Powerpoint Slides for Everyone - 2014 - Week 37

I nearly forgot; I almost let the week pass without posting a free background image.  These images (usually posted earlier in the week) are yours to download and to use however you like.  I only ask that you share them freely and that you tell others that you found them here.

For those who like to know such things - the photograph is of a brass candle holder made in India, photographed with my homemade DIY macro lens.

Biblical Limericks: Not Helping

Egyptian magicians served their king
by each of the plagues reproducing,
snakes, blood, and frogs as well
which caused Pharaoh to yell,
“Dammit, you guys! This isn’t helping!”

Exodus 7: 11 – 12, 22, 8: 7

Biblical Limericks: Night and Day

Heaven’s seraphim, all day and night,
sing out constantly with great might:
“Thrice holy is our king,”
though that is a strange thing
since heaven has no night, only light.

Revelation 4:8, 22:5

Reading the Bible Changes the Way We Read the Bible Changes the Way We Read…

I used to believe that if I devoted myself to it diligently enough, if I read enough books from the best, most intelligent and most devout scholars, I would eventually understand the Bible.  That is, I would know the answer.  It thought of it as a puzzle and every new concept, every new fact was a piece of that puzzle being put into its proper place. I expected that eventually all the pieces would be put in place and that I would be able to comprehend the completed whole.

But I have become convinced that this is wrong.

Reading, and studying, and interpreting the Bible is not a static once done forever completed task; it is a lifelong (even lifes-long) journey along “the Way,” following as the Spirit guides us into truth.  Reading the Bible changes the way that we read the Bible, which changes the way we read the Bible, which…

For example:

Portions of the bible clearly condone (if not actually extol) slavery.  And for a long time this was used as justification for some to keep others in bondage - it was scriptural, after all...  However, other parts of the bible were understood as extolling human freedom and liberation.  Reading those parts of the Bible convinced people that human slavery was an evil thing. 

Reading the Bible changes the way that we read the Bible which changes the way we read the Bible which changes the way….

Saint Francis (black and white)

Saint Francis by Jeff Carter on 500px