Dr. Barclay's Bible Study - The Books of Thessalonians Part 8

Dr. Barclay with Something to Think About - VISION

                                                                              

                         

                                    VISION*

It states in Psalms that:

Marvellous are Your works…

for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. 

(Psalm 139:14)

It should go without saying that no one really understood just how true those words were at the time they were written. The complexities of organisms and life itself are even now not completely recognized or understood. And each new discovery just makes it that much more difficult to accept that all that we see and experience could have come about by a series of random accidents.

This is probably no where more evident than in that sense we refer to as sight. We tend to take our vision somewhat for granted until something starts to change and then we may appreciate just what an amazing ability it is and how complex is the system behind our sight. The lens that can adjust almost instantly from near to far vision and can see wide-angle to straight ahead, and the iris that can adjust the pupil from low to bright light all through small muscle activity. All of this to focus the light on the retina; made up of about seven million cone cells for different colour perception, about 125 million rod cells for light adaptation, and over 1.2 million nerve cells to organize the data.

This information, which comes into the eye and interacts with the retina, sets up as many as 20 different chemical reactions. These reactions occur as fast as 30 millionths of a billionth of a second**, becoming electrical impulses which in turn are conducted along the optic nerve pathway to the brain where the electrical impulses are reconverted into visual images that we recognize as sight. All of this occurs continuously, as long as we are awake for every particle of light that hits the retina.

The process of vision is much more complicated that one might think, and certainly more complex than would ever be expected to develop by mere chance. It certainly fulfils the Biblical statement:

Marvellous are your works…

for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.

(Psalm 139:14)

And this is only one example from a system so complex that, overall, it defies explanation other than it was designed by a Master designer. It’s further evidence, as Paul states, that:

…since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, 

being understood by the things that are made, 

even His eternal power and Godhead… 

(Romans 1:20)

But even with all this and more, many still do not want to recognize and acknowledge what should be obvious - that we are not in control of this universe. As Jonathan Swift stated:

There’s none so blind as those who will not see.***

Or as Jeremiah put it:

Hear this now, O foolish people, without understanding,

Who have eyes and see not,

And who have ears and hear not…

(5:21)

So, do we recognize that we are indeed wonderfully made or do we see the world without really seeing it?

It is something to think about.  

*Adapted in part from the chapter on Vision from What Darwin Didn’t Know by Geoffrey Simmons. M.D.

**from Spotlight on Oliver Ernst, Canada Excellence Research Chairs, Government of Canada

***In “Polite Conversation” by Jonathan Swift 1738

 

Jacquie Ross May 26, 2024

Dr. Barclay's Bible Study - The Books of Thessalonians Part 7

Dr. Barclay with Something to Think About - DOMINION OR DOMINANCE?

DOMINION OR DOMINANCE?

In the book of Genesis, it is written that God said:

“…Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; 

let them have dominion over…all the earth…" 

(Genesis 1:26)

So, God made us in His image and since it is also stated that:

 

…God is love… 

(1 John 4:8,16)

…then we must be made in the image of love: to love and be loved. Thus, when man became a living creature as a result of God having:

…breathed into his nostrils the breath of life… 

(Genesis 2:7)

…it was in the context of love that we were to have dominion:

 

…over all the earth… 

(Genesis 1:26)

But we were also given the freedom to make our own decisions about how we run our lives. In Deuteronomy 30:19 God says:

…I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; 

therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live…

Unfortunately, we have for the most part chosen death over life, dominance over the earth instead of dominion, and lives not based on the love that was originally intended for us. This has caused us to lose the life based on love [God] and for us to have the life most of us now lead, so that the aspects of life are vastly different from what was originally intended.

The laughter of life that was meant to give us happiness and joy when we laugh with others is often changed to discomfort and embarrassment especially when the laughter is at the expense of others.

The labor of life which is really meant to give us propose and fulfillment when it is done in and with love becomes tedious and drudgery when love is no longer involved.

And when love is involved, just listening is informative and meant to be pleasant. But sounds which are intended to be informative and satisfying can be irritating and boring without the aspect of love being involved.

Love is really the all encompassing aspect which makes life what it should be. If you love your life, your work, to listen to nature, to people, to the world then, regardless of circumstances, most of the time you, in essence, love God because after all:

God is love 

(1 John 4:8,16)

And this might be much more obvious and true if we were still in dominion over the earth rather than trying to dominate the world as seems to be the case now. Dominion with love [God] or domination without; which is better?

Something for everyone to think about.

Adapted from a YouTube presentation by Dr. Gladys McGarey 

   

Jean Kirk May 19, 2024

Dr. Barclay's Bible Study - The Books of Thessalonians Part 6

Dr. Barclay with Something to Think About - DO YOU BELIEVE?

DO YOU BELIEVE?

When Paul wrote to the church at Thessaloniki, he made comments regarding how the church had impacted the surrounding area, attributing this to the fact that:

…when you received the word of God which you heard from us, 

you welcomed it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God… 

(1Thessalonians 2:13)

The question is: How do we receive the word of God? Is it in the same way that the church of Thessaloniki did or do we tend to change it into a creation of our own making? Our tendency is often to do similar to that expressed by Satan in Genesis when he said:

“…Has God indeed said?…”

(Genesis 3:1)

And we have been questioning God’s word ever since. Under Satan’s influence, Job questioned the faithfulness of God in Job chapter 2. A lying spirit was also sent forth to prophesy to Ahab in 2 Chronicles chapter 18, verses 20-22.

  In Matthew, Satan tried to alter God’s word against Christ when he tempted Him in the desert. Christ replied and defeated Satan by, in turn, saying these words:

…It is written… 

(Matthew 4:4,7,10)

In 2 Corinthians, Paul writes where Satan tried to throw him off track by manipulation and deceit.

…a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, 

lest I should be exalted above measure. 

(2 Corinthians 12:7) 

Similarly with two others:

[O]f whom are Hymenaeus and Alexander; whom I have delivered to Satan 

that they may learn not to blaspheme. 

(1Timothy 1:20)

It all goes back to that original question asked in Genesis whether or not God really said what He said and meant it. The Bible goes on to state that Satan is:

…a liar and the father of it. 

(John 8:44) 

And that he

…walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. 

(1 Peter 5:8)

As a result he 

…deceives the whole world… 

(Revelation 12:9) 

and even after the millennium 

…will go out to deceive the nations… 

(Revelation 20:8)

One of the greatest deceptions of all may be in making us feel confident in our own abilities to the point that God is seemingly made irrelevant, just as His word is seemingly made to be unimportant. After all is said and done, however:

…the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. 

(1 Corinthians 3:19)

And

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of [true] wisdom, 

And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding. 

(Proverbs 9:10)

So, the knowledge of God and the understanding of Him only comes from His word, and the acceptance that His word is not the:

…word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God…

(1 Thessalonians 2:13)

Do you believe?

It is something to think about. 

 

Rev. Steve Webb May 12, 2024

Dr. Barclay's Bible Study - The Books of Thessalonians Part 5

Dr. Barclay with Something to Think About - PAUL

                                                                                 

                                         PAUL

Paul is one of the main contributors to the New Testament. Previously known as Saul, he was a high ranking Jew, a member of the Sanhedrin, a Pharisee, and educated by Gamaliel, one of the leading Jewish teachers of his day. As Paul, himself, put it:

…If anyone else thinks he may have confidence in the flesh, I more so: 

circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, 

of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of the Hebrews; 

concerning the law, a Pharisee; 

concerning zeal, persecuting the church; 

concerning the righteousness which is in the law, blameless. 

(Philippians 3:4-6)

As a Jew, Paul was obviously at his peak, but it was as a follower of Christ that he came to Macedonia and Thessalonica. He was trying to convince the same people that he had previously supported to change their belief and start following the very teaching he had previously condemned. In addition to this, however, Paul also had liabilities which had to be dealt with in his efforts to spread the gospel message in the cities to which he travelled.

Paul was accused of doing and being many things when he was trying to reach the people of Macedonia and he responded in a straightforward manner to these charges.*

He was accused of having a police record and of being untrustworthy as a result. He reported having “had suffered before and were spitefully treated at Philippi.”**

He was implied as being delusional and of having motives that were not entirely pure and his response was that “our exhortation did not come from error or uncleanness.”**

When there was an accusation of him deceiving others, he responded in a straightforward manner by stating that neither was he “nor was it [the gospel] in deceit.”**

If people accused him of preaching to please other men instead of God or to reap personal praise, he mentioned “we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel…not as pleasing men, but God who tests our hearts. Nor did we seek glory from men, either from you or others.”**

And if one suggested that Paul was preaching only to get personal gain or to lord it over others, he stated that “[as] God is witness, neither at any time did we use flattering words, as you know, nor a cloak for covetousness. But we were gentle among you, just as a nursing mother cherishes her own children.”**

In these few verses of Thessalonians, Paul relates the straightforward manner in which the gospel should be presented; without any reserve but with honesty and gentleness and with a measure of discipline as needed so that one “would walk worthy of God who calls you into His own kingdom and glory.”** 

These are statements which should give all of us something to think about.

*Adapted from “The Letters to the Philippians, Colossians, and Thessalonians” (The New Daily Study Bible) Barclay, William as reported in the Commentaries by David Guzak

 **All from 1Thessalonians Chapter 2 verses 1-10

Peter MacLaren May 5, 2024

Church Service

 

Please join us as we worship our Lord this Sunday May 5th at 6 PM at the Hillside Community Hall

Peter MacLaren will bring us a message from the Word of God.

Jasmine Trott will lead worship.

We will save you a seat.

Pastor Helen Christie

 

Pastor Helen Christie graduated to Heaven Tuesday April 30 2024.

Visitation will be held at Angus Funeral Home Friday May 03 from 6-8 PM. and funeral service at Christian Fellowship Church on Saturday, May 4 at 2 PM.

Come let us celebrate a life well lived.