Biblical Snapshot

I found my parents' bible on our bookshelf a few weeks ago while poking around my bookshelf. I had forgotten how marked up it was. My dad's handwriting is all over it.

There are notes in the margins, slips of paper with citations and just all sorts of stars and scribbles. I'm sure I had noticed this before or had stumbled across it previously, but such things become a commodity when the author is gone.

Most noteworthy, however, was a brief section in the back. My dad wrote the following:

"The Lord's will for me:
1) Micah 6:8
2) Matthew 22:37-40
3)Ecclesiastes 12:13
4) Habakkuk 2:4 and 3:17-19
5) Nehemiah 8:10
6) Ephesians 6:11-19
7) Acts 10:28
8) Psalms -
9) Math 16:24-28 1)Deny yourself 2) take up his cross 3) follow me
10) John 3:16 - Believe in Jesus"

How should a person take this? One of my last talks with my dad included his wish that he had raised us with a better foundation of religion. Whether that would have been better or not, it was his expressed regret. I, for one, appreciate being able to find my own path, but I take his regret to be that of any parent who looks back. I'm certain it happens with every parent and I can't wait to start forming my own list of regrets (it'll be a party!).

I cannot say when this was written, but I would guess it was done in the 1970s sometime. I don't know if it was study on his own or for a class in college. I just don't know, and I almost don't want to know. I do know that it potentially represents a snapshot of what passages he took to heart at one point in his life. And that is interesting to me.

We change as people throughout life and this outline could provide a very small glimpse at the aspirations of a person I know to have been driven for most of his life at a time when I did not know him. But-for this snapshot, this window would be unknown to his children.

So, I'm quoting each passage here briefly for my own curiosity. I have not done so before and will be doing so in real time. As such, I will record my brief reactions to these passages as I look them up.

1) Micah 6:8
He hath showed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?

The classic simplification of being good. Can't go wrong there.

2) Matthew 22:37-40
Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.
This is the first and great commandment.
And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.

A wise man once said "all you need is love."

3) Ecclesiastes 12:13
Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.

Rule following. I get that.

4) Habakkuk 2:4 and 3:17-19
Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him: but the just shall live by his faith.

Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines: the labor of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls:
Yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation.
The Lord God is my strength, and he will make my feet like hinds' feet, and he will make me to walk upon mine high places. To the chief singer on my stringed instruments.

I really just don't know what to make of this.

5) Nehemiah 8:10
Then he said unto them, Go your way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions unto them for whom nothing is prepared: for this day is holy unto our Lord: neither be ye sorry; for the joy of the Lord is your strength.

I'll take this as a call to charity, but it seems like celebration as well. The snapshot seems blurry.

6) Ephesians 6:11-19
Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
Wherefore take unto you the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;
And your feet shod with teh preparation of the gospel of peace;
Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.
And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:
Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;
And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel.

War-like metaphors for peace. It takes strength to live in the world and resist temptations. Still not sure what I'm getting as for a picture into his thinking, but I'll have to ponder on it.

7) Acts 10:28
And he said unto them, Ye know how that it is an unlawful thing for a man that is a Jew to keep company, or come into one of another nation; but God hath showed me that I should not call any man common or unclean.

I take this to mean, "be nice to people."

8) Psalms -
(no citation)
I hate it when I forget to go back and finish my notes. I now know I get that from dad.

9) Math 16:24-28 1)Deny yourself 2) take up his cross 3) follow me
Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.
For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.
For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?
For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his father with his angels; and then shall reward every man according to his works.
Verily I say unto you, There be some standing here, which shall not taste of death, till they see the Son of man coming in his kingdom.

This just says to me that you should not compromise principals for selfish gain. My dad wrote the following under the passage: "above - the life of a follower of Jesus." I do remember a man who grilled me on bible stories until I was about 5 or 7. That all stopped and somehow religion became a difficult issue in our household after that time. It became downright unpleasant. We stopped going to church for the sake of peace. At least that's how I remember it.

10) John 3:16 - Believe in Jesus"
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

A popular citation at sporting events.

As I go through this, the passages have a scholarly feel, especially when his notes are considered. He states "the life of a follower of Jesus" as if studying for a test or something. Knowing my dad, this is how he would approach anything, which is not terribly illuminating.

Well, it was interesting, I guess, if not illustrative. He said he wished he could have included religious teaching in my upbringing and he accomplished this in a round-about way. I now want to read all his notes to complete the picture. He got me to read it.