ENGLISH - WRITTEN AND SPOKEN

ENGLISH SPELLING

 

This clever poem shows why our English spelling cannot be reformed and why it must stay as it is.  Words are symbols which must be decoded.  If you will read the poem out loud, it makes perfect sense.  But the spelling of the words, which are incorrect (yet meaningfully valid) will be confusing.

 

 

Candidate For a Pullet Surprise
By Mark Eckman and Jerrold H. Zar

I halve a spelling checker, It came with my pea see,
It plane lee marks four my revue, Miss steaks aye dew knot sea.

Eye ran this poem threw it, Your sure reel glad two no,
Its vary polished in it's weight, My checker tolled me sew.

A checker is a blessing, It freeze yew lodes of thyme,
It helps me right awl stile two reed, And aides me when eye rime.

Each frays come posed up on my screen, Eye trussed too bee a joule,
The checker pours o'er every word, To cheque sum spelling rule.

Bee fore a veiling checker's hour mite decline,
And if we're lacks oar have a laps, We wood bee maide too wine.

Butt now bee cause my spelling, Is checked with such grate flare,
Their are know fault's with in my cite, Of nun eye am a wear.

Now spelling does knot phase me, It does knot bring a tier.
My pay purrs awl due glad den, With wrapped word's far as hear.

To rite with care is quite a feet, Of witch won should be proud.
And wee mussed dew the best wee can, Sew flaw's are knot aloud.

Sow ewe can sea why aye dew prays, such soft wear four pea seas,
And why eye brake in two averse, Buy righting want too pleas.

The Story Behind the Poem

This clever poem has been all over the Internet in various forms, called everything from "Ode to a Spell Checker" to "Spellbound," and usually attributed to "Sauce unknown." The opening lines were written by Mark Eckman in 1991. And Dr. Jerrold H. Zar, Biology Professor at Northern Illinois University, expanded the short version to what it is today in 1992.

 

 

SCANDINAVIANS CONDENSING GOSPEL [EP]

Scandinavian Christian group is translating parts of Scripture in the most up-to-date language of young Norwegians: condensed text messages for cell phones.  “We hope to inspire increased Bible use, so this is a way in with young people,” sad Anders Torvill Bjorvand of Oslo, Norway’s Gospel Speak Internet site.  Nearly every Norwegian teen has a cell phone, and communicating using Short Message Service (SMS) has become so popular that a hyper-condensed language has been created, using code words, abbreviations, and symbols.  Bjorvand demonstrated the translation technique, using the Lord’s Prayer: “Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed by thy name.  Thy kingdom come.”  (SMS  Fthr n hvn.  U r holy.  Come.); “Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.  Give us this day our daily bread.”  (SMS  rule earth as hvn.  Giv us food.); “And forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.  And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.”  (SMS  Frgv our wrongs.  keep temptation n evil from us.); “For thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory forever.  Amen.”  (SMS  All is yours.  U rul in glory.  Amn.)

 

Fthr n hvn.  U r holy.  Come.  rule earth as hvn.   Giv us food.  Frgv our wrongs.  keep temptation n evil from us. All is yours.  U rul in glory.  Amn.

 

 

BRITISH ENGLISH

R. D. ICE

The English have a witty, humorous approach to language.  Here are some common proverbs rewritten by Montague Butler.

 

"A single member of the avian race,

That the prehensile digits fast embrace

The mercantile equivalent achieves

Of two at large amid arboreal leaves."

        

"Teach not your parent's mother to extract

The embryo juices of an egg by suction:

That good old lady can the feat enact

Quite irrespective of your kind instruction.

        

"The ferrous form is more than warm,

And ruddy glowings light it:

Don't wait until it starts to chill,

But smite it."

        

"The early worm goes forth with zeal

To give the hungry bird a meal.

His brother has no such intention,

And lives to draw his old age pension.

        

"Bear not to glutted cellars near the Tyne

The carbonaceous products of the mine."

        

"Observe yon plumed biped fine!

To effect his captivation

Deposit particles saline

Upon his termination."

        

"Where fluvial aggregations lie

Uncorrigated to the eye,

Their currents, one infers, may be

Impressive in profundity."

        

"Despise not wealth, nor heap on it abuse,

For cash and filthy lucre have their use.

Pecuniary agencies have force

To stimulate to speed the female horse."

               

"Who sums the yet unfractured shell of bipeds gallinaceous

Is apt to find his calculations woefully fallacious.”

        

"Thinking thine equine friend in noontide heat

Draughts from the cool and rippling rill desires,

Stand not amazed, if the ungrateful beast

merely to see his mirrored face aspires."

        

"A superfluity of culinary aid

Will mar the gastronomic juice

of osseous tissues made."

 

 

      THE COCKNEY,  Andre Deutsch Ltd.,  London,  Julian Franklyn,  author

 

         OSTENTATIOUS SLANG:

"Mr. Jones nabs the chance of putting his customers awake, that he has  just made his escape from Russia,  not forgetting to clap his mawleys upon some of the right sort of Ducks,  to make single and double-backed Slops  for gentlemen in Black, when on his return home he was stunned to find one of the top manufacturers in Manchester had cut his lucky and stepped off to the Swan stream,  leaving behind him a valuable stock  of moleskins, Cords, Velveteens, Plushes, Swansdowns,  &c., and I having some ready in the Kick, grabbed the chance, and stepped home with my swag, and am now landed at my crib.   I can turn out toggery of every description very slap-up,  at the following low prices for Ready Gilt  - Tick being no go.”

        

In a public-house,  under normal circumstances, a request for a pint of  'brown’  or  of  'wallop'  will be made; but in the presence of  an  'observer',  when the Cockney uses his rhyming slang excessively and ostentatiously,  partly to mystify and partly to establish his own superiority,  the request will be for a Walter Scott (pot) of pig’s ear (beer) . He may add that he will not get Elephant's trunk  (drunk) on it because it is half fisherman's daughter (water); but if he does he can be sure his trouble and strife (wife) will soon pick him up off the Rory O More  (floor) and get him into Uncle Ned (bed).  He may abbreviate this:  "Gimme a Walter of pig's.   I won't get  elephant's,  because it  is half fisherman's.   Me trouble would pick me off the Rory and get me into Uncle."

 

        

   SLANG - COLLOQUIAL:

"So she says  - Dick, I reckon there's a mouse in the cupboard- so what do I do?   I goes down to Jack and I says -  Jack,  I want to borrow your old tom-mog and I'll  tell yeh for why - I reckon we got a mouse.   So he says to me - Dick - 'e says - I don't mind you borrowing our old mog,  he’s a grand mouser, he is, but I don't reckon you'll be able to get hold of him.     I'll tell you for why, he says - so  I says  - 'ere, arf a mo before you go on,  I  says  - I  bet  I'll get him.   So he says - arf a mo yourself, listen here: you won't get him, I'll  tell you for why.   He's up the tree down the road after a sparrow.

 

So I goes back and she says  - where yehu been?   So I  says I been down to Jack's  to get the cat.   Yers - she says - I don't think;  you've been to have one with Jack  that's where you've been.   So I  says, says I - listen here, I says -  I couldn't get no cat because why? Because he's up a tree after sparrows."

        

 

Mothers of Jesus

MOTHERHOOD AND THE BIRTH OF JESUS

The genealogy of Jesus includes these women.

"At last! Adam exclaimed. She is part of my own flesh and bone! She will be called ‘woman’ because she was taken out of a man." Genesis 2:23 The Book

"When the time came, she gave birth to Cain, and she said, With the Lord’s help I have brought forth a man." Genesis 4:1-2 The Book

1. EVE Genesis 4:1-2; 1 Timothy 2:15

2. TAMAR Matt. 1:3; 1 Chronicles 2:4 "Later Judah had twin sons through Tamar, his widowed daughter-in-law. Their names were Perez and Zerah. So Judah had five sons in all."

3. RAHAB Matt. 1:5; Hebrews 11:31; Joshua 6:23 "The young men went in and brought out Rahab, her father, mother, brothers, and all the other relatives who were with her. They moved her whole family to a safe place near the camp of Israel." The Book

4. RUTH Matt. 1:5; Book of Ruth

5. BATHSHEBA Matt. 1:6; 1 Chronicles 3:5 "The sons born to David in Jerusalem included Shimea, Shobab, Nathan, and Solomon. Bathsheba, the daughter of Ammiel, was the mother of these sons." The Book

6. MARY Matt. 1:16 "Jacob was the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary. Mary was the mother of Jesus, who is called the Messiah." The Book



Mary sang a song of praise to God.

"Oh, how I praise the Lord.

How I rejoice in God my Savior!

For He took notice of His lowly servant girl,

and now generation after generation

will call me blessed.

For He, the Mighty One, is holy,

and He has done great things for me.

His mercy goes on from generation to generation,

to all who fear Him.

His mighty arm does tremendous things!

How He scatters the proud and haughty ones!

He has taken princes from their thrones

and exalted the lowly.

He has satisfied the hungry with good things

and sent the rich away with empty hands.

And how He has helped His servant Israel!

He has not forgotten His promise to be merciful.

For He promised our ancestors -

Abraham and his children -

to be merciful to them forever."

Luke 1:46-55 The Book



Prophecy of Simeon.

"Lord, now I can die in peace!

As you have promised me,

I have seen the Savior

You have given to all people.

He is a light to reveal God to the nations,

and He is the glory of Your people Israel!"

Luke 2:29-32 The Book



Jesus places His mother in John’s care.

When Jesus saw His mother standing there

beside the disciple He loved, He said to her

Woman, he is your son.

And He said to this disciple,

She is your mother.

And from then on

this disciple took her into his home.

John 19:27 The Book

Mary Magdalene

MARY MAGDALENE R.D.Ice 11/4/2003

A TV Special on ABC Tuesday night (11-4-03) speculated on whether Mary Magdalene might have been the wife of Jesus. This examines a book, "The Da Vinci Code," which based this question on material from the Gnostics (who claimed special knowledge not available to the average person).

Of course there is no reason at all to think that Jesus was married. However the Bible gives to Mary Magdalene a very important role as one of Christ’s supporters..

From "Kingdom Dynamics." Freed to become fruitful (Mary Magdalene). Mary Magdalene first appears in the Gospels among a number of other women who constitute a part of the support-team assisting Jesus in His ministry. She had been delivered from demonic bondage, the nature of which is not related.



There is an almost indestructible body of myth that has come to surround her, primarily by reason of speakers, writers, novelists, and screenplays, which have created a fantasy that generally suggests three things, none of which are in the Bible: 1) that she had been a prostitute, 2) that she was young and attractive, and, 3) that she had a romantic affection for Jesus. She has also been frequently confused with the sinful woman forgiven by Jesus (Luke 7:36-50) and/or the woman who broke the alabaster box of perfumed ointment (Mark 14:3-9). In fact, all these proposals are speculation, yet through frequent allusion or direct reference have taken on the appearance of fact for multitudes. What is true of Mary Magdalene?

First, she was a grateful soul, because she had been freed from terrible torment. This text suggests her service for Christ was motivated by that gratitude. Second: she was a witness of the Crucifixion, though apparently not beside the Cross as were Mary, Jesus’ mother, and John the Beloved (Matt. 27:55-56). (The fact that the other women with whom she kept company were all older women supports the reasoning that she was likely their peer in age.) Third: she was present at Jesus’ burial (Mark 15:47), among those who came early Easter morning to complete the embalming of Jesus’ body (Mark 16:1), among the first to hear the angelic announcement of Jesus’ resurrection (Mark16:6), and the first person actually to talk with Jesus after He was risen (John 20:11-18). It is foolish to conclude that her movement toward greeting Jesus with an embrace following His resurrection suggests anything other than the most logical response of joy and the discovery of His being alive. Jesus’ directive that she not do so was not because there was anything unworthy in her approach. His words apparently indicate some yet uncompleted aspect of His post-crucifixion mission. [note: touch me not = do not cling to Me.]

Mary Magdalene was a steadfast disciple of Jesus and is best seen as a case study of how no dimension of satanic bondage can prohibit any individual’s being released to fruitful service for Jesus Christ. F.L.

The Compact Bible Dictionary says of her: "Mary Magdalene. Jesus cast seven devils out of her; she became His devoted and supportive disciple. She was present at the crucifixion, visited His tomb, and witnessed the resurrection. Mark 16:9; Luke 8:2; 24:10; John 20:1-18."

I wrote in the BSNT. "There is no reason at all to think her the woman at Simon’s house (Luke 7:37). She was one of the most devoted friends of Christ, and was first to see Him when He raised from death (John 20:16)."

Jesus Himself included women in His circle of disciples. Luke 8:1-3. This was very different from the Pharisees and their attitude toward women. The teachers of the Law did not believe women should be taught spiritual matters.

Paul also shows men and women equal in matters of salvation - all one in Christ. Gal. 3:28

The 120 disciples in Acts 1:12-15 included women. Only Mary the mother of Jesus is identified by name in this passage. Mary Magdalene was surely there also, as she was one of the inner circle of women.

Mary Magdalene was the very first to see the risen Christ (John 20:11-18). We wonder whether there is some important meaning here?

"Mary herself, as incredulous as the disciples, is convinced by the Risen Christ, unrecognized at first then joyfully embraced. His words, "do not cling to Me," confirm the lesson that this is the same Jesus, but not the Master of flesh and blood bound by time and space. She must not cling to the Jesus of Galilee, but keep her love for the Risen Lord who will soon be able to be present with all His disciples everywhere." William Neil (Note the other women did cling to Him temporarily, Matt. 28:9.)

The Descent of the Dove

THE DESCENT OF THE DOVE

Charles Williams wrote "A Short History of the Holy Spirit in the Church" [c 1939]. It has been reprinted by Regent College, Vancouver, BC. He was an Englishman and wrote from that point of view. It is my wish to express his thoughts from my American point of view. R.D.Ice.

1. God’s Act to Redeem the World.

Dear Church of God at Corinth, Ephesus, Jerusalem, and everywhere in the world. The beginning of the Kingdom is at a point before Time. But the spiritual trigonometry finds it among Spiritual Secrets. "Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, .."

Draw a line from Bethany along the Ascending of the Christ in the clouds, and draw another from Jerusalem against the Descent of the Paraclete (Holy Spirit). This is the measurement of Eternity in operation, of the bright cloud and the rushing wind - God in Action.

History looks at an operation or action. We see the Holy Spirit act towards Christ under the conditions of our humanity. [He came as the Son of Man to set us free.] It was our humanity that gave the signal for God’s Act In Christ To Redeem The World. The visible birth of the church is at Pentecost - but that is only a result. The actual beginning - and climax - is in heaven.

2. Jesus - we believe in You!

The Spirit manifested before the nations. Those from the parts of Lybia about Cyrene, strangers of Rome, and the rest. Dispersed thousand that day caught something of the vision and heard something of the doctrine. Perhaps 100,000 (before persecution scattered them) returned to their own lands, if not as missionaries, as witnesses. The Holy Spirit took His own means to set up and spread the Church of God before a single apostolic step left Jerusalem. Mankind was to be generated anew.

They had one FACT - Christ had come, and been killed! And Risen! All had been "dead in trespasses and sins" - and now they were NOT! They were re-generated, and so might everyone be! "The promise," they shouted to the great number at Pentecost "is to you and to your children, and to all that are afar off." "Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the Holy Ghost." They had believed in Jesus of Nazareth, without very clearly understanding Him. His Resurrection seemed to justify their belief. But much more now they were justified before God, or rather HE was justified by raising from death. This thing had happened in real time. In every kind of way it was true that the God of Israel would not leave their souls in hell nor allow His Holy One to see corruption.

3. Battle for the souls of mankind.

The Apostles had to proceed with the operational campaign which The Holy Ghost had initiated. But the operation had to deal with conditions (which the Confuser tried to turn to their destruction). The sign on the cross was written in Hebrew, Latin, and Greek. Jewish religion, Roman order, Greek intellect. Christ had been Himself a Jew, but a Jew put to death for Jewish blasphemy. He said He was the Son of God. Matt. 26:63-65.

The Wise Will Shine

Those who are wise shall shine

"Those who are wise shall shine Like the brightness of the firmament, And those who turn many to righteousness Like the stars forever and ever." Dan 12:3

"At that time Jesus prayed this prayer: "O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, thank you for hiding these things from those who think themselves wise and clever, and for revealing them to the childlike. Yes, Father, it pleased you to do it this way! "My Father has entrusted everything to me. No one truly knows the Son except the Father, and no one truly knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him." Then Jesus said, "Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light."Matt 11:25-30(NLT)

1. Then a great mysterious sight appeared in the sky.

"Now a great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a garland of twelve stars." Rev 12:1

In this vision, the woman is symbolic of God’s people in both the Old and New testaments. (Church in the wilderness. Acts 8:37) At the right time, Jesus was born of a human mother and lived under the Jewish Law (Gal. 4.4). There is a continuity between the Jewish church and the church of Christ (see Heb. 9:15).

In Rev. 12, verses 1-6 form one central idea - God‘s act in history! The sun: the New Testament [the Christian system]. The moon: The Old Testament [the Law]. Twelve stars: the twelve apostles. To give birth: The Incarnation [Christ taking human form]. Another mysterious sight appeared in the sky. In this vision, the huge red dragon is Satan, The seven heads, ten horns, and the crowns are a lot like those of the beast in Rev. 17. These can be understood as symbolic of the Roman Empire, but Satan uses all the governments of the world against Christ and His church.

"For we have to struggle not with blood and flesh but with the angelic Rulers, the angelic Authorities, the potentates of the dark present, the spirit-forces of evil in the heavenly sphere. So take God's armour, that you may be able to make a stand upon the evil day and hold your ground by overcoming all the foe."    Eph 6:12-13 (MOFF)

 

2. Yet God is in control. Satan’s plans are frustrated by God. Even before Creation God had planned for the Eternal Word to come in flesh & blood among the sons and daughters of Adam.

"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love..." Eph 1:3-4

a) Satan cast out of heaven.

"Then I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, "Now salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our God day and night, has been cast down. And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death." Rev 12:10-12

b) The woman is protected.

"But the woman was given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness to her place, where she is nourished for a time and times and half a time, from the presence of the serpent." Rev 12:14

"You have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles' wings and brought you to Myself." Exodus 19:4

"The church needs to know that its present struggles and sufferings are not a sign that God has gone to sleep on the job. They are the sign that a great, cosmic drama is being staged, in which they are being given a vital though terrible role to play."  Wright

c) Satan desperately tries but fails.

"So the serpent spewed water out of his mouth like a flood after the woman, that he might cause her to be carried away by the flood. But the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed up the flood which the dragon had spewed out of his mouth." Rev 12:15-16

"The decisive battle has been won, and the devil knows it; but his basic nature of ‘accuser’ is now driving him, more and more frantically, to the attack, to accuse where it’s justified and where it isn’t, to drag down, to slander, to vilify, to deny the truth of what the creator God and His Son, the Lamb, have accomplished and are accomplishing. This is the ongoing battle in which all Christians are engaged, whether they know it or not." Wright

CHRISTIAN FRANKNESS

GOD-GIVEN FRANKNESS

This is an outline for study. Simplicity in 2 Corinthians 1:12 KJV translates haplotes. Frank or frankness is one possible translation. Free, forthright, honest, sincere, godly sincerity, plain unembellished truth, holiness. Simplicity is the opposite of duplicity. Paul conducted himself with frankness and godly purity as he preached Christ to the Corinthians.

Christ has made us FREE! [Romans 5:1; Galatians 5:1]. I propose using the word FRANK to describe the Christian Freedom seen in the life of Paul and the other apostles. I propose that this freedom is the Mind of Christ [John 8:28-29,34-36; Romans 8:1-4].

Note that Jesus spoke of the Judgment in terms of love, sharing, relationships, concern for others, things which are not usually on the rigorist agenda [Matt. 25:31ff].

Christian "frankness" is the type of attitude which set Paul free from the old restraints of Jewish doctrine and legalism. Frankness made Martin Luther strike out for the liberty he found in God's Word. This Christian frankness makes people more spiritual rather than less. It grows out of the expansion of Christian life. It is emphasis on positive convictions rather than negative denials. It points us to great aims to live for, great convictions to live by, great faith undergirding life, and great hope ahead! Christian frankness is sacrificially in earnest about establishing God's will in all the earth.

If one cares about the future of mankind, there is no cause on earth for which one could better pray and work for than spiritual renewal and the spread of Jesus Christ and His Gospel.

Fundamentalism: As the word is used in the news, it means rigorism, the quality of being inflexible, unyielding; harshness, severity - all in a bad sense. Such as Islamic Fundamentalists. The world has been suddenly shocked by the actions of Islamic Fundamentalists.

Religious rigoristic people were the most intense enemies of Jesus. Jesus respected and obeyed God's law. He stressed Spirit in contrast to letter. [Note 2 Cor. 3:6-18.] Jesus touched dead bodies, repealed the dietary laws, didn't punish the woman taken in adultery, etc. He valued human need above law keeping: "the Sabbath was made for man, etc." Since He did not sin - what He did was right! Just what God had intended.

1. Christ was frank in relation to the Law of Moses. It was Jesus who really took the Law seriously. "I did not come to destroy but to fulfill" [Matt. 5:17-19].

2. Frank is usually safer. The rigorist wants to keep it Just Like It Was. God calls us to be renewed day by day [2 Cor. 3:18; 4:16-18].

3. Frank is the logical consequence of convictions. Paul speaks of simplicity in 2Corinthians 1:12 KJV. Simplicity translates as frankness, openness, liberality [in the Bible sense], freedom. "For freedom did Christ set us free" [Gal. 5:1 ASV]. God calls us to love others and serve others just as Jesus did, by the power of the same Holy Spirit and in the same gracious freedom.

4. History bolsters the belief of the frank. Attacks upon the Christian faith often come from those who wish to impose their standards of rigorism on others. The history of the church since Pentecost shows this to be true. Note the Jerusalem conference in Acts15.

5. The frank understands that Satan is intent on diverting attention from the real issues. The rigorist, with good intentions, may "tithe mint and anise and cumin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faith" [Matthew 23:23]. Jesus said: "If you have done it to one of the least important brothers, you have done it to Me." Salvation and abundant life are God's priorities. [John 3:16-17; 10:10].

6. Frank Christianity provides the future with a needed option. Christian grandparents want their grandchildren to know Jesus Christ. The frank Christian elevates and honors Jesus. The rigorist often elevates forms and ritual and even the local church, but neglects Jesus. Children will read in our lives the importance which we place on Jesus Christ.

7. Being a frank Christian tends to distance oneself from rigorism's "white hot but loveless zeal" toward those with whom they disagree. A frank Christian can disagree without being disagreeable. Note the warning to the church at Ephesus [Revelation 2]. They had left their first love: they no longer loved Jesus as they did at first. Zeal cannot substitute for love and faithfulness [Romans 10:1-4].

8. The frank Christian welcomes the freedom which Christ brings. He accepts the search to know Christ Jesus and to follow the Golden Rule in relating to others "For the commandments.. are all summed up in this saying, namely, 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself'" [Romans 13:9]. Contrast this with the yoke which the ancestors could not bear [Acts 15:10-11].

9. The frank Christian believes God has acted to reveal His will in Jesus Christ. God has spoken in Jesus Christ [Hebrews 1:2]. Thus anything man does in principle to Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit, he does to God the Father. Man cannot love God without first loving his brother/sister [1 John 4:19-21]. God has frozen in time His Will demonstrated in Jesus Christ. We look to His example in the four Gospels - which were written so that we might know the certainty of Jesus (Luke 1:1-4.]

10. Three tests of faith. These are, I think, the three tests of effective Christian frankness:

1) this frankness springs from the growth and deepening of the spiritual life;

2) this frankness integrates in the centers of positive faith and affirmation;

3) this frankness results in a more devoted, efficient, constructive builder of the Christian Kingdom and civilization.

"But, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head - Christ..." [Ephesians 4:15].

There are some tests of faith and relationship in the New Testament:

1. Jesus is the WORD who "incarnated" and actually came into our world. HE came with the water of His baptism and the blood of His death - actually experiencing these things. HE was tempted in every way that we are. But HE did not sin! [note 1 John 4:1-3; 5:5-13; 2 John 7; 1 Cor. 12:3; Hebrews 4:14-16]

2. HE did not "wear a disguise" but actually participated in human life on our level. HE "emptied Himself" to do this (but did not cease to be God). [Phil. 2:5-11]

3. We worship ONE GOD who is a TRINITY. Father-Son-Spirit. This is a great mystery - yet we ourselves are body-soul-spirit [1 Thess. 5:23]. We must take the Triune God in His Fullness: HE is a "package deal." [Note 1John 2:22-23; John 5:23; 15:23.]

JOY TO THE WORLD

Joy to the World, the Lord is come!

 

  Joy to the World, the Lord is come!

Let Earth receive her King;

Let every heart prepare Him room,

And heaven and nature sing. (song #376)

At this season of the year the Babe of Bethlehem is lifted up in many ways. The voices of controversy cannot drown out the shout of angels: "For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord." Luke 2:11 (NKJV)

"According to Rassmusen Reports, 78 percent of Americans believe that Jesus is the Son of God who came to earth to die for our sins; 79 percent of Americans say religious holidays should be celebrated in public schools, and 70 percent prefer "Merry Christmas" to "Happy Holidays" on store signs."

1. The Church took notice of the Birth of Jesus the Christ.

a) To know the certainty of what we believe.

"Inasmuch as many have taken in hand to set in order a narrative of those things which have been fulfilled among us, just as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word delivered them to us, it seemed good to me also, having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first, to write to you an orderly account, most excellent Theophilus, that you may know the certainty of those things in which you were instructed." Luke 1:1-4 (NKJV)

b) God acted through Mary.

"And the angel answered and said to her, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God." Luke 1:35 (NKJV)

c) God’s Angels spoke of a Savior.

"Then the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord." Luke 2:10-11 (NKJV)

"And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying: "Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!" Luke 2:13-14 (NKJV)

2. The Eternal Word became flesh & blood.

"But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons. And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, "Abba, Father!"  Gal 4:4-6 (NKJV)

"And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth." John 1:14 (NKJV)

"For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. No one has seen God at any time. The only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has declared Him." John 1:17-18 (NKJV)

"For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace." Romans 6:14 (NKJV)

a) Son of God - the Human One.

"When He had been baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting upon Him. And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased."  Matt 3:16-17 (NKJV)

b) Savior of the world.

"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved." John 3:16-18 (NKJV)

"Now is the judgment of this world; now the ruler of this world will be cast out. And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all peoples to Myself." John 12:31-32 (NKJV)