70, 80 or 120 - You Choose!

photo courtesy of iStockphoto.com

Dear Friends,

Can I share one of my pet peeves with you?

I have a real problem with the repetition of bible verses that are being taken completely out of context.

This isn't an indictment of the people who do this because they are often just repeating something that they've been taught by a trusted source. I just see a need to break a very dangerous cycle.

Most of us have misquoted someone or taken something out of context at one time or another. However when people repeatedly state that "the bible states so and so" or "The Lord says so and so", and what they're repeating is inaccurate or out of context, they can unknowingly lead another person's faith astray.

Here's an example of what I'm referring to and, a little something to ponder during the week.

Why do so many people die around the ages of 70 - 80?

Could it be because they believe that people are supposed to die at that age?

Have you ever heard someone say:

"Well you know the bible says that man is only promised threescore and 10 (70) years".

or

"Well you know after 70, you're living on borrowed time".

Have you ever wondered if the Christian bible actually says that?

Well it really doesn't. But, for generations many Christians have been quoting, as fact, a bible verse Psalm 90:10 completely out of context.

In the King James Version of the bible the verse reads:

"The days of our years are threescore (60) 2years and ten; and if by reason of strength they be fourscore (80) years, yet is their strength labour and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away."

It sounds like man is only promised a lifespan of 70-80 years, right?

Not really.

Here is that same verse in the Amplified Bible (AMP), which is now recognized as a more accurate translation of the original Hebrew text, along with a footnote which places the version in its proper context:

Psalm 90:10

"The days of our years are ^[a]threescore years and ten (seventy years)--or even, if by reason of strength, fourscore years (eighty years); yet is their pride [in additional years] only labor and sorrow, for it is soon gone, and we fly away."

Footnotes:

1. Psalm 90:10 This psalm is credited to Moses, who is interceding with God to remove the curse which made it necessary for every Israelite over twenty years of age (when they rebelled against God at Kadesh-barnea) to die before reaching the promised land (Num. 14:26-35). Moses says most of them are dying at seventy years of age. This number has often been mistaken as a set span of life for all mankind. It was not intended to refer to anyone except those Israelites under the curse during that particular forty years. Seventy years never has been the average span of life for humanity. When Jacob, the father of the twelve tribes, had reached 130 years (Gen. 47:9), he complained that he had not attained to the years of his immediate ancestors. In fact, Moses himself lived to be 120 years old, Aaron 123, Miriam several years older, and Joshua 110 years of age. Note as well that in the Millennium a person dying at 100 will still be thought a child (Isa. 65:20).

You can read this verse in several bible translations at:
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalms%2090:10;
&version=31;65;45;51;50;#en-NIV-en-MSG-en-AMP-15389

When you get a chance, read the entire Psalm for yourself.

Then go read Genesis 6:1-3

In the KJV it reads:

"1And it came to pass, when men began to multiply on the face of the earth, and daughters were born unto them,

2That the sons of God saw the daughters of men that they were fair; and they took them wives of all which they chose.

3And the LORD said, My spirit shall not always strive with man, for that he also is flesh: yet his days shall be an hundred and twenty years."

In the Message version the same verses read as:

" 1-2 When the human race began to increase, with more and more daughters being born, the sons of God noticed that the daughters of men were beautiful. They looked them over and picked out wives for themselves.

3 Then God said, "I'm not going to breathe life into men and women endlessly. Eventually they're going to die; from now on they can expect a life span of 120 years."

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis%206:1-3;
&version=45;65;31;50;9;

Again don't take my word for it, read the verses for yourself.

Now if you had to choose a verse to quote why would you choose a verse that offers you a lifespan of 70-80 years rather than one that offers you a lifespan of 120 years?

So why don't people live to to 120? Throughout the bible are numerous references to ways that we can lengthen or shorten our lives, ( check out Leviticus, Deuteronomy and Proverbs to start).

As I've said don't just take my word that this is true. In fact, don't just take anyone's word on what the bible says, Check it out for yourself.

Just a little something to think about.

Now for most of you, I'm preaching to the choir and this message isn't really for you. But if you know someone who might need it, pass it on. You just might help save their life.

Deuteronomy 30:19

"I call heaven and earth to witness this day against you that I have set before you life and death, the blessings and the curses; therefore choose life, that you and your descendants may live"

Be A Well Watered Garden

I recently heard a minister say that he was advising his partners not to take part in the recession. In other words choose not to let all of the news around you dictate your attitude and your actions.

I agree with this spiritual teaching. However, I would add this caveat. While we may refuse to let our individual lives be controlled by the changing winds and tides of the economy we must not ignore how these events are impacting our neighbors.

While some people are telling others to stop listening to the news, I encourage you to listen to more news, to listen closely -- listen and ask questions. And after you listen to the news, listen to The Holy Spirit, ask for discernment -- seek Wisdom.

Seek wisdom so you will not only have an answer for yourself but for your neighbor as well. It is not enough for us to know that we are flourishing. We are called to be fruitful ... to be "a well watered garden".

The Message (MSG)
Isaiah 58:6-12

"This is the kind of fast day I'm after:
to break the chains of injustice,
get rid of exploitation in the workplace,
free the oppressed,
cancel debts.
What I'm interested in seeing you do is:
sharing your food with the hungry,
inviting the homeless poor into your homes,
putting clothes on the shivering ill-clad,
being available to your own families.
Do this and the lights will turn on,
and your lives will turn around at once.l
Your righteousness will pave your way.
The God of glory will secure your passage.
Then when you pray, God will answer.
You'll call out for help and I'll say, 'Here I am.'

A Full Life in the Emptiest of Places

"If you get rid of unfair practices,
quit blaming victims,
quit gossiping about other people's sins,
If you are generous with the hungry
and start giving yourselves to the down-and-out,
Your lives will begin to glow in the darkness,
your shadowed lives will be bathed in sunlight.
I will always show you where to go.
I'll give you a full life in the emptiest of places—
firm muscles, strong bones.
You'll be like a well-watered garden,
a gurgling spring that never runs dry.
You'll use the old rubble of past lives to build anew,
rebuild the foundations from out of your past.
You'll be known as those who can fix anything,
restore old ruins, rebuild and renovate,
make the community livable again."


photo courtesy of iStockphoto.com

Who Will Tell These Children About Him?

Mark 10:13-16 ( The Message )

The people brought children to Jesus, hoping he might touch them. The disciples shooed them off. But Jesus was irate and let them know it: "Don't push these children away. Don't ever get between them and me. These children are at the very center of life in the kingdom. Mark this: Unless you accept God's kingdom in the simplicity of a child, you'll never get in." Then, gathering the children up in his arms, he laid his hands of blessing on them.


Does the image above depict how you see Jesus' relationship with children? It does for for me. In fact when I saw this picture on my friend Lee's homepage I immediately asked her for permission to use it. I didn't know how or when I would want to reprint the picture but I knew that I would. Today is that day.

Yesterday, someone shared the following news story with me and all I could think of was who would tell these children that Jesus has not, would not, never has and never will condone what evil men are doing to them in His name.

As if millions of Africa's children do not face enough challenges, now they are facing unimaginable evils after being accused of witchcraft, yes witchcraft. The following video is a trailer for a documentary which tells the story of children in Angola who are being tortured and murdered.

Yes. the Old Testament does refer to killing witches but did Jesus?

The next video features churches in Nigeria where innocent children are being labeled as witches in order to extort money from their parents. Evil men presenting them self a preachers of the gospel are by claiming that they can cure children of witchcraft if the parents give to the church.

Matthew 7:15-20 in the Message Bible reads:

"Be wary of false preachers who smile a lot, dripping with practiced sincerity. Chances are they are out to rip you off some way or other. Don't be impressed with charisma; look for character. Who preachers are is the main thing, not what they say. A genuine leader will never exploit your emotions or your pocketbook. These diseased trees with their bad apples are going to be chopped down and burned."

The following is a segment of a video by Internews (http://www.internews.org)/ a group trying to raise awareness of the plight of Congolese children accused of witchcraft. The videos were produced by Angela Nicoara and Mike Ormsby and are part of a project funded by the United States Agency for International Development that trained journalists from Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) to report on peace talks and social issues.

In Jesus's time there were children who might have been considered by the ignorant to be witches. Here's how He handled it:

Matthew 17:14-20 ( The Message )

With a Mere Kernel of Faith

14-16At the bottom of the mountain, they were met by a crowd of waiting people. As they approached, a man came out of the crowd and fell to his knees begging, "Master, have mercy on my son. He goes out of his mind and suffers terribly, falling into seizures. Frequently he is pitched into the fire, other times into the river. I brought him to your disciples, but they could do nothing for him."

17-18Jesus said, "What a generation! No sense of God! No focus to your lives! How many times do I have to go over these things? How much longer do I have to put up with this? Bring the boy here." He ordered the afflicting demon out—and it was out, gone. From that moment on the boy was well.

19When the disciples had Jesus off to themselves, they asked, "Why couldn't we throw it out?"

20"Because you're not yet taking God seriously," said Jesus. "The simple truth is that if you had a mere kernel of faith, a poppy seed, say, you would tell this mountain, 'Move!' and it would move. There is nothing you wouldn't be able to tackle."

* * * * *

Against false prophets.

Nothing so much prevents men from entering the strait gate, and becoming true followers of Christ, as the carnal, soothing, flattering doctrines of those who oppose the truth. They may be known by the drift and effects of their doctrines. Some part of their temper and conduct is contrary to the mind of Christ. Those opinions come not from God that lead to sin. (Mt 7:21-29)

* * * * *

a message to these spiritual charlatans.

Matthew 18:2-7 (The Message)

For an answer Jesus called over a child, whom he stood in the middle of the room, and said, "I'm telling you, once and for all, that unless you return to square one and start over like children, you're not even going to get a look at the kingdom, let alone get in. Whoever becomes simple and elemental again, like this child, will rank high in God's kingdom. What's more, when you receive the childlike on my account, it's the same as receiving me.

"But if you give them a hard time, bullying or taking advantage of their simple trust, you'll soon wish you hadn't. You'd be better off dropped in the middle of the lake with a millstone around your neck. Doom to the world for giving these God-believing children a hard time! Hard times are inevitable, but you don't have to make it worse—and it's doomsday to you if you do.