BFn Notes

There is in fact an answer to the great question of the universe - and it's not 42. The Bible has many questions and many answers. However for the great question of the meaning of everything and the purpose of life, the Bible first exposes the deniers of God's existence and juxtaposes the answer.

Europe is once again saying to America with outrage, how dare you spy on us! For five generations those of my family have passed down from one generation to the next the understanding based on Bible prophecy that Europe would unite with Russia and be alienated from the Anglosphere, after Israel revived as a nation.

Faith is not some feel good thing, as the writer to the Hebrews shows it is based on the evidence of observation of all true things. Therefore observational empirical science of the movement of the things in the heavens (as opposed to theory) can be faith building.

There are difficulties that many faithful students of the Bible face today, especially in countries such as the USA where there are powerful movements trying to deny and abolish belief in the Deity and to establish unacceptable practices. Perhaps this can be said of many cities that still retain Christian communities, some of which can be numbered in the thousands and even the millions. Does the Bible give these people the hope of their prayers being heard? The Psalms and other prophecies, such as Isaiah, can give assurance and comfort to those who have confidence in the God of Israel.

Shavuot the Jewish feast of seven weeks in Greek is known as Pentecost as it is a count of 50 days after Pesach (Passover). Pentecost may speak of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit to a Christian, but do we understand that the gift was given to reward thankfulness? The half-glass of life was over-flowing for the Apostles!

Hope leads to joy. We can know what a world looks like where few have a confident hope of a life beyond the dubious pleasures and pain of this life. To have a confident and sure hope, with evidence in our lives and prophetic events playing out as expected to the hope of an expected end of the best of all worlds: that is joy.

Recently I was struck by the emotional faith building content of the Psalms, and I realised that they are very unique, not just in the context of the Bible, but in global literature. Where else is there an emotional outpouring of prayer in a dialogue with the Creator of troubles, confidence and faith of such depth and width that it covers every circumstance of life?

Russia is on the move: tanks, troops the whole lot towards the Ukraine border. Some call it a crisis, we don't know how it will play out precisely but we suspect its end will be Russian control over their ancient capital Kiev – and power with Franco German Europe. Likely it's not world war right now but the outcome will be Armageddon.

I have been pondering the significance of the blocking of the Suez by the Ever Given. At the very least it has brought the world's attention to the importance of the waterway for global trade. There are conspiracy theories, for good reason – as it likely it wasn't caused by the wind, or the sand.

At a time when Israel had forsaken their God and turned against him to commit sins and turn to the worship of idols, Isaiah reminded the people of Yahweh’s mercy and his great power.