SCIENCE IN THE BIBLE

 SCIENCE IN THE BIBLE

"He sits enthroned above the circle of the earth..." Isaiah 40:22 (The earth is not flat, it does not sit on a turtle's back, Atlas doesn't hold it above his head.)

Credit goes to Sealing Time Ministries

LIGHTING UP LIVES

 

LIGHTING UP LIVES

Ps. 18:28b - ". . .my God turns my darkness into light."

Ps. 19:8 - "The precepts of the LORD are right, giving joy to the heart.  The commands of the LORD are radiant, giving light to the eyes."

Ps. 43:3a - "Send forth your light and your truth, let them guide me. . ."

Ps. 43:5 - "Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God."

Ps. 112:4-8 - "Even in darkness light dawns for the upright, for the gracious and compassionate and righteous man. Good will come to him who is generous and lends freely, who conducts his affairs with justice. Surely he will never be shaken; a righteous man will be remembered forever. He will have no fear of bad news; his heart is steadfast, trusting in the LORD. His heart is secure, he will have no fear; in the end he will look in triumph on his foes."

Isa. 42:16b - "I will turn the darkness into light before them and make the rough places smooth. These are the things I will do; I will not forsake them."

Isa. 58:10 - ". . .and if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then your light will rise in the darkness, and your night will become like the noonday."

Matt. 11:28-30 - "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."

Jn 8:12 - "When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, 'I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.'"

 ““I have the right to do anything,” you say—but not everything is beneficial. “I have the right to do anything”—but not everything is constructive. No one should seek their own good, but the good of others.

 

SOMETHING YOU CAN FLAUNT

 

SOMETHING YOU CAN FLAUNT

When someone bullies you,

Or you must endure a taunt,

Don’t hang your head or cower,

Here is something you can flaunt.

You are the child of a king,

And one day you’ll wear a crown.

You’ll be a prince or princess;

Don’t let anyone get you down.

Some people may avoid you,

Just because you are poor,

But you will have riches in glory,

And live in a mansion galore.

No one on earth is perfect,

So you might have a physical flaw,

In heaven you’ll have no blemish,

Of yourself you will be in awe.

So the next time you are bullied,

And the taunting doesn’t end,

Just look your enemy in the eye,

And say, “I love you, my friend.”

For whatever problem you have on earth,

Whatever you must endure.

Life is but as the blink of the eye,

And heaven is the cure.

Becky Wall

 

DEALING WITH A PERSON WITH DEPRESSION

DEALING WITH A PERSON WITH DEPRESSION

Dealing With a Person With Depression

Most of us have had a bout of depression. Some have deep or clinical depression. Their world is dark, hopeless, unloving, hurtful, and everything and everybody are seen in a negative light. Maybe I should say a negative darkness. Many with depression will say they feel as if a dark cloud is hanging over them or that a dark blanket envelops them when they walk away from a well lit area filled with "normal" people and into their own living space.

People who have overcome depression are more empathetic toward others, especially those who are going through a bout of depression. Sometimes just talking it out makes a big difference. People who have had situational depression or worse are better equipped to handle a future situation because they have been through a storm or storms and realize the sun will shine again. They actually become stronger.

Encourage the person with depression to pour his or her emotions into an art form such as singing, playing an instrument, writing, sculpting, etc. If the person is into sports, give it his/her all. An art form without emotions poured into it is like the difference between creative writing and a newspaper article. And playing sports half-heartedly almost guarantees a loss.

Does the person have ADHD? Persons with ADHD have excess energy and emotions and therefore when they become adults, they fit right in with the teenagers. They have the energy to lead them while the rest of us have lost energy. They have trouble focusing but when they do, they can take their thoughts to a level others don't. Having ADHD is not a bad thing, though many with ADHD get depressed until they learn to corral their emotions and behavior. Then they often excel. Encourage the person who has it to use it for the good.

Self-discipline is needed in order to be an overcomer of suicidal thoughts, depression or anxiety. "Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly; I do not fight like a boxer beating the air. No, I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize" I Corinthians 9:24-27, NIV. Focus on serving others and give it your all. "Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might..." Eccl. 9:10a.

If you do happen to speak to someone with suicidal thoughts or comments, try to learn if they are serious, though even then a person can't be sure they are being forthright. Find out if they have a plan and if they do, how would they do it--cut their wrist, use a weapon, jump off a building, drown themselves, overdose on drugs? Has their normal behavior changed? Do they have dark circles around their eyes indicating lack of sleep or other health problems. Ask them when is the last time they slept and ate. That is important. Are they taking the medicine they have been prescribed, if any?

Keep them talking if they look like they're going to take action. Ask them who would be hurt by their actions? Ask if they have a pet. What is their favorite season? Remind them it will come around again. What sport do they like? What team? Do they like to swim? What was the funnest thing they ever did. (Don't use big words; keep language simple.) What was their most embarrassing moment? Tell them one of yours. (For me it was waving good-bye to my boyfriend in jr. high and turning around and walking into a tree with him still watching.)

If the person has been "dumped" by a boyfriend or girlfriend, don't minimize their feelings. Sympathize with them. Memorize the following scripture verses but don't worry if you have a difficult time memorizing book, chapter and verse (like Romans 12:15). "Blessed are you who weep now, for you will laugh." (Luke 6:21) "Woe to you who laugh now, for you will mourn and weep." (Luke 6:25) When a person is hurting now, their emotional pain will eventually turn to joy. God will punish those who cause pain to others instead of showing love. Those who laugh at a hurting person will be brought to tears. Our charge is to "Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn" (Romans 12:15) no matter the reason.

MY SON JOHN

MY SON JOHN

My son John was riding through the little town of Nashville, IL on his bicycle on his way to school one day looking upward at the sign his dad had made for a business there in town. Because he wasn't watching where he was going, he ran into the back of a pickup truck and landed sprawled across a big machine part in the back of the truck. Fearing the owner would come out of the business and wonder what he was doing in the back of his truck, he climbed out in a hurry and walked his bike the rest of the way to school because it was no longer rideable. When he got home he told me what happened in his laid-back way and when he finished I asked if anyone stopped to help him. He said, "Yow one man stopped but he just laughed and laughed."

My older sister and I, my two kids and her son were walking through the woods my older sister and her then husband had just purchased in Millstadt, IL. They were going to build a house on the property. My youngest sister was also with us. She went on ahead with my little son then all of a sudden she came running back to us terrified. We asked her what was wrong but she could hardly speak. Finally she got the word "snake" out and that was enough. I took off running toward my son who had stayed where they were and was standing perfectly still. We knew there were Copperhead snakes on their property but we failed to take that into consideration. I had to slow down before I got to my son so I wouldn't startle the snake. It was coiled and was having a staring contest with my son, who was standing there peacefully. I stood back as far as I could from my son and grabbed him from behind and got away from it. We had had enough of our tour of their woods so walked back to the car, but I had to put my son down because my knees weren't holding both of us. They had gone weak and shakey.

A more humorous life experience: My older sister, Linda, and I were looking for a parking place in Belleville, IL. Traffic had stopped at an intersection and a nun walked across the street with her habit flowing behind her in the wind. She had just purchased a broom. My son, just a toddler at the time, exclaimed, "Look, Mom! There's a witch!" Trying not to laugh I responded with "That's not a witch, honey, that's a nun." He said "Yes it is too. See she even has a broom." About that time we found a parking spot but we were laughing so hard we could hardly walk cross the street. 

Many years ago I had a pair of scissors in my hand about the time company came through the door, so I laid the scissors on the kitchen counter thinking that since the counter was taller than my son was, he couldn't reach them. I went to greet our company while going back through the kitchen. I looked down the hall and there was my young son running down the hall with the scissors pointed up. I just about had a heart attack. I couldn't get to him fast enough -- literally -- because he tripped and fell with those scissors pointed up. I picked him up while imagining the worst, but God must've sent an angel because all he had was a crease in the protective film on his eye. God has blessed that kid and us so many times. Don't you know his guardian angel is exhausted, though.

My then husband and I were in the kitchen doing our normal kitchen things when all of a sudden we both saw a bright flash of light come from our little son's bedroom at the end of the hall. We ran as fast as we could to his room to see what happened. He was just lying in his bed with eyes as big as saucers. We looked around the room and saw a melted nail under an outlet. I couldn't tell he was shocked in any way. Not even his fingers were burned. Once again, thank you God. He is now in his 50s and a grandfather.

We lived on an acre that was narrow and long. My son was playing in our back yard. He was a little more than a toddler. He was in the company of a bumble bee. Somehow he made the bumble bee madder than a hornet and the bee took out after him. I was surprised at how fast his little legs could run. He almost made it to the far end of the property where pine trees were growing and he tripped. When he did, the bee lost track of him and whizzed over him. All I could do was watch from the sliding glass doors in the dining room nurturing near heart attack #400. He was fine.

My dad loved to fish. Several of us older siblings were visiting our parents with our kids. They were still young. Dad decided to take my son and one of the youngest of his cousins out in the boat to fish. While they were fishing, a sudden storm came up -- a gullywasher. I was at home worrying and so was my youngest sister, the mother of the cousin that went fishing with Dad and my son. They ran into a small problem when the storm hit. The car was on the other side of the lake. So Dad headed for the other side. My son is laid-back and doesn't panic easily, or at least he didn't back then. He has his own kids now. That changes things. Back to my story, when they finally made it home I asked my son if he was afraid. He answered "No." I said, "Well, didn't water get in the boat?" He replied, "Yes, but we just poured it out."

My two kids, two of their cousins and the mother of the cousins were at Worlds of Fun in Kansas City. We mothers let the kids go on the rides while we stayed on solid ground. We were chatting away when all of a sudden my son and his sidekick ran up to us and said the girls were on a ride. He could hardly get the words out. I wasn't concerned at first because I thought maybe they were scared on the ride and my son was scared for his sister. As it turned out, all four kids were scared because the roller coaster ride the two girls were on had stopped on the highest part of the roller coaster with a broken wheel The girls discussed whether or not they were going to die because they didn't see how they could possibly get down. They were terrified. Part of what confused me when my son told me they were stuck on the ride is that he expressed his fear as anger. So my mind went the wrong direction. I wondered why they were into it this time. He wasn't and isn't an angry person, never threw tantrums, didn't throw things or get mouthy, but he was angry then. He actually taught me a psychology lesson that day. Just because a person acts angry doesn't mean the person is truly angry; they may be afraid. My son expressed that same anger when he thought his sister had been kidnapped while sprinting down the country road. She went out of our sight, which was unusual, but she had just turned a corner and went farther than usual. Fortunately the girls weren't stuck on the ride too terribly long and we could all relax.

I had no sooner finished writing these true life stories about "my son John" when he was told he had cancer. Since he is a private person, I will keep the details private. He went through surgery, seven weeks of radiation therapy once a day except weekends, and chemo once a week. The things he had to go through in preparation for the radiation treatments were, in my opinion, horrendous. He had to be hospitalized for a week partway through the treatments. During his surgery and treatments, hundreds of people were praying for him.

His final treatment was scheduled but he couldn't make it because he was vomiting. It was scheduled again but he couldn't make it this time because the reservoir across the road was flooding and he couldn't get out. The secondary dam had breached. So he went out and filmed it. 

The video was all over the local news. He didn’t respond to CNN’s request to use it globally or he would have had more views than the 140,000 views on facebook. The video told the story of the flood but there was another story behind the flood story and that was his personal story. John is cancer-free and is recovering at a normal pace. He is back at work except when he has to take time off for hospital visits in St. Louis, local doctor visits, and tests. He still welcomes prayers.

https://www.facebook.com/john.wall.5205/videos/295080710294386

BEST FRIENDS UNTIL DEATH

 

BEST FRIENDS UNTIL DEATH

(I Samuel 18-20)

Jonathan’s dad was King Saul,

The son was therefore a prince.

David and Jonathan were very best friends,

Which made the surly king wince.

For Saul had come to hate David,

He was jealous of his fame.

He badly wanted to kill him,

He hated his very name.

God’s Spirit had left King Saul,

And so he became depressed,

He asked David to play the harp,

When he could not rest.

One day Saul lost his temper;

He tried to spear the young man against a wall.

Though David had served him well,

That didn’t matter to Saul at all.

Jonathan helped David escape,

His father’s murderous quest.

He knew his friend’s heart was good;

He thought of him as the best.

He reasoned with his father,

And convinced him David should stay.

So David returned to the castle,

Until fear again drove him away.

The two friends stayed in touch,

They vowed to be best friends forever.

But Jonathan was killed in a battle,

Their “forever” only death could sever.

--Becky Wall

There's more to the story. I encourage you to read I Samuel 18-20. 

THE FIRST KING

THE FIRST KING

(I Samuel 10-11)

Israel wanted a king,

Which made God feel rejected.

He decided to grant their request,

Even though He greatly objected.

He instructed the prophet Samuel,

To anoint Saul the first king.

Saul came from the tribe of Benjamin;

Both good and bad he would bring.

Samuel prepared a dinner,

And put Saul at the head of the table.

He gave him the choicest leg of meat,

Though as king, Saul felt unable.

Samuel anointed Saul the next day,

More or less against Saul’s will.

He thought himself not important enough,

For such a role to fill.

But God filled Saul with His Spirit,

And he appeared like royalty.

He was a head taller than everyone,

But he lacked loyalty.

Though anointed, Saul kept it quiet,

‘Til Samuel showed up one day,

And had each tribe march before him;

Much to Saul’s dismay.

After every tribe and clan had passed,

And Saul was named as king,

He could not be found,

For he was cowardly hiding.

The Lord revealed his hiding place;

He was cowering behind the supplies.

Though he stood a head taller than everyone else,

He was small in his own eyes.

Samuel talked him up to the crowd,

Then they shouted, “Long live the king.”

Samuel stated the rules of kingship,

Only trouble would such power bring.

Saul would obey the Lord,

But rarely all the way.

He liked to do things differently,

Which caused God much dismay.

His confidence grew stronger,

So much so that he became evil.

Eventually he was full of himself;

And turned into a weevil.

He tried to take the life,

Of the boy who played a harp.

He even tried to spear his own son,

But his son was a little more sharp.

Saul’s moods often changed with the wind,

For God’s Spirit was no longer with him.

He was nice one minute; the next he was not;

He knew his future looked grim.

The boy that played the harp for him,

Would one day take his place.

Because Saul did things his own way,

His life would end in disgrace.

--Becky Wall