"Nature is content with a little and that which is most natural, grace with less, but lust with nothing."

Photo: Natalie Comrie

thought one: Matthew Henry on Gen. 2

"He was not made of gold-dust, powder of pearl, or diamond dust, but common dust, dust of the ground. Hence he is said to be of the earth, choikos—dusty, 1 Cor. 15:47. And we also are of the earth, for we are his offspring, and of the same mould. So near an affinity is there between the earth and our earthly parents that our mother’s womb, out of which we were born, is called the earth (Ps. 139:15), and the earth, in which we must be buried, is called our mother’s womb, Job 1:21. Our foundation is in the earth, Job 4:19. Our fabric is earthly, and the fashioning of it like that of an earthen vessel, Job 10:9. Our food is out of the earth, Job 28:5. Our familiarity is with the earth, Job 17:14. Our fathers are in the earth, and our own final tendency is to it; and what have we then to be proud of?"

thought two:

"Yet the Maker was great, and the make fine. The Lord God, the great fountain of being and power, formed man. Of the other creatures it is said that they were created and made; but of man that he was formed, which denotes a gradual process in the work with great accuracy and exactness. To express the creation of this new thing, he takes a new word, a word (some think) borrowed from the potter’s forming his vessel upon the wheel; for we are the clay, and God the potter, Isa. 64:8."

thought three:

"Let the soul which God has breathed into us breathe after him; and let it be for him, since it is from him. Into his hands let us commit our spirits, for from his hands we had them."

thought four:

" The place appointed for Adam’s residence was a garden; not an ivory house nor a palace overlaid with gold, but a garden, furnished and adorned by nature, not by art. What little reason have men to be proud of stately and magnificent buildings, when it was the happiness of man in innocency that he needed none! As clothes came in with sin, so did houses. The heaven was the roof of Adam’s house, and never was any roof so curiously ceiled and painted. The earth was his floor, and never was any floor so richly inlaid. The shadow of the trees was his retirement; under them were his dining-rooms, his lodging-rooms, and never were any rooms so finely hung as these: Solomon’s, in all their glory, were not arrayed like them. The better we can accommodate ourselves to plain things, and the less we indulge ourselves with those artificial delights which have been invented to gratify men’s pride and luxury, the nearer we approach to a state of innocency. Nature is content with a little and that which is most natural, grace with less, but lust with nothing."

" No delights can be agreeable nor satisfying to a soul but those that God himself has provided and appointed for it; no true paradise, but of God’s planting. The light of our own fires, and the sparks of our own kindling, will soon leave us in the dark, Isa. 50:11."


"God, as a tender Father, consulted not only Adam’s profit, but his pleasure; for there is a pleasure consistent with innocency, nay, there is a true and transcendent pleasure in innocency. God delights in the prosperity of his servants, and would have them easy; it is owing to themselves if they be uneasy. When Providence puts us into an Eden of plenty and pleasure, we ought to serve him with joyfulness and gladness of heart, in the abundance of the good things he gives us."

thought five:
"There was the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, so called, not because it had any virtue in it to beget or increase useful knowledge (surely then it would not have been forbidden), but, ... What is good? It is good not to eat of this tree. What is evil? It is evil to eat of this tree. The distinction between all other moral good and evil was written in the heart of man by nature; but this, which resulted from a positive law, was written upon this tree. Secondly, Because, in the event, it proved to give Adam an experimental knowledge of good by the loss of it and of evil by the sense of it."

thought six:
"That which God plants he will take care to keep watered."


thought seven: I love Matthew Henry. I love him.

"He that made us is alone able to make us happy; he that is the former of our bodies and the Father of our spirits, he, and none but he, can effectually provide for the felicity of both. It adds much to the comfort of any condition if we have plainly seen God going before us and putting us into it. If we have not forced providence, but followed it, and taken the hints of direction it has given us, we may hope to find a paradise where otherwise we could not have expected it."

thought eight: on self-determination

"Though Adam was a very great man, a very good man, and a very happy man, yet the Lord God commanded him; and the command was no disparagement to his greatness, no reproach to his goodness, nor any diminution at all to his happiness. Let us acknowledge God’s right to rule us, and our own obligations to be ruled by him; and never allow any will of our own in contradiction to, or competition with, the holy will of God."

thought nine: on fear again
" Even Adam, in innocency, was awed with a threatening; fear is one of the handles of the soul, by which it is taken hold of and held. If he then needed this hedge, much more do we now. "

"Adam had in his nature an aversion to that which was evil in itself, and therefore he is tried in a thing which was evil only because it was forbidden; and, being in a small thing, it was the more fit to prove his obedience by."

"This prohibition checked both his appetite towards sensitive delights and his ambitions of curious knowledge, that his body might be ruled by his soul and his soul by his God."

thought ten:

" In him alone our help is, and from him are all our helpers."

thought eleven: this guy.

" If Adam had continued faithful to his God, we may suppose the creatures themselves would so well have known and remembered the names Adam now gave them as to have come at his call, at any time, and answered to their names. God gave names to the day and night, to the firmament, to the earth, and to the sea; and he calleth the stars by their names, to show that he is the supreme Lord of these. But he gave Adam leave to name the beasts and fowls, as their subordinate lord; for, having made him in his own image, he thus put some of his honour upon him."

thought twelve: trust like a child

"He had been made sensible of his want of a meet help; but, God having undertaken to provide him one, he does not afflict himself with any care about it, but lies down and sleeps sweetly, as one that had cast all his care on God, with a cheerful resignation of himself and all his affairs to his Maker’s will and wisdom. Jehovah-jireh, let the Lord provide when and whom he pleases. If we graciously rest in God, God will graciously work for us and work all for good."

https://www.meisterdrucke.uk/fine-art-prints/French-School/1094333/The-Creation-of-Eve-from-Adam%27s-rib-%28detail-from-the-Bible-of-Souvigny%29.html

thought thirteen: 

"That the woman was made of a rib out of the side of Adam; not made out of his head to rule over him, nor out of his feet to be trampled upon by him, but out of his side to be equal with him, under his arm to be protected, and near his heart to be beloved. Adam lost a rib, and without any diminution to his strength or comeliness (for, doubtless, the flesh was closed without a scar); but in lieu thereof he had a help meet for him, which abundantly made up his loss: what God takes away from his people he will, one way or other, restore with advantage. 

In this (as in many other things) Adam was a figure of him that was to come; for out of the side of Christ, the second Adam, his spouse the church was formed, when he slept the sleep, the deep sleep, of death upon the cross, in order to which his side was opened, and there came out blood and water, blood to purchase his church and water to purify it to himself."

"God, as her Father, brought the woman to the man, as his second self, and a help-meet for him. When he had made her, he did not leave her to her own disposal; no, she was his child, and she must not marry without his consent. Those are likely to settle to their comfort who by faith and prayer, and a humble dependence upon providence, put themselves under a divine conduct. That wife that is of God’s making by special grace, and of God’s bringing by special providence, is likely to prove a help-meet for a man."

" See how necessary it is that children should take their parents’ consent along with them in their marriage, and how unjust those are to their parents, as well as undutiful, who marry without it; for they rob them of their right to them, and interest in them, and alienate it to another, fraudulently and unnaturally. "

Think.

Whatever is..

From: https://biblehub.com/interlinear/philippians/4-8.htm

Cognate: 227 alēthḗs (an adjective, derived from 1 /A "not" and 2990 /lanthánō, "unnoticed, concealed") – true, as it accords with fact (reality), i.e. attested because tested – literally, "what can't be hidden." See 225 (alētheia).

[227 /alēthḗs ("what can't be hidden") stresses undeniable reality when something is fully tested, i.e. it will ultimately be shown to be fact (authentic).]

4586 semnós (an adjective derived from 4576 /sébomai, "to revere, be in awe") – properly, what is august (dignified, has "gravitas"); weighty, deeply respected because viewed as majestic (having "gravity"); grave.

1342 /díkaios ("righteous, just") describes what is in conformity to God's own being (His will, standard of rightness); hence "upright."

53 hagnós (an adjective, which may be cognate with 40 /hágios, "holy," so TDNT, 1, 122) – properly, pure (to the core); virginal (chaste, unadultered); pure inside and out; holy because uncontaminated (undefiled from sin), i.e. without spoilation even within (even down to the center of one's being); not mixed with guilt or anything condemnable.

Purity in the Moral Vision of Scripture

At the heart of the New Testament, ἁγνός portrays freedom from moral stain and the undivided devotion that flows from such freedom. The term embraces both inner motive and outward conduct, refusing to separate thought from action. It stands alongside holiness (ἅγιος) yet focuses particularly on the unsullied character that fits a believer for unhindered fellowship with God and neighbor.

• Philippians 4:8 sets purity in the believer’s mental discipline: “whatever is pure… think on these things.” Constant meditation upon the pure shapes affections and, in turn, behavior.

Christological Fulfillment

Jesus Christ embodies absolute purity (“He committed no sin,” 1 Peter 2:22). His sinless life establishes the standard, His cross secures cleansing, and His indwelling Spirit enables conformity. Believers purify themselves because Christ is already pure (1 John 3:3); sanctification is therefore imitation rooted in union.

Practical Dimensions

1. Thought-life: Deliberate meditation on pure realities (Philippians 4:8) is the Spirit’s method for renewing the mind.

2. Relationships: Purity guards marital fidelity, tempers speech, and cultivates trust in Christian community.

3. Ministry Credibility: A pure life validates preaching, counseling, and leadership.

4. Repentance and Restoration: 2 Corinthians 7:11 proves that where impurity has occurred, godly sorrow can lead back to practical purity and restored testimony.

4375 prosphilḗs (an adjective, derived from 4314 /prós, "extending toward" and 5368 /philéō, "affectionate caring") – properly, worthy of personal affection; hence, dearly prized, i.e. worth the effort to have and embrace (used only in Phil 4:8).

 Nestled among six other virtues, προσφιλῆ (“lovely”) identifies a quality that draws the mind toward what evokes affection, delight, and moral beauty.

Semantic and Theological Texture

While occurring but once, the term radiates a wider biblical theme: God delights in beauty that is inseparable from goodness. In Scripture the lovely is never merely aesthetic; it is ethically attractive, that which harmonizes with God’s character and therefore attracts the covenant people to Himself. “Splendor and majesty are before Him; strength and beauty are in His sanctuary” (Psalm 96:6). Paul assumes that believers, transformed in Christ, can recognize and celebrate such beauty in thought, word, and deed.

Pauline Ethics and the Sanctified Mind

Philippians 4:8 belongs to a broader Pauline concern: the renewal of the mind (Romans 12:2). The list moves from objective reality (“true,” “right”) to qualities that stir the affections (“lovely,” “admirable”). Loveliness, then, is not escapist optimism; it is disciplined contemplation of God-honoring realities that fortify peace (Philippians 4:9) and joy (Philippians 4:4). By commanding thought first, Paul ensures practice will follow (compare Colossians 3:1–3 and Colossians 3:12–14).

odness and shunning what distorts it (1 Thessalonians 5:21-22).

3. Community Life: A congregation pursuing what is lovely fosters unity, for loveliness is relational—“love is patient, love is kind” (1 Corinthians 13:4). Church conflict often arises where minds dwell on the unlovely.

Influence on Christian Worship and Artistic Heritage

From early hymnody to cathedral architecture, Philippians 4:8 has nurtured the conviction that artistic beauty can point to divine beauty. The Church has historically viewed music, visual art, and craftsmanship as avenues to ponder and display what is προσφιλῆ, provided such expressions remain tethered to biblical truth and purity.

Mission and Public Witness

A life oriented toward the lovely becomes winsome evangelism. Peter instructs, “Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that… they may see your good deeds and glorify God” (1 Peter 2:12). Loveliness embodied validates the gospel before a watching world.

εὔφημος, ἐυφημον (εὖ and φήμη), sounding well; uttering words of good omen, speaking auspiciously: neuter plural εὔφημα, things spoken in a kindly spirit, with good-will to others, Philippians 4:8 (A. V. of good report (R. V. marginal reading gracious)). (In very diverse senses common in Greek writings from Aeschylus down.)

the term directs believers to fill their thoughts with realities that enjoy a good reputation before God and people. Paul addresses a congregation facing external pressures and internal discord; by urging attention to what is admirable, he moves them from anxious fixation (Philippians 4:6) to Christ-centered stability (Philippians 4:9).

Theological Significance

...Harmony in Community: By esteeming the admirable in one another, factions dissolve into mutual edification (Philippians 2:1-4).

Practical Ministry Applications

• Preaching: Highlight the virtue list of Philippians 4:8 as a diagnostic for redeemed thinking.
• Counseling: Replace anxious ruminations with rehearsals of God’s praiseworthy acts (Psalm 77:11-12).
• Leadership: Encourage congregational storytelling of answered prayer and transformed lives, embodying “good report.”

thought two:

a google for "beauty" came up with a rose window from Notre Dame and many, many pics of women.

wow.

Be anxious for nothing.

Credit: Lawrence OP | Flickr | CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

https://www.flickr.com/photos/paullew/48335749166/in/photolist-2nyDjLA-2nAZnS9-2jqZpe5-2me43uW-26Qpu35-2gKabNF-2gDgmeC-2oqTeES-VWqTtu-2rjr4vC-2oSqxrC-2mdVx5L-T9iu9L-2srZZFA-2hrV4SK-otyKMU-2iJPru2-22Kr25q-2iMtekw-3AET5-9zzYUs-F6K8eS-qV8Mv9-2q78JYd-fiW5gj

thought one:

Talked to the kids how worry is an emotion, and so there is a time and place for it. Worry helps us prepare. Worry helps us be careful. (On my to-do list the question, "What am I not worrying about that I should be worried about?" I override worry to my great lack of punctuality and professionalism. It makes me more immature, but I do it to keep from anxiety. God has different medicine.)

Anxiety, on the other hand, is a mind stuck on the negative, trying to anticipate every bad thing that could happen, as if that will protect us. You're not worried about preparing for one thing; that anxiety wants to apply to everything. It doesn't lessen commensurate to degree of risk or preparation, unless one goes to sometimes unreasonable lengths to obliterate risk. It wants 0% risk, which is hard in this world. Anxiety is willing to sacrifice a lot to get as close to that 0% as possible.

The Hon. MH:

 "Observe, It is the duty and interest of Christians to live without care. There is a care of diligence which is our duty, and consists in a wise forecast and due concern; but there is a care of diffidence and distrust which is our sin and folly, and which only perplexes and distracts the mind. “Be careful for nothing, so as by your care to distrust God, and unfit yourselves for his service.”"

Jesus says (through Paul): give thanks and pray instead. Beg, even. With thanksgiving.

"The effect of this will be the peace of God keeping our hearts, Phil. 4:7. The peace of God, that is, the comfortable sense of our reconciliation to God and interest in his favour, and the hope of the heavenly blessedness, and enjoyment of God hereafter, which passeth all understanding, is a great good than can be sufficiently valued or duly expressed. It has not entered into the heart of ham, 1 Cor. 2:9. This peace will keep our hearts and minds through Christ Jesus; it will keep us from sinning under our troubles, and from sinking under them; keep us calm and sedate, without discomposure of passion, and with inward satisfaction. Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on thee, Isa. 26:3."

thought two: On looking for virtue

"The apostle would have the Christians learn any thing which was good of their heathen neighbours: “If there be any virtue, think of these things—imitate them in what is truly excellent among them, and let not them outdo you in any instance of goodness.” We should not be ashamed to learn any good thing of bad men, or those who have not our advantages. "

What a thing to say. Goes hand in hand with the hermeneutic of charity.

thought three:

Had a girl tell me Friday that she doesn't like being a girl. That is not at all shocking. Pretty sure it's not uncommon among women to feel that way, at times in their lives. Certainly know I have, usually because a course of action would put me in danger in ways that a man couldn't understand. (I mentioned this, and a boy at the table said, "Do it anyways. That's what we do." How lovely to have the majority of the danger be in your mind only. That's certainly part of learning to overcome as a woman. But the danger, while it may not be as widespread as we fear, is not imaginary.)

Anyhow. How to help? I asked her reasons. The monthly, getting hair done is painful, boys get to sit any way they like, girl bullying is so verbal and she's self-conscious already... 

How to help? Any other age, this is just normal angst. This age, though, is a rotten one. 

In one way, a Christian learns to accept the wisdom of God, and look for His reasons, or at least just live it well, whether as a slave, a woman, imprisoned, suffering, etc. 

That may be the answer. But having women to admire is helpful as well. Those women in Peru. Worked so hard. So tough. So skilled. So loving. Their prayers- honestly seemed like weaving magic spells of protection around the ones they love. That sounds blasphemous, but that image comes to mind time and again. 

Enough procrastination. Those lesson plans not gonna write themselves.

Turns out fear, like anger, is complicated.

We moderns are so one-dimensional in our feelings. Happiness good, shame and fear bad. Anger is okay. Unless you're a bully. It's okay to be sad. Feel your feelings. Talk about them.

Ancients, especially Scripture: We feel a lot of things, and a lot deeper, frankly. And show more than talk. Is it right though in this situation? Anger, wrath, fear, terror, guilt, shame, remorse, repentance, joy, gladness, rejoicing, exceedingly great joy. "The anger of the Lord burned", "It is right for me to be angry, even unto death," Saul was wroth, Ahab was sad, David and Jonathan wept, Joseph wept, I was glad when they said unto me 'Let us go into the house of the Lord', David danced, "Herod was very glad", The chief priests were glad when Judas volunteered... 

Scripture teaches us what humans be like. And...

Is it right? Is this the right provocation, time, place, and degree? Is it right to let loose? (It may be.) What should rule this feeling? "Guard your heart, for it is the well-spring of life."

 cf: Ephesians 5:33: "Women, phobeo your husbands."

(!)

That verse is generally translated "respect"/ "reverence". Not the general usage of it, however.

Thought one:

Healthy Fear/ Respect

to be afraid of acting badly (wrongly- misstepping) towards another because of his/ her/ its power, nature, authority, while TRUSTING that power, nature, authority to be good
- Nuclear power
- Electricity
- Wild animals - Driving a car
- Police officers when driving a car
- Children towards parents/ authorities
- Employee toward boss
- Soldiers toward superiors
- Christians toward God
- Wives toward husbands, per Ephesians 5:33 (!!)

Unhealthy Fear:
to be afraid of a person's power, nature, authority because you distrust their irrational misuse or harmful effects
- Enemies with nuclear power
- Being caught in an unpredictable lightning storm
- Rabid animals - A drunk driver
- Corrupt police officers
- Children toward abusive/ unpredictable parents
- Employees toward abusive bosses
- Civilians toward corrupt soldiers
- (unbelievers toward) false ideas of God
- Wives toward abusive husbands

Unhealthy Fearlessness/ Disrespect
to be unafraid of a person's power, nature, authority because of apathy, recklessness, lack of integrity, or abdication of authority
- Carelessness with nuclear power/ lightning
- Driving drunk or distracted (PHONES!)
- Lawbreakers
- Children toward lax parents/ authorities
- Irresponsible employees toward bosses
- Soldiers toward distant authorities
- Unbelievers toward of God
- Wives toward husbands (!)

Thought Two: https://biblehub.com/greek/5399.htm

Summary and Theological Reflection
    "Phobeō uncovers the heart’s object of ultimate concern. Scripture never denies the emotion of fear; it redirects it. Rightly ordered, fear honors God, produces wisdom, and energizes mission. Disordered, it muzzles testimony and spurns grace. The gospel therefore both instills and expels fear: instills awe before the Holy One, expels dread through the perfect love revealed at the cross and guaranteed by the resurrection."

"Semantic Range and Nuances

Strong’s Greek 5399 (phobeō) moves along a spectrum from healthy reverence to crippling terror. Context determines whether the term conveys (1) worshipful awe toward God, (2) prudent caution, or (3) faith-less dread. The same root can therefore describe the holy fear that produces obedience (Philippians 2:12) and the servile fear that paralyses (Matthew 25:25)."

"Fear in Relation to Christ the Messiah

The disciples’ journey exposes misplaced fear and invites faith. When the storm is stilled “they were terrified and asked one another, ‘Who is this? Even the wind and the sea obey Him!’” (Mark 4:41). Yet moments of dread are answered with messianic assurance: “Do not be afraid; only believe” (Mark 5:36). Post-resurrection appearances carry the same refrain (Matthew 28:5,10), proving that the risen Lord, not hostile powers, commands the believer’s destiny."

"Evangelistic and Missional Contexts

Luke highlights “God-fearing” Gentiles (Acts 10:2; 13:26) whose awakened conscience responds readily to the gospel."

..."Such fear is never irrational; it is the sober recognition of divine holiness and sovereignty that nurtures worship (Revelation 15:4) and righteous living (Colossians 3:22)."

"Fear as Dread or Cowardice to be Overcome

Herod feared public opinion (Matthew 14:5); Pilate feared Caesar (John 19:8); the council feared the crowds (Acts 5:26). Such fear enslaves, distorts judgment, and opposes the purposes of God. The parable of the talents unmasks this bondage: “So I was afraid and went out and hid your talent in the ground” (Matthew 25:25). Scripture consistently contrasts this fruitless fear with courageous obedience born of faith (Hebrews 11:23,27)."

Thought Three: Matthew Henry <3

"The apostle assigns the reason of this submission from wives: For the husband is the head of the wife, Eph. 5:23. The metaphor is taken from the head in the natural body, which, being the seat of reason, of wisdom, and of knowledge, and the fountain of sense and motion, is more excellent than the rest of the body. [But it's not much good without it!] God has given the man the pre-eminence and a right to direct and govern by creation, and in that original law of the relation, Thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee. Whatever there is of uneasiness in this, it is an effect of sin coming into the world. Generally, too, the man has (what he ought to have) a superiority in wisdom and knowledge. He is therefore the head, even as Christ is the head of the church. ... The apostle adds, and he is the Saviour of the body. Christ’s authority is exercised over the church for the saving of her from evil, and the supplying of her with every thing good for her. In like manner should the husband be employed for the protection and comfort of his spouse; and therefore she should the more cheerfully submit herself unto him. So it follows, Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ (Eph. 5:24), with cheerfulness, with fidelity, with humility, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing—in every thing to which their authority justly extends itself, in every thing lawful and consistent with duty to God."

"II. The duty of husbands (on the other hand), is to love their wives (Eph. 5:25); for without this they would abuse their superiority and headship. ...The love of Christ to the church is proposed as an example of this, which love of his is a sincere, a pure, an ardent, and constant affection, and that notwithstanding the imperfections and failures that she is guilty of. ... while such exemplars are offered to both, and so much is required of each, neither has reason to complain of the divine injunctions. The love which God requires from the husband in behalf of his wife will make amends for the subjection which [H]e demands from her to her husband; and the prescribed subjection of the wife will be an abundant return for that love of the husband which God has made her due. "

"And the wife see that she reverence her husband.” Reverence consists of love and esteem, which produce a care to please, and of fear, which awakens a caution lest just offence be given. That the wife thus reverence her husband is the will of God and the law of the relation."

thought three: On leaving and cleaving, ahem Americans.

"We are not to understand by this that a man’s obligation to other relations is cancelled upon his marriage, but only that this relation is to be preferred to all others, there being a nearer union between these two than between any others, that the man must rather leave any of those than his wife."

Thought One: 

" Be like the sower in Van Gogh's painting--don't position yourself in the center--rather, position yourself in a posture of openness--of a willingness to "do the work He has given you to do with gladness and singleness of heart and mind."  " - Dr. Leslie Thyberg

Thought Two:

"We like stories in which domination arrives with trumpets. We are less fond of stories in which it arrives as convenience. Yet convenience is where modern power likes to hide. Bureaucracy has always known this. So has advertising. So, for that matter, has political propaganda. The clever move is rarely to forbid judgment. The clever move is to make judgment feel inefficient, overwrought, somehow a little old-fashioned. Why wrestle with uncertainty when a polished answer is available in two seconds? " -Dr. Colin WP Lewis

Faith Waits Even So

Thought One:

"Faith is a way of waiting—never quite knowing, never quite hearing or seeing, because in the darkness we are all but a little lost. There is doubt hard on the heels of every belief, fear hard on the heels of every hope, and many holy things lie in ruins because the world has ruined them and we have ruined them. But faith waits even so, delivered at least from that final despair which gives up waiting altogether because it sees nothing left worth waiting for. Faith waits—for the opening of a door, the sound of footsteps in the hall, that beloved voice delayed, delayed so long that there are times when you all but give up hope of ever hearing it. And when at moments you think you do hear it (if only faintly, from far away) the question is: Can it possibly be, impossibly be, that one voice of all voices?" 

- Frederick Buechner, Secrets in the Dark, quoted by Dr. Leslie Thyberg

Thought Two:

"“Come and have breakfast,” Jesus says. Because the disciples were hungry.

[...] Here on the beach there’s a reason that, before he’s a prophet, before he’s a liberator, before he’s the good shepherd, Jesus is a cook. He sits by a fire cooking fish for his friends. Yes, he’s about to give Peter forgiveness, but first he gives him breakfast.

We try so hard to separate the ‘spiritual’ from the ‘practical’, but that’s such a false dichotomy. We can can have all the right doctrine and all the right theology, but sometimes, before all that, people are desperate for a mug of coffee and a couple of slices of toast because they’re stressed and exhausted." -Left Hand of Ehud

thought three: More Biblical art

Source: Catholicjules.net

Source: https://godspacelight.com/freerangefriday-at-the-table-with-jesus-this-time-its-a-picnic-table/

https://fineartamerica.com/featured/cast-your-nets-on-the-right-side-greg-olsen.html

https://www.etsy.com/listing/1772231702/christian-art-the-invitation-printable

https://diglib.library.vanderbilt.edu/diglib-viewimage.pl

https://strongstakes.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/jesus_on_shore.jpg

https://www.biblejournal.net/tag/breakfast-on-the-beach/

https://english.op.org/godzdogz/resurrection-appearances-come-and-have-breakfast/

Losing to Gravity

Art by Jeffrey T. Larson, Laughing Ladies

thought one:

I realized that the widening jaw line of women, heretofore a grievous change, actually serves to move us physically from being mere women into being matriarchs in the society. As our chins widen, so does our authority. "Say something and see what happens," or as my mother put it, "That's enough," suddenly becomes enough. There is a new gravity we demand commensurate to the gravity of our cheeks. 

There are advantages to aging.

thought two: Why teaching at a Christian school is the best:

Thinking how setting affects plot:

"How would Jesus’ birth have been different if He had been born in 2025 America?

What would be the same?

What would be different?

Why is God, the Author of History, able to pick the correct time and place for things?"

Just thought, not to get serious or anything, but He would have made the powerful (who love darkness rather than light) very jealous and the meek (of whom is the Kingdom of God) rejoice. Godless religious leaders would probably still deliver Him into a miscarriage of justice on the part of the civil authorities, who had formerly aspired to better things, because the world in its wisdom chose not to know Christ, who is the end of the law for all who believe. Although uneasy, they probably would acquiesce for political reasons.

Dang. 

Execution doesn't happen so speedily here. We do live post-Jesus, and it shows. A Muslim country more likely? Seems like an appearance of Christ would split their religious community down the middle. America's religious don't seem to be earnest enough for things to get that serious. Tight-knit Calvinist circles? Could have happened frequently in Europe, but the political would have been too tightly aligned with the religious, and maybe too complete in eradicating the followers. No, the first century it had to be.

thought three: 

Ecclesiastes on Holy Saturday narrated by an unreliable narrator, but a very intellectual one. He has many good points in quick succession. We were already told he was the wisest man ever, and he says it's all vanity.

1 Corinthians 15 written by a man determined to count all things loss for one great thing. Calls them rubbish, actually. So, if there were no Resurrection, pity the poor Christian fools who indeed build their life upon vapor. The lacerated and incarcerated grandcousin of Solomon stands up to contradict: This Fact you did not take into consideration. And because of that, you are wrong; we don't need to just eat and drink to forget that tomorrow we shall die. We eat and drink and give thanks because tomorrow we shall die, and then live. Vapor turns into grace. "Never enough" turns into "My grace is sufficient". Meaninglessness turns into sacrament. A cry of "empty" turns into songs of "thank You."

He descended to the dead.

On the third day, He rose again.

thought four:

Can't stop.

"The human being is earth that suffers." -Barnabas

Good Friday

Art by https://www.fullofeyes.com/good-friday-2023/

thought one: 

The corruption is mine.

The life is Yours.

 thought two:

What is the significance of the fact that women accompanied Christ to the Cross? John, yes, too. But the crowd of women? An the anointing of Mary for His burial?

I feel it is related to Eve.

thought three: 

Mockery from evil stands out as a theme in the Crucifixion. But today, so did fear.

"Now I know that you fear God, you have not withheld your son, your only son, from me"

"And he took with him Peter and James and John, and began to be greatly distressed and troubled. And he said to them, “My soul is very sorrowful, even to death. Remain here and watch.” And going a little farther, he fell on the ground and prayed that, if it were possible, the hour might pass from him. And he said, “Abba, Father, all things are possible for you. Remove this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.” And he came and found them sleeping, and he said to Peter, “Simon, are you asleep? Could you not watch one hour? Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” And again he went away and prayed, saying the same words." Mark 14

"And they all left him and fled." Mark 14:50

"When Jesus said to them, “I am he,” they drew back and fell to the ground. " John 22

"And as Peter was below in the courtyard, one of the servant girls of the high priest came, 67 and seeing Peter warming himself, she looked at him and said, “You also were with the Nazarene, Jesus.” 68 But he denied it, saying, “I neither know nor understand what you mean.” And he went out into the gateway..." Mark 22

"When Pilate heard this statement, he was even more afraid. He entered his headquarters again and said to Jesus, “Where are you from?”"

"From then on Pilate sought to release him, but the Jews cried out, “If you release this man, you are not Caesar's friend. Everyone who makes himself a king opposes Caesar.”"

"After these things Joseph of Arimathea, who was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews, asked Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus, and Pilate gave him permission. So he came and took away his body. Nicodemus also, who earlier had come to Jesus[e] by night, came bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds[f] in weight. So they took the body of Jesus and bound it in linen cloths with the spices, as is the burial custom of the Jews."

Mark 14: 43 "Joseph of Arimathea, a respected member of the council, who was also himself looking for the kingdom of God, took courage and went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. "

19 On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being locked where the disciples were for fear of the Jews,[c] Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.”

1 Peter 2

16 Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants[d] of God. 17 Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the emperor.

1 Peter 3

"And you are her children, if you do good and do not fear anything that is frightening." [submission and living in peace with spouse in a book devoted to the theme of suffering...!]

"14 But even if you should suffer for righteousness' sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled, 15 but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect, 16 having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame. 17 For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God's will, than for doing evil."

19 Therefore let those who suffer according to God's will entrust their souls to a faithful Creator while doing good.

thought four:

"After my own journey, I am ever mindful that somewhere in the pew, someone is doing what they always do while sincerely doubting their ability to hold onto their faith." -Kate Miller, Ancient Words in a Crisis of Faith