Kiekegaard Quote!

I wonder if a man handing another man an extremely sharp, polished, two-edged instrument would hand it over with the air, gestures, and expression of one delivering a bouquet of flowers? Would not this be madness? What does one do then? Convinced of the excellence of the dangerous instrument, one recommends it unreservedly, to be sure, but in such a way that in a certain sense one warns against it. So it is with Christianity. If what is needed is to be done, we should not hesitate, aware of the highest responsibility, to preach in Christian sermons - yes, precisely in Christian sermons - against Christianity." - Soren Kierkegaard's (Works of Love: Some Christian Reflections in the Form of a Discourse)

I am reminded of Hebrews 4.12 (click here to read it in English Standard Version).

enjoy, ron

Baptizing a drunk!

A certain man is stumbling through the a cowboy town, totally drunk,

when he comes upon a preacher baptizing people in the horse trough.

He proceeds to walk into the trough and subsequently bumps into the preacher.

The preacher turns around and is almost overcome by the smell of alcohol,

whereupon he asks the drunk,

"Are you ready to find Jesus?"

The drunk answers, "Yes, I am."

So the preacher grabs him and dunks him in the water.

He pulls him up and asks the drunk,

"Brother have you found Jesus?"

The drunk replies, "No, I haven't found Jesus."

The preacher shocked at the answer, dunks him into the water again for a little longer.

He again pulls him out of the water and asks again,

"Have you found Jesus my brother?"

The drunk again answers, "No, I haven't found Jesus."

By this time the preacher is at his wits end and dunks the drunk in the water again

but this time holds him down for about 30 seconds and

when he begins kicking his arms and legs he pulls him up.

The preacher again asks the drunk,

"For the love of God have you found Jesus?"

The drunk wipes his eyes and catches his breath and says to the preacher,

"Are you sure this is where he fell in?"

Enjoy, ron

Dylan's 66

Happy birthday to Bob Dylan (Robert Allen Zimmerman), who turns 66 today! Singer-songwriter Ted Quinn calls Dylan's birthday “a national religious holiday.” Dylan's tune "Like A Rolling Stone" was named the #1 song of all time by Rolling Stone magazine in November 2004. Also in tribute, the city of Duluth, Minnesota (Dylan’s birthplace) will inaugurate the 1.8 mile “Bob Dylan Way” today by installing the first street sign with that designation. Of course, Bob Dylan was born along a stretch of Highway 61, in Duluth, Minnesota. Bob Dylan commemorates the highway in the title song of his album Highway 61 Revisited. See YouTube link here or watch Dylan & the Boss revisit 61.

Say What? Although he refused to play at Woodstock, the spirit of Dylan's music was an integral force at the legendary Woodstock show. For example, he is responsible for such songs as "All Along The Watchtower" (made into a hit by Jimi Hendrix who did show up at Woodstock).

Quote: "Jesus tapped me on the shoulder and said, Bob, why are you resisting me? I said, I'm not resisting you! He said, You gonna follow me? I said, I've never thought about that before! He said, When you're not following me, you're resisting me."

enjoy, ron

Esau Sells Out!

Esau Sells his Birthright to Jacob

by Rembrandt Harmensz van Rijn (1606 – 1669)

drawing with pen and brush ca. 1648/50 - British Museum, London

Want more: Rembrandt Harmensz van Rijn biography.

This work is linked to Genesis 25:30

Below is an extract from Pilgrim's Progress by John Bunyan (1678, public domain). With one exception (Bible), Pilgrim's Progress was considered the most important writing in English, for a century or two.

Note: HOPE: is Hopeful, Christian's companion, CHR: is Christian, the main character of this book, on his way from the City of Destruction to the Heavenly City and RON: is me (not found in actual text)!

HOPE: Why art thou so tart, my brother? Esau sold his birthright, and that for a mess of pottage, and that birthright was his greatest jewel; and if he, why might not Little-faith do so too? (Hebrews 12:16)

CHR: Esau did sell his birthright indeed, and so do many besides, and by so doing exclude themselves from the chief blessing, as also that caitiff did; but you must put a difference betwixt Esau and Little-faith, and also betwixt their estates. Esau's birthright was typical, but Little-faith's jewels were not so; Esau's belly was his god, but Little-faith's belly was not so; Esau's want lay in his fleshly appetite, Little-faith's did not so. Besides, Esau could see no further than to the fulfilling of his lusts; "Behold, I am at the point to die, (said he), and what profit shall this birthright do me?" [Genesis 25:32] But Little-faith, though it was his lot to have but a little faith, was by his little faith kept from such extravagances, and made to see and prize his jewels more than to sell them, as Esau did his birthright.

You read not anywhere that Esau had faith, no, not so much as a little; therefore, no marvel if, where the flesh only bears sway, (as it will in that man where no faith is to resist), if he sells his birthright, and his soul and all, and that to the devil of hell; for it is with such, as it is with the ass, who in her occasions cannot be turned away. [Jer. 2:24] When their minds are set upon their lusts, they will have them whatever they cost. But Little-faith was of another temper, his mind was on things divine; his livelihood was upon things that were spiritual, and from above; therefore, to what end should he that is of such a temper sell his jewels (had there been any that would have bought them) to fill his mind with empty things? Will a man give a penny to fill his belly with hay; or can you persuade the turtle-dove to live upon carrion like the crow? Though faithless ones can, for carnal lusts, pawn, or mortgage, or sell what they have, and themselves outright to boot; yet they that have faith, saving faith, though but a little of it, cannot do so. Here, therefore, my brother, is thy mistake.

RON: Little faith is enough if it is in Christ Jesus alone!

enjoy, ron

David w/ Goliath Head!

Caravaggio 1573 – 1610 - oil on panel (91 × 116 cm) — 1606/07

Kunsthistorisches Museum, Vienna

Caravaggio mostly painted on canvas, but this work was made on a panel. For more on Caravaggio see Caravaggio biography.

This work is linked to 1 Samuel 17:54

David has just killed the giant Goliath and takes the head with him in order to show it to his people.

Niccolò Machiavelli, in The Prince, states that we should learn this lesson from David and fight with our own weapons, using our own strengths, and not try to borrow or hire those of others.

What are some of the Goliaths we face in life?

Goliath represents the many insufferable obstacles and pitfalls we encounter in life, whether they be spiritual or physical. Goliaths will try to win over us, but, like David, we have the grace of God on our side, and God empowers us to confront and conquer those enormous giants. Like David, we fight with our God given weaponry to defeat them. We do not need to borrow or hire the weapons of others; all we need is the Person and Work of our Lord Jesus Christ to defeat whatever Goliath we encounter. So pray, study the Word of God, and witness to God’s grace in the face of today's Goliaths.

Heads will roll!

enjoy, ron