With Christ in the School of Prayer, by Andrew Murray, 61

This post continues a series of excerpts from With Christ in the School of Prayer, by Andrew Murray. I thank the Christian Classics Ethereal Library for making this public domain work available. To see their post of the book, go here. The previous post is here. As usual in this blog, long quotations are in this color.

‘What wilt thou?’ Or, Prayer must be Definite.
‘And Jesus answered him, and said, What wilt thou that I should do unto thee?’—Mark x. 51; Luke xviii. 41

THE blind man had been crying out aloud, and that a great deal, ‘Thou Son of David, have mercy on me.’ The cry had reached the ear of the Lord; He knew what he wanted, and was ready to grant it him. But ere He does it, He asks him: ‘What wilt thou that I should do unto thee?’ He wants to hear from his own lips, not only the general petition for mercy, but the distinct expression of what his desire was. Until he speaks it out, he is not healed. There is now still many a suppliant to whom the Lord puts the same question, and who cannot, until it has been answered, get the aid he ask. Our prayers must not be a vague appeal to His mercy, an indefinite cry for blessing, but the distinct expression of definite need. Not that His loving heart does not understand our cry, or is not ready to hear. But He desires it for our own sakes. Such definite prayer teaches us to know our own needs better. It demands time, and thought, and self-scrutiny to find out what really is our greatest need. It searches us and puts us to the test as to whether our desires are honest and real, such as we are ready to persevere in. It leads us to judge whether our desires are according to God’s Word, and whether we really believe that we shall receive the things we ask. It helps us to wait for the special answer, and to mark it when it comes.

Sunspots 808

Things I have recently spotted that may be of interest to someone else:

Christianity: Robert Hawes has posted excerpts from a forthcoming book (I think). Here is his discussion about the flood of Genesis. It's thorough, and presents some interesting ideas, for sure.

Computing: Gizmo's Freeware describes web sites that identify fonts that you don't have, but may want to use.

Gizmo's Freeware also considers web sites or apps that add color to grayscale photos.

Environment: Gizmodo reports that climate change appears to have caused an increase in the number of winter drownings.

Health: (and politics, unfortunately) NPR compares two rural states with Republican governors. Their different responses to COVID, and the results, tell a dramatic story.

Politics: FiveThirtyEight analyzes post-election trust, and finds that a lot of Republicans do not believe the election was conducted fairly.

The same source compares the common right-wing belief that Trump won the election to the belief, birtherism, that President Obama was not a natural-born citizen. That belief hasn't really died, even though Trump, himself, eventually repudiated it.

Science: I'm guessing that you have never heard of the African crested rat. I hadn't. But it exists, and it's strange.

Gizmodo asks experts about the biggest scientific fraud of the last 50 years. They came up with two such frauds, serious ones.

Gizmodo also discusses the Arecibo radio telescope, in Puerto Rico, which has been demolished after over 50 years of doing good science.

The graphic used in these posts is from NASA, hence, it is free to use like this.

Thanks for looking!

With Christ in the School of Prayer, by Andrew Murray, 60

This post continues a series of excerpts from With Christ in the School of Prayer, by Andrew Murray. I thank the Christian Classics Ethereal Library for making this public domain work available. To see their post of the book, go here. The previous post is here. As usual in this blog, long quotations are in this color.

O our Lord! we cannot understand how Thou canst entrust such work and give such power to men so slothful and unfaithful. We thank Thee for all whom Thou art teaching to cry day and night for labourers to be sent forth. Lord, breathe Thine own Spirit on all Thy children, that they may learn to live for this one thing alone—the Kingdom and glory of their Lord—and become fully awake to the faith of what their prayer can accomplish. And let all our hearts in this, as in every petition, be filled with the assurance that prayer, offered in loving faith in the living God, will bring certain and abundant answer. Amen.

Let there be light! I'm thankful for the electromagnetic spectrum

Genesis 1:1 In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. 2 The earth was formless and empty. Darkness was on the surface of the deep and God’s Spirit was hovering over the surface of the waters. 3 God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. 

There is controversy over whether Genesis 1 is to be taken as a sequential account of the creation, or should be interpreted in some other way, and over when and how long creation took place. Let’s put those matters aside. They don’t really matter for the topics of this post. The first reported created act (although the creation of the earth seems to have come first) is bringing light about. That’s important.

Light is important. The main source of usable energy on earth is light. Energy from light drives the water cycle. Light is absorbed by green plants, and almost all of the food we eat exists because of that. Light makes it possible for us to perceive where we are, where we are going, and who and what is around us. Light makes it possible for us to work, and to play. Without light, reading would be difficult or impossible. Except for those unfortunates of us who are blind, we live in a world perceived and navigated because light is present.

The Bible doesn’t say “let there be an electromagnetic spectrum.” Such a term wouldn’t have made sense to the ancient Israelis, and doesn’t make sense to a lot of us today. See here for more about that spectrum. But I will say that visible light is a rather small part of a range of energy forms, ranging from gamma rays, X-rays and ultra-violet to infrared, microwaves and radio waves. The people living when Genesis was written, and when it became a part of their culture, had no way of detecting these other forms, or appreciating their importance. However, whenever and however light came to be, this whole family of energy must have accompanied it. I don’t know about you, but I use WiFi every day. I’m not sure whether my phone uses 5G or not, but, whether it does, or not, it’s using part of the electromagnetic spectrum to help me communicate.

I had a chest X-ray a few weeks ago. That part of the electromagnet spectrum allows us, as it were, to “see” parts of our bodies that we can't see with ordinary light.

We open our blinds frequently. This is partly so we can see our surroundings. It is also to help heat our home without adding to the utility bill. Light is reflected -- that’s how we see, as light is reflected off of whatever we are looking at, and comes back, going through our pupils and striking our retinas. But it is also absorbed, for example by green plants that carry on photosynthesis. Some of the absorption is manifest in that light energy is converted to heat energy, which, when radiated, is another part of the electromagnetic spectrum. Without heat derived from the sun’s light, the earth would be uninhabitably cold.

Some other Biblical thoughts about the electromagnetic spectrum. Here’s a quotation from 1 Timothy: “6:16 He alone has immortality, dwelling in unapproachable light, whom no man has seen, nor can see: to whom be honor and eternal power. Amen.” Unapproachable light? Yes, there is that, physically. We can’t be exposed to parts of the electromagnetic spectrum, in any great amount, or for any great length of time, without suffering damage, or even death. Is the scripture talking about the electromagnetic spectrum, as physicists measure it, or is this symbolic of God’s great holiness and power? Or is it both? I don’t know.

John 8:12 Again, therefore, Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. [Perhaps referring to Isaiah 60:1] He who follows me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the light of life.” Christ, Himself, illuminates, warms, communicates. He is truly the light of the world. (See John 1:1-9.)

Finally, Revelation 22:4 They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. 5 There will be no night, and they need no lamp light or sun light; for the Lord God will illuminate them. They will reign forever and ever. I don’t pretend to understand this, but its part of the Bible.

Thanks for reading. Image modified from Pixabay. Scripture in this color, from the World English Bible.

Sunspots 807

Things I have recently spotted that may be of interest to someone else:

Christianity: Christianity Today reports on religious persecution. That (and not just of Christians) is on the rise, world-wide.

Computing: (or something) National Public Radio reports on the movement of workers from home from expensive metropolitan areas to small cities like Burlington, VT, Knoxville, TN and Greenville, SC.

Education: Grammarphobia considers the question of how a final -ed syllable was pronounced, in previous times. (Example: was "learned" pronounced to rhyme with "burned," or with "turn head?")

Science: The Scientist reports on studies of the ability of zebra finches to identify vocalization from other individual birds of the same species. Their abilities are remarkable.

Sports: ESPN and other outlets report that Kim Ng has become the first general manager of a major North American pro sports team.

The graphic used in these posts is from NASA, hence, it is free to use like this.

Thanks for looking!

 

With Christ in the School of Prayer, by Andrew Murray, 59

This post continues a series of excerpts from With Christ in the School of Prayer, by Andrew Murray. I thank the Christian Classics Ethereal Library for making this public domain work available. To see their post of the book, go here. The previous post is here. As usual in this blog, long quotations are in this color.

Blessed Lord! Thou hast this day again given us another of Thy wondrous lessons to learn. We humbly ask Thee, O give us to see aright the spiritual realities of which Thou hast been speaking. There is the harvest which is so large, and perishing, as it waits for sleepy disciples to give the signal for labourers to come. Lord, teach us to look out upon it with a heart moved with compassion and pity. There are the labourers, so few. Lord, show us how terrible the sin of the want of prayer and faith, of which this is the token. And there is the Lord of the harvest, so able and ready to send them forth. Lord, show us how He does indeed wait for the prayer to which He has bound His answer. And there are the disciples to whom the commission to pray has been given: Lord, show us how Thou canst pour down Thy Spirit and breathe upon them, so that Thy compassion and the faith in Thy promise shall rouse them to unceasing, prevailing prayer.

Sunspots 806

Things I have recently spotted that may be of interest to someone else:

Christianity: Relevant has a tongue-in-cheek piece on Starbuck's cups, which, again, don't include the word, "Christmas," on them.

A Christianity Today article argues that Phoebe (Romans 16:1) had an important role in the church.

Environment: The US has officially withdrawn (finally) from the Paris Climate Accord. Gizmodo also reports that, if Biden wins, we could re-join the Accord in about a month.

Gizmodo reports that the voters of Colorado have voted to have wolves introduced into the state. (They used to live there).

Health: (or something) Relevant reports that the US divorce rate keeps dropping. However, marriage, especially among those not so well off, is also less likely.

The Panda's Thumb is not totally optimistic about Pfizer's vaccine, for more than one reason. I hope that the optimism is correct.

Politics: Neil Cavuto, Fox News anchor, had his program cut away from a White House press conference, because, he said, it was presenting unsubstantiated assertions about ballots, according to Relevant and other sources.

Nate Silver, head of FiveThirtyEight, discusses what recent polls got right.

Science: Relevant reports on an extra-solar planet that has extreme conditions.

Gizmodo reports on recent observations of a little-known kind of squid.

Sports: FiveThirtyEight reports that the number of punts returned, rather than let fall, or fairly caught, is declining.

The graphic used in these posts is from NASA, hence, it is free to use like this.

Thanks for looking!

With Christ in the School of Prayer, by Andrew Murray, 58

This post continues a series of excerpts from With Christ in the School of Prayer, by Andrew Murray. I thank the Christian Classics Ethereal Library for making this public domain work available. To see their post of the book, go here. The previous post is here. As usual in this blog, long quotations are in this color.

The other blessing to be asked will not be less. Every believer is a labourer; not one of God’s children who has not been redeemed for service, and has not his work waiting. It must be our prayer that the Lord would so fill all His people with the spirit of devotion, that not one may be found standing idle in the vineyard. Wherever there is a complaint of the want of helpers, or of fit helpers in God’s work, prayer has the promise of a supply. There is no Sunday school or district visiting, no Bible reading or rescue work, where God is not ready and able to provide. It may take time and importunity, but the command of Christ to ask the Lord of the harvest is the pledge that the prayer will be heard: ‘I say unto you, he will arise and give him as many as he needeth.’

Solemn, blessed thought! this power has been given us in prayer to provide in the need of the world, to secure the servants for God’s work. The Lord of the harvest will hear. Christ, who called us so specially to pray thus, will support our prayers offered in His name and interest. Let us set apart time and give ourselves to this part of our intercessory work. It will lead us into the fellowship of that compassionate heart of His that led Him to call for our prayers. It will elevate us to the insight of our regal position, as those whose will counts for something with the great God in the advancement of His Kingdom. It will make us feel how really we are God’s fellow-workers on earth, to whom a share in His work has in downright earnest been entrusted. It will make us partakers in the soul travail, but also in the soul satisfaction of Jesus, as we know how, in answer to our prayer, blessing has been given that otherwise would not have come.

Sunspots 805

Things I have recently spotted that may be of interest to someone else:

Christianity: Christianity Today examines the status of women, as shown by the Bible's text.

Christianity Today also has an article on "Why Evangelicals Disagree on the President"

Computing: Gizmodo reports that a camera, using artificial intelligence, confused a referee's bald head with the soccer ball that it was supposed to be tracking.

Ethics: (Or something) Relevant reports that Jerry Falwell, Jr., is suing Liberty University over his forced resignation.

Science: A new coral reef has been discovered, off of Australia, according to Gizmodo and other outlets.

NPR reports on cells, in our brains, that help us recall events in proper sequence.

Listverse has a photo essay on amazing happenings from long ago, captured by fossils.

The graphic used in these posts is from NASA, hence, it is free to use like this.

Thanks for looking!

With Christ in the School of Prayer, by Andrew Murray, 57

This post continues a series of excerpts from With Christ in the School of Prayer, by Andrew Murray. I thank the Christian Classics Ethereal Library for making this public domain work available. To see their post of the book, go here. The previous post is here. As usual in this blog, long quotations are in this color.

Solemn thought! O why is it that we do not obey the injunction of the Master more heartily, and cry more earnestly for labourers? There are two reasons for this. The one is: We miss the compassion of Jesus, which gave rise to this request for prayer. When believers learn that to love their neighbours as themselves, that to live entirely for God’s glory in their fellow-men, is the Father’s first commandment to His redeemed ones, they will accept of the perishing ones as the charge entrusted to them by their Lord. And, accepting them not only as a field of labour, but as the objects of loving care and interest, it will not be long before compassion towards the hopelessly perishing will touch their heart, and the cry ascend with an earnestness till then unknown: Lord! send labourers. The other reason for the neglect of the command, the want of faith, will then make itself felt, but will be overcome as our pity pleads for help. We believe too little in the power of prayer to bring about definite results. We do not live close enough to God, and are not enough entirely given up to His service and Kingdom, to be capable of the confidence that He will give it in answer to our prayer. O let us pray for a life so one with Christ, that His compassion may stream into us, and His Spirit be able to assure us that our prayer avails.

Such prayer will ask and obtain a twofold blessing. There will first be the desire for the increase of men entirely given up to the service of God. It is a terrible blot upon the Church of Christ that there are times when actually men cannot be found for the service of the Master as ministers, missionaries, or teachers of God’s Word. As God’s children make this a matter of supplication for their own circle or Church, it will be given. The Lord Jesus is now Lord of the harvest. He has been exalted to bestow gifts—the gifts of the Spirit. His chief gifts are men filled with the Spirit. But the supply and distribution of the gifts depend on the co-operation of Head and members. It is just prayer will lead to such co-operation; the believing suppliants will be stirred to find the men and the means for the work.