Global Warming Anecdote

I read an article recently that described global warming as "the unbeliever's last days." I thought it a cute saying until I thought about it. Those who believe in global warming are believers and don't know it.

To the global warming folks, every environmental and geological abnormality is caused by the activities of modern man, predominantly white, using technology and industry. Indigenous people and poor people are victims.

Let's don't debate the so-called cause right now. Let's look instead at where the damage occurs.

The ocean is at the exact right level until man interferes.

The temperature of the air and the oceans is at the exact right level until man interferes.  

Hurricanes, tornados, typhoons and other storms were manageable until man  interferes.

There is a balance conducive to plant and animal life until man interferes.

I could go on and on.

To the global warming advocate the earth was perfect until there was interference from man. Do these folks believe that the earth was created perfect for man and mankind is fallen? THey certainly must not believe that it all just happened.

They are believers and not unbelievers up to a point.

They believe that salvation comes from government.

David Sneed

A Current Comment on Healing

I had a recent case of someone telling me that healing is not for today. I needed to give a quick answer. I decided to find a way to agree with him.

"Do you know that there is a scriptural basis for what you say?" I asked.

Hebrews 13:8 tells us that "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever." If we want to know what Jesus is NOT doing today then all we have to do is see what he did NOT do yesterday. I could sense the man felt he was in trouble.

"In Matthew 13:58 the Bible says "and he did not do many mighty works there because of their unbelief." The account in Mark 6:5 is that "And He there did no mighty work save laying His hands upon a few sick folk and healing them."

Yesterday Jesus could not heal because of unbelief. Today he cannot heal because of unbelief.

David Sneed

Healing of Old Age

For some time going back to the latter part of 2010, I had been developing pains in my back,buttocks and legs. The pain was not consistent in location or intensity.

I was told that by those older than me that it was a sign of old age.

I remember the joke of the man at the doctor complaining of pain in his right leg. When the doctor told him that it was old age he said "But Doc my other leg is the same age and it doesn't hurt!"

In studying the Word I was led to the passage where Elijah was discouraged. He had performed a great miracle to prove his God. Instead of being converted, the people had blamed Elijah for making their God look bad. Elijah asked God to take his life. In reading the whole context of what he did and what God had him do, I can see that Elijah may have had the leg pains as a manifestation of his discouragement.

The Lord healed me of my pains. They will not be back. And there is more.

Yesterday I went on my first hike since I was healed of leg pains. The hike was to a waterfall. Some in my party had been there numerous times. Others had not been at all. The distance total was about five miles. It was 95 degrees. Normally the day after a hike I am tired and sore. Not so today. Not only am I not tired and sore I am rested and feel good.

God will test our faith. There were four people along the way, other hikers to whom we talked, who made comments to me that seemed strange. "Are you ok?" "How can you hike wearing cowboy boots?" "Are you doing all right?" I told Cheri about it. "Do I look like an old man?"

I praise God for his mercies.

David Sneed

The Geographic Will of God

Often Christians stop at the positional will of God. They can, at least intellectually, accept the position that God wants us to have in Him. John 3:16 is comprehendible.

The geographic will of God, the GPS location if you will, is an important part of being in the will of God.

God is omnipresent. He can be everywhere at once. We are mono-present and can only be in once place at at a time. So to do what He wants us to do and to receive His blessings we must be where He wants us to be. The concept should be easy to understand. If someone is out of work, they will not get a job by siting at home watching TV.

Abraham was told to leave his people and go elsewhere. Philip was told to go to a certain spot on a certain road south of the city. Three men were sent from Caesarea to see Peter in Joppa. Jonah was told to go somewhere and he went elsewhere. God brought him back.

Jesus delayed in going to a certain feast. Jesus also delayed two days after hearing of the death of Lazarus. So there is also the when of geography and not just the place.

We should always be seeking where God wants us to be and when He wants us there. There are things He wants us to do. So how do we do this? Can I move to Bora Bora and and live on the beach? Surely God would want me to do that!

We should seek God's geographic will for us in the same way we do all parts of his will. Study of the Word, prayer,counsel of elders,evaluation of circumstances,and our motivation.

David Sneed

Two Types of Knowledge

In the Bible in Hosea 4:6 we read that "My people perish for lack of knowledge..."

We know that people perish from lack of goals. But goals achievement requires knowledge.

There are to types of knowledge, explicit and tacit.

Explicit knowledge is the very specific. It may be called book knowledge. Encyclopedias,  dictionaries, and atlases contain explicit knowledge. I remember years ago one of my uncles telling me that he wishes he had the money back he had spent on an encyclopedia. Why did he say that? Because he had gained the tacit knowledge that explicit knowledge by itself would not bring him happiness or success.

Tacit knowledge is not easily transferred. Often it is only gained through experience.

I remember the old story of the machine that was not working. The owner of the machine was desperate as his entire business depended on that machine. A repairman came in. He examined the machine and then turned a certain screw. His bill was for $400. He was asked to itemize his bill. "All you did was turn one screw." The itemization came back. Turning screw $1. Knowing which screw to turn $399.

We need vision. We need goals. We need specialized knowledge. Then we need to gain explicit knowledge.

David Sneed

How Can Faith Be Used in the Real World?

The best definition of faith is in Hebrews 11:1.

"Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen."

Faith is now. The man at the Pool of Bethesda had lain there for 38 years waiting for his chance. Jesus explained faith ti him., He got up and walked away.

According to the Bible, faith is a substance, It is very real. While we cannot see what we are hoping for faith is the substance of it. Faith is the evidence of things not seen.

God calls things that are not a though they were. He has always rewarded faith.

The world says show me and I will believe. God says believe and I will show you.

In Jeremiah 33:3 we read "Call unto me and I will answer thee and show thee great and might things that thou knowest not."

David Sneed

Did God Make a Mistake with Hannele Cox?

Five years ago Hannele Cox, now 13, was diagnosed with a rare bacterial infection. Even rarer, the specialists determined that the bacteria had infected her bones and hand amputation would be required.

She was sent to National Jewish Health in Denver where she was examined. she has been sent home to be treated for a nerve problem. "After reviewing all available information, including a thorough review of previous medical records, physical examination, new imaging and blood tests, and consulting with an orthopedist, radiologists and physical therapists, infectious disease experts at National Jewish Health have determined that there is no evidence of an active infection in Hannele Cox's hand," a news release stated. "She does not require surgical treatment and no additional antibiotics at this time." 

Frequently we hear that God heals through doctors. Did God make a mistake with Hannele Cox? For five years she has suffered and has been forced to give up on her desire to be a gymnast. For five years she has been given treatment and has been told of the continuing progress of the bacteria into her bones. She went to Denver expecting to lose her hand. 

Doctors can do great things. That does not mean it is God at work.

The Bible tells us in Hebrews 13:8,  "Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, today and forever." To know what Jesus does today and will do tomorrow we can look at what He did yesterday. 

The Bible has instances of Jesus healing. In one case He was not even present when the healing occurred.  

Jesus healed yesterday. He heals today. 

In Matthew 13:58 we read that "He did not many mighty works there because of their unbelief. " Yesterday when He did not heal it was because of unbelief. Today when He does not heal it is because if unbelief. If you go to a doctor for healing it is not because Jesus changed his way of doing things. 

If you do not believe Jesus about healing is it possible that you do not believe Jesus about salvation?

David Sneed

Timber for Solomon's Temple

I Kings 5:6-12

This is a simple story of a deal between Solomon and Hiram to provide wood for the temple that was to be built. Solomon requested Cedar. Hiram modified the order to include Fir as well as Cedar.

Solomon recognized that the Sidonians were much better hewers of wood than his people. This would indicate that the product to be delivered was more than just cut lumber.

Transportation would be to float the timber on rafts to a point that would be the closest to Jerusalem. At that unloading point payment would be made.

The payment was 20,000 measures of wheat and 20 measures of oil. A measure of grain was roughly what a man could hold in both hands. A measure of wheat would make a small loaf of bread.

What is somewhat puzzling at this point is the transaction itself. It sounds like this was a multi-year project. There is some indication of a measure of wheat being the pay for one man for one day. Overall the point is that there was an orderly plan and that there was a friendly arrangement to exchange what each party had for what the other party needed.

In use of the Bible for application to current times we should meditate on even such mundane things as the way the wood was secured for the temple. Everything in the Bible has a purpose. It may be too that John 6, the feeding of the five thousand, has a spiritual meaning connection to the timber contract fulfillment.

David Sneed