Second Sunday of Lent

The Epistle for the Second Sunday of Lent is Hebrews 1:10-2:3 (WEB):

Hebrews 1:

¹⁰And,

"You, Lord, in the beginning, laid the foundation of the earth.

The heavens are the works of your hands.

¹¹They will perish, but you continue.

They all will grow old like a garment does.

¹²As a mantle, you will roll them up,

and they will be changed;

but you are the same.

Your years will not fail."*

¹³But which of the angels has he told at any time,

"Sit at my right hand,

until I make your enemies the footstool of your feet?"*

¹⁴Aren't they all serving spirits, sent out to do service for the sake of those who will inherit salvation?

Hebrews 2:

¹Therefore we ought to pay greater attention to the things that were heard, lest perhaps we drift away. ²For if the word spoken through angels proved steadfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompense; ³how will we escape if we neglect so great a salvation--which at the first having been spoken through the Lord, was confirmed to us by those who heard;

Notes:

Hebrews 1:

¹⁰And,

"You, Lord, in the beginning, laid the foundation of the earth.

The heavens are the works of your hands.

¹¹They will perish, but you continue.

They all will grow old like a garment does.

¹²As a mantle, you will roll them up,

and they will be changed;

but you are the same.

Your years will not fail."*

This is a quote from Psalm 101(102):25-27:

(Ps 101(102)) ²⁵Of old, you laid the foundation of the earth.

The heavens are the work of your hands.

²⁶They will perish, but you will endure.

Yes, all of them will wear out like a garment.

You will change them like a cloak, and they will be changed.

²⁷But you are the same.

Your years will have no end.

Hebrews 1:10 And,

"You, Lord, in the beginning, laid the foundation of the earth.

The heavens are the works of your hands.

(Ge 1:1) ¹In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.

(Ep 4:10) ¹⁰He who descended is the one who also ascended far above all the heavens, that he might fill all things.

Hebrews 1:11 They will perish, but you continue.

They all will grow old like a garment does.

(2Pe 3:13) ¹³But, according to his promise, we look for new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness dwells.

(Rev 20:11) ¹¹I saw a great white throne, and him who sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away. There was found no place for them.

(Rev 21:1) ¹I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth have passed away, and the sea is no more.

Hebrews 1:12 As a mantle, you will roll them up,

and they will be changed;

but you are the same.

Your years will not fail.

(Isa 34:4) ⁴All of the army of the sky will be dissolved.

The sky will be rolled up like a scroll,

and all its armies will fade away,

as a leaf fades from off a vine or a fig tree.

(Rev 6:14) ¹⁴The sky was removed like a scroll when it is rolled up. Every mountain and island were moved out of their places.

Hebrews 1:13 But which of the angels has he told at any time,

"Sit at my right hand,

until I make your enemies the footstool of your feet?"*

This is a quote from Psalm 109(110):1:

(Ps 109(110)) ¹Yahweh says to my Lord, "Sit at my right hand,

until I make your enemies your footstool for your feet."

This recalls a passage from Joshua:

(Jos 10:24-25) ²⁴It happened, when they brought forth those kings to Joshua, that Joshua called for all the men of Israel, and said to the chiefs of the men of war who went with him, Come near, put your feet on the necks of these kings. They came near, and put their feet on the necks of them. ²⁵Joshua said to them, Don't be afraid, nor be dismayed; be strong and of good courage: for thus shall Yahweh do to all your enemies against whom you fight.

Hebrews 1:14 Aren't they all serving spirits, sent out to do service for the sake of those who will inherit salvation?

(Ps 102(103):20-21) ²⁰Praise Yahweh, you angels of his,

who are mighty in strength, who fulfill his word,

obeying the voice of his word.

²¹Praise Yahweh, all you armies of his,

you servants of his, who do his pleasure.

Hebrews 2:1-3 Therefore we ought to pay greater attention to the things that were heard, lest perhaps we drift away. ²For if the word spoken through angels proved steadfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompense; ³how will we escape if we neglect so great a salvation—which at the first having been spoken through the Lord, was confirmed to us by those who heard;

Dumb and Dumber

Earlier in the week, I read that the movie "Dumb and Dumber" would be removed from Netflix today.  I had never seen the movie, an iconic comedy, so I decided to watch it. I am glad I have seen it now, but I have no desire to see it again. It was okay, with a few really funny scenes, but I found it more dumb than funny. I gave it 3 stars out of 5, but I debated myself about that third star.

I started thinking about the title, though, and how it applies to real life.  I asked myself, "Who is dumber, the person who knows he is dumb, and, therefore, avoids making decisions that he knows will be dumb, or the person who is dumb but thinks he is smart, and, therefore, is constantly making  dumb decisions and doing dumb things?"  (Note that I am not taking the Politically Correct approach and using "he/she" -- I am taking the traditional approach and using "he" for a person of unknown sex (not gender -- don't get me started on that!). If you want to take a more Politically Incorrect approach, as an exercise, you can rewrite this to be a post about Dumb and Dumber Blondes.  For example, rewrite my question as, "Who is dumber, the dumb blond who knows she is dumb, and, therefore, avoids making decisions that she knows will be dumb, or the dumb blond who is dumb but thinks she is smart, and, therefore, is constantly making  dumb decisions and doing dumb things?")

It took about 20 milliseconds for me to conclude that the dumb person who realizes he is dumb is much smarter than the dumb person who thinks he is smart. Therefore, the dumb person who knows he is dumb is just dumb, while the dumb person who thinks he is smart is the dumber of the two.  And not only dumber, but more dangerous, as as he is constantly making dumb decisions and doing dumb things.

The Sunday of Orthodoxy

The Epistle for the Sunday of Orthodoxy is Hebrews 11:24-28, 32-12:2 (WEB):

²⁴By faith, Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter, ²⁵choosing rather to share ill treatment with God's people, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a time; ²⁶accounting the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt; for he looked to the reward. ²⁷By faith, he left Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king; for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible. ²⁸By faith, he kept the Passover, and the sprinkling of the blood, that the destroyer of the firstborn should not touch them. ... ³²What more shall I say? For the time would fail me if I told of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, and the prophets; ³³who, through faith subdued kingdoms, worked out righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions,* ³⁴quenched the power of fire,* escaped the edge of the sword,* from weakness were made strong, grew mighty in war, and caused foreign armies to flee. ³⁵Women received their dead by resurrection.* Others were tortured, not accepting their deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection. ³⁶Others were tried by mocking and scourging, yes, moreover by bonds and imprisonment. ³⁷They were stoned.* They were sawn apart. They were tempted. They were slain with the sword.* They went around in sheep skins and in goat skins; being destitute, afflicted, ill-treated ³⁸(of whom the world was not worthy), wandering in deserts, mountains, caves, and the holes of the earth. ³⁹These all, having had testimony given to them through their faith, didn't receive the promise, ⁴⁰God having provided some better thing concerning us, so that apart from us they should not be made perfect.

¹Therefore let us also, seeing we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, lay aside every weight and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, ²looking to Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising its shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Shooting from the Hip

"Shooting from the hip" can mean, literally, shooting a handgun from near the hip, presumably after it is drawn from a holster, without taking time to properly grasp the handgun with both hands and aim it at the target.  While it is quicker than the proper technique, it is also wildly inaccurate, which leads to the metaphorical use of the term, where it means, "taking action without proper thought or preparation."

As the title of this blog states, "i am an engineer."  A fundamental process taught to all engineers is problem solving.  Of course, this process is not limited to engineers; it is useful in all walks of life, whether at home or at work.  There are many variations on the problem solving theme, with differing numbers of steps, but they can all be summarized in the following three steps:

1. Indentify and define the problem.
2. Determine the "root cause(s)" of the problem.
3. Develop and implement the solution -- one or more correct actions -- to resolve the "root cause(s)."

Of course, in step 3, you should ensure that the solution adequately resolves the "root cause(s)" and does not introduce other problems.

Sadly, step 2 is often omitted; this is justified on the basis of saving time and effort.  However, the "solution" developed frequently does not actually solve the problem; instead, it may make the problem worse.  In this case, the time and effort needed to revisit and actually solve the problem will far exceed that "saved" in the initial attempt.

Anyone who skips step 2 of the problem solving process is just "shooting from the hip."

Forgiveness Sunday

The Epistle for Forgiveness Sunday is Romans 13:11-14:4 (WEB):

¹¹Do this, knowing the time, that it is already time for you to awaken out of sleep, for salvation is now nearer to us than when we first believed. ¹²The night is far gone, and the day is near. Let's therefore throw off the works of darkness, and let's put on the armor of light. ¹³Let us walk properly, as in the day; not in reveling and drunkenness, not in sexual promiscuity and lustful acts, and not in strife and jealousy. ¹⁴But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, for its lusts.

¹Now accept one who is weak in faith, but not for disputes over opinions. ²One man has faith to eat all things, but he who is weak eats only vegetables. ³Don't let him who eats despise him who doesn't eat. Don't let him who doesn't eat judge him who eats, for God has accepted him. ⁴Who are you who judge another's servant? To his own lord he stands or falls. Yes, he will be made to stand, for God has power to make him stand.

Romans 13:11 (WEB)

¹¹Do this, knowing the time, that it is already time for you to awaken out of sleep, for salvation is now nearer to us than when we first believed.

Matthew 24:42-44 (WEB)

⁴²Watch therefore, for you don't know in what hour your Lord comes. ⁴³But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what watch of the night the thief was coming, he would have watched, and would not have allowed his house to be broken into. ⁴⁴Therefore also be ready, for in an hour that you don't expect, the Son of Man will come.

1 Thessalonians 5:1-3 (WEB)

¹But concerning the times and the seasons, brothers, you have no need that anything be written to you. ²For you yourselves know well that the day of the Lord comes like a thief in the night. ³For when they are saying, "Peace and safety," then sudden destruction will come on them, like birth pains on a pregnant woman; and they will in no way escape.

Matthew 25:5-7 (WEB)

⁵Now while the bridegroom delayed, they all slumbered and slept. ⁶But at midnight there was a cry, 'Behold! The bridegroom is coming! Come out to meet him!' ⁷Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps.

Ephesians 5:14 (WEB)

¹⁴Therefore he says, "Awake, you who sleep, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you."

1 Thessalonians 5:5-8 (WEB)

⁵You are all children of light, and children of the day. We don't belong to the night, nor to darkness, ⁶so then let's not sleep, as the rest do, but let's watch and be sober. ⁷For those who sleep, sleep in the night, and those who are drunk are drunk in the night. ⁸But let us, since we belong to the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and, for a helmet, the hope of salvation.

Romans 13:12 (WEB)

¹²The night is far gone, and the day is near. Let's therefore throw off the works of darkness, and let's put on the armor of light.

1 Thessalonians 5:5-7 (WEB)

⁵You are all children of light, and children of the day. We don't belong to the night, nor to darkness, ⁶so then let's not sleep, as the rest do, but let's watch and be sober. ⁷For those who sleep, sleep in the night, and those who are drunk are drunk in the night.

1 John 1:5-7 (WEB)

⁵This is the message which we have heard from him and announce to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. ⁶If we say that we have fellowship with him and walk in the darkness, we lie, and don't tell the truth. ⁷But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ, his Son, cleanses us from all sin.

Ephesians 6:11-18 (WEB)

¹¹Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. ¹²For our wrestling is not against flesh and blood, but against the principalities, against the powers, against the world's rulers of the darkness of this age, and against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. ¹³Therefore, put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and, having done all, to stand. ¹⁴Stand therefore, having the utility belt of truth buckled around your waist, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, ¹⁵and having fitted your feet with the preparation of the Good News of peace; ¹⁶above all, taking up the shield of faith, with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the evil one. ¹⁷And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the spoken word of God; ¹⁸with all prayer and requests, praying at all times in the Spirit, and being watchful to this end in all perseverance and requests for all the saints:

Romans 13:13 (WEB)

¹³Let us walk properly, as in the day; not in reveling and drunkenness, not in sexual promiscuity and lustful acts, and not in strife and jealousy.

Ephesians 5:2 (WEB)

²Walk in love, even as Christ also loved you, and gave himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling fragrance.

Colossians 1:10 (WEB)

¹⁰that you may walk worthily of the Lord, to please him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;

1 John 2:6 (WEB)

⁶he who says he remains in him ought himself also to walk just like he walked.

2 John 4 (WEB)

⁴I rejoice greatly that I have found some of your children walking in truth, even as we have been commanded by the Father.

1 Peter 2:1-2 (WEB)

¹Putting away therefore all wickedness, all deceit, hypocrisies, envies, and all evil speaking, ²as newborn babies, long for the pure milk of the Word, that you may grow thereby,

Romans 13:14 (WEB)

¹⁴But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, for its lusts.

Galatians 3:27 (WEB)

²⁷For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.

Colossians 3:5-8 (WEB)

⁵Put to death therefore your members which are on the earth: sexual immorality, uncleanness, depraved passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry; ⁶for which things' sake the wrath of God comes on the children of disobedience. ⁷You also once walked in those, when you lived in them; ⁸but now you also put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and shameful speaking out of your mouth.

1 Peter 2:11 (WEB)

¹¹Beloved, I beg you as foreigners and pilgrims, to abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul;

1 John 2:15-17 (WEB)

¹⁵Don't love the world, neither the things that are in the world. If anyone loves the world, the Father's love isn't in him. ¹⁶For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, isn't the Father's, but is the world's. ¹⁷The world is passing away with its lusts, but he who does God's will remains forever.

Romans 14:1 (WEB)

¹Now accept one who is weak in faith, but not for disputes over opinions.

Romans 15:1 (WEB)

¹Now we who are strong ought to bear the weaknesses of the weak, and not to please ourselves.

1 Corinthians 3:1-2 (WEB)

¹Brothers, I couldn't speak to you as to spiritual, but as to fleshly, as to babies in Christ. ²I fed you with milk, not with meat; for you weren't yet ready. Indeed, not even now are you ready,

Romans 14:2 (WEB)

²One man has faith to eat all things, but he who is weak eats only vegetables.

Romans 14:14 (WEB)

¹⁴I know, and am persuaded in the Lord Jesus, that nothing is unclean of itself; except that to him who considers anything to be unclean, to him it is unclean.

Romans 14:22-23 (WEB)

²²Do you have faith? Have it to yourself before God. Happy is he who doesn't judge himself in that which he approves. ²³But he who doubts is condemned if he eats, because it isn't of faith; and whatever is not of faith is sin.

Romans 14:3 (WEB)

³Don't let him who eats despise him who doesn't eat. Don't let him who doesn't eat judge him who eats, for God has accepted him.

Romans 14:10, 13, 15, 21 (WEB)

¹⁰But you, why do you judge your brother? Or you again, why do you despise your brother? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. … ¹³Therefore let's not judge one another any more, but judge this rather, that no man put a stumbling block in his brother's way, or an occasion for falling. … ¹⁵Yet if because of food your brother is grieved, you walk no longer in love. Don't destroy with your food him for whom Christ died. … ²¹It is good to not eat meat, drink wine, nor do anything by which your brother stumbles, is offended, or is made weak.

1 Corinthians 8:11-13 (WEB)

¹¹And through your knowledge, he who is weak perishes, the brother for whose sake Christ died. ¹²Thus, sinning against the brothers, and wounding their conscience when it is weak, you sin against Christ. ¹³Therefore, if food causes my brother to stumble, I will eat no meat forevermore, that I don't cause my brother to stumble.

Matthew 7:1-2 (WEB)

¹"Don't judge, so that you won't be judged. ²For with whatever judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with whatever measure you measure, it will be measured to you.

Colossians 2:16-17 (WEB)

¹⁶Let no man therefore judge you in eating, or in drinking, or with respect to a feast day or a new moon or a Sabbath day, ¹⁷which are a shadow of the things to come; but the body is Christ's.

Romans 14:4 (WEB)

⁴Who are you who judge another's servant? To his own lord he stands or falls. Yes, he will be made to stand, for God has power to make him stand.

1 Corinthians 4:4-5 (WEB)

⁴For I know nothing against myself. Yet I am not justified by this, but he who judges me is the Lord. ⁵Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord comes, who will both bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and reveal the counsels of the hearts. Then each man will get his praise from God.

James 4:11-12 (WEB)

¹¹Don't speak against one another, brothers. He who speaks against a brother and judges his brother, speaks against the law and judges the law. But if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law, but a judge. ¹²Only one is the lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy. But who are you to judge another?