I finally caught up to Uncle Frank–Almost

Posted on October 23, 2012 by Jerry

Uncle Frank was a valued friend of mine for nearly a dozen years. He lived in The Fort Grand Hotel, 4070 W. Fort Street in Detroit just west of Hubbard. That is about eight blocks west of the Ambassador Bridge, as I recall. He lived in the same room since 1920. I lived nearby in an apartment on the corner of Fort Street and Hubbard.

I did not meet Uncle Frank until a mutual friend, Don Reese, asked me to drive Frank to a Bible study Uncle Frank was conducting at a home several miles away near Chandler Park, not far from Chadsey High School. Usually Don drove Frank there. Don was surprised I had not yet met Frank, for I had been living in the apartment on Hubbard for several years practically next door. It turns out that Frank’s Bible study was being held in the home of one of my own current high school Sunday school class pupils who attended Chadsey. Uncle Frank was good with children and young people. Once I got to know him, I gave him as many opportunities to teach my high school Sunday school class as I could so that they could benefit from someone who knew much more about the Bible than I did.

Uncle Frank was 75 when I met him about 1964, and I knew him until he went home to be with the Lord in 1975. I was the last person, so far as I know, to have seen him alive. Frank told me he was going home to be with the Lord that very night. Frank needed my help to get into bed. He told me he was looking forward with great delight and anticipation to waking up in the presence of his Lord and Savior before morning.

During those years that I knew him I learned much about the Bible and Bible doctrine I had not learned before. The first thing Frank challenged me with was the subject of the mode of Christian baptism. I told him I was always taught that immersion was the correct mode. Frank asked me if I was willing to read a book about the subject. I said I was. Frank loaned me his copy of G. W. Hughey’s work, The Scriptural Mode of Christian Baptism (Kansas City: Hudson Press, 1907). That book opened my eyes to a whole new understanding of what the Bible actually teaches on that very limited issue. Though Uncle Frank was merely a retired factory worker, retired from Kelvinator, he made the Bible his lifetime study. He specialized in the types of Scripture, especially as they depict the work of Christ for us. Frank had a professionally carved model of the Tabernacle, a subject he was expert in.

The world is 6016 years old today, October 23, 2012, according to Archbishop Ussher’s chronology. I share its birthday, though not so long ago. But I have now caught up to the age Uncle Frank Burrell was when I first met him. I have not yet caught up to his knowledge of the Bible, but like he was while I knew him, I’m still working on that every day.

Edited to add (10/25/12):

I just came across the “In Remembrance” folder from Uncle Frank’s funeral, held Wednesday, February 12, 1975 at the Don Graham Funeral Home in southwest Detroit. Frank Burrell was born January 10, 1886. He passed away February 9, 1975. Clergyman officiating: Rev. David R. Dresser (of the Ward Memorial Prebyterian Church, if I recall correctly) and Rev. Paul Whaley, Uncle Frank’s good friend, teacher at the Detroit Bible College. Interment: Michigan Memorial Cemetery.

I’ve always wondered about the dates given in that folder. Uncle Frank told me when I met him that he was 75; when he passed away it figured to be that he was 86. But if he was born in 1886, then in 1975 he would have been 89, if my arithmetic is right. In any case, he was a blessing to all who met him, and his impact continues even today.

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Debate Over, Now Go Vote!

Posted on October 23, 2012 by Jerry

Vote for the candidate of your choice, but do vote.

It is my personal view that no Bible-believing Christian can, in good conscience, vote for President Obama.

President Obama has had almost four years now to accomplish something for good. But he has not done so.

He promised transparency in his 2008 campaign. We got the opposite.

He promised to lower the national debt and come closer to balancing the budget. Instead, he has put us further into debt than all the Presidents who preceded him combined.

We absolutely cannot afford more of that.

Unfortunately, from the standpoint of the Bible, a vote for President Obama is a vote directly against the Bible because:

(1) President Obama and the Democrat Party support sodomy, while the Bible totally condemns it

(2) President Obama and the Democrat Party support abortion, while the Bible totally condemns it

As for the debates which just concluded, I listened in full to each of them.

President Obama is a very poor debater. And for the first three of the debates, but not this last one, the moderators were disgraceful in both what they allowed and how they intervened in a one-sided manner in partisan fashion in support of President Obama. In the second of the presidential debates, President Obama was given more time, interrupted Governor Romney a reported 82 times, was supported by Candy Crowley the moderator in a claim that when fact-checked proved to be in error. In other words, President Obama bluffed his way through with lies, employed ad hominem attacks against Governor Romney, and provided little to no substance or evidence to back his own claims.

It is too bad that Presidential debates are not conducted in the manner collegiate debates are conducted. Interrupting the speaker on the other side in the midst of his presentation is unacceptable behavior in a real debate.

Now, what about Governor Romney as a presidential candidate?

Some Christians object that Governor Romney is a member of the Mormon Church, and that theologically speaking, Mormonism is not truly Christian, but is a false cult.

That is all true. But we are not electing the “Theologian in Chief” but the President of the United States of America.

Therefore, the issue of Governor Romney’s Mormonism is not really relevant. If anything, it is a moral plus, for Mormons by and large are a very clean-living and upright people, and Governor Romney and his family certainly exemplify that.

I believe Governor Romney will hold more closely to the Rule of Law, the Constitution, and the Bill of Rights.

That is all-important, and if there were no other reason than that to support Governor Romney, that is sufficient justification to vote for him.

President Obama has literally trashed the Constitution and the Bill of Rights by disregarding them when convenient.

We do not even know who President Obama really is. As for transparency, “Where’s the birth certificate?” There is no way that President Obama can possibly meet the Constitutional requirements to legitimately be the President of the United States of America. And more on transparency, why are all of President Obama’s records “sealed”? What is he hiding?

Like Governor Romney quipped during a visit to Michigan, where he was born, “No one has ever asked about my birth certificate.” Or words to that effect.

The national economy and its sorry state is perhaps the most important issue of the election. At least Governor Romney has had actual experience in the real world that demonstrates he understands economic issues, and knows how to turn things around by successfully solving economic problems–things about which our current President is clueless.

Indications are that there are very tough choices that must be made immediately lest we suffer unspeakably dire consequences. I have not heard either candidate or party address these matters. But of the two viable choices for President, I believe Governor Romney has the background to enable him to make the right decisions, hard as they will be.

I have repeatedly read that a good many Christians fail to vote. In the light of James 4:17 and also what Jesus said about “Rendering to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s,” failing to vote is failing to obey Scripture.

If all Bible-believing Christians would vote their values this election, this could make a most important difference in the outcome that would have a positive effect for years to come.

If all Roman Catholics would heed the call of their church and bishops and vote their values, this too could positively affect the outcome.

Bishop David Ricken, the leader of the Catholic Diocese of Green Bay, noted in a recent letter [October 24, 2012] to parishioners that voting for candidates who support what he calls “intrinsically evil” positions, such as abortion and gay marriage, could “put your own soul in jeopardy.”

In any case, don’t just sit there and complain–go vote! Even if your vote cancels mine!

Posted in Politics and the Bible | Tagged , | 2 Comments

What the Bible Teaches About Hell Part 1

Posted on October 10, 2012 by Jerry

There have been continuing and scattered discussions here on Real Bible Study that pertain to the Bible doctrine of Hell. I have permitted links to other sites graciously shared by posters which present alternative views, alternative, that is, to the traditional or orthodox view. But it is not easy for those who read this site to find what has been presented on this subject here. My goal in this series is to present what the Bible teaches on this important subject.

When studying any Bible subject, it is necessary to consider all the evidence. It is necessary to follow the rules of interpretation as I have posted them in the October 2010 Archives readily available to the right on this page.

I liken real Bible study to taking a trip to Robinson Crusoe’s deserted island, and like him, taking the time to consult the Bible itself, rather than starting from denominational commentaries and resources.

In previous discussions here I have stated that there are some unbiased Bible study tools allowed on Robinson Crusoe’s island, though when Robinson was there all he had access to were “three good Bibles,” all of which were plain text Bibles without notes or commentary. Such acceptable tools include other English translations, the original language text for those who can read it, concordances, lexicons, Nave’s Topical Bible, and a source of cross references such as The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge, The New Treasury of Scripture Knowledge, or Nelson’s Cross Reference Guide to the Bible.

One could quibble as to whether cross reference sources are biased or not. When I have been challenged before about this, I have asked the challenger to please give one or more examples of any biased cross references he or she has encountered in the resources I have suggested. No one has ever met that challenge.

But now to the subject of hell itself. I draw the following material from page 552 of Nave’s Topical Bible:

HELL. The word used in the King James Version of the O.T. to translate the Hebrew word sheol, signifying the unseen state, in Deuteronomy 32:22. 2 Samuel 22:6. Job 11:8. 26:6. Psalm 9:17. 16:10. 18:5. 55:15. 86:13. 116:3. 139:8. Proverbs 5:5. 7:27. 9:18. 15:11, 24. 23:14. 27:20. Isaiah 5:14. 14:9, 15. 28:15, 18. 57:9. Ezekiel 31:16, 17. 32:21, 27. Amos 9:2. Jonah 2:2. Habakkuk 2:5.

Translation of the Greek word hades in the N.T. of [the] King James Version, the unseen world, Matthew 11:23. 16:18. Luke 10:15. 16:23. Acts 2:27, 31. Revelation 1:18. 6:8. 20:13, 14.

[Translation] of the Greek word gehenna, signifying the place of torment, Matthew 5:22, 29, 30. 10:28. 18:9. 23:15, 33. Mark 9:43, 45, 47. Luke 12:5. James 3:6.

[Translation] of the Greek word tartarus, signifying the infernal region, 2 Peter 2:4.

Sheol is also translated grave in [the] King James Version in Genesis 37:35. 42:38. 44:29, 31. 1 Samuel 2:6. 1 Kings 2:6, 9. Job 7:9. 14:13. 17:13. 21:13. 24:19. Psalm 6:5. 30:3. 31:17. 49:14, 15. 88:3. 89:48. 141:7. Proverbs 1:12. 30:16. Ecclesiastes 9:10. Song of Solomon 8:6. Isaiah 14:11. 38:10,18. Ezekiel 31:15. Hosea 13:14.

[Sheol is also translated] pit, Numbers 16:30, 33. Job 17:16.

The English revisers [1881] insert the Hebrew word sheol in places where hell, grave, and pit were used in the A.V. [Authorized Version or King James Version] as translations of the word sheol, except in Deuteronomy 32:22; Psalm 55:15; 86:13; and in the prophetical books. The American revisers [1901, ASV, American Standard Version] invariably use Sheol in the American text, where it occurs in the original.

I believe the above material cited from Nave’s Topical Bible is about as unbiased and complete a display of the Biblical evidence as can be found.

I believe further that the translators of the King James Version strove to provide an accurate rendering of the original languages of Hebrew and Greek, but they did not seek to render each original Hebrew or Greek word underlying their English translation by the same English word for every occurrence. This makes for good English, but poor theology. Their literary choice has opened the door for much misconception and nonsense in Bible interpretation as often promulgated by false cults and aberrant theologies.

I hope to “unpack” this large body of evidence plainly in subsequent posts on this theme.

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Acts 16:14 Cross Reference Study

Posted on September 30, 2012 by Jerry

Acts 16:14 reads as follows in the King James Version:

Act 16:14 And a certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple, of the city of Thyatira, which worshipped God, heard us: whose heart the Lord opened, that she attended unto the things which were spoken of Paul.

Focusing on the clause “whose heart the Lord opened,” the following cross references can be given:

opened. or, opened effectively. or, completely opened. Ac 7:56. 17:3. Nu 24:3, 14, 15. Mk 7:34, 35. Lk 2:23. 24:31, 32, 45.

Giving the full text for these references:

Act 7:56 And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God.

Act 17:3 Opening and alleging, that Christ must needs have suffered, and risen again from the dead; and that this Jesus, whom I preach unto you, is Christ.

Num 24:3 And he took up his parable, and said, Balaam the son of Beor hath said, and the man whose eyes are open hath said:

Num 24:14 And now, behold, I go unto my people: come therefore, and I will advertise thee what this people shall do to thy people in the latter days.
Num 24:15 And he took up his parable, and said, Balaam the son of Beor hath said, and the man whose eyes are open hath said:

Mar 7:34 And looking up to heaven, he sighed, and saith unto him, Ephphatha, that is, Be opened.
Mar 7:35 And straightway his ears were opened, and the string of his tongue was loosed, and he spake plain.

Luk 2:23 (As it is written in the law of the Lord, Every male that openeth the womb shall be called holy to the Lord;)

Luk 24:31 And their eyes were opened, and they knew him; and he vanished out of their sight.
Luk 24:32 And they said one to another, Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures?

Luk 24:45 Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures,

These verses speak of completely opening:

(1) the ears (Mark 7:34, 35)

(2) the eyes (Luke 24:31)

(3) the Scriptures (Luke 24:32; Acts 17:3)

(4) the mind or understanding (Luke 24:45)

(5) the heart (Acts 16:14)

Take time to read the Bible. Surely everyone can find twenty minutes in a day to devote to the consecutive reading or repeated reading of the New Testament. Doing so changed my life, and I am sure that if you will do the same, God will enter and bless your life too.

Think you cannot understand the Bible on your own? Think again. There is enough truth that is plain enough upon even a first reading that you will benefit from reading the Bible for yourself.

In the account in Acts chapter 16, Lydia, a wealthy and successful business woman, listened intently and persistently to the teaching of Paul. God opened her heart, and her life was transformed.

No matter where you may be in your own spiritual journey, reading the Bible will take you further in the right direction than any other possible source of spiritual light. Make the decision today to take the first necessary step of reading the Bible itself, for yourself, on a daily basis. Over time you will be very glad you did.

Posted in Uncategorized, Verse-by-Verse Studies | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

“Transparency and the rule of law will be the touchstones of this Presidency” – Obama

Posted on September 16, 2012 by Jerry

I distinctly recall that during the 2008 election campaigning that Mr. Obama promised “hope and change,” and emphasized there would be a new era of transparency in government, should he succeed in becoming our next President.

Although the Bible in the King James Version, at least, does not use the term “transparency,” the concept is emphasized under another term, “guile.” I don’t recall hearing that English word bandied about much in daily use now.

By the way, the Obama Presidency has done just the opposite of those early promises.

Remember last month when there was a furor over Romney’s unrevealed tax records? It seems the current president or his campaigners were suggesting a lack of transparency on Romney’s part.

That reflects the deep truth of the playground taunt, “It takes one to know one.”

How about President Obama’s lack of transparency about who he is? We have a fake long-form birth certificate posted on the White House website. Where is the real birth certificate? His school records? Why are these things kept hidden, at great expense?

So far as any verifiable documentation that has been presented so far, President Obama has not been proven to meet the qualifications specified in our Constitution to be President.

What was that about “the rule of law”?

I’ve noted before, “Where there is no penalty, there is no law.”

God’s Law is different. The penalty is guaranteed to be exacted, unless it has been covered by the shed blood of the Savior, our Lord Jesus Christ. The Bible declares, “…be sure your sin will find you out” (Numbers 32:23). Now that’s a verse you can sink your teeth into. Try following out the cross references provided for Numbers 32:23 and you will get a new grasp of just what God is doing.

In case you can’t find those cross references anywhere in your house, here they are as I have them:

23. if ye will. Le 26:14, etc. Dt 28:15, etc. be sure your sin. Note: If the persons concerned prevaricated, and so imposed on men, or if they afterwards refused to fulfill their engagement, God would most certainly detect and expose their wickedness, and inflict condign punishment upon them. Of all the ways, says Dr. South, to be taken for the prevention of that great plague of mankind, Sin, there is none so rational and efficacious as to confute and baffle those motives by which men are induced to embrace it; and among all such motives, the heart of man seems to be chiefly overpowered and prevailed upon by two, viz. secrecy in committing sin and impunity with respect to its consequences. Accordingly, Moses, in this chapter, having to deal with a company of men suspected of a base and fraudulent design, though couched under a very fair pretence, as most such designs are, endeavors to quash it in its very conception, by secretly applying himself to encounter those secret motives and arguments, which he knew were the most likely to encourage them in it. And this he does very briefly, but effectually, by assuring them, that how covertly and artificially soever they might carry on their dark project, yet their sin would infallibly find them out. Though the subject and occasion of these words are indeed particular, yet the design of them is manifestly of an universal import, as reaching the case of all transgressors, in their first entrance on any sinful act or course. will find. T#733. Ge 4:7. +**Ge 6:13 (T#566). **Ge 28:5n. +Ge 29:25. 44:16. +Ex 22:20 (T#362). +1 S 3:13 (T#497). *1 K 13:1-32. +1 Ch 28:9 (T#555). 2 Ch 28:19. Jb 21:17-20. 27:13-17. Ps 1:4-6. *Ps 7:11-16. 9:15, 16. +Ps 34:16 (T#303), Ps 34:21. +Ps 37:9 (T#87). Ps 55:23. 58:8n, +Ps 58:11 (T#630). Ps 73:12, 18, 19. 90:8. 139:11. 140:11. Pr 3:33. 5:22. *Pr 13:5, 15, 21. 15:3. +Pr 16:18 (T#551). +Pr 21:7 (T#489). Pr 26:27. 28:8, 18. *Pr 30:17. Ec 10:8. Is 3:11. 59:1, 2, 12. +*Je 6:19. *Je 17:11. +Je 20:11 (T#513). Je 22:17-19. *Ezk 14:10. *Ezk 22:12-14. 28:15, 16. +Ezk 39:23 (T#486). +Zc 10:11 (T#381). +Mt 15:14 (T#478). +Mt 16:27 (T#556). Ro 1:27. 2:9. **Ro 14:12. 1 Cor 4:5. +*1 Cor 6:9, 10. +*Ga 6:7. +Ep 5:5 (T#138). He 4:12, 13. +Ja 1:20 (T#735). James 5:3, 4. 2 P 2:5, 6.

Follow carefully the cross references for the final keywords given for Numbers 32:23, “will find.” In The New Treasury of Scripture Knowledge, from which these references are taken, I have used a symbol system to mark the references. The “+” sign indicates “find more here.” The “T#” symbol is a reference to the “Topic Number Index” entry, which can often lead to more references or related topics. The * symbol means very clear verse on the topic. The ** symbol marks critically important verses that should not be missed in your study. The +* symbol marks the location of additional cross references to this subject. The +** symbol marks where critically important, life-changing references are gathered on this theme. In this present case, Genesis 6:13 is marked with the +** symbol here. Those references have to do with the fact that God exacts the penalty for sin in the “here and now” as well as in “the hereafter.” They make for a most informative Bible study.

Back to the subject of “transparency.” A quick concordance search of the New Testament for the term “guile” yields these references: John 1:47. 2 Corinthians 12:16. 1 Thessalonians 2:3. 1 Peter 2:1. 1 Peter 2:22. 1 Peter 3:10. Revelation 14:5.

Note particularly that Jesus spoke no guile:

1Pe_2:22 Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth:

Note our responsibility to do likewise:

1Pe_3:10 For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile:

Note the eternal reward for so doing:

Rev_14:5 And in their mouth was found no guile: for they are without fault before the throne of God.

The subject of “transparency” is found hidden in other places one would ordinarily never happen to think of, such as 1 Corinthians 9:27,

1Co 9:27 But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.

That last word, “castaway,” in Greek αδοκιμος, was a term which referred to a pot that was cracked, but the crack was hidden, perhaps covered over. The pot had to be held up to the light, and the light would reveal the flaw, and the pot would be rejected. Thus, by careful investigation into a single word by means of word study, one of the Bible study methods I’ve listed under the series about Methods of Bible Study, an interesting example of the Biblical teaching about transparency will be found.

Posted in Politics and the Bible, Practical Application Bible Studies | Tagged , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

President Obama & the Democrats just placed themselves under God’s curse

Posted on September 5, 2012 by Jerry

I just signed the petition from the ACLJ in support of Israel:

President Obama continually fails Israel in his policies and in the signals he sends to the rest of the world. Now references to “Jerusalem” and an unequivocal statement that Israel is our most trusted ally in the region have been stripped from the Democrat Party platform.

Iran is escalating its threats to destroy Israel and the Israeli people; we need to show our unwavering support for our ally. Tell President Obama and the DNC to amend their platform, and state America’s clear support for Israel. Sign our petition today.

Petition for Israel, Change Democratic Platform

To: President Obama and the DNC

At a time when Israel is facing new and dangerous threats, you cannot turn your back on Israel. By refusing to include Jerusalem in the party platform and ignoring the reality that Jerusalem is indeed the capital of Israel, you underscore your lack of commitment to our trusted ally. Israel deserves our unconditional support.

The Democrats and the DNC (Democratic National Committee) have gone off the deep end on this one. Are there no Christians in the Democratic Party?

Surely President Obama, his family, and his party are appallingly ignorant of what the Bible says about this. On this subject ignorance can be dangerous and costly.

The Bible clearly declares:

Gen 12:3 And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.

In his ignorance, President Obama, and in their ignorance, the Democratic Party with their new Platform, have just become subject to the curse of God as given in the Bible. God stands by what He has declared in His written Word the Bible.

Here is what the Bible declares they should have done:

Psalm 122:6 Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: they shall prosper that love thee.

By very clear implication, those who do not pray for and love Jerusalem will not prosper.

All Bible believing Christians need to get their Biblical priorities straight and plan without fail to vote on November 6, 2012.

According to recent media reports I have heard and read, in 2008 there were 30,000,000 Evangelical Christians who did not bother to vote. President Obama won by 10,000,000 votes, if I am remembering the numbers I heard correctly.

I have recently read on line comments by Christians who say it is sinful to vote when the only choice before us is the “lesser of two evils.” Since it would be sinful to vote for evil, they do not plan to vote.

Edmund Burke was far wiser in his Christian walk. He said that all it takes for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing.

Jesus said to render unto Cesar the things that are Cesar’s, and unto God the things that are God’s.

In this country we have been given the right and opportunity to vote. This right has been bought at great cost and sacrifice by those who have defended and even died for the freedoms we enjoy.

When any Christian fails to exercise their vote, they are voting for the greater of two evils.

God plainly tells us in His word,

James 4:17 Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.

Let’s cut out the nonsense, and stand up for and do what is right!

UPDATE:

Tonight, the Democratic National Committee suspended the rules of the convention and inserted language regarding God and the State of Israel back to its platform. They had to vote three times to do it – and they had to lie to deem it passed, even though it was clear that the measure did not pass a voice vote in the chamber. The original 2012 Democratic Party platform had excised all mention of God and Jerusalem as the capital of the State of Israel.

Governor Ted Strickland of Ohio made the motion to change the platform:

This summer, I was proud to serve this party as the platform drafting committee chair. I came before you today to discuss the two important matters related to our party’s national platform. As an ordained United Methodist Minister, I am here to attest and affirm that our faith and belief in God is central to the American story and informs the value we have expressed in our party’s platform. In addition, President Obama recognizes Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and our party’s platform should as well. Mr. Chairman, I have submitted my amendment in writing and I believe it is being projected on the screen for the delegates to see. I move adoption of the amendment as submitted and shown to the delegates.

Perhaps the message got through from somewhere.

SOURCE LINK:

http://www.breitbart.com/Big-Government/2012/09/05/Democrats-change-platform-God-Israel

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Why Collective Bargaining is Necessary for Teachers

Posted on September 3, 2012 by Jerry

8-27-12 EAGnews.org My comment defending teacher unions here.

[Below is the text of the comment I submitted to the www.EAGnews.org website on Monday, August 27, 2012. The post was never approved, far as I can tell, so did not appear on that site. I am posting it here as my first article pertaining to Education Issues. It is clear to me (by what they say and write) that many Republicans are totally misinformed about teachers, education issues and problems, and how to solve them. I post this as what should be an informative corrective to that trend. Jerry]

This website was mentioned favorably last night on the William Cunningham Show on WJR 760 AM radio at 12:50 am, yesterday, Sunday, August 26, 2012.

With all due respect to Mr. Cunningham, whose program I enjoy regularly, and the creators and writers on this website, your point of view regarding education, education problems, and their solution is uninformed and totally misguided. In other words, you do not know what you are talking about.

I do know what I am talking about. I began teaching in Detroit in 1962 and retired in 2001. I taught English at Cass Technical High School (where I also, at the administration’s request, sponsored the Bible Discussion Club), Southeastern High School, and Denby High School.

Charter schools are NOT the way to go. Vouchers are NOT the way to go. On the program last night, Mr. Cunningham and his guest (from this website) were much in favor of vouchers. Mention was made that local Roman Catholic schools could take on 13,000 students were vouchers made available to parents to send their children there. Now I have no gripe against Roman Catholic schools. But believe me, they are not as well equipped to handle student needs as the public schools are. If the most difficult students were all sent to private, charter, and parochial schools, then those schools would find it most difficult to meet the needs of those children. It is unlikely in the extreme that they could do any better with these students than public schools now do.

When I began teaching in Detroit, the students I was teaching at the Neinas Junior High School (before I was asked to teach at Cass) were three to four years behind grade level in their reading. I taught reading and English to the bottom two ability groups for the seventh grade at Neinas. I created my own program to teach English to my students since they did not have a high enough reading level to read the English books I was provided. I let the lowest group use my self-created instructional program; I did not let the next to the bottom group use it. Near the end of the school year I gave the required standardized reading test, the Stanford Achievement Test in reading. My lowest group improved as a class two years in one semester in reading comprehension. Some individual students advanced enough in their reading achievement such that they were as many years ahead of grade level as they had been behind.

The attitude, attendance, and behavior of that bottom class improved immensely. The eighth grade teacher who inherited my lowest group (and had been dreading having to teach them as eighth graders), came to me and said that my class behaved as well, and did their work as well, as her honors classes. She asked me, “What did you do to them?”

I learned very quickly that if I was not able to reach a student, that student became a dropout, and became a drag on society, unable to contribute. I decided I would do all I could do to help my students so no more of them would face such a nightmare in life.

At each level and school I have taught, my students were successful. My students almost never dropped out of school. I had two classes which were “looped,” which means I kept them for all four years of their high school career. Out of those two classes, of the students who were kept in my class, only one student dropped out, and she stayed in school until the final cardmarking of her senior year. But at that school there were 1000 students who entered the ninth grade, but only about 300 were in the senior class four years later. That equates to about a 70% dropout rate school-wide.

On this website I see much written negatively about teachers unions. I was the school union representative for Southeastern High School and for Denby High School for many years. It was at my suggestion that the Detroit Federation of Teachers obtained in the teacher contract the right to binding arbitration while I was still teaching at Cass. That is an important issue. School Administrations and School Boards do all they can to avoid meeting the requirements of the Teacher Contract. As a school union representative, I never lost a grievance. But I have had to put to shame the gross injustice and immorality of administrators who refuse to follow due process procedures.

My father told me years ago, “The only reason we need unions is because of bad management.” He was absolutely correct then, and his observation holds true today.

Unions are necessary to protect the rights of good teachers against the untrained and poor judgment of school administrators who for whatever reason unjustifiably pick on teachers who are not their favorites.

Those who are against teacher unions and the right to collective bargaining are against the right to due process, and therefore are against genuine justice for both teachers and their students. That is a morally wrong position to take. Among the many themes taught in the Bible, justice is a very major issue, and those who are morally unjust will more than reap what they sow. Surely everyone knows that Jesus taught that we are to do unto others what we would have them do unto us (Matthew 7:12).

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Pray for Obama–Psalm 109:8

Posted on September 1, 2012 by Jerry

Link to source article as given on the Drudge Report: http://www.kens5.com/news/Secret-Service-looks-into-So-Texas-Pray-for-Obama-sign–168045356.html

Objectors to this sign in Texas gave it all the more publicity. At least they must have noticed the sign, remembered the verse reference, and took the time to look it up.

Psalm 109:8 Let his days be few; and let another take his office.

The verse itself, taken out of context, is not so sinister as the FBI must have thought when they looked up the passage and figured out how to find Psalm 109:8 in a Bible. I guess they found out first-hand that they would not find that verse in the Koran!

The immediate following context in Psalm 109:9 reads:

Psa 109:9 Let his children be fatherless, and his wife a widow.

Surely that was not the prayer wished by the sign’s designer. But if it were, the FBI would surely be justified in showing concern. The sign designer did not take the context into account, only the interesting applicability of the words of verse 8 alone, which surely expresses the desire of many voters come November 6 who sincerely believe the current office holder needs to be replaced before he collapses the entire economy and eviscerates what little is left of our freedoms once guaranteed by our Bill of Rights.

Those freedoms, including the freedom of speech and the freedom of religion, are not given to us by the government but by God.

But all the furor raised over this innocent little sign, of which there was just one, is a most remarkable illustration of one of my pesky 23 Rules of Interpretation to be found in the October 2010 Archives here:

11. Interpret a particular passage in the light of its immediate context, what comes before and after the verse being studied.

The context of Psalm 109:8 involves an imprecatory prayer.

Now that makes for a most interesting Bible study lesson most Christians and readers of the Bible would rather shun. Many would pass off the subject as “Old Testament stuff” which has been superseded by what is taught in the New Testament. They would be very mistaken. Such prayers are to be found in the New Testament too.

And from what the Bible teaches, one never wants to be on the “receiving end” of such prayer. When people are repressed or oppressed and pray for God to provide relief, God hears and answers those prayers.

To verify that in your Bible, follow the cross references carefully as given in either The New Treasury of Scripture Knowledge or Nelson’s Cross Reference Guide to the Bible as given for Exodus 22:23.

That this is still “New Testament stuff” too, follow carefully the cross references given at Romans 12:19.

For a complete rundown on imprecatory prayer in the Bible, check out the complete references for this subject given at Jeremiah 10:25.

I have not heard much lately about the “Presidential Prayer Team,” but I trust they are still alive and well and active in praying constructively for our President.

It is Biblical to pray for our President. The Bible commands us to pray for him. But the President should indeed be in great fear lest he act in a manner that would motivate Bible believing Christians to pray against him.

A better passage to have given reference to at the bottom of that sign would have been 1 Timothy 2:1-4 which reads:

1Ti 2:1 I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men;
1Ti 2:2 For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.
1Ti 2:3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour;
1Ti 2:4 Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.

But the sign creator didn’t ask me first for a suitable reference, so that is what made the news.

But what I have just posted is better news, and I hope the FBI and the President take careful notice. It would do their souls and their safety a lot of good.

The FBI rightly takes threats against the President most seriously. I know firsthand. One of my students some years ago was thoroughly investigated and subsequently watched for having made some kind of threat against the President then.

Let’s hope and pray that the President and the FBI will now thoroughly watch and investigate the content of this site about Real Bible Study and learn how to study the Bible for themselves. It could change the course of this nation and history for the better for all time to come if they did.

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Methods of Bible Study Part 8H–Personalized Meditation

Posted on August 30, 2012 by Jerry

H. Personalized Meditation

The following outline was used effectively and memorably at a young people’s weekend retreat at the church where I taught the high school Sunday school class. It was furnished by Mrs. Dorothy Shaw, the Pastor’s wife. I have been very thankful for the ministry of our pastor’s wife, now gone home to be with the Lord. As a then single young man teaching the high school Sunday school class, I was very concerned that the girls in my class would have access to Christian women to whom they could relate. In a small church, with no previous high school classes of young people who stayed at the church through college and career age, the high schoolers lacked Christian role models from a group just above their own age, potentially a serious setback to spiritual motivation and growth.

It may be well to use this exercise very privately. I would not feel comfortable publically sharing answers for point 2, for example, and would myself never ask my young people to do so either.

1. I come to You, Jesus, just as I am this minute.

a) Write how you are now.

2. I ask that You, Jesus, forgive me for my sins.

b). Name your sins

(1)

(2)

3. I thank You, Jesus, for forgiving me.

c). Name the things Jesus has forgiven you for doing

(1)

(2)

4. I ask that You teach me something new that I should know from Your Word.

d) Read one chapter from your Bible

(What chapter did you read?)

e) What did God teach you from it? Read it again if necessary.

5. I pray that You, Jesus, will help me today.

f) Name the things you want Jesus to help you do today.

(1)

(2)

6. I want to pray for my friends.

g) Name the friends that you prayed for.

h) What did you pray for them?

(1)
(2)

7. I am happy this minute, Jesus.

i) Write why

8. I want to sing a song for You, Jesus!

j) Sing one. What song did you sing?

This completes this series about Methods of Bible Study. But I must share the song I picked, though I surely am no singer. This song is one that needs to be both read and sung and meditated upon, shared widely and followed!

TAKE TIME TO BE HOLY

Author: William D. Longstaff
Composer: George C. Stebbins
Tune: HOLINESS

Take time to be holy, Speak oft with the Lord;
Abide in Him always And feed on His Word.
Make friends of God’s children, help those who are weak,
Forgetting in nothing His blessing to seek.

Take time to be holy, The world rushes on;
Spend much time in secret With Jesus alone.
By looking to Jesus, Like Him you will be–
Your friends in your conduct His likeness will see.

Take time to be holy, Let Him be your guide,
And run not before Him, Whatever betide.
In joy or in sorrow Still follow the Lord,
And, looking to Jesus, Still trust in His Word.

Take time to be holy, Be calm in your soul–
Each thought and each motive Beneath His control.
Thus led by His Spirit To fountains of love,
You soon will be fitted For service above.

It would be a good thing to have our young people memorize these words, then live by them.

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Methods of Bible Study Part 8G–Meditation

Posted on August 30, 2012 by Jerry

G. Helps to Meditation

1. What is the main truth of this verse?

2. What other Scripture can I find to illuminate this verse?

This is a most important help to meditation missed by many Bible readers. As you read the Bible yourself, using a plain text Bible, starting with the New Testament, it should strike you that the same theme or subject is mentioned in more than one place. At my first reading, I marked those places, and created my own cross references. I shared with my friends at the time that Bible reading is a good thing. I suggested, “Three chapters a day will keep the Devil away.” Well, I can’t give a direct chapter and verse to prove that, but experience bears me out. A saying popular to place in the front flyleaf of a Bible in those days was, “This Book will keep you from sin, or sin will keep you from this Book!”

Beyond noting the verses you have spotted yourself which illuminate the passage upon which you are meditating, take the time and effort to follow the cross references given in your reference Bible, should you be fortunate enough to have one. The greatest number of cross references will be found given in books devoted exclusively to cross reference Bible study: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge, The New Treasury of Scripture Knowledge, and Nelson’s Cross Reference Guide to the Bible.

3. Is there a word or part of this verse I do not understand?

Should there be a word you do not understand, consulting a dictionary may help. Consulting a different Bible translation may provide clarification. Consulting a Bible dictionary is often helpful. Using a lexicon which defines the meaning of the underlying Greek or Hebrew word can also add depth to your understanding. I spoke of word study at length ealier in this series.

4. Is there a command or word of advice in this verse to obey or follow?

5. Is there a good example to follow?

6. Is there a sin or mistake to avoid?

7. Is there a warning to heed?

8. Is there a promise to claim?

9. Is there a prayer to echo?

10. How can I see my own experience reflected here?

11. How can I apply this Scripture to practical, every-day life?

12. How can I turn this verse into a prayer?

Many of the above points have been expanded upon in prior posts about Methods of Bible Study.

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