I just thought I'd Post this.

The Psalms
115

God and the Idols

1 Not unto us, O LORD, not unto us,
but unto thy name give glory,
for thy mercy, and for thy truth's sake.


2 Wherefore should the heathen say,
Where is now their God?


3 But our God is in the heavens:
he hath done whatsoever he hath pleased.


4 Their idols are silver and gold,
the work of men's hands.


5 They have mouths, but they speak not:
eyes have they, but they see not:


6 they have ears, but they hear not:
noses have they, but they smell not:


7 they have hands, but they handle not:
feet have they, but they walk not:
neither speak they through their throat.


8 They that make them are like unto them;
so is every one that trusteth in them. Ps. 135.15-18 · Rev. 9.20


9 O Israel, trust thou in the LORD:
he is their help and their shield.


10 O house of Aaron, trust in the LORD:
he is their help and their shield.


11 Ye that fear the LORD, trust in the LORD:
he is their help and their shield.


12 The LORD hath been mindful of us:
he will bless us;
he will bless the house of Israel;
he will bless the house of Aaron.


13 He will bless them that fear the LORD,
both small and great. Rev. 11.18 ; 19.5


14 The LORD shall increase you more and more,
you and your children.


15 Ye are blessed of the LORD
which made heaven and earth.


16 The heaven, even the heavens, are the LORD's:
but the earth hath he given to the children of men.


17 The dead praise not the LORD,
neither any that go down into silence.


18 But we will bless the LORD
from this time forth and for evermore.
Praise the LORD.


http://www.bartleby.com/108/19/115.html#S115

Home » Discuss » DU Groups » Religion & Spirituality » Christian Liberals/Progressive People of Faith Group

I don't see General Discussion listed here.

Maybe you posted in the wrong Forum.

Oh Yeah, I'm a Methodist too.

I'm one of the people who helped form this group, and have posted here for years.
Not everything here is expected to be heavy-handed religion.
If you had some kind of expectation, perhaps you should have included it in your original post.

I'm just trying to bring a smile to people through some dreary times.

after reading this reply that, out of all the people who've viewed this thread,
it is odd there is only one comment and that from the Minister who worked to
get this Forum.

I've never posted here.

I had an experience the morning I wrote this. I felt like sharing this without comment as to why.

The content started out with you and I believe that is why nobody could appreciate,
in this Forum, The Hopeful Message.

I read your OP before RevCheesehead replied. I was going to ask what that Psalm spoke to you --- because I have to admit it doesn't say much to me where I'm at right now in my life. This was the first chance I've had to return to this thread.

I believe you mistook RevCheeshead's post to be mocking of your OP. Knowing the good Rev, I seriously doubt that was her intention. That's one of the things about discussion boards. If you post an excerpt of something with no comment to direct the discussion... well, you never know what direction it's going to take.

From your reply, profile and username it sounds to me like you feel you've been shafted in life. I'm curious what does this Psalm speak to you?

:hi:

you betcha'

as I was drinking coffee that morning I began to wonder about
The Mystery spoken about in the New Testament.

I recently bought a Bible.
The Holy Bible is an Authorized by Her Majesty Special Command,
with a Cover of Olive Wood from Jerusalem.
Sent from Haifa Israel.

I had only embraced it, skimmed through it,
and put it away.

So when I opened the Book to search for 'The Mystery' it fell open to
Psalm 115.

I still haven't found the mystery.

I decided then to look in Revelation for
The unopened Book Chapter 5, thinking I might find or get a feel
for where to find the mystery.

I Started at Chapter 4.

??? I Found It! ...
Corinthians 15
The Resurrection of the Dead

50 Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.

51 ¶ Behold, I show you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,

52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. 1 Thes. 4.15-17

53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.

54 So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. Is. 25.8

55 O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? Hos. 13.14

56 The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law.

57 But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

58 ¶ Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.


http://www.bartleby.com/108/46/15.html

I find the Kingdom of God/Heaven to be quite the mystery in and of itself.

of the verse?

He says I show you a mystery.
He is speaking of a future event. An event that has not happened, even now.

The resurrection of the dead, does he see the future event in pictures, as in dreaming, and not understand himself this mystery?

We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,
in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.

For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall it be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.

O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?
The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law.
-----------------------------------

The Resurrection of the dead seen in the future and a mystery to boot.

Since he is talking about the future I apply what is said and how that is pertinent now. Just reading it one assumes this is about the rapture. In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump. The Resurrection of the Dead.

But is he saying something else entirely?
Eyes have they but see not. Ears have they but hear not?

This is NOT a history book to be read. Words are not the message.
Seeing the message in spite of the words.
Understanding in the Spirit.
Prophesy is by nature Spiritual. Prophesy means future. How does
a man talk of future events unseen, in words of understanding to people in his time, to be understood by people in another time?

Literally, Figuratively, or Spiritually.

People in Paul's time, Literally. Reading figuratively is for heathens.
So we must understand in the spirit, which is a Gift.

were simply reiterating my question before you provided your answer.

I'm afraid the verses taken on their own don't say much to me at all. That's just me, I have a difficult time deriving meaning from a few select verses outside of their literary and historical context. There are times I wish I could do that --- to be able to offer or find comfort in a handful of verses.

When I read those verses I think of the letter Paul was writing to the "church" at Corinth. The section of the letter labeled chapter 15 appears to be addressing those that did not believe in the bodily resurrection of Christ. I get more out of 15:12-34, especially verse 24. "Then comes the end, when he hands over the kingdom to God the Father, after he has destroyed every ruler and every authority and power"

I live my life looking forward to the end of "every ruler, authority and power" that has corrupted what was originally created as "very good". My hope lies in the promise that the world will be changed, reconciled, healed back to the original intent. I live life looking for ways to contribute to that sort of change in the here and now.

Probably doesn't really answer your question....

and have no idea what people are going to do with it, or where the discussion is going to lead. Especially if you just post some poetry without any comment as to why, or what it means to you.

Best to just let things happen and not get so wound up about it.

Especially best not to crucify others for the simple crime of not responding in whatever mysterious way you wanted them to respond. That's not conversation, that's abuse.

:loveya:

of not responding in whatever mysterious way you wanted..."

"That's not conversation, that's abuse."

Words of wisdom, applicable in so many areas of our interaction with others.

I've come across a few posts about the Ceiling Cat but none of those linked to the project so I had no clue. Thanks! Sort of an ingenious way to have folks look at the Bible, maybe even become more open to some of the "alternate" interpretations.

Kitteh armanootiks oepins dorz, srsly!!1!
Conservapedia kloziz dem, kthnxbai!

which should be ready in a few months.

You know the real funny thing? When I read parts of it out loud to Oreo, she got it. Don't ask me how or why, but she looked at me like "finally, you're catching on." Srsly!

:hi: How ya doin'? Hanging in there with the CPE?
(do you now know why I told you I'd be praying for ya? :) )

and for your prayers. Yes, I now understand why you said you'd be praying for me. It's the same, yet different type of navel gazing that I participated in years ago during ACOA counseling. The supervisor of this unit is very much into family systems - seems I've been a bit of a "back-slider" in the area of co-dependency. It has been good though, being the sacrificial frog on this examining table called CPE.

Thanks again, and please continue your prayers for the 2nd half of my CPE unit. :hug: :hi:

http://www.pogo.com/profiles/daPlayrrrrr

How many here play games at POGO?

I have a lot of time on my hands and despite what some believe, I
do not spend it all at DU.

They do have a lot of Free Games but I have a membership so I don't have to deal with the Ads.
Everybody gets an Avatar and can win badges regardless of membership status.

Disclaimer: I do not own stock or derivatives.

Real reason for this post.
Kicking it wondering why 54anickel didn't reply with her understanding of "The Mystery".

they have something for everyone, no matter how you're feeling.

The part that jumped out to me is the comparison between those who are alive in Christ, fully engaged in life, and those who are "living" in the flesh yet dead in spirit and dead to the wonders around them. We all know people like this, and we all act this way from time to time. We see and walk and talk and hear and taste, but we are like zombies barely conscious of what is going on around us. It is only when we are awake in spirit that we really live. It reminds me of a quote I heard: "an enlightened person can have a more mystical experience drinking a cup of coffee in the morning than an unprepared person in meeting Jesus."

Good psalm :hi:

I am obviously not one of those enlightened persons...especially before experiencing a cup of coffee.