THE ROLE OF THE CHURCH IN OUR PERSONAL LIFE
 Human, Christian fellowship and church are important, but when we "have to" temporarily do without them, it is not always a bad thing.   Some people at these times will say they are still close to God, but complain of being lonely or feeling spiritually non-productive.  They may be on a "good" level with God, but there is still a deeper level yet for them to attain, where they will not complain of anything at all.  When a person isn't satisfied or content for the temporary time with what they presently have, they still haven't learned by experience the truths of Philippians 4:11 and 1 Timothy 6:6.  Christian fellowship and church life are great and to be desired, but they are not essential to peace with God and contentment when they are temporarily missing. There is a deeper level of intimacy with God that will bring one peace and contentment during this temporary time, that they need to discover. When we are not aware of it (a secret treasure), we do not search for it.  This discontentment that people express, at times of being humanly alone, is a sign for them that they still need to grow to know God on a deeper level.   Once they realize this, they can go to God and tell Him they want more from Him.  He has more to give, and is so desirous to give it to those that will seek it from Him, Jeremiah 29:13; John 10:10b.   Sometimes we need to switch our focus from desiring human and church fellowship for a temporary time, to wanting this deeper intimacy with God; a deeper intimacy than we have ever thought of or experienced with God.  After entering into it and learning to sustain it, we can be sure He will lead us to the addition of that human and church fellowship He would then also like us to have. Psalms 42:1-2; Psalms 30:11.

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                                                       OUR LORD JESUS, THE BRANCH    
  As we study the Bible, we find that Jesus is referred to in several verses as "The Branch."  Read these following verses and picture Jesus as you read "Branch."
Isa 4:2   "In that Day shall the BRANCH of the LORD be glorious and beautiful…"    
11:1,2  "And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a BRANCH shall grow out of his roots.  And the spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him,…"  
Jer 23:5,6  "behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will raise unto David a righteous BRANCH, and a King (Jesus) shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgment and justice in the earth.  …and this is his name…THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS."
Jer 33:15 "In those days, and at that time, will I cause the BRANCH of righteousness to grow up unto David; and he shall execute judgment and righteousness in the land."
Zec 3:8b  "…for, behold, I will bring forth my servant the BRANCH."
Zec 6:12b "…Behold the man whose name is The BRANCH, and he shall grow up out of his place (Heaven), and he shall build the temple of the LORD."
In John 15:5 we Christians can see our relationship to Jesus is like branches, like Father like son.    "I am the vine, ye are the branches; He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing."  
   Long before any verse in the Bible was written, God named the constellations and the main stars of those constellations (Ps 147:4).  He gave them names that would tell the story of Christ to the world.  "As he spake by the mouth of his holy prophets, WHICH HAVE BEEN SINCE THE WORLD BEGAN:" Lk 1:70.    Man didn't exist when the world began (not until the 6th day), but the stars God named existed on the 4th day and possible before that, with their light hidden.    Ps 19:2 & Ro 10:18 tell of them speaking, by way of the meaning of their names, to all the people of the world, of every century, every day and night.  In just one of the constellations, The Virgin (Virgo), the first one in God's procession of them across the sky, there is a star whose ancient, God-given name is "Tsemech", Hebrew for "The Branch."   Another star is named "Zerah" (The Seed).  A number of verses in the Bible refer to Jesus as "The Seed."   We have seen how He is referred to as the Branch, and we know that both Mary gave birth to Him while she was a virgin, and that the nation of Israel is also referred to in Scripture as "The Virgin" (Isa 37:22).   Within this constellation (Virgo) is also a small group of stars called "Comah," that ancient star charts pictured as a boy (Jesus) on the lap of the virgin.  Not only is there all this Biblical correlation to Jesus in this one constellation of "The Virgin", there is correlation to the various aspects of the life of Christ in the battle between God and the Devil in the rest of the 47 ancient constellations, but space doesn't permit me to share that here.
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                                                              THE TWO BASKETS OF FIGS
Are you familiar with the two baskets of figs spoken of in Jer 24?  Most people of the world couldn't care less, but the Christians should.  One basket is said to be a basket of good figs.   The other is said to be a basket of naughty figs.  Naughty?   Remember when we did something bad as a small child and our parents would say we were "naughty"?   Remember the Christmas song where Santa Claus is checking off those who have been "naughty" and those who had been nice?  The basket of naughty figs are bad figs we wouldn't want to eat.   The Lord reveals these two baskets in front of the temple, after Nebuchadnezzar had carried the king of Judah away captive.  The good figs are to represent those that the Lord gives a heart to know and love Him, whom he will do good to (v.7).   The naughty, bad, evil figs represent those that had no interest in obeying and serving God, but want to follow their own selfish, ungodly interests, upon whom God would bring His judgment.  
   The question could be asked to everyone that has ever lived "When all is said and done in YOUR life, and you stand before the LORD in judgment, in which basket would you be found?   Would you be among the good figs or the bad figs?   Christian, you might be among the good figs, but would your interest in the things of the LORD put you at the top, or at the bottom of the basket?   Just as evil communications corrupt good morals (bad associations with people and things that are not spiritually good for us), 1Co 15:33, spending time with the things of the LORD will bring us great spiritual health and fruitfulness, Phil 1:11; Col 1:10; 2Pet 1:8.
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    THE "ENGLISH: AMERICAN STANDARD VERSION" COMPARED TO THE KING JAMES VERSION
Seeing I just found out why the Christian Forum program/website doesn't highlight verse addresses for Acts as it does the other books of the Bible, (the English: America Standard Version being used calls that book "Acts of the Apostles") I thought I would write this blog
for my own sake to test the E:ASV with some of the 200 verses that can be used to test modern versions in comparison to the KJV. So often modern versions are based on one group of ancient manuscripts that leave out words that pertain to the deity, blood, cross, Lordship, and Virgin Birth of Christ, key doctrines that a "school" of ancient translators did not strongly adhere to. Some have changed Psalms 12:7 so that it is not referring to the preservation of God's Word, but to the preservation of God's people.
ADDRESS ENGLISH: AMERICAN STANDARD VERSION
Psalms 12:7 Retains preservation of the words of God.
1 John 5:7 Omits "the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost"
Colossians 1:14 Omits "through his blood"
Proverbs 18:24 Changes meaning from "shew himself friendly"
Romans 1:3 Omits "Jesus Christ our Lord"
1 Thessalonians 1:1 Omits "from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ."
Galatians 4:7 Omits "through Christ"
Ephesians 3:9 Omits "of Christ" Changes "fellowship" to "dispensation"
Changes "beginning of the world" to "ages"
Ephesians 3:14 Omits "of our Lord Jesus Christ"
2 Timothy 4:22 Omits "Jesus Christ" Omits "Amen"
Matthew 17:21 This verse is put in brackets, questioning its acceptance.
Matthew 18:11 This verse is put in brackets, questioning its acceptance.
11 [For the Son of man came to save that which was lost.]
Mark 7:16 This verse is put in brackets, questioning its acceptance.
Mark 9:44,46 These verses are put in brackets, questioning its acceptance.
Mark 15:28 This verse is put in brackets, questioning its acceptance.
John 5:4 This verse is put in brackets, questioning its acceptance.
Acts of the Apostles 8:37 This verse is put in brackets, questioning its acceptance.
37 [And Philip said, If thou believest with all thy heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.]
Romans 16:24 This verse is put in brackets, questioning its acceptance.  A few changes and omissions wouldn't be so bad, or probably even noticed. Actually there are hundreds of changes or omissions of words or complete verses that most people don't even notice, but when one sees them all listed together it is shocking what has been changed or left out or put in brackets with shades of doubt upon these words.
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                                JERUSALEM, THE DESOLATOR, AND DANIEL CHAPTER 9
    Daniel 9:24-27 has been called "the greatest prophecy in the Bible," for it speaks of 70 weeks of years of world history that is presently in the process of being fulfilled, that are determined upon God's holy city of Jerusalem, having great significance for the entire world.  Because there is such a Satanic attack against God's holy city, the earthly, capitol city of God (Satan's ultimate Adversary), the focus (Jerusalem) of the conclusion of Daniel 9 has been successfully attacked and changed in many of the modern versions of the Bible today.  In these versions, instead of the focus being properly on Jerusalem (as the context of the chapter speaks of), the focus has been corrupted and wrongfully changed to be placed on "the desolator" (the Antichrist).  Oh how Satan wants people to focus on "his man" rather than on God and His holy city, Jerusalem.  The Messiah (our Lord, Jesus Christ) is mentioned in this prophecy, and though He is far greater than Jerusalem, He is not the subject of this chapter, but His holy city, and earthly capitol of His kingdom, JERUSALEM!  Look at your own different versions that you have, and look to see if Daniel 9:27 has "desolation" being poured out upon Jerusalem, or upon "the desolator", the one bringing the desolation.  "What difference does it make?" one might ask.
Those that believe God no longer has big plans for Jerusalem, is no longer faithful to Jerusalem, and that Jerusalem has no special significance for us anymore, are the ones that have taken the focus off of it in Dan 9:27 and have attributed this focus to (placed it on) the Antichrist.   In our next newsletter I will show how the context includes the entire chapter of Daniel 9, and not just vv. 24-27.  I hope that you will be concerned for Jerusalem's proper place; Isaiah 60:12-14.
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                                JERUSALEM, THE DESOLATOR, AND DANIEL CHAPTER 9 (Part 2)
   Last newsletter I wrote that those that believe that Jerusalem has no special significance for us anymore, are the ones that have taken the focus off of it in Dan 9:27 and have attributed this focus to (placed it on) "the desolator" (the Antichrist).  Let's now see all the verses in this chapter that show that its focus is on the city of Jerusalem, the heart of the entire country of Israel, the place of the sanctuary/temple of God.
V. 2  "..the LORD..would accomplish the desolations of JERUSALEM."  V. 7 "..Judah..JERUSALEM..all Israel.."  V. 12 "..JERUSALEM."  V. 16 "..thy city Jerusalem.., 
..JERUSALEM.."  V. 17 "..thy sanctuary (in Jerusalem) that is desolate."  V. 18 "..behold our desolations, and the city which is called by thy name.."  V. 19 "..thy city.."  V. 20 "..the holy mountain (Jerusalem).."  V. 24 "..thy holy city.."  "the most Holy (the temple)."  V. 25 "..Jerusalem..the street..the wall.."  V. 26 "..the city and the sanctuary and the end thereof.."  V. 27 "..the sacrifice and the oblation (that took place in the sanctuary/temple of Jerusalem).. it (Jerusalem)..the desolate (Jerusalem)."      The chapter should not end with "the desolator" as so many modern versions do, but with "the desolate", referring not to the Antichrist, but to Jerusalem (Mount Zion), God's holy city, with which he has an eternal covenant through the line of David, 2 Samuel 7:16; Zech 1:17; Micah 4:7.  Daniel chapter 9 is speaking of JERUSALEM; and in v. 27, desolation is being poured out upon it, not the Antichrist that desolates it.
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                                                WHAT WILL WE BE LIKE IN HEAVEN?
    What will we be like in Heaven, and what will those people we don't care for much here on Earth be like if they get to Heaven?  We must remember that 1 Co 15:51 says that we will be changed.   Not only will our bodies be changed, but our attitudes and minds will be changed.   Our old natures will be no more.  Our limitations, quirks, tendencies to do wrong or be offensive, our idiosyncrasies, sins, and personality faults will also be gone.   We will not be selfish, vindictive, envious,      Our tongues will not need to be tamed, for our minds will have no thoughts that need to be withheld from anyone.   [  List some more negative things that we will not be, and some positive things we will be.    Add Scriptures.   ]
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                                           WHAT GOD SHOULD RECEIVE FROM US    

      Revelation 4:11 says "Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power; for thou hast created all things, and for they pleasure, they are, and were created."
 Let's look at these words as they relate to God: "glory," then "honor," and then "power."    "Glory."  This involves giving God credit, praise, and recognition for Who He is, what He has done, what He is doing, and what He will do.  God should receive much glory from us.
     "Honor."  A demonstration(s) of the giving of that credit, praise, and recognition.  In the past people use to say "Hip, hip hooray" or sing "For He's a Jolly Good Fellow" to honor a person.   Today we sing "Happy Birthday" to a person to honor them on the anniversary of that person's birth.   We honor other people by giving speeches, awards, plaques, trophies, and sometimes valuable gifts/presents.  There used to be a TV show called "This is Your Life" that would honor celebrities and common folk alike.  At the end of the World Series they gave "The Most Valuable Player Award" and also a brand new truck to one player.  Some people have been given ticker tape parades down major boulevards before thousands of people.  We should give God honor by bowing our head before Him in prayer;  kneeling before Him in prayer; prostrating ourselves before Him in worship!   We should give Him honor by serving Him through giving, through doing good works, through enthusiastically testifying to what great things He has done in the ancient past, in the present, what He will do in the future, and what He has done in our own lives!
     "Power."   God is omnipotent, already has all power; so we are not giving Him power to increase the power He already has.  No, we are giving Him glory and honor with power; not quietly but loudly; not in secret or privately, but publicly; not with restraint but with enthusiastic energy and force.   Those people we honored with parades were not honored with three weak Cub Scouts pulling them in red wagons, but with large floats and powerful, Cadillac convertibles.  Let's honor God with power.
     Revelation 5:12 says "Saying with a loud voice, worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom and strength, and honor, and glory, and blessing."  Again, this is not speaking of the power and riches and wisdom, etc. that He already and has always possessed, but that which comes from us.   We are to recognize Him powerfully.  We are to give Him our riches (that which is valuable to Him); not just offerings at church, but our love, our loyalty, our service, our worship.  We are to give Him the wisdom we use in exalting HIM rather than in exalting ourselves; in putting HIM supreme over everything.   We are not to worship Him weakly, but with all our "STRENGTH" (Mk 12:30).   Again, we are to honor Him and give Him glory as was explained in the commentary on Rev 4:11.  Then Rev 5:12 ends with our giving God "blessing."   This is declaring our well-wishes for God; our desire that all these good things spoken of here come to reality for and upon Him.  Let's give God what He rightfully deserves!
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                          PSALM 116:1      "Precious in the Sight of the Lord, is the Death of His Saints." 
    Let's break this short verse into four parts and consider each of them separately to give us a better appreciation of this "precious" verse.   The first part is the word "precious".  When we think of the death of a "saint" (Christian), we probably usually don't think of it as "precious".  It might even be tragic.  It might cause us to be sad.  We don't think of something that is "precious" as something that would grieve us.  But to understand why it is "precious" to God we must look at the second part of the verse, which is "in the sight of the Lord".  We must understand this death from God's "sight", viewpoint, or perspective, not ours; not how we "naturally" would understand it or feel about it. From our viewpoint, we see a loss, which might bring us great emotional pain.   From God's viewpoint, He sees a gain, which brings Him great personal joy.   
   The third part of the verse contains the word "death".   We should rightly understand that "death" is separation; not just separation of the human spirit from the body of the person that has died, but separation from us that are still living.  After their death, we no longer at this time can interact with this person that has been separated from us.   
But when we understand this death of a saint from God's viewpoint, we recognize that this death is not a separation from Him, but a great and precious union.   "Absent from the body and present with the Lord" (the Lord Jesus' body in Heaven).   Not only present with the Lord, but gloriously present with all the others that are now rejoicing in Heaven as well, enjoying all that is there.  We sadly say "goodbye" to the dearly departed, while God and those in Heaven say "Welcome home!"   Imagine two lovers that have been sadly separated for a long time, and then catch that first sight of each other at a longed for reunion.   How "precious" to now be back together, to be able to hold one another, and to express their love face to face.    This is what God and the saints experience at the death of the saint.   How precious.
   The last part of the verse contains the words "his saints."   They are not just "saints", but they are "his" saints.   They belong to God.   They are His beloved children, that He not only created, and cared for throughout their life, but redeemed with the precious blood of Jesus.   What are "saints"?   They are different, distinguished from all the rest of the people of the world.   They are "separated" from them by that distinction.   They are different.   Those that have received Jesus as Savior, that have placed their trust in the shed blood on their behalf, are redeemed, bought back from their spiritual condemnation and eternal doom.  These are the people that have more that just their created eternal existence (that which all people have), but eternal life; assurance that they will live in glory with Jesus forever.   They will be on the right hand of the Lord in regards to Matthew 25:34.   Those that have not trusted in that shed blood, that have not been redeemed, who have not come to personally know Jesus, remain under the wrath, condemnation, and damnation of God (John 3:36).   They will be on the left hand of Matthew 25:41, and be cast into an eternal, Lake of Fire (Revelation 20:14-15).  This loss of these unsaved souls is a great grief to our God, but in light of it, it makes the gain of those that receive His eternal life in Christ so much more precious.   "Precious in the sight of the Lord, is the death of his saints."

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                                      THOSE BORING GENEALOGIES AND BIBLICAL NAMES    

 "Have you ever heard or thought that the genealogies of Jesus and others in the Bible are boring?  Well look at the meanings of all these names below and see an awesome revelation of a message to us from God in these names, and see if you still think they are boring."
     Below left, is just a part of the list of 72 names between Adam and Jesus found in Matthew 1:13-16.
     Below right, is a message in the revelation of the meanings of the list of names in 1 Chronicles 1:1-4.
If one reads just the columns below under the words "MEANING" one will find that the meanings of these names can be formed into sentences that deliver us a message.

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NAME            MEANING                                                     NAME         MEANING

Abiud             My Father is glorious.                                  Adam             (Man, made in the image of God),
Eliakim          My God will raise up                                    Sheth                 substituted (by)
Azor                a helper,                                                       Enosh                frail man (and) 
Zadok              the Just (One)                                              Kenan                lamented.
Akim               will the Lord raise up!                                 Mahalaleel      The blessed God
Eliud              My God is my praise!                                   Jered                   shall descend
Eleazar           God will help!                                              Henoch               teaching
Matthan          May the gift of                                             Methuselah         his death shall send
Jacob              Jacob, ("the one who grasped the heel")     Lamech                to the despairing and humble
Joseph                             increase (in greatness)!              Noah                     consolation (and) rest.
Emmanuel       For God is with us,                                    Shem,  Ham,  Japheth          

                                                                             (We find that in the last three names of Shem, Ham, and Japheth
                                                                               that the message of the two sentences above is given to the entire 

                                                                                 world which came out of the loins of Shem, Ham, and Japheth 

                                                                                   after the flood.)
                                                          
  You can find the rest of the names/meanings with this URL http://1260d.com/bible-names-code-adam-jesus/

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       Here is one last group, of just three names that often might be hurriedly read through by us, yet is fitting to close this little study with.  They are found in the very first verse of the Book of Zechariah, and then are repeated again in verse seven.   They give a part of the lineage of Zechariah, and the meanings of their names when read as a sentence give us a little message.  
    Zechariah             The LORD remembers,
    Berechiah             the LORD blesses,
    Iddo                      at the appointed time!

    The LORD remembers us that have been reading His written Word, the Bible (as well as this Bible Study), the LORD blesses us with the messages in the meanings of these names, and the LORD does it at the appointed time, when we read, receive (Acts 17:11; 1 Th 2:13) and appreciate what God has communicated to us!
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                                                                   I'VE GOT A SECRET   
    There once was a TV show called "I've Got a Secret".  A guest would whisper an interesting fact/secret about themselves to the host of the show, and then a panel of four would ask questions and try to guess what the secret was.
    The writer of the Biblical Book of Zephaniah also "had a secret."   It was the meaning of his name, which meant "The Lord is my Secret."  But Zephaniah is not the only one with a secret, for all Christians have the LORD as well, and He should be the secret to why we have peace in the midst of a world of turmoil. 
    A well known song of the past says  "It is no secret what God can do.  What He's done for others He'll do for you. With arms wide open, He'll pardon you.  It is no secret what God can do."  
    According to Philippians 4:6-8 we are not to be worrying about anything, but thankfully bringing our troubles to God, and resting in the peace that He will provide because of our trust in Him.  Some have sought for security in personal relationships, in getting a good job, and in building up finances, among other things, but the Christian's security is to be in the LORD.
"He that dwelleth in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty." Ps 91:1.
 Being under the shadow of the Almighty, though I walk through the valley of (even) the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, Ps 23:6. 
    Finally, the Bible says     "The secret things belong unto the Lord our God…" Dt 29:29,
      but Ps 25:18 also says   "The secret of the Lord is with them that fear him, and he will show them his covenant."     
   Because the unbelieving people of the world do not generally seek God or read His Word, God's plans for them remains a secret to them;  but God is willing to share that secret with all who will trust in Him.  The Lord would have people seek and discover the wonderful "secrets" that are revealed in His written Word.   May we fully utilize those "secrets" of God we have discovered already, seek to discover and utilize more, and share these wonderful blessings from God with others as well, for these are not secrets meant to be kept secret, but to share.

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                                                   CONSIDER YOUR THOUGHTS  (Part 1 of 4)
      As the original draft for this particular Bible Study in our church newsletter was way too long, I am going to break it up to be put into the next four newsletters, and trust that these will stand on their own, rather than all together as just one study.  As we live out the rest of our lives on earth, we should remember that we are in a continual, spiritual warfare, and that the battle is for the minds and souls of people.  In this battle, we that are already Christians, need to remember that there is still a battle between good and evil for our own attention, and for the thoughts of our minds.  It is our mind, and our will, that controls what we continue to think on, and what we do and say.   Dt 30:19 says "I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing, and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live:"  Just as the Israelites where given a choice between life and death, blessing and cursing, we can make our own choice about what we think upon.   Instead of letting the various medias of the world dominate our thoughts, let us meditate upon what God has communicated to us in His written Word, and thus may we think upon the things God would have us think upon, Phil 4:8. 
                                                  CONSIDER YOUR THOUGHTS  (Part 2 of 4)
      Meditation has to do with "focused thinking" that takes conscious aim at a subject.   Eastern meditation has to do with one trying to "empty" their mind, with detaching one's self from the things around them, and grasping "nothing."   Unfortunately a lot of our university students today have "mastered" this kind of "non-thinking."  "Biblical" meditation is just the opposite.  Biblical meditation has to do with thinking about God's Word; with detaching from sin and the sinful philosophy of the world system, and grasping "God."    "Be still, and know that I am God:" Ps 46:10.  "My soul shall be satisfied…when I remember thee upon my bed, and meditate on thee in the night watches." Ps 63:5,6.  "I will meditate in thy precepts, and have respect unto thy ways." Ps 119:15.   Josh 1:8 "This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.  1Ti 4:15 "Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all."  Ps 119:99   "I have more understanding than all my teachers, for thy testimonies (God's words) are my meditation."   In Mk 12:30 Jesus adds the word "mind" to His quote of Dt 6:5 when He says "and thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment."   When there are 58 verses in the Bible on meditation, let us not be negligent to give time to this contemplation upon God's written Word.

                                                  CONSIDER YOUR THOUGHTS  (Part 3 of 4)
       Ungodly thoughts will come into our minds from various sources, but we are to be on guard against them and "cast them down," not continue to think on them, but on thoughts that God would have us think.  We see categories of what God would have us think upon when we read in Phi 4:8 "Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, honest, just, pure, lovely, of good report: if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things."   So when we have these ungodly thoughts, let us follow the admonition of 2Co 10:5.   "Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ." 
     Sometimes our thoughts have to do with how we think we compare to other Christians.   Ro 12:3 says "For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith."
Phi 2:3 "Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves."  We are not to be among the "number" of people that compare themselves with others so as to think themselves better than them.  "For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves (speak well of themselves): but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise." 2 Co 10:12.
So when we start thinking too highly of ourselves let us remember Pro 27:2.  "Let another man praise thee, and not thine own mouth; a stranger, and not thine own lips." 
                                                 CONSIDER YOUR THOUGHTS  (Part 4 of 4)
       God doesn't just speak to the nation of Israel, or to the church, or to favored individuals through history, or to those dedicated Christians we look up to; but God speaks to the entire population of the earth when He says in Jer 6:19 "Hear, O earth: behold, I will bring evil upon this people (wayward, ancient Israel), even the fruit of their thoughts, because they have not listened to my words, nor to my law, but rejected it."  See how important it is to live by God's Word.  God speaks to the entire world saying he will bring "evil" (judgment) upon those that ignore His Word.  So as we consider our own opinions of ourselves, and our thoughts in general, let's remember the old adage "Garbage in, garbage out."  Let us guard our minds against the garbage in the dumpsters of most TV programs, of many Internet websites, of many movies, books, and magazines, and of so many other areas that want to fill our minds with ungodliness, rather than godliness.  God will have us give an account one day, on the diet we let our minds feast upon, and how we have used our bodies and spirits in this world, Romans 14:12; 1 Co 6:19,20.  Let us live for His glory, think good thoughts, and one day give a "good" account.
The original version of the study above: 
                                                    CONSIDER YOUR THOUGHTS  (Original version)
     As we live out the rest of our lives on earth, we should remember that we are in a continual, spiritual warfare, and that the battle is for the minds and souls of people.
In this battle, we that are already saved need to remember that there is still a battle between good and evil for our own attention, and for the thoughts of our minds.  It is our mind and will that controls what we continue to think on, and what we do and say.  Instead of letting the various medias of the world dominate our thoughts, let us meditate upon what God has communicated to us in His written Word.  

Meditation has to do with "focused thinking" that takes conscious aim at a subject.   There are 58 verses in the Bible on meditation, showing its importance for us.
Eastern meditation (Gurus, Hinduism, transcendental meditation) has to do with one trying to "empty" their mind.  It has to do with detaching one's self from the things around them, and grasping "nothing."   Unfortunately a lot of our university students today (This country's future?) have "mastered" this kind of "non-thinking."
"Biblical" meditation is just the opposite.  Biblical meditation has to do with filling one's mind with thoughts upon God's Word.  It has to do with detaching from sin and the sinful philosophy of the world system, and grasping "God."    "Be still, and know that I am God:" Ps 46:10.  "My soul shall be satisfied…When I remember thee upon my bed, and meditate on thee in the night watches." Ps 63:5,6.  "I will meditate in thy precepts, and have respect unto thy ways." Ps 119:15.   Josh 1:8 "This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.  1Ti 4:15 "Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all."  Ps 119:99 
"I have more understanding than all my teachers, for thy testimonies (God's words) are my meditation."  Isa 26:3  "Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee."  In Mk 12:30 Jesus (the Living Word of God) adds the word "mind" to His quote of Dt 6:5 when He says "and thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment."

  God doesn't just speak to the nation of Israel, or to the church, or to favored individuals through history, or to those dedicated Christians we look up to; but God speaks to the entire population of the earth when He says in Jer 6:19 "Hear, O earth: behold, I will bring evil upon this people (wayward, ancient Israel), even the fruit of their thoughts, because they have not listened to my words, nor to my law, but rejected it."  See how important it is to live by God's Word.  God speaks to the entire world saying he will bring "evil" (judgment) upon those that ignore His Word.
   In 2Co 10:5 God spoke through Paul to the Christians at Corinth when He said "Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ."  Ungodly thoughts will come into our minds from various sources, but we are to be on guard against them and "cast them down," not continue to think on them, but on thoughts that God would have us think.  We see categories of what God would have us think upon
when we read in Phi 4:8 "Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, honest, just, pure, lovely, of good report: if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things."  Sometimes our thoughts have to do with how we think we compare to other Christians.  Paul says in Ro 12:3 "For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith."
Phi 2:3 "Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves."  We are not to be among the "number" of people that compare themselves with others so as to think themselves better than them.  "For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves (speak well of themselves): but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise." 2 Co 10:12.
"Let another man praise thee, and not thine own mouth; a stranger, and not thine own lips." Pro 27:2.

So as we consider our own opinions of ourselves, and our thoughts in general, let's remember the old adage "Garbage in, garbage out."  Let us guard our minds against the dumpsters of most TV programs, of many Internet websites, of many movies, books, and magazines, and of so many other areas that want to fill our minds with ungodliness, rather than godliness.  God will have us give an account one day, on the diet we let our minds feast upon, and how we have used our bodies and spirits in this world, Romans 14:12; 1 Co 6:19,20.  Let us live for His glory, think good thoughts, and one day give a "good" account.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------                                                        THE ACCURACY OF 2 SAMUEL 15:7 IN THE KJV

(See http://www.kjvtoday.com/home/forty-years-or-four-years-in-2-samuel-157)

‪   "Forty years" or "Four years" in 2 Samuel 15:7?‬   Some modern versions have it 4 yrs rather than the 40 of the KJV.  "And it came to pass after forty years, that Absalom said unto the king, I pray thee, let me go and pay my vow, which I have vowed unto the LORD, in Hebron." (2 Samuel 15:7, KJV)

    The KJV follows the Masoretic text in 2 Samuel 15:7, which says "forty years".  Many critics quickly dismiss this figure not knowing how to make it fit in the narrative.  These critics miss the significance of two key biblical concepts: "Forty years", and "Anointing".  In the Bible, "forty" is the number of thoroughness or completeness with respect to trials or missions.  The passing of "forty years" may indicate the completion of a biblically significant period of trial or mission.  "Anointing" was intrinsically linked to the conferring of divine authority.  Having these things in mind, that 40 is a significant number of completeness and that anointing is linked to authority, "after forty years" in 2 Samuel 15:7 appears to mean after forty years had passed since David was anointed to receive kingly authority.  The theme of this passage is kingly authority, and the greater moral of the story is that man shall not interfere with God's anointed.  Absalom says in 2 Samuel 15:4 "Oh that I were made judge in the land, that every man which hath any suit or cause might come unto me, and I would do him justice."  Absalom is trying to usurp the authority of God's anointed David.

   The Masoretic text says it was 40 yrs.   This is the Text the KJV uses for the O.T.  "After forty years" does not mean exactly forty years had passed, but that forty years had passed.  Namely, David was a tried and tested divinely anointed king, evidenced by 40 years of anointing.  This fact made Absalom's rebellion that much more heinous.

Whether forty years or four years, the reader is still left to search for a meaningful reference point.  The reading of "four years" is not helpful in solving the biggest difficulty with the text, which is the question of what the reference point is.  On the other hand, the reading of "forty years" allows the reader to attach the reference point to the contextually relevant event of David's acquisition of kingly authority, which was his anointing.

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                                                                            WHAT IS LIFE?

   What is life?  Is it growing enough physically, mentally, and socially so that you can go to school?  Is it working hard enough to get good grades in school?  Is it about finding what interests you in life, doing well enough in school to be able to get a good job that satisfies your interest and make enough money to leave your parents and get out on your own.  Is it about interacting with both same sex and opposite sex friends alike?   Is it about finding a spouse?   Is it about starting a family and then taking care of that family physically, financially, and socially?  Even before going off to kindergarten, is life about balancing having fun and also chores to be done.  Is it about all through life having fun, spending time with friends and  family, and still being responsible to take care of yourself, your living space, and your responsibilities towards those around you and society in general.  Is it about maintaining food, clothing, transportation, and shelter, and having more than just the basics.  Is it about sports, music, entertainment, TV, social media, and keeping up with the news at home and abroad?  Many of these things are good and right, but is this all there is, or has God got something even more important, yes, more valuable and eternally significant
that He would have us invest our lives in to find His ultimate approval?

   How would God have us view this life?   Is it not to be a life spent learning about God, calling on Christ to be saved, walking with God, talking to God, fellowshipping with God, serving God, and helping others to know God?  Does not Phi 2:21 state how God would have us all look at our individual lives?  "For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain."    Mic 6:8 "He hath shown thee, oh man, what is good and what the Lord requires of thee; but to do justly, and to love mercy, and TO WALK HUMBLY WITH THY GOD."  When one comes to the end of their life and stands before God to give an account, what will God be concerned with?  How much will He be concerned with the things in the first paragraph of this study, and how much will He be concerned with the second?

    As I spend so much time on memorizing Bible verses, reading through the entire Bible each year, studying the Bible, doing Bible studies, praying for people in writing on the "Christian Forums" site on the Internet, I ask myself if I am living life as I should, or wasting my time.   Is it wasting time to be spending it on the things of God?  One could be doing all these things "in the flesh" and not really spending time with God, or one could do these things sharing them with God, as one does them.  I don't think God would see that as a waste of time, but be pleased with it as He was pleased with Enoch walking with Him (Ge 5:24.

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                                              Understanding the Wheel of Ecclesiastes 12

            (I still should write about the first parts of the analogy of Ecc 12 in a brief general introduction.)
   I have always like the poetic analogies to the body parts that Ecc 12 makes, but I was having trouble understanding the last two in v. 6, as commentators explain the “pitcher” to be our veins, and the “wheel” to be our heart.   I thought of a chariot wheel, and I thought of a potter’s wheel, but neither seemed like our heart to me.   Then it came to me.   How about a water wheel?   That fits the picture of our heart and veins well.   Notice the picture below.   The water current of the stream moves the wheel with pitchers all around it, so the pitchers fill up with water and then carry that water above the surface to be poured in a trough where it can be used by the people on land.

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