Living Eulogy
Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever islovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, let your mind dwell on these things. Philippians 4:8 NASB
Good repute – The rumor mill. What a dangerous and sinful trap that is! If we just paid attention to Paul’s use of euphemos, we would stay far away from this detour on the highway to heaven. Euphema is literally “good saying, good fame, well spoken of.” It is the opposite of those rumors and that gossip that harms. “Whatever is of good repute” is the living eulogy of godly character.
Think about what good things you can say. That sounds like my mother’s advice. “If you can’t say something good about a person, don’t say anything at all.” Maybe she knew Paul much better than I. These days I find it difficult to say good things about a lot of personalities in our culture. I struggle to say something of good repute about political figures or celebrities. They seem to me to embody everything that I think of as Babylon. But my mother – and Paul – is right. Better to say nothing than to spew invectives about their corruption and selfishness. Given the circumstances, I’m not so sure I wouldn’t be just as corrupt and selfish. In fact, if I truly examine my own history, I can find the same sins sans the headlines. Much better to think about euphemos.
Perhaps what we have here is a daily dose of course correction. What would happen if we made a point of saying something good about someone every day? What would happen to us if we made the effort to say something commendable about one of those “enemies” every day. Just one thing. “He’s an exceptional speaker,” or “she really touches the audience,” or something. Euphemos focuses on whatever is praiseworthy. That doesn’t mean all of it is praiseworthy. If I apply that same standard to my own life, I soon discover that I need some latitude as well. After all, I am not 100% praiseworthy. How can I expect others to be so?
That reminds me that there is only One who is 100% praiseworthy, 100% commendable, 100% of good repute. And that reminds me that if I feel the need to laud only the 100% variety, I will spend a good deal more time praising Him rather than focusing my attention on all the rest of us (including me) who don’t measure up to His standard. In fact, if I dwell on whatever is euphemos, I will find that praise outweighs everything else. Who knows? Maybe my prayers will change along the way. Maybe raba emunatecha will become much more evident in my life. And then I won’t have nearly as much motivation to participate in the rumor mill.
Topical Index: rumor, commendable, praiseworthy, euphemos, Philippians 4:8, good repute
“It is the opposite of those rumors and that gossip that harms.”
This reminds me of a song I just heard recently! No warnings on this one. This is the real deal.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4DH35qC1D34
;-))))))
Skip, some rambling thoughts on Today’s word.
Matthew 6 [48] Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.
I was asking God yesterday how I can be perfect like God when no one has seen God? As to the requirements in the Holy Books and doing it by the Book, it is impossible for anyone to fulfill them all, and if we fail in one point, we fail it all. Thank God for Christ Jesus who lifts us up above the letter into the Spirit and justifies us by Faith.
Paul called himself the chiefest of the sinners. I find I have no time to be concerned with other people’s sins. I have enough of my own to clean up. To be able to speak a good word in any situation is desirable and helpful. Love covers a multitude of sins.
Daniel was recognized as being a dis-solver of doubts. That would be such a useful talent these Days. I have read every “idle word” will be accounted for in the Day of Judgment. That’s scary! Maybe that’s why God designed us with 2 ears and one mouth so we listen more and speak only perfect words?
Correction: Matthew 5 [48]
So far from perfection! Sigh!
So far from perfection! Sigh!
Hi Ray,
I wouldn’t worry too much about it
Seems to me we have much “bigger fish to fry”
Like how to manage our Yetzer Hara
In fact, perfectionism can be seen as a mental disorder
Because we often project our own desire for perfection
Onto other people, and then end up judging them
And if you recall what the Master tell us
To “Judge not lest ye shall be judged” (Matthew 7:1)
Thank you Michael. I really don’t worry about that. All in God’s Timing.
Personally I think of myself as being resurrected from the Dead February 1, 1975. Before that Day, since I left the Church as a 12 year old, I never thought about God. I made no place for God in my Life. I was dead to God and God was dead to me.
In my own estimation, what happened to me unexpectedly that Day, was as Powerful to me as I imagine the conversion of Saul on the Road to Damascus must have been. I try to convey what happened that Day to the best of my ability in the Word here.
DAY OF AWAKENING – DAVID vs GOLIATH vs ARMAGEDDON
December 25, 2011
http://ray032.com/2011/12/25/day-of-awakening-david-vs-goliath-vs-armageddon/
I’m still trying to make sense of it all after 38 years, but God has opened my eyes to see and enjoy so much in the interval. I have found my personal Pavilion of Peace in this turbulent world, finding so many reasons the Thank and Praise the Lord for the loving kindnesses he has bestowed on me. Surely Goodness and Mercy shall follow me all the Days of my Life and I will dwell in the House of The Lord forever.
At the beginning in 1975, I thought the Kingdom of Heaven would reveal itself to the whole world within 3 years. When that didn’t happen I realized it was my wishful thinking. I had to alter my plans and thinking to get with God’s Plan, learn to recognize it, and learn The Patience of Christ, confident in the knowledge and Trust it is God who does the works.
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7070/6819629044_e59bd34ec6_z.jpg
A few comments:
If God did not intend us to keep the commandments, then it would have been quite vindictive of Him to give them.
Moses clearly means that we are able to keep them (they are not too difficult or too far off)
The fact that we don’t keep them is a matter of choice and circumstance, not logical or theological impossibility
When Yeshua says we are to be holy (not perfect), he is citing a commandment in Leviticus. There is a difference.
The theological claim that we are unable to keep the commandments is derived from Augustine-Luther, not from Scripture
Notice the context of Paul’s argument and its concern with the proselytizing effort of his opponents
Skip, if the word should be ‘Holy’ and not ‘Perfect’ as in the King James translation, then only God can make us Holy. The Pope is addressed as Holy Father even though Christ says call NO MAN on earth your Father for we have ONE FATHER in Heaven. Should someone point that out to the Pope and the position? Ordinary Priests are called Father even though Christianity is supposed to be a Universal Priesthood of all Members of the Body of Christ.
I would think it reasonable and probable, all the rules of Leviticus are man made extrapolations from the 10 commandments as offenses were identified. Jesus broke the 10 commandments down to 2.
1. Love God 1st and Foremost will everything you’ve got.
2. Love your neighbour as you love yourself.
How can anyone say they love God who they can’t see, but don’t show the love of God to the people they can see?
This is a hard one to follow from the Book, obviously:
No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.
It is difficult for the individual to walk the fine line in this world’s global system where money is the supreme value and object of pursuit, never mind effecting system change.
James 5 clearly suggests when Christ returns, there will be a regime change of the Global Plutocratic system the rich have built in this world since ancient Babylon to the end of Days.
These things say the Amen, the Faithful and True witness, the Beginning of the Creation of God;
I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot: I would you were cold or hot.
So then because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spew you out of my mouth.
Because you say, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and know not that you are wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:
I counsel you to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that you may be rich; and white raiment, that you may be clothed, and that the shame of your nakedness do not appear; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see.
Revelation 3
“If God did not intend us to keep the commandments, then it would have been quite vindictive of Him to give them……….The fact that we don’t keep them is a matter of choice and circumstance, not logical or theological impossibility”
The words in Revelation 3 are explicit to me. Should I ignore them as impractical even though they’re written in the Book?
Ray, several times in Leviticus 11 through 20 we read these words: “Be holy, for I, YHVH your God, am Holy”. That is an imperative. But what does the word “holy” mean in Hebrew? It means “set apart for a purpose”. That is all. It is not about some “elevated state of being”. It is about being different from the world around us. It is called (in theological terms) sanctification.
But then, we see almost (if not) every time, God follows up with, “You shall therefore be holy, for I YHVH am Holy”. This time it is NOT imperative, but indicative. That is, we are set apart because He is set apart and we are His.
So there are two parts to sanctification – it is a partnership. We have a role to play, by living according to how He says His people should live, not like the world, and He sets us apart by taking us as His own.
BTW, all those instructions from Lev 11 through 20 were given “so that you will learn to discern between the holy and the profane, the clean and the unclean”. That is, all of the things that were prohibited – things that were “not food”, idolatrous worship and sexual perversions – were all part of the rituals of the ancient Babylonian fertility cult practiced by the nations around Israel at that time. The prohibitions not only had clear health benefits but were also for the purpose of ensuring that Israel did look different from the nations around them. It is interesting to note that they begin and end with definitions of what is food and what is “not food.”
The idea of being “holy” has much theological baggage associated with it, but in reality it is simple. Don’t live like the world lives – take His instructions seriously and start doing the ones that apply to you, one at a time. You’ll “stick out like a sore thumb” in fairly short order and discover what the world thinks of “holy”.
Thanks, Rodney for this reply. Sometimes I get Holy and wholly mixed up, because as I grow with God I see everything is wholly one with the Creation.
When I look at the old Master paintings depicting the Saints having the surrounding “halo” around the head, I realized this is the natural phenomenon other people can see is different in the Believer knowing the True Joy of God in their being, living it.
This will be especially evident as the visions become darker in this world because of separation from the Light of God.
It takes no size to criticize.. How easy and how ‘natural’ it is for all of us to “fault-find.” Do these words easily fall from our tongues? Moan-groan-complain-(“kvetch!”)-“murmer..” And the people “murmured” against Moses.. (great word to investigate brother Skip!).
If we are what we do-” I am a plumber”- this is my occupation. I am a painter- I paint. I am a poet- I “poetize”- (ha!) I am a politician.. (don’t even get me started!) lol!
Now hear this: I am a moaner. I am a complainer. I like to… (let’s not go “here” either…) Oh, but how “easy” is it to join right in there “with the moan and groan of the crowd”- or are we supposed to be “different?” ~ Rejoice in the LORD ALWAYS and again I say- rejoice! ~ Huh?
Do you see this as a suggestion – or a “command?” What has become of “joy?” What has happened to the “joy of the LORD?” What a wonderful topic to discuss.. What the world needs more of (besides love- sweet love) is Joy- sweet joy! (If you’re happy.. tell your face about it!) lol!
May I? Consider the Source. Where (he inquired) does this “joy” come from? There are as far as I can determine- (please feel free to add to my limited kith and ken), three levels of living: Drudgery (life is a b.. and then you die) Duty- (be like the buddhists or taoist and “stoically endure” whatever comes my way- just “tuff it out”) or Delight ( I delight to do Your will ) ~ I delight to do Your will, my God; Your instruction lives within me ~ (Psalm 40.8)
Drudgery-Duty-or Delight? (and where are we now?) Location,location-location. “X” marks the spot. Where (he inquired again) is the “happy place?” May I share “where?” Where is the “gettin’ place?”
Bow the knee.
-from skipmoen.com:
“And Jabez called on the God of Israel saying, “Oh, that you would bless me indeed,” I Chronicles 4:10
Bless – This word is barak. We examined it once before but it is worth taking another look. When we saw it as a noun, we found that receiving a blessing in the Old Testament meant to get something favorable from someone greater. The paradigm is the transmission of a blessing from God to Man. Throughout the Old Testament, the central idea of God’s blessing is that bountiful life depends solely upon the goodness and faithfulness of God.
This verse is the basis of the popular book The Prayer of Jabez. The secret behind the prayer of Jabez is really nothing hidden at all. From Genesis to Revelation, God makes it clear that He is the only real source of prosperity in both the physical and spiritual realm. Jabez speaks a simple prayer God, bless me but within that prayer is the acknowledgement and admission that God is the only one who can bless and that God blesses for his purposes, not ours.
When I lived in Los Angeles, I saw a billboard on the side of a bus. It was an advertisement for a particular church. It said, “God wants to bless you. He wants to make you rich. You can have what you really want. Come and join us.” I always thought that this sort of blessing was ignorant and crass. God doesn’t run an investment brokerage firm. But later in life I realized that God does what He wants to do. If His purpose for you is that you become rich for Him, then I say, “Hooray!” There are very few people who can become rich and still bend the knee to God (by the way, that is the other meaning of this word). Who am I to say what God should do in your life? I know that I didn’t do a very good job of being His servant when my bank account was full.
I believe in the prayer of Jabez because I believe that God really does want to bless us. The matter to be settled is not on God’s side. It is on ours. The word “bless” also means “humility, service and bowing down”. The two go together. God will bless when you are completely ready to bow.
“Barak”- bow the knee.
Now the question is asked again.. “where” is the happy place? the “place of blessing?” Barak- bow the knee. It is (way past) “bent-knee time.” Time spent with Someone we love and with Someone who loves us- far more than we can imagine..
Friends all around me are trying to find
What the heart yearns for, by sin undermined;
I have the secret, I know where ’tis found:
Only true pleasures “in Jesus” abound.
All that I want is in Jesus.
He satisfies, “Joy” He supplies;
Life would be worthless without Him;
All things in Jesus I find.
Some carry burdens whose weight has for years
Crushed them with sorrow and blinded with tears.
Yet One stands ready to help them just now,
If they will humbly in penitence bow.
No other Name thrills the joy chords within,
And through none else is remission of sin.
He knows the pain of the heart sorely tried.
Both need and want will by Him be supplied.
Jesus is all this poor world needs today.
Blindly they strive, for sin darkens their way.
O to draw back the grim curtains of night,
One glimpse of Jesus and all will be bright!
~ Everything we have has come from You, and we give You only what You first gave us! ~
(1 Chronicles 29.14)
~ Every good and perfect gift descends from Above, from The Father of lights with whom there is no change nor a shadow of variation ~ (James 1.17)
The Source (again) of “every” good and perfect gift?
“Come Thou Fount of every blessing..
tune my hear to sing Thy praise
Streams of mercy
never ceasing
Call for songs of loudest praise..
~ I wil bless the LORD “at all times”- His praise shall (sometimes?).. NO. His praise shall “continuously” be in my mouth. Why? ~ Blessed IS the Name of the LORD ~
~ A Psalm. A Song for the Sabbath. It is good to give thanks to the LORD, to sing praises to Your Name, O Most High ~ (El Elyon) Psalm 92.1
~ How good it is to sing praises to our God, how pleasant and fitting to praise Him! ~ (Psalm 147.1)
O magnify the Lord with me,
Ye people of His choice.
Let all to whom He lendeth breath
Now in His Name rejoice.
For love’s blest revelation,
For rest from condemnation,
For uttermost salvation,
To Him give thanks.
Let all the people praise Thee.
Let all the people praise Thee,
Let all the people praise Thy Name
Forever and forevermore.
O praise Him for His holiness,
His wisdom, and His grace;
Sing praises for His precious blood
Which ransomed all our race.
In tenderness He sought us;
From depths of sin He brought us;
The way of life then taught us.
To Him give thanks.
Had I a thousand tongues to sing,
The half could ne’er be told
Of love so rich, so full and free,
Of blessings manifold;
Of grace that faileth never,
– Peace flowing as a river
From God, the glorious Giver.
To Him give thanks.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eqYlKgpf9zU
Good words to share, Carl! Thank you.
The world still has not understood and accepted the tidings of great Joy to the World the Angles announced at Bethlehem. What the world needs now is Love Sweet Love and the Joy of it.
At times of weakness in the Spirit and in the Flesh and in the Faith, what keeps me going is this Vision from Hebrews. To me it is Awesomely Wonderful God invites us to to be partakers even though we may still be dead in our sins.
God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spoke in Time Past to the fathers by the prophets,
Has in these last days, spoken to us by his Son, whom he has appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;
Who, being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the Word of his Power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;
Being made so much better than the Angels, as he has by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.
For to which of the angels said He at any time, You are my Son, this day have I begotten you? And again, I will be to him a Father, and he shall be to me a Son?
And again, when he brings in the first begotten into the world, he says, And let all the angels of God worship him.
And of the angels he says, Who makes his Angels Spirits, and his Ministers a Flame of Fire.
But to the Son he says, Your throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a scepter of righteousness is the scepter of Your kingdom.
You have loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, even thy God, has anointed thee with the OIL OF GLADNESS ABOVE YOUR FELLOWS.
And, You, Lord, in the beginning, had laid the foundation of the earth; and the heavens are the works of your hands:
They shall perish; but you remain; and they all shall wax old as does a garment;
And as a vesture shall you fold them up, and they shall be changed: but you are the same, and your years shall not fail.
But to which of the angels said he at any time, Sit on my right hand, until I make your enemies your footstool?
Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them WHO SHALL BE HEIRS OF SALVATION?
But as many as received him, to them HE GAVE POWER TO BECOME THE SONS OF GOD, even to them that believe on his name:
Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
John 1
John goes even further than Paul in the Revelation.
Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.
To HIM THAT OVERCOMES will I grant to SIT WITH ME IN MY THRONE, even as I ALSO OVERCAME, and AM SET DOWN WITH MY FATHER IN HIS THRONE.
He that has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.
Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for my eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts.
What The World Needs Now Is Love / Dionne Warwick / 1965
And even more so in the Year of The Lord 2013
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2cW8Alo_5uI