like I mentioned in Numbers, it's amazing to think that these events actually happened, and these people actually walked on this planet. I've really been focusing on certain characters from each book, and trying to see if their lessons learned apply to my life.
The character that jumped out at me from First Samuel is Saul. An interesting exercise that I like to participate it when reading historical narratives in the Bible, and focusing on these characters, is to select certain qualities that are similar in myself. I also like to search for qualities that I don't have, but would like to work on.
Saul is an interesting character, and a lot can be highlighted from his very eventful life. I want to highlight two specific things though, one negative and one positive.
Starting with the negative, Saul was very power hungry. I think this was the root of almost all of his problems. He was continually searching for more power, or to maintain his control or grip over the power he already had obtained. Ultimately, this consumed his life, and flooded over into his decisions and actions, which in turn changed Saul's character. He went from a shy, mild mannered man, to a angry, self-conscious, wary, short-fused king. He spent much of his life searching for David, to kill him to maintain his own hold on the throne. He snapped multiple times in the quest of control over the throne, throwing spears at multiple people. He decided to disobey God, just to get the favor of the people to keep his power. He even went ahead and offered sacrifices to God without the priest (Samuel) just to make sure the people didn't leave him. All of Saul's actions were drastic measures to keep the power or gain more.
However, Saul wasn't always this way. Before he was anointed as king, Saul was the obedient, meek son. He jumped at the opportunity to help his father, and was well respected in the community. It was only after he tasted power for the first time that his character changed.
I feel a slight connection with Saul. I have the same issue where power can become an overtaking search in my life. I believe there are many Christians who have the same problem. For some, it is a matter of staying away from those leadership positions that offer power. But we all can't do that, and sometimes it is better to have Christians in those leadership positions.
The best tip that I have found that works, is rather then make that leadership position about you, and your decisions or successes, make it about God. Turn everything back to the Lord. If Saul would have done that as king, he would have been recognized as a success instead of a failure, a madman. Same as every leader in the world!
Monday 23 February 2015
Friday 13 February 2015
The Grocery Store Brawl
Check out my first published book! I wrote this short story as a school project in Grade 7, and have been working on the illustrations ever since. This is the first book in my Green Guy series, geared towards young kids.
https://itunes.apple.com/ca/book/the-grocery-store-brawl/id963257195?mt=11
https://itunes.apple.com/ca/book/the-grocery-store-brawl/id963257195?mt=11
Friday 6 February 2015
Reading Ruth
Ruth has continually been a book in the Bible that I've struggled to get or understand, surprisingly. I say surprisingly for a few reasons. First, it's such a short book. Second, it is such a commonly heard story. Thirdly, it's exactly that; a historical story.
Whenever I read books from the Bible, I'm always searching for higher meaning, or a greater purpose. Because the Bible is essentially the Word of God, I continually feel that I have to search for the reason why each book is included, each sentence, each word. This can be a good thing, but sometimes it takes away from the overall experience of reading the Bible. A balance has to be found between a search for factual knowledge and enlightenment, and for personal application.
So, when it comes to Ruth, while I continually search for that factual enlightenment, or amazing tidbit of insight, I should also be searching for the personal impact or lessons that can be applied to my life. For some reason, I never consider that God may have included these stories simply for the lessons applied to the present.
So what personal lessons can be taken from Ruth? Actually, the book is chalk full of them when you read through it with that goal in mind.
First, family is extremely important. Ruth is the person that God is using as the model in the story. Her first defining quality that is revealed is her dedication to her family. While the easiest decision would have been to stay in her home country and get re-married, she was so dedicated to her family, and her mother-in-law that she uprooted her whole future, just to be with Naomi, and to support her.
Second, she was extremely obedient. Whenever anyone asked something of her, or ordered her to do something, she did it wholeheartedly, without ever complaining or asking any questions.
Thirdly, Ruth is an example of how to live through pain and come out of trials in the end. Ruth must have been extremely distraught with the death of her husband, and most of her family. Yet, she struggled through it, and ultimately came out on top, with a new husband, who was extremely respected, and wealthy. She herself was also respected in a small community she could call family, and she bore sons who would grow to become great men historically.
Commonly Ruth is used as an example of a Gentile being accepted into God's family from the Old Testament as a lesson. I chose not to include this, because there is no proof that Ruth actually accepted God into her heart. The most likely conclusion is that she did, based upon her statement that she wanted Naomi's God to be her God, yet there is no evidence past this. As a local pastor once said, "assumption is the lowest form of knowledge." While it does make for a great story, I would choose to draw other, stronger conclusions from the book, rather then just possibilities.
Whenever I read books from the Bible, I'm always searching for higher meaning, or a greater purpose. Because the Bible is essentially the Word of God, I continually feel that I have to search for the reason why each book is included, each sentence, each word. This can be a good thing, but sometimes it takes away from the overall experience of reading the Bible. A balance has to be found between a search for factual knowledge and enlightenment, and for personal application.
So, when it comes to Ruth, while I continually search for that factual enlightenment, or amazing tidbit of insight, I should also be searching for the personal impact or lessons that can be applied to my life. For some reason, I never consider that God may have included these stories simply for the lessons applied to the present.
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| Wikimedia |
First, family is extremely important. Ruth is the person that God is using as the model in the story. Her first defining quality that is revealed is her dedication to her family. While the easiest decision would have been to stay in her home country and get re-married, she was so dedicated to her family, and her mother-in-law that she uprooted her whole future, just to be with Naomi, and to support her.
Second, she was extremely obedient. Whenever anyone asked something of her, or ordered her to do something, she did it wholeheartedly, without ever complaining or asking any questions.
Thirdly, Ruth is an example of how to live through pain and come out of trials in the end. Ruth must have been extremely distraught with the death of her husband, and most of her family. Yet, she struggled through it, and ultimately came out on top, with a new husband, who was extremely respected, and wealthy. She herself was also respected in a small community she could call family, and she bore sons who would grow to become great men historically.
Commonly Ruth is used as an example of a Gentile being accepted into God's family from the Old Testament as a lesson. I chose not to include this, because there is no proof that Ruth actually accepted God into her heart. The most likely conclusion is that she did, based upon her statement that she wanted Naomi's God to be her God, yet there is no evidence past this. As a local pastor once said, "assumption is the lowest form of knowledge." While it does make for a great story, I would choose to draw other, stronger conclusions from the book, rather then just possibilities.
Thursday 5 February 2015
Reading Judges
Recall the discussion of the two-fold promise of God in Deuteronomy? The one where He promised amazing things if the Israelites obeyed Him, and extreme punishment if they disobeyed Him? The book of Judges provides a crystal clear historical example of the results of that promise.
The cycle in Judges is stupendous. You'd think that the Israelites would have learned from their mistakes after a few times of doing the same things over and over again, and having the same results every time. However, they didn't, and the cycle continued on and on.
Here's what happened in that cycle. It all started with the Israelites choosing, much like Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, to disobey God. They chose to attempt to follow false gods, or idols, or things of the world. By doing so, they basically turned their backs on God, and decided to place themselves before His will. This sparked God's punishment, which was essentially returning the favour, and turning His back on them. Much of the punishment came in the form of foreigners attacking, terrorizing, and ruling over the Israelites for many years.
Here's the difference between man and God though. While we may turn our backs on God, and God turns His back on us, He is extremely willing to turn right back and around and reconnect in that relationship. In fact, He continually looks over His shoulder while we continue our disobedience, hoping we will see our foolishness, and putting people and situations in place to shake us awake.
Thus begins the next step in the cycle. God hand picks certain people to lead the Israelites back to Him. Most times this happens through a certain warrior who conquers the terrorists of that time period. By freeing the people of that outside influence, this warrior or judge leads the Israelites back to worship of God. When this happens, the people experience a time of safety and fruitfulness.
However, for some unstated reason, the Israelites would always abandon that safety, and would choose to turn away from God. Thus the cycle starts all over, back to the time of choosing false Gods, and being punished. Now we can speculate that the reason for disobedience might be dissatisfaction, longing for more, sinful nature, outside influence, and on and on.
Even though we may state that this should have been the easiest decision in anyone's life, and that the Israelites must have been blind not to see the cycle in front of them, we do the same thing as the Israelites and constantly disobey God. And we have more then the Israelites did in that time, in the form of history from the Bible. Yet for some reason, we continue to disobey God.
Now, there has been an argument made regarding if obeying God actually produces times of perfect happiness and such. Ultimately, my opinion on the subject is that trivial things that used to bother you won't anymore, and that when bad things do happen, you are able to go through those situations with a better frame of mind, or perspective, and therefore with a better attitude.
Ultimately, the book of Judges should provide a lesson for us, one that may be difficult to apply, but is extremely important to at least attempt to take to heart.
The cycle in Judges is stupendous. You'd think that the Israelites would have learned from their mistakes after a few times of doing the same things over and over again, and having the same results every time. However, they didn't, and the cycle continued on and on.
Here's what happened in that cycle. It all started with the Israelites choosing, much like Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, to disobey God. They chose to attempt to follow false gods, or idols, or things of the world. By doing so, they basically turned their backs on God, and decided to place themselves before His will. This sparked God's punishment, which was essentially returning the favour, and turning His back on them. Much of the punishment came in the form of foreigners attacking, terrorizing, and ruling over the Israelites for many years.
Here's the difference between man and God though. While we may turn our backs on God, and God turns His back on us, He is extremely willing to turn right back and around and reconnect in that relationship. In fact, He continually looks over His shoulder while we continue our disobedience, hoping we will see our foolishness, and putting people and situations in place to shake us awake.
Thus begins the next step in the cycle. God hand picks certain people to lead the Israelites back to Him. Most times this happens through a certain warrior who conquers the terrorists of that time period. By freeing the people of that outside influence, this warrior or judge leads the Israelites back to worship of God. When this happens, the people experience a time of safety and fruitfulness.
However, for some unstated reason, the Israelites would always abandon that safety, and would choose to turn away from God. Thus the cycle starts all over, back to the time of choosing false Gods, and being punished. Now we can speculate that the reason for disobedience might be dissatisfaction, longing for more, sinful nature, outside influence, and on and on.
Even though we may state that this should have been the easiest decision in anyone's life, and that the Israelites must have been blind not to see the cycle in front of them, we do the same thing as the Israelites and constantly disobey God. And we have more then the Israelites did in that time, in the form of history from the Bible. Yet for some reason, we continue to disobey God.
Now, there has been an argument made regarding if obeying God actually produces times of perfect happiness and such. Ultimately, my opinion on the subject is that trivial things that used to bother you won't anymore, and that when bad things do happen, you are able to go through those situations with a better frame of mind, or perspective, and therefore with a better attitude.
Ultimately, the book of Judges should provide a lesson for us, one that may be difficult to apply, but is extremely important to at least attempt to take to heart.
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