Seeds For Thinking

Link: http://seedsforthinking.oldgleaner.com/

Scripture: Under [Christ’s] direction the whole body [of the Church] is fitted together perfectly, and each part in its own special way helps the other parts, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love. (Ephesians 4: 15b-16, Living Bible)

Once upon a time, not so very long ago, the backyard mechanic could service his own automobile. Fast forward to the 21st Century. The electronic diagnostic equipment required in a modern auto repair facility to interact with the computer systems monitoring and operating your vehicle exceeds that of a radio and TV repair shop in the 1960’s. When that little warning light on the dash comes on, you know you are headed for a computer read-out.
Still, at heart, the modern internal combustion engine beats much like the lowly lawnmower engine: intake, compression, ignition, power, exhaust. Sure, there are some differences, as purists will no doubt argue, but the entire process involves the explosion of a fuel mixture pushing on a piston or rotor coupled to a crankshaft, coupled to whatever work you want the engine to do.
I can still tinker with a lawnmower or small utility engine to satisfy my wistful mechanic longings, and sometimes get them back in running condition. And if I don’t? I have had the fun of tinkering, gained knowledge by taking something apart, and and the pleasure of recycling scrap metal.
So let’s consider the more simple engine as an example of how something needs to function as a whole, requiring all the parts of it to work as intended.
The piston started it by boasting, “Hey! I’m the heart of this engine; without me nothing works.” “Which is true enough,” said the connecting rod. “But take me out and see how much ‘heart’ you have. It is one ‘boom’ and you are done, without me keeping you on the move.”
“Well, I’m the spark that lights your fire,” sputtered the ignition system. “Turn me off, and see how well this engine runs.”
“We are the gatekeepers,” interjected the valves. “Nothing comes in or goes out except by us. And we do it on time, every time.”
“Without my energy, the rest of you are just cold metal,” harrumped the carburetor, nearly choking on his words. ”The fuel system gives and gives, and when I run dry, you don’t run at all.”
The crankshaft listened patiently while all of the systems and their related parts presented their case, each disputing loud and long how important they were. Turning slowly, the crankshaft noted that each followed the movement, in their own way. The piston moved up and down, kept on schedule by the connecting rod. The valves opened and closed, admitting the fuel mixture, which the carburetor gracefully shared from its fuel supply. The ignition watched intently, becoming so excited that it discharged like a miniature lightning bolt, but right on time. “This way out,” urged the exhaust valve, opening wide the passageway.
“You see, each of us is important in our own way. When we work together, we can accomplish things that none of could do by ourselves.” The crankshaft was on a roll now, fairly humming. “Our designer and master mechanic fitted us together perfectly. Even the tiniest bolt and screw is necessary to bring us all together as a whole. If anyone fails, our entire organization suffers because of it. Let each part in its own special way help the other parts, without strife and bickering.”
So, too, “God’s people will be equipped to do better work for Him, building up the Church, the Body of Christ to a position of strength and maturity; until finally we all believe alike about our salvation and about our savior, God’s Son, and all become full-grown in the Lord - yes, to the point of being filled full with Christ.”
(Ephesians 4:12, 13)
February 28, 2010

Link: http://seedsforthinking.oldgleaner.com/

* Ruts
* Scripture: Both Jesus and John the Baptist said, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." Matthew 3:2 and 4:17, NKJV

I've been in a rut. A really big rut. Really! Actually, it was twin ruts that must have been cut by many passages of large trucks through boggy, soggy clay.
Guests of gracious hosts, my son and I were enjoying the summer day at their weekend house in the country outside of a large city. The location was definitely 'off road' with only the rutted track serving as access. About the time we were settling down to a delicious meal that included shis-ka-bob prepared on a spit in the fireplace, a rouge storm blew in, drenching the day with pelting rain.
We were inside and dry, but became concerned about our chances of making it back to a real road to return to the city. So we packed everything into their little foreign-built car, and headed out.
Although there was room to travel alongside the ruts, our driver chose to straddle one rut, with the other wheels on the narrow strip between the trenches. Alas, the sun hardened clay that we came over earlier was now rain slickened. The elements of gravity and ooze took control. Not just one, but all wheels now followed the ruts, not touching the bottom, however. We were hung up on the underpinnings of the car. Might as well have been jacked up on a maintenance lift!
How ya gonna go when the wheels aren't touching anything? A wrecker or tractor was out of the question. It took quite a bit of work, and numerous pieces of lumber and fence posts, but we made it out.
We would be fortunate indeed if the only kind of rut we encountered in life was a track worn by a wheel or by habitual passage; a physical channel or furrow!
Sometimes it is even more difficult to get out of a usual or fixed practice in our lives, especially a monotonous routine. The kind of a rut that has been sometimes described as a grave with open ends.
I have often heard that repentance means turning about, going the other way. Think about this: what if the 180 degree turnabout just leaves you in the same old rut, only going the other way? In our case, we actually turned that car sideways to the tracks, filled in the ruts, and drove off.
One local church posted this advice on their sign: 'How to Get to Heaven: Turn right. Go Straight!'
Straddling the ruts of life is not always the best option, nor even a turnabout that leaves you in the same ruts.
Sometimes we need to do a right turn, and leave the old ruts totally behind.
January 29, 2006

Link: http://seedsforthinking.oldgleaner.com/

* Pomposity
* Scripture: Paul wrote, "Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves." Philippians 2:3, KJV

Pomposity! Oooh; That's a nice, big word! Think ostentatious; think vainglory; well, think showy.
The tune played at graduation exercises, and other ceremonial and festival events, is called "Pomp and Circumstance," to give you a better feel for the image of the word. Dignitaries, public officials, royalty and their retinues. Splendor; a show of magnificence.
Puffed up words to show a puffed up attitude - pomposity!
We use the word glory often in reference to God, and rightfully so. We confess, in The Lord's Prayer, the kingdom, power, and glory that is rightfully His. Worshipful praise, honor, and thanksgiving is an appropriate use of the word 'Glory' when speaking of God.
But what a different meaning we get simply by adding the word vain in front of glory, as it appears in the King James Bible. The word in the Greek language (translated as "vain") can have several possible meanings, including empty, fruitless, ineffectual, and - I like this - empty- handed!
Paul had ample opportunity to observe pomp and magnificence. Luke records that King Agrippa and Bernice arrived to hear Paul with "great pomp," accompanied by high ranking officers and prominent men of the city of Caesarea. (Acts 25:23)
Paul used the opportunity to proclaim Jesus to all who were listening, from the king and governor to the lowest servant.
Paul was serving, and had support from, a much higher authority than earthly kings and governors. He had respect for their office, but apparently was not in awe of their pomposity. Paul, as did Peter and the other Apostles, followed the example of Jesus, who also faced governors and kings confident that God stood with them.
I think that Paul understood that kings are all about pomp and splendor. We expect royalty to be, well, magnificent. But not Christians. And that's what caught Paul's attention in the Church at Philippi - pomposity!
Christ 'emptied' Himself to become a servant of others (the Incarnation.) And right there, in Christ's Church in Pilippi, Paul found strife and vainglory.
All the gold in the world is worthless in heaven. Earthly pomp and majesty pales to nothing before The Glory of the Throne. Vainglory - Don't get caught empty handed!
January 22. 2006

Link: http://seedsforthinking.oldgleaner.com/

* Peer Pressure
* Scripture: Jesus said, "Can the blind lead the blind? Will they not both fall into the ditch? Luke 6:39, NKJV

Peer pressure! We tend to think of adolescents when we hear the word, but peer pressure goes far beyond the realm of teenagers. It can be brought to bear on any of us, because a peer is anyone of the same societal group, based on age, grade or status. Unless, of course, you are in Great Briton, where the peerage consists of the ranks of duke, marquess, earl, viscount, or baron.
One's peers have a powerful influence over one's behavior. We don't want to be the odd ball, the 'different' one. In group dynamics, there is a weight, or pressure, that functions in determining acts or choices made in common. As part of a crowd, we tend to go along with the crowd. "When in Rome . . . ."
"Birds of a feather" do indeed flock together, research has shown. It is just natural to want to be among others like ourselves. Our 'feathers' may be clothing, choices in music, favorite leisure activities, or beliefs and tenets. A peer group draws a circle, delineating what is 'In' and acceptable, and what is Not a characteristic 'feather' of inclusion. In some societies, the showing of an unacceptable 'feather' can lead to shunning of the offender - exclusion from fellowship.
I suppose a case could be made that the first example of peer pressure presented in the Bible was Adam's acceptance of Eve's fruity snack. The 'Authority' figure that seeks to sway a group's thinking was certainly there, and 'ole Satan is still in there, taking advantage of the 'follow the leader' syndrome.
One of the most disastrous events in the history of Israel hinged on the elements of the generation gap and peer pressure. King Solomon's successor, Rehoboam, first consulted the elders, who enjoined him to be a servant to the people, and speak good words to them. (1 Kings Ch. 12)
Rehoboam rejected their advice, and instead consulted the young men he had grown up with - his peers!
Their promised heavy yoke and harsh kingship led to a split in the nation, starting the northern ten tribes down the long path to idolatry and eventual dispersement among the nations.
We often stand where Adam and Rehoboam stood: We need to make choices - which can either lead us astray, or strengthen our walk on the right path.
Choose well - a peer group of those who can see clearly God's pathway.
By all means, avoid those who are blind to His Way, lest we follow them into the dark ditch of eternity.
January 15, 2006

Link: http://seedsforthinking.oldgleaner.com/

* I Am
* Scripture: Moses asked, "Indeed, when I come to the children of Israel and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they say to me, ‘What is His name?’ what shall I say to them?" Exodus 3:13, NKJV

If you recall the passage from Exodus where God calls to Moses from the burning bush, God concludes by instructing Moses to tell the people that "I AM sent you."
Later, on the mountain, Moses received the Commandments, beginning with the statement, "I am the Lord your God." These first commandments establish a relationship with God, one based on reverence, worship, and esteem. That includes a proper respect and understanding of HIS NAME.
Suppose that you are responsible for translating the ancient writings into a modern version of the English language. There is no one to speak those ancient words, no one still using those symbols that represent speech.
Now add the complexity that derives from a reluctance of those ancients to even speak or write that most righteous Name, and the the scholar is left searching. The scribes would write the letters YHWH instead of spelling out THE NAME. It is called a Tetragrammaton. From it, we get ‘Yahweh.’
About 300 B.C. the Jews began the custom of pronouncing the name 'adonay' (my Lord or LORD) or 'elohim.' Take the various spellings, run the Hebrew through Latin, and we get 'Jehovah.'
According to one of my references (The New Westminister Dictionary of the Bible) the word comes from a verb which means to befall, to come to pass, happen, become, be ; The name accordingly means "He who happens (upon us), he who befalls (upon us), he who in the absolute sense exists and who manifests his existence and his character." (Ex. 3:13-15) - "I AM."
The dictionary further gives these definitions:
'elohim, God, is the creator, upholder, and moral governor of the universe;
'el Shadday, God almighty, is the covenant God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, their present strength and future existence;
Yahweh (YHWH) is the God of revelation and grace, dwelling with his people, guiding and delivering them, and receiving their worship.
"Lord" in our Bibles came from Hebrew 'adon,' "Master," or 'adonay; "my master", (i.e., "my Lord.") When you see LORD the original was YHWH.
A name is a very personal thing; it identifies who we are. At least for the time being:

"There's a new name written down in Glory,
"And it's mine, O yes, it's mine!"
(C. Austin Miles)

To him who overcomes will be given a new name, according to Revelation 2:17 and 3:12. That will be an even more special name than the one we use now, because it will be given by THE ONE!
January 8, 2006

Link: http://seedsforthinking.oldgleaner.com/

* Change
* Scripture: Jesus said, "For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved." (John 3:17, NKJV)

Did you set your clock back as the calendar rolled over from 2005 to 2006? No, they haven’t been playing with Daylight Savings Time - this time, anyway. The keepers of the official universal clock added a leap-second at the end of 2005.
That’s right - your year just became longer by one second, according to the folks who keep track of such matters. The truth is, the solid old earth under our feet gets a bit wobbly sometimes, and the speed of rotation shifts a little. Over time, that tiny bit of change adds up, throwing off the precise calculation of celestial affairs.
You wouldn’t want the clock to gradually creep ahead until it didn't become daylight until nearly noon, would you? Granted that it will take a while for that to happen, but even a few seconds is too much for rocket scientists and astronomers, people who talk billions of miles and millionth parts of seconds.
While the clock may be brought into alignment with the universe and bring order out of chaos, so to speak, not everyone is thrilled with such precision. Many people still haven’t figured out how to get the clock on their VCR to quit flashing "12:00" let alone synchronize every clock and watch for which they are responsible. That’s why inventors are building devices, such as cell phones and GPS systems, that automatically set themselves to the universal standard clock.
But what about those gadgets that are not set up to be automatic? Think about the brouhaha about Y2K - you know, the end of time as we know it, because all those ancient devices built for the 20th Century couldn’t cope with - Gasp! - a millennial leap.
Messing around with things like clocks and calendars can create a lot of problems. Even little things, as small as a second, cause some people to get their ire up, mostly, as it turns out, over needless worries.
So imagine what happens when one generation tries to change something that previous generations consider to be sacrosanct. Absolute; untouchable! Like the order of the church’s worship service. Or new people in the church leadership group.
Yes. I’m talking about the birth of Jesus. A millennial change of the first order. Not everyone liked the changes His coming brought about; many still refute both the event, and the rationale for such a drastic modification of the way people relate to God.
As with the leap second, the problem was not a celestial one. The Heavenly standard is quite precise, thank you. It’s an earthly problem. Some adjustments needed to be made. Somebody had to do it.
So God sent His Son into the world that the world through Him might be saved.
January 1, 2006

Link: http://seedsforthinking.oldgleaner.com/

* Planned Obsolescence
* Scripture: John said, “He must increase, but I must decrease. John 3:30, NIV

One of the side effects of walking the earth for three score years and ten (or longer) is a growing awareness of how temporary many earthly things seem to be.
Anyone who has attempted to obtain repair parts, or hauled some beloved and faithful gadget in for repair, is faced with a tradition called “planned obsolescence.” Treasure the company that supports maintenance and stocks parts for more than five or six years!
Do you ladies cheerfully welcome every change in fashion? Comfort gone with the cut of the newest styles? I imagine that I am not alone among the fellows that stand perplexed in front of racks of clothing that attempt to leapfrog me into the fashion future.
Brand names and particular models of items have a way of disappearing into the past, whether they want to or not. The automobile scene of the 21st Century is an entirely different world from that in the middle of the 20th. Let’s see: there was the Essex, Kaiser, Frasure, Studebaker, Crosley, Packard, DeSoto . . . all made in The USA!
Go to an antique tractor show, and marvel at the variety: Oliver, Allis Chalmers, Cockshutt, Avery - and a few names that still have corporate identity, such as the John Deere and Case lines. Others are still around but in a new corporate setting. They either merged with , or were bought out by another company. Who would have thought that “International Harvester” would be a model name under the Case/IH logo.
Many products simply become obsolete through new advances in technology and social change (progress?). The oft cited producers of buggy whips and washboards linger on in limited numbers, since groups like the Amish still use them, but, by and large, the producers of such objects either turned to some new, more salable product, or ceased to exist entirely.
Still, few are the companies that begin with the goal of making themselves obsolete on purpose. Most start with high hopes, and excitement in the pursuit of their own enterprise. Many succeed, but the number of those who fade like a flower in the hot desert sun are in the majority.
It just seems to be human nature to want to continue to move up in life, to ‘upper-ups’, if possible. Anyone in a position of visibility, power, or popularity usually clings to every visage of adherents they can muster. But consider John the Baptizer: He had a successful ministry. People from the whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem were going out to him. (Mark 1:5)
Curiosity and -Yes,! controversy swirled about him. He testified that he, John, was not The One. He was the Forerunner, the one pointing to the Messiah. John said, “He must increase, but I must decrease.”
December 11, 2005