blog @ rickenba.ch

Go To Statement Considered Harmful

2010-02-08T18:00:00.008+01:00

Whoever had to smile reading the title of this post: welcome, fellow dated programmer. But read on, this is not about programming languages of old. Everybody else just consider yourself lucky that you did not have to suffer through the "good old times" of programming or even programming itself and remember the goto statement.

But I was going to talk about something totally different. There is a go to statement in Christian faith: I am getting saved to go to heaven. Let me show you why I consider this statement to be even more harmful than the one in COBOL and BASIC. But there seems to be a parallel: what was the goto statement in programming used for? To control a flow or to escape a mess.

Apropos escaping a mess: getting saved to go to heaven only takes into consideration what you want. Like a little child that does not ask for the things the parents would like this only concentrates on "me, me, me." But if the plan were to get you saved, why didn't you just follow Henoch's example and leave the planet when the goal was reached? Why didn't God just get you?

What if it was all about getting some people with me to heaven? That sounds much less egoistic and explains why I have to spend some more time down here. But doesn't it turn Christianity into works? Granted, you get to heaven because you accepted Jesus as saviour, but if it is necessary to take some people with you, will there be a greater price for greater crowds? After how many "converts" will you be released to leave this "valley of death and sorrows" and be promoted to be with the Lord?

But within my answer there lies "des Pudels Kern", the real problem. Accepting Jesus as your saviour just falls short of what Jesus has planned for you. He wants to be Lord in your life. He wants you to obey - if you love me, keep my commandments. Moreover, He wants you to mature. He wants you to build His Kingdom, while he builds His Church. He wants you to rule and reign with Him. But where? Here on earth, as you can see in Rev 22:5.

The go to statement seems to be especially harmful if you believe that the Church will be raptured before tribulation. This was taught to Chinese Christians by Western missionaries. When Mao and with him persecution came, there was a great fall from Christian believe as the people started to call God a lyer: didn't he promiss to spare them from the time of great dispair?

I do not know whether we will leave this planet to greet the Lord and accompany Him down to earth at His second coming before, during, or after the tribulation time. I lean towards believing that we will at least experience parts of it, being spared like Israel was spared in Egypt: even though they experienced opression and had to make bricks without straw, they were spared from the wrath of God as there was light in Goshen when all Egypt was in darkness.

Another way the go to statement is harmful is when used to project the future: tomorrow I will go to ... The Lord tells us to be careful and at least say "if the Lord permits and we are still alive ...".

But if it is not about going to heaven, taking as many with us as we can, being saved from troubles, and planning our future, what is it all about?

As I said, as a child all you think about is you. What will I profit - and if you are honest, all of the above falls into that category. But Paul said that when he became a man, he did away all childish things. 1Jo 2:12-14 shows us three steps in maturing: children - we just dealt with that. Young people ask: what can I do for you. And fathers want to invest themselves into others.

If you want a phrase with "go" in it to summarize God's plan for your life: Go, grow up, mature, and multiply Christ in you, and make disciples by multiplying yourself in others.

God's Family

2010-02-07T07:35:00.000+01:00

Let's dive a little more into the plan of God, trying to unveil its purpose.

As I wrote in my last entry, we cannot derive the purpose of the plan asking "what if". What if we had never sinned. We have to, and are perfectly able to derive the purpose of the plan from within the plan, especially from the handbook given for this project - the bible. It shows the goal (Revelation 21/22), the kick-off (Genesis 1/2), and the way to get from here to there.

Paul wrote about marriage as a symbol for our relationship with God. And I do think that all of history is but a family story. 2 generations, 2 marriages, 2 covenants between 1 humanity and 1 God.

Back at Mount Sinai, God the Father married Israel. The whole ceremony of a Jewish wedding strongly resembles the happenings at Mount Sinai, from the canopy that covered the pair to the laying down of a marriage contract, much more than that, marriage covenant.

And out of Israel came the Saviour. Out of this marriage Jesus Christ was born. And still today we the Church draw from our parents - we learn from both our Father and our mother. We see how they treated each other, we see the good and the bad. And we can learn.

As it is in real life, parents are not perfect - in this case at least the mother is not. Still children can, with God's help, grow up to be wonderful, capable, and mature people. Later in life, daughters get to know their husband and learn from him - and vice versa here on earth. Jesus calls the Church His bride. There will be the wedding meal.

And as we marry into the Kings family, we are set to rule with Him, over all creation. What started in the earth (Gen 1:28), as our realm of influence as little children, our playground, our children's room, will be enlarged to all of creation in our maturity (Rev 22:5): And they will reign as kings forever and ever.

What if

2010-02-06T22:08:00.002+01:00

I have been a project manager most of my professional life. I managed software projects with up to 100 people, but usually a group of about 5 programmers, lasting a few man years each. When I planned the project, I tried to foresee all eventualities and manage all risks. Worst case scenarios, critical path, plan B.

God a few thousand years ago planned a project of a totally other dimension - humanity. Take a look at the complexity - alone today there are some 7 billion people, and the project runs for almost 6000 years by now. But God had a competitive edge. He lives outside of time and sees the end from the beginning. Means: he knew everything ahead of time. No risk calculation, no worst case scenario, no surprises at all.

I'm talking about perfect foresight, not predestination. We all have our free will to decide about how to behave within this project, but God knew back then, before the foundation of the earth, how I would decide in every case I would make a decision, and when I would run from taking one, trying to avoid it. Still he decided to go ahead with the project, on purpose.

But what was the project all about? Salvation, as most of us would say? In that case it would be all over and the goal would have been reached. But how do we find out what the real purpose is?

Obviously we cannot ask questions like: would Jesus have come to earth if Adam and Eve would not have sinned? Nobody knows, if we take a historic view point, not even God, as he never planned for that case. He knew it was not an option. We could argue that Jesus would not have come to die, as there would have been no reason to do so. There was no sin, therefore no need for redemption. And could he have died anyway? Would there have been death or not? Death in Genesis means separation from God. We do not know whether people would have lived for a certain time and then have been changed in a moment into something we today call the resurrection body, or whether Adam and Eve already had this body before the fall. All speculation. Or as C.S. Lewis had it said by Aslan, the lion, in the chronicles of Narnia: "Never ask what if".

Is there a way to find out then what God planned for all along? I think, there is, taking into consideration the beginning and the end. How was man in the beginning, and what does the bible say about the last days.

I personally believe that Jesus already was on earth in paradise - every day in the cool of the evening. When we were formed after God's image, we were formed after Jesus. All through the old testament we see God appearing to people. In Aramaic, the phrase "God said" is more like "and the Word of God came to him", which John in the first chapter of his gospel links to the person of Jesus Christ.

At the end of the book we see the bride of God - us, the church - appear and being revealed on earth. And Jesus and God will live in their midst, and they will need no sun as God is their light.

Paul calls the Spirit of God the teacher, he calls the Word of God the "leader to God". I personally believe that the plan of God is to have a being that being very immature in the beginning, but having a free will, out of this free will will have a relationship with him. And Jesus was to lead man in full knowledge and revelation of God.

It is all about a maturing and growing relationship between God and man, based on free will and love.

Back to the Garden

2009-10-25T07:27:00.006+01:00

Remember the garden? Remember paradise? Remember the rabbinical teaching drawn from it? Let's dive a little deeper. A good friend of mine, Mike Wlodarczyk, taught on the four layers of the word based on Mark 4:3-22.

He introduced another acronym which we can use in English to better remember the four layers: LAMB.

L for the literal layer pschat
A for the allegorical layer remes
M for the moral layer drasch
B for the biblecode or revelatory layer sod

In one of my last postings we had a look at the river in Eze 47:1-12. Let's look at this from a different angle:

The river started at the altar in Ezekiel and proceeded through the city to the world. In Gen 2:8-15 it started in Eden and proceeded through the garden, or paradise, to the world. The same picture we find in Rev 22:1-2.

What if the river on a macro level represents world history? Let's play with that:

All started in the supernatural, with the altar of God and the lamb. God created man and placed him in the garden. The garden was the place of God's presence. In Revelation we would say that this is the city, as God is there in the midst of His people.

But then man is driven out of the garden. Hezekiel in the first verses is lead outside of the city. Outside of the city, Jesus measures 1000 cubits, or let's say feet for ease of understanding.

Fast forward 1000 years from when Adam and Eve had to leave the garden. Noah just came into being. God's work is very literal with very literal and direct consequences. The people sin, it starts to rain, and they die. Straightforward. Easy to understand. Easy walking in the river. Ankle deep.

Fast forward again. Another 1000 years have past, and we meet Abraham. Abraham is to become a living allegory, a parable for all generations. So are the patriarchs and even Jacob's sons. We can look at their lives, and the New Testament often does, to see how to live life, and how not to. There is more resistance and more work involved to understand. Knee deep.

Fast forward again. David just became king. We are in the midst of yet another area. The law has been given and serves as moral standard. It teaches us how to live our lifes morally. Understanding of God is growing, but resistance is even bigger. Hip deep.

Let's go forward another 1000 feet or years. Jesus just died on the cross, the Holy Spirit has been given. The big mystery has been revealed. No way we can resist any longer, we just let go. Swimming.

And from there? The river flows through the valley of Jordan, the border of the Holy Land - they had to cross Jordan to come there. Again there is a river for people outside of Israel that they can cross to come to the Holy Land, to be restored to paradise.

And then the river flows into the dead sea and brings it back to life. The sea as a picture for the masses, the dead sea resembles the unsaved masses of the world. There will be a great harvest! And then Israel will again dwell in the fully restored Holy Land. For me - the millenium.

So the four layers hold for humanity, and the four layers hold for the faith life of a single believer, as Mike showed in his post.

Just be aware of what is said in Eze 47:12. The puddles and swamps on the side of the river remain salty and dead. Camp on any of the layers, stop to flow, and you will be dead. Look at the pharisees. When it was time to go deeper, from hip deep to swimming, when they should have come from a moral standpoint to the revelation of the Spirit, they camp out and missed it. It happens time and again.

Let's make it personal: if you stay at the literal level, the cross is a place where Jesus died. You will never know that we are to do the same for others, laying our lives down, that is, it will never become a parable for you to live after. You will never understand the moral aspect of: your sins are forgiven, now go and sin no more. And you will never catch the mystery of Jesus in us and we in him, with rivers flowing from us into this world.

But if you progress to the allegorical layer and forget about the literal - saying: oh, that is such a thing of the past - you will look at the cross purely allegorical. But without the physical death of Jesus on the cross, all other layers are not possible.

When you are swimming, your ankles, knees, and hips are still wet.

So, let's go swimming.

Elohim

2009-10-12T06:00:00.002+02:00

Elohim is one of two words in the Hebrew that means God. The other one is El. Elohim is plural and means gods or, as a pluralis majestatis or generic term, God. Its singular is Eloah. El is singular, and elim in the plural.

Elohim is used of God, when His characteristics of ruler, judge, mighty one are in view. When the Bible talks about the personal God, the father, the God of mercy, it uses the tetragram JHWH, what we usually translate to Jehova or Jahwe.

But the Bible does not only use Elohim for God. Especially in Psalm 82:1, we see God (elohim) stand in the councel of God (el) among the gods (elohim).

So there are gods, and in Psalm 82:6 they are even called sons of the Most High (beney elohim).

But it gets even more interesting. In 1 Samuel 28:3-18, we read the story when Saul inquired Samuel after his dead. How did Saul do that?

Saul asked an necromancer (a mistress of the ob) to consult an ob for her. Ob means a spirit, what we today would call a familiar spirit. This is a spirit that disguisses itself as a familiar but dead person. The necromancer was also called ob, as the word means familiar spirit as well as vessel. So the necromancer is but the vessel for the familiar spirit to appear.

But what happened: the woman called out: "I see a god (elohim) coming up out of the earth". The spirits of dead people - as opposed to spirits that disguised as them - were called elohim.

Now for a little rabbit trail: Where did paradise go after the fall? In the beginning it was guarded by mighty angels, the cherubim. But we can say that, at least after the flood, it hasn't been found on earth. Could it be that paradise, the garden Eden, became part of Hades? Hang in this for a moment with me.

Jesus tells the story of poor Lazarus and the rich person. When they died, Lazarus was in the bossom of Abraham and the rich person saw him from Hades, but could not cross the chasm. Jesus also tells the thief on the cross that he would be in paradise with him the same day - but Jesus did not ascend to heaven that day, but descend to Hades to get the keys.

Could it be that Lazarus was in Paradise, and it was the part of Hades for the just? The place that Jesus went to to preach the Gospel to the just of the OT?

If so, maybe the just people of the OT were elohim as they were back in the original paradisiac state?

But then, haven't we been justified and restored to paradisiac state at the cross? Wouldn't that mean by deduction that we are elohim (Psalm 82:6, John 1:12)?

The River

2009-10-11T07:35:00.005+02:00

"Did you see this?" Jesus and Ezekiel swimming in the river in Eze 47:6. Ezekiel is swimming, in the midst of the water, and the Lord asks: "Did you see this?"

When God asks a question, it is not because he does not have the answer. "Adam, where are you?" Did God lose the only 2 human beings he created? No, but Adam did not know where he was. "Why do you pursuit me, Paul?" Jesus knew perfectly, but Paul answered "Who are you, Lord?"

So what was there to see for Ezekiel? One thing amongst many was the river. Let's have a closer look at this river.

The river started in the Holy Of Holies. It went out of the city and into the countryside. It reminds me of some other rivers mentioned in the bible:

In Genesis 2, we find a river flowing from the garden Eden and from there in 4 streams into the world. In Joel we see that the river will break forth from the temple and water the valley (Joel 3:18). And in Rev 22:1-2 the same river is portrayed again.

Let's look at some characteristics of that river.

In Gen 2:8 we see that God planted a garden in the east sector of Eden. In Gen 2:10 we see the same area, but this time a river flows from Eden into the garden. The Hebrew now places eden in the garden. But didn't the first reference place the garden within Eden?

In John 15:5 Jesus tells his disciples, that "whoever abides in Me and I in Him will bring much fruit". Jesus in us, or we in Jesus? The garden in Eden, or Eden in the garden?

Gen 2:15 the bible does not even differentiate between the two: the garden Eden (without the "of" that is used in English translations, but not in Hebrew). Identity. Me in Him, and He in me. Eden. the supernatural place of delight (that is was Eden means), and the garden, the natural place of human work and life, being congruent. One place, one state?

So from Eden a river flows into the garden and then into the world. The garden is the doorway to the world for the river.

In Eze 48:30, the doorways of the city that river flows out of are described as exits (not entrances!) and named after the 12 tribes or 12 sons of Jacob. The exits are people.

Where does the river flow to? Eze 47:6 shows us that it flows to people and becomes their provision. In Revelation it flows to the nations for their healing.

Where does it flow from? The temple, the throne of God and the Lamb. When Jesus was on the cross, his side was pierced, and out came blood and water. Does the river start from Jesus? Does it start from a person?

From a person, through a people, for the people.

The river was supposed to flow at all times. It started to break into our world at creation. Recognize that the garden was created, but not Eden. It pre-existed. It was to flow at the time of Ezekiel and Joel, started to flow again at the cross, and will flow in the New Jerusalem.

But there has to be a garden, there have to be exits to the city, there has to be a people for the river to flow through.

All of Israel was supposed to be a people of priest for the most high God. They failed and kept the Gospel of their time to themselves. They did not accept their role when they told Moses to speak to and from God for them at the Mount Sinai.

The church according to Peter is supposed to be a people of kings and priests. But for many centuries we failed to do so, either bringing the Gospel through might and power and the sword, but not His Spirit, or by locking God into a new Holy of Holies, the church building, after he ripped open the curtain and left the small confinement man put Him in.

Let us be the people the river will flow through. Let's change from child's stage of "what's in it for me" to adolescence ("What can I do for You, God") to maturity: "Who can I invest myself in?" Or, whom can I reach with the flow of the river that breaks forth from within me. Let the gifts, let faith, and let love flow from your inner most being. Read 1 Corinthians 12-14 to see what I mean.

Is this what Jesus meant when he said:

Rivers of living water will brim and spill out of the depths of anyone who believes in me this way, just as the Scripture says." (John 7:38 MSG)

"Did you see this?" Jesus asks.

The different Levels of the Word

2009-10-10T15:44:00.004+02:00

Live started in a garden. We call it paradise, from Persian pardes, garden. The word made its way into Aramaic and Hebrew, written PRDS. Later the rabbis based a teaching about the layers of the Word of God and a way of hermeneutics on this word:

P = pschat, the literal sense of the Word
R = remes, the allegorical, parabel sense of the Word
D = drasch, the moral sense of the Word, what it teaches us
S = sod, the hidden layer of the Word

The rabbis defined the fourth layer "sod" as kaballah, what we would call bible code. Just remember that they did not have the Spirit, as "sod" was added in the 11th/12th century. I will define this layer as the hidden now word, the rema, that is revealed to people to speak into their time, their situation.

Let's recall my last blog entry about the fig-tree and use it as an illustration for the four layers:

In the literal sense, Jesus was talking to a fig-tree as he was disappointed - it did not bear fruits. And He was talking to a farming culture about recognizing the times, looking at nature around them. So they new summer was coming when the trees budded and gained strength.

In the allegorical sense, Jesus linked the times to Israel, His own fig-tree. He revealed His plan for the years to come - at least the beginning and the end of it. Even hinted on the duration.

In the moral sense, He wants to show us that he is not through with Israel and that they have a vital role to play in the end times. Here he only hints at it by showing them as a sign we can know from that we are getting close.

And in the personal, timely sense He speaks right to our generation: the fig-tree buds and gains strength. Now look for the other trees - the church - to do likewise. And soon the end will begin. Are you ready?

The Fig-Tree

2009-10-10T15:18:00.007+02:00

In Mark 11, Jesus saw a fig-tree, and discovering that he bore no fruit he cursed the tree. Later that day Peter saw that the fig-tree had withered, and they started to talk about faith and the power of our words.

In Mark 13:28-29 Jesus talks about the fig-tree again:

And learn the parable of the fig-tree: when her branch is still tender and puts out leaves, you know that summer is near. So you also, when you see these things happening, you know that it is near, at the doors. (Mark 13:28-29 MKJV)

Let me get a little rabbinical with you and ask: Why a fig-tree?

In Joel 1:7 God says that they laid His wine waste and splintered His fig-tree. Who is he talking about? Israel, His people. Wine and fig-tree have been pictures of Israel all along.

In John 15:5, the wine is used for God's people in the new covenant, as Jesus says that He is the wine and we are the grapes. But the fig-tree has not been "redefined", it still stands for Israel.

So one morning, going from Bethania to Jerusalem, Jesus cursed the fig-tree and it withered. The evening of the next day, maybe on their way back, he is talking of a fig-tree again, one that regains strength, power and produces leaves, one that comes alive.

Nearly two days later (one day is like a thousand years) we see the fig-tree starting to come alive again, right in front of our eyes.

And Jesus links this directly with the signs of the end times. If you see this, you will know what time it is.

I love the parallel in Luke 21:

And He spoke a parable to them: Behold the fig-tree and all the trees. Now when they sprout leaves, seeing it you will know that summer is now near. So also, when you see these things happening, know that the kingdom of God is near. (Luke 21:29-31 MKJV)

This time its the other trees as well. We are included. The church is regaining strength. The bride is "de-wrinkled" and "de-blemished". The body is maturing and reaching its stature.

Are you ready?

Experience and Knowledge

2009-09-11T09:46:00.005+02:00

Which is first - experience or knowledge?

I have to say that my experience usually does not match my knowledge. Let's take God's promiss to heal at any time, or to provide for us.

Even though my experience tells me otherwise (my son is in hospital with a severe pneumonia at the time of writing, our bank accounts are more than dry), I know that I know that God is no liar and that His promisses are true.

But maybe we have to take a step back. Let's look at these words a little more closely.

Experience is a sensual, soulish, or mind driven interaction with the fallen world or God's working in it that is processed by a fallen mind and soul and remembered with many flaws as we know from science. Not very trustworthy.

Knowledge is part of a trinity in Proverbs and the Torah: wisdom, knowledge, and understanding (Exo 31:3, Prov 9:10).

Wisdom in the Hebrew and middle east understanding of the word is "to do things the right way and to do the right things". No understanding necessary, sometimes even better not to understand to much.

Knowledge is a relational word (and Abraham knew Sarah, and out of it came Isaak). So Prov 9:10 says that only through a relationship with God (the Holy) we can gain understanding.

So knowledge comes out of wisdom and the fear of God (Prov 1:7). No experience involved whatsoever. Understanding comes out of a living relationship with the Lord.

Experience is only a helpfull or hindering thing on the way. We can take good experience to keep us on track, as David puts it: Be still, o my soul, and remember what God has done for you.

At any time, let your knowledge come from a living relationship with our Lord Jesus Christ, through prayer, reading and studying His Word, and see experience as secondary, and if contradictory to His Word, as a lying disception.

In His Image

2009-07-27T06:00:00.008+02:00

What does it mean, when the bible says that we are made after his image as you find in Genesis?

God spoke: "Let us make human beings in our image, make them reflecting our nature So they can be responsible for the fish in the sea, the birds in the air, the cattle, And, yes, Earth itself, and every animal that moves on the face of Earth."
(Genesis 1:26 MSG)

Let us reflect on this. But first another question. Do we have one God or three? Let me ask this a little differently: are you one person or three?

This might come as a surprise, but think of it in a sin free environment. Can't we think of the Father as the soul, in Hebrew thinking the center of God, the Spirit as the spirit, and the Son as the body? (Thanks to a friend for this revelation.)

Now, God never changes. He doesn't have to. We have to learn as we are not perfect in the sense of faultless as He is. (We are perfect(ing) in the sense that we are Maturing, though, which is the biblical view of perfect.) Do you think that Jesus got a different shape or appearance after He came down to earth? Let's see:

They're stone-blind to the dayspring brightness of the Message that shines with Christ, who gives us the best picture of God we'll ever get.
(2 Corinthians 4:4 MSG)

... of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.
(2 Corinthians 4:4 KJV)

So Christ is the image (gr. eicon) of God. In Genesis we are called the image of God. Could it be that our body was shaped after Jesus, the Son?

We really represent Jesus in the earth.

Salvation

2009-06-30T16:05:00.001+02:00

Salvation is often misunderstood. It does have three tenses:

Past: I am saved - justification as a gift from God. By faith alone by Christ alone. To add to it is blasphemy. No penalty of sin.

Present: I am being saved - sanctification. We are progressif work. Committment, faith, growth, relationships that will help me persevere. This will determine my inheritance. Separation of the power of sin.

Future: I will be saved - glorification. Depending on what shows up at the judgment seet. Have I just been justified (hay, wood, stubble) or do I have a treasure layed up in the heavenly bank account and been sanctified (silver, gold, stones)? Separation of the presence of sin.

Geo Centricity

2009-06-08T06:00:00.003+02:00

Is it possible that all of God's plan evolves around the earth? It is obvious for this time and age where God became man and lived on this earth to reconcile man with himself. But what was before and will be thereafter?

Let's start at the beginning:

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was barren, with no form of life. (Gen 1:1-2a CEV)

I want to have a look at two Hebrew words here: B'rêshît and hâyâh. The first is the absolute beginning of time. It does not have definite article, so it can be translated "Beginning, God created..." The second does usually mean "to become". Now, that is interesting. It for example is used when Lot's wife became a pillar of salt.

So the earth became barren.

Let's have a look at something else. When did the devil fall? When it is true that creation of all things started in Gen 1:1 (beginning), but satan had fallen by Gen 3:1, trying Eve, could it be that it happened between Gen 1:1 and Gen 1:2? Could it be that when satan was thrown out of heaven and down to earth, it became barren because of his rebellion? Because God created the earth as a habitation:

The LORD alone is God! He created the heavens and made a world where people can live, instead of creating an empty desert. (Isa 45:18a CEV)

Let's go to the end. Jesus will return to this earth, after it again has been devastated by satan and his beast, but also by the wrath of God. He rebuilds this earth in the millenium, and at the end it is a renewed heaven and a renewed earth. And God comes to dwell with man: God's home is now with people.

I saw a new heaven and a new earth. The first heaven and the first earth had disappeared, and so had the sea. Then I saw New Jerusalem, that holy city, coming down from God in heaven. It was like a bride dressed in her wedding gown and ready to meet her husband. I heard a loud voice shout from the throne: God's home is now with his people. He will live with them, and they will be his own. Yes, God will make his home among his people. (Rev 21:1-3 CEV)

It all evolves around this earth.

Prophecy in the Bible

2009-02-27T13:51:00.005+01:00

One of the most important questions for us today is: why do we believe that the Word of God is just that - the word of God.

There are many signs for that, one of which is the accuracy of prophecy as God shows us and declares history and its end from the beginning(Jes 46:10). One example for this is found in Genesis Chapter 5. This book has clearly been written before Christ, but it portraits God's plan with mankind.

Let's have a look at the names and their meanings:

Adam - Man
Seth - Appointed
Enosh - Mortal, weak
Kenan - Sorrow
Mahalelel - The merciful Lord
Jared - Descend
Enoch - Dedicated
Methusalem - His death shall bring
Lamech - Lamentator
Noah - Comfort

Putting this together:

Man is appointed to be mortal and sorrowful. But the merciful Lord will descend, dedicated that His death shall bring the desparing comfort.

Stages in Paul's Live

2008-07-04T07:00:00.001+02:00

As I am in the midst of change - a new job, both my boys will start working soon, a new heaven opening for our church and ourselves - I had a look at the live of Paul to see how he handled change.

In Paul's live we can distinguish four phases:

Basics - before his conversion, schooled by Gamliel, coming into the focus of the bible when watching the cloths of the people stoning Stephen, und then persecuting the church.
Growth - conversion experience on the road to Damascus, causing uproar in both Damascus and Jerusalem, having to flee from both places due to his childish overzeal. Childish as in 1. John 2:12. He ended up in the Arabian desertand in Tarsus.
Mature for Service - when Barnabas needed somebody to help him lead the Antioch church, being sent out as apostle, founding churches, break with Barnabas, founding his own apostolic team with people already in position like Silas the prophet. Youth as in 1. John 1:12.
Mature for Live - starts to multiply himself in Timothy and others (Titus, Onesimus, Luke, ...). A father as in 1. John 2:13.
Convergence - all comes together when inprisoned, serving through his letters: Gal, Eph, Php, Col, 1/2 Th, Tit, Phm. Many theological concepts come to their fulness in this period, and he can say: I ran the race.

Paul never knew in advance, when change was going to happen, apart from the last big shift when warned by Agabus that he would be inprisoned when going to Jerusalem. But he had people talking into his live, helping him to make the right decisions, and he prayed more in toungs then any body else (1Co 14:18).

Wanting to know in advance, being disobedient, doing things prematurely - all childish things. And I want to leave behind all childish things.

Government in Revelations

2008-06-23T07:00:00.003+02:00

Reading through Revelations 4, I cannot but recognize some governmental symbols here. As you might recall, John is caught up to heaven in this chapter and sees the throne and its surroundings. A few thoughts about this:

John is called to go on up or go on in after these things. What is "after these things"? After having done what people in the kingdom do: live out their calling, be obedient to the different assignments of God, like writing some uncomfortable letters to churches he oversaw. And then he accepted the call to go further...

He first saw the throne with one sitting on it. No details given to prevent idolatry, but enough description of the beauty to make us want to see it ourselves.

Next he sees the 24 elders. What would they represent? Not that I think I deciphered Revelations, but let's draw some principles from that, or maybe just go wild for a while. Could it be that the 24 elders represent the Israelites and the Church (12 tribes and 12 apostles)? Or the 24 orders of priesthood, all taking a turn of two weeks during the year of service in the temple (their lead priests were called elders)?

I am reminded that the disciples asked Jesus who would sit at his right and left hand. He did not reply that these seats were taken by the elders, some heavenly beings, but that he is not the one who has the say. Is this a hint that we will sit on these thrones?

The elders having crowns and representing priesthood could point to us being a people of kings and priest, as said by Moses, Peter, and John.

But what would this mean? That would mean that we already are seated in heavenly places, having a heavenly perspective on circumstances and live. From up there, the sea of live, though in turmoil down here, looks like a sea of glass, in perfect calm.

And the 4 living creatures. As God made us in his image, it might be possible that he created some other beings depicting some of his character traits. If so, let us look at possible symbols in these wounderful creatures. The lion for authority, the young bull for strength, dilligence and sacrifice, man for wisdom and care, the eagle for vision and speed.

In Ezekiel these creatures carry the throne, as if they represent the four character traits that are fundamental to Gods governing rule. If so, is it possible that they give us a picture of the way God wants to rule his Church? Like the tabernacle was a foreshadow and earthly implementation of Gods Holy of Holies in heaven. Or better said: Jesus in Ephesians 4 gave his very own way of government to the Church in form of the lion for apostle, bull for teacher, man for pastor, eagle for prophet. (Just if you wonder bout the evangelist: who needs to be converted in heaven?)

We are seated in heavenly realms, have a heavenly perspective of things, and are ruled just as God intended it, better still, just as God rules. This is the szenario John came into when caught up to heaven, this is were all things that had to happen started. Are we ready to start?

The former and the latter rain - moreh

2008-03-12T06:52:00.003+01:00

Be glad, people of Zion! rejoice in Adonai your God! For he is giving you the right amount of rain in the fall, he makes the rain come down for you, the fall and spring rains — this is what he does first. (Joe 2:23)

The rain in the fall, or as it is called in KJV "the former rain", in Hebrew is called moreh. This word means archer, teacher, teaching, or early rain (Strongs H4175).

Joel keeps on talking about what will happen the Lord turns back and has pitty on his people (Joel 2:18). He will pour out His Spirit on all flesh, as happened on Pentecost, where Peter linked the experience in the upper room to this verse by saying "this is that".

So we have no problem interpreting the outpouring of the Spirit as an early rain in the spiritual realm, where, using Jam 5:7, we can expect a latter or spring rain before Jesus comes back:

So, brothers, be patient until the Lord returns. See how the farmer waits for the precious "fruit of the earth" — he is patient over it until it receives the fall and spring rains. (Jas 5:7)

But why is the author using the word moreh?

Could it be that the early rain wants to teach us about the latter rain? Can we go back and look at the - talking in the spiritual now - time of the early church and deduct what the last times will look like?

Could it be that as the bow of an archer finds its target, we can be assured that the latter rain will come?

Could it be that part of the latter rain will be teachings (and words of faith) that do not return void?

Rain can be used as a metaphor for growth (Gen 2:4-6), blessings (Lev 26:4) (and the lack of it as cursing (Deu 28:24)), the Spirit (see above), and the Word (Deu 32:2, Isa 55:10).

I am looking forward to the time of the latter rain. Just let us make sure that we will experience rain then too:

Ask Adonai for rain in the time of the latter rain. (Zec 10:1a)

The Teacher - the Ox

2008-01-25T20:39:00.000+01:00

The first animal like a lion, the second like an ox, the third with a human face, the fourth like an eagle in flight. (Rev 4:7)

In this picture, the lion represents the apostle, with authority, a picture and sent one of the King. The human face stands for the pastor, connecting with people. The eagle, with its sight, reminds us of the prophet.

But the oxen? It tills the ground, with perseverence and strength. Just like the teacher.

My former Nature

2008-01-16T22:57:00.000+01:00

Before I became a Christian, and frankly a long time afterward, let's face it, still to some degree I am a nerd. What is this:

Wikipedia sais it very good:

Nerd is a term often bearing a derogatory connotation or stereotype, that refers to a person who passionately pursues intellectual activities or esoteric knowledge rather than engaging in more social activities, such as organized sports. Therefore, a nerd is often excluded from physical activity and considered a loner by peers.

Another word to put it again in Wikipedias words, is geek:

The definition of geek has changed considerably over time, and there is no longer a definitive modern meaning. Here are some of the many definitions:

A person who is interested in technology, especially computing and new media. Most geeks are adept with computers, and treat the term hacker as a term of respect, but not all are hackers themselves.
A person who relates academic subjects to the real world outside of academic studies; for example, using multivariate calculus to determine how they should correctly optimize the dimensions of a pan to bake a cake.A person who has chosen concentration rather than conformity; one who pursues skill (especially technical skill) and imagination, not mainstream social acceptance.
A person with a devotion to something in a way that places him or her outside the mainstream. This could be due to the intensity, depth, or subject of their interest. This definition is very broad but because many of these interests have mainstream endorsement and acceptance, the inclusion of some genres as "geeky" is heavily debated. Persons have been labelled as or chosen to identify as mathematics geeks, engineering geeks, sci-fi geeks, computer geeks, various science geeks, movie and film geeks (cinephile), comic book geeks, theatre geeks, history geeks, gamer geeks, music geeks, art geeks, philosophy geeks, and literature/rp geeks.

Maybe you will enjoy these articles to see what I mean: The Nerd Handbook, and A Nerd in a Cave, or The Two Types of Programmers.

But I am not there anylonger, or less and less. How is that?

(Rom 12:2) Don't be like the people of this world, but let God change the way you think. Then you will know how to do everything that is good and pleasing to him.

Rom 8:11-14 Yet God raised Jesus to life! God's Spirit now lives in you, and he will raise you to life by his Spirit. (12) My dear friends, we must not live to satisfy our desires. (13) If you do, you will die. But you will live, if by the help of God's Spirit you say "No" to your desires. (14) Only those people who are led by God's Spirit are his children.

Silas the Scribe

2008-01-12T12:06:00.000+01:00

(1Pe 5:12) Silvanus helped me write this short letter, and I consider him a faithful follower of the Lord. I wanted to encourage you and tell you how kind God really is, so that you will keep on having faith in him.

Silvanus, or with his aramaic name Silas, helped Peter write his first letter. He also was at the apostolic council in Acts 15. Maybe he wrote the letter for the churches there, as he was chosen to deliver it to the churches. He was also known as prophet and encourager of the church.

Silas traveled with Paul and Peter. He helped them found churches and encourage them. Maybe he was a scribe by profession. But for sure he was somebody that supported the vision of other people.

This is another secret to grow into your calling: support somebody else's vision.

Being in the right Place

2008-01-10T08:41:00.000+01:00

Act 18:24-26 Meanwhile, a Jewish man named Apollos, a native of Alexandria, came to Ephesus. He was an eloquent speaker with a thorough knowledge of the Tanakh. (25) This man had been informed about the Way of the Lord, and with great spiritual fervor he spoke and taught accurately the facts about Yeshua, but he knew only the immersion of Yochanan. (26) He began to speak out boldly in the synagogue; but when Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they took him aside and explained to him the Way of God in fuller detail.

After finding the right place, where God wanted me to be, there came a whole new dimension about growing into my calling as a teacher. I found the people that could explain the Way of God in fuller detail to me.

It is so important to be at the right place. What is the right place though? As Weinberg, an Information Science guru, said: "no matter what the problem is, it's always a people problem." If this holds true for computers, how much more for faith! It's all about people.

Therefore, the right place has a lot to do with relationships, in all directions. Do you have somebody fathering you, investing his life in you, even correcting you to bring you on, even further then he himself would go? Do you have a leadership with complementing gifts (Eph 4:11ff) and talents? Are there people you can invest yourself in?

Obviously there is another requirement for the right place: am I getting fed? Is the Word of God taught? If not, who would on free will go eat in a bad restaurant again?

The Teacher

2008-01-05T13:47:00.000+01:00

Mat 13:52 He said to them, "So then, every Torah-teacher who has been made into a talmid for the Kingdom of Heaven is like the owner of a home who brings out of his storage room both new things and old."

Every teacher, writer, scribe or secretary that has taken grasp of the Kingdom of God spreads from his storage room, his treasure, the wealth that God provided in him by means of the gift deposited in him both trusted and well known doctrine as much as revelatory prophetic new insight into the Word of God. And he does that in season and out of season.

A scribe started to be taught in his profession in Israel of old at the age of 14 and finished his apprenticeship at the age of 40. They were responsible for new copies of the biblical scrolls and well able to teach the law. As it was most important when copying the Bible not to change a Yota, they at the time of Jesus as we know tended to follow the letter of the law more then its spirit.

I personally started my Bible studies when I entered boarding home at the age of 14 and 4 months. We were allowed to read the Bible during study hours (2.5 hours daily) after having done our home work. So I read a lot.

With 40 years and 4 months I joined my church "Lebendiges Wasser", knowing that I had been placed where God wanted me to be. All up to this point was preparatory.

Growing into the call and office of a teacher, I'm searching the Lord so I can from the treasure he provided me pass out the new and the old.

I recommend the book by Mark Stibbe, "The Teacher's Notebook", on the subject for everybody that either is called to be a teacher in the body of Christ or has to work together with them.

The Bear is dead, wait for the Lion

2007-12-31T14:00:00.000+01:00

1Sa 17:34-35 David answered Sha'ul, "Your servant used to guard his father's sheep. When a lion or a bear would come and grab a lamb from the flock, (35) I would go after it, hit it, and snatch the lamb from its mouth; and if it turned on me, I would catch it by the jaw, smack it and kill it.

One day last December laying on my bed the Lord spoke to me: "The bear is dead, wait for the lion".

David killed bears and lions guarding his father's sheep as a preparation for his fight against Goliath, as becomes apparent in the verses following the scripture above. He did not know that fact beforehand, but we are priviledged as we just can go to the book. Obviously, our test and trials, our victories are preparations for the greater foe to follow. And not to discourage us, but to give us the assurance that we dealt with other villains before so we do not have to worry.

Last year was quite a challenge for me personally, but I stood. If you are still here, you can say the same about yourself. This has been a great preparation time for the future. So bring them on!

Another lion that is in the Bible is the Lion of Juda. Maybe it's Him that the Lord was talking about. I am sure that it at times will be Him. I do not want to miss both of them: take one by his beard, as it says in German translations, and beat him to death, while adoring the other.

I am looking forward to a great and abundant 2008. Be blessed!

Erwählt - ganz gleich was?

2007-08-23T19:28:00.000+02:00

Trachtet nach dem Guten und nicht nach dem Bösen, auf daß ihr lebet; und Jahwe, der Gott der Heerscharen, wird also mit euch sein, wie ihr saget.
(Amo 5:14 GEB)

Mose ermahnte Israel, nie zu vergessen, was Gott für sie getan hat. Er hat sie erwählt, als sein Volk, hat sie getauft mit Wasser bei der Durchquerung des Roten Meers und mit Feuer am Berg, als Er ihnen die 10 Gebote gab. Er hat ihnen beim Einzug ins gelobte Land geholfen, durch die Richter, hat sie als Volk geeint, gab ihnen einen König als Zeichen auf das kommende Königreich Gottes.

Dies brannte, prägte in ihre Seele ein: wir sind das erwählte Volk Gottes. Doch den anderen Teil vergassen sie: haltet euch an Meine Gebote. So sagt ihnen Amos: Trachtet nach dem Guten, dann wird Gott mit euch sein, wie ihr behauptet, wie ihr so leichtfertig annehmt.

Was war geschehen: basierend auf den wunderbaren Erlebnissen der Vergangenheit und dem angenehmen Teil der Zusagen und Versprechen Gottes wurde ein ganzes Volk geprägt. Wie oft tun wir das Gleiche. Nehmen wir negative Beispiele: unsere Erlebnisse und Erfahrungen, die Aussagen unserer Eltern haben uns gezeigt, dass wir zu nichts taugen. Einfach zu verstehen, einfach nachzuvollziehen. Wie aber steht es mit guten Prägungen?

Wir stehen in der Gefahr, uns von positiven Erlebnissen genauso prägen zu lassen, und oft ist dies gut. Aber gut ist nicht Gott - er tönt nur fast gleich.

Ich geh jeden Sonntag in die Gemeinde - die Zugehörigkeit zu einer Kirche ist nicht der Freifahrschein in den Himmel. Ich habe mich entschieden, Jesus in mein Leben aufzunehmen - der Anfang des Rennens ist geschaft, aber wirst Du es auch beenden?

Was ist anders? Lassen wir uns prägen von den Aussagen der Bibel, oder unseren Erlebnissen? Erlebnisse sollen nur bestätigen, was uns die Bibel sagt. Die Apostel lehrten, und ihnen folgten Zeichen und Wunder - nicht umgekehrt. Übrigens: stimmen die Erlebnisse nicht mit dem Wort Gottes überein, heisst das nicht, dass das Wort Gottes nicht wahr ist.

Überprüfen wir unsere Prägungen im Licht der Bibel!

Rat suchende Mengen und die Gemeinde

2007-06-04T13:21:00.000+02:00

Isa 60:8-9 Wer sind die, welche gleich einer Wolke daherfliegen und wie Tauben zu ihren Schlägen? (9) Ja, auf mich warten die Inseln (alt: Auf mich hoffen die Küsten) und zuallererst die Tharsisschiffe, um deine Söhne von ferne herzubringen...

Wer sind die, die gleich einer Wolke daherfliegen? Die Wolke als Zeichen einer Menge, wie z.B. die Wolke von Zeugen. Diese Wolke kommt über das Meer, ein Zeichen der Menschenmengen. Tauben gleich suchen sie ihren Verschlag, ihr Zuhause.

Dieses Wort heisst unter anderem Gitter: lange genug hatten die Gemeinden Gitter vor ihren Türen, so dass nur wenige hinein kamen. Dann heisst es Taubenschlag: aus tausenden von Höhlen im Fels findet eine wilde Taube jederzeit ihren eigenen Taubenschlag, den Ort, wo sie zu Hause ist. Weiter heisst das Wort Fenster: Wir sind das Licht der Welt, lassen wir es durch die Fenster scheinen, damit die Menschen angezogen werden. Und schliesslich heisst es Schleuse: riesige Tore, wie in Maleachi 3:10, wo Gott die Schleusen des Himmels öffnet über denen, die den 10. bezahlen. Solche Tore möchte ich haben für die Menschen, die nach Rat suchen.

Wie komme ich darauf, dass sie Rat suchen? Die Küsten setzen ihre Hoffnung auf mich (d.i. Gott). Wir sind diejenigen, durch welche Gott auf dieser Erde wirkt. Die Gemeinde ist die Hoffnung dieser Welt.

Wenn Brüder in Einheit zusammen sind

2007-05-30T12:09:00.000+02:00

Psa 133:1-2 Siehe, wie fein und lieblich ist es, wenn Brüder einträchtig beisammen wohnen! (2) Wie das feine Öl auf dem Haupt, das herabfliesst in den Bart, den Bart Aarons, das herabfliesst bis zum Saum seiner Kleider.

Als Jesus von Johannes getauft wurde, kam der Heilige Geist in Form einer Taube auf Ihn. Er wurde gesalbt, und zwar zum König, zum Priester, zum Propheten. Dies waren die drei Ämter des Alten Testaments, welche gesalbt wurden.

Als Jesus jedoch aufstieg zum Vater, wurde er - als Ihm alle Autorität im Himmel und auf Erden gegeben wurde - zum König der Könige und zum Hohepriester gesalbt. Womit? Mit dem Heiligen Geist:

Act 2:33 Nachdem er nun durch die rechte Hand Gottes erhöht worden ist und die Verheißung des heiligen Geistes vom Vater empfangen hat, hat er das ausgegossen, was ihr jetzt sehet und höret.

Dieser Heilige Geist fliesst nun herab, über das Haupt bis zum Saum seiner Kleider, also über den ganzen Leib.

Act 2:1-2 Und als der Tag der Pfingsten sich erfüllte, waren sie alle einmütig beisammen. [Psa 133:1] (2) Und es entstand plötzlich vom Himmel her ein Brausen, wie von einem daherfahrenden gewaltigen Winde, und erfüllte das ganze Haus, worin sie saßen. [Psa 133:2]