Revelation 1:3 and Me

Somehow, the other week, Revelation 1:3 got on my radar. 

I had never focused on the part about reading the prophecy aloud seemed new to me. Some long time ago, I first heard that it's good to read the Bible aloud and that it helps retention and understanding.

Anyway, I decided to read Revelation. Out loud. It has been beneficial. For one thing, while reading aloud, I am more focused on checking commentaries as I go through the verses. Thankfully, I have several Bible translations and a variety of commentaries because of the amazing eSword. 

BTW eSword is right up there in my favorite resources along with Got Questions, Blue Letter Bible, and BibleRef. And ALL of them are FREE...

It has been a blessing to read Revelation out loud. I am now intending to do the same whenever I read or study any part of the Bible. 

Here's a weird thing I have noticed. There is such a cloud of noise and other distractions around us that it's hard to think clearly. I feel sometimes as if I am wading through a tunnel of "news and information", social media posts, chattering neighbors, and so much other stimuli that I don't get a chance to think clearly and deeply about anything real. Deep breath!

There is so much unorganized noise around us that it's hard (at least for me) to have an organized train of thought.

Reading the Bible aloud made me realize this. When I read the words aloud, I am focused on those words. I am focused on what they mean and how they apply to life.  Most of the other "noise" in my life - social media, entertainment media, etc. - is all like a diet of drugs and dessert, filling my up without fulfilling me.

I won't go on a rant about how I - like a lot of people - spend too much time dealing with my phone and consuming the "junk food" of media. I will say reading Revelation aloud truly has been a blessing to me. I'm going to try to focus on having a healthier diet of what I let into my mind and heart.

Peace

--Free

The Biggest Distraction

Everyone is aware that the world seems to be more in turmoil lately. Maybe because the worst turmoil is in a place that was once the icon of Western stability - the USA. Initially, I wanted to blame politics and its bad actors, but now I'm thinking we are all to blame. Everything has become so performative. That was only mildly annoying when it was to do with social media - you know, with everyone become an 'influencer' of some sort. I thought it was just another social/cultural phase when people went from simple YouTubing - being serious, being too sharing, being outrageous, being silly, etc. - to making it a lifestyle. Everyone was suddenly a 'content creator'. There were parents putting their family life (for better or for worse) on display. Every day it seemed there was a new family of some specific number in a house, van, or on the road. It wasn't enough to showcase details of the latest mystery or gossip or story, but some people decided to do it all while applying makeup or doing their hair.

I was only annoyed when all the creating and influencing and showboating was to do with meaningless media, but then the shift came for the news. Not that I ever fully trusted the news to be unbiased or untainted by hidden manipulation, but when it became so obviously and purposefully performative...

Every newsperson (I don't know what else to call them) became their own media character. You had your left-wingers, right-wingers, and swing-wingers. There was the highly educated and the questionably educated and so on. I am pretty sure that whoever it is that does manipulate society has a casting department. When the networks need a Rachel Maddow, Greg Gutfeld, or Don Lemon, I imagine a meeting of shadowy people who send out a request to other shadowy people. Suddenly, *we the people/viewers* have a new face to focus on; someone relatable to represent all our frustrations and energy.

What I wonder is if there really are any significant numbers of people left who know their way around the information minefield that is the "news". Does anyone still think critically enough to know that there is really no longer "news" but instead just "approved propaganda"?

The thing is, that this is happening doesn't bother me in the way someone might think. I know that this is what it was all coming down to. Man has been playing to his own destruction since Adam and Eve messed up in the Garden. 

Everything - from the beginning - has been a war. "We the people" have always been the prize. We were never in control of society or culture. The only control we've ever had is over our personal choices.  Everything outside of that is part of the many battles in this war. The only way to win - and we can only win or lose for ourselves - is the make the right choice.

Every struggle and triumph in a person's life are just cobblestones in their whole walk, and everyone will influence that all-important choice. In the end of it all, it's not going to matter how wealthy or poor, healthy or not; no matter what you look like or what talent you have or don't have; what friends and connections you do or don't have. All that is going to matter is the choices you made that led to the most important choice.

There won't be anyone counting their money in Heaven or Hell. No one is going to care that you did or didn't achieve whatever success in your mortal life. Your mortal self won't matter in your immortal eternity. 

So, all this worldly, human STUFF is just distraction to keep your eye from seeing what the shadowy manipulators are doing. They don't want you to see your way to Jesus. They know that if you see the Messiah, he will be your way to God. 

Don't be distracted. Don't let the good or the bad of this world keep you away from eternal salvation.

Peace

--Free

"The more I study science, the more I believe in God." — Albert Einstein

So Much in Vain

The other night, YouTube plopped an old video of the Jacksons in my feed. As a tweenager, I was Jackson 5 mad! As a teenager, I was Michael Jackson mad. As an adult, I had fond memories of being a fanatic for the musical Jacksons. Then I discovered Jesus.

So. When this video popped up, I could almost picture my fourteen-year-old self, daydreaming and practicing my signature as "Mrs. M. Jackson". I went ahead and took a look at the video. It was a reunion of sorts of the all the Jacksons- 6 of them counting their baby brother. As adults they still wore the dazzlingly bright outfits, a lot of silver and sheen. They still had the harmony and the synchronized moves. I listened to a medley of hits from their past. I was shocked and ashamed that I still knew all the words! If I had as many Bible verses as memorized, I'd be grateful.

When the video was over, I sat there having thoughts about talent, fame, worldly glory and... the worthlessness of it all.

The video also showed the audience. People were losing their minds to the joy of seeing a famous group perform. I even saw a little kid who was so excited I think he may have been overwhelmed. It was all very "wow".

And what does it matter to the ones who are no longer here? 

Of course, I can't help but think of Ecclesiastes 1.

I don't know where Michael or any other deceased artists are, but all that dancing, singing, or playing of instruments - none of it matters now. At one point in the video, I had watched as the famous brothers made some of the well-known dance moves - pivoting in sync and turning left to point fingers. On beat the jutted their heads forward to follow the pointing hands. Very slick and it took who knows how much practice. And not only does it no longer matter, but it actually seems silly.

I'm not picking on the famous because we all are proud of things that one day will no longer matter. Having a spectacular talent, intellectual abilities, stellar attractiveness, and on and on. We need to focus more on the things of eternity.

One good thing that came out of seeing that "blast from the past" is that it prodded me to re-focus. I need to be spending more time learning the Bible. I should know it better than I know the lyrics to someone's songs. Amen?

Peace

-- Free