MY FAVORITE BIBLE VERSES ABOUT BEING AN OLD MAN

I am now 75 years of age. In other words, I’m old. I like what some Bible verses say about being aged. Sadly, these don’t apply to every man, but I do hope I am included in the following descriptions; at least I try to be.

1.  We have wisdom and understanding.

 Job 12:12 (NKJV) “Wisdom is with aged men, And with length of days, understanding.”

2. We are righteous and flourishing; bearing spiritual fruit; declaring God’s nature and love.

Psalm 92:12-15 (NKJV) “The righteous shall flourish like a palm tree; He shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon. Those who are planted in the house of the LORD Shall flourish in the courts of our God. They shall still bear fruit in old age; They shall be fresh and flourishing, To declare that the LORD is upright; He is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in Him.”

 3. We are found following God’s way. Even if we have little or no hair instead of silver hair.

Proverbs 16:31 (NKJV) “The silver-haired head is a crown of glory, If it is found in the way of righteousness. “

 4.  God is with us until our dying day, and then He will deliver us to our mansion in Glory.

Isaiah 46:4 (NKJV) “Even to your old age, I am He, And even to gray hairs I will carry you! I have made, and I will bear; Even I will carry, and will deliver you.”

 5.   We can also be responsible and be an example in both word and deed to Glorify Christ.

Titus 2:1-2 (NKJV) “But as for you, speak the things which are proper for sound doctrine: that the older men be sober, reverent, temperate, sound in faith, in love, in patience.”

If you’re still younger, this is what you can look forward to when you reach a ripe old age.

 

COPYRIGHT 2024 BY CARL E GUSTAFSON

GOD IN GOVERNMENT, NATURE, AND FINANCE

 

Theocracy, Theocology, and Theoconomy described 

Many people these days are concerned about three important areas of life, namely, politics, global warming, and money.  Those who do not know God are especially worried, in light of all the negative input seen and heard in the media. 

            But sadly, even some who believe are not aware of God’s hand in all three things.  Therefore, the purpose of this article is to make everyone aware of how God is still active in the world today, as He has been throughout history. 

            Theocracy – God in government.  Was it an accident that the current President was elected the way he was?  No.  Not any more than was the prior presidency a surprise to God.  “God raises up rulers and brings them down,” it says in the Book of Daniel.  And He knows who will win the next election – at every level.  (Sometimes it’s the candidate that campaigns the hardest.) 

            Theocology – God in nature and in the environment.  The best verse that describes God’s hand in this area is found in Genesis, following the global flood, where God promised Noah that “summer and winter and springtime and harvest” will continue as long as the Earth exists.  We will always have the four seasons, even though temperatures may fluctuate a few degrees. 

            Theoconomy – God in wealth and finance.  There are more verses in the Bible regarding money, than the other two topics of this article.  God “blesses” some people with wealth, and others have contentment without wealth.  It’s been said that the poorest in the United States are richer than anywhere else in the world. 

            In addition to these three, God is involved in every area of life in general and our lives in particular. As our loving Heavenly Father provides for the birds that never reap nor sow, He cares for each of us.

THE 2024 TOTAL SOLAR ECLIPSE

It is a rarity in the parts of the USA that will witness this year’s total solar eclipse, but according to ASTROMONY.COM there is such an eclipse somewhere on earth every 18 months. This has been occurring since God created the Sun and the Moon and the Earth. He placed them in such a harmonious relationship that the timing of eclipses has been predicted for the next thousand years by NASA.

One of the oldest records of solar eclipses was recorded on a clay tablet found at Ugarit, in modern Syria in 1375 BC. Many other ancient texts and petroglyphs also describe solar eclipses. The first one predicted was in 585 BC by the philosopher Thales, but it has not been determined how he was able to do this.

The first scientific prediction was by Edmund Halley In 1715. He used Newton’s theory of universal gravitation to map its path through England. London and other cities in its path were prepared to experience the astronomical event. By the way, he also discovered Halley’s Comet. There is no shortage of information on the Web for those interested in further study.

There is also a mystical spin about solar eclipses. Is it a sign of God’s judgement? Is it a good or bad omen? Does it give new beginnings? Can it bring about healing and transformation? Is it a sacred time? These are all ideas men have had, but the solar eclipse is simply a heavenly event that occurs in a mathematical, predictable time frame.

I’m reminded of David’s praise in Psalm 8:

O LORD, our Lord, How excellent is Your name in all the earth, Who have set Your glory above the heavens!

When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, The moon and the stars, which You have ordained, what is man that You are mindful of him, and the son of man that You visit him?

O LORD, our Lord, How excellent is Your name in all the earth!

ALL THE ELEMENTS

With a degree in Chemistry, I observed the periodic table too many times to count. But, I did count 92 natural elements, which are the ones God created. Man has found a few more that were developed as the result of nuclear activity or in the laboratory.

And the elements can be categorized several ways: metals, non-metals, metalloids, and noble gases, which are further divided into seven families and eighteen groups. They are also classified into four types of blocks that are: s- block, p- block, d- block and f- block, based on the valence electron in which the shell is located.

There’s more, but the beauty of the elements is their logical, unique qualities that have enabled men to organize and better understand both the elements themselves, and the resulting compounds both in nature and in the laboratory. Thus, all the chemicals and pharmaceuticals that have been developed, along with everything in nature, are a result of God’s creative, chemical wisdom. After all, everything is a chemical composition.

From where else could chemicals have arisen? Hydrogen is the simplest element. Did all the others evolve from it? There is no process that could have provided this. True, some elements degrade over time and can actually change into another. For example, Radiometric Dating compares amount of Uranium to Lead, or Potassium to Argon in order to determine the age of a compound. The shortcoming of this method is due to the unknown amount of the original element in the material being tested.

The above mentioned elements never degrade into a more reactive one, but only to a less reactive one, just like mutations in living things always lose properties from its parent organism, and don’t gain any.  The logical conclusion is that God created each element after its own kind, just as He created each animal after its own kind. Just as a dog has always been a dog, with a variety of breeds, so Carbon has always been Carbon, with a variety of isotopes.

The great thing about this is that we are alive because of all the elements and their resultant compounds that God has provided!

COPYRIGHT 2024 BY CARL E GUSTAFSON

THE FALL OF AN EMPIRE

 

When historians look back at the USA, as we do at the Roman Empire, what will be the reasons they cite for its demise? Not that it will fall, but should it fail, what could be the cause or causes?

Due to the influx of foreign immigrants in the last three years, this may be a reason. Not the law abiding individuals who were truly seeking freedom from tyranny and looking for a better life, but the criminal element that has already caused death and pain and suffering to innocent Americans. In addition to gang members, there have been agents of our enemies who are here to set up terror cells to cause much destruction.

What about our national sins. The Bible is clear that judgment will come upon nations that ignore God’s laws. Of course “national sins” are simply personal sins committed by a large enough number of people to infect the entire country.

Hate itself is a sin, not just a crime. To hate those who look different than us, or those that believe differently, or those who vote differently – it’s all hate, which is revealed in a cancel culture mentality. Hate ultimately demands the death of the hated; but it also causes the death of the hater. God’s way is love – to treat others as we would want to be treated. Jesus said we can love even our enemies.

And there is the mistreatment of unborn babies and children. It says in Luke 17:2 “It would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were thrown into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones.” Abortion, gender surgeries on minors, transgender behavior, and robbing girls of female only sports – the list goes on and on.

But the fall is not inevitable. The Bible also tells us the when its citizens repent and turn back to God; He will forgive and restore that nation to its former glory. The USA was a glorious, wonderful place to live and raise a family. Let us pray that it’s not too late!

CAR MODELS IN HISTORY

With the help of MARINERS on a MARATHON sea excursion, the Pilgrims landed on PLYMOUTH Rock after they made the ESCAPE from CONTINENTAL tyranny of the MONARCH. Over 300 years ago, their EXPEDITION had just begun in the New World as they began to FORD rivers and streams. They were concerned about SPIDERS, HORNETS and WILDCATS as well as other natural dangers. Overhead EAGLES and FALCONS circled. But the GALANT VOYAGERS had found a home in the New World. 

The VILLAGER would settle down in the small METRO area, usually around a fenced fortress. And the MOUNTAINEER would eventually move west over the Appalachians, but never without his COMPASS. He was always on the lookout for a VIPER or BOBCAT. This was a PRELUDE of the later western expansion. Later on these LAND ROVERS would encounter a COUGAR or wild MUSTANG. The PONY was introduced to America by the Spaniards. 

Meanwhile the settlers in both TOWN AND COUNTRY were establishing CIVIC and legal ACCORDS for civilized life. Each town had its own CUSTOM. The local STATESMAN would FOCUS on his LEGACY, while becoming an AMBASSADOR to neighboring settlements. Even though the TEMPO of life was relatively slow, the settlers had to be both FIT and SWIFT to stay safe. Women were RELIANT on an ESCORT sometimes armed with a CUTLASS if they needed to walk through the woods. This provided protection from a MARAUDER or PUMA. 

Home life was nothing like our SUBURBAN communities today. Often a RENEGADE PROWLER would attempt to break in or steal, which was not a MINOR problem. This OUTLANDER would face the FURY of the citizens. With God’s help the Pilgrims survived the challenges of the New World, and eventually moved clear past the ALPINE peaks of the Rocky Mountains. 

Later, a MARQUIS decided to move west.  Not worried about the CHEROKEE he mounted his BRONCO and rode on. He met up with another LAND CRUISER like himself and as CAVALIER as ever, they continued the trek. He had lived in NEWPORT, but it became too crowded. They feared getting lost when they came upon a RANGER, who helped them avoid the JAGUAR and trap the SABLE for fur. 

They traveled on to the southwest and thought they heard the sound of a CORONET. Indeed, it was the horn being played in a FIESTA. But the party was cut short when a CYCLONE was spotted. The next day they stumbled upon a WRANGLER breaking a COLT. One fellow asked the other if they should try to find an AZTEC community, but he simply replied, “No. YUGO.” 

They finally got to the SIERRA range, but it was winter and there was not a LEAF on the trees. After settling in California, they decided to stop traveling and build a GOLF course. They cleared out the BEETLE population and were very successful.

FOREFATHERS MONUMENT

I was not aware of the Forefathers Monument in Plymouth MA, until my friend Nick Montagner told us about it in Bible Study one Friday morning. It’s also been called the “Pilgrim Monument” and the “Faith Monument” and it stands 81feet tall, which makes it the largest free-standing granite structure in the country, and the 3^rd tallest statue.

It was designed by Hammall Billings, who proposed it to the Pilgrim Society in the early 1850’s. He agreed to help raise the funds, and by 1859 there was enough money to lay the cornerstone. However, it was not finished and dedicated until 1889. Cash was hard to come by during the war and, sadly, Billings died in 1874. Thankfully others continued building the structure. Interestingly, Abraham Lincoln donated $10 to the project in 1861.

Our Pilgrim forefathers certainly deserve this honor. Without their courage and faith and wisdom we would not have the USA as we know it today. The plans they had for the New World were laid out in 1620 on the Mayflower Compact, signed by both the Saints and the Strangers on the ship. These forty-one men “joined themselves together as a community of equals for the purpose of self-government in the new world.”

“The pilgrims believed that lawful government was established by God to restrain evil and to advance good on the earth.” This was further clarified in the 1636 “Pilgrim Code of Law” wherein “all its existing laws were compiled into a single volume for greater clarity.” The Pilgrims are best described in a speech by Daniel Webster in 1820.

“We look around us, and behold the hills and promontories where the anxious eyes of our fathers first saw the places of habitation and of rest. We feel the cold which benumbed, and listen to the winds which pierced them. Beneath us is the Rock, on which New England received the feet of the Pilgrims. We seem even to behold them, as they struggle with the elements, and, with toilsome efforts, gain the shore.

 “We listen to the chiefs in council; we see the mild dignity of Carver and of Bradford; the decisive and soldier like air and manner of Standish; the devout Brewster; the enterprising Allerton; the general firmness and thoughtfulness of the whole band; their conscious joy for dangers escaped; their deep solicitude about danger to come; their trust in Heaven; their high religious faith, full of confidence and anticipation; all of these seem to belong to this place, and to be present upon this occasion, to fill us with reverence and admiration.”

All quotations are from the FOREFATHERS MONUMENT GUIDEBOOK.

 COPYRIGHT 2024 BY CARL E GUSTAFSON

A FUTURE VIEW OF CARS

 

I have the view of the future. It’s a future that has been perfected and has become everything we would like it to be. It’s more of a listing of what I see things becoming. It’s extremely optimistic and hopeful. It’s wishful thinking at its best.

             For example let’s look at cars and roads for a start. Not only will there be self-driving cars, they will be absolutely safe with no accidents or breakdowns. If any maintenance is required the car will drive itself to the repair shop while the owner is having lunch or dinner. The cars will be very comfortable and roomy and the roads so smooth it will be like floating along the road. Between satellite controls and radar and sonar modules on the cars, no collisions will ever occur. No pedestrians or animals will ever be hit.

             The car choices will be based on color, size, and accessories. Some drivers will want great sound systems; others will want TV’s or computers. Beds and recliners will be options. If you want to travel across the country you can be very comfortable on the trip. With voice controls you can ask the car to stop at the next restaurant so you can grab a meal or you may decide to visit a friend or relative along the way or you can head to church to worship God – just speak up.

             Every road will be smooth, not just the interstates. No city potholes or manhole bumps. No broken pavement or asphalt will ever be seen, and the painted lines will never fade. There will be a nice wide berm on either side and four lanes will be mandatory. Plus smooth sidewalks will be on both sides of each street. Stop signs and traffic signals will not be needed because the cars will be able to navigate intersections seamlessly.

COMFORT FOR CHRISTIANS WHO ARE AILING OR AGED

For it is God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us.

We are hard pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair;  persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed -- always carrying about in our body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body. And knowing that He who raised up the Lord Jesus will also raise us up with Jesus, and will present us with you.

Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.

For we know that if our earthly house, this tent, is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed with our habitation which is from heaven, if indeed, having been clothed, we shall not be found naked. For we who are in this tent groan, being burdened, not because we want to be unclothed, but further clothed, that mortality may be swallowed up by life.

Now He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who also has given us the Spirit as a guarantee. So we are always confident, knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord. For we walk by faith, not by sight. We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord.

 From 2 Corinthians 4:6-18; 5:1-8 (NKJV)

26 LETTERS AND 88 NOTES

Oh, the music that has been made with this combination! The fabulous songs that have been written! It’s an amazing tribute to God’s creation of language and His gift to men of making instruments and using their voices to sing!

Webster’s has a listing of 470,000 word entries, and that’s just in English. And there have been an estimate of over 100 million songs written worldwide. And there’s room for many more, with new tunes being released continuously. Plus, there are songs that have been written by amateurs and never published. (This author has had a few.)

We could not possibly listen to every song that’s available, so as in every aspect of life we need to make choices. Which kinds of songs, which artists, which instruments, which genre? Some songs make us feel better, others make us want to dance and/or sing, some enable us to worship God through music.

Sadly, some songs are very negative and even harmful. It’s hard to imagine that these bad songs are attractive to any age group, but they are. This is a reminder of the evil and the rebellion in the hearts and minds of humans.

Back to the positive effects of music, here are a few quotes pertaining to its great value.

“Music is like a dream. One that I cannot hear.” – Beethoven 

“Music is the universal language of mankind.” – Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

“Music gives a soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination, and life to everything.” – Plato 

“Music is the art of the prophets and the gift of God.” – Martin Luther 

The Bible speaks often of making music, especially in the Psalms, which has been called the Hymnbook of the Scriptures, as well as in the New Testament.

Psalm 95:1 (NKJV) "Oh come, let us sing to the LORD! Let us shout joyfully to the Rock of our salvation."

Psalm 92:1-3 (NKJV) "It is good to give thanks to the LORD, And to sing praises to Your name, O Most High; To declare Your lovingkindness in the morning, And Your faithfulness every night, On an instrument of ten strings, On the lute, And on the harp, With harmonious sound."

Colossians 3:16 (NKJV) "Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord."

Whether we simply listen to good music or sing along with our favorites, music has a healing, uplifting, joyous effect on our body and mind and soul.