What would you say? Part I

I'm currently taking a worldview class that's being taught by my brother Ben. I've taken it before, but the material is excellent, and always worth revisiting. Anyway, as per any worldview class, we take a look at other worldviews, and try to see how they got where they are. However, they can be boiled down into what we like to call the "Red Shirt Analogy." It all starts with someone trying to persuade another that a certain shirt is red...

It runs like this. The first person tries to convince the second person that the shirt is red. The second person contemplates it, and then accepts the statement, "This shirt is red." Presto, discussion over.

The second scenario is not the same. Here, the first person tries to convince the second that the shirt is red. However, the second person smiles sympathetically and proceeds to explain to the first that his (the first's) eyes have "a visual aid impairment wherein your retinal photosensitive ganglion cells that send signals along the retinohypothalamic tract to the suprachiasmatic nuclei and to the pretectal area to control pupillary light reflexes might be lacking the photopigment melanopsin..." and if you weren't lost before, you are lost now. Obviously, with all these big scientific terms, and the fact the second knew them, the first thinks the second an authority on the matter, and believes him instead (not so with Mr. J however!). After all, what would you say to a response like this?

The third scenario: the first tells the second "This shirt is red," to which the second replies "What shirt?" "Uh, this one, in my hands!" "What shirt?" "Right here, feel it?" "What shirt?" Obviously, the problem here is that the second doesn't even see the shirt, and in fact is in rejection of the shirt. He is, in a way, "blind to the shirt." How do you prove that a shirt is there? What would you say to these responses?

The fourth scenario is a profound example of denial. The first tells the second "This shirt is red." The second responds "No, it's blue." And then, despite the fact that he admits other similar colors to be red, the second still adamantly states "No, that shirt is blue." What do you say?

Oh Wonderful Thought!

Glorious Jesus has come from above
To give us His mercy, to show us His love.
He set down His crown, He came to earth
To give us new life, new meaning, new birth.

Oh glorious be that wonderful thought,
That Jesus stooped low, for me He sought!
That by Christ's shed blood was I bought,
Oh glorious be that wonderful thought!

The anthem and song shall lift up His name
And heaven and earth shall all do the same,
Giving praise to the God who paid with His death
So that we may breathe His eternal breath!

~Anonymous

Isn't this incredible when you think about it?

A Progress in Work

The bolded parts are areas I know need improvement. I would greatly appreciate input. I've not been able to think of substitutes and what not. Also, if you see other areas that can be improved, please let me know!

The mighty host of heaven watched,

As God declared the world to be,

And breathed in man the breath of life,

Then man did sin, fruit of the tree.

And so they saw throughout the years,

As God did work on earth a plan,

And fashioned history to make

Redemption for the fallen man.

They heard Him speak through many men

Who told a strange, prophetic cry

Of God to come and make man right,
And He man's sinful soul to buy.

And then a hush was spread, the host did wonder now,

for God had gone to earth, but not for knees to bow.

They sang a song of praise, for HE was born that night,

but wondered what He did, for it did not seem right.

They watched the Devil tempt the Lord as He was weak,

and wondered why the King did turn the other cheek.

Then awestruck did they see Him beaten, shamed with scorn.

And lo! upon His brow, a crown of thorns was worn.

And still they wondered why their God allowed this shame,

for Him to dwell with men, who'd curse His holy name.

But as the dawn approached the host began to see

That God’s great plan was done. Man, redeemed, could be.

Throughout history it’s clear,

That man is lost, no hope had he,

Till God Himself did pay the price.

Then man was saved, fruit of His tree.

Man’s own work will cost his life,

For 'gainst the King he’s two-syllables sinned

And the King will rightly judge,

No sentences will He rescind.

Your sentence is eternal hell,

Apart from God, forever death

But Jesus died, for you He paid,

And since it’s paid, He will forgive.

I Peter 1:12 - "To [the prophets] it was revealed that, not to themselves, but to us they were ministering the things which now have been reported to you through those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven -- things which angels desire to look into."

Yet If His Majesty, Our Sovereign Lord

Setting: This poem was written in circa 1625, and referred to either James I (d. 1625) or Charles I, his successor. Because of this, there might be a few words or phrases that at first seem irregular or meaningless. I encourage you to contextually find their meaning, or look it up.

Yet if his majesty, our sovereign lord,
Should of his own accord,
Friendly himself invite,
And say, "I'll be your guest tomorrow night,"
How should we stir ourselves, call and command
All hands to work! "Let no man idle stand.
Set me fine Spanish tables in the hall,
See they be fitted all;
Let there be room to eat,
And order taken that there want no meat.
See every sconce and candlestick made bright,
That without tapers they may give light.
Look to the presence: are the carpets spread,
The dais o'er the head,
The cushions in the chair,
And all the candles lighted on the stair?
Perfume the chambers, and in any case
Let each man give attendance to his place."
Thus if the king were coming would we do,
And 'twere good reason too;
For 'tis a duteous thing
To show all honor to an earthly king,
And, after all our travail and our cost,
So he be pleased, to think no labor lost.
But at the coming of the King of Heaven
All's set at six and seven:
We wallow in our sin;
Christ cannot find a chamber in the inn.
We entertain him always like a stranger,
And, as at first, still lodge him in the manger.

~Anonymous