Saturday, July 12, 2008
Wednesday, April 2, 2008
Saturday, March 1, 2008
Legends of Rhododendrons Segment 3
The old kitchen was ever a spot for refinement. Jack’s wife, Elizabeth, was always one to do renovations. It wasn’t surprising to see fresh spring colors covering the earth tones I remembered from a couple of years past. Mom had obviously stripped the pinewood table yet again, this time lightly staining the top with a natural shade. I tapped my fingernails on the table as my parents silently mulled around the house. Dad took my things up the two flights of stairs to my refinished attic bedroom, and Mom was making up a pot of coffee scented with vanilla.
The scene reminded me of the many nights I sat at this very table – sometimes dark mahogany, or others a green satin finish – doing the school work I had not completed during Mom’s and my home schooling time. I had a horrible habit of biting my nails back then, and the drumming from their tips would have been more dulled than now. My small mother always made coffee in the evening before she sat down to do her devotions. Dad would often join her from his upstairs library to the living room, each reading silently except to share the profound things one another had glanced upon. After my work was finished, I was allowed to get a very milky cup of coffee and join my parents there. We made a cozy threesome, though Mom always longed for more children. Dad would read a Bible story, ask me questions to make sure I understood, and then Mom would lead us in singing a few hymns or praise songs. It never failed that we would end our evenings in prayer, in which I was often asked to lead as I grew older. Even when I entered the public high school at Cloudland High at the age of 13, Mom and Dad waited up for me after the many activities I was involved in to do our evening devotion times.
The night was growing darker as the minutes flew, and it did not seem that my parents were being very chatty. What could I expect? I sprung this homecoming on them rather abruptly. Dad had already sat himself down on the old weathered sofa, next to the soft glow of the lamp on one of the end tables.
“Lizzie, honey, would you mind fixin’ me a cup of coffee?” Dad’s soft voice drifted into the kitchen.
“It’s already made,” she stirred the spoonful of sugar into a steaming coffee mug. “Eve, you want some?”
“Sure, but I’ll get it.” I got up from the table and set to work pouring myself the cup of hot coffee. After I put just the right amount of cream into the cup, I headed for the living room. Snuggling up in one of the overgrown recliners, I waited for my dad to start the conversation. I didn’t have to wait long.
“Well, sis, we’ll be doin’ our devotions now, if you want to participate. I figure we can hold off any special conversations for the morning.” Tomorrow was Sabbath, and I knew that Dad would not be working. It was a relief to hear that he was putting off the inevitable conversation that would surely contain some emotional moments.
“To be honest, Dad, I haven’t done a devotional in a while. Do you mind if I just sit here quietly?” Another step.
“Yup, that would be alright. We’ll just read some, and then end in prayer. That good for you, Lizzie?” Dad faced my mom who just positioned herself on the couch.
“However you feel led, hon.” Mom grinned at her husband, patting her hand on his knee.
“Um, about tomorrow,” I piped up as Dad was leafing through his old Bible, “do you all still go over to the Stephenson’s house for service?”
“Yes, Evey. In fact, a few other families are meeting with us,” Mom replied.
“In fact,” the man of the house stuttered, “we have a couple young people you know coming as well.”
“Who?” I searched through the images of the members my small high school class in my mind, wondering who would be most likely to join my parents’ home church group.
“Well, a senior, Amanda,” Mom paused. I couldn’t tell why she was so hesitant. Amanda was a sweet, quiet girl. What was the big deal?
“And Chris Baker has been attending for a few months,” Dad blurted out. Chris? My Chris? There weren’t any other Chris Bakers my age in the village. I didn’t even know he was back in Roan, nonetheless a follower of Christ. I concentrated on placing the mug onto the coffee table, hoping that my jittery hands would not spill the dark substance onto the rug.
“That’s great,” I heard myself saying.
“Again, you are welcome to come to service with us. It is at another family’s house, Troy and Karen McMillan,” Dad seized the control of the conversation. “They moved to the area about eight months ago, and are a real blessing to fellowship with.”
“Troy and Karen have five little ones, Eve,” Mom chimed in. “All under the age of seven! Such a blessing.”
“Must be.”
“Well, dear ones, lets turn together to read from God’s holy Word.” Dad found the place he had been looking for. “Praise the Lord. He is a good and righteous judge. His love endures forever! Amen!”
The strength and love that my dad always portrayed when speaking of the Lord exuded from him now. He proceeded to have us turn to 1 John 1. I picked up a spare Bible from the bookshelf behind my chair. “ ‘That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled of the Word of life,’” the words were familiar to me, though I hadn’t read them in quite a while. My thoughts started to stray, but I forced myself to read along. “ ‘If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not know the truth; but if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.’” Wasn’t that the reason I had left? I did not want to lie to my parents and God anymore. I walked in darkness, and not the light. Dad read on, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.’ And let us not glance over the beginning of chapter two: ‘My little children, these things I write unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: and he is the propitiation for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.’”
Dad nodded toward Mom, and she began to pray softly. “Heavenly Father, gracious Lord, we come before you tonight in thanksgiving. Thank you for guiding our Eve home again. Please pluck her heart, and help us to face the days ahead. Thank you for your continual blessings on our lives, and we lay those very lives at your feet. Cover this home in your divine protection, by the precious blood of Jesus. It is in His name that I pray. Amen.” Dad reached over and clasped his wife’s hand.
“We’ll be goin’ on upstairs, so don’t stay up too late.” His warm voice seemed to fill the room, beckoning the whole mountain to sleep.
“I won’t.” I watched as they both headed for the stairwell. “Mom, Dad?” They turned back to face me. “Thanks, for letting me stay.”
“We love you, Evey,” was Mom’s reply. Dad just nodded, and then led Elizabeth up the stairs by the hand.
Creation Debate from Kent Hovind
Created and Made
Author: Dr. Kent Hovind
While my son was in Jackson Hole Bible College one of his teachers began teaching a modified version of the gap theory/day-age theory. My son was torn up by the confusion it caused in his mind so I wrote this letter to help him see the subject clearly.
Dear Eric,
It's 3 a.m. and I can't sleep for thinking of you and praying for you. I'm in Missouri having a great meeting. As I was preaching today on my seminar 1B about the gap theory and the ruin restoration theory, I was stuck once again by the importance on the subject and was nearly overwhelmed with anguish by the thought that I have sent my son off to school to study to join my ministry team only to have him taught something I am so vehemently against. I nearly lost my train of thought as I was preaching. For the first time in years I got confused in my seminar as my mind was filled with grief for what has happened to you.
Had I known that the school there had a teacher that taught the ruin restoration theory I would never have suggested that you or anyone else go there. I know how impressionable young minds are and how difficult it is to undo damage that has been done by false teaching. As I have prayed and meditated on this subject my heart has become so burdened. I feel as if I have been robbed of my son. I know this subject will be a wall of separation between us if we cannot resolve it. That is the last thing I ever wanted. I had such high hopes of you traveling with me or for me in this vital ministry God has thrust upon me. I am hurt, confused and frustrated by what has happened. I am praying more for you as a result of this.
Your teacher has the distinct advantage of being with you many hours whereas I can only try to convince you on occasion by phone or letters. I refuse to accept mail or e-mail debates with evolutionists because while they tie up hours of my time I could be reaching a dozen others who want to hear with the truth. I normally would not take time to write a letter such as this but you are my son and I love you with all my heart. Two cannot walk together unless they be agreed. I will not let one teacher take my son from me or erect a wall of separation between us. Please consider these verses from my perspective as I have tried to do from your teacher's perspective.
The teacher made a big deal out of the difference between the words "created" and "made" used in the Bible. He told you this was proof of a pre-Adamite civilization. Comparing the following verses will clearly demonstrate he is wrong. The words are used interchangeably all throughout the Bible.
Heaven and Earth
Made: Gen. 2:1, 2:4, Is 45:12, 18
Created: Gen.1:1, 2:4, Is. 40:28, 42:5, 18; I Cor. 1:16; Rev 4:10, 10:6
Firmament (heavens)
Made: Gen. 1:7, I Chron 16:26
Created: Ps. 148:5, Is. 45:18; I Cor 1:16; Rev 4:10, 10:6
The Trees
Made: Is. 41:20
Created: Is. 41:20; I Cor 1:16; Rev 4:10, 10:6
Animals in the sea
Made: Gen. 3:1
Created: Gen. 1:21; I Cor 1:16; I Tim. 4:4; Rev 4:10, 10:6
Animals on land
Made (or formed) : Gen 1:25, 2:19
Created: I Cor 1:16; Rev 4:10, 10:6
Man
Made: Gen. 1:26, 5:1, 6:6&7, 9:6
Created: Gen. 1:27, 5:1&2, 6:7, Deut. 4:32, Is. 43:1, Is. 45:12, Mal. 2:10; I Cor 1:16; Rev 4:10, 10:6
Woman
Made: Gen. 2:18, 2:22
Created: Gen. 1:27, I Cor. 11:8; I Cor 1:16; Rev 4:10, 10:6
Everything
Made: Gen. 1:16 (stars) 31(everything), 2:3, 7:4, Amos 4:13 (mountains)
Created: Gen. 2:3 Amos 4:13 (wind); I Cor 1:16; Rev 4:10, 10:6
Lucifer
Created: Is. 28:13, 15; Rev 4:10, 10:6
Genesis 1
1:1 In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.
1:7 And God made the firmament, and divided the waters which were under the firmament from the waters which were above the firmament: and it was so.
Gen 1:16 And God made two great lights; the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night: he made the stars also.
1:21 And God created great whales, and every living creature that moveth, which the waters brought forth abundantly, after their kind, and every winged fowl after his kind: and God saw that it was good.
1:25 And God made the beast of the earth after his kind, and cattle after their kind, and every thing that creepeth upon the earth after his kind: and God saw that it was good.
1:26 And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness:
1:27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.
1:31 And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day.
Genesis 2
2:1 Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them.
2:2 And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made.
2:3 And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made.
2:4 These are the generations of the heavens and of the earth when they were created, in the day that the LORD God made the earth and the heavens,
2:5 And every plant of the field before it was in the earth, and every herb of the field before it grew:
2:18 And the LORD God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him.
2:19 And out of the ground the LORD God formed every beast of the field, and every fowl of the air;
2:22 And the rib, which the LORD God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man. See 5:2
Genesis 3
3:1 Now the serpent was more subtle than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made.
Genesis 5
5:1 This is the book of the generations of Adam. In the day that God created man, in the likeness of God made he him;
5:2 Male and female created he them; and blessed them, and called their name Adam, in the day when they were created.
Genesis 6
6:6 And it repented the LORD that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart.
6:7 And the LORD said, I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth; both man, and beast, and the creeping thing, and the fowls of the air; for it repenteth me that I have made them.
Genesis 7
7:4 For yet seven days, and I will cause it to rain upon the earth forty days and forty nights; and every living substance that I have made will I destroy from off the face of the earth.
Genesis 9
9:6 Whoso sheddeth man's blood, by man shall his blood be shed: for in the image of God made he man.
Deuteronomy 4
4:32 For ask now of the days that are past, which were before thee, since the day that God created man upon the earth, and ask from the one side of heaven unto the other,
I Chronicles 16
16:26 For all the gods of the people are idols: but the LORD made the heavens.
Psalms 51
51:10 Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.
Psalms 89
89:12 The north and the south thou hast created them: Tabor and Hermon shall rejoice in thy name.
Psalms 102
102:18 This shall be written for the generation to come: and the people which shall be created shall praise the LORD.
Psalms 104
104:30 Thou sendest forth thy spirit, they are created: and thou renewest the face of the earth.
Psalms 148
148:2 Praise ye him, all his angels: praise ye him, all his hosts.
148:3 Praise ye him, sun and moon: praise him, all ye stars of light.
148:4 Praise him, ye heavens of heavens, and ye waters that be above the heavens.
148:5 Let them praise the name of the LORD: for he commanded, and they were created.
Isaiah 4
4:5 And the LORD will create upon every dwelling place of mount Zion, and upon her assemblies, a cloud and smoke by day, and the shining of a flaming fire by night:
Isaiah 40
40:26 Lift up your eyes on high, and behold who hath created these things, that bringeth out their host by number: he calleth them all by names by the greatness of his might, for that he is strong in power; not one faileth.
40:28 Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary?
Isaiah 41
41:19 I will plant in the wilderness the cedar, the shittah tree, and the myrtle, and the oil tree; I will set in the desert the fir tree, and the pine, and the box tree together:
41:20 That they may see, and know, and consider, and understand together, that the hand of the LORD hath done this, and the Holy One of Israel hath created it.
Isaiah 42
42:5 Thus saith God the LORD, he that created the heavens, and stretched them out; he that spread forth the earth,
Isaiah 43
43:1 But now thus saith the LORD that created thee, O Jacob, and he that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not:
43:6 Even every one that is called by my name: for I have created him for my glory, I have formed him; yea, I have made him.
Isaiah 45
45:7 I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the LORD do all these things.
45:8 Drop down, ye heavens, from above, and let the skies pour down righteousness: let the earth open, and let them bring forth salvation, and let righteousness spring up together; I the LORD have created it.
45:12 I have made the earth, and created man upon it: I, even my hands, have stretched out the heavens,
45:18 For thus saith the LORD that createdthe heavens; God himself that formed the earth and made it; he hath established it, he created it not in vain, he formed it to be inhabited: I am the LORD; and there is none else.
Isaiah 48
48:6 Thou hast heard, see all this; and will not ye declare it? I have showed thee new things from this time, even hidden things, and thou didst not know them.
48:7 They are created now, and not from the beginning; even before the day when thou heardest them not;
Isaiah 54
54:16 Behold, I have created the smith that bloweth the coals in the fire, and that bringeth forth an instrument for his work; and I have created the waster to destroy.
Isaiah 57
57:19 I create the fruit of the lips; Peace, peace to him that is far off, and to him that is near, saith the LORD; and I will heal him.
Isaiah 65
65:17 For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth: and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind.
65:18 But be ye glad and rejoice for ever in that which I create: for, behold, I create Jerusalem a rejoicing, and her people a joy.
Jeremiah 31
31:22 How long wilt thou go about, O thou backsliding daughter? for the LORD hath created a new thing in the earth, A woman shall compass a man.
Ezekiel 21
21:30 Shall I cause it to return into his sheath? I will judge thee in the place where thou wast created, in the land of thy nativity.
Ezekiel 28
28:13 Thou hast been in Eden the garden of God; every precious stone was thy covering, the sardius, topaz, and the diamond, the beryl, the onyx, and the jasper, the sapphire, the emerald, and the carbuncle, and gold: the workmanship of thy tabrets and of thy pipes was prepared in thee in the day that thou wast created.
28:14 Thou art the anointed cherub that covereth; and I have set thee so: thou wast upon the holy mountain of God; thou hast walked up and down in the midst of the stones of fire.
28:15 Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee.
Amos 4
4:13 For, lo, he that formeth the mountains, and createth the wind, and declareth unto man what is his thought, that maketh the morning darkness, and treadeth upon the high places of the earth, The LORD, The God of hosts, is his name.
Malachi 2
2:10 Have we not all one father? hath not one God created us? why do we deal treacherously every man against his brother, by profaning the covenant of our fathers?
Mark 13
13:19 For in those days shall be affliction, such as was not from the beginning of the creation which God created unto this time, neither shall be.
I Corinthians 11
11:8 For the man is not of the woman; but the woman of the man.
11:9 Neither was the man created for the woman; but the woman for the man.
Ephesians
2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
2:9 Not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
3:9 And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ:
4:23 And be renewed in the spirit of your mind;
4:24 And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.
Colossians
1:12 Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:
1:13 Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:
1:14 In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:
1:15 Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:
1:16 For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.
3:9 Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds;
3:10 And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:
I Timothy 4
4:3 Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth.
4:4 For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving:
Revelation
4:10 cast their crowns before the throne, saying,
4:11 Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.
10:6 And sware by him that liveth for ever and ever, who created heaven, and the things that therein are, and the earth, and the things that therein are, and the sea, and the things which are therein, that there should be time no longer:
These are all the verses that use the word create or created. Notice the things that God Created. There are 1406 references to things God made.
I hope this has been helpful in showing you that the words are used interchangeably and should not be used to force a meaning to the Bible that will clearly contradict other verses. Keep studying the Word and do not get carried about with every wind of doctrine. The wind changes often, God's word never does.
Love,
Dad
Author: Dr. Kent Hovind
While my son was in Jackson Hole Bible College one of his teachers began teaching a modified version of the gap theory/day-age theory. My son was torn up by the confusion it caused in his mind so I wrote this letter to help him see the subject clearly.
Dear Eric,
It's 3 a.m. and I can't sleep for thinking of you and praying for you. I'm in Missouri having a great meeting. As I was preaching today on my seminar 1B about the gap theory and the ruin restoration theory, I was stuck once again by the importance on the subject and was nearly overwhelmed with anguish by the thought that I have sent my son off to school to study to join my ministry team only to have him taught something I am so vehemently against. I nearly lost my train of thought as I was preaching. For the first time in years I got confused in my seminar as my mind was filled with grief for what has happened to you.
Had I known that the school there had a teacher that taught the ruin restoration theory I would never have suggested that you or anyone else go there. I know how impressionable young minds are and how difficult it is to undo damage that has been done by false teaching. As I have prayed and meditated on this subject my heart has become so burdened. I feel as if I have been robbed of my son. I know this subject will be a wall of separation between us if we cannot resolve it. That is the last thing I ever wanted. I had such high hopes of you traveling with me or for me in this vital ministry God has thrust upon me. I am hurt, confused and frustrated by what has happened. I am praying more for you as a result of this.
Your teacher has the distinct advantage of being with you many hours whereas I can only try to convince you on occasion by phone or letters. I refuse to accept mail or e-mail debates with evolutionists because while they tie up hours of my time I could be reaching a dozen others who want to hear with the truth. I normally would not take time to write a letter such as this but you are my son and I love you with all my heart. Two cannot walk together unless they be agreed. I will not let one teacher take my son from me or erect a wall of separation between us. Please consider these verses from my perspective as I have tried to do from your teacher's perspective.
The teacher made a big deal out of the difference between the words "created" and "made" used in the Bible. He told you this was proof of a pre-Adamite civilization. Comparing the following verses will clearly demonstrate he is wrong. The words are used interchangeably all throughout the Bible.
Heaven and Earth
Made: Gen. 2:1, 2:4, Is 45:12, 18
Created: Gen.1:1, 2:4, Is. 40:28, 42:5, 18; I Cor. 1:16; Rev 4:10, 10:6
Firmament (heavens)
Made: Gen. 1:7, I Chron 16:26
Created: Ps. 148:5, Is. 45:18; I Cor 1:16; Rev 4:10, 10:6
The Trees
Made: Is. 41:20
Created: Is. 41:20; I Cor 1:16; Rev 4:10, 10:6
Animals in the sea
Made: Gen. 3:1
Created: Gen. 1:21; I Cor 1:16; I Tim. 4:4; Rev 4:10, 10:6
Animals on land
Made (or formed) : Gen 1:25, 2:19
Created: I Cor 1:16; Rev 4:10, 10:6
Man
Made: Gen. 1:26, 5:1, 6:6&7, 9:6
Created: Gen. 1:27, 5:1&2, 6:7, Deut. 4:32, Is. 43:1, Is. 45:12, Mal. 2:10; I Cor 1:16; Rev 4:10, 10:6
Woman
Made: Gen. 2:18, 2:22
Created: Gen. 1:27, I Cor. 11:8; I Cor 1:16; Rev 4:10, 10:6
Everything
Made: Gen. 1:16 (stars) 31(everything), 2:3, 7:4, Amos 4:13 (mountains)
Created: Gen. 2:3 Amos 4:13 (wind); I Cor 1:16; Rev 4:10, 10:6
Lucifer
Created: Is. 28:13, 15; Rev 4:10, 10:6
Genesis 1
1:1 In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.
1:7 And God made the firmament, and divided the waters which were under the firmament from the waters which were above the firmament: and it was so.
Gen 1:16 And God made two great lights; the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night: he made the stars also.
1:21 And God created great whales, and every living creature that moveth, which the waters brought forth abundantly, after their kind, and every winged fowl after his kind: and God saw that it was good.
1:25 And God made the beast of the earth after his kind, and cattle after their kind, and every thing that creepeth upon the earth after his kind: and God saw that it was good.
1:26 And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness:
1:27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.
1:31 And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day.
Genesis 2
2:1 Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them.
2:2 And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made.
2:3 And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made.
2:4 These are the generations of the heavens and of the earth when they were created, in the day that the LORD God made the earth and the heavens,
2:5 And every plant of the field before it was in the earth, and every herb of the field before it grew:
2:18 And the LORD God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him.
2:19 And out of the ground the LORD God formed every beast of the field, and every fowl of the air;
2:22 And the rib, which the LORD God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man. See 5:2
Genesis 3
3:1 Now the serpent was more subtle than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made.
Genesis 5
5:1 This is the book of the generations of Adam. In the day that God created man, in the likeness of God made he him;
5:2 Male and female created he them; and blessed them, and called their name Adam, in the day when they were created.
Genesis 6
6:6 And it repented the LORD that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart.
6:7 And the LORD said, I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth; both man, and beast, and the creeping thing, and the fowls of the air; for it repenteth me that I have made them.
Genesis 7
7:4 For yet seven days, and I will cause it to rain upon the earth forty days and forty nights; and every living substance that I have made will I destroy from off the face of the earth.
Genesis 9
9:6 Whoso sheddeth man's blood, by man shall his blood be shed: for in the image of God made he man.
Deuteronomy 4
4:32 For ask now of the days that are past, which were before thee, since the day that God created man upon the earth, and ask from the one side of heaven unto the other,
I Chronicles 16
16:26 For all the gods of the people are idols: but the LORD made the heavens.
Psalms 51
51:10 Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.
Psalms 89
89:12 The north and the south thou hast created them: Tabor and Hermon shall rejoice in thy name.
Psalms 102
102:18 This shall be written for the generation to come: and the people which shall be created shall praise the LORD.
Psalms 104
104:30 Thou sendest forth thy spirit, they are created: and thou renewest the face of the earth.
Psalms 148
148:2 Praise ye him, all his angels: praise ye him, all his hosts.
148:3 Praise ye him, sun and moon: praise him, all ye stars of light.
148:4 Praise him, ye heavens of heavens, and ye waters that be above the heavens.
148:5 Let them praise the name of the LORD: for he commanded, and they were created.
Isaiah 4
4:5 And the LORD will create upon every dwelling place of mount Zion, and upon her assemblies, a cloud and smoke by day, and the shining of a flaming fire by night:
Isaiah 40
40:26 Lift up your eyes on high, and behold who hath created these things, that bringeth out their host by number: he calleth them all by names by the greatness of his might, for that he is strong in power; not one faileth.
40:28 Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary?
Isaiah 41
41:19 I will plant in the wilderness the cedar, the shittah tree, and the myrtle, and the oil tree; I will set in the desert the fir tree, and the pine, and the box tree together:
41:20 That they may see, and know, and consider, and understand together, that the hand of the LORD hath done this, and the Holy One of Israel hath created it.
Isaiah 42
42:5 Thus saith God the LORD, he that created the heavens, and stretched them out; he that spread forth the earth,
Isaiah 43
43:1 But now thus saith the LORD that created thee, O Jacob, and he that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not:
43:6 Even every one that is called by my name: for I have created him for my glory, I have formed him; yea, I have made him.
Isaiah 45
45:7 I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the LORD do all these things.
45:8 Drop down, ye heavens, from above, and let the skies pour down righteousness: let the earth open, and let them bring forth salvation, and let righteousness spring up together; I the LORD have created it.
45:12 I have made the earth, and created man upon it: I, even my hands, have stretched out the heavens,
45:18 For thus saith the LORD that createdthe heavens; God himself that formed the earth and made it; he hath established it, he created it not in vain, he formed it to be inhabited: I am the LORD; and there is none else.
Isaiah 48
48:6 Thou hast heard, see all this; and will not ye declare it? I have showed thee new things from this time, even hidden things, and thou didst not know them.
48:7 They are created now, and not from the beginning; even before the day when thou heardest them not;
Isaiah 54
54:16 Behold, I have created the smith that bloweth the coals in the fire, and that bringeth forth an instrument for his work; and I have created the waster to destroy.
Isaiah 57
57:19 I create the fruit of the lips; Peace, peace to him that is far off, and to him that is near, saith the LORD; and I will heal him.
Isaiah 65
65:17 For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth: and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind.
65:18 But be ye glad and rejoice for ever in that which I create: for, behold, I create Jerusalem a rejoicing, and her people a joy.
Jeremiah 31
31:22 How long wilt thou go about, O thou backsliding daughter? for the LORD hath created a new thing in the earth, A woman shall compass a man.
Ezekiel 21
21:30 Shall I cause it to return into his sheath? I will judge thee in the place where thou wast created, in the land of thy nativity.
Ezekiel 28
28:13 Thou hast been in Eden the garden of God; every precious stone was thy covering, the sardius, topaz, and the diamond, the beryl, the onyx, and the jasper, the sapphire, the emerald, and the carbuncle, and gold: the workmanship of thy tabrets and of thy pipes was prepared in thee in the day that thou wast created.
28:14 Thou art the anointed cherub that covereth; and I have set thee so: thou wast upon the holy mountain of God; thou hast walked up and down in the midst of the stones of fire.
28:15 Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee.
Amos 4
4:13 For, lo, he that formeth the mountains, and createth the wind, and declareth unto man what is his thought, that maketh the morning darkness, and treadeth upon the high places of the earth, The LORD, The God of hosts, is his name.
Malachi 2
2:10 Have we not all one father? hath not one God created us? why do we deal treacherously every man against his brother, by profaning the covenant of our fathers?
Mark 13
13:19 For in those days shall be affliction, such as was not from the beginning of the creation which God created unto this time, neither shall be.
I Corinthians 11
11:8 For the man is not of the woman; but the woman of the man.
11:9 Neither was the man created for the woman; but the woman for the man.
Ephesians
2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
2:9 Not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
3:9 And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ:
4:23 And be renewed in the spirit of your mind;
4:24 And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.
Colossians
1:12 Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:
1:13 Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:
1:14 In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:
1:15 Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:
1:16 For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.
3:9 Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds;
3:10 And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:
I Timothy 4
4:3 Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth.
4:4 For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving:
Revelation
4:10 cast their crowns before the throne, saying,
4:11 Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.
10:6 And sware by him that liveth for ever and ever, who created heaven, and the things that therein are, and the earth, and the things that therein are, and the sea, and the things which are therein, that there should be time no longer:
These are all the verses that use the word create or created. Notice the things that God Created. There are 1406 references to things God made.
I hope this has been helpful in showing you that the words are used interchangeably and should not be used to force a meaning to the Bible that will clearly contradict other verses. Keep studying the Word and do not get carried about with every wind of doctrine. The wind changes often, God's word never does.
Love,
Dad
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
Grades
I know all of you students out there are hard at work, stressing over your essays or tests that are due. I just wanted to tell you that I share your pain. I had my first essay of the semester due last week. I felt a little worried because I have fellow classmates that were able to turn in their essays nearly two weeks in advance. However, I worked hard, turned it in on the day it was due, and ended up with an A. I was excited. The thing was, my husband wasn't. He said, "That's good" in a distracted sort of way. I called him on his lack of excitement, and he told me he just expected me to get an A, so it wasn't that big of a deal. The thing is, every paper I work hard on in order to get those A's, so every A is a victory to me. As a master's student, this is the first time in my adult life that I have maintained a 4.0. I was an above average student in high school, a little less than that for most of my undergrad, and better to finish it up. Now that I am consistantly doing well, it is really an achievement. I guess I just had to realize how important school is to me and my future. Anyway, I got an A on my paper, but I expect to work just as hard on the next essay in two weeks.
Friday, February 22, 2008
Check out the Game
I added a geography game at the bottom of this page, so be sure to scroll down and try your hand at it. Just to let you know, I scored an IQ of 125. Can you beat me?
Wednesday, February 6, 2008
Lolo Pass
Okay, so everyone remembers our snowshoeing adventure, right? Well, If we would have waited a couple of weeks we could have been stuck in an avalanche! Yes, you read correctly... an AVALANCHE!! Is this place safe?
Politics
I've been following the debates on television pretty closely, and after being disenfranchised for the last four years, I was excited to see a true conservative on the docket--Ron Paul. Of course, he is a long shot for the nomination, but I just wanted to let everyone know that I fit in quite nicely here in Missoula , Montana Missoula Nevada
http://www.ronpaul2008.com/states/montana/sample-speech-1/
Sunday, February 3, 2008
"Legends of Rhododendrons" Segment 2
The tremors had started back up the night that I snuck out of the old 1890s farmhouse where I had grown up. They were short enough that I barely could discern what was happening. Later, amidst the constant excess of Chris and my run down apartment three towns away, I smothered the shakes with slow drags of the pot Chris brought home most nights. Of course, with the loss of Chris’s companionship, so went the access to my fixes. Small town Tennessee is not exactly the world’s largest drug trafficking center. So, I moved on, with old, nearly forgotten demons chasing me every step of the way. A year later, I landed myself a studio job in Memphis, and the seizures were in hot pursuit.
Hanging up the phone after the short conversation with my mother, I wondered how long I should rest at the bus stop before walking home. I didn’t tell them where I was; I tried to put up a façade, as if my world was not caving in on me. Truthfully, this would not be the first night I slept on the side of the road, damp grass shielding me from onlookers. It did not matter where I slept, for sleep was one gift that I had lost in the midst of torturing nightmares that plagued me even when my eyes were open. The last and only bus drove into Roan Mountain at 4:30 p.m., and it would take me at least three hour of my faltering strides to reach my destination. I decided to wait until the last of the village’s traffic pulled away, and then find a quiet place close the hum of the country highway to rest before heading home in the morning. Maybe my parents would think I arrived in a taxi that morning, rather than on a bus earlier this afternoon. Even though I was so close to the step back to my childhood, I still was uneasy about the walk ahead.
I slowly stepped back to the old wooden planked bench that had been my home for the past few hours. My now tattered book bag and guitar case sat unjudgingly near by, and several empty soda bottles were waiting to be trashed. The chilly mountain air brushed at my shorn brown curly hair. I could feel the coolness of the fading painted wood soak through the denim skirt I put on at the last minute before leaving a year's worth of belongings in my small Memphis studio apartment. I didn’t want to cause any more waves than my sudden arrival and clipped hair would already do on my return home.
Like the smell of the soon-to-bloom rhododendrons dancing on the breezes, the long skirt brought my senses back to the lulled life I had lead in Roan Mountain until the abrupt stop almost two years before. The modest apparel had separated me from most of the youth in the small town, along with my caramel colored skin that was in stark contrast with my mother’s pink freckled face. Actually, in stark contrast with nearly the entire population of Roan Mountain. Growing up I thought that my parents were trying to find every possible way that our family could stick out as different from the rest of the citizens. Even sitting at the bus stop seemed to gather the stares of a community milling around the downtown streets.
In the evening’s dusk one particular man walking tall, with a hat pulled low over his face, seemed to have me on his beacon. The strong dark arms woke me up to reality. This was my father. How did he know I was here?
“Evey, don’t you know we have caller ID? A pay phone in town is pretty easy to locate.” My dad lifted the brim of the hat to pierce me with his chocolate eyes.
“Daddy.” I couldn’t contain my overwhelming heartache. I ran to my dad as if I were a five-year-old child. He nearly stumbled over when I wrapped my arms around his lean waist. Tears brimmed in our matching eyes, even as my hands began to shake.
“You’ve gotten bony, sis. Didn’t they feed you wherever you were?” Dad pulled away from my grasp and looked into my face.
“Of course not, I lived off of music and coffee.” Smiling, I followed my dad toting my belongings to the old Ford pick up around the block. Clasping my hands tightly behind me to ward off the tremors, I imagined that this return home could be all I needed to feel steady again.
The drive to the old farmhouse twelve miles up the mountain took longer in the silence coming from the driver’s seat. Dad’s strong black hands grasped the steering wheel as the fields of heather rushed by. I began to get nervous when the white house with green shudders crept out from behind the trees. Instead of the welcoming feeling those surrounding shadowy Appalachian Mountains used to express, knots formed in my stomach at their appearing behind the two-story home. If only I could keep my hands still. I sat on them to hide my secret a little longer, hoping Dad would not recognize my childhood nightmare.
The truck shuddered to a stop in front of the barn that acted as garage, tool shed and feed storage, and I sat unmoving in the passenger seat long after Dad had cut off the engine and stepped out to get my trivial bags. It wasn’t until his coffee colored face, with those genuinely kind eyes, ducked back into the truck that I finally came to my senses.
“Come now, Eve. Your mother has waited long enough to see her daughter.”
“Sorry, I’m coming.” I imagined a faint smile cross his lips. The leather seats squeaked as I slid out of truck’s passenger side, and I slowly treaded to the concrete walk that led to the back porch. Through the screen door the small frame of my mother appeared in silhouette. My dad reached the door first, placing a firm hand on his wife’s shoulder before slipping into the house.
With the screen door open, our eyes met. The freckles on her face had grown more plentiful from two more years of sun, but the fiery red curls had not faded with one gray hair. I was a dark version of my mother, with the exception of the large brown eyes that were identical to my dad, and our similarities were amplified with the time apart.
“You cut your hair.”
“Yeah, it’s hot in Memphis.”
I finally stepped up to stand face to face with her, and she placed her hands on my shoulders. Like the brushes of butterfly wings, Mom’s fingers touched the small splash of freckles on the bridge of my nose.
“Freckly face,” she whispered with a grin.
“Not as much as you.” We embraced.
Hanging up the phone after the short conversation with my mother, I wondered how long I should rest at the bus stop before walking home. I didn’t tell them where I was; I tried to put up a façade, as if my world was not caving in on me. Truthfully, this would not be the first night I slept on the side of the road, damp grass shielding me from onlookers. It did not matter where I slept, for sleep was one gift that I had lost in the midst of torturing nightmares that plagued me even when my eyes were open. The last and only bus drove into Roan Mountain at 4:30 p.m., and it would take me at least three hour of my faltering strides to reach my destination. I decided to wait until the last of the village’s traffic pulled away, and then find a quiet place close the hum of the country highway to rest before heading home in the morning. Maybe my parents would think I arrived in a taxi that morning, rather than on a bus earlier this afternoon. Even though I was so close to the step back to my childhood, I still was uneasy about the walk ahead.
I slowly stepped back to the old wooden planked bench that had been my home for the past few hours. My now tattered book bag and guitar case sat unjudgingly near by, and several empty soda bottles were waiting to be trashed. The chilly mountain air brushed at my shorn brown curly hair. I could feel the coolness of the fading painted wood soak through the denim skirt I put on at the last minute before leaving a year's worth of belongings in my small Memphis studio apartment. I didn’t want to cause any more waves than my sudden arrival and clipped hair would already do on my return home.
Like the smell of the soon-to-bloom rhododendrons dancing on the breezes, the long skirt brought my senses back to the lulled life I had lead in Roan Mountain until the abrupt stop almost two years before. The modest apparel had separated me from most of the youth in the small town, along with my caramel colored skin that was in stark contrast with my mother’s pink freckled face. Actually, in stark contrast with nearly the entire population of Roan Mountain. Growing up I thought that my parents were trying to find every possible way that our family could stick out as different from the rest of the citizens. Even sitting at the bus stop seemed to gather the stares of a community milling around the downtown streets.
In the evening’s dusk one particular man walking tall, with a hat pulled low over his face, seemed to have me on his beacon. The strong dark arms woke me up to reality. This was my father. How did he know I was here?
“Evey, don’t you know we have caller ID? A pay phone in town is pretty easy to locate.” My dad lifted the brim of the hat to pierce me with his chocolate eyes.
“Daddy.” I couldn’t contain my overwhelming heartache. I ran to my dad as if I were a five-year-old child. He nearly stumbled over when I wrapped my arms around his lean waist. Tears brimmed in our matching eyes, even as my hands began to shake.
“You’ve gotten bony, sis. Didn’t they feed you wherever you were?” Dad pulled away from my grasp and looked into my face.
“Of course not, I lived off of music and coffee.” Smiling, I followed my dad toting my belongings to the old Ford pick up around the block. Clasping my hands tightly behind me to ward off the tremors, I imagined that this return home could be all I needed to feel steady again.
The drive to the old farmhouse twelve miles up the mountain took longer in the silence coming from the driver’s seat. Dad’s strong black hands grasped the steering wheel as the fields of heather rushed by. I began to get nervous when the white house with green shudders crept out from behind the trees. Instead of the welcoming feeling those surrounding shadowy Appalachian Mountains used to express, knots formed in my stomach at their appearing behind the two-story home. If only I could keep my hands still. I sat on them to hide my secret a little longer, hoping Dad would not recognize my childhood nightmare.
The truck shuddered to a stop in front of the barn that acted as garage, tool shed and feed storage, and I sat unmoving in the passenger seat long after Dad had cut off the engine and stepped out to get my trivial bags. It wasn’t until his coffee colored face, with those genuinely kind eyes, ducked back into the truck that I finally came to my senses.
“Come now, Eve. Your mother has waited long enough to see her daughter.”
“Sorry, I’m coming.” I imagined a faint smile cross his lips. The leather seats squeaked as I slid out of truck’s passenger side, and I slowly treaded to the concrete walk that led to the back porch. Through the screen door the small frame of my mother appeared in silhouette. My dad reached the door first, placing a firm hand on his wife’s shoulder before slipping into the house.
With the screen door open, our eyes met. The freckles on her face had grown more plentiful from two more years of sun, but the fiery red curls had not faded with one gray hair. I was a dark version of my mother, with the exception of the large brown eyes that were identical to my dad, and our similarities were amplified with the time apart.
“You cut your hair.”
“Yeah, it’s hot in Memphis.”
I finally stepped up to stand face to face with her, and she placed her hands on my shoulders. Like the brushes of butterfly wings, Mom’s fingers touched the small splash of freckles on the bridge of my nose.
“Freckly face,” she whispered with a grin.
“Not as much as you.” We embraced.
Happy Birthday Mekelle!
Here are a few pictures of Mekelle's third birthday party. She turned 3 on January 19, or as Mekelle would say, "Janary Marteen". Her Nana was able to come, and one of Clint's managers that Mekelle has made friends with. Unfortunately, we haven't met families with kids, but that doesn't keep Mekelle from making friends with adults. She's a doll.
Thursday, January 31, 2008
Art out of Necessity
Wednesday, January 16, 2008
New Year's Celebration in Missoula
Though she doesn't look it, Mekelle was very excited to see Clifford the Big Red Dog.
Daddy dances with Mekelle.
This was the highlight of the night...Mekelle's first Pony Ride.
Sunday, January 6, 2008
We attempted snowshoeing this weekend up on Lolo Pass just on the other side of the Montana/Idaho border. It is about 45 minutes outside of Missoula, and there is 6 feet of snow on the ground! The sidewalk outside our house only has about an inch. The parking lot to the Idaho Visitor's Center was plowed into a labrinth of 10 feet high snow piles. Amazing. Being from a more southern state (by the way, we do get snow), I have never seen so much snow in my life.
The trails were packed down, but I trudged my way through some unpacked snow that sunk up to my knees...with snowshoes on.We went sledding in the same place last weekend and had a blast. Mekelle was brave enough to go down the hill by herself a couple of times. This week she rode behind Clint in her own Daddy-drawn-sleigh, but I think she enjoyed the sledding more. She wasn't able to really appreciate the splendid views that I attempted to capture on film. Actually, she took a nap.
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