The WORD of GOD

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All things came into being through him, and

without him came to be not one small thing.

Thus came to be in him, please understand,

all life; and life's the light of 'human-ing'.

And this good light into the darkness shines,

and yet the darkness cannot comprehend

or apprehend and master light's designs.

(The light is more resilient in the end.)

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πάντα δι’ αὐτοῦ ἐγένετο, καὶ χωρὶς αὐτοῦ ἐγένετο οὐδὲ ἕν. ὃ γέγονεν ἐν αὐτῷ ζωὴ ἦν, καὶ ἡ ζωὴ ἦν τὸ φῶς τῶν ἀνθρώπων· καὶ τὸ φῶς ἐν τῇ σκοτίᾳ φαίνει, καὶ ἡ σκοτία αὐτὸ οὐ κατέλαβεν. ΚΑΤΑ ΙΩΑΝΝΗΝ 1:3‭-‬5 SBLG

All things were created by him, and apart from him not one thing was created that has been created. In him was life, and the life was the light of mankind. And the light shines on in the darkness, but the darkness has not mastered it. John 1:3‭-‬5 NET

All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being. What has come into being in him was life, and the life was the light of all people. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it. Jn 1:3‭-‬5 NRSV-CI

The Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry, and why has your countenance fallen? If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin is lurking at the door; its desire is for you, but you must master it.” Gen 4:6‭-‬7 NRSV-CI

Καὶ εἶπε Κύριος ὁ Θεὸς τῷ Κάϊν, ἵνα τί περίλυπος ἐγένου, καὶ ἵνα τί συνέπεσε τὸ πρόσωπόν σου; Οὐκ ἐὰν ὀρθῶς προσενέγκῃς, ὀρθῶς δὲ μὴ διέλῃς, ἥμαρτες; ἡσυχασον· πρός σὲ ἡ ἀποστροφὴ αὐτοῦ, καὶ σὺ ἄρξεις αὐτοῦ. ΓΕΝΕΣΙΣ 4:6‭-‬7 GRCBRENT

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See ἀποστροφὴ listing, meaning as listed under English (LSJ): A turning back, X.Eq.9.6; ἀποστροφὴ νώτων Max. Tyr.9.8; ἀποστροφὴν λαμβάνειν = make a bend, of a stream, Plu.Luc.27, cf. Luc.Hipp.2.

2 twisting, ὄρχεων ἀποστροφαί Trag.(Satyr.) Oxy. 1083.10.

II turning away from, escape, refuge, c. gen., τύχης, κακῶν, A.Pr.769, E.Fr.444; ζημίας Id.Med.1223.

2 resort, recourse, Hdt.8.109, Th.4.76; ἥκει βίου τελευτὴ κοὐκέτ' ἔστ' ἀποστροφή S.OC 1473, cf. E.Med.603; οὐκ ἔχων ἀποστροφήν D.4.8, cf. Hyp.Dem.Fr.5; in plural, Antip.Stoic.3.255: c. gen. objecti, οὔ σφί ἐστι ὕδατος οὐδεμία ἄλλη ἀποστροφή = no other means for getting water

AND the listing under English (Woodhouse):

avenue of escape, means of escape, place of refuge, way of escape

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Ending well..

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The end of ev'rything's arriving now.

Be therefore cle-ar-minded, self-controlled

among your prayer, among yourselves somehow

love fervently, above all things, each soul.

For love's above all things, it covers sins,

the many sins of folk, it's not just miffed.

Without complaint, each other do take in,

since each among yourselves received a gift.

Among yourselves be serving stewards-good 

of all the many folds of God's good grace,

if any of you speaks, see each word could

have come from God's own mouth, within his face.

If any are to serve, do so from strength

which God supplies, so God through Jesus Christ 

is seen for what he truly is, at length,

in all things, ev'ry part of all our lives.

All glory, in the end, and to the last,

& pow'r and energy and strength are his,

have come, are coming, will come, future, past,

& presently - I join in now with this!

Amen!

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The end of all things is near. You must be self-controlled and alert, to be able to pray. Above everything, love one another earnestly, because love covers over many sins. Open your homes to each other without complaining. Each one, as a good manager of God's different gifts, must use for the good of others the special gift he has received from God. Whoever preaches must preach God's messages; whoever serves must serve with the strength that God gives, so that in all things praise may be given to God through Jesus Christ, to whom belong glory and power for ever and ever. Amen. 1 Peter 4:7‭-‬11 GNBUK

The end of all things is near. Therefore be alert and of sober mind so that you may pray. Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen. 1 Peter 4:7‭-‬11 NIVUK

For the culmination of all things is near. So be self-controlled and sober-minded for the sake of prayer. Above all keep your love for one another fervent, because love covers a multitude of sins. Show hospitality to one another without complaining. Just as each one has received a gift, use it to serve one another as good stewards of the varied grace of God. Whoever speaks, let it be with God’s words. Whoever serves, do so with the strength that God supplies, so that in everything God will be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong the glory and the power forever and ever. Amen. 1 Peter 4:7‭-‬11 NET

Πάντων δὲ τὸ τέλος ἤγγικεν. σωφρονήσατε οὖν καὶ νήψατε ⸀εἰς προσευχάς· πρὸ ⸀πάντων τὴν εἰς ἑαυτοὺς ἀγάπην ἐκτενῆ ἔχοντες, ὅτι ἀγάπη ⸀καλύπτει πλῆθος ἁμαρτιῶν· φιλόξενοι εἰς ἀλλήλους ἄνευ ⸀γογγυσμοῦ· ἕκαστος καθὼς ἔλαβεν χάρισμα, εἰς ἑαυτοὺς αὐτὸ διακονοῦντες ὡς καλοὶ οἰκονόμοι ποικίλης χάριτος θεοῦ· εἴ τις λαλεῖ, ὡς λόγια θεοῦ· εἴ τις διακονεῖ, ὡς ἐξ ἰσχύος ⸀ἧς χορηγεῖ ὁ θεός· ἵνα ἐν πᾶσιν δοξάζηται ὁ θεὸς διὰ Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ, ᾧ ἐστιν ἡ δόξα καὶ τὸ κράτος εἰς τοὺς αἰῶνας τῶν αἰώνων· ἀμήν. ΠΕΤΡΟΥ Α΄ 4:7‭-‬11 SBLG

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The LORD!

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To: Who is called by God to be saved, by

strong, wise & pow'rfull action of this  king;

from Jews and any other nations, Christ 

is now the pow'r of God, his wisdom's bling. 

This foolish plan of God involving shame,

& suffering, & death, is wiser than 

the wisest human plans, and God’s own name

is honoured in a way that he has planned.

His weakness, is much stronger than our might.

So now recall that few of you were wise 

in this world’s eyes, or strong, or in the sights

for worldly wealth when God called you. Despised

& foolish things he spesh'ly chose, for those

will show up, and then shame folk from this sys-

tem's wisest ways. And powerless things he chose 

to shame those who are powerful. For his

choice is for things despised by all the world, 

things counted here as not having the goods.

he uses them to bring down, as they're hurled 

the things this world's own wisdom sees as shoulds.

God's little 'nothings' bring to nothing gai-nts

that wear the armour, helmets, shields and swords,

that rail and taunt & boast & flaunt defia-nce!

So no-one can be God's own over-lords!

God has united you with Christ Jesus.

And for our benefit God made him to

be wisdom, freedom, righteous holiness.

As all God's people say, “Our boast is you!” 

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But to those called by God to salvation, both Jews and Gentiles, Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God. This foolish plan of God is wiser than the wisest of human plans, and God’s weakness is stronger than the greatest of human strength. Remember, dear brothers and sisters, that few of you were wise in the world’s eyes or powerful or wealthy when God called you. Instead, God chose things the world considers foolish in order to shame those who think they are wise. And he chose things that are powerless to shame those who are powerful. God chose things despised by the world, things counted as nothing at all, and used them to bring to nothing what the world considers important. As a result, no one can ever boast in the presence of God. God has united you with Christ Jesus. For our benefit God made him to be wisdom itself. Christ made us right with God; he made us pure and holy, and he freed us from sin. Therefore, as the Scriptures say, “If you want to boast, boast only about the Lord.” 1 Corinthians 1:24‭-‬31 NLT

1 Samuel 17:20‭-54 NLT

etc.

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Unsure?

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Make straight a way for him!

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Let's straightaway do what we're here to do.

It's true at times we're unsure what that is.

But that's the joyous, best time. For then too,

we straightaway can ask God for what's his..

..his own, to give away. It is his joy

to do so, as the only wise God 'there',

or 'he-re', in existance! This, his boy

did any time, and also anywhere

he found himself in that predicament -

within God's world as leader (under God),

with job to rule it all, to represent

invisible, creative, love that trod

each path a human being's taken there.

His little brother watched, as big bro grew,

in wisdom, learning What?, & When?, & Where?

The Why? was settled, and also the Who?

he'd run to, or look up to, once again.

The wisdom from above, comes right from there,

from throne of love, from one who's suffered pain,

whose heart was torn, but wisdom's up there where

his heart was, just a loving, beating thing,

that always helps, and suffers himself to

be seen as beaten, small, and a weakling,

for often there's a rift between the two

things of this world, reality 'n'what seems.

Appearances are pathways to some new..

new understanding comes. A jewel gleams.

As wisdom's child comes out, and into view.

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• "..a voice of one calling in the desert: Make ready the way of the LORD, make straight a way, a path, for him'; & so John came.. in the desert…(Mark1:3-4)

• "Straightaway, as he (Yeshua)  was coming up out of the water, the heavens were torn open. He saw the spirit coming down on him, with the appearance of a dove. He heard a voice: "You are my beloved child, in whom I delight!"(Mark 1:10-11)

• "Straightaway, the spirit threw him into the desert to be tested…"(Mark 1:12)

• "Straightaway, they left their nets & followed him.."(Mark 1:18)

• "Straightaway, he called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat, with the hired men, and went after him.."(Mark 1:20)

• "Straightaway, a man in the synagogue with an unclean spirit, cried out.."(Mark 1:23)

• "Straightaway, the news of him spread out everywhere in the surounding region of the Galilee.."(Mark 1:29)

• The Lord saw that the wickedness of humankind was great in the earth, and that every inclination of the thoughts of their hearts was only evil continually. And the Lord was sorry that he had made humankind on the earth, and it grieved him to his heart. Gen 6:5‭-‬6 NRSV-CI

• The child (Yeshua) grew and became strong, filled with wisdom; and the favor of God was upon him. Luke 2:40 

• (as a 12yr old, his parents left him behind, &)..After three days they found him in the temple, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. And all who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers. Lk 2:46‭-‬47

• Yeshua grew both in body and in stature, & in favor with God and people. Luke 2:52

• My brothers and sisters, consider yourselves fortunate when all kinds of trials come your way, for you know that when your faith succeeds in facing such trials, the result is the ability to endure. Make sure that your endurance carries you all the way without failing, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. But if any of you lack wisdom, you should pray to God, who will give it to you; because God gives generously and graciously to all. But when you pray, you must believe and not doubt at all. Whoever doubts is like a wave in the sea that is driven and blown about by the wind. People like that, unable to make up their minds and undecided in all they do, must not think that they will receive anything from the Lord. James 1:2‭-‬8 

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Faith?

Faith*

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Your faith, ain't just com-mod-if-ic-at-ing

beliefs: collect/present, or berating.. 

Since it accesses.., then expresses through.., 

it also "will transform.." your whole world view.

Equate your faith with your set of beliefs,

then find your view truncated, flattened out,

but still you'll have to utilize the chief

strands of your saving-life rope, & not pout

about its colour, or its mass-prod-uc-

-tion. Is it strong enough to pull one in?

So, "Can a faithful friend be seen as such?"

If so, then see you hold on, as you've been..

doing, in ensuing time since then.

So faith exists, and builds, & grows (or wanes),

organic'ly between two friends for when

each keeps their word, & understands the pains

the other goes through, there's a chance for real

true friendship (faithfulness) to grow in soil;

that is a living crop, at first concealed

in space that's kept between the two, a foil

to just the sameness of peas in a pod;

a space where gardens flourish, or could grow.

Expressions must be made, with help from God,

communicating key beliefs we know

our friend, our Master, sees as key himself,

and help our brothers/ sisters, our true wealth,

to learn to trust themselves our father well;

committed to our fam'ly, 'gainst all hell.

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*  Faith= Belief + Trust + Action

(a mind convinced, a will committed, a lifestyle converted).

"What happened to your faith?" Omen asks Hrathen, [in Elantris…(a fantacy novel by Brandon Sanderson)]

then the narrator comments that "His beliefs, … had been precious to him."

The equating of faith with a set of beliefs is borne out in our modernistic tendency to set up belief statements as a way of expressing our faith. Jesus (& his ambassadors/apostles), however had another way of expressing his/their faith, & of 'seeing' faith expressed by others: Fruit in human life (lives); enactments of love, joy, & peace, of faith, hope, & love, of patience, kindness, gentleness (or humility), & self-control.

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