I am a wannabe author ...and my disguise goes along with my pen name. I am not really a pirate, and it's easy to see I've not pirated good grammar. My grammar is perhaps the closest thing resembling a pirate ...without the compulsion or driven necessity to think I'd need foul language for emphasis or to prove a point.

As a mere man, I am a believer ...

A believer in what, you may ask??

I believe in the Bible ...and that it was not written by mere men like myself.  Though it is my conviction that humble believers have been chosen by God for what God has called them to do.

First of all, I believe that Jesus died on Calvary to make possible our salvation.  And I believe our salvation is only through Jesus.

For all those who believe this ...well, I think it is fairly clear we are told by Jesus to tell others of this truth.

We can be told this ...and believe what we are told, as many people who've come in contact with missionaries have.  In addition, we can build onto what we believe from reading the Bible ...which hopefully solidifies our faith by answering questions we may have or helping others grow by seeking the truth.  If we add things that are not in the Bible, that may be problematic ...and it may lead to difficulties, confusion, and division at times. Sadly, that can also happen if we don't add to the Bible ...yet, we add all our various interpretations.  

But, our unity is found in the belief in Jesus and what He said, inclusive of His telling us we will join (or be united with) Him in heaven.  And we need to hold onto this truth, yet at the same time share it with others. 

I am writing this on the eve of Father's Day.

I sent my Dad a card, and will also call him. I happily give Dad credit for all the good he has done. Yet, I also glorify God and thank Him for all the love He has shown through what I read in the Bible.  And it is sad that other people would attempt to discount that reality by verbally discrediting the Bible with their careless words.

God called many people. Moses was called by God, and had 40 years in the desert reflecting on what God did for him and those whom he was helping to lead. He also had plenty of time to have the first 5 Books of the Bible written. Joshua came next, and Eleazar was also there (perhaps reflecting on the end of Joshua's life.) Samuel, Gad, and Nathan were prophets whom not only verbally communicated God's Word to the people ...they also are thought to have written it down. Many other prophets had similar roles, and though often not as spectacular as Moses, people like Mordecai kept note of happenings as he saw God working. He also encouraged his family to see the value of it. 

Jesus quoted from 24 of the Old Testament Books. At 12 years old, Jesus was studying with the learned people at the temple. As an adult He took His turn reading in the synagogue from the Book of Isaiah, and stating He was fulfilling that prophecy.

So, whether by leaders selected by God, prophets, or God's own Son ...His Word came to us, and salvation through Jesus. 

And by following as they were told to, His disciples spread the Good News by the leading of the Holy Spirit ...and in letters to the early churches. We glorify Him by believing in the Word as it was given to men to write ...not just mere men writing their own thoughts and opinions. I am so thankful for His love for us ...and that I can read of it & believe in it.

If you ask any of my brothers or sister about 'Dad', they may have slightly different impressions ...but they will all have certain facts precisely correct, and that includes the fact that Dad loves us.

And we love Dad too.

There are many memories ...of Dad's dad, and of Mom's dad. The memories I have of Dad's dad were told to me, as after Dad served in the Navy during World War II, his heart was favoring whom would become my mom while his dad's gave out as a result of a heart condition.

You'll get relatively the same information from Elton, John, Joseph, or Ralph ...and it doesn't matter which of us you talk to. (For the record, these are middle names.) It may matter when you talk to us. If you catch us in the middle of something, our answer may be a shortened version.  But, be patient ...and you will likely hear a good story, and if familiar with our Dad, a truly interesting one.

There are public records and private ones such as Baby books. Later on, upon graduation, each of us children had a High School yearbook ...all historical facts about the Heath family, yet, no (hint) minor prophets. Yet again, though it is the word of the Heath family, and some variations do exist, it is still quite consistent. And not often would I imagine anyone would try to discredit it ...unless one of us decided to run for political office (at which point name-calling and slander appear to be expected ...and we may be instead called 'Heath'-en.)


Likewise, you can get an accurate account of another family by reading Matthew, Mark, Luke, or John. Perhaps you can conceive what I'm saying.

I would also contend that there is merit in what I read, not of the Heath word, but the Word of God. Our Heavenly Father loves us dearly, and there is an accurate record of that love.

Yes, I love my Dad ...and I know that love is nothing in comparison with how much our Heavenly Father loves us. But, He is not interested in drawing so much that comparison. Still, it is true that I got more than a mere card from Him. We have the entire Bible, a huge testimony of how He loves us, and as we often accuse each other of mere words ...Jesus came to show us how to live, and gave His life for us. 

Happy Father's Day!!

Yes, I believe in the Bible ...and I believe those who decided upon the legitimacy of it, and the authentic authors, are much better than I'd be in attempting to discern a proper course to take in making those decisions.  I see those decisions as making much sense, and of sound judgment.  I don't believe in those belief systems whose claims attempt to add expectations to salvation. Though some faiths add there own statements of legitimacy to works they have chosen.

I do not have any knowledge of anyone holding fast to the claim of the Book of Enoch, so if I may, I will humor at least myself here:

Enoch lived somewhere near a thousand years before Noah's family was asked to build an ark.  There is a Book of Enoch which is somehow believed to be written by Enoch, who was and then was not, so was his Book also ...and then not.  I know God can do anything, so that doesn't create a problem for me ...but it seems inconsistent with the other Books.

If I am to believe that the Book of Enoch was, and then was not ...it must have been misplaced, at least by us humans.  Imagine the great-grandfather of Noah, Enoch, entrusting his own son with his Book ...but, then he leaves before he can even attend a book signing. Then Methuselah, or his son, Lamech must have impressed it upon Noah to take it on the ark. Perhaps Noah delegated the responsibility to one of his three sons. I can just imagine the conversation, "I thought you had it last!"  Quickly responding, "No, I didn't have it last, I thought you had it!"

They look for it, and after no success, suggestions follow ...followed by many questions.


Shem asks, "What's a derm?"


Noah replies, "A derm?"


Japheth tries to help, "You said, pack a derm!"


Noah is in a hurry, thinking it may rain at any moment, "No, I can't find the Book of Enoch ...check the pachyderms. You know, the elephants ...they're so big, they could hide anything."


Japheth helps Shem search ...as the elephants squeeze to get into the ark, two-by-two.


But, it is not there.


Ham is busy checking the pigs, but Shem and Japheth decide to investigate the chickens as they suspiciously hurry along in seven groups of two, perhaps concealing something. Or perhaps they feared the prophetic talk that Colonel Sanders (not Bernie) was going to get on board ...some talk of some food chain.


Something fowl did seem afoot, but the Book of Enoch didn't appear there either. And there was not time enough to look further into it. Noah just hoped someone had packed it ...perhaps in a place they hadn't looked, like the elephant's trunk.


As time went on, and the Flood raged, Noah failed to ask his sons if they had found the Book. Noah now had other things on his mind, and was becoming a bit unnerved with his sons asking, "Are we there yet?!!"


The sons thought they were to be on the ark for only forty days and forty nights ...not a full year, so when the ark finally landed, they had played every game, like 'Duck, Duck, Goose' and 'Pin the Tail on the Donkey' and 'Pig Mania', at least twice every week. The rest of the time they had to deal with poop mania.


But, now that they were no longer confined to the ark ....they ventured about, for a time, until someone decided they should have a hundred year reunion of the ark landing. They sent out invitations, but though most of the animals did not respond, most of the people seemed to like the suggestion that they play one massive game of Jenga. It was believed that they topped it off by putting the Book of Enoch at the peak of the tower.


But, of course, much confusion followed. The frightened people could only utter single syllables at a time, yet there were those who were not shaken, and were seeking a better pronunciation of places to call home. Abram was one of these courageous men who sought after better things (or at least, better pronounced things) ...and he left Ur.


It is uncertain whether Abram carried the Book of Enoch on his donkey as he traced the Tigris-Euphrates to its source. Syria was not his destination, so he turned south from there.


Generations passed, and a famine oppressed the people. Did the Book of Enoch then follow them into Egypt?? And years later, did a man by the name of Moses come to possess the Book, perhaps during his enlightenment at the bush??


Or was Moses told he'd have to come up with his own copy, as the FedEx copy from heaven was delivered too close to the burning bush?? Maybe a new copy was part of a package deal with the 10 Commandments. Or perhaps they also offered to throw in a copy of 'Killing Pharoah's Son' co-authored by Martin Dugard and written by Bill O'Reilly.


It was then Joshua's turn to lead. Not yet told of the promised victory, he sent out spies. They gave the Book of Enoch to Rahab ...in case things didn't turn out as expected, and they'd possibly need rehab.


Nobody knew what happened to the Book of Enoch after that ...through judges and kings, then through a kingdom split. Perhaps Enoch tried to send another copy from heaven, and when Elijah was taken up, the Book of Enoch fell back to earth in Elijah's cloak, with an eagerly awaiting Elisha getting hit on the head and causing him to pass out. Still dazed, he was thought to have said, "I don't know what hit me, but I got a nasty E-knock on the head!" (He was a prophet, not a lawyer, or assuredly it would have arguably been a case of someone throwing the book at him.)

                                            ***********************************

I am not making fun of any Books, nor how they came to be ...nor how they came not to be (included in the Bible, as it is in this case).  I am just thankful it was not my job to discern what Books should be in the Bible, and which ones should not.

Men much more prayerful and serious than me have decided which are genuine and accurate accounts. And I respect and value that seriousness. Anything that is true has never been exempt from ridicule or being made sport of. (Forgive me, as I did not intend to do that.) Yet, there are things that are true, and things that are not. And we do not have a perfect understanding of that ...so, I guess we all are guilty of either scoffing at things that are true or believing things that are not true.

I do the best I can in looking to the accepted scrolls that were available when Jesus was 12 years old, discussing them with the scholars at the temple, and also being read from when He was an adult in the synagogue ...which we call the Old Testament, and of which Jesus quoted from (as stated earlier, 24 of the Old Testament Books).

And the New Testament, I consider legitimate testimony from those who walked with Jesus as His disciples, also inclusive of the one who was blinded and escorted to the house of Ananias (not Sapphira's husband), and commissioned as one of the disciples, and whom we affectionately call ...the Apostle Paul.

I do see a difference between the creatures God created, and the 'beings' whom God created in His image.

So, the Supreme Being created other 'beings' in His image ...not creatures, but beings.

Our Supreme Being (God) created angel beings, and human beings.

Out of all creation, it could be said that God created two beings ...as his favorites.

So, would we easily assume that God would want His two favorite beings to mingle together, sort of like the advertisement for Christian Single Mingle??

Seems logical, and within the bounds of how we view God's character, right??

Wrong!!

Yes, I realize and may agree with others ...no, let's say I do agree with anyone who says God is smarter and wiser than any of us.  There are politicians who do believe, and have said that the government knows more about what is good for us ...what we need, and even what we want.  I think that is an absurd statement in reference to a self-seeking so-called servant of the populace, but with God it is absolutely true.

So, we agree if we both agree that God is smarter and wiser than us, and He not only knows ...but also is concerned with what is best for us.  (But, mostly we are not smart enough to discern it.)

So, if God says it was good for the angels beings to mingle with the human beings, then I may not understand it, but I agree that God knows best.

But, it's also possible that God did never allow that.  First of all, the angels who would have mingled with the humans would have been the fallen ones ...so, these angels would no longer be His favorites.

And I believe that the phrase Sons of God have been referred to in what appears as different ways, but that is because we are not viewing it God's way (and of course, I'm stating my opinion, as I have no advantage over anyone else in viewing what it means).  But, to me, Sons of God, means the beings who follow God, whether they are angels or humans.

So, to me, the Followers of God found some daughters of mere men (or those who were not believers, therefore, not followers) to be fair or attractive ---whether the attraction was looks, free-spiritedness, sense of spontaneity and adventure, or a combination of things ---the thing that clearly was missing was being a follower of God, as the Bible says they had every imagination of only evil continually.

And if you believe that the Flood was to purge the earth of the fallen angels influence, it does not seem that the fallen angels would be subjected to drowning like humans ...and it just seems problematic to think of it that way.  

In a different sort of way, it is also difficult to think that the poor people of Sodom and Gomorrah (as it is described in Ezekiel) were destroyed because the rich people didn't help the poor and needy.  I have to ponder why a group of people who were poor and needy because the rich mistreated them, would then be punished further by God.  

I believe strengthening the hand of the poor entails encouraging them to work and not be idle ...having so much time on their hands to do evil things.  And if you wonder what those evil things included, you could perhaps read the account described in the Book of Judges (Chapter 19, verses 22-27) and parallel it with Genesis (Chapter 19, verses 4-10).

After re-reading those accounts ...it is difficult to comment at all.  Though we can seldom sufficiently describe our love and hopes  ...we often like to.  On the other hand, though it is often easier to describe evil, it is hopefully not our liking to.

Again, I'd like to wish everyone a Happy Father's Day!!

{Okay, in celebrating Dads, it is good to look at all the good things.  Yet, to be honest, there are other things we do ...that though they are not really bad, at times they can be trying. But, most of the loving credit goes to those who love their Dad, and try to make allowances for their shortcomings.  Dads, as myself, do tend to be repetitive ...much more than is even realized. But, to our credit, repetitiveness is one of the techniques used in learning.  That being said, here goes: (and seriously, I don't know if I've said this before, but likely I have):

Can you read the directions??

Many people in the world are illiterate ...but, likely if you are on Facebook, you have access to a computer. And likely you can read. Though I'm not sure if that is an advantage or a disadvantage.

What I mean is ...there are many more choices at your disposal. And you have to choose what you want to read ...and what to believe.

One of those available choices is that you can very easily read the Bible. You can read Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John ...and clearly see who Jesus is.

You can decide whether to accept Him, or reject Him.

(Yet, in reading about Jesus, He says He and the Father are One ...so, you can't really disregard the Old Testament of the Bible.)

Sometimes the people with the best eyes are the people who allow others to help them see. Yet, there are also those who'd want us to see things differently than what God would want for us.

It's not really a matter of 'bad eyes' ...but, of bad choices. But, we don't only get one attempt. And Jesus gives us the strength to overcome all the disadvantages and temptations.

We believe many things throughout our lifetimes ...but, the most important is to believe in Jesus.

Many of us are Christians who don't feel our testimony is something we can freely converse about. Perhaps we feel we aren't esteemed enough ...or that we don't set the best example at times. The standard may seem very high to us, and we'd rather not talk about it.

"I am a Christian" does not mean I don't sin ...and it doesn't mean that I'm better than another person. I'm possibly not doing better, and may be having a rough go of it ...not solely because of my particular circumstances, but because I allow sin to affect my attitude, which I need to work out, in spite of my circumstances. So, you may feel the standard of expectations is one that leaves you a bit depressed. Yet, it is true that the standard is very high. It was set by Jesus. And we don't need to meet the standard ...only accept the standard (Him).

What does that mean??

I am not better than anyone else ...only perhaps better off. (If not seemingly in this life ...assuredly it will be evident concerning eternal life.)

For now ...see ya, and Selah.}