On Sunday afternoon there was an enormous double rainbow, showing briefly and perfectly against an ominous grey sky - see The Captain's Log for the pictures.
Now that I am a student of the Inspired Scriptures, both Hebrew and Christian Greek, I can't see a rainbow without thinking about what it means. Here is an extract from an Awake! magazine (January 1975):
"The world’s oldest history book, the Bible, draws attention to the first rainbow and gives the reason for its continued appearance. It reports that God made a covenant, a promise to the survivors of the world flood, namely, Noah and his family, that “no more will the waters become a deluge to bring all flesh to ruin.” And as a sign of this covenant, God said to Noah: “My rainbow I do give in the cloud, and it must serve as a sign of the covenant between me and the earth.” (Gen. 9:8-16) What a splendid way to remind mankind of God’s promise!"
And how beautifully Jehovah does everything.
I have been re re-reading Peter Boardman's book about his and Joe Tasker's climb of Changabang's West Wall: "The Shining Mountain". As I get to know them more through their writing I feel sadder and sadder about what was so soon to happen, and wonder what on earth did go wrong. I want to rush into the book and warn them. And I came across this, on the net, written by Dr.Charles Clarke, who was on their last expedition:
http://www.boardmantasker.com/site/boardman.pdf
"Although Peter’s achievements with his partners will be recorded in the archives of
mountaineering, it is his warmth, humanity and wisdom, which will be sorely missed by those
of us who loved him. He did not agree with Howard Somervell’s epitaph, ‘There are few
better deaths than to die in high endeavour’. Nor did Joe. As I carved a headstone for their
memorial in the Rongbuk Valley my only wish was the last few moments of their lives to be
unraveled."
Yes. They clearly did not want to die. And Dr.Clarke wonders too - about what could have happened. It must have happened very soon after they were last seen, or very soon after they woke up in the morning. If indeed they did wake up. Perhaps it was simply that the altitude killed them. Once again, I wonder if - IF - I am to be among those who "inherit the earth", and if they are, would it be alright to ask them?
Well, if I am there, I will know whether to ask or not. We will be living in "the land of straightforwardness" and the right path will be so clear.
Its a rainy morning here, but with a bit of pink beginning to appear along the horizon. The bonfire is being built, and I must start to think about what to cook for Saturday. There will only be four of us this year - depleted as we are by old age and illness.
the world;s oldest history book is not the bible. The heiroglyphics of the Egyptians, Mayans, Incas and Aztecs are based on stories that go back at least 25,000 years or more. the stories on the outside and inside of the ancient south american and middle eastern pyramids whereas, the old testament is at the most 6000 years old. Moreover, the cultural and technical and sociological aspects of the sodom and gomorra, Atlantis, muchupeachu, aztec and mayan civilizations civilizations were far more interesting than than the Old Testament. Even the Egyptians were far more advanced and sophisticated and pious than the original Hebrews. Besides, the interpretation and emotional involvement with the bible has far outweighed it's historical value. Recent diggings fail, for example to find that David acturally existed The science is not the important thing here. it is the spiritual imoportance that predominates. my personal emotional involvement with the stories of Abraham and Jesus far outweigh any scientific "proof." This is my opinion, my dear Sue. I believe otherwise we both accept the stories as extremely important, despite what "really" happened. Peace and Harmony, Izzy from across the pond...
ReplyDeleteGood morning Izzy- and thanks for another interesting comment. So interesting that it would take many mornings over many cups of tea to discuss... Well, if we are both in the restored earthly Paradise we will have all the time in the world to talk. Although if we are, we will know then that the Genesis account of our history is the true one. So we won't need to discuss that.
DeleteBut your email touches on one of the basic differences between what the Hebrew (and the Christian Greek) Scriptures are telling us. and what "the world" is telling us.
Genesis tells us that man was created on the earth in 4026 B.C.E. He probably opened his eyes in an Autumn garden, as didn't the Jewish calendar begin in the Autumn? I often wonder about that garden, given how lovely an Autumn garden can be even now.
So, the Bible tells us that man was created 6,000 years ago. And that our first parents were perfect - they perfectly reflected the loving qualities of their Creator - and they lived in Paradise - a beautiful garden. They were to fill the earth and extend that paradise earthwide. It also tells of a world where nature was not "red in tooth and claw with ravine".
"And God went on to say: “Here I have given to you all vegetation bearing seed which is on the surface of the whole earth and every tree on which there is the fruit of a tree bearing seed. To you let it serve as food. And to every wild beast of the earth and to every flying creature of the heavens and to everything moving upon the earth in which there is life as a soul I have given all green vegetation for food.” And it came to be so. After that God saw everything he had made and, look! [it was] very good. And there came to be evening and there came to be morning, a sixth day." - Genesis 1:29-31
This was not a world in which the law was "kill or be killed, eat or be eaten". It was very good. It was perfect. It was Paradise.
And what the Bible promises is a restoration of that Paradise, earthwide. The lion will lie down with the lamb...
So here are two opposing narratives. We have the Hebrew and Christian Greek Scriptures telling us of a fall from a perfect start, and of a wonderful rescue now so close at hand. But "the world" is telling us that we evolved, and are still evolving.
Which is right?
Its such an important question.
there is a simple answer to your important question, my dear sue: they are both right and they are both wrong. only time will tell and we will know only after the second coming when everything shall be known to us, and every answer will be crystal clear! i have a question for you. Do you celebrate Thanksgiving over there? or is it Oktoberfest? In Switzerland we had the onion festival with onion pancakes and we danced a polka. eh? Incidentally, there is a polish freedom fighter that lives here he is building a castle in the sky, a home atop a hill of his own making. he is multilingual and speaks yiddish better than il He escaped from the Russians in the 1960s. i'll find out his name for you, if you like. His name is Peter something. GOD BLESS AND HAPPY LANDINGS AND THANKS FOR THE NICE REPLY.LOVE, IZZY
ReplyDeleteGood morning Izzy, and thanks again for another very interesting comment. You are helping to keep my brain cells (both of them) in working order.
DeleteYes, we know so little now, and there are so many wonderful things to know, after God's Kingdom has come and the earth is being restored to Paradise. The Book of Revelation tells us that at that time, scrolls will be opened - we will be receiving inspired guidance once again. We will never stop learning. However, to get there, don't we need to know, urgently, know that Jehovah is our Grand Creator, and that we did not evolve?
Re your question about Thanksgiving. No. we don't celebrate it, or Oktoberfest. I think the Protestant Church does have a Harvest Festival that, presumably, takes place sometime in Autumn, but its not a big thing nationwide. And anyway, I was brought up as a Catholic - and we didn't celebrate it. Not sure why. I did attend a small local Protestant church much later in life when i came to realise that there was a Creator. And I have to say that I learnt more about what the Bible on my shelf says in the first 20 minutes I spent talking to the Jehovah's Witnesses who called at my door than I learnt in all my years of churchgoing.
And I long to tell everyone what is being taught to me. There is no teaching in the world like it.
Halloween has come to be a big thing here, but it wasn't when I was a child. But as a Jehovah's Witness, I don't celebrate it because of its origins.
So you have lived in Switzerland? Beautiful country isn't it. The Onion Festival (and pancakes!) sounds like fun. I think we will have lots of celebrations in the Paradise earth, though of course, every day will be full of joy then. And yes, I would love to hear more about Peter. What a time that generation had... They all have such a story to tell. My sister has set one of her thrillers "The Forest of Souls" against the background of daddy's life. Its not his story, but it is his background. I'll paperclip it for you, in case you want to have a look:
http://www.carlabanks.co.uk/forest/
I hope so much that I will see my parents again, that Jehovah will wake them from the sleep of death when the earth is restored to Paradise.
I am looking out over a rainy sea this morning, the balcony geraniums, pink and purple, are waving away - a gigantic bonfire is being built on the Green (we must shop today as we have friends over tomorrow to watch the fireworks and have supper with us). Apparently there is a big storm on the way, due to hit on Monday. So we will be having some spectacular seas.
love Sue