Bible Names: Adam

I have been doing some research on women leaders in the Bible (and no, I'm not ready to post anything yet).  This quest began before I listened to "The Making of Biblical Womanhood" by Beth Alison Barr (a book I highly recommend), but was rekindled by it.  In order not to miss any women, I started scanning through the Bible from Genesis.  Suddenly, I was struck by Genesis 5:2 (Male and female created he them; and blessed them, and called their name Adam, in the day when they were created.).  THEIR name Adam?!  What does Adam mean?  Thus began my exploration into the meaning of Bible names.

Adam (see H120) - ruddy i.e. a human being (an individual or the species, mankind, etc.)

This name was given to both the man and the woman when they were created, see Genesis 5:2: "Male and female created he them; and blessed them, and called their name Adam, in the day when they were created."  Sometimes this name is used to refer only to the man, however most of the time it is used to refer to human beings in general as we can see from Genesis 5:2.  The majority of the time this word is translated as man (408x) or men (121x) as opposed to Adam (13x), person(s) (8x), common sort (1x) or hypocrite (1x).  Every time, other than in Genesis 5:2, this word when translated as 'Adam' refers only to the first man.

There is another word that is translated as Adam (see H121), this word is used in some of the verses that are speaking specifically about the first man.  It is not used to refer to human beings in general. 

In the new testament the word Adam (see G76) has two definitions: Adam, the first man; typically (of Jesus) man (as his representative).  Both uses of the word can be seen in 1 Corinthians: "For the scripture says, “The first man, Adam, was created a living being”; but the last Adam is the life-giving Spirit" (1 Corinthians 15:45 GNT).  The first Adam was given life; the last Adam gives life.

Not only is this word translated differently within the one version of the Bible, it is also translated differently between versions of the Bible.  Out of the 54 English translations listed on Bible Gateway, 28 use the word 'man' to refer to human beings in Genesis 1:26, e.g. And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth (Genesis 1:26 KJV).  Five use the word 'mankind'.  The remaining 20 translations use the term 'humans', 'human beings', 'humankind' or 'humanity'.  Why all the differences?  Why the predominant use of the word man to refer to human beings?

If we were to look at the orgin of the word 'man' in the English language, we would find the following:

The etymologically primary sense of the word is 'human being, person,' and that is what it generally meant in Old English (Ayto, 1990).

Ayto (1990) goes on to explain how the sexes were distinguished with 'wer' for the male and 'wif' for the female.

During the Middle English and early modern English periods 'male person' gradually came to the fore, and today 'person' is decidedly on the decline (helped on its way by those who feel that the usage discriminates against women).  Woman originated in Old English as a compound of wif 'woman, female' and man 'person' (Ayto, 1990).

The first English translations of the Bible were made during the time when the meaning of the word 'man' was gradually transitioning from 'human being, person' to 'male person'.  This would appear to explain the two meanings that we can find when we read the Bible.

References:

Ayto, J (1990). Dictionary of Word Origins. Arcade Publishing: New York.

Words of Comfort and Pain

You want to support someone who is grieving and at the same time you don't want to say anything to add to their pain.  So, what can you say?  In this post I will share words that have brought me comfort as well as words that have added to my pain, in the hopes that it will help people to better support those who are grieving.  At the end I have also included a list of characteristics which supportive people have.

 Words that brought me comfort in my grief:

• I am so sorry for your loss
• I can't imagine how hard this is for you
• I don't know what to say, but I am here for you
• If you want to talk, I'm happy to listen 
• We all need help at times like this, I am here for you
  
• You can call me anytime you need someone to talk to (make sure that they have other numbers which they can call if they can't get hold of you - see the phone numbers at the end of this post)
  
• I don't know how you feel, but I am here to help in any way I can
  

Note for those who are grieving: You will encounter people who say any or all of the above things but do not mean what they say and who consequently let you down.  Don't give up.  Look for support elsewhere.  See the numbers at the bottom of this post if you are stuck.  There are supportive people out there, they just tend to be harder to find.

Words that added to my pain:

• There is a reason for everything
• I know how you feel
• All things work together for good
• God has a plan in all this
• Count your blessings
• Focus on the positive  
• You need to move on with your life
  

A tricky one:  I'm praying for you.  From the right sort of person (someone who is effectively supporting you), this can be encouraging.  From everyone else it feels like a cop out.  I'm doing something to help you by praying for you.  How about you pray and ask God for wisdom as to what YOU can say or do to help.  We are to be God's hands on this earth.

Sometimes it is best not to say anything, especially if the grieving person is very distressed.  Stay with them.  Be near them.  Pass them the tissues.  Give them a hug if they want it.  It is uncomfortable for you and them and sometimes you just have to sit with it.

As you have probably realised, there is more to support than simply speaking the right words.  Supportive people not only speak words of comfort, they possess certain characteristics (adapted from grief.com).

• Are supportive, but don't try to fix it
• Don't tell you what to do (but ask what you want/need or phrase suggestions as questions if you can't articulate your wants/needs, e.g. Would it help you if we went for a walk together?)
  
• Admit that they can't make it better (rather than rationalising or trying to explain the loss)
  
• Validate your feelings (non-judgemental)
  
• Recognise loss (instead of minimising it)
  
• Do not place a time-limit on grief but rather let them take the time that they need (pushing them will only slow the process)
  

Despite all this, there is nothing like having someone support you who has been through a similar experience.  If possible, connect the grieving person with this kind of support as well.

Essential contacts to have for support:

Lifeline 13 11 14

Beyond Blue 1300 22 4636

If your grief is suicide related, the following numbers are also great to have as a resource:

Suicide Call Back Service 1300 659 467

Suicide Call Back Service offers free professional 24/7 telephone counselling support to people at risk of suicide, concerned about someone at risk, bereaved by suicide and people experiencing emotional or mental health issues.

StandBy - Support After Suicide 1300 727 247 

Australia's leading suicide postvention program dedicated to assisting people and communities bereaved or impacted by suicide.

Grief

This year my brother would have turned 19.  Would have.  Twelve months ago he died in a car accident.  Two months prior to this, my aunt died in a car accident.  Two months after burying my brother we buried my grandfather as well.  Grief over the loss of his daughter and his grandson destroyed his desire to live.  I miss my aunt and my grandfather, but with my brother things have been different.

I loved my grandfather very much and he loved me just as much.  He called me his favorite granddaughter (I was the only one until my sister was born 13 years after me).  He overcame his fear of flying to visit me when I was only a few months old.  It was his only plane flight.  He addressed his first (and only?) email to me.  He was always so glad to see me and told me to "be good" and "stay away from boys".  Every now and then in my busy life I would ring him up and we would chat on the phone.  I loved him and didn't want him to die.  He died slowly over a number of weeks and I was able to speak to him, to be with him, to say goodbye.  I wept at his funeral.  I missed him.  Yet my grief over the death of my grandfather was eclipsed by the grief over my brother's death.  It wasn't long before I adjusted to the absence of my grandfather and was able to enjoy my memories of his life rather than be overcome by the grief of his death.  It was not so with my brother.

I didn't get to say goodbye to my brother.  His death was sudden, unexpected, unforeseen.  I didn't even get to be with him while he lay unconscious in hospital because I was stuck, locked down in another state.  I couldn't even be with my family in person.  I had to rely on FaceTime.  It wasn't until I had spent a week trying to get permission to cross the border and two weeks in hotel quarantine, that I was reunited with my family.  The grief was incredibly intense and enduring.  It is only now, almost a year later, that I am able to grasp the fact that he really is gone.  The shock has worn off (I think) but the grief remains.  Slowly it becomes easier to bear with the passing of time.  It is no longer all encompassing but it is no less painful.  I am learning to live with my grief.

We are told that everyone experiences grief differently.  It is also true that we grieve different losses differently.  It was easier for me to part with my grandfather because he was old.  He had lived to see his kids grow up and some of his grandkids grow up too.  It was also easier because I saw it coming, I was able to say goodbye, and I was able to begin grieving when he was still alive.  None of this was true for my brother.  And my aunt?  That was hard too, only made easier by the fact that I had never spent a lot of time with her.  Regardless to say, the shock of her death was still very hard for me to handle and I can't imagine how hard it must be for her husband.  

Why am I sharing this with you all?  Because I have had numerous people who have indicated by words and/or actions that they understand the pain that I and my family are experiencing.  The fact is: You don't.  Don't pretend that you do.  Only those who have unexpectedly lost a sibling or child (or parent if the parent is young) can begin to understand.  Before I experienced this, I had no idea how painful it could be.  And that wasn't because I hadn't experienced the death of family members before.  The death of a grandfather is very different to the death of a brother.  

What do we need?  We need your love and empathetic, listening ears.  We can do without judgment and trite answers which only add to our pain.  Are you at a loss to know what to say to someone who is grieving?  In my next post I will share some comments that I have received which have helped me in my grief.

It's OK to Grieve

Twelve months ago, I experienced the sudden and unexpected death of my brother Peter.  There are no words to express the intense and enduring grief of myself and my family members in response to this tragedy.  It would have been impossible for me to imagine what this experience would have been like beforehand.  Only those who have tasted it will begin to understand.  Over the past twelve months I have gradually learned strategies to manage my grief.  It is no longer all encompassing.  The pain has not lessened, I have just learned how to live with it.  There is room for other things in my life alongside the grief.  How did I reach this point?  Time and people.  Time to express and process my grief through words, actions, and artwork.  People to listen without judgement as I struggled to express what I was going through, particularly individuals who had also experienced the sudden and unexpected death of a sibling, parent or child who had their whole life ahead of them.

What do we need from those around us when something like this happens to us?  We need to be listened to.  We need to be loved.  We need to be told and reminded that it is OK to grieve.  We need people to grieve with us.

Jesus' dear friend Lazarus had died, leaving behind his grieving sisters: Mary and Martha.  

When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went out to meet him, but Mary stayed in the house.  John 11:20.

After speaking with Jesus, Martha returned to her sister Mary in the house and said: "The teacher is here, and is asking for you." John 11:28. 

When Mary heard this, she got up and hurried out to meet him...  Mary arrived where Jesus was, and as soon as she saw him, she fell at his feet.  "Lord," she said, "if you had been here, my brother would not have died!"  Jesus saw her weeping, and he saw how the people who were with her were weeping also; his heart was touched, and he was deeply moved.  "Where have you buried him?" he asked them.  "Come and see, Lord," they answered.  Jesus wept. John 11:29-35.

Did Jesus reprove Mary and those who were with her for grieving the death of Lazarus?  No.

Did Jesus tell Mary and her attendants to count their blessings, or praise God?  No.

Did Jesus tell them that they had grieved long enough and that they needed to move on with their lives?  No.

How did Jesus respond to their grief?  The Bible says that his heart was touched, he was deeply moved and he wept.  He wept.  He joined them.  He grieved with them.

Jesus knew that he was about to raise Lazarus from the dead.  Jesus knew that everyone would be happy and full of joy soon.  Jesus had hope.  Still, knowing all this, Jesus wept.  My friends, it is OK to grieve.

No Answers

So what are my conclusions from the last two blog posts?

In the first one, "Why?", I shared some possible answers as to why good things and bad things happen in general, however there were no answers for specific situations.  There are still no answers for why my brother died as a result of his car accident while other people have been miraculously healed.

When Job asked, "Why?", God didn't give him answers for his specific situation either.  

We do not know why God heals some people and lets others die.  We do not know why some people live relatively happy lives while others experience a lot of pain and suffering.  God hasn't given us answers for our specific situations.  What he has done, is given us a picture of who He is.

• God created each and every one of us and the world in which we live.
• God is love.
• God paid the price for our sin so that He could live with us forever.
• God wants to be with us.
  
• He paints the glorious sunsets and sunrises.
• He hangs the dew drops on the blades of grass and embeds them in the spiders' web.

Study the Bible (particularly the gospels) and nature to find out more about who God really is.

God has not given us answers for our specific situations, but one day He will (though not in this lifetime).  We need to trust Him and wait.

Rather than trying to give answers to suffering people, let's admit that we don't have answers.  In the words of my friend Jess, "I just feel like the cliche Christian platitudes don't cut it when it comes to pain and suffering." Rather than trying to fix the pain and suffering of those around us, let us sit with them in empathy and look for practical ways to show love and care to them.

Job: Why?

Job lost everything: his children, his stuff and his health.  He asked God: "Why....?"

Then out of the storm the Lord spoke to Job (Job 38:1).

Who are you to question my wisdom with your ignorant, empty words?  Now stand up straight and answer the questions I ask you.  Job 38:2-3.

Part 1 of God's questions.  Part 2 of God's questions.

Job, you challenged Almighty God; will you give up now, or will you answer?  Job 40:1-2.

How did Job respond?

I spoke foolishly, Lord. What can I answer?  I will not try to say anything else.  I have already said more than I should.  Job 40:3-5

Then out of the storm the Lord spoke to Job once again (Job 40:6).

Now stand up straight and answer my questions.  Are you trying to prove that I am unjust— to put me in the wrong and yourself in the right?  Are you as strong as I am?  Can your voice thunder as loud as mine?  If so...  Job 40:7-10. 

Part 3 of God's questions.  Part 4 of God's questions.

Then Job answered the Lord (Job 42:1):

I know, Lord, that you are all-powerful; that you can do everything you want.  You ask how I dare question your wisdom when I am so very ignorant.  I talked about things I did not understand, about marvels too great for me to know.  You told me to listen while you spoke and to try to answer your questions.  In the past I knew only what others had told me, but now I have seen you with my own eyes.  So I am ashamed of all I have said and repent in dust and ashes.  Job 42:2-6.   

I would love to hear your thoughts on the subject.  Please share as a comment or direct message on Facebook or Instagram.

Why?

Why do bad things happen?  Why is there so much misery in the world?  Why do some people experience a lot of loss and sorrow in their lives and others not so much?  Why...?

These questions have weighed heavily on my mind over the last year.  I have been frustrated in being unable to find adequate answers to my questions.  I don't know why my brother died so suddenly at such a young age...  

There are a lot of things that I don't know, there are only a few things that I do.  I am sharing them here in the hopes that they may bring comfort to people who are suffering.

First, we all have the freedom of choice.

Second, no person is an island.  The choices that we make impact the lives of those around us.

Why doesn't God intervene?

Sometimes he does.  

• He opened the earth to swallow up Korah, Dathan and Abiram when they rebelled.

• He raised Dorcas from the dead so that she could continue her charitable work of clothing the poor.
  

• He healed captain Naaman, a heathen Syrian, of leprosy.
  

Sometime he doesn't.

• Lazarus died when Jesus could have healed him.
  

• John the Baptist was beheaded.
  

• Stephen was stoned to death.

What if God never intervened?  We would all be ignorant of God's character.  Not to mention that we would all be lost.

What if God always intervened and stopped bad things from happening?  We would all be ignorant of Satan's character and couldn't make an informed choice.

Why does God make the choices that He does?  We do not know.  We do not know the mind of God.  We cannot judge his choices. [This raises other questions around the purpose of prayer which will not be addressed at this time].

However, we do know that in heaven Lucifer challenged God.  The Bible says that there was war in heaven and Lucifer, now Satan, was thrown out with one third of the angels.

This war has continued on this earth.  It cost the life of Jesus.

In his life and death Jesus demonstrated that God was right.  His way was best - a kingdom of love, joy and peace which can only come through freedom of choice.

Satan doesn't want love.  He doesn't want choice.  He wants to rule by force.  He wants to take control.

God wants people to make informed decisions.  We can only make informed decisions when time and freedom have been given for the consequences of decisions to be played out.  Forced decisions made with insufficient information will be made from the motive of fear rather than love.  God wants us to choose Him from love, not fear.

Are these answers adequate for me?  I'm not sure.  Are they adequate for you?  I don't know.  At least this is a start. Perhaps this is where trust comes in.

Next time we will look at the interaction between Job and God when Job asked: "Why?"

Eventually, the war will be ended and the message will be proclaimed:

"Now God's home is with human beings!  He will live with them, and they shall be his people.  God himself will be with them, and he will be their God.  He will wipe away all tears from their eyes.  There will be no more death, no more grief or crying or pain.  The old things have disappeared." 

Revelation 21:3-4 GNT

ETA: You can share your remarks (comments) via Facebook or Instagram.  I would love to hear from you.

STOP

Feeling overwhelmed by bad news?  Running frantically from task to task?  Experiencing emotional distress?

It's time to take a moment to STOP.  Life is not a sprint.  You need to pace yourself and take breaks.

Stop

Take a step back - this could involve taking some slow controlled breaths

Observe - both what is happening around you as well as inside you

Proceed mindfully

If you are having trouble with this last step, repeat the process and/or pair it with some other distress tolerance techniques such as the five senses activity or TIP.  I encourage you to check out the video resources at the end of this blog post.

One day I realised that I had a missed call from a certain service provider.  I would need to ring this provider back.  At the time I was waiting for a scheduled phone call from someone else and I was therefore unable to ring the provider back straight away.  I started becoming very anxious and distressed about the prospect of interacting with the provider as I hadn't had any contact with them before and I wasn't sure how easy they would be to work with.  It was at this time that I remembered to STOP.  At the last step, I considered how to proceed mindfully as my body was still teeming with stress hormones.  Immediately, I remembered TIP.  Well, I can't 'tip the temperature' (since I don't have access to anything cold), but I can do 'intense physical activity'.  So, I got up and did 50 star jumps.  By the time I had finished this intense physical activity, my body and mind were calm and I was just in time to attend my scheduled phone appointment.  It worked.

Sometimes you need to STOP in order to go.

Resources:

Video explaining the STOP skill: DBT Distress Tolerance STOP Skill

Video explaining distress tolerance skills including the TIP skill and the STOP skill - DBT: Distress Tolerance Skills

If you are experiencing distress you don't have to face it alone.  Call Lifeline: 13 11 14

Don't Worry

Have you ever been worried about something and been reminded that you shouldn't worry?  I have.  Whether it has been reading a Bible verse about it or having someone tell me or even just remembering that I shouldn't be worrying about stuff.  Regardless of how we are reminded, we all know that we shouldn't worry.  Knowing that we shouldn't worry isn't the problem.  We all know that we shouldn't worry about the future.  The problem is, if we stop worrying, what do we do instead?

I remember one morning on my first teaching placement when I woke up feeling very anxious about the day.  I read Bible verses about not worrying, I prayed, I cried, I talked to someone else about it, but I didn't have a lot of success with stopping the worrying.  I now know that instead of worrying about the future all the time, I need to learn skills to manage the worry (not the focus of this blog post) and then learn to live in the present.  That is MUCH easier said than done and it is a skill that needs to be learned.  

 

 

One skill that can help us learn to be in the present involves using our five senses and answering the questions:

• What are five things that I can see?
• What are four things that I can feel?
• What are three things that I can hear?
• What are two things that I can smell?
• What is one thing that I can taste?

 

This is a start.  It definitely helps, but it is just a start.  There are other skills that help with managing worry as well as being in the present.

Resources:

Here is a link to a worksheet that explains the five senses exercise in more detail: Five Senses Worksheet

Here is a link to a video that explains the five senses exercise in more detail: Coping Skill: 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 Grounding Technique

And remember that you can always call Lifeline (13 11 14) or Beyond Blue (1300 22 4636) if you are struggling and need some help.  They are great.

Miserable Comforters

Have you ever experienced miserable comforters?  Over the last twelve months I have experienced significant amounts of loss and grief.  As a result of these experiences, I have encountered two general groups of comforters and one of these groups has added to my pain rather than relieving it.  Miserable comforters.

 "Just trust in God and everything will be alright."

"Praise God."

"You need to be more resilient."

"This is part of God's plan for your life."

"Focus on the positive."

"What are the details?" [From people just seeking to satisfy their curiosity but who actually don't care about you]

"God is testing you." 

"You must have done something wrong and God is punishing you."

All from people who have NO IDEA what it is like to experience this, although they act like they do.  They don't even know the full story because they haven't taken the time to be there for you and listen WITHOUT JUDGEMENT.  They are full of answers and advice but severely lacking in wisdom.  Their comments echo what Job's friends said to him after he had lost his family and all his stuff, including his health.

Your children must have sinned against God, and so he punished them as they deserved. - Job 8:2*

God is punishing you less than you deserve. - Job 11:6

There is nothing you know that we don't know. - Job 15:9

Job, you upset me. Now I'm impatient to answer.  What you have said is an insult, but I know how to reply to you. - Job 20:1-3

Have you ever seen anyone like this man Job?  He never shows respect for God.  He likes the company of evil people and goes around with sinners.  He says that it never does any good to try to follow God's will. - Job 34:7-9

[God] protects those who are righteous; he allows them to rule like kings and lets them be honored forever. - Job 36:7 

If they obey God and serve him, they live out their lives in peace and prosperity. - Job 36:11 

God brought you out of trouble, and let you enjoy security; your table was piled high with food.  But now you are being punished as you deserve. - Job 36:16-17

No one can tell God what to do or accuse him of doing evil.  He has always been praised for what he does; you also must praise him. - Job 36:23-24

And what was God's response?

After the Lord had finished speaking to Job, he said to Eliphaz, “I am angry with you and your two friends, because you did not speak the truth about me, the way my servant Job did.  Now take seven bulls and seven rams to Job and offer them as a sacrifice for yourselves. Job will pray for you, and I will answer his prayer and not disgrace you the way you deserve. You did not speak the truth about me as he did.” - Job 42:7-8

There are some things in life that we do not have the answers for.  Let us acknowledge and accept this, as hard as it is.  Lets be there for each other and listen without judgement and advice.

If you are going through a rough time in your life, don't feel bad about removing miserable comforters out of your life.

If you have been a miserable comforter, with help you can change, if you choose to.

ETA:

If you are needing help coping with stuff that is happening in your life and aren't sure where to turn, try calling the following numbers:

Lifeline 13 11 14 (Alternatively you can text or chat to them online at: https://www.lifeline.org.au/)

Beyond Blue 1300 22 4636 (or chat online at: https://www.beyondblue.org.au/)

You don't have to manage on your own.

*All Bible verses are quoted from the Good News Translation.

Daffodil!

I am SO excited!!!  My first daffodil has bloomed!  Back in May I bought the bulbs and planted them in the ground.  Then I waited.  Weeks passed.  Eventually the leaves started poking through the ground.  I waited some more.  More weeks passed and then the flower buds started appearing.  Days passed.  Days where I checked on the flowers multiple times a day, eagerly anticipating the opening of the first flower.  Now, four months later, my patience is rewarded by my first daffodil with more on the way.  Growth takes time.

 When I purchased the daffodil bulbs, I purchased a mixed collection of seven bulbs.  I planted six of them and gave the last one to my Mum.  They didn't all exhibit signs of growth at the same time.  In fact, I thought one of them would never grow and so I planted snowdrops close around it.  Suffice it to say, I was pleasantly surprised when the leaves of the sixth bulb started poking through the surface of the soil.  Growth happens at different rates.

Besides growing daffodils, I also spent a couple of afternoons planting seeds in my veggie garden.  I planted peas, beans, tomatoes, basil, cucumbers, lettuce, spinach and asian spinach.  The peas, the asian spinach and the beetroots were the first to germinate.  The weeds were even quicker, although it was a bit hard to tell which plants were weeds and which were from seeds that I planted.  Experience tells me that I will need to nurture the plants that I want to grow and remove the ones that I don't in order to get the results, the harvest, that I desire.  Growth requires nurture.

There is a third garden that I am working on, the garden of my mind.  I am growing neural pathways.  I am learning to identify 'weeds' as well as what skills to plant and how to nurture my garden.  I have other gardeners who are helping me.  Gardeners who know more about different plants (skills) and how to grow them.  This growth requires nurture.  This growth happens at different rates.  This growth takes time.

Rerouting

Have you ever been out driving and taken a wrong turn?  I have.  Once when I was visiting a friend I took the wrong exit.  Unfortunately, there was no way to get back on the freeway again heading in the same direction at the location of where I exited the freeway.  After turning right and heading across the freeway I travelled through a couple of intersections before I turned left again.  Now I was travelling on a road that theoretically was parallel to the highway.  Night was coming on and I ended up in this small town.  It was pretty empty.  I pulled over to look at my phone and try to figure out where to go.    In the meantime, a hoon sped past me.  Boy am I glad that I was pulled over and that crazy driver is in front of me instead of racing up behind me, I thought.  Eventually, I confirmed that I was headed in the right direction and so I pulled back onto the road again.  After several minutes I caught sight of the freeway and was soon cruising along on it once more.  I knew where I was for sure now and I knew where to go.  A few minutes down the road I happened to make another wrong turn, but I realised immediately and was able to make a U-turn and head back in the right direction.  Finally, I made it to my destination on my roundabout route.

We like to think that life is like following a route on our phone.  God has it all mapped out.  We just need to pray and read the Bible and follow it.  We might take a wrong turn, but that is OK because God will just reroute us.  We can choose whether or not to follow the route.

Sometimes we are travelling through life in a car where we are not the driver.  Sometimes the driver takes a wrong turn that has devastating consequences for them, the others in the car and the others on the road.  It may not even be their fault that they took a wrong turn.  Perhaps someone else was reading the maps and telling them what to do and they gave the wrong instructions.  I've experienced that. 

While this analogy seems nice, except for the fact that we can't always be the driver, I don't think it is very realistic.  I don't think life is quite like following a detailed route, like travelling from one location in Melbourne's west to another in Melbourne's east.  I've done that before too and made some wrong turns with a phone that didn't have the capability of rerouting me.  That resulted in me having to find a side street to pull over into so that I could re-enter my destination and get a new route (or doing it while driving on a freeway that had me heading north instead of west!).  Shhh!  Don't tell anyone!  Needless to say I was so grateful when I upgraded to a new phone and had the luxury of being automatically rerouted when I made a wrong turn!

I think life is more like the trip I made when I moved interstate.  I had a final destination where I needed and wanted to be, but it was up to me to decide how I was going to get there.  I was travelling from Melbourne to NNSW.  Because of the situation with COVID-19 restrictions and lockdowns et cetera I desired to avoid Sydney.  Hence I chose to travel the inland route.  I passed through a number of different towns and had stops and detours for food, fuel and sleep along the way.  There was no right or wrong way for me to go so long as I continued to travel in the general direction of my destination.  There were two fairly direct routes that I could have chosen (coastal through Sydney or inland through Dubbo), but there was a lot of choice within those routes.  Obviously, if I had headed west towards Adelaide I wouldn't have reached my destination but neither would I have been heading in the general direction of my destination.

As Christians, God has given us the Bible.  He hasn't given each one of us a detailed GPS route telling us exactly what decision to make and when.  The Bible contains information about two possible destinations.  Once destination is heaven and the other is everywhere but.  Just like my one destination was home and the other option was everywhere but home.  The Bible contains tips and tricks on how to reach the destination of heaven and where you will end up if you don't end up at that destination but it doesn't outline each individual turn to make.  It isn't a GPS.  God doesn't want robots in heaven.  He wants intelligent human beings who want to be home with Him and who have chosen to follow his tips and tricks so that they can reach that destination.  He wants people who are heading in that general direction.

Sometimes, because we don't have a GPS telling us where to go, or we are in a black spot, we need to get out of our cars and ask someone for help.  Because we don't have a GPS telling us what choices to make in life, sometimes we need to get out of our self-sufficiency and ask someone for help.  Somewhere along the way on my journey through life I picked up this idea that if you pray and read the Bible you will have all you need to manage any challenge that comes your way all by yourself.  When that idea was put to the test, it didn't hold up.  I didn't find the help that I needed in praying or reading the Bible, but people came into my life that did provide the help that I needed.  Numerous people spread over a number of states and over a period of time helped me to conquer the enormous challenges that I faced in my life.  They were my lifesavers.

Let's reroute our thinking.  Head in the general direction of heaven, if that's what you want to do.  Read the Bible and pray to help you along the way.  Ask for help from other people when you need it and provide help to other people when they need it.

Characteristics of the Righteous

At the beginning of this year I was moving to a new town in New South Wales. In preparation for this, I decided to visit the local Seventh-day Adventist church. I arrived early but since no-one else was there yet, I spent a few minutes reading in my car. Unfortunately the content of the book was upsetting. Also, I got some dark looks from people when they saw my number plate (I still had Victorian registration plates on my car at that stage and Victoria had had a lot of trouble with COVID-19 infection control). As a result I needed to calm down before I could go in to the church and ended up walking in late. I slipped into a pew near the back. No-one greeted me, no-one smiled at me, no-one even acknowledged my presence. As I sat there I came ever closer to bursting into tears. Tears of anger and frustration. The comments of the leader contributed to my distressed state. Suddenly I got up and walked out. No-one followed me, no-one looked at me. I never went back. A few weeks later I received a leaflet in my letter box about Bible studies. What a joke. The impression that church had left on me was far from favourable. There was no way I was going back there, let alone study the Bible with someone from there. That was the coldest church that I ever experienced.

That experience along with similar experiences has caused me to think about Adventists. In general, Adventists pride themselves with having "the truth", with "keeping the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus", with "keeping the Sabbath" and with "looking forward to Jesus' second coming" among other things. They think they are doing the right thing and yet they lack love.

When the Son of Man comes as King and all the angels with him, he will sit on his royal throne, and the people of all the nations will be gathered before him. Then he will divide them into two groups, just as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will put the righteous people on his right and the others on his left. Then the King will say to the people on his right, 'Come, you that are blessed by my Father! Come and possess the kingdom which has been prepared for you ever since the creation of the world. I was hungry and you fed me, thirsty and you gave me a drink; I was a stranger and you received me in your homes, naked and you clothed me; I was sick and you took care of me, in prison and you visited me.'

The righteous will then answer him, 'When, Lord, did we ever see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you a drink? When did we ever see you a stranger and welcome you in our homes, or naked and clothe you? When did we ever see you sick or in prison, and visit you?' The King will reply, 'I tell you, whenever you did this for one of the least important of these members of my family, you did it for me!'

Then he will say to those on his left, 'Away from me, you that are under God's curse! Away to the eternal fire which has been prepared for the Devil and his angels! I was hungry but you would not feed me, thirsty but you would not give me a drink; I was a stranger but you would not welcome me in your homes, naked but you would not clothe me; I was sick and in prison but you would not take care of me.'

Then they will answer him, 'When, Lord, did we ever see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and would not help you? The King will reply, 'I tell you, whenever you refused to help one of these least important ones, you refused to help me.' These then, will be sent off to eternal punishment, but the righteous will go to eternal life." Matthew 25:31-46 GNT. 

God's people, the righteous, the ones who receive the reward of eternal life, are those who cared for the people who were in need.  How does this fit in with the verse often quoted by Adventists from Revelation about God's people?

This calls for endurance on the part of God's people, those who obey God's commandments and are faithful to Jesus. Revelation 14:12 GNT. 

Adventists often apply these characteristics to themselves because they "keep ALL of God's commandments" including the seventh day as the Sabbath. However, what does it mean to obey God's commandments? What are God's commandments? This question has been answered by Jesus himself.

When the Pharisees heard that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, they came together, and one of them, a teacher of the Law, tried to trap him with a question. "Teacher," he asked, "which is the greatest commandment in the Law?"

Jesus answered, "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.' This is the greatest and most important commandment. The second most important commandment is like it: 'Love your neighbour as you love yourself.' The whole Law of Moses and the teachings of the prophets depend on these two commandments." Matthew 22:34-40 GNT.

So, to obey the commandments of God means to love God with all your heart, soul and mind and to love your neighbour as yourself and you demonstrate this love by the way you treat other people.  Truth without love is not truth.

Now I don't want to leave you with the impression that all "Christians" or all "Adventists" are unkind and unloving.  I have encountered some who have shown genuine love and care towards those who were in need.  I have been a recipient of some of that love and care myself.  I have also encountered people outside of the church who have demonstrated a lot of love and care towards me and my family when we were in need.  God doesn't need us to judge each other.  He needs us to be His hands on this earth to show love and care to all around us.  

Help to carry one another's burdens, and in this way you will obey the law of Christ. Galatians 6:2 GNT. 

Radical Acceptance

Philippians 4:13 is a text often quoted out of context to support the idea that the quoter can do anything that they set their mind to if it is according to God's will and they rely on God's strength.

So far as I can see, there are three problems with this:

1. We can't be sure what God's will is in every situation.

2. God's will doesn't always take place in this sinful world.

3. This verse is taken out of context and made to mean something different from the original meaning.

Let us look at this verse in context.

But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly, that now at the last your care of me hath flourished again; wherein ye were also careful, but ye lacked opportunity. Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me. - Philippians 4:10-13 (KJV)

Paul has learned the secret of radical acceptance. I can radically accept every situation that I am in through Christ who strengthens me. Radical acceptance does not mean leaving things as they are. Radical acceptance involves accepting reality as it is and then working to change what can be changed. This is what Paul was able to do through the strength of Christ.

God has given each individual a certain personality with unique gifts and talents and intelligence to choose a work that is suited to them. God doesn't want everyone to be nurses, teachers, doctors, pastors, literature evangelists and bible workers. God created some people who are better suited to working behind the scenes rather than upfront. Those people should be valued for their contribution and not pressured to "claim Philippians 4:13" and work on the front lines. God needs cleaners, cooks, accountants, etc. just as much as other workers. Don't be ashamed to work behind the scenes.  Your work is just as important.

Consider the situation in Acts 6.  There was a need for the charity work to be managed better so extra men were chosen to specifically oversee that work.  It was important and God provided people to perform it.  Consider also Tabitha in Acts 9.  God raised her from the dead so that she could continue her charitable work of making clothes for the poor and needy.  Do not be ashamed of the work that God is calling you to do if it is not overtly mission focussed.  God needs you to use your talents in the sphere that he is given you.  You will be valued.  You will come into contact with people and influence people who cannot be reached by any other person.  

I would like to conclude this piece by quoting Philippians 4:10-13 from the Good News Translation.

In my life in union with the Lord it is a great joy to me that after so long a time you once more had the chance of showing that you care for me. I don't mean that you had stopped caring for me—you just had no chance to show it.  And I am not saying this because I feel neglected, for I have learned to be satisfied with what I have.  I know what it is to be in need and what it is to have more than enough. I have learned this secret, so that anywhere, at any time, I am content, whether I am full or hungry, whether I have too much or too little.  I have the strength to face all conditions by the power that Christ gives me. - Philippians 4:10-13 (GNT)