- Abraham Lincloln

When we normally consider God making something, we usually think of creation in the book of Genesis. But we must remember that in the Book of Beginnings, the Lord did not just “make,” He “created.”

Some see God at the dawn of creation as the great cosmic Chef, taking a little soil, a little water, a little stardust and any other necessary ingredients and tossing it all into his divine mixing bowl. From whence he pours this magic alchemy of Heaven and Earth.

But the same Hebrew words are NOT employed in Genesis chapter 1 and Psalm 118:24:

עָשָׂה = A-Sah = “Made” (Psalm 118:24)

בָּרָא = Ba-Rah = “To Create(I) … Heaven and Earth(Ia1) … from Miracles(Ib4) (Genesis 1:1)

In Genesis chapter one, God does not need or utilize preexisting material. He starts with something that, at its best, is without form and void and darkness is on the face of the deep. From formlessness, He creates form. From void, God creates something that fills that void. To the darkness that permeates the deep, God speaks light. Truly God did not merely “make” (עָשָׂה = Asah) the Heaven and the earth; God “created (from nothing)” (בָּרָא = Ba-Rah) the Heaven and Earth.

I will submit to you that, when God makes us a day that we can rejoice and be glad in (Psalm 118:24) … this is more glorious than the initial act of creation. Let me make my case: If you are a builder, would you rather remodel  a 70 year old building with bad electrical wiring and leaky plumbing and a faulty foundation? or would you rather build from scratch a brand new edifiice on a clean piece of property? That’s simple: the brand new building on the empty peice of property … less work … less headache … less cost–everything about the new construction from scratch is easier for the builder.

It’s one thing for God to Create something from nothing; that’s amazing. Something more amazing is this: For God to take your heartaches of last year and your falures of last month and your attitudes of last week and your doubts of yesterday … even with all of that … somehow God makes you a day and gives you a reason to rejoice and be glad. Go ahead, God, make my day!

The pessimist sees difficulty in every opportunity. The optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty.

- Winston Churchill

-William Shakespeare

Son,

I love you and I’m proud of you.

Love, Dad

What does the Bible say about  tattoos and Body Piercing? I’ll answer that in a moment.

I recently purchased another book, The Complete Encyclopedia of Signs and Symbols by Mark O’Connell and Raje Airey. The bulky Encyclopedia includes over 1600 visual symbols, including photography, fine art paintings and line illustrations, with authoritative in depth commentary, definitions and explanations.

The book’s goal is to identify and analyze the visual vocabulary that formulates our thoughts and dictates our reactions to the world around us. It attempts to interpret the unconscious codes and secret languages that shape our most ancient emotions. Needless to say, Tattoos and Body Piercing play a prominent role in this fascinating publication.

Tattoos and Body Piercing are nothing new to the human race—a brief study will bear out that the practice goes back at least 3,000 years. Our culture is in the midst of cataclysmic change and everything in the visual arena reflects this. “As you know, what we see (especially for men), touches a visceral nerve in the darkest corners of our flesh.”

:It is my opinion that Tattoos and Body Piercing have gone well beyond the “fad” phase.Even without the crystal-clear available biblical direction, this is an assault on common sense and reasonable thinking……couple that with direct Bible admonition, apostolic pastors must draw the line somewhere. I am not recommending where a pastor should draw the line, but let’s keep in mind, while we wait to decide, the next outlandish wave is already on the horizon.

What Does God Say?Leviticus 9:28 “Ye shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, not print any marks upon you: I [am] the LORD.” (also mentioned in Leviticus 21:5)

The lines are shallow designs in the ground where the reddish pebbles that cover the surrounding landscape have been removed, revealing the whitish earth underneath. Hundreds are simple lines or geometric shapes, and more than seventy are natural or human figures. The largest are over 200 metres (660 ft) across. Scholars differ in interpreting what the lines were for but generally ascribe religious significance to them. “The geometric ones could indicate the flow of water or be connected to rituals to summon water. The spiders, birds, and plants could be fertility symbols. Other possible explanations include: irrigation schemes, giant astronomical calendars, or landing for spaceships.^[1]“

The dry, windless, stable climate of the plateau has preserved the lines to this day, for the most part. Extremely rare changes in weather may temporarily alter the general designs.