tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15140080603161465472024-03-13T22:02:02.223-05:00AndrewGilmore.netFor God's sake, be excellent.Andyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12433979448447199665noreply@blogger.comBlogger276125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1514008060316146547.post-80430592212072663272024-02-27T05:00:00.001-06:002024-02-27T05:00:00.136-06:00How the Wise Respond to God's Wrath<p> <i>A preview of February's email-only article.</i></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq8ifGnDUUhS7XzCVN7pn6AJ8XbfKQqYbVFU3bQG7JZqUjLJx5kQUIStP0cYIqGWNBVw8_7o4SC0ljqKbwhC9OF7jcbbo300qKxlI9B8PkkNhVG_2DENZ2vCXtVFRmpR2foVhk69j_fW9gtx0lvhsTTa_l3BCWgYaBsU3HGUmejiGZ9EO2p21DXG3wao4/s6016/ben-white-bEbqpPeHEM4-unsplash.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4016" data-original-width="6016" height="367" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq8ifGnDUUhS7XzCVN7pn6AJ8XbfKQqYbVFU3bQG7JZqUjLJx5kQUIStP0cYIqGWNBVw8_7o4SC0ljqKbwhC9OF7jcbbo300qKxlI9B8PkkNhVG_2DENZ2vCXtVFRmpR2foVhk69j_fW9gtx0lvhsTTa_l3BCWgYaBsU3HGUmejiGZ9EO2p21DXG3wao4/w640-h427/ben-white-bEbqpPeHEM4-unsplash.jpg" width="550" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://unsplash.com/photos/man-kneeling-down-near-shore-bEbqpPeHEM4" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Ben White</a></td></tr></tbody></table><i><br /></i><p></p><p>DO YOU EVER think about the wrath of God?</p><p>I know our heavenly father's final judgment is everyone's favorite pastime, but those who are wise do not shy away from the subject.</p><p>In this month's email-exclusive article, we'll examine Proverbs 16:14, its spiritual applications, and why God desires repentance, not penance.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">Every month I publish an exclusive article for my email subscribers, and if you'd like instant, free access, fill out the form below. (If you are already a subscriber, check your inbox!)</div></div><div><br /></div><div>Here's a snippet of this month's exclusive:</div><div><br /></div><div><div></div><blockquote style="text-align: left;"><blockquote><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: times;">I LOVE THE multidimensionality of advice offered in the book of Proverbs. On the one hand the </span><span style="font-family: times;">book provides practical guidance for life with passages like, "The slacker does not plow in season; </span><span style="font-family: times;">at harvest time he looks, but nothing is there" (20:4, BSB). And on the other hand Proverbs pours </span><span style="font-family: times;">out spiritual salves in verses such as "Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the </span><span style="font-family: times;">springs of life" (4:23).</span> </span></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote style="text-align: left;"><blockquote><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: times;"></span><span style="font-family: times;">Often, you get both levels of insight within the same verse.</span> </span></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote><blockquote style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: times;"></span><span style="font-family: times;">Proverbs 16:14 is a good example: "A king’s wrath is a messenger of death, and a wise man will </span><span style="font-family: times;">appease it." The verse may not seem too practical since we do not answer to kings. Nevertheless we </span><span style="font-family: times;">all have authority figures in our lives--bosses and teachers to name a couple--who have the power </span><span style="font-family: times;">to impact our lives. Their wrath may not bring about death in a literal sense, but a termination or </span><span style="font-family: times;">failed course can ruin one's livelihood. As a result, we would do well to prevent, if possible, their </span><span style="font-family: times;">ire and, if not possible, to appease it.</span></span></blockquote><div><br /></div></blockquote></div><p> Want to read the rest?</p><div><div><br /></div><div>Just enter your email address to join the list, and I'll send it to you right away:</div><div><br /></div><style type="text/css">@import url("https://assets.mlcdn.com/fonts.css?version=1707735");</style>
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</script><div><br /></div><div>I send two to three emails per month, but you can unsubscribe at any time.</div><div><br /></div><div>See you next month!</div></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br />Andrew Gilmorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04537644983592180976noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1514008060316146547.post-71059420700062997572023-07-18T05:00:00.005-05:002023-07-18T05:00:00.137-05:00Cancel Your Plans: God Has Something Better for You<p><i>Freedom comes with responsibility.</i></p><p><i><br /></i></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVicgDSyNdLfpi8VOOWRsMSonjhV9yyegUhzMGrX-WVvAEQQOSFmNvnuV7iKHUd-4nqQC87fyAsTAnAi_Tuw0uijrrX7m0Jv0yY2oxMJtcnVo6NxQc6m3V1X4KdkbrQP1pdEzXuCVCWV9ShkY6D80FU0HlPs_D0smHCXKrzvQs2hLr5XjlC7DjR3RBRDw/s6016/parabol-the-agile-meeting-toolbox-p0xDCNg3cw8-unsplash.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4016" data-original-width="6016" height="367" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVicgDSyNdLfpi8VOOWRsMSonjhV9yyegUhzMGrX-WVvAEQQOSFmNvnuV7iKHUd-4nqQC87fyAsTAnAi_Tuw0uijrrX7m0Jv0yY2oxMJtcnVo6NxQc6m3V1X4KdkbrQP1pdEzXuCVCWV9ShkY6D80FU0HlPs_D0smHCXKrzvQs2hLr5XjlC7DjR3RBRDw/w640-h427/parabol-the-agile-meeting-toolbox-p0xDCNg3cw8-unsplash.jpg" width="550" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://unsplash.com/photos/p0xDCNg3cw8" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Parabol</a></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div></div><span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.andrewgilmore.net%2F2023%2F07%2Fcancel-your-plans-god-has-something.html" style="clear: left; display: inline; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="130" data-original-width="130" height="23" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj9Q8xHT6MNENTRwzQxFq-m_WMv3NdsUaacoBpLgaBnMwLIp0h3fqhfsvQmFiOq_eue4oOOnfRWY4TnmbeyNF9MXlvT8hHenYqe-qnSYq8uXHkJ1RFXcBhhahZydw9EhcgNMyQlN5nsjZ-fGeWwQ2ZwfVZtBDU7dtxoOLQnMZBOM3vvsSdL_jT8g1qY=w23-h23" width="23" /></a> </span><a href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.andrewgilmore.net%2F2023%2F07%2Fcancel-your-plans-god-has-something.html&text=" rel="" style="clear: left; display: inline; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="851" data-original-width="1034" height="21" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgCZLG1jlG7GP9tYuXnyJc5QxXE-WRhJR5wcYhC3d_GXQUk-G3WCK1NCEPamCcOmjCwgT6lGpyhwts8HGUA_XBKEaiuB7P462zcooJTSSt159981kQXi2Vk717Q4nVFaSLr9iz-3y2gmOfMJPUh0qt6JnefNla4rNwAmsVSzoys6fmoTVK7_qxJehUD=w26-h21" width="26" /></a><p></p><div><div><div><b><span style="font-size: medium;">IF YOU ASK</span></b> me, one of the great mysteries of human existence is the tension between freedom and the sovereignty of God. <a href="https://www.andrewgilmore.net/2013/06/FreeWillProof.html">I have strong opinions on the matter</a>, but even the most studied scholars would be foolish to claim they've unraveled the matter in totality; the wisest among humans is <a href="https://www.andrewgilmore.net/2022/09/what-you-need-to-know-about-bildads.html">still a fool</a> compared to God.</div><div><br /></div><div>Some sects claim free will is an illusion. God controls everything like a master puppeteer or perhaps a computer programmer. Though it seems like we can decide things for ourselves, we can't.</div><div><br /></div><div>Others reside on the opposite end of the spectrum. They say God does not intervene or regulate anything in our reality. Everything is up to us.</div><span><a name='more'></a></span><div><br /></div><div>Scripture, of course, summarily rejects the latter position, one held by many founders of the United States of America. To get around these contradictions one had to deny the veracity of Scripture. Thomas Jefferson went so far as to cut out portions of the Bible that did not align with his worldview, <a href="https://www.andrewgilmore.net/2017/07/why-youll-never-hear-fourth-verse-of.html">creating the so-called Thomas Jefferson Bible</a>.</div><div><br /></div><div>Meanwhile the extreme position of the former argument, while on more solid ground than the latter, is also in error. How do I know? Perhaps the best argument for at least some amount of free will is found in what Jesus dubbed the greatest commandment: "You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might" (Deut. 6:5). For humans to be able to express authentic love, we must have free will because the essence of love is choice. If someone were able to force you to love him or her, would that really be love? Of course not. Therefore, to affirm the capacity to love is to posit free will.</div><div><br /></div><div><b><span style="font-size: medium;">I WRITE ALL</span></b> of this only as a preface to what Solomon has to say in Proverbs 16:1: "The plans of the heart belong to man, but the answer of the tongue is from the LORD."</div><div><br /></div><div>As you'll see, this proverb is loaded with significance, but the first line asserts what we've been discussing already: mankind has the freedom to make his own plans. We plan any number of things as we go about life. These are small decisions like what food we should buy to life-altering plans for what college to go to and where to live.</div><div><br /></div><div>Notice that the proverb refers to the plans of the heart. Solomon is writing about our most cherished desires and aspirations and the corresponding plans we have to realize those desires. We are free to develop these plans on our own for better or worse.</div><div><br /></div><div>But accompanying this freedom is a sort of responsibility to honor the one who created us. You see, some say to acknowledge human freedom is to diminish the sovereignty of God. In reality, God, in his omnipotence, granted us a finite amount of agency. This does not reduce God's power or knowledge because we understand that he grants us the ability to plan and also that he could revoke such privileges at any time if he so desired. He is God after all.</div><div><br /></div><div>Understanding this phenomenon might help us comprehend the next line of Proverbs 16:1, "but the answer of the tongue is from the LORD." You might read this part of the verse and conclude that God controls every word we say. We make plans and he subverts those plans by redirecting our tongues. Such a prospect is certainly possible and within God's right. Bible scholars like John Gill and Joseph Benson astutely point to Balaam who went to Moab to curse Israel on behalf of King Balak but instead blurt out blessings. Was such an instance an overriding of the Balaam's free will? The matter is up for debate.</div><div><br /></div><div>Still, I'm not sure this is the verse's focus. Instead I think its meaning is more like this: "the ability to speak comes from God." If my translation is correct, then the full meaning of the Proverb might be: you have the freedom to make your own plans, but remember, even the ability to speak comes from God. The implication: if you can't even do something as simple as speak without the enabling power of God, why on earth would you make plans without consulting and including God?</div><div><br /></div><div>Now, lest you think I'm someone clever, you must know I merely borrowed and repackaged the same idea from TT Perowne who wrote: "the implied moral of the proverb is, If you cannot do the less without God, do not attempt to do the greater without Him."[1]</div><div><br /></div><div>So if you have plans that don't include or consider God, cancel them. Why on earth would you make plans without honoring the one by whom you are able to plan in the first place? Setting aside our debt and duty to God for a moment, the truth of the matter is that God has much greater plans for you anyway! So not only is it moral to allow God to direct our planning, but doing so is also in our best interest.</div><div><br /></div><div><b><span style="font-size: medium;">WE COULD LEAVE</span></b> the Proverb alone at that, and I think we would do well. But humor me, if you would, for just a few paragraphs more, because I think the proverb actually probes much deeper than the depths at which we've been exploring. Consider again the second half, "the answer of the tongue is from the LORD."</div><div><br /></div><div>While we can't possibly understand the mysteries of creation, the book of Genesis does provide us some details thereof including these two: God created mankind in his image, distinct from the rest of creation, and God <i>spoke </i>the universe into existence. While God could have used any method to create, he chose to speak the sun, moon, stars, sky, plants, and animals into existence.</div><div><br /></div><div>As the creation narrative demonstrates, language is a divine trait, and in creating humanity, he imbued us with the ability to express abstract thought. It's one of the ways we stand <a href="https://www.andrewgilmore.net/2023/03/the-best-worst-things-about-bearing.html">distinct from the rest of creation</a>. This trait begins with spoken words, something we pick up naturally as children as our brains develop, but goes far beyond the ability to speak. As you read this article, for example, you are reading the expressions of the author.</div><div><br /></div><div>Language itself is an act of creation because it allows us to formulate thoughts, and yes, even plans, into an intelligible format. Think back to the book of Exodus in which God provided detailed instructions for building the tabernacle. God conceived of the tent in his mind then translated it into a format that humans could understand and act on.</div><div><br /></div><div>The ability to express ourselves in intelligible ways is a divine trait, one exclusive to humans among created beings on earth.[2] It's what allows a Mozart to compose Serenade No. 13, a Harper Lee to pen <i>To Kill a Mockingbird</i>, or a Frank Lloyd Wright to design the Guggenheim.</div><div><br /></div><div>So perhaps, just maybe, Solomon is tipping his hat to the creation narrative in which God gave humanity the gift of language. We can have all the plans in the world stored up in our hearts, but it is God who gives us the ability to execute those plans by giving us the gift of expression.</div><div><br /></div><div>Am I reading too much into the proverb? Quite possibly. I'll admit that. But I'll leave you with one story that might reinforce the argument.</div><div><br /></div><div>Consider Babel. God gave mankind the incredible gifts of agency and language, and what happened? People got together and planned to build a tower to "make a name" for themselves. In their pride they sought their own glory rather than God's glory.</div><div><br /></div><div>How often do we do the same thing?</div><div><br /></div><div>I know I'm guilty of focusing too much on how I can become richer, more respected, and more attractive instead of finding ways in which I can honor God. I make plans in my heart that benefit me. I try so hard to make a name for myself when instead I should try to elevate the name of Jesus. Do you ever do the same?</div><div><br /></div><div>In response to humanity's pride, God mixed up their languages, making effective communication impossible. The people still held their plans for self-glory and security in their hearts, but without the ability to communicate with one another they had to abandon the project.</div><div><br /></div><div>All of this should serve as a reminder that though we're free to plan out our lives, we would be fools not include the one who not only gives us the freedom to make those plans but also the ability to execute them with his divine gift of expression.</div></div><div><div><div><br /></div><div>If you enjoyed this article, you might like my free Old Testament reading guide, <i>How to Read through the Old Testament without Getting Lost or Dozing Off: A 90-Day Reading Guide with Notes</i>.</div></div></div></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj6ZISaEzyAFwj7QmrMIqZzdaXfKDzIWbWJvKmDmGZz0szwh3M6hRhMhm0XSt6OPXMnjCcIMjxm5c7Z92OvvZfhCiA95rgUqCejHyIdyf1fUFTuTpy8X9kG7Him5RmgkpYCUzJKg3Hpj8wDnfDY1zTSPG7E3jpLvs4OkqX8mJ68aKi4jpDDgHhvm8Q/s2048/NewCover.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1283" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj6ZISaEzyAFwj7QmrMIqZzdaXfKDzIWbWJvKmDmGZz0szwh3M6hRhMhm0XSt6OPXMnjCcIMjxm5c7Z92OvvZfhCiA95rgUqCejHyIdyf1fUFTuTpy8X9kG7Him5RmgkpYCUzJKg3Hpj8wDnfDY1zTSPG7E3jpLvs4OkqX8mJ68aKi4jpDDgHhvm8Q/s320/NewCover.png" width="200" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div>Interested? 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</script><img alt="." border="0" height="1" src="https://track.mailerlite.com/webforms/o/4391101/x1s9h2?v1666443208" style="display: block; margin: 0px; max-height: 1px; max-width: 1px; padding: 0px; visibility: hidden;" width="1" /><script src="https://static.mailerlite.com/js/w/webforms.min.js?v7316d10e2931a97c7b0f5c7e7e7be3ea" type="text/javascript"></script><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-size: x-small;">Notes</span></div><div><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: x-small;">1. Commentary on Proverbs 16:1 from the Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: x-small;">2. Angels and demons, it seems, have the same ability.</span></div><div><br /></div>Andrew Gilmorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04537644983592180976noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1514008060316146547.post-43749635067555204352023-06-20T09:30:00.001-05:002023-06-20T09:30:00.130-05:00Change Your Entire Outlook on Death with this Weird Historical Fact<p><i>A preview of June's email-only article.</i></p><p><i><br /></i></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc7alaUnjPqA3fvbROcbGfeH5awj6_yUIjT7O65T48Sfklk1r__zrRQHrCYO6BJLjknwgT1iQQpX_XXnbE1taOltN4tDcaRL0fUjnG0WIQn6E2MChmtUBunNOPggs-x76vlqjrj5Mf8eII6ziW5zWpPpqeyx7sdHtM734GNBztC3mbRjhEr6jtmvFYEYM/s6016/christina-wocintechchat-com-4T-02pK0jUg-unsplash%20(1).jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4016" data-original-width="6016" height="369" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc7alaUnjPqA3fvbROcbGfeH5awj6_yUIjT7O65T48Sfklk1r__zrRQHrCYO6BJLjknwgT1iQQpX_XXnbE1taOltN4tDcaRL0fUjnG0WIQn6E2MChmtUBunNOPggs-x76vlqjrj5Mf8eII6ziW5zWpPpqeyx7sdHtM734GNBztC3mbRjhEr6jtmvFYEYM/w400-h268/christina-wocintechchat-com-4T-02pK0jUg-unsplash%20(1).jpg" width="550" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://unsplash.com/photos/4T-02pK0jUg" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Christina Morillo</a></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><br /><p>HAVE YOU EVER pondered the afterlife?</p><p>That's the question we're asking in this month's email-only article. No doubt you've though about what lies beyond death before, but maybe you've never thought about the privilege of revelation that we all enjoy today.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">Every month I publish an exclusive article for my email subscribers, and if you'd like instant, free access, fill out the form below. (If you are already a subscriber, check your inbox!)</div></div><div><br /></div><div>Here's a snippet of this month's exclusive:</div><div><br /></div><div><div></div><blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: times;">Job's vision of death and the beyond is something much different than what </span><span style="font-family: times;">you or I imagine. He sees an existence filled with darkness where even the </span><span style="font-family: times;">light is like darkness. In fact, as many commentators have pointed out, Job </span><span style="font-family: times;">actually uses three different Hebrew words to signify darkness.</span></span></blockquote><blockquote><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: times;">At this point, Job just wants to be left alone so he can enjoy a few moments </span><span style="font-family: times;">before he dies because, in his mind, death results in eternal gloom.</span></span></blockquote><blockquote><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: times;">The question, then, is how did we transition from Job's view of eternal </span><span style="font-family: times;">darkness to one of everlasting light?</span></span></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote><div><br /></div></blockquote></div><p> <br />Want to read the rest?</p><div><div><br /></div><div>Just enter your email address to join the list, and I'll send it to you right away:</div><div><br /></div><style type="text/css">
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<script src="https://static.mailerlite.com/js/w/webforms.min.js?vd4de52e171e8eb9c47c0c20caf367ddf" type="text/javascript"></script><div><br /></div><div>I send two to three emails per month, but you can unsubscribe at any time.</div><div><br /></div><div>See you next month!</div></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><p></p>Andrew Gilmorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04537644983592180976noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1514008060316146547.post-62967973125258701062023-05-16T20:38:00.002-05:002023-05-16T20:38:30.934-05:00If We Are God's Masterpiece, Why Are We So Broken?<p><i>Sin results in dust, but God has a restoration plan in place.</i></p><p><i><br /></i></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMTVwyepKL6xtMF7QctodVdqCsoHFD-5dLrZP_2A7oMWXwUwT1nBR5A7HFFC0uULzje95kwhpPpgiQMh7Mh-DE_LWrY5MPssUfCF2yFehBIG7Spci4bmGyucaUKK7KWpsbh8Ql-Dr__0Rj_o6sjqpIY-JKajEhoAZ2HEJd0sKt13B7Vc7b6oB7s8tI/s6000/marianna-smiley-jHOg6v6RIIs-unsplash.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6000" data-original-width="4000" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMTVwyepKL6xtMF7QctodVdqCsoHFD-5dLrZP_2A7oMWXwUwT1nBR5A7HFFC0uULzje95kwhpPpgiQMh7Mh-DE_LWrY5MPssUfCF2yFehBIG7Spci4bmGyucaUKK7KWpsbh8Ql-Dr__0Rj_o6sjqpIY-JKajEhoAZ2HEJd0sKt13B7Vc7b6oB7s8tI/w426-h640/marianna-smiley-jHOg6v6RIIs-unsplash.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Thrive</i> by Daniel Popper, photo: <a href="https://unsplash.com/photos/jHOg6v6RIIs" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Marianna Smiley</a></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div></div><span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.andrewgilmore.net%2F2023%2F05%2Fif-we-are-gods-masterpiece-why-are-we.html" style="clear: left; display: inline; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="130" data-original-width="130" height="23" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj9Q8xHT6MNENTRwzQxFq-m_WMv3NdsUaacoBpLgaBnMwLIp0h3fqhfsvQmFiOq_eue4oOOnfRWY4TnmbeyNF9MXlvT8hHenYqe-qnSYq8uXHkJ1RFXcBhhahZydw9EhcgNMyQlN5nsjZ-fGeWwQ2ZwfVZtBDU7dtxoOLQnMZBOM3vvsSdL_jT8g1qY=w23-h23" width="23" /></a> </span><a href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.andrewgilmore.net%2F2023%2F05%2Fif-we-are-gods-masterpiece-why-are-we.html&text=" rel="" style="clear: left; display: inline; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="851" data-original-width="1034" height="21" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgCZLG1jlG7GP9tYuXnyJc5QxXE-WRhJR5wcYhC3d_GXQUk-G3WCK1NCEPamCcOmjCwgT6lGpyhwts8HGUA_XBKEaiuB7P462zcooJTSSt159981kQXi2Vk717Q4nVFaSLr9iz-3y2gmOfMJPUh0qt6JnefNla4rNwAmsVSzoys6fmoTVK7_qxJehUD=w26-h21" width="26" /></a><p></p><div><div><div><span style="font-size: large;">THE BOOK OF</span> Job is one of contrasts. You see the uprightness of Job juxtaposed with the evil of Satan. Job is wealthy and healthy one moment then brought to poverty and <a href="https://www.andrewgilmore.net/2022/06/remember-snake-has-already-been-bruised.html">disease</a> in the next. But perhaps the biggest contrasts we see are the stark differences between expectation and Job's reality.</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://www.andrewgilmore.net/2021/12/what-you-need-to-know-about-jobs-friends.html">Job's friends</a> expect that only the wicked should suffer, so they blame him for his problems.</div><div><br /></div><div>Job knows he's innocent, but he eventually gives up trying to convince his friends and instead <a href="https://www.andrewgilmore.net/2023/03/jobs-response-to-suffering-might-make.html">starts petitioning God for answers</a>. Job essentially holds the same expectations his friends have, which renders his downtrodden reality all the more puzzling considering his blamelessness. It's the classic, <i><a href="https://www.andrewgilmore.net/2014/05/why-do-bad-things-happen-to-good-people.html">Why do bad things happen to good people?</a></i> question that just about every human everywhere throughout time has asked at one point or another.</div><div><br /></div><div>In the midst of these petitions, Job asks God the following:<br /><br /></div></div><div><span><a name='more'></a></span><div><div><div></div><blockquote><div><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;">Remember that you molded me like clay.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;"> Will you now turn me to dust again? </span></div></blockquote><blockquote><div><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;">Job 10:9, NIV</span></div></blockquote><div></div><div><br /></div><div>First, you gotta love the word "remember" as if God could forget. As we saw last time, Job doesn't actually think God can forget, but in Job's limited knowledge, he cannot think of another explanation for his predicament. God must have forgotten the care he took to create Job when he molded him like a master potter molds clay.</div><div><br /></div><div>Referencing clay is an overt allusion to the creation narrative in which "God formed the man of dust from the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living creature" (Gen. 2:7). Here we see the creator formed us from the earth. I imagine him gathering up dirt and, as Job suggests, molding it like a potter does clay behind the wheel.</div><div><br /></div><div>The potter metaphor suggests God took time and extra care to mold Adam just the way he wanted. Genesis 2:7 tells us he "formed" the man. This method of creation is unique to mankind; for the other aspects of creation, God simply spoke them into existence. What can we glean from this distinction? The creator fashions us just the way he desires. He takes extra care to ensure that mankind, made in his image, is his masterpiece. King David confirmed these notions centuries later when he wrote, "I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made" (Psa. 139:14).</div><div><br /></div><div>You are God's masterpiece. You are an image-bearer of God—the pinnacle of creation. What does all of this extra care in the creation process tell us? Like a painter's masterpiece, you have immense value.</div><div><br /></div><div>But if this is all true, why is there so much brokenness in the world? Why would God create masterpieces just to see them demolished?</div><div><br /></div><div>Job asked the same question: "Will you now turn me to dust again?" In other words, <i>Why bother taking so much care in crafting me only to destroy me?</i></div><div><br /></div><div>Job, in his despair, conveniently neglected to acknowledge what follows the creation narrative: the fall of mankind. Prior to Adam's disobedience, no one would return to dust. But when <a href="https://www.andrewgilmore.net/2013/03/2-Step-Sin.html">the first couple ate the fruit</a>, sin corrupted the flesh, and death entered the equation. In response to his sin God said to Adam, "Out of [the ground] you were taken; for you are dust, and to dust you shall return" (Gen. 3:19).</div><div><br /></div><div>Sin corrupted humanity such that sickness and death and entropy entered the equation of our lives. Prior, Adam and Eve enjoyed an imperishable existence in Eden. But like a virus sin infected its hosts, ultimately rendering them dust once again.</div><div><br /></div><div>But why Job, whom even God said was blameless?[1] Despite being God's handiwork, all humans inherit the sin nature passed down through Adam. As a result, we are born into corruption. Second, "blameless" doesn't not mean Job was sin-free. Every human who reaches an age in which he or she is able to discern right from wrong will eventually choose wrong. As Paul wrote, "all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (Rom. 3:23).</div><div><br /></div><div>Does this mean Job deserved what he got? Were Job's friends right? In one sense we could say yes because the consequence of sin is death. But in practical terms, no, of course Job did not deserve all of the tragedy that befell him.</div><div><br /></div><div>Here's the thing about clay pots: they are fragile. Whether by a sudden fall or regular wear and tear, they are subject to becoming broken. Outside of Eden, humanity is fragile too. Although we are masterpieces, we reside in a corrupted world where moth and rust destroy.[2]</div><div><br /></div><div>Yes, we are perishable because of the reality of sin, but God does not abandon us in this state. Instead, he has a plan to restore and rescue us. He will one day transform us from dust into a new, imperishable creation. The apostle Paul wrote about this in 1 Corinthians 15:</div><div><br /></div><div></div><blockquote><div><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;">The dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed. For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality. When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written:</span></div><div><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;">“Death is swallowed up in victory.”</span></div><div><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;">“O death, where is your victory?</span></div><div><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;"> O death, where is your sting?”</span></div><div><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;">1 Corinthians 15:52-55</span></div></blockquote><div></div><div><br /></div><div>I suppose the moral is this. God is not finished perfecting his masterpiece. Because of the corruption of sin, our bodies will pass away. But God will give us a new and immortal body, a transformation that will take away the sting of death and brokenness in our current reality.</div><div><br /></div><div>We know this to be true because of the resurrection of Jesus, and in this event we place our faith and look forward to the day when death is swallowed up in victory.</div></div><div><br /></div><div>And if you enjoyed this article, you might like my free Old Testament reading guide, <i>How to Read through the Old Testament without Getting Lost or Dozing Off: A 90-Day Reading Guide with Notes</i>.</div></div></div></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj6ZISaEzyAFwj7QmrMIqZzdaXfKDzIWbWJvKmDmGZz0szwh3M6hRhMhm0XSt6OPXMnjCcIMjxm5c7Z92OvvZfhCiA95rgUqCejHyIdyf1fUFTuTpy8X9kG7Him5RmgkpYCUzJKg3Hpj8wDnfDY1zTSPG7E3jpLvs4OkqX8mJ68aKi4jpDDgHhvm8Q/s2048/NewCover.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1283" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj6ZISaEzyAFwj7QmrMIqZzdaXfKDzIWbWJvKmDmGZz0szwh3M6hRhMhm0XSt6OPXMnjCcIMjxm5c7Z92OvvZfhCiA95rgUqCejHyIdyf1fUFTuTpy8X9kG7Him5RmgkpYCUzJKg3Hpj8wDnfDY1zTSPG7E3jpLvs4OkqX8mJ68aKi4jpDDgHhvm8Q/s320/NewCover.png" width="200" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div>Interested? 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<img alt="." border="0" height="1" src="https://track.mailerlite.com/webforms/o/4391101/x1s9h2?v1666443208" style="display: block; margin: 0px; max-height: 1px; max-width: 1px; padding: 0px; visibility: hidden;" width="1" />
<script src="https://static.mailerlite.com/js/w/webforms.min.js?v7316d10e2931a97c7b0f5c7e7e7be3ea" type="text/javascript"></script><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-size: x-small;">Notes</span></div><div><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: x-small;">1. See Job 1:8.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: x-small;">2. See Matthew 6:19.</span></div><div><br /></div>Andrew Gilmorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04537644983592180976noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1514008060316146547.post-66543412186069602032023-03-23T13:42:00.005-05:002023-03-23T13:42:44.751-05:00Job's Response to Suffering Might Make You Rethink Your Approach<p> <i>We can't see in the dark, but God can.</i></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB_sNIMIdf6X8-wEImh7flHg4pPGDd-Jc4KB2geM7vRNGzlmN42BB7qL9Z9qXaGCY7qhvZh6kQiXTMNc5aE0yS4Y3yz79V9ZlWTr3lrvwvevDaqkPv9TLXy9MJ1QgiSt1Yhxmu43agjeuDqPWbkDXDpxRlF9BY68eYvIhIW-byJPcCeJ24uWRjZ1Qk/s3556/mari-lezhava-q65bNe9fW-w-unsplash.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2208" data-original-width="3556" height="342" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB_sNIMIdf6X8-wEImh7flHg4pPGDd-Jc4KB2geM7vRNGzlmN42BB7qL9Z9qXaGCY7qhvZh6kQiXTMNc5aE0yS4Y3yz79V9ZlWTr3lrvwvevDaqkPv9TLXy9MJ1QgiSt1Yhxmu43agjeuDqPWbkDXDpxRlF9BY68eYvIhIW-byJPcCeJ24uWRjZ1Qk/w400-h249/mari-lezhava-q65bNe9fW-w-unsplash.jpg" width="550" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><a href="https://unsplash.com/photos/q65bNe9fW-w" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Observer</a> </i>by Mari Lezhava</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div></div><span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.andrewgilmore.net%2F2023%2F03%2Fjobs-response-to-suffering-might-make.html" style="clear: left; display: inline; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="130" data-original-width="130" height="23" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj9Q8xHT6MNENTRwzQxFq-m_WMv3NdsUaacoBpLgaBnMwLIp0h3fqhfsvQmFiOq_eue4oOOnfRWY4TnmbeyNF9MXlvT8hHenYqe-qnSYq8uXHkJ1RFXcBhhahZydw9EhcgNMyQlN5nsjZ-fGeWwQ2ZwfVZtBDU7dtxoOLQnMZBOM3vvsSdL_jT8g1qY=w23-h23" width="23" /></a> </span><a href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.andrewgilmore.net%2F2023%2F03%2Fjobs-response-to-suffering-might-make.html&text=" rel="" style="clear: left; display: inline; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="851" data-original-width="1034" height="21" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgCZLG1jlG7GP9tYuXnyJc5QxXE-WRhJR5wcYhC3d_GXQUk-G3WCK1NCEPamCcOmjCwgT6lGpyhwts8HGUA_XBKEaiuB7P462zcooJTSSt159981kQXi2Vk717Q4nVFaSLr9iz-3y2gmOfMJPUh0qt6JnefNla4rNwAmsVSzoys6fmoTVK7_qxJehUD=w26-h21" width="26" /></a><p></p><div><div><div>THE ENEMY WANTS you to embrace meaninglessness.</div><div><br /></div><div>When unfortunate, coincidental, evil, tragic, or random events jam their way into our lives, the evil one wants us to stop asking why and instead conclude that no why exists. Because when we give a giant bear hug to the idea that life is purposeless, we lose hope and such a state opens up all kinds of possibilities for Satan and his minions.</div><div><br /></div><div>The hopeless person really has nothing left to lose.</div></div><div><br /></div><div><span><a name='more'></a></span><div><div>For his lot, Job never stopped petitioning God for answers. Though he might have resorted to snark and sarcasm, he never stopped his search for answers. After <a href="https://www.andrewgilmore.net/2023/03/the-best-worst-things-about-bearing.html">admitting he loathed his life</a> and bitterness had filled his soul, he began asking questions of God. For example, in Job 10:4 he said, "Have you eyes of flesh? Do you see as man sees?"</div><div><br /></div><div>Such an inquiry, though, was disingenuous. Just a few verses later he said, "You know that I am not guilty" (v. 7) and, "You have made me like clay" (v. 9)—acknowledgements of God's omniscience and omnipotence respectively.</div><div><br /></div><div>Nevertheless he asked the question anyway for effect. Although he knew God does not "see as man sees," to Job, in this moment, it seems like God's vision <i>is</i> limited. Such a question is Job's rhetorical method for petitioning God for answers.</div><div><br /></div><div>This inquiry might also be a subtle dig at his friends who claimed he should repent and insinuated he deserved his suffering. It's as if he was saying, "These guys obviously don't know what they're talking about, so why don't you come to my defense, God? Is your judgment faulty like these humans?"</div><div><br /></div><div>As odd as it sounds, we should follow Job's lead here.</div><div><br /></div><div>Cut through all the rhetoric and flowery language and what you have left? A man who is hurting and cannot for the life of him understand why he's going through what he's going through. And to make matters worse, <a href="https://www.andrewgilmore.net/2023/03/the-best-worst-things-about-bearing.html">he knows there is a reason behind his circumstances</a>, but he doesn't know what that reason is.</div><div><br /></div><div>I think we all get to this point at some time in our lives. It may or may not be as dramatic as Job's plight, but we come to a crossroads where we just want answers. Life doesn't make sense like we think it should.</div><div><br /></div><div>At this moment, the evil one would love nothing more than for you to embrace meaninglessness—to believe your plight has no purpose. Why? Because you can't denounce meaning without also denouncing the source of all meaning, your creator.</div><div><br /></div><div>Contrast that type of reaction to Job's. He never stopped questioning God. He cajoled, pleaded, and wept, but he didn't give up hope of finding meaning. He was honest with God.</div><div><br /></div><div>When's the last time you were honest with God?</div><div><br /></div><div>Sometimes I dance around my hangups in prayer as if God doesn't already know everything going on in my life. But even if you don't get answers right away, it is helpful to pray, "God, I am not sure why I have to go through this. It seems as if you are so far removed from my situation, but I need you to intervene. Please help me understand."</div><div><br /></div><div>In these types of prayers we run toward God, and we affirm his omniscience rather than turn away from him who has all of the answers.</div><div><br /></div><div>Take it from Job: one of the best things to do when life doesn't make sense is to keep pursuing the only one who does <i>not </i>see as man sees.</div><div><br /></div><div>Pursuing God is just one trait of an effective Christian life. I've compiled a list of twelve habits fruitful Christ-followers have in common.</div></div></div></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYDemVkEWYlxWZ1lfOgYAkPbP4GEAK6mJDcXnD2dVelA9uWuDWg7kbh6yoKXyDlBYY7q2PMQZK4HGACaa1PnEyXBOrPr-6WJ7wZmxTUJKSUGLeODdjgjKwgKWrDD36BnlrTZ9BrPej35hBgQQ5AyXPvV1CJMK52rhd0zcMx5IkdisY64pPnm0c553s/s2250/Copy%20of%20White%20Graphic%20Design%20Book%20Cover.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2250" data-original-width="1410" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYDemVkEWYlxWZ1lfOgYAkPbP4GEAK6mJDcXnD2dVelA9uWuDWg7kbh6yoKXyDlBYY7q2PMQZK4HGACaa1PnEyXBOrPr-6WJ7wZmxTUJKSUGLeODdjgjKwgKWrDD36BnlrTZ9BrPej35hBgQQ5AyXPvV1CJMK52rhd0zcMx5IkdisY64pPnm0c553s/s320/Copy%20of%20White%20Graphic%20Design%20Book%20Cover.png" width="201" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb1gcJiGPbFGdkLfI1raIWbG0puJ19Um-2w9xQZDGEzBpWyLFbFxBDiYscJgB6pAjH8hcIyRgx78rXEL8m7Htg2V0S0Jam1bNt01FvApeSC7mTkQMeL73DXduHosquGvdt8tbSZr9-l5OQ8T_FuijF2TOfoyVeZ8Cs1NBuscXKcrwmSAwT1cW2nlZu/s2048/Daily%20Reading%20Habit.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div><div>If you'd like to experience peace amid the storms of life, check out this guide.</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><i>12 Things Effective Christians Do</i> is free if you want it. It will only cost you your email address, but you can unsubscribe from the list at any time with one click. Just enter your email address below, and I'll send the reading guide your way.</div><div><br /></div><style type="text/css">
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<script src="https://static.mailerlite.com/js/w/webforms.min.js?vd4de52e171e8eb9c47c0c20caf367ddf" type="text/javascript"></script><div><br /></div>Andrew Gilmorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04537644983592180976noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1514008060316146547.post-8776006821130018352023-03-07T08:00:00.001-06:002023-03-07T08:00:00.189-06:00The Best, Worst Things about Bearing God's Image<p> <i>A preview of February's email-only article.</i></p><p><i><br /></i></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4G0fLAHao6E3uIJ4zTIogrK37b13vclTbD57PFNoGtdlm6Khoqy4V2XGvfDfGfLtZB_iCVSgcApvKB1YcytSXBs_5BsLZw1iDYTUqoiu6DiRaMXXfmCAj6BqLiLaU_d-2-4ht7fCHMXG4lrEPjwC-erRvmtGdimGnixMf1-kcLwTztp31EyzMxkni/s6720/jared-rice-O6DUoIl6NWA-unsplash.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4480" data-original-width="6720" height="366" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4G0fLAHao6E3uIJ4zTIogrK37b13vclTbD57PFNoGtdlm6Khoqy4V2XGvfDfGfLtZB_iCVSgcApvKB1YcytSXBs_5BsLZw1iDYTUqoiu6DiRaMXXfmCAj6BqLiLaU_d-2-4ht7fCHMXG4lrEPjwC-erRvmtGdimGnixMf1-kcLwTztp31EyzMxkni/w400-h266/jared-rice-O6DUoIl6NWA-unsplash.jpg" width="550" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://unsplash.com/photos/O6DUoIl6NWA" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Jared Rice</a></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>LIFE HAS A way of beating us down at times. But no matter how bad our circumstances, often the worst part is not knowing why terrible things occur.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">Every month I publish an exclusive article for my email subscribers, and this month we're looking at Job 10. Job reached some depths of despair most of us will never know, but he always held on to one truth. We discuss that truth in this month's article.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">If you'd like instant, free access, fill out the form below. (If you are already a subscriber, check your inbox!)</div></div><div><br /></div><div>Here's a snippet of this month's exclusive:</div><div><br /></div><div><div></div><blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;">When we open up the tenth chapter of Job, we find our protagonist in a dark place.</span></blockquote><blockquote><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;">Of course, Job spends most of the book in metaphorical darkness, but here in chapter ten he takes a turn for the worse, admitting, "I loathe my life" (v. 1). Life, the most precious of gifts, the most beautiful and fragile and rarest of possessions, and yet Job loathes it.</span></blockquote><blockquote><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;">What does it mean to loathe? Merriam-Webster defines loathing as great disklike; disgust. Job is disgusted with his own life. Why? You know the reasons. His children have died. His possessions have been plundered. His health has deteriorated to an excruciating degree. His wife told him to "Curse God and die" (Job 2:9). His friends, helpful at first, descend into jerk territory—accusing him of sin, suggesting his children deserved their fate, and proclaiming he should repent—all for want of a better theology.</span></blockquote><blockquote><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;">Penniless, abandoned, bereaved, confused, accused, and afflicted, you can see why Job's life might disgust him. Earlier in the book he even said it would have been better if his mother had miscarried! That's some pretty dark stuff right there.</span></blockquote><blockquote><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;">Have you ever loathed your life?</span></blockquote></blockquote><div><br /></div></blockquote></div><p> <br />Want to read the rest?</p><div><div><br /></div><div>Just enter your email address to join the list, and I'll send it to you right away:</div><div><br /></div><style type="text/css">
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<script src="https://static.mailerlite.com/js/w/webforms.min.js?vd4de52e171e8eb9c47c0c20caf367ddf" type="text/javascript"></script><div><br /></div><div>I send two to three emails per month, but you can unsubscribe at any time.</div><div><br /></div><div>See you next month!</div></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Andrew Gilmorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04537644983592180976noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1514008060316146547.post-34180884169571164152023-02-18T06:47:00.003-06:002023-02-18T06:47:47.973-06:00When Even the Best Medicine Can't Cure You<p><i>"Every human heart carries the feeling of disquiet and of separation from its true home."</i><sup>1<br /><br /></sup></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzn0ckm3R_KwbQsR9786RQvqxz-bY_sh9BneEMz02o-hIRAd0dsFyb_O23AkYEV7Xf3cqCrN4gFChpylTydo-1UhFDgHQtLahwZuNe_OSwequ1JNDFTMhFLcfHADIXbuA9-raKu9BJX7pl4sFU8huCkBMXArjGs9SDdXHM28h8rDODTqoIEGxAaNKr/s4480/nathan-dumlao-qDbnNDF2jZ4-unsplash%20(1).jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2816" data-original-width="4480" height="345" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzn0ckm3R_KwbQsR9786RQvqxz-bY_sh9BneEMz02o-hIRAd0dsFyb_O23AkYEV7Xf3cqCrN4gFChpylTydo-1UhFDgHQtLahwZuNe_OSwequ1JNDFTMhFLcfHADIXbuA9-raKu9BJX7pl4sFU8huCkBMXArjGs9SDdXHM28h8rDODTqoIEGxAaNKr/w400-h251/nathan-dumlao-qDbnNDF2jZ4-unsplash%20(1).jpg" width="550" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://unsplash.com/photos/qDbnNDF2jZ4" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Nathan Dumlao</a></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div></div><span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.andrewgilmore.net%2F2023%2F02%2Fwhen-even-best-medicine-cant-cure-you.html" style="clear: left; display: inline; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="130" data-original-width="130" height="23" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj9Q8xHT6MNENTRwzQxFq-m_WMv3NdsUaacoBpLgaBnMwLIp0h3fqhfsvQmFiOq_eue4oOOnfRWY4TnmbeyNF9MXlvT8hHenYqe-qnSYq8uXHkJ1RFXcBhhahZydw9EhcgNMyQlN5nsjZ-fGeWwQ2ZwfVZtBDU7dtxoOLQnMZBOM3vvsSdL_jT8g1qY=w23-h23" width="23" /></a> </span><a href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.andrewgilmore.net%2F2023%2F02%2Fwhen-even-best-medicine-cant-cure-you.html&text=" rel="" style="clear: left; display: inline; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="851" data-original-width="1034" height="21" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgCZLG1jlG7GP9tYuXnyJc5QxXE-WRhJR5wcYhC3d_GXQUk-G3WCK1NCEPamCcOmjCwgT6lGpyhwts8HGUA_XBKEaiuB7P462zcooJTSSt159981kQXi2Vk717Q4nVFaSLr9iz-3y2gmOfMJPUh0qt6JnefNla4rNwAmsVSzoys6fmoTVK7_qxJehUD=w26-h21" width="26" /></a><p></p><div><div>THIS WORLD OFFERS a taste of some of the most beautiful, exhilarating, and heartwarming phenomena. God's creation—intrinsically good—can leave one filled with awe at the sight of something as mundane as a sunset. The earth spins away from the sun once per day, yet still we marvel at its magnificence.</div><div><br /></div><div>If you ask me, one of the best things about life is comedy. I love to laugh.</div><div><br /></div><div>Most people do, of course, but why do we laugh? Why do we enjoy it?</div><div><br /></div><div><span><a name='more'></a></span><div>We often laugh when presented with something so incongruous with reality that it subverts our expectations. Perhaps we enjoy laughing because doing so helps us mentally to escape the harsh realities of life.</div><div><br /></div><div>Solomon commented on mirth and the sorrow it often belies. He wrote, "Even in laughter the heart may ache, and the end of joy may be grief" (Proverbs 14:13).</div><div><br /></div><div>I can't say Solomon intended this reference, but I think of Sarah when I read this verse. You probably know the story. Upon overhearing news that she would become pregnant at the age of 90, she laughed. Wouldn't you? As the Scripture reads:</div><div><br /></div><div></div><blockquote><div><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;">So Sarah laughed to herself, saying, “After I am worn out, and my lord is old, shall I have pleasure?” The Lord said to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh and say, ‘Shall I indeed bear a child, now that I am old?’ Is anything too hard for the Lord? At the appointed time I will return to you, about this time next year, and Sarah shall have a son.” </span></div></blockquote><blockquote><div><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;">Genesis 18:12-14</span></div></blockquote><div></div><div><br /></div><div>Why did Sarah laugh? Because the idea of a senior citizen bearing a child seemed incongruous with what she knew to be possible. It was outlandish, farcical even.</div><div><br /></div><div>But at the same time, Sarah's laugh was probably part defense-mechanism. She had hoped her whole life for a child, but had been disappointed for decades. Her chuckle, then, was a way to mask her heartache and guard her heart from more.</div><div><br /></div><div>When Sarah conceived and bore a child, Abraham called him Isaac, which means laughter. Isaac was the embodiment of the type of incongruity possible with God. That Sarah, with whom the Scripture tells us the "way of women had ceased" (Gen. 18:11), could conceive and bear a child is a miracle. Such is outside the bounds of reality. We would all laugh if the story weren't true. As Sarah herself said, "God has made laughter for me; everyone who hears will laugh over me" (Gen. 21:6).</div><div><br /></div><div>The birth of a child under any circumstance, but especially in Sarah's case, is cause for great joy. And yet, recall the second part of the Proverb, "The end of joy may be grief."</div><div><br /></div><div>What does Solomon mean?</div><div><br /></div><div>What begins as joyous, the life of a child, will eventually result in death.</div><div><br /></div><div>Of course, the Proverb speaks to more than just childbirth, but the event is a good representation of the sentiment Solomon is expressing.</div><div><br /></div><div>The world is full of myriad pleasures. But the joys of this world, when not rooted in the person or purposes of God bring heartache and grief.</div><div><br /></div><div>If we back up one verse, I think we can see the connection. Proverbs 14:12 reads, "There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death."</div><div><br /></div><div>These things seem right to us because laughter is pleasant and fun. Joy is, well, joyous. But gaiety only masks an underlying truth we all intuit at some point in our lives.</div><div><br /></div><div>We are finite.</div><div><br /></div><div>And ever since the fall of humanity, the pleasures of this world have served as mere distractions from recognizing that winter is coming. </div><div><br /></div><div>Therefore we must seek out God, who promises eternal joy. We think we know the right path, but he alone is the source of life.</div></div></div><div><br /></div><div>Reading the Bible and prayer are critical activities for those who wish to seek out God. If you've struggled to establish good devotional habits, you might find my guide useful.</div><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb1gcJiGPbFGdkLfI1raIWbG0puJ19Um-2w9xQZDGEzBpWyLFbFxBDiYscJgB6pAjH8hcIyRgx78rXEL8m7Htg2V0S0Jam1bNt01FvApeSC7mTkQMeL73DXduHosquGvdt8tbSZr9-l5OQ8T_FuijF2TOfoyVeZ8Cs1NBuscXKcrwmSAwT1cW2nlZu/s2048/Daily%20Reading%20Habit.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1283" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb1gcJiGPbFGdkLfI1raIWbG0puJ19Um-2w9xQZDGEzBpWyLFbFxBDiYscJgB6pAjH8hcIyRgx78rXEL8m7Htg2V0S0Jam1bNt01FvApeSC7mTkQMeL73DXduHosquGvdt8tbSZr9-l5OQ8T_FuijF2TOfoyVeZ8Cs1NBuscXKcrwmSAwT1cW2nlZu/s320/Daily%20Reading%20Habit.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div>This guide lays out a step-by-step process you can follow to establish healthy quiet time habits. When you do, you'll grow closer to God, and I can promise you'll consider the time well spent.</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><i>How to Establish a Habit of Daily Quiet Time with God</i> is free if you want it. It will only cost you your email address, but you can unsubscribe from the list at any time with one click. Just enter your email address below, and I'll send the reading guide your way.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><style type="text/css">
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<script src="https://static.mailerlite.com/js/w/webforms.min.js?v7316d10e2931a97c7b0f5c7e7e7be3ea" type="text/javascript"></script><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span>Notes</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">1. Keil and Delitzsch Biblical Commentary on the Old Testament, https://biblehub.com/commentaries/kad/proverbs/14.htm.<br /><br /></div>Andrew Gilmorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04537644983592180976noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1514008060316146547.post-70789239070321884832023-02-01T09:56:00.001-06:002023-02-01T09:56:20.030-06:00What Makes You Feel Secure?<p> <i>A preview of January's email-only article.</i></p><p><i><br /></i></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOhQ1_sjA90rzCDr3RtO85fO8aj0DSJLBzrrL67SiZm2BcRXR29xrRtcBxdBTvwkjtS8qBL5v93ub0jhm6ADYdHyOqhCwxMIr5eJ3-xJrsYoOqi0SZ5sfGVchpku63xbTKGzDEjMRp8Nctb0SxBCTgvnOCr9tgK9DHvfOdgYz7aLGrPFPCkrOLKqtb/s3500/jaime-spaniol-l4JygnDCbMg-unsplash.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1967" data-original-width="3500" height="309" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOhQ1_sjA90rzCDr3RtO85fO8aj0DSJLBzrrL67SiZm2BcRXR29xrRtcBxdBTvwkjtS8qBL5v93ub0jhm6ADYdHyOqhCwxMIr5eJ3-xJrsYoOqi0SZ5sfGVchpku63xbTKGzDEjMRp8Nctb0SxBCTgvnOCr9tgK9DHvfOdgYz7aLGrPFPCkrOLKqtb/w400-h225/jaime-spaniol-l4JygnDCbMg-unsplash.jpg" width="550" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://unsplash.com/photos/l4JygnDCbMg" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Jaime Spaniol</a></td></tr></tbody></table><i><br /></i><p></p><p></p><p>IT IS TEMPTING to focus our energy and efforts on the material world, especially when it comes to security. We build stronger houses, install better locks, and design more intelligent surveillance systems.</p><p>These things are no inherently bad, but if we're not careful we can shift our focus from the the eternal to the temporary.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">Every month I publish an exclusive article for my email subscribers, and this month we're looking at a verse from Proverbs 14 that will help provide some eternal prospective regarding the concept of security. If you'd like instant, free access, fill out the form below. (If you are already a subscriber, check your inbox!)</div></div><div><br /></div><div>Here's a snippet of this month's exclusive:</div><div><br /></div><div><div></div><blockquote><blockquote><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;">While it's true Solomon may have borrowed or modified many proverbs from ancient sources, Proverbs 14:11 is nevertheless intriguing considering the context in which it was written. The verse reads, "The house of the wicked will be destroyed, but the tent of the upright will flourish."</span></blockquote><blockquote><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;">The surface reading is pretty obvious: God honors upright living and disaster besets those who are wicked. And the implications are just as obvious: be good, not evil.</span></blockquote><blockquote><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;">But beneath the surface level we can observe a few additional layers of meaning that help us better understand how to apply the verse to our lives.</span></blockquote><blockquote><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;">One can see right off the contrast between the house of the wicked and the tent of the upright. One is sturdy, able to withstand storms, while the other is flimsy and subject to the elements. And yet the house is destroyed, not the tent.</span></blockquote><blockquote><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;">What are we to make of such a phenomenon?</span></blockquote><div><br /></div></blockquote></div><p> <br />Want to read the rest?</p><div><div><br /></div><div>Just enter your email address to join the list, and I'll send it to you right away:</div><div><br /></div><style type="text/css">
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<script src="https://static.mailerlite.com/js/w/webforms.min.js?vd4de52e171e8eb9c47c0c20caf367ddf" type="text/javascript"></script><div><br /></div><div>I send two to three emails per month, but you can unsubscribe at any time.</div><div><br /></div><div>See you next month!</div></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br />Andrew Gilmorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04537644983592180976noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1514008060316146547.post-28021929244504022972023-01-17T05:00:00.003-06:002023-01-25T19:37:35.160-06:00What I Read in 2022: 3 Books You Might Also Enjoy<p><i>Three of my favorite books from 2022, plus I'm giving one of them away!</i></p><p><i>Update, 1/25/23: Congrats to Thomas from Spain on winning the book giveaway!</i></p><p><i><br /></i></p><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-6Uwz5czlT38IHBFSW7Trt18bPTb3-YP_Tkoi9dNeFI_m1Kopddhs5SNzRxpEVqLn0QsosUbwFJYl69cIN8ISF7yhswUMlk6TIYqxJlHpOG6OnwszhZFEqY0ouEg-Ucmn4MhUwCMhG17XuPj4cruCcY0tk_EEk-FGZ5TW3d28NGxCJV6ucOyVeq_5/s3537/siora-photography-hgFY1mZY-Y0-unsplash.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2324" data-original-width="3537" height="362" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-6Uwz5czlT38IHBFSW7Trt18bPTb3-YP_Tkoi9dNeFI_m1Kopddhs5SNzRxpEVqLn0QsosUbwFJYl69cIN8ISF7yhswUMlk6TIYqxJlHpOG6OnwszhZFEqY0ouEg-Ucmn4MhUwCMhG17XuPj4cruCcY0tk_EEk-FGZ5TW3d28NGxCJV6ucOyVeq_5/w400-h263/siora-photography-hgFY1mZY-Y0-unsplash.jpg" width="550" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://unsplash.com/photos/hgFY1mZY-Y0" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Siora Photography</a></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><i><br /></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.andrewgilmore.net%2F2023%2F01%2Fwhat-i-read-in-2022-3-books-you-might.html" style="clear: left; display: inline; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="130" data-original-width="130" height="24" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjtMkxT2g7mZfjPSVVJhCA1kjIyoqi0w6jw5Ts6SIITILLkapthIuoIWGF7sD5aQeIeb_8VM-Sj5U7ZXa24NZsHljZZsfBpAPs70XszE00-6I_WuFIczeOsY6qHZdd3h4DVutlXntjKXVJmV72CLHEmwTDXkibBMhuooSNpknVgI40x70-6gUP2Q-64=w24-h24" width="24" /></a><a href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.andrewgilmore.net%2F2023%2F01%2Fwhat-i-read-in-2022-3-books-you-might.html&text=" style="clear: left; display: inline; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="851" data-original-width="1034" height="23" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjCYpCZR5-W2QEMjR6S37y8Au7fxR-EG5MK61hFsbUe8hLTVzell4KCJ1ufhS7NuAusGT5Wl7dYcnwEXYFrVbKiUG-Tp1grGNOm3bgdJ5m-goif6iyF-i7CdfIWFM-sO2rvv5dytxezhGMyYedltqBbVMQF8BnjUpfEv6vkjq9sKfAVKr3XteaYap7J=w28-h23" width="28" /></a></div><br /><div>I GOT AMBITOUS in September of 2021 and decided to pick up Ayn Rand's <i>Atlas Shrugged</i>.</div><div><br /></div><div>I remember my first exposure to the book. I was in high school and a I spied a guy a grade ahead of me buried in the novel. Although I didn't know him well, he had a reputation as a superior intellect.</div><div><br /></div><div>I love reading, as you know, and I've always admired a good intellect, so seeing <i>Atlas Shrugged</i> in this high school senior's hands was reason enough to add the work to my mental to-be-read list. That was in 2001.</div><div><br /></div><div>Twenty years later I had occasion to pick up Rand's magnum opus. I am in graduate school at the moment, and a scholarship opportunity arose involving the reading of and writing an essay about the book. Those interested received a complimentary copy of the book in a digital format.</div><div><br /></div><div>Although I knew the book was long, the electronic format masked its true girth. The English Standard Version of the Bible contains 757,439 words.[1] <i>Atlas Shrugged</i>, in comparison, contains an estimated 645,000 words.[2] Within a couple of weeks my coursework overtook most available free time for reading. But as the scholarship deadline came and passed me by, I found myself enthralled in Rand's book. So from September to May I read until I worked my way through the novel.</div><div><br /></div><div>Alas, I cannot recommend <i>Atlas Shrugged</i> in my <a href="https://www.andrewgilmore.net/search/label/reading">annual roundup of books I read</a>. I had high hopes for the book, and the work was compelling much of the time. In the end, though, only strict adherents or new converts to Rand's objectivism philosophy will probably consider a book of such length worth the read. Although I resonate with much of Ayn's worldview, she makes zero allowance for either God or for charity of any kind. Additionally, portions of the book<span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt;">—</span>the Galt speech, for example<span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt;">—</span>are so long as to become repetitive.</div><div><br /></div><div>I only bring up <i>Atlas Shrugged</i> as context for my year of reading; I spent almost half of the year finishing up the book. With that background established, here are three books I think you might enjoy.</div><div><br /><a name='more'></a><br /><h3><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><a href="https://amzn.to/3QMuC75">Convicted: A Crooked Cop, an Innocent Man, and an Unlikely Journey of Forgiveness and Friendship</a></span></h3><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://amzn.to/3QMuC75" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="333" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl78DqTLdjE7fZ2i51zVD3aimhwNjd-6f9CdxwtD3okHC0YD7uQfqVCMldeWjwozjZTLcpRSgmWyr0l7hUnQPo3RqoHxnToeQ1_nUaC3G_wLtKlSfSnbjGnDJLeG9KHNUDHEK_p3_Ag89Qoev4agT-UJkoDno6oluXggnbjN65hTl9IspzEfN7MZAM/w133-h200/51XfzCs5sDL.jpg" width="133" /></a></div></div></div><div><i>I promised myself that if I ever saw this cop again, I was going to kill him. I intended to keep that promise.</i>[3] </div><div><br /></div><div><div data-en-clipboard="true" data-pm-slice="1 1 []"><div data-en-clipboard="true" data-pm-slice="1 1 []">Several years ago, Jameel McGee and Andrew Collins—co-authors of <i>Convicted </i>(in addition to Mark Tabb)—came and spoke at our church.</div><div data-en-clipboard="true" data-pm-slice="1 1 []"><br /></div><div data-en-clipboard="true" data-pm-slice="1 1 []">The pair told an abbreviated version of their compelling story to the congregation that day.</div><div data-en-clipboard="true" data-pm-slice="1 1 []"><br /></div><div data-en-clipboard="true" data-pm-slice="1 1 []">As the subtitle teases, Andrew was a crooked narcotics officer on the Benton Harbor beat in southwestern Michigan. Jameel "Zookie" was a man in the wrong place at the wrong time. Collins, hungry to make a name for himself on the force, turned to unethical means to secure convictions. So when Andrew received a tip about about an impending drug deal at a convenience store, he was ready.</div><div data-en-clipboard="true" data-pm-slice="1 1 []"><br /></div><div data-en-clipboard="true" data-pm-slice="1 1 []"> A man named Will drove Jameel to the store that day. Jameel didn't have a license so he hitched a ride with a friend of his cousin in order to buy groceries. What he didn't know was that Will had arranged a drug deal at that very same convenience store.</div><div data-en-clipboard="true" data-pm-slice="1 1 []"><br /></div><div data-en-clipboard="true" data-pm-slice="1 1 []">Without probable cause or a warrant, Collins searched the vehicle and found an ounce of crack. Because Will had borrowed Jameel's phone to arrange the deal, Collins assumed Jameel was the dealer. Will lied and told the police the same story to save himself from prison.</div><div data-en-clipboard="true" data-pm-slice="1 1 []"><br /></div><div data-en-clipboard="true" data-pm-slice="1 1 []">While Jameel stewed in jail, Andrew's tactics grew increasingly unethical. He began holding on to drugs he confiscated so he could plant them on suspects to facilitate arrests and convictions. He falsified police reports. He pocketed cash with fake reports of controlled buys and false informants.</div><div data-en-clipboard="true" data-pm-slice="1 1 []"><br /></div><div data-en-clipboard="true" data-pm-slice="1 1 []">As the months carried on, Collins became sloppy and his illegal activity caught up to him, culminating in his arrest upon the discovery of a large amount of drugs he had stashed in his office. With a guilty plea, many of the convictions Collins had helped to secure—including that of Jameel McGee—were overturned.</div><div data-en-clipboard="true" data-pm-slice="1 1 []"><br /></div><div data-en-clipboard="true" data-pm-slice="1 1 []">If the story were to end right there, the book would still be an intriguing read. But the unlikely events that transpired afterward lack explanation but for the power of the Holy Spirt.</div><div data-en-clipboard="true" data-pm-slice="1 1 []"><br /></div><div data-en-clipboard="true" data-pm-slice="1 1 []">The two encountered each other by chance at a park in Benton Harbor following Andrew's release from jail. Despite Jameel's vow to kill Andrew, he attributes his ability to eschew his thirst for revenge to God. "I thought I'd left [God] back in prison," Jameel writes, "but he was right here, waiting for me at the very moment I needed him most. If he hadn't been, if I'd done what I wanted to do, then, man, my life might have been over."[4]</div><div data-en-clipboard="true" data-pm-slice="1 1 []"><br /></div><div data-en-clipboard="true" data-pm-slice="1 1 []">Even more implausible, Jameel and Andrew would eventually become friends, working together in ministry as a beacon of the redemptive power of Jesus Christ.</div><div data-en-clipboard="true" data-pm-slice="1 1 []"><br /></div><div data-en-clipboard="true" data-pm-slice="1 1 []"><i>Convicted </i>is by far my favorite read of the year. Revisiting some of the passages to write up this summary made me want to read the book all over again. And even though <i>Convicted </i>is a few years old, the book offers some hope for the seemingly ever-present racial tensions we see across the United States, especially those between police departments and minority communities.</div></div></div><br /><br /><h3><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><a href="https://amzn.to/3H65jJY">Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?</a></span></h3><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://amzn.to/3H65jJY" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="333" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmKC7Stuu3h8UmuI6sZxUV_q24wu3lEDA57bll8C_avaOA57TxS0Zubb-fmFfHJGO4s8lx5B1uBPTHLPvIYDieeDDR2Ao3H_ixPwp2GS3pX5_jS6Ymp6nyG_T44VA2ifKKgdNNAf8hyh9zkj-XaJmhTJntV8ULIUSbFXHXW41ZMvpk-CGEWfZqxo7Z/w133-h200/31bNBTT29nL.jpg" width="133" /></a></div></div></div><div><i>The servant had in some cases become more adroit than its master... Empathy, evidently, existed only within the human community, whereas intelligence to some degree could be found throughout every phylum and order including the arachnida.</i>[5]</div><div><br /></div><div><div data-en-clipboard="true" data-pm-slice="1 1 []"><div data-en-clipboard="true" data-pm-slice="1 1 []">The source material for the 1982 film <i>Blade Runner</i>, <i>Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?</i> is perhaps sci-fi dystopian author, Philip K. Dick's, most famous novel.</div><div data-en-clipboard="true" data-pm-slice="1 1 []"><br /></div><div data-en-clipboard="true" data-pm-slice="1 1 []">In my baccalaureate days, I read another of Dick's novels, <i><a href="https://amzn.to/3HacFfq">The Three Stigmata of Palmer Eldritch</a></i>, a book which captivated me to the extent that I finished reading it long after my science fiction course at the University of Oklahoma concluded. In addition, I enjoy many movies based on Dick's tales like <i>Minority Report</i> and <i>Blade Runner</i> itself.</div><div data-en-clipboard="true" data-pm-slice="1 1 []"><br /></div><div data-en-clipboard="true" data-pm-slice="1 1 []">As such, I was ecstatic to dive in to <i>Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?</i> on the return flight from my church's <a href="https://www.andrewgilmore.net/2022/10/the-lasting-impact-of-godly-people.html">mission trip to Jamaica</a>.</div><div data-en-clipboard="true" data-pm-slice="1 1 []"><br /></div><div data-en-clipboard="true" data-pm-slice="1 1 []">In true Philip K. Dick form, the novel deals with existential issues of reality and identity as bounty hunter Rick Deckard searches for six escaped androids so he can "retire" them. Humans created androids to be assistants on Mars where the majority of earthlings emigrated after World War Terminus left earth nearly uninhabitable. Nevertheless, androids are not allowed to be free of their masters, but technology has advanced to the point in which the machines look and behave just like humans. Deckard must use an examination known as the Voigt-Kampff Empathy Test to tell them apart.</div><div data-en-clipboard="true" data-pm-slice="1 1 []"><br /></div><div data-en-clipboard="true" data-pm-slice="1 1 []">Deckard's six targets come from a new model line called Nexus-6. One of the fugitive androids has already injured a fellow bounty hunter, leading Deckard to wonder whether he will be able to survive his assignment. And, after becoming smitten with a female Nexus-6 named Rachael, he also begins to wonder whether he <i>should </i>kill them at all.</div><div data-en-clipboard="true" data-pm-slice="1 1 []"><br /></div><div data-en-clipboard="true" data-pm-slice="1 1 []">The novel's title stems from Deckard's greatest desire: to own a real animal. Most species have become extinct in the wake of the war, and therefore people own "electric" replicas. Only the wealthy can afford real animals like sheep, owls, or horses.</div><div data-en-clipboard="true" data-pm-slice="1 1 []"><br /></div><div data-en-clipboard="true" data-pm-slice="1 1 []">Whether you've seen <i>Blade Runner</i> or not, <i>Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep</i> is a great read for anyone who's a fan of science fiction novels. Just be prepared for the author to mess with your head; it's his signature move.</div></div></div><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-family: georgia, times new roman, serif; font-size: large;"><b><a href="https://amzn.to/3IO7rrf">Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones</a></b></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://amzn.to/3ZCzFLx" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2560" data-original-width="1696" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhueRt8zt9eACI3IISftxgv3IzYyiWISSA8NSlmfANc4XqKCZosWEQYbIxOr-COJqe3xcexro8U1bCzYt-OhaO0CIT33KAMpCGVuQnayJvJcDfMC4vaA6ojzz1W59aup8oDQdUfLYyPZnhW-yoADELxK3bmZASMvj0U6ckFdy2-Wo01f85ABSukDDnh/w133-h200/81wgcld4wxL.jpg" width="133" /></a></div></div></div><div><i>Habits are the compound interest of self-improvement.</i>[6][7]</div><div><br /></div><div data-en-clipboard="true" data-pm-slice="1 1 []"><div data-en-clipboard="true" data-pm-slice="1 1 []">Had <i>Atomic Habits</i> been the first book I'd ever read on the subject, I probably would have considered it revolutionary.</div><div data-en-clipboard="true" data-pm-slice="1 1 []"><br /></div><div data-en-clipboard="true" data-pm-slice="1 1 []">Nevertheless, having read Duhigg's <i><a href="https://amzn.to/3iOMzVY">The Power of Habit</a></i><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt;">—</span>one of my all-time favorite books<span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt;">—</span>some years ago, I found <i>Atomic Habits</i> less profitable than I would have otherwise.</div><div data-en-clipboard="true" data-pm-slice="1 1 []"><br /></div><div data-en-clipboard="true" data-pm-slice="1 1 []">That's not to say Clear's book is not worthwhile; I wouldn't have included it on this list if I didn't think it is deserving of attention. Even having a pretty decent foundation in habit theory, I found <i>Atomic Habits</i> to be both entertaining and useful.</div><div data-en-clipboard="true" data-pm-slice="1 1 []"><br /></div><div data-en-clipboard="true" data-pm-slice="1 1 []">The premise of the book is simple: tiny changes lead to big differences. By focusing on incremental, continuous, improvement rather than on grandiose changes, we can achieve things we never thought possible before.</div><div data-en-clipboard="true" data-pm-slice="1 1 []"><br /></div><div data-en-clipboard="true" data-pm-slice="1 1 []">After establishing the premise, Clear presents four "laws" of behavior change:</div><div data-en-clipboard="true" data-pm-slice="1 1 []"><br /></div><div data-en-clipboard="true" data-pm-slice="1 1 []">1. Make It Obvious</div><div data-en-clipboard="true" data-pm-slice="1 1 []">2. Make It Attractive</div><div data-en-clipboard="true" data-pm-slice="1 1 []">3. Make It Easy</div><div data-en-clipboard="true" data-pm-slice="1 1 []">4. Make It Satisfying</div><div data-en-clipboard="true" data-pm-slice="1 1 []"><br /></div><div data-en-clipboard="true" data-pm-slice="1 1 []">The book abounds with too many nuggets of wisdom and interesting stories to mention here, so 'll highlight just one. Regarding Law 3, Make It Easy, atomic habits are about dicing up large goals into realistic, almost effortless tasks. Once routinized, you can iterate and slowly increment the difficulty to achieve the results you desire.</div><div data-en-clipboard="true" data-pm-slice="1 1 []"><br /></div><div data-en-clipboard="true" data-pm-slice="1 1 []">One can also apply the converse of each of the four laws to bad habits. Want to break an undesirable habit? Make it difficult. Make it less obvious (e.g. get junk food out of the house or keep it out of sight). Make it unattractive. Make it unsatisfying to engage in the activity. Easier said than done, to be sure, but Clear offers practical tips to short-circuit the bad behavior in our lives.</div><div data-en-clipboard="true" data-pm-slice="1 1 []"><br /></div><div data-en-clipboard="true" data-pm-slice="1 1 []">Even for those well-versed in habit theory, <i>Atomic Habits</i> is an easy read and a great addition to the popular literature at hand.</div></div><div><br /></div><br /><h3><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">A Giveaway!</span></h3><br />How would you like to win one these books?</div><div><br /></div><div>I'm giving away one of the above books of your choice plus a copy of my newest book, <i><a href="https://amzn.to/3GLCjEX">Your Utmost Is Not Enough: Trusting in God Even When Life Doesn't Make Sense</a></i>,<i> </i>to one lucky winner!</div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://amzn.to/3ZGOuwE" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1344" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhveZJ-GLLjR-TLuFlGaHBr9n9D62h14M6Ab7wcOJMIE9EzWmXqMLrjsi_QFbDz4eo7wFJY4EyrE26st6Urg7_Jx1LP5VjbSqeSHBq9qmc8Z27aGC8FFfTaRIDBj1U7245Mx0eKRofat3t-qWKvhFju5HoO369a2quKqOp-LdpEQOEayVa5cX8QPnSn=s320" width="210" /></a></div><br /><br /></div>How can you enter?<br /><br />It's actually quite simple: subscribe to my email list. That's it.<br /><br />I typically send out two emails a month, including one on the last Tuesday with exclusive subscriber-only content. But there's no obligation to stay subscribed once the giveaway ends. To sign up, enter your email address below and click the button:</div><div><br /></div><style type="text/css">
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</script><img alt="." border="0" height="1" src="https://track.mailerlite.com/webforms/o/4391101/x1s9h2?v1625926757" style="display: block; margin: 0px; max-height: 1px; max-width: 1px; padding: 0px; visibility: hidden;" width="1" /><script src="https://static.mailerlite.com/js/w/webforms.min.js?v0c75f831c56857441820dcec3163967c" type="text/javascript"></script><div><br /></div><div>Already on the list? You're already entered!<br /><br />I'll leave the giveaway open for seven days (through the end of 1/24/23 CST) and choose a random winner on 1/25/23. (Note: this contest is open to residents of all territories, but since I'm based in the US, if cost is too prohibitive in foreign countries, I might substitute the prize for a gift card.)<br /><br />I'll update this post with the first name and location of the winner as well as notify him or her by email.<br /><br />Good luck!<br /><br /><br /><br />--------------------------------------<br /><b><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-small;">Notes:</span></b><br /><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-small;">1. </span><span style="font-family: times, times new roman, serif; font-size: x-small;">Allison Dexter, “How Many Words are in the Bible?” CNN.com, February 3, 2006, </span><span style="font-family: times, "times new roman", serif; font-size: small;">https://wordcounter.io/blog/how-many-words-are-in-the-bible.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-small;">2. I could not find a definitive word count for <i>Atlas Shrugged</i>.</span><br /><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-small;">3. </span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-small;">Jameel Zookie McGee and Andrew Collins with Mark Tabb, <i>Convicted: A Crooked Cop, an Innocent Man, and an Unlikely Journey of Forgiveness and Friendship</i> (Colorado Springs: Waterbrook</span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: times, "times new roman", serif;">, 2017), Kindle edition,</span><span style="font-family: times, "times new roman", serif;"> 11.</span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: times, times new roman, serif; font-size: x-small;">4. Ibid, 160.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: times, times new roman, serif; font-size: x-small;">5. </span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-small;">Philip K. Dick, <i>Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?</i> (New York: Del Rey</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: times, "times new roman", serif;">, 1968), Kindle edition,</span><span style="font-family: times, "times new roman", serif;"> 28.</span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: times, times new roman, serif; font-size: x-small;">6. </span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-small;">James Clear, <i>Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones</i> (New York: Avery</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: times, "times new roman", serif;">, 2018), </span><span style="font-family: times, "times new roman", serif;">28.</span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: times, times new roman, serif; font-size: x-small;">7. Much thanks to my co-worker, Emily, who loaned me her copy of <i>Atomic Habits</i>. Sorry I held on to the book for so long!<br /></span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-small;">8. </span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-small;">Brent Schlender and Rick Tetzeli, <i>Becoming Steve Jobs: The Evolution of a Reckless Upstart into a Visionary Leader</i> (New York: Crown Business</span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: times, "times new roman", serif;">, 2015), Kindle edition,</span><span style="font-family: times, "times new roman", serif;"> 4.</span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-small;">9. This post contains affiliate links which means I receive a portion of sales at no extra cost to you.</span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div>Andrew Gilmorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04537644983592180976noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1514008060316146547.post-31945169304244772162022-10-31T13:17:00.000-05:002022-10-31T13:17:25.528-05:00No, Turning to God Isn't All Roses<p> <i>A preview of October's email-only article.</i></p><p><i><br /></i></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD9Atzi8-St-UPBO7Du2AaumjLSiBc9DPKlqKlQjzBSWRh9yD8NKJqghi1OtpRcLtzTzycadup7hHccM_t3gD6dKMMxTArkRLmb-i8Q_XxJ307x43Cjh3nZqMficcSZv_HPMeCXmVl2mdHd2sgJ6jDvvfP5P1DYJp9WSPvz9XEkcBH1APreXAgNEs9/s3299/pedro-vergara-Ol-k5igOOOs-unsplash.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2167" data-original-width="3299" height="362" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD9Atzi8-St-UPBO7Du2AaumjLSiBc9DPKlqKlQjzBSWRh9yD8NKJqghi1OtpRcLtzTzycadup7hHccM_t3gD6dKMMxTArkRLmb-i8Q_XxJ307x43Cjh3nZqMficcSZv_HPMeCXmVl2mdHd2sgJ6jDvvfP5P1DYJp9WSPvz9XEkcBH1APreXAgNEs9/w400-h263/pedro-vergara-Ol-k5igOOOs-unsplash.jpg" width="550" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://unsplash.com/photos/Ol-k5igOOOs" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Pedro Vergara</a></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>TURNING TO JESUS means you'll be happy and prosperous the rest of your life, right?</p><p>Therefore, if you're unhappy or less than wealthy, it probably means you don't have enough faith.</p><p>You see where one can run into trouble with this line of thinking.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">Every month I publish an exclusive article for my email subscribers, and this month we're talking about the reality of turning to God in the context of the book of Job. If you'd like instant, free access, fill out the form below. (If you are already a subscriber, check your inbox!)</div></div><div><br /></div><div>Here's a snippet of this month's exclusive:</div><div><br /></div><div><div></div><blockquote><div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: times;">I've written it in numerous places, but once more for effect: bad things do </span><span style="font-family: times;">happen to decent people all the time. The fall ushered in an era where entropy </span><span style="font-family: times;">reigns supreme (for a time) so that even were sin not present, the pure </span><span style="font-family: times;">randomness of lightning or gravity would still cause pain and suffering.</span> </span></div></blockquote><blockquote><div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: times;">Cast out of God's Edenic hedge, we no longer enjoy protections from the </span><span style="font-family: times;">negative aspects of thermodynamics. In short, there's no escaping the heat </span><span style="font-family: times;">death of the universe sans the intervention of the Almighty. Adam made </span><span style="font-family: times;">humanity's bed, now we must lie in it.</span></span></div></blockquote></div><p> <br />Want to read the rest?</p><div><div><br /></div><div>Just enter your email address to join the list, and I'll send it to you right away:</div><div><br /></div><style type="text/css">
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</script><img alt="." border="0" height="1" src="https://track.mailerlite.com/webforms/o/5396726/l6s0k7?v1643742643" style="display: block; margin: 0px; max-height: 1px; max-width: 1px; padding: 0px; visibility: hidden;" width="1" /><script src="https://static.mailerlite.com/js/w/webforms.min.js?v0c75f831c56857441820dcec3163967c" type="text/javascript"></script><div><br /></div><div>I send two to three emails per month, but you can unsubscribe at any time.</div><div><br /></div><div>See you next month!</div></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><p></p>Andrew Gilmorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04537644983592180976noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1514008060316146547.post-51825924034589610872022-10-22T08:07:00.000-05:002022-10-22T08:07:31.908-05:00The Lasting Impact of Godly People<p><i>Focusing on things that last.</i></p><p><i><br /></i></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsX9e7MBD7ZiZvXfOVHn5rb8DmWb7Aci4WwWLaeRjNpLYLUYkk3YfOTzA1EEa579OaPTZ39EjB7D6KAR5DX4oXEOMlZcZaOuYEb2zgfdOykLOTkcaXjHUQuPtR72hoWHzrXdEudQrN-DyAWsy3344w-aAgSwctdJZZPcjZE1LUxgsxsYurReT1gspx/s4032/2022-07-24%2007.45.16.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="413" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsX9e7MBD7ZiZvXfOVHn5rb8DmWb7Aci4WwWLaeRjNpLYLUYkk3YfOTzA1EEa579OaPTZ39EjB7D6KAR5DX4oXEOMlZcZaOuYEb2zgfdOykLOTkcaXjHUQuPtR72hoWHzrXdEudQrN-DyAWsy3344w-aAgSwctdJZZPcjZE1LUxgsxsYurReT1gspx/w400-h300/2022-07-24%2007.45.16.jpg" width="550" /></a></div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.andrewgilmore.net%2F2022%2F10%2Fthe-lasting-impact-of-godly-people.html" style="clear: left; display: inline; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="130" data-original-width="130" height="23" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj9Q8xHT6MNENTRwzQxFq-m_WMv3NdsUaacoBpLgaBnMwLIp0h3fqhfsvQmFiOq_eue4oOOnfRWY4TnmbeyNF9MXlvT8hHenYqe-qnSYq8uXHkJ1RFXcBhhahZydw9EhcgNMyQlN5nsjZ-fGeWwQ2ZwfVZtBDU7dtxoOLQnMZBOM3vvsSdL_jT8g1qY=w23-h23" width="23" /></a> </span><a href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.andrewgilmore.net%2F2022%2F10%2Fthe-lasting-impact-of-godly-people.html&text=" rel="" style="clear: left; display: inline; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="851" data-original-width="1034" height="21" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgCZLG1jlG7GP9tYuXnyJc5QxXE-WRhJR5wcYhC3d_GXQUk-G3WCK1NCEPamCcOmjCwgT6lGpyhwts8HGUA_XBKEaiuB7P462zcooJTSSt159981kQXi2Vk717Q4nVFaSLr9iz-3y2gmOfMJPUh0qt6JnefNla4rNwAmsVSzoys6fmoTVK7_qxJehUD=w26-h21" width="26" /></a><p></p><div><div>AS MY TWO oldest boys and I were preparing for a mission trip with <a href="https://calvarychurch.tv/" target="_blank">my church</a> to Jamaica this past year I couldn't help but get swept up in the logistics of it all.</div><div><br /></div><div><i>How would we get all our supplies to Montego Bay?</i></div><div><i>How much would everything cost?</i></div><div><i>How long will it take to get a passport?</i></div><div><br /></div><div>The fifteen of us planning to go held monthly meetings to discuss these questions and more. And as the days went on, I wanted the whole thing to be over.</div><div><br /></div><div><span><a name='more'></a></span>Don't get me wrong; I wanted to go and serve. It would be my first foreign mission trip. But it all seemed too complicated and nebulous, and I began to wonder if the whole thing was even worth it. I mean, how much impact could fifteen unskilled Oklahomans make in five days' time?</div><div><br /></div><div>You could chalk a portion of my sentiments up to angst from the unknown. But another part was simply fatigue. Working full-time while enrolled in graduate school and trying to raise children had left a toll on my psyche. I wanted to get on the plane, do my thing, and come back home and go to bed.</div><div><br /></div><div>But as the trip neared and the planning got ever more serious, we gathered at one meeting to pray. And in that moment, <a href="https://truthneverdies.tv/" target="_blank">my pastor</a> prayed something that cut through my jaded attitude. He said something to this effect, "May we remember that our work in Jamaica will impact eternity."</div><div><br /></div><div>In that moment I felt a swell of emotion as the Holy Spirit reminded me why I was there. If was as if he were whispering in my ear, "That's why you're going on the trip, Andrew. To have an eternal impact."</div><div><br /></div><div>I knew as much all along in the back of my mind, but I had lost sight of the trip's purpose for want of clarity or convenience or respite—I'm not sure exactly what. But of course, he was right, I thought. If the Spirit saved even one soul as a result of Calvary Baptist's work in Jamaica, then it would be worth all the effort. It would be worth the thousands of dollars spent on travel and supplies, and it would be worth all the time sacrificed filling out paperwork and planning.</div><div><br /></div><div>In Job 8, Bildad describes the fate of those who "forget God" (Job 8:13). He says such people are like lush plants that spread quickly and flower beneath the sun. But without a water source they will wither away. And if such a person "is destroyed from his place," he continues, "then it will deny him, saying, 'I have never seen you.' Behold, this is the joy of his way, and out of the soil others will spring" (Job 8:18-19).</div><div><br /></div><div>He who forgets God will live for himself. He might flourish and prosper for a while, but his impact will be short-lived. Upon his death, even his own community will deny having known him. Such is the irony of a life without a focus on eternity. A man or woman's joy on earth will dissolve to nothingness and others will occupy their place like a plant springing up from the compost of their lives.</div><div><br /></div><div>Those who keep their eyes on eternity, though, will have a lasting impact beyond this earth. Such is the legacy of the godly. This isn't about our own glory or fame, but the impact of God's people.</div><div><br /></div><div>I have no idea how God will use our little mission trip. I don't use "little" to be derogatory, but realistic. In the grand scheme of things a 12-person operation in a remote area of a Caribbean island is a tiny operation.[1]</div><div><br /></div><div>But I do know these types of activities have the ability to transcend our material existence. The physical world as we know it will dissipate into nothingness, just like a plant without water withers away. Meanwhile, obedience to God has an influence that will last forever.</div></div><div><br /></div><div>One way to remain obedient to God is by knowing his will through reading your Bible and through prayer. If you've struggled to establish good devotional habits, you might find my guide useful.</div><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb1gcJiGPbFGdkLfI1raIWbG0puJ19Um-2w9xQZDGEzBpWyLFbFxBDiYscJgB6pAjH8hcIyRgx78rXEL8m7Htg2V0S0Jam1bNt01FvApeSC7mTkQMeL73DXduHosquGvdt8tbSZr9-l5OQ8T_FuijF2TOfoyVeZ8Cs1NBuscXKcrwmSAwT1cW2nlZu/s2048/Daily%20Reading%20Habit.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1283" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb1gcJiGPbFGdkLfI1raIWbG0puJ19Um-2w9xQZDGEzBpWyLFbFxBDiYscJgB6pAjH8hcIyRgx78rXEL8m7Htg2V0S0Jam1bNt01FvApeSC7mTkQMeL73DXduHosquGvdt8tbSZr9-l5OQ8T_FuijF2TOfoyVeZ8Cs1NBuscXKcrwmSAwT1cW2nlZu/s320/Daily%20Reading%20Habit.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div>This guide lays out a step-by-step process you can follow to establish healthy quiet time habits. When you do, you'll grow closer to God, and I can promise you'll consider the time well spent.</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><i>How to Establish a Habit of Daily Quiet Time with God</i> is free if you want it. It will only cost you your email address, but you can unsubscribe from the list at any time with one click. Just enter your email address below, and I'll send the reading guide your way.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><style type="text/css">
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<script src="https://static.mailerlite.com/js/w/webforms.min.js?v7316d10e2931a97c7b0f5c7e7e7be3ea" type="text/javascript"></script><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span>Notes</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">1. A few of us had to stay behind because of health issues.</div>Andrew Gilmorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04537644983592180976noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1514008060316146547.post-17390275348627826782022-09-28T23:00:00.001-05:002022-09-28T23:00:00.186-05:00What You Need to Know about Bildad's Influences<p><i>A preview of September's email-only article.</i></p><p><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs4GAB-5dz85eMFkeWQceBabba98QXvyeUZJ6nnXjYKkEnZDkVvjHNfjspJ3ql2b5TZWAN8E22YEarEfuuzUbn_Tw62jgO42XX2Ye4OrOULtfJx5SWGPt_Cri_Cf6LVXT8OkliqWVu4PEXns2OwauCmuFxULmqPI9xeuG3D-J6AEFhjsNTlP6XdE75/s2850/bernard-tuck-RykTYjhDD9M-unsplash.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="2850" height="389" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs4GAB-5dz85eMFkeWQceBabba98QXvyeUZJ6nnXjYKkEnZDkVvjHNfjspJ3ql2b5TZWAN8E22YEarEfuuzUbn_Tw62jgO42XX2Ye4OrOULtfJx5SWGPt_Cri_Cf6LVXT8OkliqWVu4PEXns2OwauCmuFxULmqPI9xeuG3D-J6AEFhjsNTlP6XdE75/w400-h283/bernard-tuck-RykTYjhDD9M-unsplash.jpg" width="550" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://unsplash.com/photos/RykTYjhDD9M" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Bernard Tuck</a></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>Wisdom is a great thing, but as Job's friend, Bildad, found out, relying on even the wisest of humans can get you into trouble.</p><p>Just who were these influences of Bildad, and why did he trust them wholeheartedly?</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">Every month I publish an exclusive article for my email subscribers, and this month we're talking about worldly wisdom and the limitations thereof. If you'd like instant, free access, fill out the form below. (If you are already a subscriber, check your inbox!)</div></div><div><br /></div><div>Here's a snippet of this month's exclusive:</div><div><br /></div><div><div></div><blockquote><div><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;">No matter how old or wise Bildad and his friends were, their lives were but a breath compared to the ancients who lived hundreds of years. And during those centuries, these people would have acquired great wisdom as a faculty of experience.</span></div><div><div><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;">Nevertheless I'm inclined to believe Bildad did not misappropriate ancient wisdom, but rather that the sages of old failed him in this case. Who, no matter how long he lived, could account for a case like Job's? Bildad thought he knew the answer—that Job had sinned—but he was wrong in spite of consulting the wisest of men. And therein lies a critical lesson we should take to heart. The wisest of humans is a fool compared to God.</span></div></div></blockquote></div><p> <br />Want to read the rest?</p><div><div><br /></div><div>Just enter your email address to join the list, and I'll send it to you right away:</div><div><br /></div><style type="text/css">
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<script src="https://static.mailerlite.com/js/w/webforms.min.js?v0c75f831c56857441820dcec3163967c" type="text/javascript"></script><div><br /></div><div>I send two to three emails per month, but you can unsubscribe at any time.</div><div><br /></div><div>See you next month!</div></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Andrew Gilmorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04537644983592180976noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1514008060316146547.post-19154163897599922462022-09-13T05:00:00.041-05:002022-09-13T05:00:00.199-05:00Sometimes, People Don't Need More Theology<p><i>You can be right and still be wrong.</i></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixRrNO7m0-BewBOcKT_Ns4OsS9PjGa1UY8ST0ivfv0A2sdZlwrIpziZKY_--Haaqf-lTsgQpYYrn7u-lNEs1FWsQW884TyqtHlsQuXGWdqi9ukY5WvwCh2tBpBEiTn4WmdTUnesAwcq3Wl2XTmwqxattqYFtBvJkdSrZCnOiK8qkQTydjslNuKqELg/s5472/nina-strehl-Ds0ZIA5gzc4-unsplash.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="5472" height="366" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixRrNO7m0-BewBOcKT_Ns4OsS9PjGa1UY8ST0ivfv0A2sdZlwrIpziZKY_--Haaqf-lTsgQpYYrn7u-lNEs1FWsQW884TyqtHlsQuXGWdqi9ukY5WvwCh2tBpBEiTn4WmdTUnesAwcq3Wl2XTmwqxattqYFtBvJkdSrZCnOiK8qkQTydjslNuKqELg/w400-h266/nina-strehl-Ds0ZIA5gzc4-unsplash.jpg" width="550" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://unsplash.com/photos/Ds0ZIA5gzc4" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Nina Strehl</a></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.andrewgilmore.net%2F2022%2F09%2Fsometimes-people-dont-need-more-theology.html" style="clear: left; display: inline; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="130" data-original-width="130" height="23" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj9Q8xHT6MNENTRwzQxFq-m_WMv3NdsUaacoBpLgaBnMwLIp0h3fqhfsvQmFiOq_eue4oOOnfRWY4TnmbeyNF9MXlvT8hHenYqe-qnSYq8uXHkJ1RFXcBhhahZydw9EhcgNMyQlN5nsjZ-fGeWwQ2ZwfVZtBDU7dtxoOLQnMZBOM3vvsSdL_jT8g1qY=w23-h23" width="23" /></a> </span><a href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.andrewgilmore.net%2F2022%2F09%2Fsometimes-people-dont-need-more-theology.html&text=" rel="" style="clear: left; display: inline; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="851" data-original-width="1034" height="21" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgCZLG1jlG7GP9tYuXnyJc5QxXE-WRhJR5wcYhC3d_GXQUk-G3WCK1NCEPamCcOmjCwgT6lGpyhwts8HGUA_XBKEaiuB7P462zcooJTSSt159981kQXi2Vk717Q4nVFaSLr9iz-3y2gmOfMJPUh0qt6JnefNla4rNwAmsVSzoys6fmoTVK7_qxJehUD=w26-h21" width="26" /></a><p></p><div><div>WHEN PEOPLE ARE HURTING, it can be difficult to know how to help them.</div><div><br /></div><div>I read a good book a few years ago called <i><a href="https://www.andrewgilmore.net/2020/01/what-i-read-in-2019.html">When Helping Hurts</a></i> that details instances in which charitable contributions actually do more harm than good. Don't misread me, generosity is a great thing. It encapsulates the very heart of God, who is a giver. But gifts that create dependency or are simply Band-Aids for more serious symptoms could actually hurt in the long run.</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://www.andrewgilmore.net/search/label/money">Money matters</a> aside, how do we help people who are suffering? Many times I think we, not knowing what else to do, toss theology at people when what they really need is a hug or the mere presence of a friend.</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://www.andrewgilmore.net/2021/12/what-you-need-to-know-about-jobs-friends.html">Job's friends</a> started off right when they sat with him in silence for seven days. After a week Job spoke up, lamenting his birth. He was in so much anguish he said, "Why did I not die at birth, come out from the womb and expire? … Or why was I not as a hidden stillborn child, as infants who never see the light?" (Job 3:11,16).</div><div><br /></div><div>That's dark.</div><div><br /></div><div>You've gotta be in a pretty grim frame of mind to utter these kinds of words.</div><div><br /></div><div>How would you respond?</div><div><br /></div><div><span><a name='more'></a></span>If your name is Eliphaz or Bildad, you just can't wait to spout off all of the wisdom you've amassed over the years. First Eliphaz says the innocent prosper, <a href="https://www.andrewgilmore.net/2022/03/can-you-ever-be-good-enough-for-god.html">insinuating Job is guilty</a> of something. In response Job claims his complaint is just, but he "would choose strangling and death" (Job 7:15) and that he loathes his life.</div><div><br /></div><div>Here's a man in dire straits. He's confused, angry, depressed, and in agony. What does he need?</div><div><br /></div><div>Why, more theology, of course!</div><div><br /></div><div>Bildad can't hold his tongue. He essentially says Job's children deserved to die. He dismisses Job's cries for help as "a great wind" (Job 8:2).</div><div><br /></div><div>Hear me please: good theology is good—<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">c</span>ritical even to a vibrant faith. In my opinion every Christian should know what they believe and why they believe it.</div><div><br /></div><div>But there are times when people, Christian or not, don't need another lecture or sermon or platitude. Sometimes people just need a good neighbor.</div><div><br /></div><div>And here's the thing about Bildad. He may have been sarcastic, insensitive, and prideful in his delivery, but he actually got some things right. He told Job that "though your beginning was small, your latter days will be great" (Job 8:7). These words proved to be prophetic. The author of the book—presumably Job—wrote that "the LORD blessed the latter days of Job more than his beginning" (Job 42:12) almost as a troll to Bildad who probably didn't believe such was even possible.</div><div><br /></div><div>And yet, we can be totally right and still be wrong. Even if Bildad's theology was 100% correct (it wasn't), the timing and delivery was inappropriate. I know I've said some insensitive things in my lifetime, but I hope I never blame the grieved for their grief.</div><div><br /></div><div>What can we learn from Bildad? He's an exaggerated example, but I hope I hold fast to the fact that being right isn't always the most important thing.</div></div><div><br /></div><div>If you enjoyed this article, you might be interested in my curated, chronological Old Testament reading plan with notes. I've combed through the first portion of the Bible and selected the most critical chapters for your perusal, wrapped up in a 90-day reading plan.</div><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.subscribepage.com/otin90" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1283" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEji1YVkQjRLDINlKHUmMxR-am_dc3LqQnHYe1__m54kosqqIT3kAH_rCTFF9mjtlcbOveVUdjp0qwRsbZhtxp4KekuRLv4nIibKk833ZnxKHyCtPkQk6POBQ7Rn15x3ztf8_8d2301IU-vzmQDmjImE2wfXBtexn6DNbjyDXSx3donoVNeVocBi10ET=s320" width="200" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div>Whether you've read through the OT before or always get stuck at Leviticus, this guide will help you gain a deeper understanding of God's word as a whole.</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>The guide is free if you want it. It will only cost you your email address, but you can unsubscribe from the list at any time with one click. Just enter your email address below, and I'll send the reading guide your way.</div><div><br /></div><style type="text/css">
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<script src="https://static.mailerlite.com/js/w/webforms.min.js?v0c75f831c56857441820dcec3163967c" type="text/javascript"></script><div><br /></div>Andrew Gilmorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04537644983592180976noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1514008060316146547.post-1671564566842367342022-08-30T21:00:00.001-05:002022-08-30T21:00:00.175-05:00One Harmful Consequence of Sin<p><i>A preview of August's email-only article.</i></p><p><i><br /></i></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZQrF7N_mOg-GinX40RtVWPbwWWitLE5amrZq2eqADtQBbm1Zm9sg7V61kc60G2TboRK_wRZ3dxcVWXWe1cLOkZwGX8VgM_Agit_OmhLi7jlXfALKgjnE5e4hoGKksDgyyl39vk5Vcm2stEThLaSh-GvkMNMEn2Xp3cQfKNnxhFoqgtKUfhk42BzVc/s4160/philipp-pilz-QZ2EQuPpQJs-unsplash.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2340" data-original-width="4160" height="309" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZQrF7N_mOg-GinX40RtVWPbwWWitLE5amrZq2eqADtQBbm1Zm9sg7V61kc60G2TboRK_wRZ3dxcVWXWe1cLOkZwGX8VgM_Agit_OmhLi7jlXfALKgjnE5e4hoGKksDgyyl39vk5Vcm2stEThLaSh-GvkMNMEn2Xp3cQfKNnxhFoqgtKUfhk42BzVc/s320/philipp-pilz-QZ2EQuPpQJs-unsplash.jpg" width="550" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://unsplash.com/photos/QZ2EQuPpQJs" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Philipp Pilz</a></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>It would be kind of obvious to say sin is harmful, wouldn't it?</p><p>Nevertheless, I think sin has a consequence we often don't recognize until it's too late.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">Every month I publish an exclusive article for my email subscribers, and this month we're talking about this consequence, and how to reclaim your peace. If you'd like instant, free access, fill out the form below.</div></div><div><br /></div><div>Here's a snippet of the article:</div><div><br /></div><div><div></div><blockquote><div><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;">YOU KNOW SIN IS BAD; nothing revelatory there.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;">God is the definition of good, and sin is the antithesis of God. Therefore sin is decidedly ungood. In fact, transgressions separate us from God which leads to death because God is also life.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;">Surely you know all of this.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;">But wrongdoing is even worse than we probably realize. Not only do we suffer the immediate consequences of a broken relationship with God, we also experience the compound effect of evil.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;">Proverbs 13:21 warns of this phenomenon.</span></div></blockquote></div><p> <br />Want to read the rest?</p><div><div><br /></div><div>Just enter your email address to join the list, and I'll send it to you right away:</div><div><br /></div><style type="text/css">
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<script src="https://static.mailerlite.com/js/w/webforms.min.js?v0c75f831c56857441820dcec3163967c" type="text/javascript"></script><div><br /></div><div>I send two to three emails per month, but you can unsubscribe at any time.</div><div><br /></div><div>See you next month!</div></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><p></p>Andrew Gilmorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04537644983592180976noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1514008060316146547.post-15425442460467964862022-08-16T05:00:00.001-05:002022-08-16T05:00:00.193-05:00Stop Playing the Lottery<p> <i>Unearned wealth will fade away.</i></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0A-Xx1ryv1eiYEyJdwa-Rvryc8jYkUq_ITcqmDtea9KXPH20LJ_9GsSYNpuCCibDhYPGtNxmdPP8v4mVVD471HfNgPuw3DT8HkjMqvkfbHSmm8YZnMLcV1py46jKyjK-Pmt7D-JYp19IEknVsOY2KzCjzFqytslg-lJ5OczRKXAu-nxpnEhC8bB7I/s4496/alejandro-garay-1RxbuMvugxk-unsplash.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4496" height="369" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0A-Xx1ryv1eiYEyJdwa-Rvryc8jYkUq_ITcqmDtea9KXPH20LJ_9GsSYNpuCCibDhYPGtNxmdPP8v4mVVD471HfNgPuw3DT8HkjMqvkfbHSmm8YZnMLcV1py46jKyjK-Pmt7D-JYp19IEknVsOY2KzCjzFqytslg-lJ5OczRKXAu-nxpnEhC8bB7I/w400-h268/alejandro-garay-1RxbuMvugxk-unsplash.jpg" width="550" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://unsplash.com/photos/1RxbuMvugxk" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Alejandro Garay</a></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.andrewgilmore.net%2F2022%2F08%2Fstop-playing-lottery.html" style="clear: left; display: inline; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="130" data-original-width="130" height="23" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj9Q8xHT6MNENTRwzQxFq-m_WMv3NdsUaacoBpLgaBnMwLIp0h3fqhfsvQmFiOq_eue4oOOnfRWY4TnmbeyNF9MXlvT8hHenYqe-qnSYq8uXHkJ1RFXcBhhahZydw9EhcgNMyQlN5nsjZ-fGeWwQ2ZwfVZtBDU7dtxoOLQnMZBOM3vvsSdL_jT8g1qY=w23-h23" width="23" /></a> </span><a href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.andrewgilmore.net%2F2022%2F08%2Fstop-playing-lottery.html&text=" rel="" style="clear: left; display: inline; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="851" data-original-width="1034" height="21" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgCZLG1jlG7GP9tYuXnyJc5QxXE-WRhJR5wcYhC3d_GXQUk-G3WCK1NCEPamCcOmjCwgT6lGpyhwts8HGUA_XBKEaiuB7P462zcooJTSSt159981kQXi2Vk717Q4nVFaSLr9iz-3y2gmOfMJPUh0qt6JnefNla4rNwAmsVSzoys6fmoTVK7_qxJehUD=w26-h21" width="26" /></a><p></p><div><div>WE LOVE GET-RICH-QUICK STORIES.</div><div><br /></div><div>We can't get enough of the rags-to-riches trope. The Cinderellas, the little orphan Annies, Aladdins, Billionaire love stories, the Powerball winners. The long lost wealthy relative who just bequeathed you millions.</div><div><br /></div><div>The fantastical prospect of a sudden exorbitant windfall entices even the best of us. Rags-to-riches tales are harmless as long as the consumer acknowledges one thing:</div><div><br /></div><div>They are lies.</div><div><br /></div><div><span><a name='more'></a></span>Yes, <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2022/04/23/odds-youll-win-400-million-powerball-jackpot.html">one out of 292 million win the Powerball jackpot</a>, but you're more likely to find a magical lamp with a genie inside.</div><div><br /></div><div>And even among these outlier stories, the final outcome is rarely as fairy tale as the storybooks indicate. Rather than happily ever after, those who get rich quickly more often than not become poor again just as swiftly.</div><div><br /></div><div>You've probably heard about the lottery curse. In my book, <i><a href="https://amzn.to/3QgTzqb">Your Utmost Is Not Enough</a></i>, I wrote about David Lee Edwards who won $73.7 million only to die penniless twelve years later in hospice care.</div><div><br /></div><div>Many similar tales detail the downfall of jackpot winners. Of course, not all lottery winners go broke, but a disproportionate number of them do.</div><div><br /></div><div>What about inheriting your fortune? Research shows that 70% of wealthy estates will collapse within one generation.[1]</div><div><br /></div><div>As surprising and unsettling as these facts are, Solomon actually warned us about this phenomenon over three thousand years ago. He wrote:</div><div><br /></div><div></div><blockquote><div><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;">Wealth gained hastily will dwindle,</span></div><div><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;"> but whoever gathers little by little will increase it.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;">Proverbs 13:11</span></div></blockquote><div></div><div><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span></div><div>English Bible translations have numerous takes on the word "hastily" in this verse. The KJV translates the Hebrew word as "vanity." Many other translations use the words dishonesty or fraud as in the New International Version which reads, "Dishonest money dwindles away, but whoever gathers money little by little makes it grow."<br /><br />The Hebrew word (transliterated) is <i>hebel </i>which means emptiness or vanity. Translators rendered the word as <i>vain</i> or <i>vanity</i> in all but one of its seventy-three appearances in the King James Version. The figurative uses for the word include the fleeting nature of breath. <i>Heber</i> can also indicate something worthless or unsatisfactory.[2] Using this last connotation, Proverbs 13:11 speaks of wealth gained unsatisfactorily or in a worthless manner. Or, in short, by dishonesty.</div><div><br />This isn't to say there is anything morally wrong with inheriting money. That's a silly assertion. What about the lotto? Is playing the lottery a sin?</div><div><br /></div><div>Corollary: is idiocy a sin?</div><div><br /></div><div>Jokes aside, buying a lottery ticket isn't a sin in and of itself. Winning the lottery is not sinful. But greed is. <a href="https://www.andrewgilmore.net/2015/05/the-most-misquoted-verse-in-the-bible.html">The love of money is</a>.</div><div><br /></div><div>In reality, I think the essence of the Proverb doesn't deal exclusively with money obtained by deceitful methods, but rather that the money itself is a lie. Wealth is a representation of value. So when someone receives a lump sum from the Powerball people, he is receiving value he didn't create or work for.</div><div><br /></div><div>Again, receiving the money isn't sinful, but the award itself is a falsehood—a claim on unearned value.</div><div><br /></div><div>Therefore, Solomon points out that because this material is false—that we did not work for it or earn it—that it will dwindle away. This happens for a variety of reasons, but primarily because we don't really appreciate the value of the money. How could we? We missed out on the crucial value-creation phase of building the wealth.</div><div><br /></div><div>So we consume without replenishing. Even the prudent are ignorant of the blood, sweat, and tears pent up in those dollar bills, and as a result are wont to waste them. The money is a breath. An illusion.</div><div><br /></div><div>Contrast the get-rich-quicks to the diligent and assiduous population. Solomon says those who gather little by little will multiply their wealth. Those who earn money by honest, natural measures (like hard work) will see their estates increase because wealth-building is a process. The act of laboring engenders a certain richness that one cannot obtain any other way.</div><div><br /></div><div>Solomon wasn't perfect, but if there's one thing he knew it was how to build and manage wealth. And yet, his proverb can apply to many facets of our lives. Sometimes I pray for things and get impatient or frustrated when my microwave requests don't yield the desired result thirty seconds in. So I press the <i>Add 30</i> button to see when my request will be ready.</div><div><br /></div><div>"Wealth" can be things like a career in which we expect to be masters at our respective crafts in just a year or two, when most people spend thirty years becoming great.</div><div><br /></div><div>Or consider fame. Ever know people who are famous just for being famous? They didn't really earn the accolades, so their fame will dwindle as fast as it came. Those who work hard though, these people will build their influence little by little.</div><div><br /></div><div>Get-rich-quick is a lie. Yes, it happens to people, but it is still make believe.</div><div>Lottery money is fake money.</div><div>Unearned money is fake money.</div><div><br /></div><div>Instead of looking for a quick payday, those who are wise work to gather little by little, increasing their abundance as they go.</div></div><div><br /></div><div>Before you leave, I'd like to give you a free guide I created called <i><a href="https://www.subscribepage.com/ttecd">12 Things Effective Christians Do</a></i>.</div><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.subscribepage.com/ttecd" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2250" data-original-width="1410" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-Y5LQ8jVVawR-sGohFPXrRJ_Bx-PbAqGyCaILRSa7eWGbTH5prydvvy7NbXjoMglfu8qOa-Ufus7De6fgMSfvRDwdnxW5gNThFPal_x6HQvzdoVDICBbQf2AJSfOORJ4MndcOWvY6SV2gbkTGJtLzZp-5yrIdfD4A7CYeL1gL3a1si9HvJkgyiL2g/s320/Copy%20of%20White%20Graphic%20Design%20Book%20Cover.png" width="201" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div><br /></div><div>In the guide I outline the twelve things those who have a strong, healthy relationship with God do on a regular basis (even when life isn't going as planned).</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>The guide is free if you want it. It will only cost you your email address, but you can unsubscribe from the list at any time with one click. Just <a href="https://www.subscribepage.com/ttecd">click here</a> and enter your email address, and I'll send the guide your way.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Notes</div><div><br /></div><div>1. Vic Preisser & Roy Williams. “The Future of Estate Planning,” <i>NAEPC Journal of Estate & Tax Planning</i>, June 2010: 43-49, https://www.naepcjournal.org/journal/issue07s.pdf.</div><div>2. <i>Hebrew and Aramaic Dictionary</i>. James Strong. (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 2010), s.v. "1892. hebel," p. 66.</div><div><br /></div><div>This article contains an affiliate link to Amazon.com.</div>Andrew Gilmorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04537644983592180976noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1514008060316146547.post-44108189602814673202022-07-31T21:18:00.005-05:002022-07-31T21:18:58.384-05:00The Richest People Don't Live Like You'd Expect<p> <i>A preview of July's email-only article.</i></p><p><i><br /></i></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAnz16ZbS1P8fIO6j7MdPmuBTLd1kBx4S0DVmXdmQU2wsSkNhmz13XP9sLxq3GTFJuWrY-h4o0kgJyrW6NBBW9OmsK8XjRC-iVbAqksLHj9OtobsF8iZkSRQAC5ey0zoTVOm_J-gD9YwJDCrFsSMiYZPenmMDPILN1fQiRhy7qEMjf5BP7XxwlwExU/s3578/david-suarez-1I3sYlqibdE-unsplash.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2262" data-original-width="3578" height="348" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAnz16ZbS1P8fIO6j7MdPmuBTLd1kBx4S0DVmXdmQU2wsSkNhmz13XP9sLxq3GTFJuWrY-h4o0kgJyrW6NBBW9OmsK8XjRC-iVbAqksLHj9OtobsF8iZkSRQAC5ey0zoTVOm_J-gD9YwJDCrFsSMiYZPenmMDPILN1fQiRhy7qEMjf5BP7XxwlwExU/w400-h253/david-suarez-1I3sYlqibdE-unsplash.jpg" width="550" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://unsplash.com/photos/1I3sYlqibdE" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">David Suarez</a></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>The richest people are those who own the nicest cars, homes, and jewelry, right?</p><p>No, not if you ask King Solomon.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div>Every month I publish an exclusive article for my email subscribers, and this month we're talking about the key to true riches according to Proverbs and Jesus. If you'd like instant, free access, fill out the form below.</div></div></div><div><br /></div><div>Here's a snippet of the article:</div><div><br /></div><div><div></div><blockquote><div><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;">Despite owning mansions and flashy cars, a Nicholas Cage or a Burt Reynolds might be broker than you are.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;">Solomon observed this tendency in the book of Proverbs. He wrote, "One pretends to be rich, yet has nothing; another pretends to be poor, yet has great wealth" (Prov. 13:7).</span></div><div><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;">On a smaller scale, you probably have neighbors who buy fancier cars than they can afford to impress those in their social circle. You might have co-workers who carry expensive purses so they appear wealthy. But look at their balance sheets, and you'll see they are worth more dead than alive.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;">Materially speaking, of course.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;">Maybe you're guilty of pretending to be rich too. I know I've done so under social pressure to try to fit in or with the desire for respect I haven't earned.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;">But Solomon's proverb has a spiritual corollary.</span></div></blockquote></div><p> <br />Want to read the rest?</p><div><div><br /></div><div>Just enter your email address to join the list, and I'll send it to you right away:</div><div><br /></div><style type="text/css">
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<script src="https://static.mailerlite.com/js/w/webforms.min.js?v0c75f831c56857441820dcec3163967c" type="text/javascript"></script><div><br /></div><div>I send two to three emails per month, but you can unsubscribe at any time.</div><div><br /></div><div>See you next month!</div></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><p></p><p></p>Andrew Gilmorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04537644983592180976noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1514008060316146547.post-41827163274095783142022-07-12T05:00:00.001-05:002022-07-12T05:00:00.194-05:00Yes, Rest for the Weary<p><i>When all you want is a little relief.</i></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhzEkMkzF-JOLZmdbc-WByICtCSK8UQ01pGwJMstzy0F888b0ghy5XvrAowKC-0DhA3PB04XX8IuQcVPZ1T5GZWtrAgP44-CG90_C9EqzbpHmIz8GwpD4Tx2FfXxS-LTGU-1k_m2YfXnhlzc0M5UW4TEsYquzmCDU7-Y7J-f0jyys1sqW6DsbGxWnW/s5092/matthew-henry-2Ts5HnA67k8-unsplash.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3395" data-original-width="5092" height="366" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhzEkMkzF-JOLZmdbc-WByICtCSK8UQ01pGwJMstzy0F888b0ghy5XvrAowKC-0DhA3PB04XX8IuQcVPZ1T5GZWtrAgP44-CG90_C9EqzbpHmIz8GwpD4Tx2FfXxS-LTGU-1k_m2YfXnhlzc0M5UW4TEsYquzmCDU7-Y7J-f0jyys1sqW6DsbGxWnW/w400-h266/matthew-henry-2Ts5HnA67k8-unsplash.jpg" width="550" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://unsplash.com/photos/2Ts5HnA67k8" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Matthew Henry</a></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.andrewgilmore.net%2F2022%2F07%2Fyes-rest-for-weary.html" style="clear: left; display: inline; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="130" data-original-width="130" height="23" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj9Q8xHT6MNENTRwzQxFq-m_WMv3NdsUaacoBpLgaBnMwLIp0h3fqhfsvQmFiOq_eue4oOOnfRWY4TnmbeyNF9MXlvT8hHenYqe-qnSYq8uXHkJ1RFXcBhhahZydw9EhcgNMyQlN5nsjZ-fGeWwQ2ZwfVZtBDU7dtxoOLQnMZBOM3vvsSdL_jT8g1qY=w23-h23" width="23" /></a> </span><a href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.andrewgilmore.net%2F2022%2F07%2Fyes-rest-for-weary.html&text=" rel="" style="clear: left; display: inline; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="851" data-original-width="1034" height="21" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgCZLG1jlG7GP9tYuXnyJc5QxXE-WRhJR5wcYhC3d_GXQUk-G3WCK1NCEPamCcOmjCwgT6lGpyhwts8HGUA_XBKEaiuB7P462zcooJTSSt159981kQXi2Vk717Q4nVFaSLr9iz-3y2gmOfMJPUh0qt6JnefNla4rNwAmsVSzoys6fmoTVK7_qxJehUD=w26-h21" width="26" /></a><p></p><div><div>IF YOU'VE LIVED LONG ENOUGH, you've endured periods of unrest in your life.</div><div><br /></div><div>These seasons come in many forms, but I suspect they affect us all. Some might have to deal with illness, either chronic or acute. Some might be struggling with stress from work keeping them up at night. Still others might just have more to do than they have time to accomplish. These are just a few examples.</div><div><br /></div><div>Through these seasons it can be difficult to carry on. All we want is some relief<span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 14.6667px;">—</span>rest from the chaos. It's only by the hope of rest that we can continue.</div><div><br /></div><div><i>If I can just make it until 5:00 PM, then I can rest.</i></div><div><i>If I can survive this semester, I'll be okay.</i></div><div><i>If I can endure for seven days, this infection will be gone.</i></div><div><br /></div><div>Doctors love to prescribe fluids and rest for patients dealing with a variety of illnesses. And, of course, this is sound advice. But what if sleeping provides no rest at all?</div><span><a name='more'></a></span><div><br /></div><div>Job sought sleep as relief from <a href="https://www.andrewgilmore.net/2022/06/remember-snake-has-already-been-bruised.html">his ailment</a>. But when he slept he dreamed terrifying dreams, such that he found no rest. As a result, without any promise of rest he lost hope, praying instead for death:</div><div><br /></div><div></div><blockquote><div><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;">When I say, ‘My bed will comfort me,</span></div><div><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;"> my couch will ease my complaint,’</span></div><div><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;">then you scare me with dreams</span></div><div><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;"> and terrify me with visions,</span></div><div><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;">so that I would choose strangling</span></div><div><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;"> and death rather than my bones.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;">Job 7:13-15</span></div></blockquote><div></div><div><br /></div><div>Some <a href="https://biblehub.com/commentaries/jfb/job/7.htm">commentators suggest</a> Job's nightmares were a side affect of his illness. If so, he probably endured fever dreams--dreams and hallucinations that typically occur in conjunction with elevated body temperatures. If you've never experienced fever dreams before, let me assure that these are real.</div><div><br /></div><div>When I had a terrible case of the flu several years ago, I laid on the couch for nearly a week slipping in and out of consciousness meanwhile experiencing some of the most unsettling dreams you could imagine.</div><div><br /></div><div>Whether or not this is what Job dealt with, it is clear that without the promise of rest, he could no longer endure.</div><div><br /></div><div>Isn't this true for us too?</div><div><br /></div><div>We can endure pain if we know there's an end in sight. But when there's no obvious way out of our struggles, hopelessness sets in.</div><div><br /></div><div>Fortunately for us, we do have the promise of rest, something Job did not have. </div><div><br /></div><div>As the author of Hebrews reminds us:</div><div><br /></div><div></div><blockquote><div><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;">There remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God, for whoever has entered God's rest has also rested from his works as God did from his.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;">Hebrews 4:9-10</span></div></blockquote><div></div><div><br /></div><div>This promise is the antidote to hopelessness and despair, giving us the strength to rise for the day despite another sleepless night.</div><div><br /></div><div>Because even if relief doesn't come on earth, we know that those in Christ will <a href="https://amzn.to/3AvVhPw">have a Sabbath rest</a>. And this kind of rest is perfect and eternal.</div><div><br /></div><div>So if you're in the midst of a season of unrest, hold fast to God. Rest is on the way.</div></div><div><br /></div><div>If you enjoyed this article, you might be interested in my curated, chronological Old Testament reading plan with notes. I've combed through the first portion of the Bible and selected the most critical chapters for your perusal, wrapped up in a 90-day reading plan.</div><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.subscribepage.com/otin90" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1283" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEji1YVkQjRLDINlKHUmMxR-am_dc3LqQnHYe1__m54kosqqIT3kAH_rCTFF9mjtlcbOveVUdjp0qwRsbZhtxp4KekuRLv4nIibKk833ZnxKHyCtPkQk6POBQ7Rn15x3ztf8_8d2301IU-vzmQDmjImE2wfXBtexn6DNbjyDXSx3donoVNeVocBi10ET=s320" width="200" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div>Whether you've read through the OT before or always get stuck at Leviticus, this guide will help you gain a deeper understanding of God's word as a whole.</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>The guide is free if you want it. It will only cost you your email address, but you can unsubscribe from the list at any time with one click. Just enter your email address below, and I'll send the reading guide your way.</div><div><br /></div><style type="text/css">
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<script src="https://static.mailerlite.com/js/w/webforms.min.js?v0c75f831c56857441820dcec3163967c" type="text/javascript"></script>Andrew Gilmorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04537644983592180976noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1514008060316146547.post-32423461572265879512022-06-28T06:27:00.004-05:002022-06-28T06:27:41.597-05:00Life's Too Short to Give God the Silent Treatment<p> <i>A preview of June's email-only article.</i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrfgYbxbiY8Mzr8uvLCzWyLaTAyBy08ZhAtSOUUavpHG3gV4RjGM_J3gTkrZ0z_OQvcR4-ptx-1oh0nj8hkmJE_JV22vPddT-mc1m-LDPQWcxkwUxJUmOwIEKIGA-Oh3WN-U2gzgeMxppVG7rHmxQF36MGM2dLrY0C4FDDUnVf_ej_gbRlKUbZf4xF/s6000/o-w-l-y-3Pti62t-Qak-unsplash.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="366" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrfgYbxbiY8Mzr8uvLCzWyLaTAyBy08ZhAtSOUUavpHG3gV4RjGM_J3gTkrZ0z_OQvcR4-ptx-1oh0nj8hkmJE_JV22vPddT-mc1m-LDPQWcxkwUxJUmOwIEKIGA-Oh3WN-U2gzgeMxppVG7rHmxQF36MGM2dLrY0C4FDDUnVf_ej_gbRlKUbZf4xF/w400-h266/o-w-l-y-3Pti62t-Qak-unsplash.jpg" width="550" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://unsplash.com/photos/3Pti62t-Qak" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">P O W L Y</a></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><div>Have you ever been angry with God?</div><div><br /></div><div>If so, how did you respond? Did you turn your back on him? Or petition him?</div><div><br /></div><div>Every month I publish an exclusive article for my email subscribers, and this month we're talking about how we should respond to God when our emotions run high. If you'd like instant, free access, fill out the form below. (If you're already on the list, check your email.)</div></div></div></div><div><br /></div><div>Here's a snippet:</div><div><br /></div><div><div></div><blockquote><div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: times;">HAVE YOU EVER BEEN MAD at God? It's kind of a weird phenomenon—to be </span><span style="font-family: times;">angry with a deity—but I know it's not uncommon. I've had multiple people tell </span><span style="font-family: times;">me they have beef with the Almighty.</span> </span></div></blockquote><blockquote><div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: times;">Often these strong emotions come in response to a tragedy or an unjust </span><span style="font-family: times;">situation, those in which one is left asking where God was or why he didn't </span><span style="font-family: times;">prevent the disaster.</span> </span></div></blockquote><blockquote><div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: times;">These emotions are real. They are valid. Don't forget we are made in God's </span><span style="font-family: times;">image and that God has emotions. He became angry with Moses when Moses </span><span style="font-family: times;">tried to reject his proposal to save the Israelites. Psalm 78 tells us God grieved </span><span style="font-family: times;">the sin of Israel in the wilderness. Hebrews tells us God is pleased by our faith.</span> </span></div></blockquote><blockquote><div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: times;">Nevertheless we must be careful what we do with those emotions. How we </span><span style="font-family: times;">respond can be helpful or it can be unproductive (and even sinful).</span></span></div></blockquote></div><p> <br />Want to read the rest?</p><div><div><br /></div><div>Just enter your email address to join the list, and I'll send it to you right away:</div><div><br /></div><style type="text/css">
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<script src="https://static.mailerlite.com/js/w/webforms.min.js?v0c75f831c56857441820dcec3163967c" type="text/javascript"></script><div><br /></div><div>I send two to three emails per month, but you can unsubscribe at any time.</div><div><br /></div><div>See you next month!</div></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Andrew Gilmorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04537644983592180976noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1514008060316146547.post-15721073412718278592022-06-21T13:41:00.001-05:002022-06-21T13:41:22.510-05:00Remember, the Snake Has Already Been Bruised<p> <i>An encouragement for those in anguish.</i></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguMwNlNP0rm4fAGY5V7Xf5o_O0gqxnggVqDNspi669PQxfaVblERzNOjqljL2ogZdTaY9i9YEyh0dUOuDKJ5yVQj_CETHgox952N4Cp-LoKZp1pjcyXXfzhAJT2ElBV1Y0NM3b5YIGaZUfDFpCgIumDDUEYuKYH8dEf7xgLZn6Bksh7YcS82pTr0DD/s4989/timothy-dykes-NzFA2VhY5gg-unsplash.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3326" data-original-width="4989" height="366" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguMwNlNP0rm4fAGY5V7Xf5o_O0gqxnggVqDNspi669PQxfaVblERzNOjqljL2ogZdTaY9i9YEyh0dUOuDKJ5yVQj_CETHgox952N4Cp-LoKZp1pjcyXXfzhAJT2ElBV1Y0NM3b5YIGaZUfDFpCgIumDDUEYuKYH8dEf7xgLZn6Bksh7YcS82pTr0DD/w400-h266/timothy-dykes-NzFA2VhY5gg-unsplash.jpg" width="550" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://unsplash.com/photos/NzFA2VhY5gg" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Timothy Dykes</a></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.andrewgilmore.net%2F2022%2F06%2Fremember-snake-has-already-been-bruised.html" style="clear: left; display: inline; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="130" data-original-width="130" height="23" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj9Q8xHT6MNENTRwzQxFq-m_WMv3NdsUaacoBpLgaBnMwLIp0h3fqhfsvQmFiOq_eue4oOOnfRWY4TnmbeyNF9MXlvT8hHenYqe-qnSYq8uXHkJ1RFXcBhhahZydw9EhcgNMyQlN5nsjZ-fGeWwQ2ZwfVZtBDU7dtxoOLQnMZBOM3vvsSdL_jT8g1qY=w23-h23" width="23" /></a> </span><a href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.andrewgilmore.net%2F2022%2F06%2Fremember-snake-has-already-been-bruised.html&text=" rel="" style="clear: left; display: inline; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="851" data-original-width="1034" height="21" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgCZLG1jlG7GP9tYuXnyJc5QxXE-WRhJR5wcYhC3d_GXQUk-G3WCK1NCEPamCcOmjCwgT6lGpyhwts8HGUA_XBKEaiuB7P462zcooJTSSt159981kQXi2Vk717Q4nVFaSLr9iz-3y2gmOfMJPUh0qt6JnefNla4rNwAmsVSzoys6fmoTVK7_qxJehUD=w26-h21" width="26" /></a><p></p><div><div><div>THE BIBLE DEDICATES a healthy percentage of its words to content that's downright disgusting. Think about driving a <a href="https://biblehub.com/judges/4-21.htm" target="_blank">tent peg through a man's temple</a> or <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Judges+3%3A21-22&version=ESV" target="_blank">losing a sword in the belly of an obese king</a>.</div><div><br /></div><div>The book of Job is full of nastiness too as a result of the infirmities that befell him. One such verse is Job 7:5 in which Job says, "My flesh is clothed with worms and dirt; my skin hardens, then breaks out afresh."</div><div><br /></div><div>Yummy!</div><div><br /></div><div>Some commentators like Charles Ellicott and Albert Barnes suggest Job suffered from a parasite called lymphatic filariasis, a disease transmitted by mosquitos infected with a certain type of roundworm. When the larvae enter the bloodstream they mature and reproduce, flooding the lymph system.</div></div><span><a name='more'></a></span><div><br /></div><div><div>As a result, certain body parts can swell and leave the afflicted with stiff, tough skin. Because of these symptoms, people often refer to the disease by its nickname: elephantiasis.</div><div><br /></div><div>The condition can also cause sores on the skin as Job described above.</div><div><br /></div><div>Like I said, really gross stuff.</div><div><br /></div><div>Of course, we don't know for sure that this is that medical condition Job had, but whatever he suffered from, it wasn't good. The constant cycle of his skin hardening and then reopening was not only disgusting, but painful.</div><div><br /></div><div>This kind of agony and isolation could lead even the most pious of people to lose their religion<span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt;">—</span>exactly what satan was banking on. Remember what he said to God? "Skin for skin! All that a man has he will give for his life. But stretch out your hand and touch his bone and his flesh, and he will curse you to your face" (Job 2:4-5).</div><div><br /></div><div>Those who have read ahead know Job passed the test despite unthinkable anguish thrust upon him.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Have You Ever Been in Anguish?</span></h3><div><br /></div><div>Satan doesn't have many speaking parts in the Bible, so it's interesting to compare those that do exist. The first is in Genesis in which Adam and Eve disobeyed God by eating of the forbidden fruit.</div><div><br /></div><div>As a result death became a reality. People began getting sick. Parasites started trying to weasel their way into the lymph systems of unwitting hosts.</div><div><br /></div><div>Now we have nasty illnesses like cancer and heart failure, diabetes and auto immune diseases. Live long enough, and you're likely to catch or develop something harmful. If you haven't yet, you know somebody who has, and either way the burden can seem too terrible to bear.</div><div><br /></div><div>But in the midst of this awfulness, we have hope<span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt;">—s</span>omething that for Job was just a promise, but has come to fruition for for us. After the fall, God doled out the consequences to Adam and Eve for their disobedience.</div><div><br /></div><div>But first he dealt with satan. To the serpent God said, "I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel.”</div><div><br /></div><div>God promised to defeat the serpent through the woman's offspring. So although suffering and corruption entered the world, he would provide a path for relief.</div><div><br /></div><div>When Jesus came, he lived a blameless life and suffered though innocent for the sake of humanity. In rising from the dead, Jesus defeated death, crushing the head of the serpent.</div><div><br /></div><div>You and I need only to place our faith in Christ in order to partake of this everlasting life.</div><div><br /></div><div>Now, I know what you might be thinking. Death and disease still pervade the earth. We still suffer from parasites and viruses and bacterium. This is true. But in Jesus we have the promise of relief and restoration. He guarantees freedom from suffering. This hope enables us to endure anguish, knowing it is only temporary.</div><div><br /></div><div>While Job had only a promise of victory, we have the ability to bask in the reality of Christ's resurrection. So when faced with hardship, we must not forget God has already bruised the serpent's head.</div><div><br /></div><div>To quote the prophet Hosea, "O Death, where are your plagues? O Sheol, where is your sting?" (13:14). With Jesus on the throne in heaven, we have assurance that those who believe in him will live even though they die. And with eternal life comes the elimination of suffering.</div></div></div><div><br /></div><div>If you enjoyed this article, you might be interested in my curated, chronological Old Testament reading plan with notes. I've combed through the first portion of the Bible and selected the most critical chapters for your perusal, wrapped up in a 90-day reading plan.</div><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.subscribepage.com/otin90" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1283" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEji1YVkQjRLDINlKHUmMxR-am_dc3LqQnHYe1__m54kosqqIT3kAH_rCTFF9mjtlcbOveVUdjp0qwRsbZhtxp4KekuRLv4nIibKk833ZnxKHyCtPkQk6POBQ7Rn15x3ztf8_8d2301IU-vzmQDmjImE2wfXBtexn6DNbjyDXSx3donoVNeVocBi10ET=s320" width="200" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div>Whether you've read through the OT before or always get stuck at Leviticus, this guide will help you gain a deeper understanding of God's word as a whole.</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>The guide is free if you want it. It will only cost you your email address, but you can unsubscribe from the list at any time with one click. Just enter your email address below, and I'll send the reading guide your way.</div><div><br /></div><style type="text/css">
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<script src="https://static.mailerlite.com/js/w/webforms.min.js?v0c75f831c56857441820dcec3163967c" type="text/javascript"></script><script></script>Andrew Gilmorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04537644983592180976noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1514008060316146547.post-83284362774463954442022-05-31T21:15:00.000-05:002022-05-31T21:15:36.123-05:00The Power of a Generous Heart<p><i>A preview of May's email-only article.</i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUTRl5bxflG-USt0NNCZrJ4DFZ1WvXIl9bloCMovZILq5zs4xHMP74Xs-sY3tks5RGINh4rbe-Ng1xLwD9OY1fhzPL00AYZDQwasZvE6fLd4QVMxAielOXeW8_8pLtvQxymQluoMl1vJOXBGoHPhpifAQfEaEOReqKkNdngBLzdsNWUlgfGLPw33dQ/s4032/ashley-green-UbTUTDRqj-o-unsplash.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="413" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUTRl5bxflG-USt0NNCZrJ4DFZ1WvXIl9bloCMovZILq5zs4xHMP74Xs-sY3tks5RGINh4rbe-Ng1xLwD9OY1fhzPL00AYZDQwasZvE6fLd4QVMxAielOXeW8_8pLtvQxymQluoMl1vJOXBGoHPhpifAQfEaEOReqKkNdngBLzdsNWUlgfGLPw33dQ/w400-h300/ashley-green-UbTUTDRqj-o-unsplash.jpg" width="550" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://unsplash.com/photos/UbTUTDRqj-o" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Ashley Green</a></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><br /></div><div><div>The Bible has quite a bit to say about generosity.</div><div><br /></div><div>And, while this shouldn't be your primary motivation, did you know that Proverbs suggests some pretty cool things will happen to you when you give freely?</div><div><br /></div><div>Every month I publish an exclusive article for my email subscribers, and this month we're talking about prosperity, generosity, and obesity. (Yes, you read that right.) If you'd like instant, free access, fill out the form below.</div></div></div></div><div><br /></div><div>Here's a snippet:</div><div><br /></div><div><div></div><blockquote><div><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;">The KJV renders Proverbs 11:25 as, "The liberal soul shall be made fat: and he that watereth shall be watered also himself."</span></div><div><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;">It may be weird to think that getting fat is a reward for liberality; in the first world, we don't value fat. In fact, most everyone is obsessed with skinniness. Why?</span></div><div><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;">Because in affluent cultures, it's easy to get fat.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;">McDonald's occupies a corner at every busy intersection, and our supermarkets have entire aisles dedicated to ice cream, cookies, and chips.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;">Because of this, slender figures are rarer. They are badges of youthfulness and sex appeal. Not so in other eras of history.</span></div></blockquote></div><p> <br />Want to read the rest?</p><div><div><br /></div><div>Just enter your email address to join the list, and I'll send it to you right away:</div><div><br /></div><style type="text/css">
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<script src="https://static.mailerlite.com/js/w/webforms.min.js?v0c75f831c56857441820dcec3163967c" type="text/javascript"></script><div><br /></div><div>I send two to three emails per month, but you can unsubscribe at any time.</div><div><br /></div><div>See you next month!</div></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Andrew Gilmorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04537644983592180976noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1514008060316146547.post-79196790039254749202022-05-24T05:00:00.011-05:002022-05-24T12:05:19.898-05:00How to Please God<p><i>Advice from Solomon and the book of Hebrews.</i></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsG24ILjxtjVdZfzcpiR6R3Ou31ckRcMbCDXfTtNtxg8wFBRGjVWlPCdYSEim2fEJPoA_0qIkgZ4w1ThGMHmTeWvCWt6Yq4MuHegrUToxPTOaLCdGY2teZrlSodzSSIWhkyjf8Ss3XGqquDbp5S-Io1i-di8YSaa3Jw_7nv-DBSFncm34kC89g_fpD/s6016/ben-white-iWv-bGqUfao-unsplash.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4016" data-original-width="6016" height="368" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsG24ILjxtjVdZfzcpiR6R3Ou31ckRcMbCDXfTtNtxg8wFBRGjVWlPCdYSEim2fEJPoA_0qIkgZ4w1ThGMHmTeWvCWt6Yq4MuHegrUToxPTOaLCdGY2teZrlSodzSSIWhkyjf8Ss3XGqquDbp5S-Io1i-di8YSaa3Jw_7nv-DBSFncm34kC89g_fpD/w400-h268/ben-white-iWv-bGqUfao-unsplash.jpg" width="550" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://unsplash.com/photos/iWv-bGqUfao" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Ben White</a></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.andrewgilmore.net%2F2022%2F05%2Fhow-to-please-god.html" style="clear: left; display: inline; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="130" data-original-width="130" height="23" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj9Q8xHT6MNENTRwzQxFq-m_WMv3NdsUaacoBpLgaBnMwLIp0h3fqhfsvQmFiOq_eue4oOOnfRWY4TnmbeyNF9MXlvT8hHenYqe-qnSYq8uXHkJ1RFXcBhhahZydw9EhcgNMyQlN5nsjZ-fGeWwQ2ZwfVZtBDU7dtxoOLQnMZBOM3vvsSdL_jT8g1qY=w23-h23" width="23" /></a> </span><a href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.andrewgilmore.net%2F2022%2F05%2Fhow-to-please-god.html&text=" rel="" style="clear: left; display: inline; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="851" data-original-width="1034" height="21" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgCZLG1jlG7GP9tYuXnyJc5QxXE-WRhJR5wcYhC3d_GXQUk-G3WCK1NCEPamCcOmjCwgT6lGpyhwts8HGUA_XBKEaiuB7P462zcooJTSSt159981kQXi2Vk717Q4nVFaSLr9iz-3y2gmOfMJPUh0qt6JnefNla4rNwAmsVSzoys6fmoTVK7_qxJehUD=w26-h21" width="26" /></a><p></p><div><div><div>HAVE YOU EVER PONDERED the daunting prospect of trying to please God?</div><div><br /></div><div>Our God is omnipotent, so he doesn't need anything. And he's holy so we can never live up to his standard of morality.</div><div><br /></div><div>How then can one possibly please God? Is it even possible?</div><div><br /></div><div>Yes, it's possible, as you'll see, and the approach is actually pretty straightforward—though it might not be what you think. We'll take cues from Solomon and Job for an <a href="https://www.subscribepage.com/otin90">Old Testament, pre-messianic perspective</a> and then the book of Hebrews to gain a more complete picture.</div><div><br /></div><div>Before we dive in, though, here's the short answer:</div></div><span><a name='more'></a></span><div><br /></div><div><div>How can you please God? Have faith.</div><div><br /></div><div>Clear as a prepubescent's complexion, right?</div><div><br /></div><div>Okay, maybe not that clear. Let's investigate further.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">How to Find Peace in Your Relationship with God</span></h3><div><br /></div><div>Before we begin, though, we should get one thing straight.</div><div><br /></div><div>Don't confuse God's pleasure with you and his love for you. The two are different things.</div><div><br /></div><div>For example, sometimes I am displeased with my children because of their behavior, but that doesn't mean I don't love them. I never stop loving them even though they might disobey me or do something boneheaded—even though I'm not pleased with them in the moment.</div><div><br /></div><div>Christian author Brennan Manning of <i><a href="https://amzn.to/3ljbXB7" target="_blank">The Ragamuffin Gospel</a></i> fame wrote about this very thing. He wrote:</div><div><br /></div><div><div><blockquote><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;">If the question were put to you, “Do you honestly believe that God <i>likes </i>you?”—not loves you, because theologically He must—how would you answer? God loves by necessity of His nature; without the eternal, interior generation of love, He would cease to be God. But if you could answer, “The Father is very fond of me,” there would come a relaxedness, a serenity and a compassionate attitude toward yourself that is a reflection of God’s own tenderness.[1]</span></blockquote></div><div><br /></div><div>God loves all people, but that doesn't necessarily mean he's pleased with them.</div></div><div><br /></div><div>How good would it feel to know that God delights in you? How relaxing would it be? We could all take a break from trying so hard and just revel in the fact that we belong to him.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Solomon's Guide to Pleasing God</span></h3><div><br /></div><div>First, let's turn to King Solomon for advice.</div><div><br /></div><div>In Proverbs 11:20 he wrote, "Those of crooked heart are an abomination to the Lord, but those of blameless ways are his delight."</div><div><br /></div><div>Notice the contrast here. Those with crooked hearts are bent toward evil; they lean that way. Evil is their first instinct. I can't help but recall the book of Genesis in which God surveyed the wickedness of mankind on the earth prior to the flood. The verse tells us, "The LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually" (Gen. 6:5).</div><div><br /></div><div>That's what it looks like to have a crooked heart.</div><div><br /></div><div>So when Solomon talks about the crooked-hearted, he's not referring to someone who slips up every once in a while. He's not talking about those who sin on occasion.</div><div><br /></div><div>Even the most pious sin. Though we may be new creations in Christ, we still live in a fallen world with corrupt bodies.</div><div><br /></div><div>This is important to keep in mind as we transition to the next part of the stanza in order to get closer to the heart of the question at hand. Solomon wrote, "those of blameless ways are [the LORD's] delight."</div><div><br /></div><div>The word <i>blameless </i>in this passage carries the idea of completeness or totality. Therefore those who have integrity in all facets of life will delight God.</div><div><br /></div><div><div><i>So in order to please God, then, we have to be perfect. Got it. I'll get right on that.</i></div><div><br /></div><div>Not so fast. While the verse implies perfection, our part is to have a sincere heart with respect for God. How do we accomplish that?</div></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Why God Called Job Blameless</span></h3><div><br /></div><div>Perhaps it would be helpful to revisit our old friend Job. The first chapter of Job's book tells us that he was indeed "blameless." What does that mean? Well, let's look at what the chapter says about how Job lived his life.</div><div><br /></div><div>Job "feared God and turned away from evil" (Job 1:1). He respected and revered his creator, and, as a result refused to give in to sin. He also "continually" offered sacrifices to God on behalf of his children in attempts to intercede for them (Job 1:5).</div><div><br /></div><div>That's pretty much all we know about Job's actions, but it's enough to get us started in the right direction. Job feared and worshiped God with his whole heart. He turned away from evil in every area of his life.</div><div><br /></div><div>Job was a man with such a high level of integrity that God even boasted about him to satan.</div><div><br /></div><div>I don't know about you, but that's the kind of life I want to lead—a life that pleases God. (Although I could do without <a href="https://www.andrewgilmore.net/2022/02/whether-you-realize-it-or-not-nothing.html">all of that tragedy</a> that came next.)</div><div><br /></div><div>Still, though, two problems emerge with these two Old Testament examples. First, they seem too ambiguous. If we know we can't be perfect, yet we are supposed to live "blameless" lives, what exactly does that mean? Do we need to give to the poor, sacrifice two lambs every day, and abstain from alcohol?</div><div><br /></div><div>Second, this qualification seems like an impossible standard to achieve. Again, because God is holy, I could never live up to his standard of perfection.</div><div><br /></div><div>So what are we to do?</div><div><br /></div><div>Let's look to the book of Hebrews for some clarity.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">The One Thing You Must Have if You Want to Please God</span></h3><div><br /></div><div>One of my favorite verses in the Bible is Hebrews 11:6. If you're looking for how to please God, this verse is money:</div><div><br /></div><div>"And without faith it is impossible to please [God], for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him."</div><div><br /></div><div>Therefore, those who want to please God must possess faith.</div><div><br /></div><div>Are you starting to connect the dots?</div><div><br /></div><div>Solomon said God delights in the blameless, but as you know, we can't be blameless on our own. We are all born into sin, and, in this natural state have crooked hearts.</div><div><br /></div><div>Therefore, the only solution, as the author of Hebrews notes, is to to place faith in Jesus.</div><div><br /></div><div>There's no amount of good deeds we can perform to please God. We can't go on enough mission trips, donate enough money, or pray hard enough. Why not? Because faith is the only avenue to blamelessness.</div><div><br /></div><div>1 John 1:9 tells us, "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."</div><div><br /></div><div>Jesus died for us so that we could be cleansed from unrighteousness. All we need to do is place our faith in him. And when we do God makes us blameless, and he is pleased by our faith.</div></div></div><div><br /></div><div>That's the secret to pleasing God.</div><div><br /></div><div>You might object that Job was considered blameless, but he never trusted in Jesus, so there must be another way, right?</div><div><br /></div><div>As someone who lived prior to the revelation of Jesus as a human, Job was held to a different standard than post-resurrection humanity is held to. He did not have the luxury of Christ. Make no mistake though, Job had faith. He turned his back on evil because he feared God. He offered sacrifices because he believed in God.</div><div><br /></div><div>We see Job's faith displayed several times, most notably in <a href="https://www.andrewgilmore.net/2021/07/our-best-response-in-face-of-loss.html">his reaction to the tragedy</a> that crashed into his life. Job said, "Blessed be the name of the Lord" (Job 1:21).</div><div><br /></div><div>But today, with the advantage we have in living after Christ's revelation, God holds us to a different standard. The only way to be blameless is to place faith in Jesus. We can't ever be good enough to match God's standard of morality, but in bowing a knee to Christ, we receive grace—God's unmerited favor.</div><div><br /></div><div>Nothing pleases him more.</div><div><br /></div><div>If you enjoyed this article, you might be interested in my curated, chronological Old Testament reading plan with notes. I've combed through the first portion of the Bible and selected the most critical chapters for your perusal, wrapped up in a 90-day reading plan.</div><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.subscribepage.com/otin90" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1283" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEji1YVkQjRLDINlKHUmMxR-am_dc3LqQnHYe1__m54kosqqIT3kAH_rCTFF9mjtlcbOveVUdjp0qwRsbZhtxp4KekuRLv4nIibKk833ZnxKHyCtPkQk6POBQ7Rn15x3ztf8_8d2301IU-vzmQDmjImE2wfXBtexn6DNbjyDXSx3donoVNeVocBi10ET=s320" width="200" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div>Whether you've read through the OT before or always get stuck at Leviticus, this guide will help you gain a deeper understanding of God's word as a whole.</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>The guide is free if you want it. It will only cost you your email address, but you can unsubscribe from the list at any time with one click. Just enter your email address below, and I'll send the reading guide your way.</div><div><br /></div><style type="text/css">
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<script src="https://static.mailerlite.com/js/w/webforms.min.js?v0c75f831c56857441820dcec3163967c" type="text/javascript"></script><div><br /></div><div>Notes:</div><div><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: x-small;"><div>1. Brennan Manning, <i><a href="https://amzn.to/3wrT4Cq">The Relentless Tenderness of Jesus</a></i> (Grand Rapids, MI: Revell, 2004), 26, Kindle Edition. </div></span></div><div><span style="font-size: x-small;">*This post contains affiliate links to amazon.com.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>Andrew Gilmorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04537644983592180976noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1514008060316146547.post-33519749853852225592022-04-26T13:25:00.001-05:002022-04-26T13:25:31.238-05:00The Importance of Christ's Recklessness<p><i>A preview of April's email-only article.</i></p><p><i><br /></i></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghRXnoi6K6_iFXhh3-m3BB-1CMIhd4ZDvS52-LT6akLhiVecbBif5Bv7vOArp8nXyp7gKDKW7jv0rDCS4aD0MWrzkBALtYwU7XyPOQnZx8vCU9kROCgnlo5omCdQUovWP-hTMENObPc_-2v55njDgIa8Cn2Q1Yu9k2QZkrBkG2YPqcEcoczq4gXGsf/s5184/daniel-thomas-WmsFE6YhYIM-unsplash.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="5184" height="366" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghRXnoi6K6_iFXhh3-m3BB-1CMIhd4ZDvS52-LT6akLhiVecbBif5Bv7vOArp8nXyp7gKDKW7jv0rDCS4aD0MWrzkBALtYwU7XyPOQnZx8vCU9kROCgnlo5omCdQUovWP-hTMENObPc_-2v55njDgIa8Cn2Q1Yu9k2QZkrBkG2YPqcEcoczq4gXGsf/w400-h266/daniel-thomas-WmsFE6YhYIM-unsplash.jpg" width="550" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://unsplash.com/photos/WmsFE6YhYIM" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Daniel Thomas</a></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><i><br /></i><p>What does the Bible say about cosigning loans?</p><p>Perhaps you're familiar with the proverb advising that those who cosign for strangers will suffer harm (Pro. 11:15). Sound advice, right?</p><p>Yet, I think there's another angle to this discussion worth bringing to light.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div>Every month I publish an exclusive article for my email subscribers. This month we're looking at the reckless decision Jesus made, and why that decision is so critical in our lives.</div><div><br /></div><div>If you'd like instant, free access to the article, fill out the form below. If you're already a subscriber, check your inbox.</div></div></div><div><br /></div><div>Here's a snippet from the article:</div><div><br /></div><div><div></div><blockquote><div><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;">I MET KATIE IN THE HALCYON DAYS of senior year at Norman High School. Life sped by at a thoroughbred's pace, and I did my best to maintain my grip on the reins; it seemed I went from a twerp teenager to man-child in a matter of days.</span></div><div><div><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;">Two years after graduation, we were married.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;">One struggle of twenty-year-old newlyweds is leasing an apartment. We had jobs, but no credit, and they were part-time jobs. So even though our rent was something like $375, they wanted a cosigner—someone to fulfill the yearlong commitment were we to flake out.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;">My dad signed the paperwork.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;">It was probably stupid for him to do it, but he loved us and trusted in our work ethic and financial savvy.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;">Lest you think this is one of those financial horror stories, we paid our rent. Every month on time.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;">But the story could have turned out differently.</span></div></div><div><br /></div></blockquote></div><p> <br />Want to read the rest?</p><div><div><br /></div><div>Just enter your email address to join the list, and I'll send it to you right away:</div><div><br /></div><style type="text/css">
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<script src="https://static.mailerlite.com/js/w/webforms.min.js?v0c75f831c56857441820dcec3163967c" type="text/javascript"></script><div><br /></div><div>I send two to three emails per month, but you can unsubscribe at any time.</div><div><br /></div><div>See you next month!</div></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><p></p>Andrew Gilmorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04537644983592180976noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1514008060316146547.post-88132284223338057752022-04-19T05:00:00.001-05:002022-04-19T05:00:00.186-05:00Your Money Is No Good Here: The Only Way to Prepare for Judgment Day<p> <i>Cash can't cushion you from metaphysical disaster.</i></p><p></p><br /><p></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyRbMpQehgMRpvQOBUSzWpzPjoUZ1FbQ-eC0SWgstCH31euygwebOxvo5IStgt7uDJktGOrFLgfxmPsGyAwH5-Yqdugti4e7PIOqtRPCKemQf-PrA70jgFvy4Oo9GfIEhThajJbIV1lJDcN-s07r59BAUpmOrBU7rzV4q0sHvMRhqx-K_SlI9pAahO/s5609/glenn-carstens-peters-126U_Or32kg-unsplash.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3730" data-original-width="5609" height="366" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyRbMpQehgMRpvQOBUSzWpzPjoUZ1FbQ-eC0SWgstCH31euygwebOxvo5IStgt7uDJktGOrFLgfxmPsGyAwH5-Yqdugti4e7PIOqtRPCKemQf-PrA70jgFvy4Oo9GfIEhThajJbIV1lJDcN-s07r59BAUpmOrBU7rzV4q0sHvMRhqx-K_SlI9pAahO/w400-h266/glenn-carstens-peters-126U_Or32kg-unsplash.jpg" width="550" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://unsplash.com/photos/126U_Or32kg" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Glenn Carstens-Peters</a></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.andrewgilmore.net%2F2022%2F04%2Fyour-money-is-no-good-here-only-way-to.html" style="clear: left; display: inline; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="130" data-original-width="130" height="23" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj9Q8xHT6MNENTRwzQxFq-m_WMv3NdsUaacoBpLgaBnMwLIp0h3fqhfsvQmFiOq_eue4oOOnfRWY4TnmbeyNF9MXlvT8hHenYqe-qnSYq8uXHkJ1RFXcBhhahZydw9EhcgNMyQlN5nsjZ-fGeWwQ2ZwfVZtBDU7dtxoOLQnMZBOM3vvsSdL_jT8g1qY=w23-h23" width="23" /></a> </span><a href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.andrewgilmore.net%2F2022%2F04%2Fyour-money-is-no-good-here-only-way-to.html&text=" rel="nofollow" style="clear: left; display: inline; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="851" data-original-width="1034" height="21" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgCZLG1jlG7GP9tYuXnyJc5QxXE-WRhJR5wcYhC3d_GXQUk-G3WCK1NCEPamCcOmjCwgT6lGpyhwts8HGUA_XBKEaiuB7P462zcooJTSSt159981kQXi2Vk717Q4nVFaSLr9iz-3y2gmOfMJPUh0qt6JnefNla4rNwAmsVSzoys6fmoTVK7_qxJehUD=w26-h21" width="26" /></a><p></p><div><div>NEARLY EVERY FINANCIAL ADVISOR on the planet advocates for having a cash reserve to cover unexpected expenses. Author and former television show host Suze Orman recommends you <a href="https://www.suzeorman.com/blog/emergency-fund-101" target="_blank">save eight months of expenses</a>. Famed radio personality Dave Ramsey suggests <a href="https://www.ramseysolutions.com/saving/quick-guide-to-your-emergency-fund" target="_blank">three to six months</a> is enough.</div><div><br /></div><div>Sage advice if you ask me.</div><div><br /></div><div>Costly mishaps have a way of barging into our lives without permission, and for those without a large, unallocated, cash fund, such events can have devastating effects.</div><div><br /></div><div>Though they might differ on the recommended amount, these experts all use similar monikers to describe the account. They used words like emergency fund, safety net, buffer, and rainy-day fund.</div><div><br /></div><div>Several years ago Katie and I decided to sell one of our sedans to buy a larger vehicle. With the adoption of our two foster boys, we had gone from zero to three children in the span of about a year, and elbow room was getting tight in the back of that Nissan Sentra.</div><div><br /></div><div>We found a buyer and arranged to meet him at his bank the next morning.</div><span><a name='more'></a></span><div><br /></div><div><div>I followed Katie to my mom's house to drop off the children while we took care of business. After selling the Sentra, we planned on hitting OKC to look for a sweet SUV to haul around our growing family.</div><div><br /></div><div>She drove the Nissan, and I drove my piece-of-junk Dodge Stratus. Halfway to Mom's, though, I looked at my dash and noticed something wasn't right. My engine thermostat needle indicated the car was overheating.</div><div><br /></div><div>I drove my Stratus to the road's shoulder and called Katie.</div><div><br /></div><div>She turned around to pick me up, and we hurried to come up with a new course of action. We'd sell the Sentra as planned, borrow my Mom's car so we'd have a way to get home, and deal with the Stratus afterward.</div><div><br /></div><div>Upon completing the sale, we were a bit dazed, now having zero working vehicles.</div><div><br /></div><div>Although stressful because we were suddenly carless and didn't know the extent of the Stratus repairs, our emergency fund prevented a crisis. The whole episode was little more than an inconvenience and left us with a good story. But had we no cash reserves, the incident could have had a devastating financial effect, resulting in a big pile of debt.</div><div><br /></div><div>And if that story isn't cautionary enough, years later we had another, even worse auto emergency. I'll tell the full story another time, but we had the transmission fail on both of our vehicles within seven days of each other!</div><div><br /></div><div>The Bible endorses saving. Genesis reckons Joseph wise for saving one-fifth of all of Egypt's produce in preparation for the coming famine.[1]</div><div><br /></div><div>Proverbs 21:20 tells us, "The wise store up choice food and olive oil, but fools gulp theirs down" (NIV).</div><div><br /></div><div>And Proverbs 13:22 says, "A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children, but the sinner’s wealth is laid up for the righteous."</div><div><br /></div><div>As wise as saving money is, we must guard our hearts from placing trust in savings. Words like cushion, buffer, and safety net reveal the temptation money carries with it. An emergency fund buys us a certain amount of protection from the accidents and mishaps of life. If follows then that even more money will insulate us from these woes, right?</div><div><br /></div><div>To a point, yes, but do you see where this slippery slope leads?</div><div><br /></div><div>If we're not careful, we'll get caught up in a never-ending quest for more. No matter how much we have, we (think we) need more. And while money can cushion us from material calamity, cash is worthless in the metaphysical realm.</div><div><br /></div><div>I like the parable in Luke 12 that gives much needed perspective in this regard. Jesus told the story of a man who had a plentiful crop to the extent that he couldn't even store all of his produce. So he came up with a solution:</div><div><br /></div></div><blockquote><div><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;">He thought to himself, ‘What shall I do, for I have nowhere to store my crops?’ And he said, ‘I will do this: I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.”’ But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul is required of you, and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?’ So is the one who lays up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God. </span></div></blockquote><blockquote><div><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;">Luke 12:17-21</span></div></blockquote><div><br />The last sentence here is key, but how is one rich toward God?<div><br /></div><div>I like the way the NLT states verse 21: "A person is a fool to store up earthly wealth but not have a rich relationship with God.” Or, as Barnes writes in his commentary on the passage, the rich fool "has no inheritance in the kingdom of God - no riches laid up in heaven. His affections are all fixed on this world, and he has none for God."[2]</div><div><br /></div><div>If wealth accumulation is a means unto itself, then we've missed the point.</div><div><br /></div><div>Provers 11:4 is just as stark. Solomon wrote, "Riches do not profit in the day of wrath, but righteousness delivers from death."</div><div><br /></div><div>Now we're getting to the core of the issue. No matter how much money one has, it will not benefit him or her when judgement comes. God's not impressed by your bank account. He doesn't need money. Your friends, family, and followers might be impressed by your giant house and your diamond jewelry, but none of that will matter much when you face your maker.</div><div><br /></div><div>Righteousness, Solomon says, is the only way we can be delivered from death.</div><div><br /></div><div>We're all doomed then, right?</div><div><br /></div><div>Without God's grace the answer is yes because no one is righteous on his own. But because of Jesus's sacrifice on the cross, we can obtain righteousness. How do we do it? By placing our faith in Jesus. This is the only way to prepare for judgment day.</div><div><br /></div><div>No amount of cash reserves can deliver us from death. Nothing but faith in Jesus will profit us in the day of wrath.</div></div></div><div><br /></div><div>And if you enjoyed this article, you might be interested in my curated, chronological Old Testament reading plan with notes. I've combed through the first portion of the Bible and selected the most critical chapters for your perusal, wrapped up in a 90-day reading plan.</div><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.subscribepage.com/otin90" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1283" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEji1YVkQjRLDINlKHUmMxR-am_dc3LqQnHYe1__m54kosqqIT3kAH_rCTFF9mjtlcbOveVUdjp0qwRsbZhtxp4KekuRLv4nIibKk833ZnxKHyCtPkQk6POBQ7Rn15x3ztf8_8d2301IU-vzmQDmjImE2wfXBtexn6DNbjyDXSx3donoVNeVocBi10ET=s320" width="200" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div>Whether you've read through the OT before or always get stuck at Leviticus, this guide will help you gain a deeper understanding of God's word as a whole.</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>The guide is free if you want it. It will only cost you your email address, but you can unsubscribe from the list at any time with one click. Just enter your email address below, and I'll send the reading guide your way.</div><div><br /></div><style type="text/css">
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<script src="https://static.mailerlite.com/js/w/webforms.min.js?v0c75f831c56857441820dcec3163967c" type="text/javascript"></script><div><br /></div><div>Notes:</div><div><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: x-small;"><div>1. See Genesis 41.</div><div>2. "Luke 12," Bible Hub, Barnes' Notes on the Bible, <a href="https://biblehub.com/commentaries/barnes/luke/12.htm">https://biblehub.com/commentaries/barnes/luke/12.htm</a>.</div></span></div><div><span style="font-size: x-small;">*This post contains affiliate links to amazon.com.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div><br /><p></p>Andrew Gilmorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04537644983592180976noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1514008060316146547.post-79971088588015039872022-03-29T22:07:00.003-05:002022-03-29T22:07:30.923-05:00Can You Ever Be Good Enough for God?<p> <i>A preview of March's email-only article.</i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk9bNSt9xcQUw02QNEwxQiVrJskzD_TmYQFGb-VkRlDibpWyKNxXJtTVuXqW6vT_mbuQW_RqXQoqD7yLsZFGUwfmXIHucKt42eSlaaH4EOhojIV7l-bZR6upjNIZkmJYJ6wZxOTpl7IYWmmyfWphVkWYLQOtItttmH88Tv0sFgIX_6WBs75mnhwQJ9/s5533/patrick-schneider-mdtYgoLsfNk-unsplash%20(1).jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3703" data-original-width="5533" height="368" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk9bNSt9xcQUw02QNEwxQiVrJskzD_TmYQFGb-VkRlDibpWyKNxXJtTVuXqW6vT_mbuQW_RqXQoqD7yLsZFGUwfmXIHucKt42eSlaaH4EOhojIV7l-bZR6upjNIZkmJYJ6wZxOTpl7IYWmmyfWphVkWYLQOtItttmH88Tv0sFgIX_6WBs75mnhwQJ9/w400-h268/patrick-schneider-mdtYgoLsfNk-unsplash%20(1).jpg" width="550" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://unsplash.com/photos/mdtYgoLsfNk" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Patrick Schneider</a></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><br /></div><div><div>What do you think?</div><div><br /></div><div>Can a mortal man be right before God? Can a person be pure before his maker?</div><div><br /></div><div>These are the questions posed not by Job, but by his friend Eliphaz in response to Job.</div><div><br /></div><div>Every month I publish an exclusive article for my email subscribers, and this month we're asking the question: can one ever be good enough for God?</div><div><br /></div><div>If the question sounds loaded, it is. But I think it's a critical query each of us must resolve in our own minds if we're ever to make sense of the Scriptures and of our lives.</div><div><br /></div><div>If you'd like instant, free access to the article, fill out the form below.</div></div></div></div><div><br /></div><div>Here's a snippet:</div><div><br /></div><div><div></div><blockquote><div><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;">Job's friend here intends to juxtapose our finite and humble existences to that of God almighty who is everlasting, pure, and perfect.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;">He first posed the rhetorical, "Who that was innocent ever perished?" as if insinuating Job deserved the suffering in his life.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;">Then he circled back and reported the words of a voice he heard, asking, "Can mortal man be in the right before God? Can a man be pure before his Maker?" (4:17).</span></div><div><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;">Connecting the dots here, Eliphaz argues that the innocent will not perish, but that no one is innocent.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;">Fair enough.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;">We've all sinned, as the apostle Paul wrote in the book of Romans.</span></div></blockquote></div><p> <br />Want to read the rest?</p><div><div><br /></div><div>Just enter your email address to join the list, and I'll send it to you right away:</div><div><br /></div><style type="text/css">
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<script src="https://static.mailerlite.com/js/w/webforms.min.js?v0c75f831c56857441820dcec3163967c" type="text/javascript"></script><div><br /></div><div>I send two to three emails per month, but you can unsubscribe at any time.</div><div><br /></div><div>See you next month!</div></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Andrew Gilmorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04537644983592180976noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1514008060316146547.post-91663685556627016712022-03-15T05:00:00.001-05:002022-03-15T05:00:00.186-05:00Life's Not as Fair as We Think It Should Be<p><i>Yes, the innocent do perish.</i></p><p><i><br /></i></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj5cRgxbTRBi9R4SzuorSEAALtH8Uqj_ZhN5GpWam1c-6RvaPFSbtT95g8zwx9AffvjuhCfRVteQTQ91O81TyT5Juce6v4gMcNYmE4nLufSHuGREnSdE27us2lqEiYoRgFAFl7cgsDfm5kxyYH8csokbIhzHEE_oFj4EPndCznZBLfhHw-RWwSWPGab=s8957" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5955" data-original-width="8957" height="366" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj5cRgxbTRBi9R4SzuorSEAALtH8Uqj_ZhN5GpWam1c-6RvaPFSbtT95g8zwx9AffvjuhCfRVteQTQ91O81TyT5Juce6v4gMcNYmE4nLufSHuGREnSdE27us2lqEiYoRgFAFl7cgsDfm5kxyYH8csokbIhzHEE_oFj4EPndCznZBLfhHw-RWwSWPGab=w400-h266" width="550" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://unsplash.com/photos/jXs9F9N44MI" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Rendy Novantino</a></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><p><span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.andrewgilmore.net%2F2022%2F03%2Flifes-not-as-fair-as-we-think-it-should.html" style="clear: left; display: inline; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="130" data-original-width="130" height="23" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj9Q8xHT6MNENTRwzQxFq-m_WMv3NdsUaacoBpLgaBnMwLIp0h3fqhfsvQmFiOq_eue4oOOnfRWY4TnmbeyNF9MXlvT8hHenYqe-qnSYq8uXHkJ1RFXcBhhahZydw9EhcgNMyQlN5nsjZ-fGeWwQ2ZwfVZtBDU7dtxoOLQnMZBOM3vvsSdL_jT8g1qY=w23-h23" width="23" /></a> </span><a href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.andrewgilmore.net%2F2022%2F03%2Flifes-not-as-fair-as-we-think-it-should.html&text=" rel="nofollow" style="clear: left; display: inline; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="851" data-original-width="1034" height="21" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgCZLG1jlG7GP9tYuXnyJc5QxXE-WRhJR5wcYhC3d_GXQUk-G3WCK1NCEPamCcOmjCwgT6lGpyhwts8HGUA_XBKEaiuB7P462zcooJTSSt159981kQXi2Vk717Q4nVFaSLr9iz-3y2gmOfMJPUh0qt6JnefNla4rNwAmsVSzoys6fmoTVK7_qxJehUD=w26-h21" width="26" /></a></p><div><div>DATA SCIENTISTS WORRY about underfitting, a phenomenon in which a formula predicts outcomes using limited inputs.</div><div><br /></div><div>As you can imagine, this results in output errors because the underfit model fails to account for a wide enough variety of possibilities.</div><div><br /></div><div>Underfitting, then, is essentially an oversimplification of a causal relationship based on insufficient data points. <a href="https://www.datarobot.com/wiki/underfitting/" target="_blank">One example</a>, spelled out by the AI wizards at DataRobot, is the correlation between sales and advertising:</div><div><br /></div><div><blockquote><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;">An underfitted model may suggest that you can always make better sales by spending more on marketing when in fact the model fails to capture a saturation effect (at some point, sales will flatten out no matter how much more you spend on marketing).</span></blockquote></div><div><br /></div><div>So while it's generally true that spending more money on advertising will yield increased sales, at some point marketers will see diminishing returns on investment. The underfit model might suggest a straight line when, in reality, the model should look something more like a logarithmic function, curving upwards until flattening out at a certain point.</div><div><br /></div><div>In a similar way we see Eliphaz, in the fourth chapter of Job, underfitting one of his proverbs; he attempts to derive a universal truth from a generally true axiom.</div><span><a name='more'></a></span><div><br /></div><div>Eliphaz asks Job, "Remember: who that was innocent ever perished? Or where were the upright cut off?" (Job 4:7).</div><div><br /></div><div>Eliphaz's use of the word <i>remember</i> seems to indicate he was referencing some sort of common knowledge or aphorism that both he and Job had been exposed to.</div><div><br /></div><div>The innocent don't perish, do they?</div><div><br /></div><div>Yes. Yes they do.</div><div><br /></div><div>That Eliphaz had to have known at least one "innocent" person who died means he didn't intend perish to mean death. So what did he mean?</div><div><br /></div><div>Perish here comes from the Hebrew word transliterated as <i>âbad</i>. <i>Âbad </i>can mean to die, but it also can signify "to go to ruin or to be ruined"[1] as in its first sequential appearance in the Bible[2] in Exodus 10:7:</div><div><br /></div><div></div><blockquote><div><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;">Then Pharaoh's servants said to him, “How long shall this man be a snare to us? Let the men go, that they may serve the Lord their God. Do you not yet understand that Egypt is ruined?”</span></div><div></div></blockquote><div><br /></div><div>The seventh plague, the plague of hail, destroyed everything left in the field<span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt;">—</span>man, beast, and plant<span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt;">—</span>such that when Moses threatened the eighth plague, Pharaoh's servants pleaded with their leader to give in because Egypt was ruined (<i>âbad</i>).</div><div><br /></div><div>So what Eliphaz is really suggesting here is that upstanding citizens would never see ruin the way Job saw ruin.</div><div><br /></div><div>Many of us, I think, share this same sentiment today. It's why the Eastern concept of karma has permeated the lexicon of the West. Karma is a sort of cosmic re-balancer, ensuring that fairness always plays out for upright and the unkind alike.</div><div><br /></div><div>In reality, though, life simply isn't as fair as we think it should be.</div><div><br /></div><div>So when upright people like Job see <i>âbad</i>, we try to make that data fit our karmic model<span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 14.6667px;">—</span>assuming the person isn't "innocent"<span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 14.6667px;">—</span>rather than adjusting the model to incorporate the reality of the data.</div><div><br /></div><div>Because of entropy, original sin, and just plain randomness, the innocent do perish. All the time.</div><div><br /></div><div>Jesus did.</div><div><br /></div><div>But examining only the effects of this world would be to fail to consider all of the data. On the other side of death remains a promise of eternal life in which one will never perish. Jesus said it best to Martha after the death of Lazarus, her brother. He said:</div><div><br /></div><div></div><blockquote><div><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;">"I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die." </span></div></blockquote><blockquote><div><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;">John 11:25-26</span></div></blockquote><div></div><div><br /></div><div>Lazarus was a good guy by all accounts. Martha struggled with the unfairness of his death.</div><div><br /></div><div>In response Jesus taught that those who believe in him will never perish. Then he brought back Lazarus from the dead as proof of his mastery over the grave.</div><div><br /></div><div>There's no way Eliphaz could have known about the events that would unfold in 1st century Jerusalem, therefore his view of justice was myopic. Because if there's no justice on earth, what kind of existence do we occupy?</div><div><br /></div><div>What kind of God could allow a Job to suffer if, indeed, he was innocent?</div><div><br /></div><div>But when we incorporate eternity into our data, we gain a more complete picture. We see that despite our fallen world, God reigns supreme. And he is always fair even when our primitive models seem to indicate otherwise.</div></div><div><br />And if you enjoyed this article, you might be interested in my curated, chronological Old Testament reading plan with notes. I've combed through the first portion of the Bible and selected the most critical chapters for your perusal, wrapped up in a 90-day reading plan.</div><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.subscribepage.com/otin90" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1283" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEji1YVkQjRLDINlKHUmMxR-am_dc3LqQnHYe1__m54kosqqIT3kAH_rCTFF9mjtlcbOveVUdjp0qwRsbZhtxp4KekuRLv4nIibKk833ZnxKHyCtPkQk6POBQ7Rn15x3ztf8_8d2301IU-vzmQDmjImE2wfXBtexn6DNbjyDXSx3donoVNeVocBi10ET=s320" width="200" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div>Whether you've read through the OT before or always get stuck at Leviticus, this guide will help you gain a deeper understanding of God's word as a whole.</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>The guide is free if you want it. It will only cost you your email address, but you can unsubscribe from the list at any time with one click. Just enter your email address below, and I'll send the reading guide your way.</div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><style type="text/css">
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<script src="https://static.mailerlite.com/js/w/webforms.min.js?v0c75f831c56857441820dcec3163967c" type="text/javascript"></script><div><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: small;">Notes:</span></div><div><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: x-small;"><div>1. James Strong, "âbad," in Hebrew and Aramaic Dictionary, (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 2010), 1.</div><div>2. As opposed to chronological, since chronologically, Job likely would appear before Exodus.</div></span></div><div><span style="font-size: x-small;">*This post contains affiliate links to amazon.com.</span></div><br />Andrew Gilmorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04537644983592180976noreply@blogger.com5