Insightful Musings on the Scriptures
by
Raymond P. Sparre
Northwest University class of '67
Hello, special people.
Nearly the entire time of our walk/jog excursion this morning, snow was falling. There is a bit of snow on the ground outside, but it doesn’t appear to stay much on bare ground and pavement. I hope the road to and from my loading and hauling the track hoe will be free of slick stuff. I need to haul that machine to a shop in Molalla to have the bucket weld-repaired.
Yesterday I kind of messed up the receptionist lady at a county building in Oregon City. I asked her, “Am I supposed to be in here?” She responded, “Why not?” I said, “I’m just a little confused…I noticed a statement on the glass entrance that said, ‘ASSISTANCE ANIMALS ONLY.’” Smile.
I suppose I should repeat again that I have no wish to be overloading email INBOXes where time and interest are limited. So this is a reminder that I plan to update the recipient list. Let me set a deadline of January 15 to receive from you an interest to remain on the recipient list. Without hearing back from you, I will assume that you would prefer not being on the list. I’ve received responses from many.
It’s getting late. Blessings on your day.
Love—your devoted “SERVICE ANIMAL”—Dad/Ray.
There are some obvious difficulties sifting through the Biblical record such as we have in these chapters— sorting out truth and error in regards to the way these primitive peoples thought and behaved. Much of their worldviews were more animistic than soundly Biblical. This account of “Jacob’s ladder” is a case in point.
Jacob may have misconstrued some theological facts about God (as I believe we all do this side of glory), but his bottom-line response and commitment to nurture A HEART AFTER GOD was of essential theological importance (28:20-22). Notice that his burst of divine revelation included a commitment to tithing—returning to God 10% of his income. I have to reason that worship and commitment that does not impact one’s time, resources, and bank account, is seriously under-developed.
Is there any Biblical (theological) truth more foundational to a healthy “fear of the LORD” than to grasp that the Sovereign God of the Bible is not just in this place or that place, but EVERYWHERE—ALL THE TIME? Most people, even many “believers,” however, are “not aware of it”—and don’t really believe it.
Please be very thankful that God does not require flawless theological precision as much as He requires a basic HEART AFTER GOD.