Rewards In Heaven

Synopsis

A review of my rewards programs 

• Josh & John's Ice Cream:  Burn 🔥
• Panera Bread:  Steal 📚
• Firehouse Subs:  Burn 🔥
• Rampart Liquors:  Steal 📚
• Tokyo Joe's:  Burn 🔥
• Captain D's:  Burn 🔥
• 7-Eleven:  Steal 📚
• Rita's Italian Ice:  Steal 📚
• King Soopers:  Steal 📚
• Maverick:  Steal 📚

A Bible Study on Rewards In Heaven

Introduction

By Paul Anderson

In this age of smart phones, companies will give you rewards for using their apps.  However, I have found that some companies have good rewards programs while others are more annoying than beneficial.  In those cases, the rewards program actually loses customers rather than turning you into a loyal one.  At least, in my case. 

photo by Paul Anderson, 6/26/24

1. Maverick - Steal 📚

Maverick's freebie Friday is the best feature of this rewards program and puts them on the top of my list.  Every Friday, you get a free item from their store, usually a drink or candy.  It is a nice way to try out some products you would have never thought of purchasing.  However, it doesn't stop there.  You can earn points from purchases to earn discounts on gas and more free food.  I received a bunch of points when I joined and quickly earned enough to get a free bakery item.  I tried the Reese's Peanut Butter Cup Cookie!  This is a peanut butter cookie with an actual peanut butter cup baked on top.  Pure genius.

2. King Soopers - Steal 📚

Coming in at the number two spot is the King Soopers' rewards program.  I originally joined to get the discounts on gas.  However, when you lose 130 pounds the food budget drops off quite a bit.  So, the gas discounts aren't as good anymore, especially since I can find gas stations with lower prices than  King Soopers with the discount.  Of course, the customized coupons make up for the loss of benefit from the gas discounts.  Each month, you let them track your purchases, and they give you a free item you usually buy and some more discounts on your favorite foods.

3. Panera Bread - Steal 📚

Panera was one of the original rewards programs I joined years ago when the chess club met there on a regular basis.  They gave me a card that I could swipe at the counter to track my purchases, and I used it regularly until 2014 when Shirley Herman got us banned from running chess events there.  However, you can add your phone number to the account to get credit that way too.  This is a nice feature when someone else wants to give you credit for their purchase.  Besides earning free or discounted food, you get a free bakery treat on your birthday.  So, once a year, I get the Kitchen Sink cookie!  It is a lot of calories (820 cal) on which I can indulge only once a year.

4. Rita's Italian Ice - Steal 📚

Their free small Italian ice coupon got me in the door, and when I gave up on Josh & John's Ice Cream, Rita's seemed like an ideal choice to fill the spot for my Tuesday Treat.  This rewards program is on their app, which you can have them scan at the counter.  So far, no problems.

5. 7-Eleven - Steal 📚

This rewards program could have been the easiest to join as I just gave them my phone number at the counter to get a discount.  However, I later downloaded the app to track my points and get some free items.  The rewards are coming pretty slow, as I don't frequent this store often.  They are possibly the closest Rewarder to my house.  So, maybe I will hit that coveted 1000 points (I am at 934) some time in the winter when I need steps and a hot chocolate.

6. Rampart Liquors - Steal 📚

This rewards program rivals 7-Eleven as the closest Rewarder to my house.  However, it is a local liquor store, and the program is pretty basic.  I grab a business card from their counter and collect punches after each purchase.  After 5 visits, I earn 10% off.  The problem is that I don't really buy a lot of alcohol.  So, my 10% off only amounts to 10 cents since I am just buying the $1 shot as a motivator to get steps.

7.  Tokyo Joe's - Burn 🔥

This rewards program was like Panera, with the swipe card.  However, it seems to be going downhill.  The discounts are less frequent.  However, I did get a free entree on my half birthday, which is a nice change of pace so that it doesn't conflict with the Kitchen Sink from Panera.  Although, you do have to pay close attention at the counter, as the local store doesn't always get the reward from corporate.  It helps to have the app so that you can show the local store what you have earned.  Sometimes they will honor the reward.  Sometimes they won't.

8. Firehouse Subs:  Burn 🔥

This one started as a free birthday sub.  It was like going to Denny's on your birthday, but instead of a free Grand Slam breakfast, I would get a meatball sub.  Of course, I had to go to Firehouse Subs as Earle Wikle shut down all the Denny's in Colorado Springs with his backroom chess tournaments.  Then they changed to a rewards program using your phone number like 7-Eleven did, but you could still get the free birthday sub.  However, the program is all app based now and the free birthday sub is gone.  The point system is crazy, as it takes 4000 points to get a brownie here compared to 1000 points for 7-Eleven.  Plus, the points expire here.  I have 2552 points set to expire on December 11th and nothing that they will purchase.  If only I could transfer these points to 7-Eleven, I could get 2 brownies there.

9. Josh & John's Ice Cream - Burn 🔥

This was the original rewards program that I joined in Colorado Springs.  It featured a punch card that gave you more punches the colder the weather was.  And, if it was snowing, you could rack up the punches.  After 15 punches, you earned a free regular scoop.  However, the punch card was replaced by an online system, and I created my online account at home on the computer.  Initially, you could tell the counter person your email address and they would credit your account.  Some employees expected you to scan the QR code and use the app only.  Finally, I downloaded the app but still had problems as it always wanted the password to open and most employees could look up my email address quicker than I could find the password.  

10. Captain D's - Burn 🔥

When I had trouble with Tokyo Joe's rewards program, I switched my Seafood Sunday habit to Captain D's.  Their rewards program is through their app and more restrictive than any other program I have used.  You have to order through the app.  You cannot order at the counter and get rewards points.  Unfortunately, the app does not offer a dine-in option, only delivery and carry out.  Plus, their "free" rewards charge you tax.

Since the different rewards programs were having an effect on my behavior, I thought I would see what kind of rewards God was offering in his program.

Here are my top 12 verses on Rewards In Heaven:

Jesus On Rewards

Luke 6:22-23 King James Version

22 Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man's sake.

23 Rejoice ye in that day, and leap for joy: for, behold, your reward is great in heaven: for in the like manner did their fathers unto the prophets.

Rewards In The New Testament

1 Corinthians 3:11-15 King James Version

11 For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.

12 Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble;

13 Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is.

14 If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.

15 If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.

Rewards In The Old Testament

Genesis 15:1 King James Version

1 After these things the word of the Lord came unto Abram in a vision, saying, Fear not, Abram: I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward.

Proverbs 24:20 King James Version

20 For there shall be no reward to the evil man; the candle of the wicked shall be put out.

Hosea 2:11-12 King James Version

11 I will also cause all her mirth to cease, her feast days, her new moons, and her sabbaths, and all her solemn feasts.

12 And I will destroy her vines and her fig trees, whereof she hath said, These are my rewards that my lovers have given me: and I will make them a forest, and the beasts of the field shall eat them.

Ruler

Matthew 25:21 King James Version

21 His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.

Incorruptible Crown

1 Corinthians 9:25-27 King James Version

25 And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible.

26 I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air:

27 But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.

Crown of Rejoicing

1 Thessalonians 2:19 King James Version

19 For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming?

Crown of Righteousness

2 Timothy 4:8 King James Version

8 Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.

Crown of Life

James 1:12 King James Version

12 Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.

Crown of Glory

1 Peter 5:2-4 King James Version

2 Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind;

3 Neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being examples to the flock.

4 And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.

Food

Revelation 2:7 King James Version

7 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.

Conclusion Of The Whole Matter

The word "reward" occurs 103 times in the Bible and appears to be spread out equally throughout the Old and New Testament.  So, God's reward program is clearly the original and has not gone away.  There is no cost to join, no card to carry, no missed punches, no app to download, no tax on your rewards, and the points are eternal.  You can earn a lot of points from persecution (Luke 6:22-23) but also from quality work (1 Corinthians 3:11-15).  However, beware!  There are no rewards for the evil man (Proverbs 24:20) and the rewards can be taken away from the idolatrous (Hosea 2:11-12).

The benefits are the best.  Genesis 15:1, reminds us that God is the greatest reward.  However, the other perks aren't bad either.  Jesus will put the good and faithful servant in charge of many things.  And the New Testament writers highlight five crowns that can be rewarded to those who show self-control, those who convert others to Christ, those who love His appearing, those who endure temptation, and those who are an example to Christians.

However, the best perk has to be the food rewards (Revelation 2:7).  What exactly is on the tree of life is not clear, but I am guessing it is the Reese's Peanut Butter Cup Cookie!

Research

103 Bible results for “reward” from King James Version.

• Old Testament (67)
• Genesis (2)
• Numbers (2)
• Deuteronomy (3)
• Ruth (1)
• 1 Samuel (2)
• 2 Samuel (4)
• 1 Kings (1)
• 2 Chronicles (2)
• Job (3)
• Psalm (17)
• Proverbs (8)
• Ecclesiastes (2)
• Isaiah (9)
• Jeremiah (2)
• Ezekiel (1)
• Daniel (2)
• Hosea (3)
• Obadiah (1)
• Micah (2)
• New Testament (36)
• Matthew (12)
• Mark (1)
• Luke (3)
• Acts (1)
• Romans (1)
• 1 Corinthians (4)
• Colossians (2)
• 1 Timothy (1)
• 2 Timothy (1)
• Hebrews (4)
• 2 Peter (1)
• 2 John (1)
• Jude (1)
• Revelation (3)

Scripture contributions for June 2024 by: Paul Anderson, Matthew Anderson

Vision

Synopsis

A review of Vivid Vision:  A Remarkable Tool For Aligning Your Business Around A Shared Vision Of The Future by Canadian businessman, author, and speaker Cameron Herold

• Paul: Steal 📚
• Matthew: 

A review of and quotes from The Things You Can See Only When You Slow Down:  How To Be Calm and Mindful In A Fast-Paced World by Korean Zen Buddhist teacher and author Haemin Sunim (born December 12, 1973)

• Paul: Burn 🔥
• Matthew: 

A review of and quotes from A Confederacy Of Dunces by American novelist John Kennedy Toole (December 17, 1937 – March 26, 1969)

• Paul: Steal 📚
• Matthew:

A Bible Study on Vision

Introduction

By Paul Anderson

In May, I finally decided to get new glasses after 17 years.  It wasn't that I couldn't see with the old pair, but rather that one of the hinges had broke, one of the nose pads had fallen off, and the plastic had fallen off both of the temples (the two long, skinny arms of your eyeglasses that attach via the hinge and sit over your ears).  So, the metal frames were digging into my skin.  

Being that one of my best virtues is frugality, it is always hard to throw anything away and buy something new.  However, I think I got the most value I could out of these frames.

photo by Paul Anderson, 7/27/24

photo by Paul Anderson, 7/27/24

Since improving my vision was on my mind this month, I was hoping to see something vision-related in my son's library.  I saw a title called Vivid Vision:  A Remarkable Tool For Aligning Your Business Around A Shared Vision Of The Future that looked to be a perfect fit.  This book would fit into the self-help category but with more of a business slant.  However, I thought it might benefit my goal of writing a chess book.  Perhaps, a vision is just what I need to finally finish my book... 🤔

‭When I saw that Isaiah 22:5 was chosen as the verse of the day‬ on the same day as starting this book, I took it as sign from the LORD.  Like 'Joliet' Jake Blues when he slides on down to the Triple Rock Baptist Church, I had seen the light!

Well, not really.  But it was a nice coincidence

I did like this book.  It is one of the better self-help books I have seen.  Steal 📚.  The main point about having a vision is that it needs to be detailed and should focus on small steps.  The material is concise, with detailed examples, and even ends with a section on having a personal vision for a successful life using the 5 Fs.

1. Fitness
2. Faith
3. Finance
4. Family
5. Friends

I saw another vision-related title in my son's library.  So, I decided to continue the theme with the book The Things You Can See Only When You Slow Down:  How To Be Calm and Mindful In A Fast-Paced World.  This book would also fit in the self-help category but with more of a spiritual slant.

The spiritual perspective is Buddhist, and while I haven't looked into the religion very much, I can see that I am DEFINITELY not a Buddhist.  Burn 🔥.  The emphasis appears to be exclusively about how to get along with other people in this world, rather than how to get right with God before the next world.  They use the 2nd greatest commandment to nullify the greatest commandment.  For the Buddhist, it is better to love your neighbor than to understand truth.

"If Jesus, Buddha, and Confucius were all alive and gathered in the same place, would they argue over who is right?  Or would they respect and admire one another’s teachings?  Religious conflict can often be blamed not on the founders of religions but on their fanatical followers."

While his rhetorical question is designed to get you to agree with the author, I immediately think of how Jesus actually treated the religious leaders of his time by winning augments, criticizing their teachings, and calling them, "Blind guides!"

Then came his disciples, and said unto him, Knowest thou that the Pharisees were offended, after they heard this saying?

But he answered and said, Every plant, which my heavenly Father hath not planted, shall be rooted up.

Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch.

Matthew 15:12-14 KJV

It is hard to believe that the author never saw that verse.  Perhaps, he didn't want to see it.  As, clearly his favorite book in the Bible is Matthew.

"Three Bible verses I cherish:

“In everything, therefore, treat people the same way you want them to treat you, for this is the Law and the Prophets.”

—MATTHEW 7:12

“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter.”

—MATTHEW 7:21

“Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, you did it to Me.”

—MATTHEW 25:40"

Although, I imagine he looks at Mt 7:21 in a different light than I do.  He would probably take comfort in the fact that some people who confess Jesus as Lord will fail to enter the kingdom of heaven, and therefore, use this verse to nullify his need to confess Jesus as Lord, as only doing the will is necessary.  Whereas, I would see the verse as a warning to those whose works don't match up with their confession.  They may claim to be a Christian but their actions do not conform to the will of the Father.  So, both faith and works are required (James 2:24).

Buddhists are like a heart-lead person trying to be mind-lead.  They like to think they follow wisdom, but they actually are following the heart.  What they feel is more important.  And when that feeling changes, they have to change.  It is the never-ending pursuit of happiness.

"A long time ago, 

there was only one mind,

which became bored by being alone for so long.

So it decided to split into two.

But since the two knew they were originally one,

playing together was not much fun—

as if playing both sides of a chess game.

So the two minds agreed to forget where they came from;

they pretended not to know each other.

As time passed, they also forgot about their agreement.

They forgot they were actually one and the same.

This is the condition of our existence.

We forget that we are originally from one mind."

While I like the chess reference, all I get from this parable is that the goal of Buddhism is to return to a state of eternal boredom.

Well, maybe I got one more thing:  if a Buddhist were to order a pizza, they would say, "Make me one with everything!"  This is another reason that I am not a Buddhist.  I love pepperoni pizza!  It is far more exciting;  the Works is just too boring for me.

I didn't see another vision-related title in LM Brian Wall's library.  So, I decided to start at the bottom of his list with the novel, A Confederacy Of Dunces.

My Father's Best Literature list by Life Master Brian Wall

My father, Lucius John Wall, the second, was a genius who loved to read.

This is his best Novels list.

Novels

1. Madame Bovary - Flaubert 🔥
2. Lord Jim - Conrad
3. The Red And The Black - Stendahl
4. David Copperfield - Dickens
5. Swann's Way - Proust 🔥
6. Ivanhoe - Scott 📚
7. The Brothers Karamazov - Dostoevsky 🔥
8. Moby Dick - Melville 📚
9. Magus - Fowler
10. Death On The Installment Plan - Celine
11. Tristram Shandy - Sterns
12. The Way Of All Flesh - Butler
13. Fathers And Sons - Turgenev 🔥
14. Huckleberry Finn - Twain 📚
15. Robinson Crusoe - Defoe 📚
16. Gullivers Travels - Swift 🔥
17. Decline And Fall - Waugh
18. Of Human Bondage - Maughm
19. The Black Sheep  - Balzac
20. A Confederacy Of Dunces - Toole 📚

Novelettes

1. Death In Venice - Mann
2. Heart Of Darkness - Conrad 📚
3. Notes From The Underground - Dostoevesky 🔥
4. The Apple Tree - Galsworthy
5. The Man Who Would Be King - Kipling
6. Portait Of The Artist As A Young Man - Joyce 📚
7. Great Gatsby - Fitzgerald 🔥
8. Alice's Adventures In Wonderland - Caroll 🔥
9. The Stranger - Camus
10. 1984 - Orwell

The book was written in 1963 and its title comes from Jonathan Swift's essay Thoughts on Various Subjects, Moral and Diverting: 

When a true genius appears in the world, you may know him by this sign, that the dunces are all in confederacy against him.

While not specifically about vision, this humorous book seems to have been given prophetic sight about our current political climate.  The protagonist, Ignatius J. Reilly, is an overweight and unemployed thirty-year-old with a Masters degree in Medieval History, whose favorite book is On The Consolation of Philosophy by Boethius, a Medieval Roman philosopher.  His pride and education keep him from holding down even the simplest of jobs, as he feels that all work and all people are beneath him.

"You could tell by the way that he talked, though, that he had gone to school a long time. That was probably what was wrong with him. George had been wise enough to get out of school as soon as possible. He didn't want to end up like that guy."

As a hot dog vendor, he could be the worst employee ever, refusing to sell any product and eating them instead.  His attitude of Charles Emerson Winchester (M*A*S*H), combined with the physique of Roy Biggins (Wings), and the voice of Foghorn Leghorn, do not endear him with, well, people in general.  So, he ends up watching Yogi Bear cartoons and drinking Dr. Nut while sponging off his mother.  What is a useless, good-for-nothing son to do?  

Well, politics, of course.  He decides to become a political organizer and promote the platform of peace through decadency.  While this philosophy seemed like a joke in the 1960s, Ignatius J. Reilly is seen as a visionary by today's standards.  And for his forward sightedness, I will give it a steal 📚 since it seems to be a humorous telling about the founding of the modern democratic party.

Here are my top 12 verses on Vision:

Jesus On Vision

Matthew 17:1-9 King James Version

1 And after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart,

2 And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light.

3 And, behold, there appeared unto them Moses and Elias talking with him.

4 Then answered Peter, and said unto Jesus, Lord, it is good for us to be here: if thou wilt, let us make here three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias.

5 While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him.

6 And when the disciples heard it, they fell on their face, and were sore afraid.

7 And Jesus came and touched them, and said, Arise, and be not afraid.

8 And when they had lifted up their eyes, they saw no man, save Jesus only.

9 And as they came down from the mountain, Jesus charged them, saying, Tell the vision to no man, until the Son of man be risen again from the dead.

Mark 4:10-12 King James Version

10 And when he was alone, they that were about him with the twelve asked of him the parable.

11 And he said unto them, Unto you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God: but unto them that are without, all these things are done in parables:

12 That seeing they may see, and not perceive; and hearing they may hear, and not understand; lest at any time they should be converted, and their sins should be forgiven them.

Luke 24:13-31 King James Version

13 And, behold, two of them went that same day to a village called Emmaus, which was from Jerusalem about threescore furlongs.

14 And they talked together of all these things which had happened.

15 And it came to pass, that, while they communed together and reasoned, Jesus himself drew near, and went with them.

16 But their eyes were holden that they should not know him.

17 And he said unto them, What manner of communications are these that ye have one to another, as ye walk, and are sad?

18 And the one of them, whose name was Cleopas, answering said unto him, Art thou only a stranger in Jerusalem, and hast not known the things which are come to pass there in these days?

19 And he said unto them, What things? And they said unto him, Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, which was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people:

20 And how the chief priests and our rulers delivered him to be condemned to death, and have crucified him.

21 But we trusted that it had been he which should have redeemed Israel: and beside all this, to day is the third day since these things were done.

22 Yea, and certain women also of our company made us astonished, which were early at the sepulchre;

23 And when they found not his body, they came, saying, that they had also seen a vision of angels, which said that he was alive.

24 And certain of them which were with us went to the sepulchre, and found it even so as the women had said: but him they saw not.

25 Then he said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken:

26 Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory?

27 And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.

28 And they drew nigh unto the village, whither they went: and he made as though he would have gone further.

29 But they constrained him, saying, Abide with us: for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent. And he went in to tarry with them.

30 And it came to pass, as he sat at meat with them, he took bread, and blessed it, and brake, and gave to them.

31 And their eyes were opened, and they knew him; and he vanished out of their sight.

John 9:35-41 King James Version

35 Jesus heard that they had cast him out; and when he had found him, he said unto him, Dost thou believe on the Son of God?

36 He answered and said, Who is he, Lord, that I might believe on him?

37 And Jesus said unto him, Thou hast both seen him, and it is he that talketh with thee.

38 And he said, Lord, I believe. And he worshipped him.

39 And Jesus said, For judgment I am come into this world, that they which see not might see; and that they which see might be made blind.

40 And some of the Pharisees which were with him heard these words, and said unto him, Are we blind also?

41 Jesus said unto them, If ye were blind, ye should have no sin: but now ye say, We see; therefore your sin remaineth.

Vision In The New Testament

Acts 2:17 King James Version

17 And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams:

Acts 10:1-20 King James Version

1 There was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius, a centurion of the band called the Italian band,

2 A devout man, and one that feared God with all his house, which gave much alms to the people, and prayed to God alway.

3 He saw in a vision evidently about the ninth hour of the day an angel of God coming in to him, and saying unto him, Cornelius.

4 And when he looked on him, he was afraid, and said, What is it, Lord? And he said unto him, Thy prayers and thine alms are come up for a memorial before God.

5 And now send men to Joppa, and call for one Simon, whose surname is Peter:

6 He lodgeth with one Simon a tanner, whose house is by the sea side: he shall tell thee what thou oughtest to do.

7 And when the angel which spake unto Cornelius was departed, he called two of his household servants, and a devout soldier of them that waited on him continually;

8 And when he had declared all these things unto them, he sent them to Joppa.

9 On the morrow, as they went on their journey, and drew nigh unto the city, Peter went up upon the housetop to pray about the sixth hour:

10 And he became very hungry, and would have eaten: but while they made ready, he fell into a trance,

11 And saw heaven opened, and a certain vessel descending upon him, as it had been a great sheet knit at the four corners, and let down to the earth:

12 Wherein were all manner of fourfooted beasts of the earth, and wild beasts, and creeping things, and fowls of the air.

13 And there came a voice to him, Rise, Peter; kill, and eat.

14 But Peter said, Not so, Lord; for I have never eaten any thing that is common or unclean.

15 And the voice spake unto him again the second time, What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common.

16 This was done thrice: and the vessel was received up again into heaven.

17 Now while Peter doubted in himself what this vision which he had seen should mean, behold, the men which were sent from Cornelius had made enquiry for Simon's house, and stood before the gate,

18 And called, and asked whether Simon, which was surnamed Peter, were lodged there.

19 While Peter thought on the vision, the Spirit said unto him, Behold, three men seek thee.

20 Arise therefore, and get thee down, and go with them, doubting nothing: for I have sent them.

2 Corinthians 12:1-7 King James Version

1 It is not expedient for me doubtless to glory. I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord.

2 I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago, (whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) such an one caught up to the third heaven.

3 And I knew such a man, (whether in the body, or out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;)

4 How that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.

5 Of such an one will I glory: yet of myself I will not glory, but in mine infirmities.

6 For though I would desire to glory, I shall not be a fool; for I will say the truth: but now I forbear, lest any man should think of me above that which he seeth me to be, or that he heareth of me.

7 And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure.

Revelation 1:1-3 King James Version

1 The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John:

2 Who bare record of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that he saw.

3 Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand.

Vision In The Old Testament

Numbers 24:13-17 King James Version

13 If Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, I cannot go beyond the commandment of the Lord, to do either good or bad of mine own mind; but what the Lord saith, that will I speak?

14 And now, behold, I go unto my people: come therefore, and I will advertise thee what this people shall do to thy people in the latter days.

15 And he took up his parable, and said, Balaam the son of Beor hath said, and the man whose eyes are open hath said:

16 He hath said, which heard the words of God, and knew the knowledge of the most High, which saw the vision of the Almighty, falling into a trance, but having his eyes open:

17 I shall see him, but not now: I shall behold him, but not nigh: there shall come a Star out of Jacob, and a Sceptre shall rise out of Israel, and shall smite the corners of Moab, and destroy all the children of Sheth.

Proverbs 29:18 King James Version

18 Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he.

Isaiah 22:1-5 King James Version

1 The burden of the valley of vision. What aileth thee now, that thou art wholly gone up to the housetops?

2 Thou that art full of stirs, a tumultuous city, joyous city: thy slain men are not slain with the sword, nor dead in battle.

3 All thy rulers are fled together, they are bound by the archers: all that are found in thee are bound together, which have fled from far.

4 Therefore said I, Look away from me; I will weep bitterly, labour not to comfort me, because of the spoiling of the daughter of my people.

5 For it is a day of trouble, and of treading down, and of perplexity by the Lord God of hosts in the valley of vision, breaking down the walls, and of crying to the mountains.

Daniel 9:20-27 King James Version

20 And whiles I was speaking, and praying, and confessing my sin and the sin of my people Israel, and presenting my supplication before the Lord my God for the holy mountain of my God;

21 Yea, whiles I was speaking in prayer, even the man Gabriel, whom I had seen in the vision at the beginning, being caused to fly swiftly, touched me about the time of the evening oblation.

22 And he informed me, and talked with me, and said, O Daniel, I am now come forth to give thee skill and understanding.

23 At the beginning of thy supplications the commandment came forth, and I am come to shew thee; for thou art greatly beloved: therefore understand the matter, and consider the vision.

24 Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy.

25 Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks: the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times.

26 And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself: and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined.

27 And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.

Conclusion Of The Whole Matter

The word "vision" occurs 96 times in the Bible, but more than half of the verses are concentrated in 3 books:  

• Ezekiel (14)
• Daniel (29)
• Acts (12)

So, while "vision" does occur throughout the Bible, it does seem to be a rare occurrence.  It is a special sight for specific times and for specific people to view the spiritual realm.  Peter, James, and John were the only three Apostles chosen to see the vision of the transfigured Christ.  It is a tool God uses to transfer his word to his prophets, similar to a dream.  However, it is the version of dreaming that occurs when awake, like when Cornelius sees his vision at 3 pm and Peter see his vision at 12 pm.  It is associated with parables and being allowed to sees things that are not shown to everyone.  The disciples on the road to Emmaus had to have their eyes opened before they could see they were talking with Jesus.  It also is associated with revelation and prophecy.  The Old Testament uses visions to predict the coming Messiah and the future of Jerusalem.  However, there is also a general use of the word "vision" that relates to all people and the importance of having a hope for the future.

God lets us see that our future will be bright and not eternal boredom.

Research

96 Bible results for “vision” from King James Version.

• Old Testament (79)
• Genesis (2)
• Numbers (3)
• 1 Samuel (2)
• 2 Samuel (1)
• 1 Chronicles (1)
• 2 Chronicles (3)
• Job (4)
• Psalm (1)
• Proverbs (1)
• Isaiah (7)
• Jeremiah (2)
• Lamentations (1)
• Ezekiel (14)
• Daniel (29)
• Hosea (1)
• Joel (1)
• Obadiah (1)
• Micah (1)
• Nahum (1)
• Habakkuk (2)
• Zechariah (1)
• New Testament (17)
• Matthew (1)
• Luke (2)
• Acts (12)
• 2 Corinthians (1)
• Revelation (1)

116 Bible results for “seeing” from King James Version.

• Old Testament (68)
• Genesis (8)
• Exodus (4)
• Leviticus (1)
• Numbers (3)
• Joshua (2)
• Judges (5)
• Ruth (2)
• 1 Samuel (6)
• 2 Samuel (4)
• 1 Kings (2)
• 2 Kings (1)
• 1 Chronicles (1)
• 2 Chronicles (1)
• Ezra (1)
• Nehemiah (1)
• Job (6)
• Psalm (2)
• Proverbs (3)
• Ecclesiastes (3)
• Isaiah (4)
• Jeremiah (2)
• Ezekiel (4)
• Daniel (1)
• Hosea (1)
• New Testament (48)
• Matthew (4)
• Mark (2)
• Luke (4)
• John (3)
• Acts (14)
• Romans (1)
• 1 Corinthians (1)
• 2 Corinthians (4)
• Colossians (1)
• 2 Thessalonians (1)
• Hebrews (8)
• 1 Peter (1)
• 2 Peter (4)

Scripture contributions for May 2024 by: Paul Anderson, Matthew Anderson

Clutter

Synopsis

A review of  Unscripted:  Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Entrepreneurship by American entrepreneur, investor, and Get-Rich-Quick author MJ DeMarco

• Paul: Burn 🔥
• Matthew:

A review of and quotes from Johnny Tremain by American novelist, historian and children's writer Esther Louise Forbes (June 28, 1891 – August 12, 1967)

• Paul: Steal 📚
• Matthew: 

A Bible Study on Clutter

A Warning About The Baby Formula Scam

Introduction

By Paul Anderson

Thanks to the Chosen study, I realized how much space in the house I have lost over the years to junk.  So, this summer's project is to de-clutter.  Hopefully, I can return the ping pong room back to its function, instead of a storage room for a lifetime supply of Chick-fil-A waffle fries.

photo by Paul Anderson, 7/19/24

The first step in the de-clutter plan is to have a plan.  I figured that the plan should use some of the wisdom I gained while doing the Clutter study.  It is clear that getting rid of the abundance is a good thing.  There is a time to cast away.  But how should it be done?  I chose Mark 10:21 as my guiding verse.  

Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me.

There are two actions included in Jesus' advice.  Sell and give to the poor.  So, I wanted at least two steps in the plan.  However, I decided to add some backup methods since I had experience with selling a spinning bike on Ebay years ago that was a success, while selling a treadmill, at the same time, that was not.  

Ebay was not quite the get-rich-quick method for which I had hoped.  Some things sell, some things don't.  It was like getting a black gumball (imagine licorice flavored) from your penny.  Except, in my case, it was 40 black gumballs from $258.44 of sales for a profit of $64.96.  You see, in the world of gumballs the gold one is the money-maker.  However, in the Ebay gumball machine there is only one gold gumball for every 1,000 black gumballs.

If you like the gumball parable, I don't take the credit.  I got it from one of the books I read during the Clutter study:  Unscripted:  Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Entrepreneurship by MJ DeMarco.  It was possibly the only redeeming part of his book.  Burn 🔥. 

Maybe it's the constant use of profanity, but this guy seems way too angry for someone living his dream.  It sounds like every other get-rich-quick book, except he didn't write his for the money 🙄.  It is amazing how I couldn't hate a book more despite agreeing with the overall premise.  I think it has zero spiritual value though.  He misses the fact that the 7-day week and work are part of the curse that comes from God's script. 

Chapter 18 finally has some practical tools like using math to create goals and breaking things into small habits.  Too bad most of the content is just him railing against group think and his bad reviews.  I could have gotten his point in 3 min of listening to The Grand Illusion from Styx vs 9 hours of his babble.  So, when I got to the chapter on momentum paralysis, where he rants about not being able to stop reading a book he hates, Fifty Shades of Grey, I couldn't help thinking that I could relate.  At least, his bad book was scripted.  Mine was unscripted. 

Although it did finish better than it started with less rants and more details, it is not worth reading.  How hard is it to remember the gumball parable:  just keep plugging in pennies until the gold 💰 lands. 

Of course, Ebay may still not be the answer.  So, this time the treadmill will get bumped down the steps until it is gone.

photo by Paul Anderson, 6/30/24

1. Sell
1. Ebay Auction
2. Garage Sale
2. Give
1. Play It Again Sports
2. Goodwill

While giving things away definitely has a benefit for the giver, it may not always help the receiver.

I recently fell for the baby formula scam.  

I try not to give away cash as it can be misused very easily.  I had a homeless man ask me, "Could you help a hungry soul?"  

Being outside of IHOP, I responded, "What would you like?"  I figured I could certainly afford to buy a plate of pancakes.  

"$10 should be good," he replied.

The request for cash was a red flag.  So, I ran to my car and retrieved a coupon for a free sandwich at McDonalds.  He looked at the coupon with extreme disappointment, "I can't get to McDonalds and they would be closed anyway."

I pointed out that a 24-hour McDonalds was directly across the street from where we were standing.  He had no reply.  He just crumbled the coupon and threw it on the ground.  I guess he wasn't that hungry after all.

On to the baby formula scam.  

A young woman stopped me at Walmart and asked if I could buy her some baby formula.  Since it wasn't a request for cash, I was agreeable.  She picked out two cans of formula for $120.  The amount of the purchase was a red flag.  However, I didn't think she could return these for cash and it was possible her baby had a dietary issue that required special formula.  So, I agreed to buy one can for $60.  Then she requested the receipt, and alarm bells went off in my head.  I told her I needed the receipt, but she was able to get one from the clerk.  

So, I felt I had been scammed.  A quick search of Google confirmed it.  This is not new.  When the price of baby formula skyrocketed a couple year back, this scam became popular.  The formula is often resold (for a discount) on Ebay to get the cash.  Not quite the golden gumball but close to my total sales on Ebay.

I guess a new expression is in order:  Twice bitten, thrice shy.

However, my consolation was that I may have inadvertently helped two people:  the scammer and the mother who actually needs the discounted baby formula.  In addition, I might just sell the treadmill for  $60 if I add my sob story to the auction.

Here are my top 12 verses on Clutter:

Jesus On Clutter

Matthew 6:19-20 King James Version

19 Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:

20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:

Mark 10:21 King James Version

21 Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me.

Luke 12:15 King James Version

15 And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.

Luke 15:8-10 King James Version

8 Either what woman having ten pieces of silver, if she lose one piece, doth not light a candle, and sweep the house, and seek diligently till she find it?

9 And when she hath found it, she calleth her friends and her neighbours together, saying, Rejoice with me; for I have found the piece which I had lost.

10 Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.

Revelation 2:4-5 King James Version

4 Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love.

5 Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.

Clutter In The New Testament

1 Corinthians 14:40 King James Version

40 Let all things be done decently and in order.

2 Thessalonians 3:10-12 King James Version

10 For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat.

11 For we hear that there are some which walk among you disorderly, working not at all, but are busybodies.

12 Now them that are such we command and exhort by our Lord Jesus Christ, that with quietness they work, and eat their own bread.

James 5:3 King James Version

3 Your gold and silver is cankered; and the rust of them shall be a witness against you, and shall eat your flesh as it were fire. Ye have heaped treasure together for the last days.

Clutter In The Old Testament

Exodus 27:21 King James Version

21 In the tabernacle of the congregation without the vail, which is before the testimony, Aaron and his sons shall order it from evening to morning before the Lord: it shall be a statute for ever unto their generations on the behalf of the children of Israel.

2 Kings 20:1 King James Version

20 In those days was Hezekiah sick unto death. And the prophet Isaiah the son of Amoz came to him, and said unto him, Thus saith the Lord, Set thine house in order; for thou shalt die, and not live.

Ecclesiastes 3:6 King James Version

6 A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away;

Isaiah 23:17-18 King James Version

17 And it shall come to pass after the end of seventy years, that the Lord will visit Tyre, and she shall turn to her hire, and shall commit fornication with all the kingdoms of the world upon the face of the earth.

18 And her merchandise and her hire shall be holiness to the Lord: it shall not be treasured nor laid up; for her merchandise shall be for them that dwell before the Lord, to eat sufficiently, and for durable clothing.

Conclusion Of The Whole Matter

The word "clutter" occurs 0 times in the Bible.  In addition, the synonyms "trash," "garbage," and "junk" also never occur in the Bible.  This makes for a tough study when you are trying to get to 12 verses on the subject.  Fortunately, the word "order" does occur often enough to complete the study.

Both the Old Testament and the New Testament promote order.  Aaron and his sons were specifically chosen to keep the tabernacle in order.  Paul seems to tie order to productivity in 2 Thessalonians 3:10-12.  The idea that having an ordered workspace makes doing your job easier is repeated in other motivation books and is sound advice that continues to this day.  In addition, God recommends getting your house in order before your death.  I guess, back then, they didn't have the large dumpsters that you see parked in front of every house that sells these days - bin there, dump that!

However, you may have to be careful which items you remove.  James 5:3 makes it clear that the gold and silver items are good to go, as they will not only provide no benefit to you in the last days but also will harm you.  No offense to the famous silversmith, Paul Revere, but it was a good thing that he found other things to do with his skill.

"Revere smiled. 'There's a time for the casting of silver and a time for the casting of cannon. If that's not in the Bible, it should be.'" 

This quote comes from the other book I read during the Clutter study:  Johnny Tremain by Esther Louise Forbes.  It was a nice change of pace from the previous book I mentioned.  Steal 📚.  I do enjoy historical fictions like Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ.  A book that is well written can cleanse the palate of a dozen bitter books.  The description of a young apprentice growing up in 18th century Boston had the sound of Mockingbird.  The clever weaving of history and fiction gives you a fuller picture of the likes of John Hancock and Paul Revere.  And Johnny even shares his favorite literature with you:  Tom Jones, Robinson Crusoe, & Paradise Lost.

While selling your possession and giving to the poor is a good idea, I might hold on to the candlesticks.  Revelation 2:4-5 seems to suggest you don't want to remove those.  

Research

0 Bible results for “clutter” from King James Version.

0 Bible results for “trash” from King James Version.

0 Bible results for “garbage” from King James Version.

0 Bible results for “junk” from King James Version.

66 Bible results for “order” from King James Version.

• Old Testament (48)
• Genesis (1)
• Exodus (5)
• Leviticus (7)
• Joshua (1)
• Judges (2)
• 2 Samuel (2)
• 1 Kings (2)
• 2 Kings (2)
• 1 Chronicles (6)
• 2 Chronicles (3)
• Job (5)
• Psalm (6)
• Ecclesiastes (1)
• Isaiah (3)
• Jeremiah (1)
• Ezekiel (1)
• New Testament (18)
• Luke (3)
• Acts (3)
• 1 Corinthians (4)
• Colossians (1)
• Titus (1)
• Hebrews (6)

Scripture contributions for April 2024 by: Paul Anderson, Matthew Anderson

Chosen

Synopsis

A review of and quotes from The Chosen by American author, novelist, playwright, editor and rabbi Chaim Potok (February 17, 1929 – July 23, 2002)

• Paul: Steal 📚
• Matthew:

A review of and quotes from Notes From The Underground by Russian novelist, short story writer, essayist and journalist Fyodor Mikhailovich Dostoevsky (November 11, 1821 – February 9, 1881)

• Paul: Burn 🔥
• Matthew: 

A Bible Study on Chosen

Introduction

By Paul Anderson

In March, I read the book The Chosen.  It is a novel written by Chaim Potok about a friendship between two Jewish boys from differing backgrounds.  It was first published in 1967.  In addition, I watched the TV series The Chosen.  It is the first-ever multi-season, TV show about the life of Jesus.  It was first released in 2017.  So, it seemed appropriate to do a study on "Chosen" in the Bible as well.

The TV series was enjoyable, as it stays very true when the Bible speaks and yet provides a glimpse of Jesus' time when the Bible is silent.  You can imagine the setting where Jesus walked and get a fuller picture of the Apostles who are not mentioned much in the Scriptures.  Who knew Matthew, the tax collector, acted just like Dustin Hoffman in the movie Rain Man?

Of course, it is a lot of speculation since the TV series is 2,000 years removed from the actual events and written primarily for entertainment purposes.  It is like getting your fortune told by carnival machine.  You have to take what it says with a grain of salt.

photo by Paul Anderson, 4/27/24

The book was much more enjoyable.  It is a Steal 📚!  I first read it back in my grade school days and liked it.  However, I love it more now than ever.  I guess I can relate to the book more now after my college experience.  Instead of the two worlds of Judaism in the book (a Modern Orthodox school vs an ultra-orthodox Hasidic yeshiva), my real worlds contained the antagonistic views of the International Churches of Christ (ICOC) and the traditional Churches of Christ.  I was the President of Campus Advance, a campus organization started by the ICOC, during my time at the University of Colorado in Colorado Springs.

However, the best part of The Chosen was that it highlighted the value of silence.  Reb Saunders, the father of the boy from the ultra-orthodox Hasidic yeshiva, raises his son, Danny, in silence.  I can relate to this relationship, as I am raising my wife in silence (more on this in the conclusion).

Better is an handful with quietness, than both the hands full with travail and vexation of spirit.

Ecclesiastes 4:6 King James Version

Reb Saunders only speaks to Danny when they study Talmud together.  This is due to Danny's gifted mind.  He has a photographic memory, which causes him to neglect the other parts of his soul.  His 4 Pillars of the Soul (Body, Heart, Mind, & Spirit) are out of balance.  To help Danny's Spirit, Reb Saunders only speaks to Danny in a setting where he can feed his Spirit.

“My father doesn’t write,” Danny said. “He reads a lot, but he never writes. He says that words distort what a person really feels in his heart….He told me once he wishes that everyone could talk in silence.”

It is not a new idea.  It may have originated in ancient Egypt.  By 1831, the proverb was first printed by the poet Thomas Carlyle, “Speech is silver and silence is golden!”  By 1985, the American rock band Heart said it best in their song, These Dreams, from their self-titled eighth studio album.

The sweetest song is silence

That I've ever heard

Funny how your feet

In dreams never touch the earth

In a wood full of princes

Freedom is a kiss

But the prince hides his face

From dreams in the mist

The Bible says it this way:

A fool uttereth all his mind: but a wise man keepeth it in till afterwards.

Proverbs 29:11 King James Version

This verse may explain why I didn't like the second book I read to finish out the month of March:  Notes From The Underground.  I had a hard time figuring out what was going on in the story, as the narrator admits he is a babbler.

Oh, gentlemen, do you know, perhaps I consider myself an intelligent man, only because all my life I have been able neither to begin nor to finish anything.  Granted I am a babbler, a harmless vexatious babbler, like all of us.

The book is divided into two parts.  The first part is titled "Underground" and is the babbler's dystopian rant against trying to remove pain and suffering from the world by creating a Crystal Palace (Nikolai Chernyshevsky's What Is to Be Done?).  The second part is titled "Apropos of the Wet Snow" and describes some events from the babbler's life that highlight his dystopian world.  

The book seemed like two unrelated stories with no point in either.  Burn 🔥.   While it may be the original dystopia and an accurate predictor of what life would become in Russia, it lacks most of the elements better dystopias have used to create their unusual worlds, other than a brief reference to a "wall" 🧱 (https://acts512.blogspot.com/2023/08/dystopian.html).  Not to mention, it lacks a plot, characters, a setting, and anything interesting - very vexatious.

Since the "chosen" material were the pick of the litter this month, let's see what the Bible says about "chosen."

Here are my top 12 verses on Chosen:

Jesus On Chosen

Matthew 12:18 King James Version

18 Behold my servant, whom I have chosen; my beloved, in whom my soul is well pleased: I will put my spirit upon him, and he shall shew judgment to the Gentiles.

Matthew 22:14 King James Version

14 For many are called, but few are chosen.

Mark 13:20 King James Version

20 And except that the Lord had shortened those days, no flesh should be saved: but for the elect's sake, whom he hath chosen, he hath shortened the days.

John 15:16-19 King James Version

16 Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.

17 These things I command you, that ye love one another.

18 If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you.

19 If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.

Chosen In The New Testament

1 Corinthians 1:26-31 King James Version

26 For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called:

27 But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;

28 And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are:

29 That no flesh should glory in his presence.

30 But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:

31 That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.

James 2:5 King James Version

5 Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him?

1 Peter 2:9-10 King James Version

9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light;

10 Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.

Revelation 17:14 King James Version

14 These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful.

Chosen In The Old Testament

Deuteronomy 7:6-9 King James Version

6 For thou art an holy people unto the Lord thy God: the Lord thy God hath chosen thee to be a special people unto himself, above all people that are upon the face of the earth.

7 The Lord did not set his love upon you, nor choose you, because ye were more in number than any people; for ye were the fewest of all people:

8 But because the Lord loved you, and because he would keep the oath which he had sworn unto your fathers, hath the Lord brought you out with a mighty hand, and redeemed you out of the house of bondmen, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt.

9 Know therefore that the Lord thy God, he is God, the faithful God, which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love him and keep his commandments to a thousand generations;

2 Chronicles 6:6 King James Version

6 But I have chosen Jerusalem, that my name might be there; and have chosen David to be over my people Israel.

Proverbs 22:1 King James Version

22 A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favour rather than silver and gold.

Isaiah 48:10 King James Version

10 Behold, I have refined thee, but not with silver; I have chosen thee in the furnace of affliction.

Conclusion Of The Whole Matter

The word "chosen" occurs 119 times in the Bible and seems to be a theme that is spread equally across all the sections of the Bible.  91 of those occurrences are in the Old Testament while 28 are in the New Testament, which works out to 3.25 times as many occurrences in the OT.  This number is roughly equivalent to the number of chapters in each Testament (929 in the OT and 260 in the NT = 3.57).

For the most part, God does the choosing.  He chose a people (Israel & Christians), a city (Jerusalem), a king (David), and a savior (Jesus).  God's choice is based on humility.  He chooses the fewest of all people to be His, and He chooses the foolish, the weak, the base, and the poor to humble the proud.  However, Jesus did choose the Apostles, and we are expected to choose the good things rather than wealth.  

To be chosen is a good thing.  While even some evil are called to the banquet (Matthew 22:14), it is the good that are chosen to remain.  However, it is not enough to just remain chosen.  Revelation 17:14 gives us a warning that there is more than just being called and chosen.  

We have to remain faithful.

A Time To Speak

In 2009, we had finished the legal requirements of homeschooling our son.  My wife would now be free from the burden of the state and have some extra time on her hands.  I told my wife that she needed to stay productive and help our son decide what he wanted to do for a living and if he wanted to continue his education.  She said they would start a home-based business.  I was encouraged and helped by creating a website and an ebay account to get them started with online marketing.

I was fine with a gap year and giving them time to get a business up and running.  However, the gap year turned into the Triple Gap Years.  

During this time, the economy had tanked and we needed a little extra help financially.  I told my wife that she needed to get a job.  She refused.

A Time To Keep Silence

So, the relationship deteriorated.  I realized that I had chosen poorly.  Instead of a Proverbs 31 Wife, I had chosen a Proverbs 30 Woman.

The horseleach hath two daughters, crying, Give, give. There are three things that are never satisfied, yea, four things say not, It is enough:

Proverbs 30:15 King James Version

Although, in my case, she had four daughters crying:  "Give me rent!  Give me utilities!  Give me insurance!  Give me taxes!"

The idea of silence grew on me.  After all, I had enjoyed my choice to switch from talk to text.  In 2012, I shut off the landline and moved to an unlimited-talk cell phone for $35.  However, over the years, I realized that I liked text better.  So, now I have a $7 plan with unlimited text and 300 minutes of talk.  And I have a hard time using all those minutes.

Perhaps silence would bring balance to my wife's 4 Pillars of the Soul, in which I see her Spirit as lacking the most.  Perhaps not.  I knew there was the possibility that this tactic would make no difference.  However, after reading The Chosen, I realized that silence is to honor God and not another.  It may not help a son; it may not help a father; it may not help a wife; but it will help you.  Would you rather be in a marriage of silence or wrath?

It is better to dwell in a corner of the housetop, than with a brawling woman in a wide house.

Proverbs 21:9 King James Version

This verse is poignant in the fact that, over the same time as the switch to text, I have lost control of more rooms in the house.  Her hording has claimed 10 rooms while I have 4.  I get to use 28% of the space, and I get to pay 100% of bills.  

Since she wouldn't listen to me, I had to find someone to speak for me.  But who?

photo by Paul Anderson, 4/27/24

photo by Paul Anderson, 4/27/24

While Zoltar had good things to say about my future, I didn't think he would be persuasive with my wife.  Danny Saunders had another Jew, Reuven Malther, to speak to his father for him in the book The Chosen.  In fact, Reuven seemed to not only understand Judaism but also marriage:

"It tore man from God, as Danny put it, and married him off to Satan."

While I wouldn't go as far as saying that I am married to Satan, I could relate to Paul in his dealing with Hymenaeus and Alexander (1 Timothy 1:18-20), who he delivered unto Satan.

So, I figured I should choose someone with a similar spiritual perspective as me.  My son seemed like the best choice to be my Reuven.  I would deliver my wife to Satan and he would bring her back.

The words of wise men are heard in quiet more than the cry of him that ruleth among fools.

Ecclesiastes 9:17 King James Version

More Quotes from The Chosen

He wanted to read Freud. That had been his mistake. Freud had to be studied, not read.

______________________________________________________

...words are cruel, words play tricks, they distort what is in the heart, they conceal the heart, the heart speaks through silence.

119 Bible results for “chosen” from King James Version.

• Old Testament (91)
• Exodus (2)
• Numbers (1)
• Deuteronomy (6)
• Joshua (1)
• Judges (4)
• 1 Samuel (9)
• 2 Samuel (1)
• 1 Kings (7)
• 2 Kings (2)
• 1 Chronicles (9)
• 2 Chronicles (11)
• Nehemiah (1)
• Job (1)
• Psalm (13)
• Proverbs (2)
• Isaiah (12)
• Jeremiah (5)
• Ezekiel (1)
• Daniel (1)
• Haggai (1)
• Zechariah (1)
• New Testament (28)
• Matthew (3)
• Mark (1)
• Luke (2)
• John (4)
• Acts (7)
• Romans (1)
• 1 Corinthians (2)
• 2 Corinthians (1)
• Ephesians (1)
• 2 Thessalonians (1)
• 2 Timothy (1)
• James (1)
• 1 Peter (2)
• Revelation (1)

Scripture contributions for March 2024 by: Paul Anderson, Matthew Anderson

Hell

Synopsis

A review of and quotes from The Divine Comedy by Italian poet, writer, and philosopher Dante Alighieri (c. May 1265 – September 14, 1321)

• Paul:  Burn 🔥
• Matthew:  Burn 🔥

A review of and quotes from  No Country For Old Men by American writer Cormac McCarthy (July 20, 1933 – June 13, 2023)

• Paul:  Burn 🔥
• Matthew:  Burn 🔥

A Bible Study on Hell

Introduction

By Paul Anderson

I read a book in January called The Problem Of Pain by CS Lewis.  I enjoyed it very much.  At one place in the book, Lewis mentions that he dislikes the doctrine of Hell but understand the reality and necessity of it.  He goes on to mention the possibilities for the nature of Hell:  a place of punishment, a place of separation, or annihilation.

Our Lord speaks of Hell under three symbols: first, that of punishment (“everlasting punishment” Matt. xxv, 46); second, that of destruction (“fear Him who is able to destroy both body and soul

in Hell,” Matt. x, 28); and thirdly, that of privation, exclusion, or banishment into “the darkness outside”, as in the parables of the man without a wedding garment or of the wise and foolish virgins.

So, how is it that all these symbols accurately reflect the nature of Hell?

To answer this question, I started my journey with Dante's poem The Divine Comedy, begun around 1308 and completed just before his death in 1321.  It is divided into three parts: Inferno (Hell), Purgatorio (Purgatory), and Paradiso (Heaven).  I was going to just go through Hell, but I found that I had enough time to make it through Purgatory and even get to Heaven.

In the poem, the pilgrim Dante is accompanied by three guides.  His guide through Hell is the Roman poet, Virgil.  Since Virgil moved from Epicureanism to Stoicism, I decided to choose a guide that also has some Stoic predilections, my son.  However, it doesn't appear that you can go to Hell and back again (Luke 16:26), like Dante and his guide would have us believe.  So, for our journey through Hell, my son and I chose the next best thing:  hiking the Manitou Incline.

Photo by Paul Anderson © 2024

Dante's highway to Hell is a downward path that has 9 circles and a bottom level, where Lucifer resides.  So, it is an easy path to tread and is more similar to the Barr Trail return we took at step 1800.  Yes, we failed to summit the Incline (step 2768).  In my mind, we could hike all the steps, make the return trip, get to the car, and make our dinner reservations in 3 hours.  Reality hit me hard.

Everything is real in Hell.

The different circles of Hell represent different sins and the poetic justice used to punish those sins, similar to the story of Sisyphus, where he is forced to roll a boulder up a hill repeatedly for eternity.

"I learned that to this place of punishment

all those who sin in lust have been condemned,

those who make reason slave to appetite..."

Dante's path through Purgatory is the actual hard climb up a mountain, with 9 circles and a summit house called the Garden of Eden.  In this realm, the circles also represent sins.  However, it is not a place of eternal punishment, but rather one where a Christian can escape their circle through time and effort, like climbing a lot of steps.  

 "I was baptized; but secretly, through fear,

 Remain'd a Christian, and conform'd long time

 To Pagan rites. Four centuries and more,

 I, for that lukewarmness, was fain to pace

 Round the fourth circle."

Photo by Paul Anderson © 2024

While the word Purgatory is not mentioned in the Bible, the idea of a place where one could work off their sin does have some potential.  In the study on Spiritual Realms (https://acts512.blogspot.com/2022/06/spiritual-realms.html), we saw a number of places where the dead reside.  Two of these realms (Death and Sea) are mentioned as giving up their dead but not specified as to what the dead were doing there.

• Abraham's Bosom / Paradise / Third Heaven
• Grave or Sheol / Death
• Sea
• Hell or Hades
• Bottomless Pit
• Lake Of Fire / Everlasting Fire

In addition, the parable of the wedding banquet (Matthew 22:9-14) has both good and bad added to the kingdom of heaven and, only later, are the ones without the wedding garments removed to another spiritual realm.  So, the idea of being able to change realms is demonstrated in the Bible.  The question is, "Could this person have found a way to get the wedding garments once at the banquet?"  Of course, getting kicked out of Paradise is more likely than getting kicked out of Hell.  Hell has a no escape clause.

In the Spiritual Realms study, I thought Dante had nine spheres of Heaven:  Moon, Mercury, Venus, the Sun, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, the Fixed Stars, and the Primum Mobile.  However, it is more complicated than that.  Dante continues his theme of 9 levels with a final level, even in Heaven.  Topping them all is the Empyrean, similar to the Heaven of Heavens mentioned in the Bible, completing the 9-fold division to 10.  Having a translation of The Divine Comedy with editor's notes can help with understanding a very complicated poem.

With light so lively, that the tremulous beam

 Shall quiver where it falls. Within the heaven,[3]

 Where peace divine inhabits, circles round

 A body, in whose virtue lies the being

 Of all that it contains. The following Heaven,

 That hath so many lights, this being divides,

 Through different essences, from it distinct,

 And yet contain'd within it. The other orbs

 Their separate distinctions variously

 Dispose, for their own seed and produce apt.

 Thus do these organs of the world proceed,

 As thou beholdest now, from step to step;

 Their influences from above deriving,

 And thence transmitting downward. Mark me well;

 How through this passage to the truth I ford,

 The truth thou lovest; that thou henceforth, alone,

 Mayst know to keep the shallows, safe, untold.

  

 [3: According to our Poet's system, there are ten Heavens. The  Heaven, "where peace divine inhabits," is the empyrean; the body within it,  that "circles round," is the primum mobile; "the following Heaven," that of the fixed stars; and "the other orbs" the seven lower Heavens, are Saturn, Jupiter, Mars, the Sun, Venus, Mercury, and the Moon. Thus Milton, "Paradise Lost" b. iii. 481.]

 

Dante's ascent to Paradise is also an upward trajectory, with 9 spheres and a final stop at the Right Hand of God / Christ's Throne.  Rather than sin, the different spheres deal with different virtues.  Of course, much of Heaven is hard to describe, but it does appear that one of the virtues is playing chess. Well, at least there is a chessboard in Paradise (Canto 28).

Such was my cheer, when Beatrice drove

 With clear reply the shadows back, and truth

 Was manifested, as a star in Heaven.

 And when the words were ended, not unlike

 To iron in the furnace, every cirque,

 Ebullient, shot forth scintillating fires:

 And every sparkle shivering to new blaze,

 In number did outmillion the account

 Reduplicate upon the chequer'd board.

The fact that The Divine Comedy is poetry and translated from another language makes it tough to understand the details of Dante's work.  This is one of those books that has to be studied and not read.  So, I didn't get much out of it.  Burn 🔥. 

I guess I will have to turn to the Bible to finish my journey through Hell.

Here are my top 12 verses on Hell:

Jesus On Hell

Matthew 10:28 King James Version

28 And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.

Matthew 22:9-14 King James Version

9 Go ye therefore into the highways, and as many as ye shall find, bid to the marriage.

10 So those servants went out into the highways, and gathered together all as many as they found, both bad and good: and the wedding was furnished with guests.

11 And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment:

12 And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless.

13 Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness, there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

14 For many are called, but few are chosen.

Matthew 25:1-12 King James Version

1 Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom.

2 And five of them were wise, and five were foolish.

3 They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them:

4 But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.

5 While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept.

6 And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him.

7 Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps.

8 And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out.

9 But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves.

10 And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut.

11 Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us.

12 But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not.

Matthew 25:41-46 King James Version

41 Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:

42 For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink:

43 I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not.

44 Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee?

45 Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me.

46 And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.

Luke 13:28 King James Version

28 There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when ye shall see Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets, in the kingdom of God, and you yourselves thrust out.

Luke 16:22-31 King James Version

22 And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried;

23 And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.

24 And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.

25 But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented.

26 And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence.

27 Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father's house:

28 For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment.

29 Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.

30 And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent.

31 And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.

Hell In The New Testament

2 Thessalonians 1:6-9 King James Version

6 Seeing it is a righteous thing with God to recompense tribulation to them that trouble you;

7 And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels,

8 In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ:

9 Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power;

2 Peter 2:4 King James Version

4 For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment;

Revelation 20:14 King James Version

14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.

Hell In The Old Testament

Psalm 16:8-11 King James Version

8 I keep my eyes always on the Lord.

    With him at my right hand, I will not be shaken.

9 Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices;

    my body also will rest secure,

10 because you will not abandon me to the realm of the dead,

    nor will you let your faithful[a] one see decay.

11 You make known to me the path of life;

    you will fill me with joy in your presence,

    with eternal pleasures at your right hand.

Proverbs 15:11 King James Version

11 Hell and destruction are before the Lord: how much more then the hearts of the children of men?

Isaiah 66:22-24 King James Version

22 For as the new heavens and the new earth, which I will make, shall remain before me, saith the Lord, so shall your seed and your name remain.

23 And it shall come to pass, that from one new moon to another, and from one sabbath to another, shall all flesh come to worship before me, saith the Lord.

24 And they shall go forth, and look upon the carcases of the men that have transgressed against me: for their worm shall not die, neither shall their fire be quenched; and they shall be an abhorring unto all flesh.

Conclusion Of The Whole Matter

The other book I read this month was No Country For Old Men by Cormac McCarthy.  It is a very violent book, and it was turned into a motion picture that won the Best Picture Oscar for 2007.  I saw the movie first and was interested to see how the book compared.  This is another one of those books where the movie is better than the book (Catch-22).  Violence is just more impactful visually.  Also, the ending just sort of trails off.  I have no idea who survived and what happened to the money.  Burn 🔥. 

In any case, the book does deal with the themes of Hell and punishment:

"There was this boy I sent to the electric chair at Huntsville here awhile back, my arrest and my testimony. He killed a 14 year-old girl. Papers said it was a crime of passion but he told me there wasn't any passion to it. Told me that he'd been plannin' to kill somebody for about as long as he could remember. Said that if they turned him out, he'd do it again. Said he knew he was going to hell, be there in about fifteen minutes. I don't know what to make of that. I surely don't."

The idea that there should be a place where evil is punished seems to be understood by both believer and nonbeliever alike.  Even the villain, hitman Anton Chigurh, who kills everyone who stands in his way of getting back money from a drug deal gone wrong, understands the nature of God and punishes his "enemies" without mercy.

"Even a nonbeliever might find it useful to model himself after God. Very useful, in fact."

I used to think of Hell as "everlasting punishment" only.  I used to think of Hell as the opposite of Heaven.  Now, I see it a bit differently.  

There are verses that deal with punishment in Hell:

• Matthew 25:41-46
• Luke 16:22-31
• 2 Thessalonians 1:6-9

However, other verses have given me the idea that Hell is only temporary.  It is more of a dark prison for holding those evil souls until Judgment (2 Peter 2:4).  

There are verses that deal with darkness in Hell:

• Matthew 22:9-14
• Matthew 25:1-12
• Luke 13:28
• 2 Peter 2:4

And the opposite of Hell is not Heaven.  It is Paradise.  I like Dante's use of the words Inferno and Paradise.  Inferno is the temporary hold for evil while Paradise is the temporary hold for good.

I had thought about Hell as annihilation.  However, the verses about "everlasting punishment" seem to throw a wrench in that idea.  

There are verses that deal with annihilation in Hell:

• Matthew 10:28
• 2 Thessalonians 1:6-9
• Revelation 20:14
• Psalm 16:8-11
• Proverbs 15:11

Now, I see the annihilation is of Hell (Revelation 20:14).  The book of Revelation reveals a new idea about the end:  the Second Death.  The destruction of Hell at the Second Death will also destroy those in Hell, if they haven't been destroyed already.  And this Second Death is the final "everlasting punishment."

Since the Second Death is a lake of fire, I get the impression that instead of using an eternal flame for the fallen good, God will use an eternal flame as a memorial to the time when man had free will and  chose to rebel (Isaiah 66:22-24).

More Quotes from The Divine Comedy

Paradise: Canto 19 

Such frequent question; for thou said'st - 'A man

 Is born on Indus' banks, and none is there

 Who speaks of Christ, nor who doth read nor write;

 And all his inclinations and his acts,

 As far as human reason sees, are good;

 And he offendeth not in word or deed:

 But unbaptized he dies, and void of faith.

 Where is the justice that condemns him? where

 His blame, if he believeth not?' - What then,

 And who art thou, that on the stool wouldst sit

 To judge at distance of a thousand miles

 With the short - sighted vision of a span?

 To him, who subtilizes thus with me,

 There would assuredly be room for doubt

 Even to wonder, did not the safe word

 Of Scripture hold supreme authority.

54 Bible results for “hell” from King James Version.

• Old Testament (31)
• Deuteronomy (1)
• 2 Samuel (1)
• Job (2)
• Psalm (7)
• Proverbs (7)
• Isaiah (6)
• Ezekiel (4)
• Amos (1)
• Jonah (1)
• Habakkuk (1)
• New Testament (23)
• Matthew (9)
• Mark (3)
• Luke (3)
• Acts (2)
• James (1)
• 2 Peter (1)
• Revelation (4)

25 Bible results for “tribulation” from King James Version.

• Old Testament (4)
• Deuteronomy (1)
• Judges (1)
• 1 Samuel (2)
• New Testament (21)
• Matthew (3)
• Mark (1)
• John (1)
• Acts (1)
• Romans (4)
• 2 Corinthians (2)
• Ephesians (1)
• 1 Thessalonians (1)
• 2 Thessalonians (2)
• Revelation (5)

Scripture contributions for February 2024 by: Paul Anderson, Matthew Anderson