Wednesday Bible Study: Hell part 1

 

A couple weeks ago, we looked at the almost-heaven set up of the Millenium.  Now, I want to sart looking at the other side of the coin.

I know there are a few statements that will come with this, starting with, "Is there really such a place as Hell?" Well, Jesus in the Gospels talked about it more than He did of Heaven- at least 70 times He referred to "Gehenna", "the Outer Darkness", and other names for the same thing.  Another is, "Is there really a Devil?"  Not only did Jesus quote Scripture TO Satan, but think on this- almost every religion has some form of ultimate evil.  Iblis in Islam, Ahriman in Zoroastrianism, Mara in Buddhism, the Rakshasas in Hinduism.  If you believe in God, you believe in a Satan.  Of course, "our" Satan is described throughout the Bible, with his 'origin story' being told in Ezekiel 28:12-19.

Perhaps the most problematic question is, "How can a loving God condemn people to Hell, or even make such a place?"  Here's your answer.  If you believe that there is a Devil, Satan, you know what he has done through the ages.  From the first murder of Abel, to the monstrous genocides of men like Tamerlane, Stalin, Hitler, and Mao, to the rapes performed on little children by pedophiles, every one of these things had a beginning in the imaginings of Satan.  So you say to yourself, "This is a beast that warrants a punishment beyond time, a pain beyond comprehension."  Now here is the thing- every being on earth is given a choice by a loving God who won't force the choice on anyone- choose him, or follow Satan.  And if you choose to follow Satan, You follow him where he goes.  Yes, the staggering punishment is meant for the beast that brought us into every sin- But you followed him there.

So very quickly, we have established there is a Hell, there is a Satan, and why a Loving God made both.  Wait a minute, "why he made BOTH?"  Yes, because of LOVE.

Do you love a robot?  A being that has no choice but to do what you want it to?  (Perhaps an "inflatable sex partner" would be a better analogy, but...)  Wouldn't you rather have someone to love who chooses to love you back?  Of course you would, if you're not a sociopath.  SO WOULD GOD.  So every being He ever made was given that choice.  And the grandest being He ever made, made the wrong choice...

Eze 28:12  “Son of man, raise a lamentation over the king of Tyre, and say to him, Thus says the Lord GOD: “You were the signet of perfection, full of wisdom and perfect in beauty. 

Eze 28:13  You were in Eden, the garden of God; every precious stone was your covering, sardius, topaz, and diamond, beryl, onyx, and jasper, sapphire, emerald, and carbuncle; and crafted in gold were your settings and your engravings. On the day that you were created they were prepared. 

Eze 28:14  You were an anointed guardian cherub. I placed you; you were on the holy mountain of God; in the midst of the stones of fire you walked. 

Eze 28:15  You were blameless in your ways from the day you were created, till unrighteousness was found in you. 

...and now, the potential for everyone to make the wrong choice was there.  Remember, I said, "potential."  No one forced Adam to sin...

Gen 3:5  For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” 

Gen 3:6  So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate. 

If Adam and Eve had made the right choice, they (and prospectively, we) would have been immortal, unable to age or die, always pleasing to Our Lord.  But another thing to remember- Adam WAS all those things.  He was, quite simply, the best of us.  If he fell, we would have also, eventually.

So why make us so weak?  God is like us in that He wants to be WANTED, He wants to be NEEDED.  Look again at the passage from Ezekiel.  Lucifer (the devil's name at first) was created PERFECT.  Perfection became a reason, in his mind, NOT to need God.  We were made weak so Christ could show his strength IN us.  Lack of perfection should have driven us TO God...  but thanks to Satan's lies, we sought perfection (look at Genesis 3:5 again) instead.

God doesn't mind if we're weak.  He minds that He is NEEDED.

A few Pictures more

 Because everybody likes posts they don't have to work at after a hard days work, here are some pictures:

Bright Saturday Morning

Hmm... an event incoming...

It's the Grote truck!  That means it's the annual car show.

Milkweeds busting open

The Breakfast Club

Lots of people out

The Swamp is completely dessicated

Misty senses varmintage

River is Waaaay down

Just as the cranes like it

Misty missed the critter, I missed the shot

"And you all can miss me..."

Found a tennis ball way up on the cricket field

Misty looking for what just went splash

I will note here that Grote had the music turned up so loud, a quarter mile away through trees and buildings, I kept looking for the car with its bass up too high going past.

Then a small sample of Sunday pics...

Painting our buildings... I'll show you the finished results later.

Almost another three feet the river went down

No, this isn't what they've been throwing on the WNBA courts- just a slightly damaged doggie toy

Pictures

 I would have had some yesterday but my batteries were both dead, and the charger was having a maladjustment of some sort.  Yesterday, you say?  Why weren't you at work?  Well, I was- for a quarter-day.  You see, my part of the job was on a week from Monday ( and that working most of the week solo!), and the sewers had much of next week wrapped up.  Oh, and, we just lost our second big customer in about 6 months.  Why?  It's like this:  When we were an independant company, we searched and worked on innovations.  Innovations keep you growing.  But once we got bought out by the big bucks, the Biden economy and the bottom dollar pared things down to the point that the innovators were gone, replaced by the ones valiantly trying just to maintain the status quo.  Specific to this instance, we were making boat covers (because that's what we do) for a client of which the attachment mechanisms were causing scratches on the boat.  Instead of changing the system to another type (and all the re-design that would entail), we kept trying- and failing- to build the system better.  The customer got tired of design not taking the hint, so they ordered one last stock-up order and said, "See ya later."

So after 1st break, I was chatting with the boss, where he told me the bad news, lamented that, "When you hit a downturn, what you need to do is focus on innovation to keep customers, and if the downturn persists, then downsize", which our big bosses don't do.  They own enough other companies in our genre that they basically tell everyone, "sink or swim", without so much as providing swim trunks.

Okay, rant over, pictures up.

At least it's another Bright Blue Day...

Mrs Cardinal, one of many who greeted us this morning

My attempt to snap Una Paloma Blanca

Good morning, Big Guy

Nothing says 'severe drought' like cracks in a stone path

Colors coming in

Setting up for cricket day, from the south ridge.  The fans were coming across the PFW bridge when we got there.

I would have had a better shot at the flock, but my camera's auto shut-off kicked in just as they went overhead.

Misty valiantly looking for froggies, but no luck

Ducks in the foreground, geese in the back

Sharing her dip with a slime coated beer bottle

This guy really chewed us out!

Wednesday Bible study: The state of theology survey

 

This is going to be an unconventional "Bible study"; I was just looking at a survey by Ligonier Ministries on what supposed Christians believe about their faith.  The answers- and the lack of understanding OF that faith- were shocking.

- "Everyone is born innocent in the eyes of God."  64% of evangelicals believe this is true.

So the first passage these people missed:

Psa 51:4  Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight, so that you may be justified in your words and blameless in your judgment. 

Psa 51:5  Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me. 

And another:

Rom 3:9  What then? Are we Jews any better off? No, not at all. For we have already charged that all, both Jews and Greeks, are under sin, 

Rom 3:10  as it is written: “None is righteous, no, not one; 

Rom 3:11  no one understands; no one seeks for God. 

Rom 3:12  All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one.” 

- "Everyone sins a little, but most people are good by nature."  53%.  So say most liberals. But...

Rom 7:18  For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out. 

Rom 7:19  For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing. 

- "The Holy Spirit is a force but is not a personal being." 53% again.

This ain't Star Wars, people.  

Joh 14:16  And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, 

Joh 14:17  even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you. 

A force isn't a "him".

- "There is one true God in three persons: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit."

Well, they got one right- 98% agree.  But this one draws us 2 conclusions.  One, who are the one percent that disagree, and why?  Two, a minimum of 52% claim they believe God is in 3 PERSONS, but don't believe the Spirit IS a person...  Kinda sets in doubt whether they really consider what they believe at all.

- "God accepts the worship of all religions, including Christianity, Judaism, and Islam."

At least this fallacy isn't a majority- but at 47%, it might as well be.

Joh 14:5  Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” 

Joh 14:6  Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. 

Gal 1:8  But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed. 

Gal 1:9  As we have said before, so now I say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be accursed. 

- "The Bible is the highest authority for what I believe." 100% said they agree with this- but somewhere between 47-64% of them are either lying or have no idea what is in the Bible.

Mat 12:36  I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak, 

Mat 12:37  for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.” 

- "God loves all people the same way."  94% go along with this warm fuzzy thought.  But once again:

Psa 147:10  His delight is not in the strength of the horse, nor his pleasure in the legs of a man, 

Psa 147:11  but the LORD takes pleasure in those who fear him, in those who hope in his steadfast love. 

Rom 9:14  What shall we say then? Is there injustice on God's part? By no means! 

Rom 9:15  For he says to Moses, “I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.” 

Rom 9:16  So then it depends not on human will or exertion, but on God, who has mercy. 

Rom 9:17  For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, “For this very purpose I have raised you up, that I might show my power in you, and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth.” 

Rom 9:18  So then he has mercy on whomever he wills, and he hardens whomever he wills. 

- "God created marriage to be between one man and one woman." This is a direct quote from Genesis 2, yet 35% find a reason to disagree with it.

Now maybe you see why I do what I do, and why I tell you to READ your Bible! You cannot do faith by, "I don' need no steenking directions, I'll figure it out!"  I know some of you might tell me, "It isn't as complicated as you're making it.  Doesn't the Bible also say:

Mic 6:8  He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God? 

To which I say, yes exactly.  But walking WITH your God means you have to go the same way HE is- He's NOT going to follow YOU.  Justice means HIS just verdict- and that means it's HIS way.  And yes, it's great to be kind- but how kind are you being when your acceptance or approval allows someone you love to go to Hell?

Martin World News

 

Not a very good day to try and find humor off the news, what with 2 mass shootings by 2 former military, but you have to try and find the humor in life, so...

Fox News- Money can't buy happiness

Headline: Mets fall out of playoff contention on final day of season, completing awful collapse

 I share this one with a bit of delight, as their collapse put my Cincinnati Reds into the playoffs (for a game or two, anyway.  The Mets, howver, aren't smiling after losing on the last day of the season to a team with a losing record.  Why the long faces?

New York came into the 2025 season with the second-highest total payroll – more than $341 million – and the second-highest active roster payroll with $266.6 million, according to Spotrac. Soto came over to the Mets from the New York Yankees on a 15-year deal reportedly worth $765 million.

My son informs me that one of their most consistant players has opted out of the last year of his deal.  Put it in perspective:  My low budget Reds had the same amount of wins as the Mets (but beat them out because they won their games with the Mets).  The Reds make the playoffs having spent about $1.4 million per win.  The Mets go home, having spent $341 million for each of their 83 wins.

The Mets had an eight-game losing streak at the worst time, starting with a series against the Reds and continuing through the Philadelphia Phillies and Texas Rangers matchups. The team bounced back against the San Diego Padres and then dropped two of three against the Washington Nationals.

The series against the Marlins was crucial, but New York was only able to pull out one win out of the three games. New York was 11-17 in August and finished 10-15 in September.

Ouch.

X- Do they ever stop their lying?

No headline here, just a story.  Last weekend, tennis pro Serena Williams complained that she was "triggered" by a display that had cotton bolls on it, as it was a symbol of slavery.

However, fans recalled she had JUST such a display IN HER OWN HOME.

 Could we just once, have a liberal that makes the news (other than Bill Maher and John Fetterman) that DOESN't lie through their teeth at every opportunity?

BBC- Now where did we put him?

Headline: How England misplaced its first king

This is actually a very imformative article about Æthelstan, who united England for the first time back in 925 AD, and how he was forgotten by people mainly because his kingdom did not outlive him.  However, I just wonder how many Englanders would like to forget the CURRENT king? (Note:  He currently has a 59% popularity rating, not bad but ranking him 4th most popular royal.

"I say, Let us see how YOU top 59%..."

Moscow Times- Oh, like you guys don't do cut-rate versions

Headline: Russia's Eurovision Rip-Off Exposes Kremlin's Delusions of Cultural Grandeur

So Russia, who is no longer invited to Eurovision, had it's own contest alleging to feature acts around the world, called Intervision.  The article was a lengthy opinion piece, so let me sort through the highlights.

-The USA was "invited to participate", but...

Things also went awry with the United States — Russia’s tactical trump card in this whole story. First, Brandon Howard, known mostly for speculation about his possible kinship with Michael Jackson, refused to come. He helpfully announced that Vassy — the Greek-Australian singer Vassiliki Karagiorgos — would perform instead. But after the Australian authorities sent her an “official note” as a citizen of that country, Plan B also fell through.

Which, speculated some, was a good thing, as Vassy is well known to be in LGBTQ circles, which is legally verboten In Russia.  Stay tuned for more on that one.

-And about this "worldwide" thing:

The geographic scatter of participants provoked grand statements. For example, TV host Yana Churikova said two hours before the show that the “whole planet Earth” was represented, to which host Dmitry Borisov happily confirmed: “Twenty countries!” There were actually 22 participants, once the United States dropped out. Incidentally, from hostile Europe, only three out of a possible 44 countries took part in Intervision. Out of 35 countries in the Americas, four participated. Africa also sent four, while Asia provided an impressive nine, including the eternal vassals of the former U.S.S.R., supplying the desired sense of closeness.

- Of course, the Russians were supposed to win, but...

The main object of the carefully staged comment was, without question, a man with the militaristic surname Dronov, better known by his stage name Shaman. 

The problem was that many of the contestants turned out to be decent performers and bright professionals. Even though most of them sang either dreary pop or sanitized tourist-style folk, it was obvious that they outcompeted the so-called singer Shaman. So what did he do? He put forward a pompous and, in fact, deeply insulting display by asking the jury not to score his performance. “By the laws of hospitality,” he was obliged to yield victory to Russia’s guests. After all, Russia had “already won” simply by hosting the contest.

- So who did win?  Not the one the government would have liked....

What can one say, when the winner of a contest in the land of “traditional values” turns out to be a young, openly gay Vietnamese man in a dress? Duc Phuc even bonded with the Belarusian entrant, Nastya Kravchenko, gifting her a Vietnamese hat with her portrait on it (though he gave similar gifts to every contestant). The Vietnamese, it seems, did their homework and charmed everyone in the room. And before the jury knew it, Phuc was on the winner’s pedestal — when really, in the eyes of pro-war patriots, he belongs behind bars!

And no, I'm not going to speculate on how to pronounce, Duc Phuc.

Xinhua:  The world's WHAT??

Headline: Marriage registration service station set up as world's highest bridge inaugurated in Guizhou, SW China

Okay, so the Chinese just inaugurated the world's highest bridge,  the Huajiang Grand Canyon Bridge in Zhenfeng County, southwest China's Guizhou Province.  And a marriage registration station was set up nearby, so the prospective couples could then cross the bridge into a new life.

Spanning the Huajiang Grand Canyon, dubbed "the Earth's crack," the 2,890-meter-long structure is the latest addition to the rapidly expanding infrastructure network of the world's second-largest economy.

grok's idea of Earth with a butt crack

Well, I'm not pressing my luck any farther tonight...

Never post when you're drinking

 I am listening (at last) to my shuffle to figure out my top 15.  Normally this is done Wednesday-Thursday, but you know my motivation these days.  But I'm a little tired of the political back-n-forth on SM, Laurie is at a play with her crew, and KC is dealing with the kids and a night (last night) with no sleep, so it's just me at Bob's Bar.  

Tonight's Oktoberfest lineup.  The Rocktoberfest wasn't great.  The Hofbrau seems only slightly better.

In the meantime, I'm keeping track of football, hockey, and jai alai for all I know.  So I thought I'd share my thoughts as I listen to the shuffle.

So far, I've got Redspencer's Blue Horizon looking like a top ten, Amira Elfecky's Hold Onto Me a step or two back, Three Days Grace with Another Relapse trailing the pack, the jazzy sounds of El Michaels Affair and Open Season fading into the rock of White Reaper's Blink.  Sorry for no links, but beer will increse my incompetence as the night goes on and I don't want to accidentally share Michael Bolton or Michael Bubbly (Buble).  Blink will probably have to marinate for another  week or two, and Open Season is just something to break up the rest.

Despite the "drink by" date of Memorial weekend next year, the HofBrau has a skunk funk to it;  But I wanted to be a 'good boy' this weekend.  Last night I got regaled with tales of my misadventures last Friday, from which my memory checked out after deciding that sad songs required whiskey.  Sliding Just Two Girls by Wolf Alice just under Blue Horizon; I'm guessing upper reaches of the bottom five.  We are currently dealing with a 31-song shuffle.  Now we have Blue October with Hot Stuff, I think it's aiming for the "just missed" category, but darned if it isn't catchy!  I look over and my #3 team, the Tennessee Vols, are just doing the coin flip for Overtime, tied at 34.

Just so you don't think I'm making up names, Hot Stuff sits at #24 on the Radiowavemonitor (remember RWM, because I'm not typing that all out again) Alt chart.  However, I do end up with my shuffle getting "adulterated" that KC plays me when I'm drunk- one's playing right now, and it will be leaving the building in a minute.

Tennessee wins in OT.  Now I can go into "passive sports mode".

Next up is Geowulf and Champagne.  You (if you follow my music stuff) know Geowulf is a major player on the M10, and just landed their (her) last song at #4 all time.  This one takes the top spot at this early point.  .38 Special put out a 50th anniversary lp a few weeks back, and last week I got hold of the latest single, So Much So Right, and it has a chance at the 10 at this point!

Betty by AJR is on now.  It's in the 'on the way down' pile here, but sits at #30 on RWM's Alt chart.  Followed after an ad by Whitney's Dandelions, which is winding it's way up the top all time list.  Probably falling this week, but still ahead of the rest of the 'so fars'.  This is a very hooky song, and the hook brings me back, right, John Popper?

I seem to remember saying that...

Jason Aldean brings some C&W with How Far Does a Goodbye Go... it's kind of in that limbo "heart says yes, ear says maybe" area.  It debuted at 79 on the RWM C&W chart.  Next up is new stuff by soul act St Paul and the Broken Bones.  Another "needs time to gestate" entry.  We're just shy of halfway through the list- and, unfortunately, this skunky HofBrau.

Next up was a Bad Company redux of their eponymous single, but in a slightly country style with new lead singer Charlie Crockett- interesting but another "more weeks needed".  In the meantime, I'm testing out new Our Lady Peace I haven't heard yet, called Sound The Alarm.  One of those few bands I've seen live, and one of the best times during one of the worst seasons of my life.  This isn't a lot like them to me, but they can stay on the list at least another week.  Next up is a super combo for me, superstars Melody's Echo Chamber, backed by the El Michaels Affair, with Daisy, which is already in the 10. (Actually, it wasn't, but I don't look at last week's list while listening to make it fair.) Warning, Debbie D, this is NOT your style!

Next up is the Black Keys' psychadelic Weight Of Love.  Maybe top dog this week, we'll see.

Among the many ways I entertain myself is keeping track of all the Indiana college football teams.  Right now, Trine (which was hopelessly behind in the first half, but rallied) just went up 3 with less than a minute left.  The minor games have been hugely more entertaining than the network games...

Next up is The Joy Formidable (more up Debbie's taste) with Make The Sign.  This might be the surprise of the night.  Then almost monday with Jupiter, which to me has an 80's New Wave feel.  Then top ten Soviet Space Dogs with I Don't Care.  And with that, the skunk beer is gone and my last hope is up, the Weihenstephaner!

(At least it don't smell skunky!)

While I took and downloaded the pic ( and tried to figure out why it also added 2 more pics of John Popper),  the shuffle hit AJR with A Dog Song.  It may sound silly, but trust me it's flat heartbreaking.

Next is another "does it stay or go" from last week- Aerosmith and Yungblud with My Only Angel.

Okay, this beer is more what an Oktoberfest SHOULD be.  I'm happy now.  And now, Envy Of None and The Story!  High top ten.  Seven songs left.  First is Cafune with The Moment, and I'd just like to say that the keyboard has ignored my hitting shift on EVERY capital C.  Then Bush and 60 Ways To Forget People.  Hmm, I guess it's going to switch to ignoring Ps and adding v's.

I discovered Big Thief through discovering Buck Meek, who I discovered through illuminati hotties... Their latest lp has been a disappointment until I hit the latest single, How Could I Have Known.  Possibly a big one coming here.

Football has degenned into "I guess I should check the scores",  I think Laurie might be home.  The queue is down to four, and Redspencer's This Is The Day is playing.  I think perhaps I take my finger off the shift before I hit the letter all the way, or perhaps my brain isn't quite hitting all cylinders.  You be the judge.

All three songs left are top tens as of last week.  First is Florence + the Machine's Everybody Scream.  It sits at 3 on the College chart and 17 on Alt.  The Beths are next with Straight Line Was A Lie.  The "prospective ten" list is getting crowded.  I think the idea Laurie was home was premature.  Last up is again St Paul and the Broken Bones with Call Me.

A moment please, for the results.  And for the first time, you get all 15!

15- Big Thief, How Could I Have Known (new this week)

14- Wolf Alice, Just To Girls (new this week)

13- Melody's Echo Chamber/El Michaels Affair, Daisy (down 2, that happens in the bottom five)

12- almost monday, Jupiter (up 3)

11- Redspencer, Blue Horizon (up 2)

10- St Paul and the Broken Bones, Call Me (down 1)

9- The Beths, Straight Line Was A Lie (down 3)

8- Geowulf, Champagne (up 4)

7- Soviet Space Dogs, I Don't Care (up 3)

6- Whitney, Dandelions, which moves into tie for 7th all time (down 4)

5- Bush, 60 Ways To Forget People (up 2)

4- Envy Of None, The Story (up 1)

3- Redspencer, This Is The Day, now #5 all time (down 2)

2- Florence + The Machine, Everybody Scream (up 2) 

1- Black Keys, Weight Of Love (up 2).

Thank you all for following me on my journey.  Back to football and political bitching now...