Christianity – Page 10 – Daniel Condurachi's Blog

¿ What Do I Do When I Am Given Power ?

One Of The Today’s Thoughts

Continuing 1st book of Samuel, I read about how David spares again Saul’s life.

Here are the key texts:

(9) But David said to Abishai, “Don’t destroy him! Who can lay a hand on the Lord’s anointed and be guiltless? (10) As surely as the Lord lives,” he said, “the Lord himself will strike him; either his time will come and he will die, or he will go into battle and perish. (11) But the Lord forbid that I should lay a hand on the Lord’s anointed. Now get the spear and water jug that are near his head, and let’s go.” 1st Samuel 26:9-11
(23) The Lord rewards every man for his righteousness and faithfulness. The Lord delivered you into my hands today, but I would not lay a hand on the Lord’s anointed. (24) As surely as I valued your life today, so may the Lord value my life and deliver me from all trouble.” 1st Samuel 26:23-24

I see those occasions that God gives to Daniel, when Saul’s life is in David’s hands, as a test. God already anointed David, and David knew that. So, that is why I really like how David continues to behave. It is said that give power to a man to see how he really is. This is what God did with David. At church, work or in another places we are given the opportunity to do something, to take decisions. When we are in that posture, our flesh is ready to show it’s real face. Are we strong enough to say “NO”? Am I going to do what God taught me, or listen to the flesh?

NOT JUST Morning thoughts 11th may 2007

Today I learned something very interesting. As I was reading 1st Samuel 25, I discovered how I should behave wisely. As we read (in 1 Samuel 25:3B) Abigail was an intelligent and beautiful woman. The most important thing in here is that Abigail was smart.

The short story is that Nabal, Abigail’s husband, was very rich, but he was surly and mean in his dealings. Nabal was shearing his sheep. David send 10 men to Nabal. David asked to give them something because they took care of Nabal’s heard at the Carmel. Nabal refused to give anything to David and his people. So, David got angry and set his 400 men army to go and kill all that belong to Nabal. When Abigail heard how Nabal treated David’s people, she prepared food, and went to meet with David on the road.

What I like about this story is the way Abigail talks to David. Indeed she was beautiful, and David liked that. But let’s look at the more important thing… her wisdom.

Abigail came humble in front of David ((23) When Abigail saw David, she quickly got off her donkey and bowed down before David with her face to the ground. (24) She fell at his feet[…] 1 Samuel 25:23-24). What is the cost of being humble, to behave like this? When you really want something it is worth to be humble. Behavior has no cost.
Abigail admitted Nabal’s guilt, her guild as she says ((24) My lord, let the blame be on me alone […] (25) May my lord pay no attention to that wicked man Nabal 1 Samuel 25:24-25). Again, what does it cost to day that you were wrong, even to admit that it was your guild, when actually it was another’s? Abigail was to face death and all that was hers and Nabal’s to be taken by David, after they were killed. So, when you have to face that, keeping you pride is not worth dieing for.
Abigail made some research on David. She knew who he was and what David did.
Abigail says may your enemies and all who intend to harm my master be like Nabal. The word Nabal means crazy. David had troubles then, he had enemies – Saul.
Abigail excuses herself again (Please forgive your servant’s offense, for the LORD will certainly make a lasting dynasty for my master, because he fights the LORD’s battles)
Again Abigail talks about the David’s problems and wished that they would get resolved (Even though someone is pursuing you to take your life, the life of my master will be bound securely in the bundle of the living by the LORD your God)
Then Abigail pus in her sentences the word sling. David killed Goliath with a stone and a sling. So, makes David feel good, remembering him about the old days.

Abigail is very smart. She resolves the conflict. After a few days Nabal dies. When David heard that he asks Abigail to marry him. Wise choice for David as well.

What do I have to learn from this? Well…

come humble in front of the one that is angry with you
it doesn’t matter if I am wrong or not, I should say that I am sorry
make research on the opponent
use that research to make the opponent feel proud of himself/herself
say again that you regret what happened, and admit your guilt (even if you were not guilty)
wish all the good things to happen to your opponent

The Book – Bible Illuminated

Facts about The Book – Bible Illuminated (Gamla Testamentet):

contains the exact, unedited text from the Old Testament in the most recent update of the Swedish Bible from 2000.
was conceived and designed to be accessible, neutral, ethical and aesthetic.
includes 450 pages, with photographs, in magazine format.
has had 30,000 copies printed (there are about 70,000 traditional Bibles sold in Sweden annually).
targets an urban middle class aged 25-50 years.
is planned to be translated into English and to have a New Testament sequel.
is available in Sweden from major bookstores as well as from the official website for The Book.

What is The Book? It’s the normal Bible in Swedish, but with a new modern design, that has pictures.

Who came with this idea? Dag Saderberg, a man with a background in advertising. He says Most people have issues with the Bible. They have never gotten into it. They don’t find it accessible. But it’s our history, our heritage. And for most of us, we relate to it more than we think. Religious or not, it shapes much of our moral codes. The Book project seeks to eliminate this inaccessibility by presenting the Old Testament in magazine format. There are millions of magazines sold every month across Europe, so this format is familiar to many people. It’s closer to the way people read today. People prefer a text that is journalistic laid out: split into articles, with headlines, quote boxes, pictures and captions. This way they can more easily pick the parts they’re interested in reading.

My opinion is that this is a good thing. In the 1st place the good thing is that the text was not changed. The format indeed is more attractive to young people to read it. There were a few earlier attempts to put The Bible in fresh format.

When it will be in English and if it will be affordable I’ll buy it.

Morning thoughts 9th may 2007

As I was reading i got to those verses from Psalm 103:8-9 and I thought what if I put my name in there?.. is it still true? So this is what came out:

Daniel is merciful and gracious, Daniel is slow to anger and plenteous in mercy and loving-kindness. Daniel will not always chide or be contending, neither will Daniel keep His anger forever or hold a grudge.

I admit that there are times when the above is not true for me. I wish it would always be true. And…

(13) As a father loves and pities his children, so the Lord loves and pities those who fear Him [with reverence, worship, and awe]. (14) For He knows our frame, He [earnestly] remembers and imprints [on His heart] that we are dust. Psalm 103:13-14

So, all my hope is in God that will transform me more in every day.

Morning thoughts 8th may 2007

And all this assembly shall know that the Lord saves not with sword and spear; for the battle is the Lord’s, and He will give you into our hands. 1st Samuel 17:47

(17) For our light, momentary affliction (this slight distress of the passing hour) is ever more and more abundantly preparing and producing and achieving for us an everlasting weight of glory [beyond all measure, excessively surpassing all comparisons and all calculations, a vast and transcendent glory and blessedness never to cease!], (18) Since we consider and look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen; for the things that are visible are temporal (brief and fleeting), but the things that are invisible are deathless and everlasting. 2nd Corinthians 4:17-18

Morning thoughts 7th may 2007

Does the LORD delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the voice of the LORD? To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams. 1st Samuel 15:23

The LORD does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart. 1st Samuel 16:7B

(42) You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. (43) Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, (44) and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. (45) For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many. Mark 10:42-45

Whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. Mark 11:24B

Proverb of the Day – 16:32

Better a patient man than a warrior, a man who controls his temper than one who takes a city. Proverbs 16:32

Evanghelic Choir – Ai fost rastignit – Album Cover – in progress

Evanghelic Choir – Ai fost rastignit (You were crucified) – Album Cover – in progress

The first one was chosen, but I still have to make some changes. I have to take out the face and put only the thorns crown and add some blod effect as I did on the face.

What Great Love

Bible passage

(12) Blessed is the man you discipline, O Lord, the man you teach from your law; (13) you grant him relief from days of trouble, till a pit is dug for the wicked. Psalm 94:12-13

(18) When I said, “My foot is slipping,” your love, O Lord, supports me. (19) When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought joy to my soul. Psalm 94:18-19

My thoughts

What great love the all mighty God shows to me. When I’m wrong, He disciplines me, teaching me His law. There are no sorrow days, but the days when God wants me to grow. All the life is a BIG blessing, even if sometimes I do not feel very happy. The real happiness, the one that nobody can take it from me, is my joy I find in my Dad. May you always discipline me, and grow me, enlighten my with your law and your love. And when I can not see that you are the one that works at my hart and I become sad, please fill my heart with your knowledge. You are my rock! You are the one that strengthens my feet on the path!

The Kingdom of God on Earth is His Church

And Jesus was saying to them, “Truly I say to you, there are some of those who are standing here who will not taste death until they see the kingdom of God after it has come with power.” Mark 9:1

Today I was reading this passage. I found a strange promise. Jesus said that some of the people that were listening to Him that day would not die until they see the kingdom of God. I thought in the first place that it is a false statement. That something is wrong in there. My conception is that the kingdom of God will be in Heaven. So, I did some research to see what the kingdom of God means in this passage. Reading other passages from the Bible I realized that the kingdom of God also means the church of God. Here are those passages: Continue reading The Kingdom of God on Earth is His Church