Musings of a Snickerdoodle

This Bible Atlas takes you through the Bible with maps.  The maps are nice looking, and interesting to study. But…There is a lot of reading, sort of summing up a lot of Israel's history and their geographical movements.   Others may not mind it, but for some reason the readings seemed to distract me from the maps, rather than enhance them. Also, the maps don't always seem to fit with what is being talked about. There were several 'iffy' statements made by this book that bothered me. Beck states that animals were in the Garden of Eden to "provide companionship to the first humans who lived there.." .   But doesn't that contradict Adam's not finding one suitable companion among the animals he named? If animals provide true companionship then Adam didn't really   need Eve.   "On the one hand, the ark is a symbol of divine mercy, a rescue raft that keeps Noah's family and the animals aboard alive.   On the other hand, t...

It is a great mistake when we fret over the human instrument which smites us, and forget the hand which uses the rod.  If I strike a dog, he bites my stick; poor creature, he knows no better; but if he could think a  little he would bite me, or else take the blow submissively.  Now, you must not begin biting the stick.  After all, it is your heavenly Father that uses the staff; though it be of ebony or of blackthorn, it is in his hand.  It is well to have done with picking and choosing our trials, and leave the whole matter in the hand of infinite wisdom." Charles Spurgeon From his book: Talks to Farmers See more quotes on my quote collection blog:  https://snickerdoodlesquotes.blogspot.com/

…Spurgeon observed many, 'who, by hearing continually the most precious doctrine that belief in Jesus Christ is saving, have forgotten other truths, and have concluded that they were saved when they were not, have fancied they believed when as yet they were total strangers to the experience which was not grounded upon the divine word rightly understood, 'nor proved by any facts in their own souls.'  They resented any suggestion of self examination by gospel tests as 'an assault upon their assurance' and 'defended their false peace by the notion that to raise a question about their certain salvation would be unbelief.' Their ill-placed certainty has put them in a hopeless condition and they ignore biblical warnings and admonitions by 'their fatal persuasion that it is needless to attend to them.'  Their historical knowledge of the work of Christ has settled them in a conviction 'that godly fear and careful walking are superfluities, if not actuall...

Once Upon A Word: A Word-Origin Dictionary For Kids - by Jess Zafarris is interesting for adults too.   It is a very interesting dictionary, not just stating origins and meanings in a dry, matter of fact way, but making it more like someone is right there speaking to you. It's interesting how much one realizes one doesn't know about certain words, for instance, the word "shiver", "The word 'shiver' originally referred to a small piece or splinter of something, or the act of breaking something into many small pieces.   When pirates say 'shiver me timbers,' they're talking about the splintering of their wooden ships during battles on rough seas…."   I just thought it was some weird expression pirates used, probably referring to a shiver being sent down their body because of surprise, this was an interesting correction to my long held idea. The word origin of "Alarm" I found quite amusing, it apparently comes from ...

Leaders, this is not the finish line.  This is the starting point.  We're aiming too low, even when we're hitting our target.  Again, if spiritual maturity is typically measured by daily Bible reading as individuals, and if discipleship (if it happens) is typically measured by the reproduction of sound doctrine and maybe Scripture memory, and if leadership is qualified by theological education (and perhaps business savvy for directing growth strategies and managing staff recruits), then we're functionally gnostic.  We've focused our efforts on the acquisition of spiritual knowledge in the mind while disregarding the spiritual significance of daily life in the physical world.  An incomplete gospel is an incorrect Gospel. F rom the book:  Leveling the Church: multiplying your Ministry by Giving it Away  - By Micah Fries and Jeremy Maxfield See more quotes on my quote collection blog:  https://snickerdoodlesquotes.blogspot.com/

Leveling the Church: Multiplying Your Ministry By Giving It Away - by Micah Fries and Jeremy Maxfield is attacking the notion of, what they call, the "super pastor", the idea that the pastor is in charge of everything in the church and pretty much meets everyone's personal spiritual needs. Instead, they believe that the biblical model is for the pastor and elders to train men to be able to do various tasks that many think the pastor is solely responsible for. I wasn't quite sure what I thought of this book at first, but I've concluded that I like it overall, though with some caveats which I'll mention in a moment.   The premise is very interesting.   As I mentioned above, the case is made that the pastor's job is not to take on everything himself, but to build up others to be able to take on ministerial tasks, like visiting the sick in the hospital, counseling, and visiting in general. As the authors put it:   "…while the pastor ough...

(Speaking of Heb 10:24-25)This passage calls us to regular gathering together as a church community.  It could be easy to assume that this simply means that we all need to be together so we can worship together, but the beginning of that passage says otherwise.   In verse 24, the author frames for us why we need to gather together:    in order to push one another to 'love and good deeds.'    This strikes us as a more intimate expectation.    This call reveals an awareness of each other's lives and an intimacy with how those lives are lived.    We are specifically encouraged to gather together so we can be in each other's business. F rom the book:  Leveling the Church: multiplying your Ministry by Giving it Away  - By Micah Fries and Jeremy Maxfield See more quotes on my quote collection blog:  https://snickerdoodlesquotes.blogspot.com/