Avalon Chronicles #79: "Change, it is a-coming!"
by Allen B. Clark
allenbclark@aol.com
www.combatfaith.com
www.combatfaith.blogspot.com
Several decades ago Gregory Peck portrayed in the movie "MacArthur," General Douglas MacArthur, my childhood hero whom I personally have seen twice. There is a scene in which MacArthur and President Roosevelt in 1943 conferred about the war in the Pacific on a ship somewhere in the Pacific. MacArthur had not been back to the United States, since he had lived in the Philippines from 1935, where he was training their Army. In the course of the conversation the President said to MacArthur, "You ought to come back to the United States. Things are changing." We all recall certain lines or scenes from our favorite movies and this was one indelibly imprinted in my memory. MacArthur replied, "Mr. President, the things I believe in never change!"
In my 75th year I can attest to this belief. This past Saturday night Linda and I attended our alumni annual Founder's Day celebration of West Point, founded March 16, 1802. One of our annual traditions is to hear remarks from both the oldest and youngest graduates present. The contrast in their remarks ranging from 1956 to 2010 was striking. The oldest grad spoken in such a dignified and measured manner pointing out the changes at our Alma Mater, not necessarily decrying any of them, but nevertheless indicating the difficulty as one ages to accept certain "changes." Our eminent speaker spoke of our motto which binds old and new graduates together, "Duty, Honor, Country." That never changes. Many other cultural manifestations change constantly and I remember a pastor one time illustrate the changing mores of the society by way of a frame of behavior that keeps moving over and becoming larger in its negativity and lowering of standards of civility
In Matthew 24:35 (KJV) it is written, "Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away." The words I have attempted mightily to incorporate in my soul and spirit and carry through in thoughts, words, and deeds have not changed. They are in no particular order: to have totally engrafted in me that God created all; that Jesus is He Who came to earth to die for my personal sins and to provide a way for me to achieve eternal life through faith in Him; to verbally articulate this belief appropriately; that the Holy Spirit was gifted to us to indwell us and move us to strength in faith which is followed by good works to serve others; for the Holy Spirit to live in me; to offer constant praise to God; not to accept our culture's non-Christian values; God's word is the power we need for our lives in obedience and changes for the good; I ask the Holy Spirit to change me where needed for adherence to the Gospel message; that I would confess as a sin any resentments held toward others and ask forgiveness.
We just returned from a twelve day trip to Israel and our personal tour guide, Shooki Makovky, gifted me a treasure at his home, where he had invited Linda and me to share Shabat Friday meal with his wife and three daughters. The gift was a copy of the The Stone Edition of the Chumash, the Torah with commentary. The significance of God's word is expressed in the introduction in an anecdote. There is on page xxv a story in a section titled "Indestructible Letters." "When the ancient Romans condemned the Mishnaic sage Rabbi Chanina ben Teradyon to death for the 'crime' of teaching the Torah, they wrapped him in a Torah scroll and set him aflame. As his agony reached its climax, his students asked him, 'Rabbi, what do you see?' He answered, 'The parchments are consumed, and the letters fly up [to heaven]'...The letters are eternal for they are the will of the eternal." So too are the words of our Lord in our Bible. They do not change.
I John 3:22 (KJV): " I know that my prayers are answered because I obey His commandments and do the things that are pleasing in His sight."
Society, its standards, and Caesar's world may change. These words above I will not change!
Tuesday, March 28, 2017
Saturday, March 18, 2017
Avalon Chronicles #78: "To Bind'
Avalon Chronicles #78: "To Bind"
by Allen B. Clark
allenbclark@aol.com
www.combatfaith.com
www.combatfaith.blogspot.com
Source: American Dictionary of the English Language
Noah Webster 1828
BIND: "To bind the mind, close, make fast, to oblige by a promise, vow, stipulation, covenant, law, duty or any other moral tie, to constrain by a powerful influence or persuasion." The powerful influence behind the below prayer concept is the Holy Trinity.
Several years ago Linda heard a presentation by a minister by the name of Liberty Savard (http://www.libertysavard.com). I bought and read several of her books, Shattering Your Strongholds, Producing the Promise, and Breaking the Power. I studied all three and the below spiritual concept of "Binding" is derived from her teachings to which she must be given credit. The following is that to which I dedicate and strive mightily to "bind" myself .
I bind myself to the Character and Attributes of God: Righteousness, Holiness, Integrity, and Purity and to the Will, Purposes, Timing and Truth of God.
I bind myself to the Mind of Christ and ask Jesus to impart to me from the Mind of Christ Wisdom, Insight, Discernment, and Knowledge of all things.
I bind myself to Control by the Holy Spirit that I may reflect the Fruit of the Holy Spirit; Love, Joy, Peace, Long-suffering, Patience, Gentleness, Goodness, and Kindness. Amen.
by Allen B. Clark
allenbclark@aol.com
www.combatfaith.com
www.combatfaith.blogspot.com
Source: American Dictionary of the English Language
Noah Webster 1828
BIND: "To bind the mind, close, make fast, to oblige by a promise, vow, stipulation, covenant, law, duty or any other moral tie, to constrain by a powerful influence or persuasion." The powerful influence behind the below prayer concept is the Holy Trinity.
Several years ago Linda heard a presentation by a minister by the name of Liberty Savard (http://www.libertysavard.com). I bought and read several of her books, Shattering Your Strongholds, Producing the Promise, and Breaking the Power. I studied all three and the below spiritual concept of "Binding" is derived from her teachings to which she must be given credit. The following is that to which I dedicate and strive mightily to "bind" myself .
I bind myself to the Character and Attributes of God: Righteousness, Holiness, Integrity, and Purity and to the Will, Purposes, Timing and Truth of God.
I bind myself to the Mind of Christ and ask Jesus to impart to me from the Mind of Christ Wisdom, Insight, Discernment, and Knowledge of all things.
I bind myself to Control by the Holy Spirit that I may reflect the Fruit of the Holy Spirit; Love, Joy, Peace, Long-suffering, Patience, Gentleness, Goodness, and Kindness. Amen.
Wednesday, March 1, 2017
Avalon Chronicles #77: "The Last Wishes of Alexander the Great"
Avalon Chronicles #77: "The Last Wishes of Alexander the Great"
by Allen B. Clark
allenbclark@aol.com
www.combatfaith.com
www.combatfaith.blogspot.com
Linda and I recently returned from an amazing trip to Israel about which I intend to write in my next few Chronicles. While there I avidly read the Jerusalem Post and the Haaretz section of the New York Times. In the Jerusalem Post on Friday Feb. 10, 2017 page 19, I read a fascinating article by Greer Fay Cashman, wherein she quoted from a Rabbi Edward Belfer, his answer to the question of, 'What is the most precious thing that all of us own, sometimes complain about, often give to others with no possibility of getting back and seldom treasure enough?' His answer related to "The last wishes of Alexander the Great."
"On his death bed, Alexander summoned his generals and told them his last three wishes:
1. The best doctors should carry his coffin.
2. The wealth he accumulated (money, gold, precious stones) should be scattered along the procession to the cemetery.
3. His hands should hang loose outside the coffin for all to see.
One of his generals, surprised by these unusual requests, asked Alexander to explain. Alexander said;
1. I want the best doctors to carry my coffin to demonstrate that in the face of death, even the best doctors in the world have no power to heal.
2. I want the road to be covered with my treasure so everybody sees that material wealth acquired on earth, will stay on earth.
3. I want my hands to swing in the wind, so people understand that we come to this world empty-handed and leave empty-handed after the most precious treasure of all is exhausted and that is: TIME."
Cashman goes on to quote the Rabbi,
"We take to our grave no material wealth. TIME is our most precious treasure because it is LIMITED. We can produce wealth, but we cannot produce more time. When we give someone our time, we actually give a portion of our life that we can never take back.
"Our time is our life! The best present that you can give to your family and friends is your TIME. May God grant YOU plenty of TIME to share with all."
My own personal comments relates to the best use of our time is that we share with our spouse and children, giving them our precious time and attention.
Historical note on Alexander and Israel: There are several references to Alexander having completed a successful siege of Gaza and then approaching Jerusalem in 332 B.C. The historian Flavius Josephus wrote that the High Priest Jaddua, met Alexander outside Jerusalem and made an accomodation with him. Alexander's tutor Aristotle had convicted Alexander to favor the Jews. Alexander was very polite to the welcoming party and is said to have said about his respect accorded Jaddua, "I did not adore him, but that God who hath honored him with his high priesthood;..." When the scroll of Daniel's was brought to Alexander's attention indicating a king from Greece would defeat the Persians, Alexander accepted that he was that king and rendered great positive attention to the Jews from then on.
This account renders distinct authenticity to the credibility of the prophecy of Daniel.
by Allen B. Clark
allenbclark@aol.com
www.combatfaith.com
www.combatfaith.blogspot.com
Linda and I recently returned from an amazing trip to Israel about which I intend to write in my next few Chronicles. While there I avidly read the Jerusalem Post and the Haaretz section of the New York Times. In the Jerusalem Post on Friday Feb. 10, 2017 page 19, I read a fascinating article by Greer Fay Cashman, wherein she quoted from a Rabbi Edward Belfer, his answer to the question of, 'What is the most precious thing that all of us own, sometimes complain about, often give to others with no possibility of getting back and seldom treasure enough?' His answer related to "The last wishes of Alexander the Great."
"On his death bed, Alexander summoned his generals and told them his last three wishes:
1. The best doctors should carry his coffin.
2. The wealth he accumulated (money, gold, precious stones) should be scattered along the procession to the cemetery.
3. His hands should hang loose outside the coffin for all to see.
One of his generals, surprised by these unusual requests, asked Alexander to explain. Alexander said;
1. I want the best doctors to carry my coffin to demonstrate that in the face of death, even the best doctors in the world have no power to heal.
2. I want the road to be covered with my treasure so everybody sees that material wealth acquired on earth, will stay on earth.
3. I want my hands to swing in the wind, so people understand that we come to this world empty-handed and leave empty-handed after the most precious treasure of all is exhausted and that is: TIME."
Cashman goes on to quote the Rabbi,
"We take to our grave no material wealth. TIME is our most precious treasure because it is LIMITED. We can produce wealth, but we cannot produce more time. When we give someone our time, we actually give a portion of our life that we can never take back.
"Our time is our life! The best present that you can give to your family and friends is your TIME. May God grant YOU plenty of TIME to share with all."
My own personal comments relates to the best use of our time is that we share with our spouse and children, giving them our precious time and attention.
Historical note on Alexander and Israel: There are several references to Alexander having completed a successful siege of Gaza and then approaching Jerusalem in 332 B.C. The historian Flavius Josephus wrote that the High Priest Jaddua, met Alexander outside Jerusalem and made an accomodation with him. Alexander's tutor Aristotle had convicted Alexander to favor the Jews. Alexander was very polite to the welcoming party and is said to have said about his respect accorded Jaddua, "I did not adore him, but that God who hath honored him with his high priesthood;..." When the scroll of Daniel's was brought to Alexander's attention indicating a king from Greece would defeat the Persians, Alexander accepted that he was that king and rendered great positive attention to the Jews from then on.
This account renders distinct authenticity to the credibility of the prophecy of Daniel.
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