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Object:
Genesis 2:15-17; 3:1-7
I must admit, I do enjoy watching legal dramas on television. Whether it was Law & Order or Matlock or The Practice, I have always been fascinated by the psychological warfare that takes place in a TV courtroom, the subtle tricks that lawyers would play on witnesses, leading them along until they would confess or implicate the guilty party. Shows like that are great illustrations of the power that rests in human language.
Satan is one of the most crafty and cunning wielders of language, as seen in his first appearance in Genesis. Even the most innocent sounding of questions lead humanity to its downfall: "Did God actually say...?" (3:1). That question, combined with half-truths and appeals to human avarice, was all Satan needed to nudge Adam and Eve into sin. And the rest, as they say, is history.
Craig K.
Romans 5:12-19
Before dictionaries, people spelled things… well, however they wanted to. A word could easily be spelled a dozen different ways -- each different way by an equally competent writer. English, besides, is an ever-changing language, drawing its influences from Saxon, French, Gaelic, Latin, and many more languages. The famous Noah Webster learned 26 different languages in order to properly understand the history of each word. The first reliable dictionary of the English language was not created until 1755, long after other languages'; for example, Arabic dictionaries had been around since the eighth century! Noah Webster's dictionary in the mid-1800s was an attempt to unify American English and spelling. Today, our affinity for spelling has led to such events as national spelling bees, and good spellers are given special deference. But before there were rules (laws) to spelling, mistakes (sins) were not "reckoned."
Leah T.
Romans 5:12-19
Rudyard Kipling, best known as the author of The Jungle Book, wrote a poem titled The White Man's Burden in 1899. The United States acquired the Philippines as a possession as a result of the country's victory in the Spanish-American War. Kipling considered the island inhabitants to be a backward and uncivilized people; therefore, he felt the United States was obligated to civilize the indigents. The poem reflected the United States' obligation to intervene on behalf of the native people. The poem, intended only for the Philippines, was used by the European countries to dominate the natives of Africa, who were also considered inferior.
The poem opens with this line: "Take up the White Man's burden / Send forth the best ye breed / Go bind your sons to exile / To serve your captives' need."
Paul speaks that "just one man's trespass led to condemnation for all." Paul of course, is referring to the sin of Adam in the Garden of Eden. But the message is applicable to all; the sin of one man can lead many astray. Kipling's intentions may have been noble, but his poem gave permission for the nations of the world to subjugate those in developing nations. This should be a message of caution for all of us: if we violate the commandments of God, many individuals may be hurt in the wake.
Ron L.
Matthew 4:1-11
On March 8, 1971, Madison Square Garden in New York City was abuzz. People were crowding into the arena to witness what would later be called, "The Fight of the Century." Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier, two undefeated boxing champions, would meet in the ring to determine who deserved to be called the world champion. While the hype preceding the fight was tremendous, the fight itself actually went over and above. The fight lasted the full 15 rounds, with Ali coming out strong in the early rounds and Frazier coming on near the end. Both fighters took a heavy beating. Ali's jaw was swollen and disfigured after the fight. But in the end, there could be only one winner. Frazier won by unanimous decision. The two would meet two more times, each fight one to remember.
While the first-century Judean wilderness would never be confused for New York City, the two locales share a common bond. They both witnessed a fight for the ages. In the wilderness, Satan, having already drawn God's creation into sin and death, now sought a greater prize: the Son of God himself. Weakened by a forty-day fast, Satan knew the time was ripe for his attack. While no fists flew, while no punches were dodged, this fight put the fight of the century to shame. Satan lashed out with temptation after temptation, trying to draw the Son of God into sin, forever tarnishing his nature and thwarting the plans of his Father. But Jesus kept blocking every blow, returning each one with words from the scriptures, his weapon of choice. While Satan threw everything at Jesus, in the end, he emerged triumphant in what was truly a fight for the ages.
Craig K.
I must admit, I do enjoy watching legal dramas on television. Whether it was Law & Order or Matlock or The Practice, I have always been fascinated by the psychological warfare that takes place in a TV courtroom, the subtle tricks that lawyers would play on witnesses, leading them along until they would confess or implicate the guilty party. Shows like that are great illustrations of the power that rests in human language.
Satan is one of the most crafty and cunning wielders of language, as seen in his first appearance in Genesis. Even the most innocent sounding of questions lead humanity to its downfall: "Did God actually say...?" (3:1). That question, combined with half-truths and appeals to human avarice, was all Satan needed to nudge Adam and Eve into sin. And the rest, as they say, is history.
Craig K.
Romans 5:12-19
Before dictionaries, people spelled things… well, however they wanted to. A word could easily be spelled a dozen different ways -- each different way by an equally competent writer. English, besides, is an ever-changing language, drawing its influences from Saxon, French, Gaelic, Latin, and many more languages. The famous Noah Webster learned 26 different languages in order to properly understand the history of each word. The first reliable dictionary of the English language was not created until 1755, long after other languages'; for example, Arabic dictionaries had been around since the eighth century! Noah Webster's dictionary in the mid-1800s was an attempt to unify American English and spelling. Today, our affinity for spelling has led to such events as national spelling bees, and good spellers are given special deference. But before there were rules (laws) to spelling, mistakes (sins) were not "reckoned."
Leah T.
Romans 5:12-19
Rudyard Kipling, best known as the author of The Jungle Book, wrote a poem titled The White Man's Burden in 1899. The United States acquired the Philippines as a possession as a result of the country's victory in the Spanish-American War. Kipling considered the island inhabitants to be a backward and uncivilized people; therefore, he felt the United States was obligated to civilize the indigents. The poem reflected the United States' obligation to intervene on behalf of the native people. The poem, intended only for the Philippines, was used by the European countries to dominate the natives of Africa, who were also considered inferior.
The poem opens with this line: "Take up the White Man's burden / Send forth the best ye breed / Go bind your sons to exile / To serve your captives' need."
Paul speaks that "just one man's trespass led to condemnation for all." Paul of course, is referring to the sin of Adam in the Garden of Eden. But the message is applicable to all; the sin of one man can lead many astray. Kipling's intentions may have been noble, but his poem gave permission for the nations of the world to subjugate those in developing nations. This should be a message of caution for all of us: if we violate the commandments of God, many individuals may be hurt in the wake.
Ron L.
Matthew 4:1-11
On March 8, 1971, Madison Square Garden in New York City was abuzz. People were crowding into the arena to witness what would later be called, "The Fight of the Century." Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier, two undefeated boxing champions, would meet in the ring to determine who deserved to be called the world champion. While the hype preceding the fight was tremendous, the fight itself actually went over and above. The fight lasted the full 15 rounds, with Ali coming out strong in the early rounds and Frazier coming on near the end. Both fighters took a heavy beating. Ali's jaw was swollen and disfigured after the fight. But in the end, there could be only one winner. Frazier won by unanimous decision. The two would meet two more times, each fight one to remember.
While the first-century Judean wilderness would never be confused for New York City, the two locales share a common bond. They both witnessed a fight for the ages. In the wilderness, Satan, having already drawn God's creation into sin and death, now sought a greater prize: the Son of God himself. Weakened by a forty-day fast, Satan knew the time was ripe for his attack. While no fists flew, while no punches were dodged, this fight put the fight of the century to shame. Satan lashed out with temptation after temptation, trying to draw the Son of God into sin, forever tarnishing his nature and thwarting the plans of his Father. But Jesus kept blocking every blow, returning each one with words from the scriptures, his weapon of choice. While Satan threw everything at Jesus, in the end, he emerged triumphant in what was truly a fight for the ages.
Craig K.
