DANIEL CHAPTER ONE

[jamesp]

How many times was Jerusalem destroy?

During its long history, Jerusalem has been destroyed twice, besieged 23 times, attacked 52 times, and captured and recaptured 44 times.


Timeline of Jerusalem - Wikipedia

https://en.wikipedia.org › wiki › Timeline_of_Jerusalem

________________________________________________________________________________

Who destroyed Jerusalem first?

On Tisha B'Av, 25 August 587 BCE or 18 July 586 BCE, the Babylonians took Jerusalem, destroyed the First Temple and burned down the city. The small settlements surrounding the city, and those close to the western border of the kingdom, were destroyed as well.



Siege of Jerusalem (587 BC) - Wikipedia

https://en.wikipedia.org › wiki › Siege_of_Jerusalem_(58.


________________________________________________________________________________


Josephus wrote that 1.1 million people were killed during the siege, of which a majority were Jewish. Josephus attributes this to the celebration of Passover which he uses as rationale for the vast number of people present among the death toll.


Siege of Jerusalem (70 CE) - Wikipedia

https://en.wikipedia.org › wiki › Siege_of_Jerusalem_(70…

The Babylonian exile (or Babylonian captivity) is the name generally given to the deportation and exile of the Jews of the ancient Kingdom of Judah to Babylon by Nebuchadrezzar II. The Babylonian exile is distinguished from the earlier exile of citizens of the northern Kingdom of Israel to Assyria around 722 B.C.E. The exile in Babylon—which directly affected mainly those of the upper class of society—occurred in three waves from 597 to 581 B.C.E. as a result of Judean rebellions against Babylonian rule. The Bible portrays the internal cause of the captivity as the sins of Judah in failing to rid herself of idolatry and refusing to heed prophetic warnings not to rebel against Babylon.


While the Jews in Babylon did not suffer greatly in the physical sense, the siege and later sack of Jerusalem in 586 B.C.E., including the destruction of its sacred Temple, left many of the exiles deeply repentant and determined to keep their faith pure. After Cyrus the Great of Persia conquered Babylon, he allowed the exiles to return in 537 B.C.E. They came to Jerusalem with a tradition refined by the rise of the scribal profession, deeply committed to ethnic purity centering on the rebuilt Temple, and yet enriched by universalistic monotheistic values.

https://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Babylonian_Exile

- I don’t find figures for the first destruction of Jerusalem!

- But a big part of the city was destroyed!

- And the siege lasted two years!

In 586 BC the Babylonian military, led by King Nebuchadnezzar, succeeded in breaking a two-year-long siege and destroyed much of the city of Jerusalem; her walls, palaces, and most devastatingly, the Temple of Solomon.

“He burned the Lord’s temple, the king’s palace, and all the houses of Jerusalem; he burned down all the great houses.”

When Judah rebelled once again under King Zedekiah, Nebuchadnezzar must not have been feeling very charitable. The Bible mentions that the siege lasted two years. This military maneuver sees the invading army set up camp all around the target city, cutting off supply lines, and killing or taking prisoner anyone who would try to come or go.

https://biblediscoverytv.com/history/2020/586-bc-the-fall-of-jerusalem/

A sincere and/or real fear of God must have never existed in the hearts of most of those living in Jerusalem.
Destroyed twice, besieged 23 times, attacked 52 times, captured/recaptured 44 times ? Consider present status.
Lack of fear of the Lord is and has been man's shortcoming since his creation beginning in the Garden of Eden.
Fear is a powerful emotion and critical to understanding scripture and understanding and maintaining obedience.

"After preaching a sermon on the necessity of the fear of God in public worship, a friend reminded me, “If you want a nail driven in, you have to hit it more than once.” With that in mind I set about a survey of the Bible’s teaching and found forty truths about fearing God to help hammer in the nail. Brief expositions of some of these verses can be found in Pastor Al Martin’s The Forgotten Fear: Where have all the God-Fearers Gone? (RHB) and Arnold Frank’s The Fear Of God: A Forgotten Doctrine (RHB).

Old Testament

Fearing God is the right reaction to sin, guilt, and shame (Gen. 3:10).

Fearing God will flow from being in the presence of God (Gen. 28:16-17: Ex. 3:6).

Fearing God is an appropriate response to God’s character (Gen. 31:42).

Fearing God is an essential characteristic of Christian leaders (Ex.18:21).

Fearing God is the ultimate purpose of divine revelation (Deut. 4:10).

Fearing God should flow from the administration of justice (Deut. 17:13; 21:19-21).

Fearing God is the mark of an exceptional believer (Neh. 7:2).

Fearing God is approved by God and noted by Satan (Job 1:1, 9).

Fearing God is the right response to the exalted Christ (Ps.2:10-11).

Fearing God is to be mixed with joy (Ps. 2:10-11).

Fearing God will happen where mission is successful (Ps. 67:7).

Fearing God assures us of God’s mercy and love (Ps. 103:11, 13).

Fearing God is the result of forgiveness (Ps. 130:4).

Fearing God is the beginning of wisdom (Prov. 1:7).

Fearing God is the end of wisdom (Eccl. 12:13-14).

Fearing God turns us away from evil (Prov. 3:7).

Fearing God will extend your life (Prov. 10:27) and improve the quality of your life (Prov. 14:27).

Fearing God will make you happier than millions of dollars (Prov. 15:16).

Fearing God neutralizes envy and is to be present throughout our lives (Prov. 23:17).

Fearing God is more important than looks in choosing a wife (Prov. 31:30).

Fearing God is a dominant trait in the Messiah and will always accompany the work of the Holy Spirit (Isa. 11:2-3).

Fearing God is the promised gift of God to new covenant believers (Jer. 32:40).

Fearing God helps them persevere in the faith (Jer. 32:40).

New Testament

Fearing God is commanded by Jesus (Matt. 10:28).

Fearing God is still expected of God’s people in the New Testament (Luke 1:49-50).

Fearing God grows in response to miracles (Luke 5:8).

Fearing God was one of the fruits of Pentecost (Acts 2:43).

Fearing God is a spiritually healthy reaction to his judgments in the church (Acts 5:5,11).

Fearing God is a mark of the New Testament church and is consistent with the comforting work of the Holy Spirit (Acts 9:31).

Fearing God is deepened by sovereign election (Rom. 11:20-21).

Fearing God is a motive for evangelism (2 Cor. 5:10-11).

Fearing God motivates sanctification (2 Cor. 7:1).

Fearing God is the framework for a biblical marriage (Eph. 5:21).

Fearing God makes us better employees (Col. 3:22).

Fearing God is the context for working out our salvation (Phil. 2:12-13).

Fearing God assists perseverance in faith (Heb. 4:1).

Fearing God is intensified by redemption and continues throughout our whole lives (1 Peter 1:17-19).

Fearing God is an essential part of successful witnessing (1 Peter 3:15).

Fearing God is God’s last sermon to the world (Rev. 14:6-7).

Fearing God continues into eternity (Rev. 15:3-4; 19:4-5).

https://headhearthand.org/blog/2017/09/05/40-truths-about-the-fear-of-god/#:~:text=Fearing God is the context for working out,continues throughout our whole lives (1 Peter 1:17-19). "

 

[JLG]

- Yes, Yes, Yes!
- I would add a positive fear that can help us move mountains!

 

[jamesp]

Interesting point. As the fear mentioned by God is seriously positive fear.

Had Adam and Eve had the fear of the Lord this world would be a very different world ! One day the earth will be restored back to the Edenic world and the lamb will sleep with the lion and we will not have to survive by the sweat of our brow.

Interesting, God told Daniel not to fear because God knew that Daniel had his heart dedicated to understanding and humility. It seems that God had a very special relationship and great trust in Daniel. Likewise, Daniel had great faith and trust in God.

Ha, I must maintain a fear of the Lord to maintain a good standing with the Lord. Rebellion is such a powerful curse.

New King James Version
Then he said to me, “Do not fear, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your heart to understand, and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard; and I have come because of your words.

 

[JLG]

Interesting point. As the fear mentioned by God is seriously positive fear.

Had Adam and Eve had the fear of the Lord this world would be a very different world ! One day the earth will be restored back to the Edenic world and the lamb will sleep with the lion and we will not have to survive by the sweat of our brow.

Interesting, God told Daniel not to fear because God knew that Daniel had his heart dedicated to understanding and humility. It seems that God had a very special relationship and great trust in Daniel. Likewise, Daniel had great faith and trust in God.

Ha, I must maintain a fear of the Lord to maintain a good standing with the Lord. Rebellion is such a powerful curse.

New King James Version
Then he said to me, “Do not fear, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your heart to understand, and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard; and I have come because of your words.

- You are so right !

- Think about the positive fear of Noah !

- And he could escape with his family whereas humany died !

- Think about the positive fear of Job : there was was no one like him on earth !

- Think about the positive fear of Abraham who was called the friend of God !

- Think about the positive fear of Joseph who became the second most important man in Egypt after Pharaoh !

- Think about the positive fear of Moses who could prevent twice God to DESTROY ISRAEL !

- Think about the positive fear of Samuel who was jealous for God when Israel rejected him to choose a human king !

- Think about the positive fear of Daniel who was called precious man !

- And...And...And...

 

[jamesp]

- You are so right !

- Think about the positive fear of Noah !

- And he could escape with his family whereas humany died !

- Think about the positive fear of Job : there was was no one like him on earth !

- Think about the positive fear of Abraham who was called the friend of God !

- Think about the positive fear of Joseph who became the second most important man in Egypt after Pharaoh !

- Think about the positive fear of Moses who could prevent twice God to DESTROY ISRAEL !

- Think about the positive fear of Samuel who was jealous for God when Israel rejected him to choose a human king !

- Think about the positive fear of Daniel who was called precious man !

- And...And...And...

It is amazing why God chose these people. Were they average people or did God inspire them in some way ? Perhaps it was all by God's design from the beginning. God is certainly omnipotent and omniscient.

 

[JLG]

- Right, let’s start with Noah!

- Think that Adam and Eve were perfect!


- They rejected God and they lost perfection!


- Then we get the beginning of the next generation with Cain and Abel!

- 50% bad and 50% good!

- Then we go to the time of Noah!

- And there we get about 100% bad!

- Adam lived 930 years!

- His son Seth lived 910 years!

- His son Enosh lived 905 years!

- His son Kenan lived 910 years!

- His son Mahalalel lived 895 years!

- His son Jared lived 962 years!

- His son Enoch lived 365 years!

- He kept walking with the true God!

- His son Methuselah lived 969 years!

- His son Lamech lived 777 years!

- His son Noah 950 years!

- He kept walking with the true God!

- If we keep in mind the biblical genealogy:

- Such a short time to get 100% corrupted!

- The difference with today:

- Man could live a lot more time!

- Thus corruption went so fast!

- Only badness!

- And we can’t imagine it because we just live nothing compared to the men of the past!

- Of course, they were in better mental and physical conditions because they lived shorter after the loss of perfection!

- But even the time they lived was nothing compared to eternal life without getting older and in perfect mental and physical conditions!

- Thus God had no choice: there was only Noah who was his only faithful servant!

- Thus he took what was available!

- Think about today!

- Think about today’s corruption!

- If everything was corrupted when the flood came, don’t you think that today’s corruption is everywhere and complete?

- Man is completely corrupted!

- Religion is also completely corrupted!

- You can’t trust anyone to tell you what to do!

- You have to do your part and check everything!

- And you must read the Bible by yourself again and again and ask you the right questions!

 

[JLG]

It is amazing why God chose these people. Were they average people or did God inspire them in some way ? Perhaps it was all by God's design from the beginning. God is certainly omnipotent and omniscient.

- When I think too much I forget to click on reply!

 

[jamesp]

- When I think too much I forget to click on reply!

Did you say forget ? What did you forget ? Oh, to click on reply <smile>. We don't have to like aging, best if we can laugh about it !

 

[jamesp]

- Right, let’s start with Noah!

- Think that Adam and Eve were perfect!


- They rejected God and they lost perfection!


- Then we get the beginning of the next generation with Cain and Abel!

- 50% bad and 50% good!

- Then we go to the time of Noah!

- And there we get about 100% bad!

- Adam lived 930 years!

- His son Seth lived 910 years!

- His son Enosh lived 905 years!

- His son Kenan lived 910 years!

- His son Mahalalel lived 895 years!

- His son Jared lived 962 years!

- His son Enoch lived 365 years!

- He kept walking with the true God!

- His son Methuselah lived 969 years!

- His son Lamech lived 777 years!

- His son Noah 950 years!

- He kept walking with the true God!

- If we keep in mind the biblical genealogy:

- Such a short time to get 100% corrupted!

- The difference with today:

- Man could live a lot more time!

- Thus corruption went so fast!

- Only badness!

- And we can’t imagine it because we just live nothing compared to the men of the past!

- Of course, they were in better mental and physical conditions because they lived shorter after the loss of perfection!

- But even the time they lived was nothing compared to eternal life without getting older and in perfect mental and physical conditions!

- Thus God had no choice: there was only Noah who was his only faithful servant!

- Thus he took what was available!

- Think about today!

- Think about today’s corruption!

- If everything was corrupted when the flood came, don’t you think that today’s corruption is everywhere and complete?

- Man is completely corrupted!

- Religion is also completely corrupted!

- You can’t trust anyone to tell you what to do!

- You have to do your part and check everything!

- And you must read the Bible by yourself again and again and ask you the right questions!

Yes, read your Bible and apply it to your life. The most amazing book ever written because it is the Word of God !

What does it take to prevent man from falling into corruption ?

Looking back at Noah, Job, Abraham, Joseph, Moses, Samuel and Daniel.
All men of great faith and belief that were not corrupt. All must have had highly respectful relationships with the Lord.
It is a shame that all of us were not likened to these men. Such a better life, such a better world.

God's plan is not entirely for us to understand. Many fail with this point.

But the majority of man falls into the corruption cycle over and over, dispensation after dispensation. Apparently man does not learn from the past. Odd how history is being avoided in this present age of deep corruption as if to not face the past. Perhaps man avoided looking back at history in past dispensations to free his mind from the concerns of punishment or failure.

History and the Bible warns man of past failures due to corruption.
The Bible provides guidance to avoid corruption, defines failures and gives warnings of failures, and finally warns/exacts punishment.
If man blocks history, the Bible and God out of his mind corruption and sin comes easy. God issues them a reprobate mind and their sin party begins !

God tried various forms of punishment. Man as a majority does not take heed to God's punishments. The Bible is clear on that point.

God loves us very much so this time he sent his only Son to die on the cross as a path for Salvation. Even the gift of Jesus was met with minimal acceptance.

It sure looks like God is allowing a slow process of punishment in this end times age perhaps to 'wake' us up. Ever increasing violence, increasing natural disasters, increasing wars and rumors of wars, increasing financial distress, etc. to assist in our awakening by arousing our fears and/or concerns. All these events are increasing the faith of the Believer - Praise the Lord ! Hopefully many will find Salvation.

So here we are living at the end of another cycle of corruption. A cycle of corruption like no other. God have mercy upon us. Pray for those that don't see nor hear. Thankfully God is still in control and left us with the Son, the Bible and the Holy Spirit.

Utterly amazing, from creation to this day. Thank you God for this awakening.

 

[JLG]

Did you say forget ? What did you forget ? Oh, to click on reply <smile>. We don't have to like aging, best if we can laugh about it !

No I started having this problem of memory when i was young!

- But I have been working at it all my life!

- And it is getting better and better!

- In fact aging is another stupidity of human society!

- Even if we are so far from Adam's perfection, God has given us an incredible mind and body we need to use!

- I don't see mental and physical limits!

- I have never learnt so much and I keep increasing my ability to learn!

- And I have never done so much physical activity!

- Of course, I have an advantage which for many is a burden!

- I have two dogs I have to walk many times a day all year long!

- And it helps me to increase the time i spend to learn!

- Without them i wouldn't be able to do so much!

- I don't need pills or anything modern society offer to get worse!

- Think about Stephen Hawking who lived 76 years!

- He was supposed to die young because of his disease!

- Think about everything he has achieved despite his disease!

 

[JLG]

It is amazing why God chose these people. Were they average people or did God inspire them in some way ? Perhaps it was all by God's design from the beginning. God is certainly omnipotent and omniscient.

- Let’s go on with Job!
____________________________________________________________________
https://www.gotquestions.org/when-did-Job-live.html
When did Job live?

Job is legendary for his exemplary response to great suffering. We know little about the dates and settings pertaining to Job, but many scholars believe the book of Job is one of the oldest in the Bible. That does not mean that Job himself lived before anyone else in the Bible—he most certainly came after Adam! But there are hints that Job lived in a truly ancient time: Job offered sacrifices himself for his family, instead of relying on a priest (Job 1:5; 42:7–8), and his wealth was measured in livestock, not gold (Job 1:3). It is likely that Job lived sometime between the flood and the time of Moses. Many scholars place Job in the patriarchal period, around the same time that Abraham lived (Genesis 11:28–29).

It seems clear that Job lived prior to the giving of the law, since the book of Job makes no mention of a tabernacle or temple, priests, or the law given to Israel. If Job’s life indeed pre-dated the law, he may have lived sometime around 2200 BC, making him a contemporary of Abraham, Lot, and Isaac. Another clue that places Job in the time prior to Moses is the fact that Job gave his daughters “an inheritance among their brothers” (Job 42:15). Under the Mosaic Law, a father passed his inheritance to sons only, unless he had no sons (Numbers 27:1–11; 36:1–13). A righteous man such as Job would have followed that law in obedience to God; in Job’s case, the law had not yet been given.

The longevity of Job is another clue that he lived around the time of the patriarchs. At that time, it was common for people to live a couple of centuries. Lifespans gradually decreased, until, by the time of the judges, lifespans were typically under a hundred years old. By adding up the years implied by the following facts, Job probably lived to be over 200 years old:

____________________________________________________________________

- So Job lived less time compared to the beginning of the biblical genealogy !

- The book of Job tells us he was a good man always ready to help people !

- It is evident he knew many people !

- He also had a family !

- Of course, his children died because of the devil !

- But what are the facts !

- Everybody was against him without exception !

- He didn’t get any comfort from anybody !

- His wife told him to curse God and die!

- What a wife!

- His family was good to nothing!

- The three men who came to see him tried to destroy him mentally!

- They couldn’t destroy him physically because the devil had already done it!

- Of course, they were another weapon from the devil!

- Anybody from youngsters to old people were against him and of no help!

- What a perfect example of total corruption!

 

[JLG]

- Let’s go on with Abraham!

- Genesis 11, we are told about Abraham’s family but nothing is told about their relationship to God!

- His father is Terah and his brothers are Nahor and Haran!

- Haran becomes father to lot!

- Haran dies!

- Thus Abraham has only one brother left, Nahor!

- Sarai becomes Abraham’s wife!

- Nahor takes Milcah as wife, she is the daughter of his brother Haran!

- Terah leaves Ur of the chaldeans with Abraham and his grandson Lotand they go to the land of canaan!

- Terah dies there when he is 205 years!

- In Genesis 12, we are told that God tells Abraham to leave the land of his family!

- He makes him the promise that he will become a great nation!

- God’s words are clear: he will bless those who bless him and curse those who curse him!

- When he leaves Haran, he is 75!

- He leaves with his wife and his nephew Lot!

- They have a lot of goods!

- And they go to the land of Canaan!

- Then God appears to Abraham and repeats his promise!

- Because of a famine, Abraham must to Egypt!

- There we learn Abraham’s wife is also his sister!

- In chapter 13, we are told Abraham is very rich!

- Regarding to his relationship to God, we are only told that he does what God tells him to do!

- Both Abraham and lot have too many animals so they have to separate!

- Abraham tells Lot to choose where he wants to go!

- And lot chooses to go to the city of Sodom!

- And it is said that the men of Sodom are wicked and gross sinners against God!

- Again God repeats the promise to Abraham to give the land of Canaan to his offspring who will become a great nation!

- There is a war between different kings and Lot becomes a captive and his goods are also taken!

- When Abraham hears about it, he takes 318 servants who are trained men and frees Lot and gets back his goods!

- So we see a man who is faithful to God and is also courageous and doesn’t hesitate to fight to help his own family!

- He is so different from Job’s family!

- In chapter 15, God appears to him in a vision telling Abraham he is with him!

- And he tells him he will get a son!

- When Abraham falls asleep, God tells him that his offspring will be foreigners and slaves for 400 years and then they will return to Canaan!

- Thus Abraham obeys God, he does his will without discussion!

- They communicate regularly!

- When God decides to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah, they have a discussion and each time God tells Abraham that even if there are 50, 40, 30, 20 or ten righteous men but there aren’t any!

- Once again TOTAL CORRUPTION!

- There is no choice for God!

- There are only few individuals who keep faithful to God whereas the majority gets corrupted!

- It seems to be quite clear!

 

[JLG]

- Let’s go on with Joseph!

- Jacob has 12 sons!

- And God chooses one among them!

- Does he have a lot of choice?

- When we look at the history of Israel, the answer is no as usual!

- All the time it is the same story: many human beings but a very limited choice!

- And it the same with Israel!

- So it is normal that humanity always follows man’s tradition instead of God’s word!

- Thus human history is always the same chorus!

- The majority will always follow man’s tradition!

 

[JLG]

- Let’s go on with Moses!

- He was educated as a prince!

- Then he chose his people instead of the Egyptians!

- Then he became a shepherd!

- He was shy!

- But God trained him for a long time before he became the leader of Israel!

- And he needed someone exceptional for such a stubborn people!

- A people who spent his time complaining about everything!

- always ready for rebellion!

- And he saved them twice from destruction by God!

- And … And...And…

- AND HE DIED BECAUSE OF THEM!

- AND HE COULD NOT GET INTO THE PROMISED LAND BECAUSE OF THEM!

- And there is only one Moses!

- Who could have done it except him!

- WHAT AN INGRATITUDE!

 

[JLG]

- Let’s go on with Samuel!

- With Samuel it is quite simple!

- God had abandoned the country!

- So when Samuel is brought to the House of God to become a priest, Eli doesn’t realize all at once that God is calling him!

- You can imagine the situation in Israel!!

- And this special relationship will be built during all the life of Samuel starting as a child to his death!

- And it is Samuel’s mother who chooses to offer him in exchange of having Samuel!

- And God will accompany him all his life!

- How refreshing when we think of all this perpetual human corruption and spiritual prostitution which has been spreading through human history till now!

 

[JLG]

- Let’s go on with Daniel!

- Here we are told about 4 young men who are faithful to God!

- And the 4 are ready to die for their belief!

- But Daniel will take the lead!

- And all his history shows that he has everything to develop a special relationship to God!

- And he will keep developing this to make it grow!

- Think about David and Solomon!

- They could have done the same!

- But they took other directions!

- God will do his part if we do our part!

- But it is not enough!

- It is not a part time job or whenever we want!

- Or when we have time!

- That’s usually how human beings do it!

- No, it is a 24 hour job!

- There are no holiday in this case!

- It is like God’s creation!

- God and Jesus keep working!

- A never ending special relationship!

- And there is no better option!

- Except that the majority doesn’t care!

- They think that being tourists is enough!





- It tells about the degree of corruption!

 

[JLG]

Yes, read your Bible and apply it to your life. The most amazing book ever written because it is the Word of God !

What does it take to prevent man from falling into corruption ?

Looking back at Noah, Job, Abraham, Joseph, Moses, Samuel and Daniel.
All men of great faith and belief that were not corrupt. All must have had highly respectful relationships with the Lord.
It is a shame that all of us were not likened to these men. Such a better life, such a better world.

God's plan is not entirely for us to understand. Many fail with this point.

But the majority of man falls into the corruption cycle over and over, dispensation after dispensation. Apparently man does not learn from the past. Odd how history is being avoided in this present age of deep corruption as if to not face the past. Perhaps man avoided looking back at history in past dispensations to free his mind from the concerns of punishment or failure.

History and the Bible warns man of past failures due to corruption.
The Bible provides guidance to avoid corruption, defines failures and gives warnings of failures, and finally warns/exacts punishment.
If man blocks history, the Bible and God out of his mind corruption and sin comes easy. God issues them a reprobate mind and their sin party begins !

God tried various forms of punishment. Man as a majority does not take heed to God's punishments. The Bible is clear on that point.

God loves us very much so this time he sent his only Son to die on the cross as a path for Salvation. Even the gift of Jesus was met with minimal acceptance.

It sure looks like God is allowing a slow process of punishment in this end times age perhaps to 'wake' us up. Ever increasing violence, increasing natural disasters, increasing wars and rumors of wars, increasing financial distress, etc. to assist in our awakening by arousing our fears and/or concerns. All these events are increasing the faith of the Believer - Praise the Lord ! Hopefully many will find Salvation.

So here we are living at the end of another cycle of corruption. A cycle of corruption like no other. God have mercy upon us. Pray for those that don't see nor hear. Thankfully God is still in control and left us with the Son, the Bible and the Holy Spirit.

Utterly amazing, from creation to this day. Thank you God for this awakening.

- Yes, Yes, Yes!

- It is a perpetual movement!

- If you stop it then corruption starts to develop and corrupts everything!

- Again think about David and Solomon!

- They started well and finished badly!

- It is better to start and finish badly because you lose everything!

- Job could not live without his direct link to God!

- I can’t!

- It is a pure nonsense to go backwards!

- But you first need to go forwards!

 

[JLG]

- We must always look forward and never backward!

- Think about Lot and his wife!

- Two different options with two different results!

- Quite simple!

- We must do the right choice!

- Yes, Yes, Yes!

- Man prefers a comfortable life or what he thinks is a comfortable life!

- You get money and more money and finally you die!

- That’s why man is trying to create an artificial world or artificial life!

- But we will always make a choice!

- When we decide not to do anything, it is a choice!

- It happened so many times in the Bible and in human history!

- So as we decide, we must also accept the consequences!

- We are responsible!

- We can’t say like Adam and eve!

- It is the snake or it the woman you gave me!

- We have free will and by what we do or not, we decide!

- We can close our eyes or shut our hears, we decide!

 

[jamesp]

No I started having this problem of memory when i was young!

- But I have been working at it all my life!

- And it is getting better and better!

- In fact aging is another stupidity of human society!

- Even if we are so far from Adam's perfection, God has given us an incredible mind and body we need to use!

- I don't see mental and physical limits!

- I have never learnt so much and I keep increasing my ability to learn!

- And I have never done so much physical activity!

- Of course, I have an advantage which for many is a burden!

- I have two dogs I have to walk many times a day all year long!

- And it helps me to increase the time i spend to learn!

- Without them i wouldn't be able to do so much!

- I don't need pills or anything modern society offer to get worse!

- Think about Stephen Hawking who lived 76 years!

- He was supposed to die young because of his disease!

- Think about everything he has achieved despite his disease!

My mother had a great love for the Lord and had Alzheimer's for her last 9 years. Her short term memory failed her those 9 years.
My wife and I were her primary caretakers for those long 9 years. Memory loss can make for a very difficult life.
Noting she never lost her relationship with Jesus and practice of Biblical doctrines(and long term memory). This was a beautiful thing.
She was fortunate in that she seemed to forgot about the abuse and pain she suffered throughout her life.
Her last week she lay in bed saying "Lord take me home." with the most contented smile, so full of peace and contentment.
What an incredible testimony. We know our Mom's well and I knew she was telling the truth about her next step in life.
I was never the same after witnessing her death. Her testimony at her deathbed changed me forever.
A lady with near complete memory loss led me to Salvation. My brilliant Bible scholar father whom also loved the Lord Jesus tried bringing me to the Lord for 46 years ! Mom did it in a week...Apparently a poor memory has no bad effect on one's ability to serve the Lord JLG.

We have 3 dogs. I often wonder if our Creator gifted us these selfless furry critters as a tool to make our life on this wretched earth very much better. At present my wife is laying on the futon curled up with all three of them under the covers in a heavenly sleep.
Those dogs do become selfish and demanding when dinner time comes around , a whole 30 minutes out of the day.

 

[JLG]

- It is important to be there when the people you love die to accompany them!

- It is something we never forget!

- This moment is still present in your mind!

- I got experience with my brother!

- I used it with my mother!

- At the end it was difficult for her to eat!

- Her last morning I came in her room to give her something to eat from time to time!

- And all the time she was smiling!

- Then again I used the experience for my father!

- We don’t live in the same area but I could call him every week various times and encourage him!

- He had trouble with his memory!

- But I was always present by phone!

- So he never forgot me!

- I am used to fighting whatever happens!

- I would like to get a third dog!

- But having them is unbelievable!

- Walking them a lot helps me a lot to study about the Bible!

- They are worth all the pills of the world!