The Stilling Of the Storm: In My View
June 30, 2008
Matt. 8:23-27; Mark 4:35-41; Luke 8:22-25.
In my view, the significance of this miracle of nature as presented by Matthews lies in the theological teachings (which as acts of the "King of the Jews"), it contains. Like the healing miracles, they can probably be best understood against the background of the Old Testament.
In the Old Testament, the restless sea is treated as the symbol of the troubled and sinful world. The power of God is supremely demonstrated through Jesus by His authority and rule over the wind and the waves. The author is attempting to say to his Jewish readers that they should put their faith in the Son of God, as the One who fulfills God’s promises to them; that Jesus is the Messiah and hope of Israel. Israel therefore should become disciples and stay faithful in the knowledge that He will deliver, rule and guide His people.
The scene in the boat as it begins to sail is one of Mark’s portrayals of Jesus’ humanity and those qualities that caused men to recognize Him as Savior of the world. The storm on the lake gives the picture of the trials and dangers of Jesus’ own life during this era. Mark illustrates the Servant’s weariness and need for rest.
You are Where You are Because You Decided to be There
June 29, 2008
The decisions we make everyday have a big impact on where we are in life, both spiritually and physically. Often these decisions are the ’safe’ choices. People don’t often venture too far off from familiar paths or too far out of their comfort zones and challenge themselves. As Aristotle the great Greek philosopher said, “Man perpetuates the familiar,” and especially teens. The obvious reason not wanting to appear different than their friends. They are afraid of being teased or ostracized from their peer group if they venture too far. They rather let opportunities pass them by than be shunned by the group that helpes define them.
Teenagers do you find yourself in a rut? If so, be honest with yourself and determine why. Are your friends holding you back from venturing forth? Are you concerned about what they might say? If they are true friends they will be the first to encourage you, if they don’t, ask yourself, then ask them why. The answer you arrive at should indicate to you whether they are a true friend. Odds are they will be encouraging and perhaps follow your lead. You will have then become a trend setter. Be bold and rise above the crowd. Start immediately. All progress starts but with a single step.
Carly Patterson: What Makes A Champion?
June 28, 2008
If you have been following gymnastics for any length of time, odds are you have heard of a particular gymnast by the name of Carly Patterson. You probably also know that she is one of the youngest female Olympic gymnasts ever - and that she has stunned the world of late with her astounding abilities. In 2004, she became the first all-around Olympic champion for the United States in more than two decades, and was also the first to win for the US in the past two games, an amazing feat indeed, considering these past Olympic games were fully attended! The last female all-around gymnastics champion for the United States won in 1984, when the Soviet Union had boycotted the Olympics entirely.
Carly was born on February the fourth, 1988, in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, to a pair of loving parents - her mother, Natalie, and her father, Ricky. She is the first of a pair of girls (her younger sister is Jordan). Currently, she lives with her mother, her sister, and her pets in Allen, Texas. A straight-A student, she is almost a normal teenager when it comes to taste in music, boys, and shopping. However, one thing sets her apart from the rest of the crowd, even beyond her academics: she spends more than thirty hours a week training in her Texas academy. Of course, she could not have gotten to where she is currently without help. This logically leads to the question — what makes a champion?
The Stilling of the Storm
June 28, 2008
Matt. 8:23-27; Mark 4:35-41; Luke 8:22-25.
General Pericope Distinctions
In the gospel of Mark, the "stilling of the storm" and the whole sea sequence follow the day of parables. In Matthew, this story and the split sequence come in chapters eight and nine; the day of parables comes later in chapter 13. Luke agrees with Matthew in noting the presence of the disciples, Mark has an independent "they" throughout the passage and no mention is made of the disciples. Mark’s command in 4:3 is omitted here by Matthew who uses it to introduce the preceding passage (8:18). In Luke and Mark, Jesus stills the storm first and then admonishes the disciples. In Matthews, the action is reversed; Jesus rebukes the disciples and then stills the storm. One of the oddest features in Matthew is that it begins the story with "the disciples" but ends with "the men."
Exegetical Interpretation
None of the synopsis’ give specifics regarding the day and time when the stilling of the storm occurred. Mark and Luke simple indicate, "That day." Mark 4:35 shows that the crossing of the lake happened on the "evening" of the day when the discourse in parables had been pronounced. Luke suppressed the mention of the late hour of the day but his verse (22) can be easily harmonized if we view the first gospel as being topological rather than chronological.
If You Can Dream It you Can Do It!
June 27, 2008
Confuscious, the Chinese Philospher is quoted as saying : “I hear and I forget. I see and I remember. I do and I understand.” In other words, it is in the ‘doing’ that we appreciate and learn the meaning of an action or activity, not in thinking or day dreaming about it.
Many teens daydream often about the things they would like to do. Do you? If you can ‘dream,’ you can ‘do.’ You need to maintain a positive ‘can do’ attitude and like many successful people have done, you need to write your goals down along with a timetable and plan for achieving them. You need to discover what it will take, what your willing to do to accomplish your goal, identify possible obstacles and determine how you will overcome them. You must resolve to stay the course even when other’s discourage you or when problems seem insurmountable.
And there will many of those times; if it were easy everyone would be a star. Post reminders of your goals in prominent places like your bedroom mirror. Give yourself a pep talk every day. Reward yourself when you make significant strides.
Need more help on goal setting write us at info@lunchbagnotes.com.
The Occult
June 26, 2008
“Christianity posits the realization of human freedom not here on earth but only in the Kingdom of Heaven.” (1) Fukayama tells us, and it seems to me he is interpreting what the dogma says; even though it fits his own slave and master concept taken by his evil predecessors. Right as he may be about Christianity, he is not right about the teaching of Jesus. Well, what good is there in such a belief system? It encourages no growth or potential for freedom while you are alive. It gives no insight to actual knowing of what exists hereafter, except through faith in someone telling you what is right. How can anyone accept such utter hogwash? Are we to be enslaved to such a cosmogony while alive? God grows too, and he would be dead if he didn’t. All things around us in nature say change is a good thing.
Why would a ’social engineer’ like Fukayama tell us that Christianity is the ‘absolute religion’? Is this more expert inducement to be a slave? Methinks there is something rotten afoot, and not just in Denmark. His knowledge of early religions is not displayed in his book. I hope to show all religions have used knowledge that when others employ it they call it occult or some other derogatory name. I will have to show certain people and families in corporate or business life are also involved in the religions to the point of controlling them.
The Beothuk
June 25, 2008
Canada is an emancipated country in the relative scheme of things. But it has a dark history that some people aren’t aware of, and others would like to keep it that way. In the early 20th century the last Beothuk Indian met her death after various parties encouraged other Indians (Micmac) to hunt people to their extinction. It is true that the Beothuk stole merchandise but it is also true that their culture assumed that what wasn’t being used was for the common people to use and that those who weren’t using the canoe or boat wouldn’t mind if it was borrowed. In time they returned the goods if they were given a chance.
Calling
June 24, 2008
Some may ask what is a calling and what shall I do when called. Well let’s look at the Bible and see what it says. First look at 1Samuel 3:8 it says The Lord called Samuel a third time, and Samuel got up and went to Eli and said, Here I am; you called me. Then Eli realized the Lord was calling the boy. So Eli told Samuel, Go and lie down, and if he calls you, say, Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening. So Samuel went and lay down in his place. The Lord came and stood there, calling as at the other times, Samuel! Samuel! Then Samuel said, Speak, for your servant is listening. And the Lord said to Samuel: See, I am about to do something in Israel that will make the ears of everyone who hears of it tingle.
How To Experience A Richer, Deeper, And Fuller Life
June 23, 2008
When we choose to move beyond the boundaries of the ego, we choose to step into a different world. We find ourselves above the matrix of conceived causality, alive on a unique plane of experience. Here, much to our amazement, everything happens by itself. Grace, or effortless effort, now define our actions.
Our egoic self is characterized by its neediness. Need arises as an urge to survive. It is, in fact, a pro-survival urge that emanates from the ego. The ego thrives on its own insecurities, finding substance through elaborating its own shadows.
Stepping beyond the ego is an act of recognition. What we are recognizing is that we are more than a person.
What, however, can be transcendent to our personhood? After all, this part of us appears to be all of us.
Life is what is transcendent to personhood, particularity, and isolation.
When we recognize that we are life, an embodiment of the life-force, a marvelous and eloquent expression of consciousness itself, then we transcend the ego. We discover ourselves to be more than our narrow view of ourselves. We find ourselves to be a numinous consciousness that uses a mind, animates a body, and assumes a socialized identity.
DNA RNA are you ready for what is next?
June 23, 2008
As the human race maps out the genome and unlocks all the secrets of DNA, RNA, proteins and enzymes you will find unlimited possibilities and immortality. Transhumanism will mix the best organic and silicon futures. Unlimited brain power, unlimited communication and with all the new technologies mankind will solve every challenge he faces, you doubt this. While I am on this subject let me recommend a very good book to you:
"The Miracle Strain" By Michael Cordy.
This was a great book in trying to tie the biblical theory with Modern Strict materialist views in the DNA/RNA scientific fields. The Creationists, theologians and agnostics alike would find common ground in this book. It would have made an excellent movie actually. The story line has to do with Jesus Christ having an extra three genes in his DNA these genes had a virus which repaired DNA, which is almost possible without going into more detail of how all this works, it explains how it is scientifically possible for a human Being with this special DNA difference to be able to have the power to heal. It was a great book. Even though I rarely read Fiction, this book was well done and in the caliber of Ben Bova, Michael Creighton or some of the books which were Co-written books by Arthur C Clarke. This book makes you think about some of the possible healing powers, which may be possible in the future for fixing or curing degenerative diseases. These are the future realms we may be able to get too scientifically. It was great for the author to tie it in for those Christians so they can enjoy a science fiction book without having their belief system violated.
