Satur-deja Vu

What is this world coming to? I don’t know about you but this might have been the last day of my Best Buy training. Welcome to this week’s Deja Vu.

I have a friend that’s still a fan of Tab. His mother was diabetic so as a kid growing up this was always in the refrigerator. Tab was introduced by Coca-Cola in 1963 after the success of Diet Rite, the first sugar free soda on the market produced by Royal Crown (as in RC Cola). Times are not what they used to be and the soft drink market has been in decline for a few years. 2020 hasn’t been kind to any business unless you’re Home Depot. Coca-Cola is cutting the number of brands they offer in half and laying off 4,000 employees. Tab is one of several products that will disappear and it’s not just soda. Disanni could get the ax as well as other “hydration” products offered by Coca-Cola.

Speaking of things disappearing, none of the Charlie Brown holiday specials will air on network television this year. The Peanuts Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas specials will stream exclusively on Apple+TV although I have heard rumors that you can watch them for free even if you’re not a subscriber. Lots people complaining on social media that it just won’t be the same so I don’t know if this will help Apple gain subscribers to their streaming service or just make people hate them more. (Have you heard that iPhone 12 will not come with a charger or earbuds?)

How about some good news? I hear you.

Donations are still coming in but this year’s virtual Hunger Walk is projected to bring in between $2,000 and $2,500. That’s not as good as last year but between the pandemic, unemployment and everything else we are very thankful to those individuals, churches and businesses that chose to contribute. Every dollar will be divided equally between four local food banks. Promotion and administration costs come out of the Alliance budget (and all Alliance members are volunteers).

October is Pastor Appreciation month. I put two selfies together to get this picture of our family being treated to Cracker Barrel by these ladies from Unity Baptist Church. If you haven’t done anything for your pastor yet it’s not too late… he probably wouldn’t mind being appreciated in November even.

Bought a new microwave this week. This 1.6 cubic ft. 1100 watt model from Magic Chef was $99.98 at Home Depot. I told you they were doing well. I checked at Walmart just to make sure I made the right decision and yes, I did. Walmart had a Panasonic 1100 watt microwave that was only 1.3 cu. ft. (smaller) and priced at $109 (more money). That’s my hot buying tip for the week. You’re mileage may vary.

This is a recent pic I took on a hike this week. Friends on Facebook may recognize this as my cover image. In years past we’ve encouraged readers to share their fall pics with us but no one ever has.

Happy Monday, Bible Study: Hebrews 10 and iMonk Radio Podcast #110 were all published on The Master’s Table. iMonk Radio was one day late but that’s an improvement over last week.

Some Christians go all in at Halloween while others do Trunk R Treat at their church and use it as an opportunity for evangelism. Some Christians abstain from everything Halloween and encourage others to do likewise. If you’re in that last camp, probably want to steer clear of the upcoming Happy Monday. We’ll see the rest of you then. Enjoy the weekend.

iMonk Radio: Podcast #110

“Church quitting in evangelicalism.” That’s what Michael Spencer wrote when this program was originally broadcast. Staying home on Sunday morning, on this episode of Internet Monk Radio.

Bible Study: Hebrews 10

Read Hebrews 10.

Listen to this Bible Study:

The law is described as a shadow of things to come just as the setup and design of the tabernacle was patterned after the real holy places in which God dwells. The sacrifice must continually be offered and can never make those who draw near perfect. The very fact the offerings were repeated served as a reminder of sin because, as in Heb. 9, the blood of bulls and goats cannot take away sin. Treating a condition is not the same as a cure.

Compare what Christ says in verses 5 – 7 to Psalm 40:6. But he also adds to it, first quoting from the Psalm and then saying “I have come to do you will.” It is that will, verse 10 points out, by which we are sanctified once and for all through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ. His sacrifice, once and for all, accomplished what the old sacrifices made again and again could not do. Recall our discussion last week. Having completed his work, Christ sat down at the right hand of God. Verse 14 repeats that his work is done through a single sacrifice and verse 18 repeats that once sin is forgiven there is no longer any need for sacrifice.

The text then shifts back to how we enter the holy places of God through Jesus Christ, our great high priest, who has opened the curtain for us. This passage lists the things we as believers are to do be doing in the full assurance of faith; holding on to hope, stirring one another to good works, meeting together. This is the introduction to a longer discussion of faith that will continue in Hebrews 11, often cited as the Hall of Fame of Faith. Abraham believed God (Genesis 15:6) and it was counted to him as righteousness. Abraham is the first person identified in scripture as being made righteous by faith. That is a universal constant throughout scripture. What we believe and confess about God determines our standing in God’s grace.

“Vengeance is mine, I will repay,” quoted here and in Romans 12:16, is an Old Testament reference to Deuteronomy 32:35. “The Lord will judge his people” is the very next verse (Deut. 32:36). This is the Book of Hebrews, written to an audience that knew and understood the old covenant and held Moses and the law in high regard. The former covenant has been replaced by a better one but God Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, is the same and will continue to be faithful and just concerning his promises.

Have faith and preserve your soul. Hebrews 11 gives many examples of those who did exactly that.

Happy Monday

This is Happy Monday #397.

Satur-deja Vu

Hunger Walk goes virtual. A lot of things have been different this year if they were not cancelled altogether. Movie theaters and airlines are suffering greatly. Because of the economic impact of Covid-19 the need for food assistance is greater than in years past so we decided cancelling our annual fundraising event would not be the right thing to do. I posted a big group picture of everyone that showed up last year but many churches and individuals made donations without taking part in the actual walk. So this year anyone that wants to walk can take a walk anywhere they would like and share a pic on social media. Donations can be made online and we will have an in-person drop site. I’m not asking my readers to support this local cause; if you live in Calhoun or Gordon County you’ve probably seen or heard or ads. There is likely a similar need in your community and there are ways to reach out even if it’s not the way you’ve always done it.

Bible Study: Hebrews 9

Read Hebrews 9

Hebrews 9 begins with a brief overview of the tabernacle layout. The difference between the Holy Place and the Most Holy Place and some of the furnishings are described. Verse 6 transitions into what the priests do in the Holy Place to what the High Priest does in the Most Holy Place. These accounts are brief. The instructions for making the tabernacle are given in great detail beginning in Exodus 25. The instructions for priests are the focus of the Book of Leviticus.

Happy Monday

We try to keep the nerdy stuff to a minimum but, I mean, you are reading a blog. Look for an explanation in the comments, if one is needed.

This is Happy Monday #396!

Satur-deja Vu

There’s something you don’t see every day. We had a visitor at church Sunday morning. This girl stayed for the whole service. As a matter of fact she was still wandering around the front yard Monday evening. Back in the day it was not uncommon to give the preacher a chicken but I would not have expected it to still be alive.

iMonk Radio Podcast #109

In this week’s episode, Michael talks about the new school year and the season change into fall. He mentions his Amazon Wish List; I was the recipient of an ESV Study Bible back when those first came out. Michael “wished” for 8 or 10 of those and gifted them to ministry leaders and lay preachers he worked with at OBI. The bulk of this broadcast deals with the spiritual aspects of Christians and depression. Dr. Andrew Lester’s book “Coping with Anger” is discussed.

Bible Study: Hebrews 8

Read Hebrews 8.

Hebrews 8 continues the comparison of Jesus Christ to the Old Testament high priests. It’s a short chapter and there’s not a lot here to unpack, just a continuation of a line of reasoning we have been studying. In chapter 9 we are going to see more details about how the earthly tent – the tabernacle – was set up. In this chapter we are simply reminded that the earthly tent was patterned after the things in heaven. The earthly tent, set up in the Old Testament, made by the hands of men, was a copy, a duplicate of the real heavenly high places. Every priest must make an offering. If Christ were on the earth he would not be a priest at all (see v. 4) because there are priests that make offerings according to the Law. But the ministry of Jesus is greater, having entering the authentic holy places the earthly tent is patterned after. He offers a better sacrifice (which we will get to in Hebrews 9 as well).