September 11

Posted on September 11, 2024 by glenn

Today is September 11. The numbers 911 were first used as an emergency call in 1968. The call was made in Haleyville, Alabama, near where I grew up. ATT adopted it as the universal emergency number the same year.

On September 11, 2001, the number took on a much darker significance. At 8:46 that morning, the first plane, under terrorist control, struck the North Tower of the World Trade Center in New York. Four planes were used in the attack that day and almost 3,000 people lost their lives in the four attacks.

Today is September 11, a day that will live in infamy in our nation’s history. We mourn the events of that day as the nation observes the memorial.

For many years, when I saw the numbers 911 my memory went back to that awful day in our history. I can remember the details of the morning as I sat at my desk watching the events unfold. I visited every classroom in the middle school where I was principal and tried to calm and reassure the students and teachers all the while dealing with the situation myself. I just wanted to be home with my wife and children.

When I see the number 911 today, a different thought comes to mind. Paul tells us in Philippians to control our thoughts and think on good things (Phil 4:8, 9). I have made a conscious effort to replace a dark memory associated with 911. I now recall a passage from Hebrews, remembering the first three words.

Hebrews 9:11 begins with “But Christ came…”

When I see the numbers 911, I immediately think “But Christ came.”

As I think about the dark world in which we live and consider the evil that prompted the events of September 11, 2001, I think about the events of Calvary 2,000 years ago and the evil that caused that event. But I am so thankful for that event. I am so thankful for the fact that Christ came. Because of those three words, I can face tomorrow.

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The Main Thing

Posted on March 1, 2024 by glenn

Life is busy.  It is so easy to get so caught up in the day-to-day affairs of life that we overlook the important things.

Perhaps you have heard the following illustration.  A professor brought a jar into class into which he filled with several large rocks.  As he tried to put just one more big rock in the jar, he asked the class if the jar was full.  They replied yes.  Continuing the illustration, he pulled out a container of smaller rocks and began to add them to the jar.  Shaking the jar and allowing the smaller rocks to filter in between the large rocks, it again appeared full.  He asked the class again if the jar was full.  Many said yes but were a bit more cautious with their answer.  The professor took a container of sand and as before, poured the sand into the jar around the rocks.  When it was full, he again inquired as to whether the jar was full.  The class was hesitant to reply now.  He continued by pouring water into the jar until it was indeed full.  Asking the class for the lessons to be learned brought many responses.  The object of the lesson was simple yet profound.  In life make sure you put the big rocks in first.  Because if you fill up the jar with the little things first, there will be no more room for the big things.

David expressed a similar thought in Psalm 27:4.

One thing I have desired of the LORD, that will I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life.

One thing. The main thing.

Matthew rendered the thought in Matthew 6:33.

But seek first the kingdom of GOD and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.

If we keep our priorities in order, if we put the big rocks in first, GOD tells us He will add the other things.  It is a lesson in priorities.  The desire is to keep the main thing, the main thing.

The big rocks in life are those of eternal significance.  This is the main thing. Let us fill our lives with those things before we let the little things crowd them out.

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I Know How This Ends

Posted on January 22, 2023 by glenn

I am a fan of college football.  But for various reasons I tape the games and watch them later.  One reason is because I can enjoy the game much more if I know the outcome ahead of time. I don’t get all nervous wondering how it will end.  I can relax and enjoy the game.

The same thing holds true for reruns of old movies and television shows.  If I know how it is going to end I can enjoy the movie and make connections better.  There are movies I have watched many times.  Reruns of shows I have seen many times are still interesting.

In a very similar but much more important way, I know how life is going to turn out.  No, I am not predicting my own future.  But I do know how this thing we call life on earth will end.  In a way it is like I’m living my life as a rerun because I know the ending already.

The key word in the book of Revelation is found in Revelation 17:14.

            These will make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb will overcome them…

The word overcome is from a Greek word which means victory.  It is where we get our word Nike.

This word is found more in the book of Revelation than all the other books combined.  The Revelation is a promise of victory. 

The evil in this world, everything wrong, will eventually be defeated.  In the end, Good wins because GOD wins. 

At the end of Revelation 22 I have written this simple phrase, “We won.”

Just as the reruns of old movies or watching my team play a game in which I already know the outcome, I know how this will end.  Good will triumph.  I just get to live these minutes out until the end.  But I know the ending already…

GOD wins.  I just want to be sure I am on HIS side.

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Happy New Year

Posted on January 1, 2023 by glenn

Happy New Year!

Today marks the beginning of a new year.  I am not much on making New Year’s resolutions but it is a good time to reflect and plan.  Perhaps rededicating one’s self to the important things in life.

Recently while studying the 12th chapter of Romans, I was reminded how Paul summed up the two choices in life in a simple sentence found in verse 2.

And do not be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of GOD.

And there you have it.  Two choices.  No middle ground.  One will either transform or one will conform.

With the idea of conforming, I am fond of Phillips translation which reads, “Don’t let the world squeeze you into its mold.”

A closer examination of the word transform reveals it is in the present tense.  This means it is an on-going process.  One is either continually transforming or conforming.

We have discussed in an earlier blog, how that in the period of 4 short years Demus lost his faith.

How will time change you? | What does the Bible say about it? (taylorstudies.com)

My wish for you as we enter this New Year, is to be found stronger at year’s end.  Paul tells us how, by the renewing of your mind.  As Peter ended his second epistle, but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  2 Peter 3:18

Happy New Year my friends.

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Remember

Posted on October 31, 2022 by glenn

Recently I visited the congregation where I was converted almost five decades ago.  The occasion was to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the congregation in that small town.

As I sat there, so many memories came to mind.  I thought of my own conversion.  I met my wife of 45 years at a church service there.  She, too, was converted there.  I can still remember the dress she had on that night.  We spent the first few years of our marriage there.  We worked the church bus ministry there.  Many dear friends still attend there.

I thought of the word remember.  This is a very common word in the Scriptures.

In Luke 16:25, Abraham said, “Son, remember that in your lifetime you received good things…”

Certainly as I look back over my life, I have been the recipient of so many good things.  My association with that congregation is one of those good things.

Read Hebrews 13:7.  Remember those who rule over you, who have spoken the word of GOD to you.  I am indeed indebted to those who have spoken the words of truth to me throughout my life.

The word remember is found more times in the book of Deuteronomy than all the other books except the Psalms.  In this the giving of the law a second time, Moses reminds the children of Israel not to forget their past.  Several times you have the phrase, You shall remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt.  (Deut 5:15, 15:15, 16:12, et al)

The tendency of man is to forget those bad times, those times that sometimes forged us.  When things are going well, we forget.  Sometimes we need to be reminded of where we were and how things used to be.

Oh, and by the way, we need to remember as well that we too were slaves.  Not slaves in Egypt.   But slaves to sin.  If you are a New Testament Christian, please read Romans 6:17, 18.

But GOD be thanked that though you were slaves of sin, yet you obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine to which you were delivered.  And having been set free from sin, you became slaves of righteousness.

I was never a slave in Egypt but my slavery was much worse than that.  I was a slave to sin.  I am still a slave, but GOD be thanked I have been set free from the slavery of sin.

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A Job Worth Doing

Posted on October 5, 2022 by glenn

I was encouraged recently after a church event when I saw one of our young mothers jump right in and help with the cleanup.  She had three small children of her own and no one would have thought less of her if she had chosen to tend to them.  But she had a vacuum cleaner in hand and was helping.  I must say, it made a very positive impression on me. 

There are few character traits I respect more than a good work ethic.  I have great respect for those who work.  When I leave home early in the morning and see all the traffic on the road, I am encouraged, knowing that many people are headed to work.  Working to support self and family is a good measure of a man or woman.

Let me add one more thing.  A job worth doing is worth doing right.  We’ve all heard the expression.  I am sure we have used it when teaching our children the value of quality work.   It is not only the activity of working, but the quality of the product that garners respect.  I have known people who have been employed in the same position, producing quality work, for an entire lifetime.  They are due much respect.

What do the Scriptures say about Work?

Prov 20:4 – The lazy man will not plow because of winter; He will beg during harvest and have nothing.

Exodus 20:9 – 6 days you shall labor

Eph 4:28 – but let him labor with his hands…

1 Thes 4:11 – work with your own hands…

2 Thes 3:10 – if a man will not work, neither shall he eat.

But what about the quality and what about the motive?

Eph 6:5ff – the inference is that a worker should work not to please men but rather to please GOD.

Eph 4:28 – working with his hands what is good, that he may have something to give to him who has need.

Work is sometimes viewed as a punishment resulting from the sin in the garden.  Indeed, the 3rd chapter of Genesis notes how man was driven from the Garden and sentenced to eat by the sweat of his brow. 

But one should note that work preceded the fall in the Garden.  Gen 2:15 tells us that GOD put man in the Garden to tend it and keep it.  It is also noteworthy that this happened even before the woman was created.  And thus we have the man with a home (in the Garden) and a job (to tend it and keep it) before he got a wife.  That seems to be pretty good advice.

The last time the word work appears in the Scriptures is Rev 22:12 where we read the words of Jesus.

And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to everyone according to his work.

I hope your work is honorable.  I hope you are known as a worker.  But my greatest hope is that your life’s work is garnering a reward awaiting on that Great Day.

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I am a worm

Posted on July 15, 2022 by glenn

I remember as a child the lyrics of the old song, “Alas and did my Savior bleed” had a line that was particularly amusing.  The line, for such a worm as I, always caused a giggle.

Now modern versions have changed the lyrics to “for such a one as I.”  I think a deep meaning is lost in so doing.

As is the case with many hymns, the phrase is rooted in Scripture.  This phrase comes from Psalm 22:6.  This Messianic Psalm depicts the Savior on the cross.  He is described as a reproach of men, despised by the people, etc.  And He uses the term worm, to denote the lowliness of man.

David, writing by Inspiration, used the term in Psalm 22.  Job, feeling helpless, used the term in Job 17:14.  Bildad agreed with him in Job 25:6.

Paul expressed the same sentiment, although he used different words, in Romans 7:24, when he said, “O wretched man that I am.”

John described the Laodecians as … You are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked.  Revelation 3:17.

When we consider ourselves in light of GOD’S holiness, we all are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked.  We are all worms.

But aren’t we made in the image of GOD?  Indeed we are.  And as such, we should have a healthy self-image.  But that self-image needs to be healthy in the sense of being accurate. 

Romans 12:3 reminds us not to think of ourselves more highly than we ought.

The whole point is that we can see ourselves accurately only when we realize our true condition before GOD.  The beginning of a proper self-image is to we realize how desperately we need Christ.  Our worth depends wholly upon Him.  We are not basically good people who can be admitted into heaven on our own.  We are all miserable worms who will be allowed into the presence of GOD only because of our Savior.

I thank you GOD for this unspeakable gift.

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The Memorial

Posted on May 29, 2022 by glenn

As our nation observes this Memorial Day holiday, I am very appreciative of the freedom I have and I realize it came at a tremendous cost.  Many lives were lost on the battle field to secure and insure the continuation of our freedom.  To this end, this is one holiday we do not celebrate, we simply observe and remember.

My thoughts today are drawn to another memorial.  There is a freedom that is even more precious than what my country offers.  I am talking about the freedom from sin.  This freedom also came at a tremendous price as my Savior, Jesus Christ, gave his life on Calvary 2,000 years ago.  We observe a weekly memorial to commemorate this.

As we observe this weekly memorial, sometimes referred to as the Lord’s Supper, have you ever considered the colors of the emblems used in the Communion?  Colors, just as numbers, are usually highly symbolic in Scripture.  Think about the colors white and red.

The color of the unleavened bread is white. White represents purity, holiness, and innocence.  The saints are given white robes to wear in the Revelation letter.  The color white is found in the Revelation letter 15 times, second in number of occurrences only to the book of Leviticus.

The fruit of the vine and its color red symbolizes the blood of Christ and with it represents redemption from sin, sacrifice, and salvation.  In Ephesians 1:7 we are told, “In Him, we have redemption, through His blood, the forgiveness of sins…”

In establishing the Communion, 1 Corinthians 11 notes that Christ said “Take and eat, this is My body” and “This cup is the new covenant in My blood.”  During Communion we recall His body (being sinless was represented by white) and His shed blood. And this is appropriately represented by the colors white and red.

The colors white and red have very deep spiritual meanings.  Taking them both together we see the innocent (white) blood (red) of Christ shed at the cross and we are to be reminded of the death, burial, and resurrection during Communion.

Another passage that reveals symbolic colors is Exodus 26:31.  This text is describing the veil which was made to separate the holy place and the Most Holy.

You shall make a veil woven of blue, purple, and scarlet thread, and fine woven linen.

Note how these three colors represent our LORD.  Blue being the color of the sky, represents His heavenly nature.  Scarlet is usually associated with immorality and sin.  By putting the two colors together, purple is the result.  Purple then represents a combination of GOD and man.  Jesus’ heavenly nature (blue) and my sin He carried to the cross (scarlet) is combined to make purple.  Jesus was both GOD and man.  The color purple usually represents royalty.  It was no accident then that the soldiers put a purple robe on Him as they mocked Him. 

As we consider this combination of colors, we are reminded that Jesus was both GOD and man.  And that is what it took for Him to represent the perfect sacrifice for my sins.  Anything short of perfection on the cross would not have sufficed.

Hebrews 9:28 reads, so Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many.  To those who eagerly wait for Him He will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation.

I’m waiting for Him.  How about you?  And each time I partake of the communion, let me be reminded of those red and white colors.

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Is the United States GOD’S chosen nation today?

Posted on May 24, 2022 by glenn

To address the question above let’s consider what is in a name.  We will begin by visiting the Old Testament.

The nation of Israel was GOD’S chosen people in the Old Testament.  With the name of Israel, this nation literally wore the name of GOD.  The name Israel ended in EL.  In the very first verse of the Bible, Genesis 1:1, the word for GOD is the Hebrew word ELOHIM.  This word is the plural of ELOAH, which is an elongated form of the word, EL.  It is an interesting fact, that by using the plural form of the word, the plurality of the Godhead, is found in the very first verse of the Scriptures.

For our consideration today, we note the singular form, EL (it is pronounced ale).  It is first found in Genesis 14:18, translated as the Most High GOD. 

The name of Israel was given to Jacob in Genesis 32:28.  The Hebrew word for Israel means GOD prevails.  The name, Israel, ends in EL and like so many names in the OT, contained the Hebrew word for GOD. To note just a few names along with their meaning: Daniel, GOD is my strength; Ezekiel, GOD’S strength; Samuel, GOD heard; Samuel’s father is an example of the el at the beginning, Elkanah, GOD has purchased; Elijah, my GOD is Jehovah.  Incidentally, the name Elijah contains two references to GOD, (the jah at the end comes from Yahweh, or Jehovah).

Thus, what is in a name? In the case of the children of Israel, a lot is in the name.  As the Israelites, the children of Israel wore the name of GOD. 

One might ask, why aren’t GOD’S children still called the nation of Israel or Israelites?  Why doesn’t the children of GOD wear His Name today?  Although physically, we are not Israelites, we actually do wear the name of GOD today.

We should first note that we live under a different covenant today.  This explains the division between the Old Testament and the New Testament.  We live under the New Covenant.  This new covenant was prophesied throughout the Old Testament.

In Isaiah 62:2, we have the following prophecy relative to the new covenant.  “You shall be called by a new name which the mouth of the LORD will name.”  Hold your place here with your marker and go to a passage in the New Testament.

In Acts 11:26, we see the fulfillment of this prophecy.  The disciples were first called Christians in Antioch.  The phrase “were called” comes from the Greek word, chrematidzo, meaning “divinely called.”  This is a clear reference back to the prophecy in Isaiah 62, (from the mouth of the LORD).  If you choose to mark in your Bibles, make a reference back to Isaiah 62:2.

And thus, we too wear the name of GOD.  We are Christians!  We belong to Christ!  By wearing the name Christian, we wear the Divine Name just as the Israelites of the Old Testament.

GOD’S chosen people in the Old Testament was the nation of Israel.  HIS chosen people today are Christians.  1 Pet 2:9…you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation…

Is the USA GOD’S chosen people today?  The USA is NOT GOD’S chosen nation today.  That doesn’t mean HE hasn’t blessed this country.  The United States exists today because of His Providential care.  But we are not the nation of GOD in the same sense the nation of Israel was in the Old Testament. 

Although the USA is not the nation of GOD, the USA is made up of multitudes of His people, referring to the Christians who live here.  The United States is a Christian nation.  It was founded upon Christian values.  The nation will exist so long as GOD desires and it fits into His Master plan.

As the Lee Greenwood song proclaims, I am proud to be an American.  I am patriotic to the bone.  But I share Paul’s sentiments coming from Philippians 3:20. For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.  Amen.

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Should it be “Good Thursday”?

Posted on April 15, 2022 by glenn

There are various accounts as to when the phrase “Good Friday” originated.  Of course, there is no debate as to what it represents, that is, the day Jesus Christ was crucified.  But just when it came to be known as Good Friday is up for discussion. 

Many passages in the Bible reference the next day being the Sabbath and thus most of humanity concedes the LORD was crucified on Friday.  But was He?

Should it be “Good Thursday”?

We have recently concluded a lengthy study in the Gospel of John.  There are passages worthy of a closer look in this great book.  John 19:31 is one such passage.

Our focus will be on the parenthetical phrase – for that Sabbath was a high day.

To begin our thoughts, please allow me to express the following disclaimers.

  1. It is not important what day it happened because we don’t hold any day above any other except the LORD’S Day.  Outside of the observance of Sunday, the first day of each week, Galatians 4:10 warns against observing holy days.
  2. I am not adamantly saying the LORD was crucified on Thursday BUT I am saying it is possible and it offers a better explanation to the 3 days and 3 nights of Matthew 12:40. A Friday afternoon death and Sunday morning resurrection has always been a puzzling situation.  We have explained it by saying the Jews reckoned any part of the day as the whole day and thus Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, were the 3 days.  But when the time from late Friday afternoon to early Sunday morning is little more than 36 hours and only 2 nights, is that explanation satisfactory?
  3. One’s salvation doesn’t hinge on knowing the day the Lord was crucified.  The fact He was crucified and rose again does impact my salvation!

I do believe Jesus was crucified on Thursday rather than Friday.  I shall now give the reasons for my belief.

We did a lengthy study called the “Road to Calvary” a few years ago in which we looked at the events of that week.  About 1/3 of the gospel accounts deal with this week.  Surely such a detailed account of this week is intentional.

As we did this study, we noted that holding to a Friday crucifixion means this important busy detailed week has an entire day (Wednesday) for which there is no recorded activity.

In our study, we noted the LORD rode into town hailed as a King and by week’s end was put to death.  Much activity occurred on Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday; and we said Wednesday was a silent day, a day of rest perhaps.  But I think it is not silent at all but rather the Day of Preparation before the high Sabbath referenced by John.  This high Sabbath of which John speaks (John 19:31) occurred on Friday.  The Jewish reckoning of time saw each day beginning with sundown.  This stems from the beginning of time wherein GOD noted the evening and morning comprised each day.   Thus this high Sabbath, that we would say was on a Friday, actually began at sunset on Thursday.

We normally think about the Sabbath day being the weekly Sabbath occurring on Saturday.  But are there other Sabbaths? Consider the following points.

  1. Go to Leviticus 23 and note v3 is discussing the weekly Sabbath.  Note v15 and following discuss the Pentecost celebration that is to be observed 50 days after a regular Sabbath.  Counting 50 days from a Saturday means Pentecost will always be on Sunday.  This is a vital point to note when studying Acts 2 and the beginning of the church.  Observe this annual celebration of Pentecost was on a Sunday.
  2. Note vv23, 24 wherein a yearly feast, the feast of Trumpets, is described.  Note this day is to be observed on the first day of the seventh month.  Thus it could be any day of the week and it is called a sabbath-rest.  So we have a sabbath-rest occurring on a day other than Saturday.
  3. The Day of Atonement, also an annual observance, is discussed in vv 26-32.  We read about this in Hebrews 9:6-7 and we note this is Yom Kippur to the modern Jew.  We note it is to be observed on the tenth day of the seventh month and again, can fall on any day of the week.  Note v32 states this is a sabbath of solemn rest.
  4. All we have observed here, so far, is that some of these observances fall on the same day of the week (Saturday or Sunday) and some of them can fall on any day of the week.
  5. Vv 4-8 describes the Feast of the Passover and Unleavened Bread. This is important in our discussion because it was during the Feast of the Passover that Jesus was crucified (Matt 26:2).
  6. The Passover is on the 14th day of the 1st month and thus could fall on any day of the week.  Note the Feast of Unleavened Bread begins the next day and runs for 7 days.  The 1st day and the 7th day are to be holy days, i.e. Sabbaths!
  7. Now here’s the point.  These Festivals were to be observed once each year.  Thus there were special Sabbaths to be observed.  Occurring once each year means these Sabbaths could fall on any day of the week.  Consider our July 4th holiday falls on a different day each year.
  8. For a review of the institution of the Passover, see Exodus 12.  The Jews were instructed to kill a lamb and put the blood on the doorposts.  In verses 2, 3 we observe this to be on the 10th day of Nisan.  Verse 6 describes the period from the 10th day to the 14th day.  The lamb is to be killed on the 14th day.  Verse 13 contains specific instructions and in verses 14ff we note the day is to be observed as a memorial.
  9. As a side note, some have observed from the 10th to the 14th is 4 days with the lamb being killed on the 4th day.  Could this foreshadow Jesus Christ entering Jerusalem on Sunday and facing crucifixion on Thursday?
  10. The Feast of Unleavened Bread discussed in Exodus 13:3ff occurs in the month of Abib.  Note Abib and Nissan are the same.  It seems the month Abib became Nisan after the Babylonian captivity.
  • Now with this information, let’s return to John 19:31.

That Sabbath was a high day.

John’s mention of the Sabbath immediately after the Preparation mentioned by all 4 gospel accounts strongly suggests it was not the ordinary Saturday Sabbath but another kind of Sabbath.  This one discussed in Exodus 12:16 instructed the Jews to observe both the 1st and 7th days of the Passover week as days of rest and holy days.  This is the 15th of Nissan and thus a holy day.  These special Sabbaths were called “high days” and this is likely what John is referring to in v31.

One final note can be found in Matthew 28:1. The Greek word translated Sabbath here is used in the singular sense AND the plural sense.  Most translations have it singular but the Greek text literally is “end of the Sabbaths”.    In fact, Young’s Literal Translation renders it as “Sabbaths”.  This would suggest there were back to back Sabbaths.

The Jewish calendar is based on lunar cycles.  The first month of the Jewish year is Nissan and corresponds to our March and April.  Easter always falls during this time.

All of these lunar cycles were fed into a computer with the hope of finding the High Sabbath falling on Friday, the day before the weekly Saturday Sabbath.  These would be the “sabbaths” referred to in Matthew.  Taking into account the years around 29 AD to 33 AD produced a Friday/Saturday combination in the year AD 30.  If this is true, then Thursday, April 6, A.D. 30, is the most plausible date suggested for the crucifixion of Christ.

This is why I believe He was crucified on a Thursday.  But let me emphasize this point.  At the end of the discussion, it is not important that we know what day this momentous event occurred.  We are just thankful that it did.  The Son of GOD came to earth, lived and died and lived again!  Through His death, burial and resurrection, I have hope to live with Him throughout eternity.  That, my friend, is all that is important!

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