Can You List the 10 Commandments? Protect America’s Waters. Joseph Lister. Update.

 

For "Scripture Sunday":

Can You List the 10 Commandments?

"Imagine you are walking in the park on a spring day with your partner—who happens to be married to another person. You stop for an ice cream treat; and while the vendor is distracted, you reach in his money box and grab a handful of cash. You think nothing of it and walk on. When you return to your parking space, your car is gone. And it’s not just gone, it has been stolen! So you look around and find another car with the keys in it, and you take it. Now imagine that this kind of conduct is not only condoned, it is legal. There are no laws to prevent you from doing anything you please.

This would not be a happy scenario—at least not if you were one of the victims! Would it be possible for anyone to find true joy or happiness, let alone peace of mind, in such a world?

Thankfully, every nation has laws on the books to prohibit and punish behavior like lying, stealing and murder. Most people recognize that these laws of the land are essential to keeping peace and order in any society. The truth is, society is always better off when laws are obeyed than when laws are consistently broken, or where there is no law at all. Most people easily recognize that, generally speaking, law-keeping leads to peace and tranquility; law-breaking leads to heartbreak, misery and suffering.

So why is it, then, that while we humans embrace the fundamental notion of the great value of law, we don’t equally embrace the value of God’s laws? Actually, many of the fundamental laws of society are based on the Ten Commandments. But not all of them! Ever since God gave the Ten Commandments, we humans have chosen to pick and choose which ones we want to keep and which ones we don’t.

In essence that sends God a message: “If Your laws conform with our ideas, fine. But don’t YOU tell us what we ought to do! We’ll decide that for ourselves.”

The Bible, in fact, makes it clear that humans have always bristled with resentment when God tells us what to do or not do.

The Ten Commandments are some pretty simple rules of life. In fact, Jesus taught that these are laws of love—loving God with all your heart and loving your neighbor as yourself. They were designed by our Creator to be very basic and easy-to-remember rules that would help us live the right way and enjoy the resulting blessings. But where are we today with regard to the most fundamental of God’s laws?

Here’s a test for you. Can you, right now, list the 10 Commandments? If you can, you’re a rare person!

In a 2007 survey of 1,000 Americans—including churchgoers—80 percent could name “two all-beef patties” as the main ingredients of a Big Mac, but only 60 percent knew “Thou shalt not kill” was one of the 10 Commandments!

Less than half, 45 percent, knew that “honor thy father and mother” was a commandment, but 62 percent knew that a Big Mac has a pickle!

Forty-three percent of those surveyed could recall that Peter and Bobby were characters on the old Brady Bunch TV show, but only 34 percent recalled that “remember the Sabbath” and “do not make false idols” were among the 10 Commandments.

This level of ignorance is amazing and, I must say, immensely disrespectful to God!

No, we’re not the extreme society I described at the beginning of this commentary. But do you ever worry about the direction we’re going? Jesus warned that one of the signs of the end of the age is that the world would become more and more lawless!

Isn’t it time to seriously examine our attitude toward law, especially the law of God?

For Life, Hope & Truth, I am Britton Taylor."  From: http://lifehopeandtruth.com/speaking-of/can-you-list-the-10-commandments/

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7 Reasons to Protect America’s Waters

Headwater streams

"Even big rivers start small. Headwater streams are important for fish, amphibians and invertebrates and affect water quality downstream. They supply most of the water in rivers and were protected by the Clean Water Act for decades. Unfortunately two convoluted Supreme Court decisions, actions of the previous administration and inaction by Congress have left these critically important

waterways in a legal limbo and at increased risk for over a decade.

A stream in Mount Rainier National Park. Photo by Crow Vecchio/U.S. NPS. 

More at: http://blog.nwf.org/2014/05/7-reasons-to-protect-americas-waters/

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Joseph Lister

An Amazing Fact: "One hundred and forty years ago, almost 50 percent of the patients undergoing major surgery died from infection due largely to the filthy conditions. Doctors were bewildered why 80 percent more women died giving birth in hospitals compared to those who had their babies at home. Back then, doctors wore bloody aprons and went from patient to patient without washing their hands or instruments. Patients with minor wounds often died from infection or blood poisoning transmitted by the doctor.

In the 1860s, a deeply religious English surgeon, Joseph Lister, was disturbed about the staggering number of patients dying from infection. He read in the Bible where God told the Israelites to wash after contact with the sick or a dead body.  Based on this and Louis Pasteur’s discoveries, Lister recognized germs as the likely source of infection. He suggested surgeons dress cleanly, wash their hands, and sterilize instruments before operating. He insisted that the operating room be kept clean. He also developed a method for preventing infection during an operation by treating wounds with an antiseptic.

At first Lister was regarded as eccentric, and nurses resented the extra work caused by his obsession with cleanliness. Then there was a period of significant mocking and resistance from his peers. Lister, a shy but determined man, was firm in his purpose. He humbly believed he was directed and inspired by God in this endeavor. In spite of all the opposition that he faced, he never gave up.

As the mocking went on, everyone began to notice a change. The deaths from blood poisoning, infection, and gangrene were greatly reduced in Joseph Lister’s hospital ward in Glasgow. Eventually, British and American hospitals saw the benefits and gradually adopted the sterile procedures promoted by Dr. Lister. Before he died, Lister’s services to medicine were recognized and he was awarded a knighthood. Louis Pasteur described Lister as one of the greatest men of the 19th century.

It’s amazing how the world has been transformed by applying the simple rules of sanitation found in the Bible. But did you know there are many other biblical secrets of health the world is neglecting? The God who formed us knows the principles of caring for the bodies He has given us. He lovingly shares that wisdom with us in His Word."
KEY BIBLE TEXTS
He that toucheth the dead body of any man shall be unclean seven days. - Numbers 19:11
He shall purify himself with it on the third day, and on the seventh day he shall be clean: but if he purify not himself the third day, then the seventh day he shall not be clean. - Numbers 19:12

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Update:

The person who broke into my house, stole stuff and used my credit card while I was in the hospital, has finally been arrested.  But not for those offences.  They were arrested for using another person's credit card, so they will have a surprise when the other charges catch up with them.

The sweet dog that I rescued is like Velcro.   50 lb Baby Girl will not leave my side.  Gradually, she is getting some of her fur back now that she is on corn-meal free food and flea-free.  I took her to the vet and she wouldn't go with the vet tech to be weighed unless I went with her.  The vet said that she should be bathed often with antibiotic shampoo to help her poor irritated skin.  She had an ear infection, so her ears were packed.  She will also have to have the safe, slow, 6-months treatment for getting rid of heartworms. The skin scraping showed nothing contagious, so she can come in my house with the foster cats.  But she loves her big comfy bed in my air-conditioned grooming room.  I hate to think what would have happened if she had stayed where she was.

Ray and I went to church yesterday for the Sabbath.  Jay had wanted to go to the big church in Conroe, but as he was sick, Ray and I went to our favorite usual one on FM1097 in Willis.  The Bible reading was Numbers 1 to 4:17, and Hosea 1:10-2:28.  The talk was about Mysteries of the Bible and Pastor Bobbie quoted a lot of scriptures, so that kept us busy looking them up.  The service, potluck, and fellowship made it a great day.