Thunder from Jerusalem, Bodie and Brock Thoene

 Thunder from Jerusalem, Bodie and Brock Thoene

This is the second book in the Zion Legacy series, this is based in the era immediately after World War 2 when many Jews chose to go back to Israel when Israel became a nation, and the terrible battles that were fought there in the midst of those decisions.

This is a good series but I do have a hard time reading it, it feels like there are so many different characters and sub stories it's a little hard for me to track sometimes. However, I do learn history better if it is told in story format, so it has been good for me to read this and understand at least a glimpse into what life was like in post-war Israel and how the war did not end for them with the end of WWII.

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Ezra. Holman Christian Standard Bible

 The book of Ezra in the Old Testament occurs during Israel's exile and involves the rebuilding of the Temple. 

One thing that caught my attention in this book is the last two chapters, it talks about the people of Israel intermarrying with the pagan people of the surrounding countries. When this matter was brought up, the people of Israel repented and it was decided that they would send away their pagan wives and the children they had with them.

In our own culture, this seems harsh. And maybe it was in their culture as well. The point I took from it is this: God made a covenant with the nation of Israel to remain separate, including racially separate from those around them. Not as a matter of racial supremacy, but because God wanted them to be defined as His chosen people, chosen to bring salvation to the world. There were exceptions made in His law, but the non-Israelites intermarrying had to completely forsake their gods, religion, and culture and follow the law of the covenant to be accepted.  In this case, that is not what was happening. The pagan wives were drawing their husbands away from God into idolatry. The end result, I am sure was messy and devastating, as I am sure in some way they must have loved their wives and children. 

Sometimes hard choices have to be made when it comes to obedience to God. Sometimes we may do something that we know is outside of God's will and will never be accepted in God's eyes. Sometimes we embrace those relationships, those choices, and paths, until it becomes intertwined with us and it just seems normal. But it isn't and if we want to be right with God, we have to align ourselves with God's word and his will, and have to let it go. It gets messy, and it's painful, but then God can begin healing us, and redeeming the situation.

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2 Chronicles, Holman Christian Standard Bible

 2 Chronicles is a continuation of 1 Chronicles, a history of Israel and Judah and the reign of kings. Again, there is the theme throughout this book: those kings who turned away from God and turned toward evil and idolatry, were brought down. Those who turned to God and followed him and did away with idolatry, God blessed them and blessed the land and the people, and protected them. These books show how God's covenant with Israel worked, and still works. If Israel will be his people, and follow him and his commandments, and not turn to wickedness and idolatry, he will bless them.

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1 Corinthians, Holman Christian Standard Bible

 There is so much packed into this epistle written by the Apostle Paul to the Corinthian Church. There are many sermons that have been preached out of here, on love, spiritual gifts, roles of men and women in marriage and the church, doing things that might cause weaker believers to stumble. There is a long discussion about eating food offered to idols, and I think a lot of the meaning of that is lost on modern-day Christians. I think there was more to it than just eating food that was set before idols, then given to others to eat, but I am going to have to research it. We know that in many Greco-Roman temples, not only were there animal sacrifices, but also sexual offerings as well, and demonic activity. But like I said, I think this needs some in depth study before I comment any more on it.

I am going to share one little part of this book from chapter 10, verses 6-13. In context, Paul is speaking about the Israelites during the time of Moses in Exodus, how they constantly turned back to idolatry and sinful acts, and is applying it to believers: 

"Now these things became examples for us, so that we will not desire evil things as they did. Don't become idolaters as some of them were; as it is written, 'The people sat down to eat and drink, and got up to play.' Let us not commit sexual immorality as some of them did, and in a single day 23,000 people fell dead. Let us not test Christ as some of them did and were destroyed by snakes. Nor should we complain as some of them did, and were killed by the destroyer. Now these things happened to them as examples, and they were written as a warning to us, on whom the ends of the ages have come. So whoever thinks he stands must be careful not to fall. No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to humanity. God is faithful, and He will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation He will also provide a way of escape so that you are able to bear it. "

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Romans, Holman Christian Standard Bible

 Ah, the book of Romans, written by the Apostle Paul, to the Christians in Rome. There is so much good stuff in this book I don't think one can retain it all in one time through it. In the first chapter, Paul tells us that the depravity in the world comes from seeing evidence of God in this world and rejecting him, causing hearts to be hardened, thinking becomes nonsense, and their senseless minds become darkened. Claiming to be wise, they become fools, exchanging God's glory for cheap counterfeits.  And it is for this reason that God turned them over to depraved minds including homosexuality, envy, murder, pride, boasting, inventing evil, parental disobedience, undiscerning minds, untrustworthy behavior, being unloving and unmerciful (paraphrased). Paul lays it all out from the get go and he's pretty blunt. He was speaking to the early church in Rome, a center for immoral behavior, and I am sure that many new converts came from that culture where immorality was just an acceptable part of daily life. He had to make sure they understood that this was not acceptable, especially as followers of Christ. He then proceeds to make sure they know that ALL have sinned and need Christ, from the decadent Roman citizen to the Pharisee in the synagogue, and that true righteousness comes through faith in Christ.

I will probably hit other areas of Romans the next time I read it, I just wanted to share this opening part of it. Note that nowhere does it say that because Jesus loves them, that sinners can stay in their sinful lifestyles and still be part of the body of Christ. We all must turn away from our sin  and not pick it up again. We can't turn away from it if we don't recognize it as sin. And we can't do that without God showing it to us.

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The Book of Acts, Holman Christian Standard Bible

 The Book of the Acts of the Apostles, written by Doctor Luke, a history of the early church from the time of Jesus' Ascension to Paul's travels. 

Acts 2, with an outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon the believers in Christ, Peter gave a sermon, and starting at verse 37, the people "came under deep conviction" and asked, "Brothers, what must we do?"

"Repent," Peter said to them, "and be baptized , each of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is for you and for your children, and for all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call." 

I think we as modern day Christians complicate matters too much. We are told to believe and be saved. And we are told to repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus and we WILL receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. It doesn't say you will receive the gift of speaking in tongues. It doesn't say you will fall down and convulse. It doesn't even say you will visually manifest a supernatural gift in that moment. But that doesn't mean that you don't have the gift of the Holy Spirit. That will become evident in your fruit. When you bear fruit of love, joy, peace, and the other fruits of the spirit, that will be your evidence. It will be in how you live your life, both when you are being watched and when you aren't, and will bring focus and glory to God through Jesus Christ, not on your own attempts to manifest the Holy Spirit. 

Let's get one thing straight. We don't manipulate the Holy Spirit into moving. We don't control the Holy Spirit. Living in the gift of the Holy Spirit requires living in obedience to the Word of  God, living in humility, and running any thought or idea we have that we think might be God speaking to us, through what His Word already says. If it doesn't line up, it isn't the Holy Spirit. If it doesn't bring focus to God, better rethink what you are going to say. 

For example, a "godly man" told this teenage boy that God revealed His word, that this man was going to marry his daughter. This boy said absolutely not, God never told him such a thing. Then this "godly man" told another teenage boy the exact same thing. Neither of these boys married her. Was that the Holy Spirit working through him? He was a leader in a church, well respected. He may have meant well in finding a mate for his daughter, but manipulating the "Holy Spirit" is wrong on any level.

I believe you will more likely see real movements of the Holy Spirit in those who are the most humble. those who don't seek to do things to cause attention on themselves. Sometimes the quietest people are the most obedient and in tune to what the Holy Spirit wants. After all, in the Old Testament, didn't God speak in a still small voice rather than in the storm and wind? 

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1 Chronicles, Holman Christian Standard version

 First Chronicles is pretty much a history book for Israel, chronicling important genealogies in their history, of their tribes and priesthood, and kings. It goes over a lot of events that happened in David's life, goes through some instructions and setup for the Temple, who was assigned what roles in Temple service, and ends with Solomon's reign. 

This book is not exactly the most enjoyable reading, but is filled with great information if you are doing an in depth historical study of Israel.

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II Kings, Holman Christian Standard Bible

 This book of the Old Testament continues the records of the kings of Israel and Judah. The theme throughout this book seems to be that God offers blessing and protection if the kings will honor and obey him and not turn to evil actions and idolatry. Over and over again, we see more kings turn away from God to follow evil than we see good kings who obey God. Those that do obey God are given blessing for their reign. 

I think this theme can be applied to our daily life as well. If we turn away from evil and embrace and obey God, He will guide and bless us. That doesn't mean life will always be perfect, but He will have His hand on us and bless us and those around us.

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1Kings, Holman Christian Standard Bible

 The first book of 2022 that I have finished is 1 Kings, in the Holman Christian Standard edition.

In this book of the Bible, it begins with David's last days, goes through Solomon's life, which started out great--he built God's temple, God gave him wisdom, riches, and prosperity, on provision that Solomon remain faithful to God-- but Solomon gets distracted by the many women he marries and brings into his harem. These are women who bring in their own gods from their own cultures and instead of stopping it, he allows it, and eventually follows suit---after having personal experience with the one true God. Because of this, God pronounces judgment on Israel, and it will be divided into two kingdoms, Israel and Judah. 

The line of David will continue through Judah. God promises good for the king of Israel, again, if he obeys and remains faithful. We see that again and again, God promises prosperity if leaders will follow him, and most turn away, bringing pain, division, and death. This is a record of the kings of Israel and Judah, and what happens in their reigns. 

Also in this book you will find some of the division and drama in David's children's lives, and later, the story of Elijah the Prophet.

Something that struck me as interesting is the wording chosen in the last chapter, 1 Kings 22:27 "...Put this guy in prison.." It amazes me how different versions of the Bible can be. This is the first time I have ever noticed the words "this guy" being used in a Bible!

The Bible I am reading from is The Illustrator's Notetaking Bible in the Holman Christian Standard edition, softcover. It has little doodles on the margins that you can color in. As an artist, I thought this might be fun, and I bought it to give me something to do a few years ago when I went on a mission trip to Kenya and had 20 hours of traveling by plane. Honestly, that's probably the only time I have colored in it, because as a professional artist, if I have spare time, it's usually spent creating art to sell...that's an area I would like to work on, just spending more time enjoying little stuff like coloring. But then again, that might have to wait on retirement. I guess maybe it's time to read some time management books!

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