Observations on Genesis . . . the first few chapters

Genesis 1,

The creation story is to me the beginning of a conversation between God and man.

Man's accountability began, his innocence ended. Man's wisdom for his plight? The wisdom he gained from eating that tree? Let's see,

* Adam and Eve hid themselves

  --> both with sewn together fig leaves and in the shrubbery when they heard God comin' awalkin'

* they tried to re-direct blame, deflecting?

* Cain killed Abel to deal with jealousy, and God's displeasure

* God's heart was broken, because man's violence. That is when the flood was imminent. Then he found Noah, and decided to slay all but his family, and the animals.

   --> it was because of violence "brotherly hatred" instead of "brotherly love"

God's solution, the remnant. Mercy!

Authenticity of the Bible. Its really true, as it is written, its the inspired word of God. 2 Timothy 3:16-18

Genesis 1... In the beginning God

• He started it all
• He continues it
• He is in control

Romans 1:21

Troubled Times

What exactly is the nature of my own 'unbelief'? In the past I've thought maybe God would protect us from all that ails the worldly, but I realize we are all just as vulnerable to cancer - for instance - as anyone is. I've been teaching this Sunday School class now for going on two years. One thing I keep going back to is that the time of testing is coming to us all, like a path we cannot climb out of, and the path leads to a furnace of fire, but there is a door into it, and a door out the other side . . . there's a time of testing, and that time will pass. And what comes out is not the same as what goes in. Raw goes in, and Gold comes out. And of this time of testing I say this, that it is our relationship with God NOW that will take us through that time of testing.

When my first marriage fell apart, I was so steeped in sin, so confused, and all along feeling like I was doing just fine. I was so far from where he has brought me to now. So much has been shed, and burned away, that I could not even begin to list them, and good riddance! I'm not perfect... having not yet passed from this life to the next . . . but it is always in hind sight that we see how Blind we've been.

I once told God, I'd go anywhere He'd call me to go, as long as He'd be there with me, and that has never changed. I just never imagined the trials He would call me to!

The nature of my 'unbelief' ? I don't believe in a trouble free life anymore. I don't believe that I'll some day be exempt from life's hard times. And when I am going through hard times, I need to more and more realize it has nothing to do with me somehow deserving it (as in punishment from God) and has more to do with the perfecting of my faith.

See 1 Peter chapter 1

Prayer

Reading my buddy Ken's journal today I was once again inspired about prayer. I realize that I've let seemingly unanswered prayer discourage me, and life itself discourage me from praying.

Today is Sunday, and I'll be singing for the first time up front with a small group of men. I'm one of the two tenor's. It's one of my desires ---> to bless others through singing and music.

Well, keep it short, eh? This is pretty short! Have a good day.