Evening Thoughts

You know, I have been sitting here for about an hour, trying to organize my very scattered thoughts. I have so much I would love to write about, and yet in the same moment, I have nothing to say. I enjoyed the ministry this past weekend very much, so real, so powerful, and relaxing. Yes, this conference was most relaxing. I suppose this seems strange, are not conferences to stir the audience? I was stirred, no doubt about that, but well, strengthened perhaps? Calmed?

I am enjoying having so much to think about again!

I am pasting the link to the ministry online. Do check it out! http://www.starkrdgospelhall.com/media/?p=archive&cat=2010_conference

(The chronological order of messages begins at the bottom of the page.)

The Measure of A Man

"The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments

of comfort and convenience, but where he stands

at times of challenge and controversy."

~

I am not sure what originally brought the phrase to mind, but the phrase has haunted my mind for a few days now. The measure of a man. Was it a verse? Was it a quote? Where had I heard it? Why do I know there is more to the phrase? Thus it had been haunting me.

After pondering the phrase for quite awhile, I finally dropped it into google. (When in doubt --google, right?) Well, I really shouldn't have bothered with googling it. For the random selection from our favorite search engine was mind boggling and wasted much of my time. Of course, I strayed wayyyy off track. I did find one good quote (not the quote I seeking.)

The quote , attributed to Martin Luther King Jr., I have pasted above. I like this quote-- holds a lot of significance to it, especially, in view of who spoke the words. However, the part that struck me most was the phrase "at times of challenge".

I started to wonder on the "challenge". Specifically, challenge as in when one person's ideas are specifically challenged. I am not interested in "taking of a challenge", "the mountain hike was a challenge", or " I challenge you to a dual." I am merely interested in the following concept.

How do you react when who you are and your ideas are challenged?

Martin Luther King Jr declared the measure of a man to be where he stands at times of challenge. Perhaps, he is right. However, I was still not satisfied in my search. I think I would like to know the true "measure of a man." I think the concept would vary from person to person, or country to country. The media seems to portray the measure of a man by his strength or perhaps courage. Of course, in many aspects this appeals to us, and that is why the concept works so well for propaganda. But, no, not getting into propaganda at this point.

Some days passed before I searched the phrase in e-sword. (E-sword is an amazing program, if you are not familiar with the program, I heartily advise you to download it. Providing you have a relatively newer computer with enough memory space.)

Well, E-sword was successful. One verse. Correct number of beats/syllables. (I could only remember the rhythm.) And this was the verse:

And he measured the wall thereof, an hundred and forty and four cubits,

according to the measure of a man, that is, of the angel.

Rev 21:17

And what does it mean? I laughed when the realization dawned on me that all this pondering lead to a rather off beat little verse that was merely describing the length of a wall! Yes, technically, I understand what the verse is saying. But what I am still wondering is --why?

Why does God specify that the measurement was according to man's measurement system, then clarifying that in reference to the angel? Why the play on words, accidental, coincidence?

I suppose it's simple, if He had said "normal measurement", we's have asked what is normal? If He had said "according to the angel's measuring stick", we'd have said we don't have an angel measuring stick. If He had said according to a man's standard measurement, we have imperial and metric arguments.

Or would we? Maybe we wouldn't even notice.

God took the time to write it, I wonder why?

~

One of My Favorite Songs

You should never under-estimate the effect your actions have on your little child.

Whenever I sat on my daddy's knee as a baby/toddler, he would sing to me.

I wasn't very old because I can remember sitting in his hand, leaning in the crook of his arm.

He would sit and rock me in the Squeaky rocking chair. His voice would radiate outwards, I have never felt so warm , so safe in my life as when Dad would sing to me. I know from events that I was less than two years old. He would sing many songs (hymns), but two he sang more often than the rest: "Heaven Came Down" and "Open My Eyes". To this day these are my favorite.

I know them almost by heart. Funny thing is, even though I have tried to memorize these hymns completely, I always pull a blank at the same parts where he would forget the words. How I loved it when he sang and rocked me. The squeak always sang along. Because I always felt so warm and safe, whenever I am in need of warm safety I sing these songs. Here is "Heaven came down"

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O what a wonderful, wonderful day, day I will never forget;

After I'd wandered in darkness away, Jesus my Savior I met.

O what a tender, compassionate friend, He met the need of my heart;

Shadows dispelling, with joy I am telling, He made all the darkness depart.

Chorus

Heaven came down and glory filled my soul, (filled my soul)

When at the cross the Savior made me whole; (made me whole)

My sins were washed away and my night was turned to day,

Heaven came down and glory filled my soul! (filled my soul)

Born of the Spirit with life from above into God's family divine,

Justified fully thru Calvary's love, O what a standing is mine!

And the transaction so quickly was made, when as a sinner I came,

Took of the offer, of grace He did proffer, He saved me, O praise His dear name!

Now I've a hope that will surely endure after the passing of time;

I have a future in heaven for sure there in those mansions sublime.

And it's because of that wonderful day, when at the cross I believed;

Riches eternal and blessings supernal, from His precious hand I received.

Tomorrow

I don't know about tomorrow;

I just live from day to day.

I don't borrow from its sunshine

For its skies may turn to grey.

I don't worry o'er the future,

For I know what Jesus said.

And today I'll walk beside Him,

For He knows what is ahead.

Many things about tomorrow

I don't seem to understand

But I know who holds tomorrow

And I know who holds my hand.

Every step is getting brighter

As the golden stairs I climb;

Every burden's getting lighter,

Every cloud is silver-lined.

There the sun is always shining,

There no tear will dim the eye;

At the ending of the rainbow

Where the mountains touch the sky.

I don't know about tomorrow;

It may bring me poverty.

But the one who feeds the sparrow,

Is the one who stands by me.

And the path that is my portion

May be through the flame or flood;

But His presence goes before me

And I'm covered with His blood.

Many things about tomorrow

I don't seem to understand

But I know who holds tomorrow

And I know who holds my hand.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YHhtWs5j2l8&feature=related

Musings on Apples

Today I read a quote which had in it an interesting reference to Christ being an apple tree.

So, curious as ever, I searched e-sword to find the foundation for that reference. What verse links our Lord to an apple tree. The only reference that I could turn up was Song of Solomon 2:3,

"As the apple tree among the trees of the wood,

so is my beloved among the sons.

I sat down under his shadow with great delight,

and his fruit was sweet to my taste. "

This started me thinking....and I found another verse in the book of Joel that listed a bunch of fruit trees and said how all the these fruit trees had withered, " because joy is withered away from the sons of men." Joy, Delight: both have some connection to fruit trees.... then there is that verse "A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver."

Any reference in the Bible to apples seems a mysterious reference. I can only find six references in Hebrew to apples. (There are many "apple of eye" references in the KJV, but the word apple is not the same as an apple tree...the "apple of eye" is literally translated "little man of the eye" or better translated pupil, since it was understood to mean pupil.)

Here are the six references if anyone cares to look them up....if you have any ideas as to the significance of apples, I'd love to hear them....

Proverbs 25:11

Song of Solomon 2:3

Song of Solomon 2:5

Song of Solomon 7:8

Song of Solomon 8:5

Joel 1:12