Strange and Interesting Bible Facts

Hebrews is the “Better Than” Book. This New Testament book points the way to a better life. In it you will find references to things that are better many, many times. It tells us that Christ is: better than angels (1:4), worthy of more glory than Moses (3:3), the builder of the house (the creator) and as such has more honor than the creation (3:4), a great High Priest (4:4), better than men’s high priests (5:1-2) Men swear by things that are better than themselves, but God swears by Himself (because He is better. 6:13-16) Hebrews also tells of: a better covenant enacted on better promises (8:6), a greater more perfect tabernacle (9:11), a better possession (10:34), a kingdom which cannot be shaken (a better kingdom) (12:28), and a better city (11:10 & 13:14) What could be better than that?

Micah Trivia: Micah is written by the prophet with the same name. His name means, “Who is like Jehovah” and this is the very question he asks in Micah 7:18-19. These verses by the way, are some of the most beautiful in the Bible: “Who is a God like Thee, who pardons iniquity and passes over the rebellious acts of the remnant of His possession? He does not retain His anger forever because He delights in unchanging love. He will again have compassion on us: He will tread our iniquities under foot. Yes, Thou wilt cast all their sins into the depths of the sea.” (NAS)

Revelation Trivia: There is no book that has less quotes of the Old Testament than the book of Revelation but there is no book that uses the Old Testament more than than the book of Revelation.” This is a quote by Dr. Peter Gentry, a Septuagint scholar and professor at Southern Seminary and my Sunday School teacher. Dr. Gentry explained that rather than quoting the Old Testament directly, Revelation alludes to it. For instance in Rev 1:12-14 the Old Testament is alluded to at least 4 times; golden lampstands - Ex. 25:37 & 37:23, Zech 4:2; Son of man – Ezekiel 1:26 & Dan 7:13, Robe with golden girdle – Dan10:5; hair white like wool - Dan 7:9…and that is only two verses!

Plant your Garden: It will soon be spring time–time to think about planting a garden. Here’s a prescription for planting: “Sow with a view to righteousness; Reap in accordance with kindness; Break up your fallow ground, for it is time to seek the Lord until He comes and rains righteousness on you.” Hosea 10:12

The Quotable Susan

On the Christian Life and the Church:

   

“And that’s one of the things you notice about Jesus in the Gospels, that He is always going around saying, ‘You have heard it said such and such, but I tell you some other thing.’ If you happened to be a person who thought you knew everything about God, Jesus would have been completely annoying.” -Donald Miller from his book “Searching for God Knows What”

 

“As a Christian, I feel that I am not capable of modeling good behavior or a good Christian walk to others on a consistent basis. Frankly, the only thing I find myself doing consistently is sinning. So, really the only thing I can model for others is brokenness and God’s abundant grace in forgiving me again and again.”  -Susan Siami

 

“What do we see in Jesus’ disciples? We see doubt; we see back-talking, we see them having their own plans, not Jesus’, and we see Jesus loving them the whole time” -Jack Miller World Harvest Missions video on “Grace Parenting”

 

“Most of the descriptions of the victorious life do not match the reality of my own. Hyperbole, bloated rhetoric, and grandiose testimonies create the impression that once Jesus is acknowledged as Lord, the Christian life becomes a picnic on a green lawn; marriage blossoms into connubial bliss, physical health flourishes, acne disappears, sinking careers suddenly soar… The New Testament depicts another picture of the victorious life: Jesus on Calvary. The Biblical image of the victorious life reads more like the victorious limp.” -Brennan Manning from his book, “The Ragamuffin Gospel”