Trail Lessons - There is Life Under the Ice

These are some of the Scriptures which inspired the thoughts I recorded at the reservoir: 

Unveiling the Myth of Hell and Eternal Torment, Part 5

Part 5– Gehenna: Its Purpose in the Past and Future

Prior parts to this series about hell are as follows:

Part 1: A BriefBackdrop of My Journey

Part 2: The Hebrew WordSheol

Part 3: The Greek WordHades

Part 4: Gehenna: The Place Jesus Mentioned

In this part of the series, I will cover the following points:

--In the past, Gehenna was a place of death and burial
--What did the apostle Paul say about Gehenna?
--Was Gehenna ever a garbage dump?
--In the future, Gehenna will be a place of death and burial
--What does Gehenna look like today?

What did God’s chosen people, the Israelites, understand about Gehenna that seems totally neglected in Christian teachings today?  Let’s look at the Israeli prophets for answers and their revelation to us that Gehenna has been a place of swift judgment in the past and will also be again the future.

In the past, Gehenna (hell?) was a place of death and burial

Jeremiah, a prophet of Israel, was the son of the priest Hilkiah, the same priest who found the scrolls of the law and gave them to King Josiah.  (Hilkiah and King Josiah were mentioned in Part 4 of this “Myth of Hell” series.)  Through the prophet Jeremiah, God warned of the impending destruction to come upon Jerusalem and of the impending death and/or captivity and dispersion of the people for all the evils they had committed and for their unfaithfulness.   

Unveiling the Myth of Hell and Eternal Torment, Part 4

Part 4 – Gehenna: The Place Jesus Mentioned

Prior parts to this series about hell are as follows:

Part 1: A BriefBackdrop of My Journey

Part 2: The Hebrew WordSheol

Part 3:The Greek Word Hades

If you’ve read the prior three parts on the myth of hell, you may be asking:  “Didn’t Jesus teach about hell?  Didn’t he make himself clear when he spoke of hell and its torment?”

Jesus warned the Israelites about a place of burning, but it wasn’t hell by today’s modern definition.  Jesus referred to a literal geographical location in Jerusalem called Valley of Hinnom (Gai Hinnom in Hebrew language).  Its name was transliterated with Greek letters into the word Geenna.    

The name Gehenna (as written in English) is derived from the Hebrew words “gai”(valley, deep gorge, or ravine) and “Hinnom”.   The Hebrew name Hinnom literally means “lamentation”.  The Valley of Hinnom can also be referred to as the Valley of Lamentation.

Lessons from Hinds Feet - Walking in the Mist

Hannah Hurnard’s book Hinds’ Feet on High Places is one of my all-time favorite books.  Hannah Hurnard wrote a spiritual allegory about a woman named Much Afraid who accepts an invitation from The Shepherd to take a difficult journey to the High Places.  The Shepherd represents Jesus Christ.  The High Places represents a destination of spiritual growth and maturity, not heaven.  Much Afraid’s constant and faithful companions throughout her journey are Sorrow and Suffering.  Much Afraid has “fearing relatives” who miserably taunt her all throughout her journey and tempt her to give up and return to them.  Since 2004, I have read and re-read the story of Much Afraid on her journey to the High Places, and it has inspired and encouraged me every time.  I feel a kindred spirit with Hannah Hurnard because she also believed in God’s ultimate salvation of all mankind. 

http://pixdaus.com/path-in-the-misty-woods-mist-path-trail-woods/items/view/202167/ 

This lesson is based on Chapter 12, titled "In the Mist". 

(All quotations are from that chapter.)  

I am not a Christian

{Added personal thoughts in January 2018:  It's been years since I wrote this post and our family went through this judgmental experience.  In the years that have come and gone, many things have changed, my beliefs and faith have traveled a great journey, and I still no longer call myself a Christian.  Though I do believe in a Divine Spirit of All which gives life to all.  The other day I thought of this post, and of what I believed at the time based on what I had been taught, in comparison to my perspective today.  I know this:  We are immensely and powerfully much more than just a human, physical body living an earthly life.  Our very life essence is soulful, energetic, and spiritual.  That IS who we really are.  We live in a temporary shell of a body but, in our truest nature, we are neither male nor female.  May we all be granted the sight to see and appreciate the truth and value of ourselves and each other beyond all earthly labels assigned to us in this short life.}

“…he who is without sin among you, let him be the first to throw a stone…”

“The scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman caught in adultery, and having set her in the center of the court, they said to Him, “Teacher, this woman has been caught in adultery, in the very act.  Now in the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women; what then do You say?”  They were saying this, testing Him, so that they might have grounds for accusing Him. But Jesus stooped down and with His finger wrote on the ground.  But when they persisted in asking Him, He straightened up, and said to them, “He who is without sin among you, let him be the first to throw a stone at her.”  Again He stooped down and wrote on the ground.  When they heard it, they began to go out one by one, beginning with the older ones, and He was left alone, and the woman, where she was, in the center of the court.  Straightening up, Jesus said to her, “Woman, where are they? Did no one condemn you?”  She said, “No one, Lord.” And Jesus said, “I do not condemn you, either. Go. From now on sin no more.”  (John 8:3-11, NAS)

I will proclaim that I am not a Christian. For the past five years, I have not placed myself under that man-made label.  Please, don’t call me a Christian. 

Unveiling the Myth of Hell and Eternal Torment, Part 3

Part 3 – The Greek Word Hades

If you have not read Part 1, A Brief Backdrop of My Journey or Part 2, The Hebrew Word Sheol, please do so before reading this Part 3.

Once again, I’ll repeat myself and say that mankind’s present is enormously influenced by the past and by other cultures.  Christianity’s modern ideas of hell have mostly come from Greek and Roman mythology, the poetic (and fictional) writing of Dante Alighieri’s (1265-1321) Inferno, and from ancient church leaders of Roman Catholicism and so called “church fathers” who had the wrong perception of God’s character, held an unhealthy fear of God, and/or wanted to have power and control over people. 

In Part 2, I explained the Hebrew word Sheol which is used in the Old Testament.  In this Part 3, I will explain the Greek word Hades, which is the equivalent to Sheol.

What is Hades?  

The Greek word “Hades” ([h]ades) is constructed out of two root words: 

Unveiling the Myth of Hell and Eternal Torment, Part 1

Part 1 – A Brief Backdrop of My Journey

I have appropriately used the word “unveiling” in the title to this series about hell because God is the One who must lift the veil or pull back the curtain for us to see any truth.  And that’s precisely what He has done for me and continues to do on a daily basis.  

“A man cannot get anything if it should not 
be given him out of heaven.”

(John 3:17, CLNT)

The Backdrop

Please bear with me for a moment while I set a very brief backdrop of my spiritual journey.

Daily Truth – Only God Knows

The last writing (or “book”) in our modern Bibles is commonly known as Revelation.  The New American Standard (NAS) translation titles it “The Revelation of John”.  

The Concordant Literal New Testament (CLNT) most appropriately titles it “The Unveiling of Jesus Christ”.

The Writ, Dabhar Translation Vol. 2, simply shortens it to “Unveiling”. 

My 45th Birthday Thanksgivings

My 45^th birthday came and went a couple of weeks ago.  I awoke that morning thanking God for my life and all His work in my life and journaled some thanksgivings.  I have wanted to type those up and post them because they are so important to me. 

Thanksgivings are so significant.  They remind us of how much we have, how much we’ve been given, and how blessed we truly are.  Sometimes, when life is hard, we tend to focus on the negatives and become negative ourselves and ungrateful.  Thanksgivings are a powerful force against negativity and ungratefulness.

On my 45^th birthday morning, I offered these initial thanksgivings to God…

Stand on Your Knees! The Sun WILL Rise after the Night

I have been observing that there seems to be a sudden surge of utter despair overcoming people.  This life is full of ups and downs.  Living this life carries with it the promise that not only will we face joys but that we will also face great sorrows.  It seems to me too many people are being tempted to give up in total hopelessness rather than endure and push through with perseverance.  It truly breaks my heart.  As all these things happen, I am reminded of something I wrote a long time ago and eventually posted on this site in the post God is Hope.

I am currently 44 years old.  I have faced my share of joys and sorrows.  I’ve had my share of trials and sufferings—as a child, as a youth, as a young adult, and as a full grown adult.  I have faced the death of loved ones.  I have faced the heartache of being forsaken and abandoned by those who had previously claimed to love me.  I have felt the bitter sting of hatred from those I love deeply.  Some of the trials have certainly felt like much more than I wanted to endure or felt like I could endure.  Some of the trials lasted a short time (days or months) while others went on for years, which felt to me like an eternity.  During some of those trials, I was tempted to give up all hope and despair completely.  My spiritual enemy and adversary of God, the devil, lied to me and tried to convince me to give up hope and to give up my faith in God.  There were times when the spiritual enemy even tried to convince me that death was better than life. 

Who brings utter despair knocking on the door of our soul?

Disillusionment with God

Our general populace has arrived at a loss of faith and trust in God. 

Some people find it easier to believe there is some “higher power” but will not call it God.  Is that “higher power” luck, fortune, the stars, the planets, or the universe?  What exactly is it?  Why don't they call it God? 

Other people simply choose to believe there is nothing greater or more powerful than man.  Man is his own god—his own master and commander.  After all, life on this earth can be quite chaotic at times.  Why waste time believing in a God that doesn’t stop the “bad” things from happening? 

And there are those people who start out having a faith in God but find themselves at a crossroads where they question that faith or give it up altogether. 

Why this crisis of faith in God? 

Where Is God When Bad Things Happen? Finding Understanding through Job - Part 3, Afflicted Beyond What We Can Bear

This is a continuation to the previous posts:

Where is God When Bad Things Happen? Finding Understanding through Job – Part 1, Asking Hard Questions  

and

Where is God When Bad Things Happen? Finding Understanding through Job – Part 2, Facing Tragic Loss  

Part 3 – Afflicted Beyond What We Can Bear

When people are going through terrible suffering, their friends might thoughtlessly quote to them the cliché “The Bible says God will not give you more than you can handle”.  This is actually not a scriptural statement whatsoever; it is based on misunderstood and misquoted verses.  The verses of 1 Corinthians 10:12-14 speak on the subject of temptation, not about trials of enduring suffering.  Most contrary to the popular cliché, the apostle Paul stated that we do face afflictions that may bring us to despair and feel beyond our strength to endure, even to the point of making us feel like we may die.  

Where is God When Bad Things Happen? Finding Understanding through Job, Part 2 – Facing Tragic Loss

Part 1 can be read at Where is God When Bad Things Happen?  Finding Understanding through Job, Part 1 –Asking Hard Questions

Part 2 – Facing Tragic Loss

Time and time again, I can’t help but return to Job when I experience suffering or when I see or hear of the suffering of others.  Corresponding to the extensive suffering he endured, the literal meaning of Job’s name in the Hebrew language is “persecuted”.  The story of Job, the man who was persecuted, begins this way:

The Art of William Blake

JOB 1:1-5 (NAS)

¹ There was a man in the land of Uz whose name was Job; and that man was blameless, upright, fearing God and turning away from evil. ² Seven sons and three daughters were born to him. ³  His possessions also were 7,000 sheep, 3,000 camels, 500 yoke of oxen, 500 female donkeys, and very many servants; and that man was the greatest of all the men of the east. ⁴ His sons used to go and hold a feast in the house of each one on his day, and they would send and invite their three sisters to eat and drink with them. ⁵ When the days of feasting had completed their cycle, Job would send and consecrate them, rising up early in the morning and offering burnt offerings according to the number of them all; for Job said, “ Perhaps my sons have sinned and cursed God in their hearts.” Thus Job did continually. 

Seeking the Unsearchable God - Part 3

(If you have not read Part 1 and Part 2 of "Seeking the Unsearchable God", you can find them at the following links: "Seeking the Unsearchable God - Part 1" and "Seeking the Unsearchable God, Part 2")


“O, the depth of the riches and the wisdom and the knowledge of God!  How inscrutable are His judgments, and untraceable His ways!  For who knew the mind of the Lord? Or, who became His adviser?  Or who gives to Him first, and it will be repaid him?  Seeing that out of Him and through Him and for Him is all: to Him be the glory for the eons!  Amen!”  (Romans 11:33-36 CLNT)

All comes from God.  There is nothing we can do for Him or give to Him that has not been given to us by Him first.

“Who has given to Him first, and it shall be repaid to him?”  (Isaiah 40:14 CLNT)

Has any human being given to God first? 

Is there anything we can give to or do for God of which God has not been the source? 

Can man give to God first that God may actually owe man anything back? 

Election Day, November 6, 2012

Regardless of who wins the United States’ election today, my faith and trust will rest in the sovereign God of all, Who is over all, and Who accomplishes His purposes and does His perfect will.  May His chosen candidate win--for better or for worse.  Whether you voted or did not vote, or whether you voted for that candidate or the other candidate, your actions were an important thread in the tapestry of God. He is sovereign over all.  

"For there is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God." (Romans 13:1)

Seeking the Unsearchable God - Part 2

For Part 1 - see the October 31, 2012 post: Seeking the Unsearchable God - Part 1 

“O, the depth of the riches and the wisdom and the knowledge of God!  How inscrutable are His judgments, and untraceable His ways!  For who knew the mind of the Lord? Or, who became His adviser? Or who gives to Him first, and it will be repaid him?  Seeing that out of Him and through Him and for Him is all:  to Him be the glory for the eons!  Amen!”  (Romans 11:33-36 CLNT)

Who knows the mind of God and what He is thinking and planning?  What man can be His adviser and tell God what to do?

“Who gauges the spirit of YHWH and is informing Him as a man of His counsel?”  (Isaiah 40:13 CVOT)

Who truly knows the mind of YHWH?  Who can truly know all that He’s thinking, planning, or doing?  Who?  What human can possibly measure God’s spirit?  What human counsels God and tells Him what to do or not do or how He should do it?  The God of all, out of Whom all is, is not One that can be manipulated or told what to do.  God will do His best, His counsel, and His plans.  We can speak our minds with Him, we can share our longings and desires, we can ask and hope for Him to grant our dreams, but ultimately God does what God knows is best to do.  At times, what He does will align with what we hoped for.  But let us not for one moment convince ourselves that it is our petitions which move the hand of God or sway God here or there.  (I delve more deeply on the topic of prayer in a September 2011 post titled: Daily Truth -The Power of Prayer) 

Seeking the Unsearchable God - Part 1

“O, the depth of the riches and the wisdom and the knowledge of God!  How inscrutable are His judgments, and untraceable His ways!  For who knew the mind of the Lord? Or, who became His adviser? Or who gives to Him first, and it will be repaid him?  Seeing that out of Him and through Him and for Him is all:  to Him be the glory for the eons!  Amen!”  (Romans 11:33-36 CLNT)

The depth of the riches, wisdom, and knowledge of God is deeper than humanly fathomable!

There may be people who claim to know all the secrets of God and claim to have God and His ways all figured out.  The reality is that they do not.  They cannot.  Discovering the depth of the riches and the wisdom and the knowledge of God is a life long journey.  It is not a destination we arrive at while we live on this earth.

Daily Truth - God’s Peace is Superior

“For the word of God is living and active…”  (Hebrews 4:12)

The power of God’s truth upon our lives never ceases to amaze me.  When we face difficulties and trials in our lives, we can be certain that when we turn to Father God and the Lord Jesus Christ, there will be comfort and peace to be found.  Frankly, there are some situations in life where it may seem that comfort and peace will be impossible to be found.  We feel overcome by circumstances that seem larger than life and more powerful than God.  However, what may seem to be is not the reality of what truly is. 

The truth is that through Christ Jesus, Who unconditionally loves us, we are able to more than conquer over the trials and tribulations of our lives.  (Romans 8:37)   

Daily Truth - Jesus Christ is the Image of the Invisible God

Jesus Christ is revealed to mankind as Firstborn of all creation, the Son of God, the Word of God, and the Image of God.  Jesus Christ reveals God to humanity.  Through Jesus Christ, we can see God, hear God, and know God.  Although, all is out of God and comes from Him, God chose for all to be through Jesus Christ.

“…for there is one God, the Father, out of Whom all is…and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through Whom all is…but not in all is there this knowledge.”  (1 Corinthians 8:6-7)

Jesus Christ is the perfect image of the invisible God.  No man can see God.

The Rigor Mortis of Head Knowledge

God, Christ, and the Scriptures are powerfully living, moving, and active.  They are not meant to be turned into cadavers on a morgue table which are dissected into pieces and studied for the mere sake of figuring them all out and knowing how they work. God, Christ, and the Scriptures are meant to be related with, experienced, and known with our entire being—mental, emotional, spiritual, and physical.  

I observe around me so much studying of the Bible and dissecting of passages of Scripture and the dissecting of God and Christ.  All the while, Christ believers are also seeking after this or that teaching or teacher to explain things to them.  All the while, fellow believers are found to be disagreeing, bickering, or arguing about what this or that means and what it doesn’t mean.

“Now I exhort you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all agree and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be made complete in the same mind and in the same judgment.  For I have been informed concerning you, my brethren, by Chloe’s people, that there are quarrels among you.  Now I mean this, that each one of you is saying, ‘I am of Paul’, and ‘I of Apollos’, and ‘I of Cephas’, and ‘I of Christ’.  Has Christ been divided? Paul was not crucified for you, was he?”  (1 Corinthians 1:10-13, NAS)