This is something i have never done and i am only writing this blog as one of my recent visits to my local Waterstones i saw a book which struck my eye immediately, i usually only go in for a browse cause the books are generally overpriced but man is the air conditioning not the most amazingly refreshing experience whilst in town?

Any way the book is called 'The Year of Living Biblically' by A.J Jacobs. After reading some reviews online i got a grasp of some of the things he done in that year which i will list in just a few seconds.

An excerpt from the book:

"As I write this, I have a beard that makes me resemble Moses. Or Abe Lincoln. Or Ted Kaczynski. I've been called all three.

It's not a well-manicured, socially acceptable beard. It's an untamed mass that creeps up toward my eyeballs and drapes below my neckline.

I've never allowed my facial hair to grow before, and it's been an odd and enlightening experience. I've been inducted into a secret fraternity of bearded guys -- we nod at each other as we pass on the street, giving a knowing quarter smile. Strangers have come up to me and petted my beard, like it's a Labrador retriever puppy or a pregnant woman's stomach.

I've suffered for my beard. It's been caught in jacket zippers and been tugged on by my surprisingly strong two-year-old son. I've spent a lot of time answering questions at airport security.

I've been asked if I'm named Smith and sell cough drops with my brother. ZZ Top is mentioned at least three times a week. Passersby have shouted "Yo, Gandalf!" Someone called me Steven Seagal, which I found curious, since he doesn't have a beard.

I've battled itch and heat. I've spent a week's salary on balms, powders, ointments, and conditioners. My beard has been a temporary home to cappuccino foam and lentil soup. And it's upset people. Thus far, two little girls have burst into tears, and one boy has hidden behind his mother.

But I mean no harm. The facial hair is simply the most noticeable physical manifestation of a spiritual journey I began a year ago.

My quest has been this: to live the ultimate biblical life. Or more precisely, to follow the Bible as literally as possible. To obey the Ten Commandments. To be fruitful and multiply. To love my neighbor. To tithe my income. But also to abide by the oft-neglected rules: to avoid wearing clothes made of mixed fibers. To stone adulterers. And, naturally, to leave the edges of my beard unshaven (Leviticus 19:27). I am trying to obey the entire Bible, without picking and choosing."

Whilst i am not advocating the position that most hard line dispensational thinkers take in approach to the law of God i will proceed by stating that we should be able to keep non ceremonial law, since that we are saved by the Grace of God we should as believers endeavor to keep the words of the Lord as literally as possible whilst always taking into consideration obvious times when it is clearly symbolical (Mat 5:30).

We must remember the law as written into the hearts of all men as expounded by the Roman epistle and that one may burn his conscience with a hot iron by he is accountable (Rom 2:15) and because of this and our relation to the new covenant which has the law written not in tablets of stone but on the believers heart (2Cr 3:3).

Some would place all laws and indeed even the wholesome words of our Lord Jesus in the Mount of Olives as past dispensation and make them of non effect, yet Paul charged Timothy to remember and consent to the words of our Lord:

1Ti 6:3 ¶If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, [even] the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness;
1Ti 6:4 He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings,
1Ti 6:5 Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself.
1Ti 6:6 But godliness with contentment is great gain.

So we must not disannul the law of God however for the best part ceremonial law is done away with because it could never justify a man in the sight of God (Gal 2:16) and the law was only ever to be school master to bring us to Christ (Gal 3:24) and we are no longer the law and are above it.

Yet this new found liberty in Christ should not allow us to use it as a cloke of maliciousness attacking other believers (1Pe 2:16) but as Peter says to serve God. I must point out as i usually do that i have little practical experience in my life and need to work at these things in my existence down here.

Some of the things that A.J Jacobs done are listed below:

Wear sandals
Eat Ezekiel Bread
Play the 10-string Harp
Carry a staff
Don a biblical robe
Drink Goat's milk
Burn Myrrh
Avoid lustful gazing
Light your house with Olive Oil lamps

Whilst he is to be commended for some of these some are merely external his practises remind us of things we should do in the spiritual realm.

Wear Sandals

One of my previous posts detailed our walk with the saviour which is highly important in the progress of the believer.

Eat Ezekiel Bread

We have had dealings with the one who is the true bread of life (Jhn 6:35). We will never hunger again because we have tasted of a truth that he is wonderful.

Play the 10-string Harp

The harp was a beautiful and well adorned instrument often with depictions of such like things as lampstands, it not only looked marvelous to the eye it sounded sweet to the ear of the listener we can think of how Saul was temporarily soothed whilst listening to the sounds (1Sa 16:23) it says of him that he was refreshed and was well.

As believers we should have hearts that long to sound out in words of blessing and not to bring down other people as the tongue is described as a member with great boastings (Jam 3:5). We should sing Psalms if we are merry (Jam 5:13) and make melody in our hearts (Eph 5:19), i am a sucker for the guitar even though i don't play well but let it honor him.

Carry a staff

A staff is often in biblical times representative of direction and leadership we can think of the rod of Aaron that budded and other such examples but we can think of how Solomon wrote:

Pro 3:6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

We find in the new testament that if we live near him he will answer our prayers and give us the longings of our hearts as long as they are consistent with his character and the word of God (1Jo 5:15).

Don a biblical robe

I would get a few funny glances from were i came from if i went down the street clothed like an early disciple but i can done a different robe altogether we think of the robe that the priest wore (Exd 39:22) was beautiful as was our Lords robe and his life. We all long to be clothed with the immortal that being the change in this vile body (2Cr 5:2) but we are to be clothed in humility (1Pe 5:5) this does not mean we walk around like extras from a Victorian Period drama but that we are not overly adorned with the things of this world (1Ti 2:9) the bible says nothing of the great trouser debate but has much to say about modesty and over adorning. If we overcome we will be clothed in white one day soon (Rev 3:5).

Drink Goat's milk

I don't like this stuff but for people with allergies i pity them indeed! it is a great substitute however in the morning for real milk and so in the spiritual sphere we must realize there is no substitute for the sincere milk of the word for growth (1Pe 2:2) we all need to grow in the scriptures.

Burn Myrrh

We think of the offerings of the priests and is similar to that of incense we remember in Mark 1, the priest Zacharias doing his temple rites and the people all prayed and the forerunner of our Lord was unveiled to the people. We should all pray for revival in our hearts first before we want to see work of God done in this land.

Avoid lustful gazing

This is one thing and one of the main things AJ is to be applauded for if he managed to do it! because it was one of the most natural things for a young man to do the bible tells us to flee youthful lusts and follow after the things of God (2Ti 2:22).

Light your house with Olive Oil lamps

Think of Matt 25 and the ten virgins and how it speaks of the Spirit and we should be filled with the Spirit in our lives for Christ (Eph 5:18). Light is a thing which speaks of our testimony and how it should shine out as bright before men and that cannot be hid (Mat 5:14).

Remember that the sacrifices of a new testament believer are not the offerings of Judaism nor dead animals but our bodies as living sacrifices.

Rom 12:1 ¶I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, [which is] your reasonable service.

Rom 12:2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what [is] that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

Hbr 13:15 By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of [our] lips giving thanks to his name.
Hbr 13:16 But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.

Check out the following link i found on a balance view on the translations of scriptures by FF Bruce.

New Bible Translations: A Short Survey

Thanks,

John.

I have spent the last few days in a vacuum of spiritual despond, unproductive thoughts and a sort of coldness which i readily admit is due to my neglecting of the gift of prayer and Gods word.

This is something which all Christians struggle with though a song reminds us sometimes when we have our suits and ties on we hit the 'Christian Switch' and act lovingly and show care and concern yet when we get home we forget 'what manner of man we are' and start acting like bears with an itch on our shoulders.

So, anyway this article has a purpose after all, the other day I happened to see an advert on television which promoted fire safety, it showed a shot of a table with some items which meant much to the person who owned it.

Dull Green Converse: Our Walk

The first was a converse shoe maybe a dull green colour if I can remember, which reminded me firstly of my lack of taste since I have a shoe almost identically, I thought as it was placed on the table of where I had went in my body but also straightaway of my walk (which I readily confess is a shambles) with the Lord.

I thought of the words of the Saviour:

Jhn 8:12 Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.

You see since I am a Christian I should be following the Lord and not in darkness, I think of how often I walked and spent my life in relative darkness concerning what I should have done and the will of God though most times I am not willing to share my life.

The bible has more to say about our walk, it has implications on my life and how I have spent my time in strife with those I should love, and it also tells that I should be honest and not riotous in my behaviour. To my shame I was able to acknowledge all these things in my own life after conversion to Christ.

Rom 13:13 Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying.

The cure for strife:

Eph 5:2 And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us

Paul told those he was addressing to walk worthy of their vocation and calling and since there is no higher calling I should be different. Yet carnality, a fixation with the flesh and the pride of life all keep me back from even beginning my service for the Lord.

Eph 4:1 I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called

We think of those we come into contact with when we are not wearing our 'smart Sunday shoes', but our converse shoes the true person we are and how we should live before an unbelieving family, a friend, a work colleague a partner to win them for Christ.

Col 4:5 Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time.

1Th 4:12 That ye may walk honestly toward them that are without, and [that] ye may have lack of nothing.

The image on the table in this advert reminded me of the days of my life and how eventually it will come to an end and how I will be with the Lord Jesus Christ the one who John the Baptizer said

Jhn 1:27 He it is, who coming after me is preferred before me, whose shoe's latchet I am not worthy to unloose.

The Photo frame: Conformity to his son

The next thing I saw on the table was a particularly versatile object 'a photo frame' whilst some of us have problems putting a photo in a frame correctly (a job made easier by my constant practice in a part time job, and the advent of digital frames) it is amazing to know that we have personal dealings with the one who framed the heavens.

Hbr 11:3 Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.

A photo frame is a very versatile piece of furniture and something which may appear to be simple but can be extremely pleasing to its owner, perhaps it may remind a man of his son who he loves dearly and with digital photo frames the man can see many reminders and attributes of his son.

You get the picture I am sure (excuse the unintended pun) you see we were enemies of God yet we have been made the sons of God through the grace of God. So God has intended to use us and fill us with the Spirit so that vessels once fit for destruction are useful and can be used of God but:

1Th 4:4 That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour

2Ti 2:21 If a man therefore purge himself from these(But shun profane [and] vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness), he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master's use, [and] prepared unto every good work.

You see without anything to put into the frame it is useless to the person that owns it, it will remain on the shelf and like a toy without a battery on Christmas day it brings no satisfaction to the one it has been bought for.

So, as the above verse shows we need to be meet for the master’s use not that we are like white-washed sepulchres (Mat 23:27) which appear to be beautiful on the outside but are empty of any power. The power in the life of a believer comes from a spirit filled life which is not a quick fix meeting with the supernatural but a life of learning obedience to the will of God (I must stress this is only academic to me).

Stained Glass Masquerade

And so we think of the spirit and how it can be quenched so easily with the things we do which grieve his presence (1Th 5:19, Eph 4:30) with us. It is easy for us all to pretend to be spiritual giants. The words of a casting crowns song come forcibly to my head:

Excerpts from Stained Glass Masquerade by casting crowns

“

Cause when I take a look around
Everybody seems so strong
I know they’ll soon discover
That I don’t belong

So I tuck it all away, like everything’s okay
If I make them all believe it, maybe I’ll believe it too
So with a painted grin, I play the part again
So everyone will see me the way that I see them

Are we happy plastic people
Under shiny plastic steeples
With walls around our weakness
And smiles to hide our pain

The performance is convincing
And we know every line by heart
Only when no one is watching
Can we really fall apart

”

Perhaps, you have been sitting in your place of worship and noticed the clean and ever so dignified look on others faces and thought to yourself ‘I am alone’ and ‘I am the only one who feels fake’ and rather than seek for help and ask other believers of how we all feel we paint a grin on our face and talk in pseudo spiritual phraseology we all understand, to hid the weakness of not having that nearness first with the Lord and then with others. Ministry soon becomes the occasion simply for social exploits in which the word of God and its power are discarded over some craic and food.

I feel like I have the form of Godliness and not the manifestation in my life and this scares me greatly it reminds me of the verse:

2Ti 3:5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.

Whilst it is primarily in context applies to the unbeliever I see traits in these men which are in my life which will rob me of the power of Godliness.

Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God (2Ti 3:4)

Filling our lives with…..

I was reminded at a prize giving the other night of something which frequently adorns the picture frame, whilst there is absolutely no problem with a boy of five and an image of a Lamborghini and a text, or a little girl with a picture of a pony and text.

Think of how this relates to the believer, in my teenage years and recently I think of the posters of bands and sports stars I had adorning my walls (I am not knocking this practise only applying) I remember with fondness the Red Hot Chili Peppers posters which were used to replace the more scary and dark Korn (metal band) posters with their devilish imagery or when I was younger the images of Eric Cantona with chest puffed out in pride as he had just scored an absolute belter for Manchester United.

I remember how at school I would eat, sleep and breathe football all my childhood days. I would discuss it at break, lunch and in class. I would kick anything even remotely spherical in shape simply because my mind was fascinated with the game. If someone could have taken a picture of my heart in those days I have no doubt with some cynicism it would have appeared to be an Adidas ball made from 32 hexagons stitched together.

But all it consisted of was a finely adorned pig’s bladder and truly there was no depth to the thing it was in fact empty in the middle and was just full of air. I am not knocking those who are Christians and pursue sport I am just stressing the need for balance in our lives to make the things of God number 1. I enjoy a kick a bout more than anyone else and waste time on a white 360 joypad but we must make sure that at the end the picture taken and put in the frame resembles Christ most since:

Rom 8:29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate [to be] conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.

I think of the image (reverently) that God sees of me now. He might see a mash of my favourite TV character, footballer, game character and celebrity but does he see his son in me. Will he delight to look at me?

Thou God seest me!

We remember in the old testament that Rahab knew full well that God saw the inner being and could say ‘thou God seest me’ (Gen 16:13) we could do with writing this on our hearts so that we may cleanse our ways (Psa 119:9) otherwise it will rob us of a life of fellowship with God.

There were other things on that table in the advert but I can’t remember them. Perhaps you could place something’s on your own table maybe theres an Xbox, a good novel, an ipod all legitimate things but the next thing that happened was startling.

Almost instantaneously they all exploded into what appeared to be dust like a dark grey palette of colour ascending upwards it reminded me of what some of the older men would call the ‘brevity of life’ and of earthly things.

All is vanity

All things after all will pass away yet the Word of God will endure after all that (1Pe 1:25), it reminded me of the Saviours words:

Luk 21:33 Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away.

2Pe 3:10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.

In the end all the things which we are building on down here are all going to be destroyed I know of one man who refers to things as ‘stuff that is for the burning’ and someone reliable tells that nothing down here is ours and we only have the ‘lend’ off them. I am not advocating a kind of spiritual communism or an abandonment of our requirement to provide for those we love but for common sense and moderation in all things.

The advert with the smoke reminded me also of the fact that man was formed from the dust of the ground after all and when he goes his spirit returns to the father.

Gen 2:7 And the LORD God formed man [of] the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.

Ecc 12:7 Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it.

We think truly of how Solomon when he wrote the book of Ecclesiastes wrote of the vanity of life and that it accomplished so very little in the light of the glory of God, the works done on this earth which were all just simply vain and without honour.

Ecc 1:14 I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and, behold, all [is] vanity and vexation of spirit.

A higher calling

Since, we have a higher calling than the things of this earth as Paul knew full well (Phl 3:14) let us not continue to fill our lives with the things which are going to be burnt up but rather let us live in context of the coming judgement seat the bema of Christ. The time down here is short in light of eternity and is likened to vapour.

Jam 4:14 Whereas ye know not what [shall be] on the morrow. For what [is] your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.

Consider vapour how often on a cold morning you wake and have to go out with a filled kettle to clear the ice which stops us from getting anywhere on our journeys. Apply this and we will realise we need the washing of the water of the Word which will warm us and help us to be zealous in our pursuits for God.

Eph 5:26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word

For the burning

The life of it all was soon over and immediately the smoke started to rise just like the vapour from the boiling water, and nothing was left on the table reminding me of the words of the Corinthian epistle.

1Cr 3:11 For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
1Cr 3:12 Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble;
1Cr 3:13 Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is.
1Cr 3:14 If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.
1Cr 3:15 If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.

Whilst wood and hay can be made useful down here it has no mention in the city four square, we must make sure that we are occupied with the things of eternal value and merit. Something I need to do more than others.

I don’t know where your bible is but make sure it is ‘on the table’ of your life open wide and let it manifest itself as the living breathing word of God because It will endure when all other things are gone and are past.

In the previous post we detailed the eternal nature of our Lord and how he was the one of old. I often thought before I was saved: the Old Testament is pretty silent concerning the son of God I thought what if Christianity is just a false extension and is contrary to what came before?

That was of course the situation I found myself being an alien to God (Eph 2:12) and in darkness (Jhn 1:5). However when I got saved and started to read my bible I found the bible was a self contained revelation and its main theme was the unveiling of the Word of God that is the Lord Jesus.

It wasn’t long into reading in fact about 15 minutes into reading when I discovered a rather curious statement:

Gen 3:15 And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.

In this statement we find the promise of the seed of a woman who would reconcile the problem which had been brought about by the cunning plans of Satan. It is interesting to note that usually within scripture we find that ‘the seed’ usually applies to the man this can be seen from numerous passages (Gen 12:7, Gen 48:11) we shall speak of this significance when we look at the glorious incarnation of the saviour.

Genesis 49:10 The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come; and unto him shall the gathering of the people be.

Again after Abraham has been promised that all the families of the earth would be blessed through his seed we find a prophecy concerning one known as ‘Shiloh’ which according to Strong’s means ‘he whose it is, that which belongs to him, tranquillity’ so we see that the promise of a messiah was laid out as early as the book of genesis.

In the book of Samuel we find promises of judgement from God and that the Lord will judge the ends of the earth as we know he will when he returns in his second advent. The patriarch told strangely of the redeemer who liveth and would stand on the earth in a latter day:

Job 19:25: For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth

Remarkable that in all of his trials and tribulations he could look forward to a day in which one would be able to redeem him, how blessed are those who died waiting for the promise of the father. Simeon lived to see the fulfilment of those scripture but what a joy to those who died in faith and believed God and it was counted to them as righteousness.

We will deal with prophetic psalms such as Psalm 22 and Psalm 69 when we think of the sufferings of the saviour, the prophesies of Isaiah all showing that the one who would come would be obedient (Psalms 40:6) and the messiah would be cut off (Dan 9:26) how amazing a revelation must this have been to the people living in the few hundred years coming up to the appointed time of his birth and presentation to the people of Israel (Luke 19:41-44) God had been faithful to the very day as we can see from the Lords lament for Jerusalem exactly 69 weeks into Daniels prophesy.

Re iterating the importance of the tribe and root of Judah was Isaiah the prophet who told of the rod out of the stem of Jesse which we see fulfilled in the Lords genealogy in the account of the gospel of Matthew.

Isaiah 11:1 And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots: Isaiah 11:2 And the spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit

The spirit descending like a dove to testify the well beloved son of God that would commence his ministry where he would minister and not be ministered unto (Mar 10:45), he being fully aware he would pay the ransom for many.

The prophet spoke again of the chief corner stone in Zion speaking of the Lord Jesus:

Isaiah 28:16 Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste.

We find in various stories of various legends of the stone that was rejected by the builders during the erection of Solomon’s temple that was thrown over the brow of a hill to be taken up again and used in its rightful place.

Paul told that the rock that Moses drank from and the children of Israel was Christ (1Cr 10:4) and Peter exclaims in his epistle that Christ is precious indeed (1Pe 2:7). Isaiah prophesied of the voice in the wilderness John the Baptist the forerunner of the Lord Jesus (Isaiah 40:3). He tells us that he is indeed the elect servant in whom God delights (Isaiah 42:1).

Isaiah told that righteousness would come soon (Isaiah 56:1) in the person who has made us the righteousness of God in him (2Cr 5:21). These accounts are by no means exhaustive to Isaiah’s ministry and there others all telling of his coming (56:1; 59:16-18,20; 62:10,11).

Jeremiah told of the one who would come forth as the righteous branch:

Jeremiah 23:5 Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch, and a King shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgment and justice in the earth.

So, we see in again in the royal line of the Lord (Matt 1) the right for the Lords claim to be the branch and the one who will rule with a sceptre of righteousness.

The bible is certainly not silent about the means by which he would come before he shall come again (Zech 13) he must have came as a man and was born of the virgin (Isaiah 7:14) and that he would be born in lowly Bethlehem (Mic 5:2). We will see more when we look at his birth and the prophecies concerning that wonderful event.

The Jew could not reconcile the fact that the Jesus of Nazareth claimed to be the messiah yet the old testament canon was full of statements and prophecies showing the riches, royalty and powerful Shiloh (Psalm 2:8; 22:27-31; 47:8; 65:2; 66:4; 68:31,32; 72:5,8-11,16,17,19; 85:10-12; 86:9; 87:1-5; 89:1-37; 96:1-13; 102:13-15; 110:1-6; 113:3; 138:4,5; 145:10,11; Isaiah 2:2-5; 4:2,3; 9:1-7). But we see in scripture in the letter to the Philippians’ that after his suffering and his humiliation he will be highly exalted (Phl 2:9) and:

Phl 2:10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of [things] in heaven, and [things] in earth, and [things] under the earth;

Phl 2:11 And [that] every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ [is] Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

So, as I look back now my doubts and fears are quenched all together when I look at the scripture which are God breathed (2 Timothy 3:16) and they are of truth (Daniel 10:21) I had no reason to question the authenticity and reconciling of the new and old testament.

Readings: Daniel 9: 23

10:10

6:4

I will not take credit for this post, these thoughts are those of ministry i heard recently and enjoyed them so much i translated my scribbled notes into something all believers should enjoy.

We find in the character of Daniel much that would remind us of the Lord Jesus Christ. We began by reading in chapter 9:

Dan 9:23 At the beginning of thy supplications the word went forth, and I am come to declare it ; for thou art one greatly beloved. Therefore consider the word, and have understanding in the vision

Dan 10:10 And behold, a hand touched me, which set me upon my knees and the palms of my hands.

Dan 10:11 And he said unto me, O Daniel, man greatly beloved, understand the words which I speak unto thee, and stand upright; for unto thee am I now sent. And as he spoke this word unto me, I stood trembling.

Dan 10:12 And he said unto me, Fear not, Daniel; for from the first day that thou didst set thy heart to understand, and to humble thyself before thy God, thy words were heard, and I am come because of thy words.

Dan 6:4 Then the presidents and the satraps sought to find a pretext against Daniel with respect to the kingdom; but they could not find any pretext or fault; inasmuch as he was faithful, neither was there any error or fault found in him.

We find in the readings much is said of his standing and relationship with God, he was greatly beloved and he was without fault before the people.

Another in the Old Testament who had at least in scripture no record of sin was Joseph and he speaks most evidently of the lovely person of the saviour. So we see that Daniel was well beloved the exact assessment of God when he said ‘this is my well beloved son’ a fitting testimony found at the banks of the Jordan (Mat 3:17), the mount of transfiguration (Matt 17:5) we also find references in Matt 12:18.

Daniel was separated from the ways and the system of Babylon and would have lived a holy life before God and men, and so we can see that because of this he had enemies as did our Lord. It is interesting that the only way they could try and find him with fault was to create a new law or decree. Our Lord Jesus was without fault and there was no guile (1Pe 2:22) found in him, it is wonderful to see the exclamation of his enemies when they would say ‘never man spake like this man’ (John 7:46).

Daniel when he was found by the conspirators was found praying (Daniel 6:11) as also did the multitude with swords and staves find our Lord in the garden of Gethsemane (Matt 26:47).

The conspirators manipulated the law and brought him before Darius who knew full well he was innocent (Daniel 6:14) as was the Lord brought before Pilate who he knew was innocent (Matt 27:2).

Daniel was delivered to the lions den but their mouth would not hurt him. (Daniel 6:16), the psalmist prophetically speaking of the Lord would say ‘Save me from the lions mouth’ (Psalm 22:21) an insight into the suffering of the Lord Jesus Christ on Calvary.

It is worth nothing also that the stone was sealed with the signet of the sovereign and seal of the authority of the Medo-Persian Empire which could not be overturned (Daniel 6:17). The later Roman Empire would have the authority to deliver the Lord to be crucified at Calvary (Luke 23:33). It is interesting to point out that the sepulchre was sealed with authority and many stood guard over it (Matt 27:63-64). Yet it is wonderful that as was the case In Daniel when an angel ministered to his needs (Daniel 6:22) so did an angel roll back the stone (Matt 28:2).

We see that at the end of this trial which Daniel faced it said that he prospered (Daniel 6: 28) and there is no other record of trouble befalling the now aged Daniel. Our Lord after Calvary ascended to the right hand of the majesty on high unto all his enemies be put under foot (Psalm 110:1). And in Isaiah 53 we find satisfaction he found in the work he came to do.

Isa 53:11 He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities.

Isa 53:12 Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.

Choose instead to dwell in my disasters

Remember ye not the former things, neither consider the things of old.

Isa 43:18

The title for this chapter is surely a give away to its contents, indeed I lifted the phrase from a song I have listened to a lot in the past year by Ray Lamontagne. Rays music is most certainly not Christian by any means but conveys a strong feeling burning within most of us.

His song ‘empty’ is the narrative of a broken man who seems to recall situations in battles in his life experience, in between smoky and beautiful expression he soulfully delivers for me the key line of the song.

“I never learned to count my blessings
I choose instead to dwell in my disasters”

For the character in question perhaps blessings were very different to the blessings given undeservingly to Christian people worldwide, however it so apparent that we tend to relive over and over the painful and shocking moments in an otherwise wonderful life.

If you are not a Christian and by this I define as having been born again (John 3:6) and saved (Acts 16:31) by Gods grace (Eph 2:8) it would be my earnest call to you that you come to the saviour for salvation. You see in this world many pray to God in a symptomatic way asking for our deliverance from illness and pain, indeed one of my good friends suggested that every man will drop to his knees if the flight he were on suddenly plummeted from its course in the clouds but a small percentage want God to take the reigns of their lives and walk with him.

Perhaps you are contemplating becoming a Christian because you believe you could be healed from a long term illness, maybe you see televangelists who have an uncanny resemblance to the arena of over the top WWF personalities who claim you can gain your healing and anointing by calling 1- 800 – SCAM and giving your donation.

The fact is that the most worrying problem we all have is sin and that it must be dealt with, it has many similarities with a cancer which can be cured and have seen that to my delight in some people I know and love. The bible states that the wages of sin is death a spiritual death with a destiny in the never ending lake of fire.

However the bible also clearly states that God Is not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. The bible states all have sinned and that our righteousness is as filthy rags, we all deserve to be judged in our sin but the Lord Jesus Christ died on the cross for our sins that we might be reconciled to God.

If you would like to know of lasting peace with God which I can only scratch the surface of in this book, then you must realise you are a sinner and be willing to turn from your sin and accept the Lord Jesus as your personal saviour. If you have already done this then you are truly blessed! If not please consider the problem of sin before addressing anything else in your life because of its urgency.

Even as I contemplate exploring the blessings of being a Christian I admit my failure to apply them to my own walk in life. How preoccupied am I with this world and its problems and trials and never seek to look at the saviour.

Helen Lemmel penned the beautiful hymn with the following words

Turn your eyes upon Jesus,
Look full in His wonderful face,
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim,
In the light of His glory and grace.

If I am occupied with the saviour and get to know him personally through prayer and an invigorated and fruitful walk (please see chapter) then I will cease to worry about things far from my control. As I just wrote the last sentence I realised that this was merely a concept or an ideal that I have never managed and I must admit I struggle with.

This wonderful saviour has been the author of our salvation and God the father has given us too many blessings that far outweigh any of our struggles.

Abundant blessings

The moment I placed my trust in the saviour in July 2001 I was a so called man of eighteen I had been saved from a place of torment but much more I was instantly given the holy spirit within my being, and I was from that moment a partaker of umpteen theological terms which meant I was now right with God and I was now his child and was destined for heaven at the end of life’s journey.

But now for the inevitable, in the next few days I wrestled within my being as to the fact and reality of my salvation and then I found solace in the scripture I turned to the evening I found the saviour. John 3:36 states “he that believeth hath” what a blessed assurance indeed no other argument no other plea or so I thought!

You see it wasn’t very long into my walk with the saviour I realised something serious there would be attacks from the one who would seek to rob me of the real joy I had in Jesus, indeed a joy found in nothing else the world after all only offers pleasure.

In my own experience it seems to be the what if’s and maybes that seem to sink my heart into despair a lot has been said in many publications about the detriment to health caused by stress, anxiety and depression leading to many people not working or a loss of productivity and in some cases some are imprisoned in their homes with real fear.

I remember some circumstances that would change my life and in some ways would leave a mark on me, a few years whilst I was backsliding far from God I had to be rushed to hospital with an anaplaytic shock caused by something I ate within an hour I could not breathe and the skin in my body had broken out in a rash making me look like an extra from a poor b horror movie.

For awhile afterwards I would relive it over and over until I was ridden with anxiety attacks and panic and to make things far worse I was prescribed exactly the opposite of what I needed, which might I digress led me to strange and alien thoughts which would obsessively cycle in my mind out of my control. It wasn’t long till I was taken of them but frequently I would play back some memories in precise detail and in a way project my anxiety to today’s John McBride.

You see what I just did? I said today’s me you can insert your name there but maybe that’s just what you have been doing like me. Is there a remedy to this problem? Perhaps you have been reliving traumatic events, failure in parenting, marriage, friendships, loss of job, loss of health, what do we do when all round us fails?

As human beings we have an innate desire within us to try and resolve the problem ourselves whether we go to the bullies parents house and confront them on the doorstop for picking on ‘our boy’, or maybe we try and self diagnose and pump ourselves full of vitamins until or skin has turned orange, or maybe we simply believe in our inner being and its power. The question then needs to be answered what do we do when all else fails?

The cycle of anxiety seems to be endless were you begin to worry about worrying. Maybe you are like me and consign yourself by saying ‘Well im just a worrier!’. Where do we turn in times of need? To the one who alone is able!

Dale Carnegie a popular author on life issues and who often cites the teaching of the Lord Jesus entitled one of his chapters ‘live in day tight compartments’ he draws this ideal out by using the example of William Osler a professor who had been on a liner months before giving his students the following sage advice he had learnt from his experience.

What I urge is that you so learn to control the machinery as

to live with 'day-tight compartments' as the most certain way to ensure safety on the

voyage. Get on the bridge, and see that at least the great bulkheads are in working

order. Touch a button and hear, at every level of your life, the iron doors shutting out

the Past-the dead yesterdays. Touch another and shut off, with a metal curtain, the

Future -the unborn tomorrows. Then you are safe-safe for today! ... Shut off the past!

Let the dead past bury its dead. ... Shut out the yesterdays which have lighted fools the

way to dusty death. ... The load of tomorrow, added to that of yesterday, carried

today, makes the strongest falter. Shut off the future as tightly as the past. ... The

future is today. ... There is no tomorrow.

Of course this wisdom is derived in some shape or form from biblical principles we shall explore.

Manna from heaven

The children of Israel were a blessed nation who after there deliverance and exodus from the hands of pharaoh in Egypt spend 40 years in the wilderness sojourning and received divine sustenance in the form of manna. From Numbers 11:7-8 we can deduce it was a useful and practical form of nutrition and it could be used to make cakes or it could be boiled.

If too much manna was gathered on a given day it become corrupt and was of little value, this simple illustration can be used to show that if someone did not rely on God for just the day ahead and went on his own steam and gathered more on his own initiative it would corrupt. Is this not like our thought life if we become entangled In the affairs of yesterday and the past or we look within ourselves and look to far into the future it will not be long until our minds are a battlefield for the great adversary more of which I will talk about in the next chapter.

The past may be painful and hard to cope with, and indeed some seem to be almost fixated with it recalling the good old days of health and strength and prosperity however we must be mindful that we cannot change the past! Maybe you are like me and have a head like a calendar and can recall dates and times, months and seasons, smells, music, atmosphere from your memories a blessing indeed if used in the wrong hands indeed! It isn’t long before I begin to analyse my decisions and begin to explore my own experiences like a Christopher Columbus of my own cerebral cortex.

Consider the lilly

Solomon in all his glory was

Not arrayed like one of these

Matt 6:29b

It is interesting to see how our Lord brings out wonderful pictures from nature and observations to draw out lessons to those who would listen. One of them is found in the innocuous Lilly a flower of great beauty but with a sense of profound simplicity. Here we find the astonishing revelation that the Lilly is arrayed with more glory than that of Solomon.

Solomon was of course the very one who had built the temple from plans and preparations given by his father David, was endowed with God given wisdom second only to Jesus, had a vast wealth and a healthy empire, yet a seemingly insignificant flower amongst an arrangement found perhaps in his royal courts was adorned with more glory!

The Lord tells us that the lilly neither toils nor spins, o how that is very different to human nature. We toil over the trivial and overwork exhaust and fatigue ourselves to acquire more yet the lilly does none of these things. Notice how easy we get in a ‘tizzy’ and make our heads spin by the endless spiral of worry associated with modern living and again this noble flower does not ever fluster.

The Lord said of the Lilly that it did not spin; it was fixed firm and dependant only on the provision of the creator. How often when we have a problem do we look all around us to friends, family, doctors were we spin amongst the axioms of human thought on our problems. Here is a novel idea stand fast and rather than spin look upward!

To be like a lilly some may say. How are we to achieve this state of mind? The answer is never to far when the Lord gives us a picture, seeking first the kingdom of God and his righteousness.