The Toucan's Beak

BLOG 14 ...: A Judge Who Always Does What Is Right Part III

Continued…..
So, was Abraham correct in the things he said?? Yes and no. he was mistaken in suggesting that there were at least ten righteous people in Sodom and Gomorrah. But he was certainly right in saying that God would never sweep away the righteous with the wicked. When God later destroyed those wicked cities, righteous lot and his two daughters escaped with angelic help. What does this account teach us about Jehovah God? By informing Abraham of his intention to inspect the cities, Jehovah had, in effect, invited the dialogue. Then he listened patiently as his friend Abraham expressed the concerns of his heart. How beautifully this teaches us that Jehovah God is a humble God, who dignifies and honors his earthly servants! Clearly, we have every reason to place our complete trust in Jehovah God, the Judge who always does what is right.

BLOG 13 ...: A Judge Who Always Does What Is Right Part II

. . . This is the continuation of blog post #12
By the fact that Abraham kept asking Jehovah the number of people in which Jehovah would retain his wrath against Sodom and Gomorrah would raise the question: Was Abraham arguing with Jehovah? Of course not! That would have been the height of arrogance. While reading the account, Abraham’s tone reflected due reverence and humility. He referred to himself as mere dust and ashes. Four times he respectfully said “please”. Further more, Abraham’s words revealed his confidence in Jehovah’s fairness. The idea that God would destroy the righteous along with the wicked would be, and is, unthinkable. Abraham said this not once but twice. The faithful patriarch voiced his convection that the judge of all the earth would do what is right in all situations. This is clear when reading Genesis 18:25 and quotes “And it is unthinkable of you that you are acting in this manner to put to death the righteous men with the wicked one so that it has to occur with the righteous men as it does with the wicked! It is unthinkable of you. Is the Judge of all the earth not going to do what is right?” Now, was Abraham correct in the things he said??? . . . To be continued.

BLOG 12 ...: A Judge Who Always Does What Is Right Part I

Justice. Fairness. Impartiality. Are you not drawn to such noble attributes. We humans have an innate need to be treated fairly. Sadly, justice often proves to be elusive in today’s world. There is, however, a Judge who deserves our trust- Jehovah God. He always does what is right. This made clear in a conversation that took place between Jehovah God and Abraham. Here is a summary of the account and article that went hand in hand with the explanation of Gods Justice. When Jehovah told Abraham of His decision to investigate conditions in Sodom and Gomorrah, Abraham feared for the safety of any righteous people living there, including his nephew Lot. Abraham implored Jehovah: “ Will you really sweep away the righteous with the wicked? Suppose there are fifty righteous men in the midst of the city. Will you, then, . . . not pardon the place for the fifty righteous who are inside of it?” (Genesis 18:23, 24). God said that he would spare the cities if just 50 righteous men were there. Abraham pleaded with Jehovah five more times, gradually reducing the number until it was down to ten. Each time, God said he would not bring the cities to ruin if that many righteous men were there. The next blog will continue… :)

BLOG 11...: The Toucan's Beak

A poor flier, the toucan of Central and South America moves about primarily by hopping. The sound produced by some species is similar to that of a frog, but it is louder. In fact, it could be heard up to half a mile away in the jungle. Perhaps what amazes the scientists most about the toucan, though, is its beak. The beak on some toucans is aver a third of the bird’s length. It looks heavy but it is not. The surface is made of keratin, the same material in finger nails and hair. It is actually many layers of tiny hexagonal plates, overlapping like shingles on a roof. The consistency of the toucan’s beak has been compared to that of a hard sponge. Some parts of it are hallow, while other parts are made up of beams and membranes. The result is a lightweight beak that has astounding strength. It’s almost as if the toucan has a deep knowledge of mechanical engineering. The construction of the toucan’s beak enables the bird to absorb high impacts. Scientists believe that the beak can serve as a model engineers in the aviation and automotive industries. Panels that mimic toucan beaks may offer better protection to motorists involved in crashes.

BLOG 10...: Life How Did It Get Here??

I read that in the country of Estonia, directors of schools were approached by a group of people and showed the book Life how did it get here? By evolution or by creation? Various teachers visited all the Russian- language schools in their city to offer this 200 and some page book. Each school accepted at least one book for each of their biology teachers, but most schools asked for between 15 and 50 books. The director of one school wrote in an application expressing how impressed they were by the clear scientific basis for the instruments made in support of creation, the book’s objective and how beautiful it was illustrated, scientifically wise. They were eagerly looking forward to using the books in class. So in May of 2008 they returned to some if the schools they had placed the book with. To their surprise the biology classes had increased in grades and understanding of creation.

BLOG 9...: Are Your Problems A Punishment From God?? Part II

In the rest of the article it talked about the realization that most of our problems are the result of time and unforeseen occurrence. To what extend we are personally affected is often a matter of timing and circumstances, over which we may have little or no control. Does this mean, then, that we will always be plagued with adversity? All adversity soon to end. Happily, God will bring an end to all adversity very soon. In the meantime, he shows that he really cares for us by providing instruction and comfort from the Scriptures so that we can cope with the trials now as we look forward to that wonderful future just ahead. At that time, those who are upright in God’s eyes will enjoy unending life in a new world free from every form of adversity, which is promised as Psalms 37: 29, 37: “the righteous themselves will posses the earth, and they will reside forever upon it. Watch the blameless one and keep the upright one in sight. For the future of that man will be peaceful.”

BLOG 8...: Are Your Problems A Punishment From God??

I read an article that raised the question, are your problems a punishment from God? The article pointed out that when faced with adversity, many people feel that God is punishing them for some past wrong. Overwhelmed by a sudden avalanche of problems, they may be heard to lament: “why me? What have I done to deserve this?” should we conclude that our problems are an indication of divine disapproval? Are personal adversities really a punishment from God? Consider what the Bible reports about a man named Job. Without warning, he suddenly lost his wealth. Next, all ten of his children were killed in a windstorm. Soon, thereafter, he was struck with a debilitating, loathsome disease. Such adversaries led Job to cry out: “ The hand of God has struck me down.” Evidently, like many today, Job felt that God was punishing him. However, the Bible reveals that before Job’s trials began, God himself had described Job as a blameless and upright, fearing man of God, someone who turned aside from bad. So, because Job had divine approval, his problems were not a punishment from God. The Bible shows that Satan the Devil was the cause of Job’s tragedies. Furthermore, it identifies Satan as the chief source of our problems today when it states: “ Woe for the earth and for the sea, because the Devils has come down to you, having great anger, knowing he has a short period of time.” (Revelation 12:12)

BLOG 7...: The Spanish Armada Part III

The next part of the reading pointed the huge but unwieldy fleet. Philip appointed the Duke of Medina-Sidonia to command the Armada. Although the duke had little naval experience, he was a efficient organizer who quickly won the cooperation of his veteran captains. Together they fashioned a fighting force and provisioned the huge fleet as best as they could. They meticulously laid out their signals, sailing orders, and formations that would unify their multinational force. The 130 ships, nearly 2,000 soldiers and 8,000 sailors made up the Armada finally left Lisbon harbor on May 29, 1588. But adverse winds and a storm obligated them to stop at La Coruna, in northwestern Spain, for repairs and more supplies. Concerned about insufficient provisions and sickness among his men, the Duke Of Medina-Sidonia frankly wrote to the king concerning his misgivings about the whole enterprise. But Philip insisted that his admiral adhere to the plan. So the unwieldy fleet continued its voyage and finally reached the English Channel two months after leaving Lisbon.

BLOG 6...: The Spanish Armada Part II

The last question that was answer from the reading was, what was the objective of the Spanish Armada? Well, English pirates had plundered Spanish ships for years and England’s Queen Elizabeth actively supported the Dutch rebellion against the Spanish rule. In addition, Catholic Philip felt duty-bond to help English Catholics rid their country of the growing Protestant “heresy.” To the end, the Armada carried some 180 priests and religious adversaries. Even as the crew of the Armada assembled, each man had to confess his sin to a priest and receive Communion. The religious mood of Spain and of its king was personified by the eminent Spanish Jesuit Pedro de Ribadeneyra, who said: “God our Lord, whose cause and most holy faith we are defending, will go before us- and with such a captain we have nothing to fear.” as for the English, they hoped that a decisive victory would pace the way for Protestant ideal to sweep across Europe. The Spanish king’s invasion plan seemed straightforward. He instructed the Armada to sail up the English Channel and pick up the Duke of Parma and his 30,000 veteran soldiers stationed in Flanders which was part of the Spanish Netherlands. The combined forces would then cross the Channel, land on the Essex coast, and march on London. Philip assumed that English Catholics would abandon their Protestant queen and swell the ranks of his army.
Philip’s scheme, however, had serious flaws. While he presumed to have the backing of divine providence, he overlooked two main obstacles- the strength of the English navy and the difficulty of picking up the Duke of Parma’s troops without a suitable deepwater port where they could meet.

BLOG 5...: The Spanish Armada

I read a bout the Spanish Armada. Over 4 centuries ago, two fleets fought in the narrow waters of the English Channel. The battle pitched Protestants against Catholics and was part of the 16th century struggle between the armies of protestant Queen Elizabeth I of England and Roman Catholic King Philip II of Spain. To them the clash of the English and Spanish fleets in the channel was a final struggle to the death between the forces of light and the forces of darkness. English observers of the time described the Spanish Armada, or great fleet, as the largest naval force they had ever seen on the open seas. But the expedition the Armada was on proves to be a tragic mistake- especially for the many thousands who lost their lives. What was their objective and why did the Spanish Armada fail? The next blog will tell answer the question.