SUNDAY PSALMS PART 25 OF 48 - PSALM 115:1-3

Bald Eagles (obviously), Louisville Zoo

 1   Not unto us, O Lord, not unto us,
    But to Your name give glory,
    Because of Your mercy,
    Because of Your truth.
2   Why should the Gentiles say,
    "So where is their God?"
3   But our God is in heaven;
    He does whatever He pleases.
          Psalm 115:1-3, New King James Version

Just as obvious as the fact that the birds I pictured above are bald eagles, it should be obvious that 100% of the glory belongs to God and the remaining 0% belongs to us, on a good day - typically, less than that.

This is Old Testament. In the Jewish mindset, the Gentiles (aka the Nations) were the outsiders of the Kingdom of God. In the church age, the doors to the Kingdom opened wide to the Gentiles. So let's forget using this in context with a nationality but with those who have not asked God for permission to enter His Kingdom. 

Yes, God is still in heaven. Yes, He still does whatever He pleases. But it is our job to give God the glory so people will know He's in charge and not just a myth.

 

SUNDAY PSALMS PART 24 OF 48 - PSALM 113

International Learning Center, Rockville, Virginia

 1  Praise the LORD!
    Praise, O servants of the LORD,
    Praise the name of the LORD!
2  Blessed be the name of the LORD
    From this time forth and forevermore!
3  From the rising of the sun to its going down
    The LORD's name is to be praised.

4  The LORD is high above all nations,
    His glory above the heavens.
5  Who is like the LORD our God,
    Who dwells on high,
6  Who humbles Himself to behold
    The things that are in the heavens and in the earth?

7  He raises the poor out of the dust,
   And lifts the needy out of the ash heap,
8  That He may seat him with princes--
    With the princes of His people.
9  He grants the barren woman a home,
    Like a joyful mother of children. 

    Praise the LORD!
                        Psalm 113:1-9, New King James Version

Doesn't this Psalm make you want to praise God?

And do I really need to add anything? 

Praise Yahweh!

Oh, and happy Father's day!

 

MOVIE REVIEW - CITIZEN KANE

 

I first learned of "Citizen Kane" in a high school class, "American Humor and the Aescetics of Film." Since then, I started watching it three different times, and probably never got a fourth of the way through it.

You've probably heard it referred to as the greatest film made. After watching it, I won't argue. Director/star Orson Welles did an excellent job with directing, using atypical film angles and good music. One other stroke of genius was having a cast of unknowns. 

I've hear someone say that a lot of people admire the movie but not many actually like it. I can agree with that sentiment. To me, this movie is a tragedy, and reminds me of Lawrence Olivier's "Hamlet." 

Sometimes, seeing an older film/actor reminds me of a more contemporary thespian. This was true here - I could picture Robert Downey Jr. pulling the role off. There are parallels between Kane and Tony Stark.

While not a movie I'll probably rewatch, I think the movie is an excellent telling of "What does it profit if a man gains the whole world but forfeits his soul?" One of the character said that he was Kane's only friend, or maybe not, which meant Kane had no friends. One of Kane's weaknesses was self-love.

If you want to see a great work of art, see this. It is worth watching. 

MOVIE REVIEW - THE 7 CHURCHES OF REVELATION: TIMES OF FIRE

 

 

A friend told me about this video as I was preparing a study on the 7 churches of Revelation. I definitely included this film in.

"The 7 Churches of Revelation: Times of Fire" does an excellent job in dealing with Patmos, Ephesus, Smyrna, and Pergamos. Christophe Hanauer does an excellent job going through these communities as well as interviewing several scholars. This documentary not only looks at the Biblical text, but the history of those communities both before and after.

You may notice that I only listed the first three churches and the isle of John's exile. That's right. If you want to look at the remaining four churches, you'll need to get volume 2, "The 7 Churches of Revelation: Times of Deception." I'll admit, I feel gypped, because "Times of Fire" did not mention it the first volume. 

This does not change that this is a great video to watch. It does an excellent job of pointing out the persecution of the church, and makes the point that things haven't changed. 

I highly recommend this video. You can go to their website, https://7churches.com, if you want more information on both films. I'm surprised it's not available on Amazon.

By the way, I'm posting this the night I'm starting to lead a study on Revelation.

SUNDAY PSALMS PART 23 OF 48 - PSALM 111

 

White Handed Gibbon, Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Park

1    Praise the LORD!
    I will praise the Lord with my whole heart,
    In the assembly of the upright and in the congregation.
2   The works of the Lord are great,
    Studied by all who have pleasure in them.
3   His work is honorable and glorious,
    And His righteousness endures forever.
4   He has made His wonderful works to be remembered;
    The LORD is gracious and full of compassion.
5   He has given food to those who fear Him;
    He will ever be mindful of His covenant.
6   He has declared to His people the power of His works,
    In giving them the heritage of the nations.

7   The works of His hands are verity and justice;
    All His precepts are sure.
8   They stand fast forever and ever,
    And are done in truth and uprightness.
9   He has sent redemption to His people;
    He has commanded His covenant forever:
    Holy and awesome is His name.
10   The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom;
    A good understanding have all those who do His commandments.
    His praise endures forever.
                Psalm 111:1-10, New King James Version

Aren't all of God's works wonderful? When we look at creation, we're seeing God's handiwork. Sorry, but I don't believe nature can create itself - things work so well together there must be a Creator.

This Psalm also gives the character of the Creator. He provides our needs, and He stands for truth and justice. 

How can we do anything but to praise Him for all He's done?

PLEASE PRAY FOR THE SOUTHERN BAPTIST CONVENTION THIS WEEK. THEY NEED IT!!! (WHO DOESN'T?!)

Vision Beyond Borders Prayer Calendar, March 11, 2023

For those unaware, Sunday through Wednesday will be the annual Southern Baptist Convention.

I'll make this blog short: Pray for God to be glorified, and pray for boldness to stand for God's Word even when it's out of season. And pray that we Southern Baptists love one another as Christ loved us, which is how the world will know we're His disciples!

Thank you. 

One last note - I believe the Baptist Press will be a more reliable news source than the mainstream media. But then, that's not news.

 

HOLDING UP THE ARMS OF CHRISTIAN ARTISTS GROUP - AN UPDATE AND INVITATION

 

"Holding Up The Arms of Christian Artists", original art

Years ago, I was involved in a pair of groups. One was called "Jesus Music 1969-1989," and is a large group where the focus is on positive memories of Jesus Music and CCM. To keep it positive, there are topics that are taboo on that group, such as any controversies about artists. The second group, "Discussion Board for Jesus Music 1969-1989" was formed to allow discussion of the issues that weren't allowed in the first group.

During that time, I decided to start a group focused on praying for artists. I forget the exact first name, but I called it a prayer board for Jesus Music 1969-1989, focused on praying for the artists of that era. Years later, I took off the time focus and made it for all Christian musicians, regardless of genre or time frame.

Well, I just recently decided to try to get it more active. A couple of days later, one of my novelist friends wasn't feeling well, so I decided to post prayer for her. This inspired me to extend the focus to include novelists, visual artists, cartoonists, etc. This was accompanied with another name change, and the group is now "Holding Up The Arms of Christian Artists." 

One thing that hasn't changed - the artwork I did for the group, which you see above. You may be familiar with the battle with Amalek in Exodus 17, where Joshua led the children of Israel against their enemies who attacked the rear ranks after they escaped Pharaoh and crossed the red sea. Moses, accompanied with his brother Aaron and Hur (some think he's Miriam's husband) to the mountain top. When Moses raised his arms with the rod, Israel prevailed, but when his arms lowered, the bad guys had the upper hand. So Aaron and Hur got a rock, had Moses sit on it, and they held Moses' arms up until the Amalekites were defeated.

If you don't know I have a heart for Christians in the arts, you haven't been paying attention to my reviews and interviews. This Facebook group is dedicated to praying for artists.

Would you like to join me? The link for the group is below.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/1906415342732790

SUNDAY PSALMS PART 22 OF 48 - PSALM 94:20

 

Burns Development, Lawrence, IN, near Fort Benjamin State Park

 Shall the throne of iniquity, which devises evil by law,
Have fellowship with You?
                    Psalm 94:20, New King James Version

 How many of you are familiar with this passage? What do you think of the concept of evil being devised by law? 

I know many who would say that Democrats are good at devising evil by law, such as the increase of ground gained by the LGBTQ lobby and the efforts to keep abortion legal. And those who disagree with my friends, remember that your disagreement with them doesn't mean my friends are wrong.

But before you put the black hat on the donkey and look for a white hat big enough to put on an elephant, can you make an argument that the GOP sometimes does the same thing in different ways? Do we allow for tax loopholes that make the rich richer? Is it moral to send our young people to a foreign country for the purpose of killing them? Is it just wishful thinking to think our party is really any more godly than the other?

You don't have to go far back to see examples of this both on the right side and on the left side. The former are the Nazis, the latter are the Communists. Millions of Christians have been persecuted and even killed because of the godly edicts of these two terrorist ideologies.

Of course, there are some that believe the greatest villain in Church History is Constantine, allowing the formerly persecuted Christians to become corrupted by being a favored lobby of the government. And that hasn't changed - there are believers of both parties who put trust in that anointed party to usher in their ideas of morality.

What's the point of today's post? Be watchful. Discern what is good of any view and what isn't. Realize that God can use the party you oppose, and also that the party you support is capable of rebelliously opposing the true Sovereign of the world.

Another point, which is harder to answer. Is it better to be a law abiding citizen of an evil government or a law breaker in a country that has breaking God's law part of its constitution? And are we called to stand up against a godless nation?