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Generational Blessings and Curses

Generational blessings and curses and what to do about it!

https://youtu.be/6DJH3KB-LCQ

All life is generational.  Some of it is a blessing, and some of it is a curse. Most people do not take well to the statement: “You’re just like your mother or your father”. Whether you like it or not, there is more of your parents and grandparents in your DNA than you realize.  Some people feel trapped in the negative legacies of their parents’ sins, and wrongdoing.

How can you free yourself of hereditary curses?

Hereditary Influences.

Genetics DNA[1]

Physical features like eye color and blood type, hairline, hair type, laugh lines, mood, fertility, intelligence, infidelity, insomnia, poor driving skills, fear of the dentist, pain tolerance, facial expressions, athleticism, response to caffeine, popularity, procrastination, how fast we age, your sweet-tooth, preference for bitter foods, level of risk aversion, optimism, empathy, sweatiness, work ethic, musical ability and taste[3]

Epigenetics:[2] 

The environment of the parents, diet, lifestyle influences a baby’s health. New research with mice indicates a possibility that experiences of fear can be inherited from grandparents.

Spiritual inheritance:

If a father does not go to church, no matter how faithful his wife’s devotions, only one child in fifty will become a regular worshipper. If a father regularly attends church, regardless of the mother’s practice, between two-thirds and three-quarters of their children will become churchgoers (regular and irregular). [4]

Social Economic Standing: 

A child’s social construction of gender, class, race, and ethnicity plays a huge role in their Financial IQ.  Children’s economic and social outcomes, both during their childhood and in their adult years, largely depend on their birth and upbringing. Children’s families, schools, and neighborhoods, peers and adults with whom they spend time plays a role including media images that shape their perceptions of themselves and their place in the world. There are, of course many other factors, both internal and external contributing to the individual child, that can also greatly affect the child’s social, economic success. [5]

Find Your Family, Find Your Destiny.

Prof . Lewis Termite’s research of young geniuses: When the young geniuses entered into adulthood, Terman looked at the records of 730 of the men and divided them into three groups:

  • 150 were in the A group who were the true success stories — the lawyers and physicians and engineers and academics
  • The middle 60% were the B group — those who were doing “satisfactorily.”
  • The bottom 150 were the Cs — the ones who Terman judged to have done the least with their superior mental ability. They were the postal workers, the struggling bookkeepers and the men lying on their couches at home without any job at all. One-third of the Cs were college dropouts.

What was the difference between the As and the Cs? Terman ran through every conceivable explanation. He looked at their physical and mental health, their “masculinity-femininity scores,” and their hobbies and vocational interests. He compared the ages when they started walking and talking and their precise IQ scores in elementary and high school. In the end, only one thing mattered: family background[6]

Generational Curses:

Biblical Perspective:
Every man has a choice to determine his or her destiny. 

“I the Lord your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and the fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing steadfast love to thousands of those who love me and keep my commandments.” Exodus 20:5–6

“The Lord, the Lord, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, keeping steadfast love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, but who will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children and the children’s children, to the third and the fourth generation.” Exodus 34:6–7

“Because of their iniquity, and also because of the iniquities of their fathers they shall rot away like them.” Leviticus 26:39

Individual Responsibility: 

“Fathers shall not be put to death because of their children, nor shall children be put to death because of their fathers. Each one shall be put to death for his own sin.” Deuteronomy 24:16

“But he [Amaziah] did not put to death the children of the murderers, according to what is written in the Book of the Law of Moses, where the Lord commanded, ‘Fathers shall not be put to death because of their children, nor shall children be put to death because of their fathers. But each one shall die for his own sin.’” 2 Kings 14:6

“The soul who sins shall die. The son shall not suffer for the iniquity of the father, nor the father suffer for the iniquity of the son.” Ezekiel 18:20

We all leave a legacy

 “A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children.” Proverbs 13:22: (NKJV)

When the Lord your God brings you into the land he swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, to give you—a land with large, flourishing cities you did not build, 11 houses filled with all kinds of good things you did not provide, wells you did not dig, and vineyards and olive groves you did not plant (Deuteronomy 6:10-11 (NIV)

 “One generation commends your works to another; they tell of your mighty acts …” Psalm 145:4

Leaving a GODLY Legacy of blessing or curse.

The following story of two American families illustrates the power of generational curses and blessings:

  • Max Jukes was an atheist who married a godless woman. Researchers traced 560 descendants: 310 died as paupers—150 became criminals, 7 of them murderers—100 were known to be drunkards—and more than half of the women were prostitutes. The descendants of Max Jukes cost the United States government more than $1.25 million in 19th-century dollars.
  • Jonathan Edwards was a contemporary of Max Jukes. He was a committed Christian who gave God first place in his life. He married a godly young lady and traced some 1,394 descendants: 295 graduated from college, 13 became college presidents, and 65 became professors. In addition, 3 were elected as United States senators, 3 as state governors, and 3 others were sent as ministers to foreign countries. In addition, 30 became judges, 100 were lawyers, 1 was the dean of an outstanding law school. 75 became officers in the military. 100 were well-known missionaries, preachers, and prominent authors. Another 80 held some form of public office, of whom 3 were mayors of large cities, 1 was the comptroller of the United States Treasury, and another was vice president of the United States. Not one of the descendants of the Edwards family was a liability to the government!

The Three-Chair Principle 

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David served God, with all his heart. 

Solomon served God, with a divided heart. 

His son Rehoboam did not serve God at all. 

Joshua, Elders, Next generation

Me and my house will serve God. (Jos 14:15)

“Israel served the Lord throughout the lifetime of Joshua and the elders who outlived him and who had experienced everything the Lord had done for Israel” (Josh. 24:31).

“After that whole generation had been gathered to their fathers, another generation grew up, who knew neither the Lord nor what he had done for Israel” (Judg. 2:10).

Lessons of REFORM from King Josiah 

  1. While he was still young, he began to seek God” I am seriously concerned about our children. We wait too long to give them the full gospel.
  2. Of his father David” (v3) Josiah severed all ties with Amon his dad, and Manasseh his grandfather who did evil in the sight of the Lord. He took his hereditary influences from David, the last great spiritual father/king/ruler of united Israel. He thus sought to align himself with a generational line of blessing and truth.
  3. Began to purge the land of pagan practises (v3) Go against the mainstream culture, and make a stand against false religion.
  4. Restored Financial Integrity in the house of God. (v8-9) When there is chaos, ad administration. Josiah understood good administration, governance and order.
  5. Restored the house of the Lord (v10-13). The church is the only institution mandated by God, for God, to offer Christ as the only means to salvation.
  6. Rediscovered, and studied the Word of God (v15). A follower of Christ is a faithful, lifetime student of the Word.
  7. Trembled and feared to obey the Word (v19). We are not only to study the word, but we are to obey it!! It is not about how much we are in the Word, but how much of the Word is in us! For his passion and fearless humility God personally commended him. ‘Thus says the LORD God of Israel: “Concerning the words which you have heard— because your heart was tender, and you humbled yourself before God when you heard His words against this place and against its inhabitants, and you humbled yourself before Me, and you tore your clothes and wept before Me, I also have heard you,” says the LORD. v27
  8. Made Public confession of His faith (v30-31). He was not afraid to lead with a public confession and display of his faith, not in religious false hypocrisy! I see in the generation Z, the spirit of Josiah, who are willing again to be bold and radical in their faith.
  9. Kept the “Passover” like no other King since David (35:1, 18). Keeping the Passover is about worship. How do we serve, and worship God? He surpassed all others! Worship God in spirit and in truth!
  10. The fight that you have not been called for, you will lose.  He did not believe the coming judgement of God against his people, and that God can speak and work through a pagan king. Nevertheless, Josiah would not turn his face from him, but disguised himself so that he might fight with him, and did not heed the words of Necho from the mouth of God. So he came to fight in the Valley of Megiddo. (2 Chron 35:22) 

[1] https://www.rd.com/list/traits-didnt-know-inherit-from-mom-and-dad/

[2] https://www.vox.com/2014/8/18/5927269/epigenetics-definition-cancer-diet-explained-inheritance-DNA-methylation

[3] https://bestlifeonline.com/inherited-genetic-traits/

[4] https://www.touchstonemag.com/archives/article.php?id=16-05-024-v

[5] https://futureofchildren.princeton.edu/sites/futureofchildren/files/foc_vol_30_no_1_combined_v6.pdf

[6] Gladwell, Malcolm., 2008. Outliers. 1st ed. New York, NY: Hachette Audio, p. 110.

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The Creative Power of our Words

 

Jordan B Peterson relates the power of words with a story of an anti-social, lonely man who for 10 years would take up 90% of an hour psychotherapy session.  He was not accustomed to the subtleties of social interaction, so his behaviours, verbal and nonverbal, lacked the dance-like rhythm and harmony that characterize the socially fluent. Nevertheless, he eventually healed himself through meaningful conversation.
 
People depend on constant communication with others to keep their minds organized. We all need to think to keep things straight, but we mostly think by talking.
 
We need to talk about the past, so we can distinguish the trivial, overblown concerns that otherwise plague our thoughts from the experiences that are truly important. We need to talk about the nature of the present and our plans for the future, so we know where we are, where we are going, and why we are going there. We must submit the strategies and tactics we formulate to the judgments of others, to ensure their efficiency and resilience. We need to listen to ourselves as we talk, as well, so that we may organize our otherwise inchoate bodily reactions, motivations, and emotions into something articulate and organized, and dispense with those concerns that are exaggerated and irrational. We need to talk—both to remember and to forget. ((Footnote ‘Beyond order’ 12 more rules for life’ Jordan B Peterson))
  
“Life and death are in the power of the tongue“ see also v20.
 
A man’s stomach shall be satisfied from the fruit of his mouth; From the produce of his lips he shall be filled. Death and life are in the power of the tongue, And those who love it will eat its fruit. It is an issue of the heart: (Prov 4:23)
 


The Creative Power of Words
 


God created Eden out of chaos with WORDS – Gen 1. Adam & Eve had to name the animals in order to subdue them, which takes words! ((Footnote Rule 10: be precise in speech – Peterson, J., n.d. Summary of 12 rules for life.))
 
God created order out of chaos through precise words.
Every healing and miracles JESUS worked, he did use Words. 
Jesus is the very expression of God’s words.
Everything that exists came about by words.
According to Genesis 1&2 we see a pattern of how God uses His Words.
 
God’s words
CREATES / BUILDS – Eph 4:29
God’s words IDENTIFY – Gen 2:19
God’s Words MULTIPLY – His word is a seed – Isa 55:11
 


Why silence is never an option.
 


There is a time to speak, and a time to be silent. (Eccl 3:7-8) We get it wrong: In that when we should speak we remain silent, in fear that we will be judged, moralized, or offend.
 
We should never be silent when:

1. We see our brother err.
Let him know, that he which convert the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins. (James 5:20) Brothers, even if a person is caught in some transgression, you who are spiritual should correct that one in a gentle spirit, looking to yourself, so that you also may not be tempted. (Galatians 6:1)

2. In the face of injustice
Speak up, judge righteously, and defend the rights of the afflicted and oppressed. (Prov 31:9)
 
3. When my heart is unhappy about something someone has done.
“Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or else make the tree bad and its fruit bad; for a tree is known by its fruit. 34 Brood of vipers! How can you, being evil, speak good things? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. 35 A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good things, and an evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth evil things. 36 But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment. 37 For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.” (Matthew 12:33-37)
 
Speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things (Eph 4:15) It is my experience that the first round of meaningful dialogue that is sincerely honest is usually negative. Because we still try to formulate our thoughts, and usually blunder out what is in our head. It takes a second and third session to clarify, what was meant, and what is understood to restore empathy. Never disengage! No silent treatment. Keep at it, until empathy arises in both parties’ hearts. 
 


How we misconstrue verbal intend

 

((Footnote In Noam Chomsky’s 1957 Ph.D. thesis, Transformational Grammar, he said there are three processes by which people create the filters of their individual Model of the World.))

  1. Deletion
  2. Gerenalizasion
  3. Distortion
     

((Footnote Rose Charvet, S., 2019. Words That Change Minds. Institute for Influence.))

 

Be precise in Speech

 
Choose your words wisely: Proverbs 12:14, 18; 21:23; Prov 13:3; 15:1; Mt 12:36-37
See also; Pr 10:19; 12:18,25; 15:1; 16:24; 25:15; Ecc 12:11; Jas 3:1-12.
 
The words advice of the young ambitions prideful men to Rehabeam swayed and cause the kingdom to split  (2Ch 10:13-14)
 
Two messengers the one properly mandated bad news report was well-received (2 Sam 18:19-32)
 For we all stumble in many things. If anyone does not stumble in word, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle the whole body. (James 3:5,6)
 


5 Practical Steps

  1. Hear Me
  2. Even if you disagree with me, don’t make me wrong
  3. Acknowledge the greatness within me
  4. Remember to look for my loving intentions
  5. Tell me the truth with compassion
    ((Footnote: Thanks the Arthur Gillis for sharing these thoughts, from a speech he gave at the Young Presidents Association) 
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Lessons on accurate Interpretation

We live in the age of a staggering information overload: Currently, there are a total of 1.86-billion websites on the internet, over two-billion YouTube Channels, 2.85-billion active Facebook users, and two-billion people sending information to the most popular communication platform Whatsapp. In addition, the number of mobile devices operating worldwide is expected to reach 17.72-billion by 2024. So the question is: is all this information TRUE and Wholesome?

Particularly recently, deciding whether one should be vaccinated or not. Did the Corona Virus COVID 19 leak from a lab in Wuhan or naturally hop from bats? Another battle people struggle with is whether they should stay in SA or not?  With the coming elections, how to vote for the right party? Is the earth flat? Did man ever land on the moon? Most importantly, we need to be alert of the Mainstream Social Justice movement’s opposition against fundamental Christian values. Getting involved in some of these debates can become emotionally heated, a first sign that people have already swayed from a non-bias, investigative path.

The BIBLE our SOURCE for accurate interpretation.

Interpretation has quite a broad scope of use: dancers interpret music and words through movement, we interpret dreams and visions, the interpretation of the law, bookkeepers interpret financial statements, to name a few.

It is impossible to restrict and contain people’s inert interpretation of life. Yet all interpretation requires a source-code, an instruction manual, laws, an ancient holy text, a distinct worldview, a specific upbringing culture and traditions. For example, bookkeepers have to have the source document to give an accurate account of the financial status of an enterprise.  Dancers need a particular song to interpret using a certain style of choreography.

Followers of Christ interpret LIFE, TIME or relevant World FACTS primarily from our knowledge of God first, as revealed through Scripture, the Holy Spirit, and the general assembly and church of the firstborn. (Heb 12:22-24)   

All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for 3instruction in righteousness,  that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work. (2 Tim 3:16-17)

Despite the truth of God’s Word, it is unfortunate how man’s misinterpretation of the scriptures misconstrued and distorted it’s divine intent. The church’s shame is not Who we believe in but our misrepresentation of His will and desire.

JOIN THE MBTC Class on BIBLE Interpretation TERM 3.

The danger of wrong interpretation

Most wars are maintained by misinformation and propaganda, forming groups by outward identifiable differences, then alienating them from another by creating an evil ‘face’ that people are willing to kill. Jesus’ instruction to love our enemies stand in direct contrast, so powerful yet extremely difficult. Generally we see the enemy win the battle by creating a distance.  The alternative opposite path is to break through the walls of seperation, segregation and distance through face-to-face contact and meaningful dialogue. 

Phillip Zimbardo proved with the Stanford Prison Experiment how nine normal middle-class college boys could turn evil in just eight days. The process involves the following: Dehumanization, deindividuation, absolute obedience to authority, passivity in the face of threats, self-justification, and rationalization.

Dehumanization is like a cortical cataract that clouds one’s thinking and fosters the perception that other people are less than human. It makes some people believe that their perceived enemies deserve torment, torture, and annihilation.”[2] One of the war techniques is to paint faces so that the warriors become unrecognizable and intimidate their enemies, and thus more prone to act contrary to their conscience.

Lessons from other sources are helpful for accurate interpretation.

In addition, we can draw lessons from the above mentioned shortlist of interpretive practises to gain insight and deepen our understanding, for instance: wine tasting.

Primary things to remember:

  • Slow down
  • Pay attention 
  • Irradicate conflicting smells in the vicinity.
  • Build smell vocabulary practise labelling all fragrances 

We all need to slow down before jumping to conclusions. Learn to pay more attention and ask engaging questions. Focus and eliminate distractions. Improve our vocabulary of discerning categories and the true meaning of words through study and experience (Heb. 5:13-14).

FIRST LESSON on INTERPRETATION:
Make a point of getting direct feedback.

Equally crucial for survival is direct feedback.  Like a racing driver feeling the understeer on the steering wheel going through a corner, we need accurate feedback to make the right decisions. Unfortunately, too many options complicate matters and lead to procrastination, frustration or forced decisions.  

It is alarmingly sad how many believers have heard the right word or instruction, but the interpretation was way off! I must confess my mistakes in my own life and ministry were not because I did not hear correctly; my interpretation was limited, and I jumped to misinformed conclusions.  Assumptions exist because of distance. No communication leads to more presumptions. We often leave God’s face/presence too soon and run into making our own decisions without further consultation with God!

SECOND LESSON on INTERPRETATION:
Interpret Scripture as communication between God and man.

God’s Word is not a compilation of abstract literary words and sentences. The Bible is God’s way of communicating with us.  Like any good listener, it is harmful and disrespectful to cherry-pick parts that resonate with our point and then quote it as if this is God speaking.  Because we talk more than listen, with an increasingly shorter attention span of eight-seconds[3], we are disposed to misinterpret Scripture, God’s voice, and another.  Correct interpretation begins with becoming an exceptional listener.  

Natural science and widely read academic papers are just more than a hundred years old. For thousands of years, ancients used narratives or stories to navigate life’s complexities and find the best practices. The stories of Abraham, Moses, David and Daniel, their triumphs and their mistakes are like guiding lights in the darkness. The primary interpretive lesson to be learned is; look at a life lived! Jesus is in this aspect our ultimate example! The Word became flesh and showed us the best way to do life!

We basically stay in this mess because of too few meaningful relationships with the right people, at the right time. Theories and philosophies can become harmful because they are formulated in minds and classrooms without the appropriate, relevant relationships on the ground level.

THIRD LESSON on INTERPRETATION:
Interpretation requires a thorough investigation.

Journalists rigorously research source verification and fact-checking before they publish a story.

Bible interpreters study the context, background, ancient narratives and audience, text category, language, culture, and intention of a portion of Scripture before making a current application of use and preaching about it.[4]

Academics review existing conflicting and complementary research literature and provide research methodology (experiments, surveys, questionnaires, interviews, case studies, observational trials) to determine feasible and practical outcomes. 

Interpreting God’s Voice entails: testing whether the word is in line with the Spirit of Christ; general acceptance among a mature multitude of counsellors; the conviction of sin righteousness and judgement; the producing inner peace. It is specific, practical, is a conviction, ensures a generational blessing, is at the detriment to self, and is always missional. 

FOURTH LESSON on INTERPRETATION:
We are more wrong than right – remain in HIM.

One who is perfect in knowledge is with you. Job 36:4 

What makes us think we can hear a person speak for five-minutes, and we already make a judgement whether this person is good or bad? Malcolm Gladwell’s new book, “Talking to strangers” explains in his typically digressive exploration of the wrong assumptions we make when dealing with strangers.[5] He lists as an example how the best CIA espionage operatives find it very difficult to tell when people are lying. 

When it comes to fake news, even more, alarming is that older adults engage with and share false political information on social media than any other age group. [6]

If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, (James 1:5)

FIFTH FIRST LESSON on INTERPRETATION:
Test the fruit – the outcome and the motive. 

Be aware of thinking carnally. Here is a list of bad fruit and outcomes:

  • Cognitive dissonance 
  • Blaming, resentful, reactive 
  • Creating suspicion 
  • Guessing assumptions 
  • Worry, fear, anxiety 
  • Projecting guilt, favoritism, bias.  
  • Shame, guilt, condemnation – of other parties
  • Futile – no practical confrontation and outcome
  • Cause & Effect thinking – Job 
  • Carnal, miss-out on short term benefits 

Rigorously test the outcome:

  • If I need to execute this thought?
  • What will be the implications? 
  • Is the Lord going to be glorified? (1 Cor 10:31)
  • Is it going to break down or build? (1 Cor 14:26)
  • Is that going to change anything?
  • Is it do-able? James 1:22 (Doers of the Word) 
  • What’s the end?
  • What is the fruit?
  • What is the outcome 3 – 7 generations from now? 
  • Does it release faith or fear?
  • Is it Scriptural?
  • Is it compatible with the fruit of the Holy Spirit? 
  • Overthinking, analyzing the thought is perfected in the doing, not the thinking.  

SIXTH LESSON on INTERPRETATION:
The spirit of CHRIST litmus test 

Jesus answered, “You say rightly that I am a king. For this cause I was born, and for this, cause I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice.” Pilate said to Him, “What is truth?” And when he had said this, he went out again to the Jews, and said to them, “I find no fault in Him at all. John 18:33-38 

All self-determination is founded in the works of the flesh.

I am the Way, the Truth and the Life (John 14:6).
My life is hidden in Him. (Col 3:2).
My purpose is in Him (Rom 8:29).
My life is in Him (Mat 16:24).

A life centred on ‘self’ leads to struggle.  Either we are doing too much or too little, trying, striving, and fighting to be better, yet dreadfully failing, over and over, again and again! We never seem to get it right, seeking comfort and peace, accomplishment and meaning in all the wrong places to end up empty again at the end.

When we are the most like Him, we become the ideal spouse, parent, employer, and employee. When we live through His wisdom, life began to have meaning and purpose. He is the solution to every problem. His life will save you!

SEVENTH LESSON on INTERPRETATION:
Truth test: 

  • Truth must bring the individual to inner peace, rest, and an acceptable resolution. It must conclude and resolve the quest. 
  • The truth is consistent with the mind, will, character, glory, and being of God. Even more to the point: Truth is the self-expression of God.
  • Truth is coherent.  For coherence theories in general, truth requires a proper fit of elements within an entire system.
  • Truth is consistently sustainable and rigid throughout time and history. It’s opposite to relativism, changeable, unpredictable fluidness. 
  • Truth can’t just be theory or philosophy. It needs to be tested practically in a particular life, place, time, and proven lifestyle. 
  • Truth must be both simple but also complex. Life is bitterly complicated, so truth should answer this complexity and give it good direction to simple, doable action.  
  • Truth is a paradox. Impartial, self-sufficient, indisputable, indefensible. The strongest magnet changes the weaker magnet’s polarity. 
  • Truth should be universal, similarity and comparisons in other sciences. 

You’re welcome to study the sermon/blog on the DANGER of being led by your emotions. https://hrco.co.za/sermons/the-danger-of-being-led-by-feelings/


[1] The Amplified Bible, (La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1987), 2 Ti 3:16–17.

[2] Philip G. Zimbardo. The Lucifer Effect: Understanding How Good People Turn Evil

[3] Social media: the impact on spiritual formation among generation Z freshman college students.  https://firescholars.seu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1081&context=coe

[4] So opening the Bible can be likened to entering into a communicative event. Or, to put it metaphorically, Scripture begins a conversation that is interpersonal and potentially life changing, because it is God who initiates the dialogue.” Jeanine Brown,  2021. Scripture as communication. Introducing Biblical Hermeneutics. Baker Book House.

[5] Gladwell, Malcolm, 2021. Talking to strangers. Back Bay Books. Talking to Strangers: What We Should Know about the People We Don’t Know by Amazon.com Services LLC
Learn more: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07NC11JGM/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_PZDAVAJP2DE64PRJ376C 

[6] Guess, A. M., Nyhan, B., & Reifler, J. (2020). Exposure to untrustworthy websites in the 2016 US election. Nature Human Behaviour, 4(5), 472-480. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41562-020-0833-x

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Jesus, Die Beste Lewe Ooit Geleef

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8 Rules for Life learned from Nature in the Parables

https://youtu.be/7iunSPGy6bg

Many would agree, “God works in mysterious ways”. If we could however understand how God operates, and how He does things we will understand His will for our lives. Like getting to know a person, what do they value? How do they approach things? I believe the ways of God is revealed in the works of God, and His greatest work is Creation. It is fair that we should not judge a person on what they say, or first impressions. Judge a man’s work, his or her legacy.
Job was struggling to understand the ways of God and gets directed: “Listen to this, O Job; Stand still and consider the wondrous works of God.” His attention is moved to creation, it’s wonder, greatness and complexity to the point where he acknowledge: “I have heard of You by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees You.” (Job 42:5)
God often models spiritual truth in creation, which is why David the psalmist describes the whole earth reflecting his glory. (Psalm 72:19). God gave Solomon great wisdom and it is recorded that he taught about animals and birds, reptiles and fish (1 Kings 4:33) and wrote about them in his proverbs to illustrate character strengths and weaknesses.
In simple humility, let our gardener, God, landscape you with the Word, making a salvation-garden of your life. (James 1:21 – Message)


God meant man to live in a garden; sin has sent him to the slums –

Vishal Mangalwadi


Thus it is no surprise that Jesus taught most from lessons learned from nature. Let us hence refocus our attention, and familiarise ourselves with lessons learned from nature.

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  1. SEEDS & ENCLOSURES
    The Bible begins in a garden, ends in a garden city, and the in-between is full of stories of God’s encounter with humans in vineyards, orchards, gardens, mountains, fields, and forests. Take out the gardens (Eden, Gethsemane) and the mounts (Sinai, Hermon, Ararat, Nebo, Carmel, Olives, Zion), and you’ve cut the heart out of the Scriptures.
    The word KHEN (חן) – usually translated “grace” or “favour” – means “continuous outer wall, or continuous barrier” – pretty much the word for a tent shell or covering. And more so in Ancient nomadic terms, the continuous wall formed by the greater camp made up of individual tents, that collectively symbolized protection, family, belonging. “Thus says Yahweh, The people who were left of the sword found KHEN in the wilderness; even Israel, when I went to cause him to rest.” – (Jeremiah 31:2)
    When God made man, He strategically placed an enclosed garden. H1588. גַּן gan: A common noun meaning garden, enclosure. It is used to indicate the Garden of Eden (pleasure) where the first human pair was placed (Gen. 2:8-10, 15, 16; 3:1-3, 8, 10, 23, 24; Ezek. 36:35; Joel 2:3).
    EDEN: A masculine noun referring to a luxury, a pleasure, a delight. Used in the plural, it means luxury, luxurious things (2 Sam. 1:24); figuratively, of the many splendid things and enjoyments God gives (Ps. 36:8). It depicts the many enjoyments and pleasurable delights Israel had enjoyed previously (Jer. 51:34). A feminine noun indicating sexual delight, ecstasy. It refers to the enjoyment of intimate love with one’s spouse which in context implies the ability to become pregnant (Gen. 18:12). In order to create pleasure and beauty, one need to remix elements and resources, enclose and subdue it. Like baking a cake, planting a field, framing art, composing a song, writing a book.
  2. YOU CAN CHANGE THE SPOTS, BUT NOT A MAN’s NATURE
    For every tree is known by its own fruit. For men do not gather figs from thorns, nor do they gather grapes from a bramble bush. (Luk 6:44) This is why Jesus told Nicodemus, you have to born again. (Joh 3:2-5) DNA determines the outcome. We cannot have all these projects to try to make man better, without regeneration. Dr Ado Krige, the legend and father of many successful rehab centers in SA, call his centers regeneration centers. The first miracle of Jesus where He regenerated the best wine out of water in a second, points to this. This is the core of the gospel! Him making us new creations. (2 Cor 5:17) The founding DNA of an organization determines the culture and success if that organization. Partnerships and strategic alliances only work if the values-DNA is inherently similar.
  3. THE PEOPLE YOU SPEND MOST TIME WITH DETERMINES YOU
    Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. (Mat 6:27-28) It is said, that you are the average of the five people you’re spending most time with. Bill Johnson says: find your church, finds your destiny. The lily flourishes, because it is in the right habitat. It will not grow in a desert. So each one of us, are made for a relational habitat, where we can grow.
  4. NATURE IS RELATIONAL (INTERRELATED)
    Everything in nature is connected and in relation to the other. Recently the Yellowstone National Park saw its ecosystem restored what is called the trophic cascade effect, as wolves were reintroduced. You will find no mono-cultures Forrest in nature.
    Although each species has its unique distinct identity and purpose, they always function within a specific ecosystem, of inter-related harmony. Commercial farming is not sustainable, because we purposefully are creating an imbalance in nature, wherein in turn we have to use more and more chemical manipulation to have the same results.
    In a real sense, all life is interrelated. All men are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly. Martin Luther-King
    Jesus taught the parable of the wheat & tares, to leave the tares until the end, then it is burned and destroyed. (Mat 13:24-30) One of Christianity greatest mistakes through history, is the notion that by separating oneself from nature, one becomes more holy. This self-imposed holiness does not have the strength to suppress, evil desires. It is the holiness of the one, that changes history! Like Daniel, Nehemiah, Ester & Mordechai. A hand full of salt makes one sick, but salt released in a soup gives it a taste. We are not from the world. Like Jesus, we are aliens, called to live sinless lives in a crooked generation. Jesus unsettled the stringent religious culture of the Jews when He revealed that God’s favour, jubilee restoration was for the gentiles too. (Luke 4:16-30) You cannot write Christian music or start Christian schools, because music and schools cannot be filled with the spirit, and obey the voice of God. The composer and the headmaster are Christian, under Christ. What we create, the way we do business, what we produce causes delight (EDEN-effect) and invites people to a new lifestyle. Daniel could not label what he did in Babylon as a Hebrew, yet by asking permission to obey his dietary rules, his countenance, and overall health surpassed the other captives.
  5. SPIRITUAL POWER IS NOT IN NUMBERS BUT IN RELATIONAL INFLUENCE
    Politicians seek numbers to leverage power and influence. This leads to great folly, as no one person ought to represent a number of people, and simply cannot. People change their minds, constantly. “The kingdom of heaven is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal till it was all leavened.” (Mat 13:33) The power of the kingdom is in the power of the one. Real influence is being trusted and respected by Kings. “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and sowed in his field, which indeed is the least of all the seeds; but when it is grown it is greater than the herbs and becomes a tree so that the birds of the air come and nest in its branches.” (Matt 13:31; Luk 13:18) Does anyone dare despise this day of small beginnings? (Zech 4:10 The Message) A farmer understands that the quality of the seed determines the harvest. The parable of the sower, also reveals that the outcome of the harvest was determined by the condition of the soil (heart) not the seed, nor the sower. Everything is grounded in healthy relationships – organisations, families, nations, business thrive and survive because of strong relationships.
  6. STRATEGICALLY POSITIONED THE POWER OF ONE
    A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard, and he came seeking fruit on it and found none. (Luk 13:6-9) Since the beginning, God strategically would place His send-ones in situations to liberate His people. Moses was strategically placed in a river to be found by the princess of Egypt. Nehemiah, Daniel, Esther, the young slave girl who told Naman of a Prophet in Isreal were individuals who brought about change in human history, through their personal holiness.
  7. NATURE IS SELF-SUSTAINABLE
    The kingdom of God is as if a man should scatter seed on the ground, and should sleep by night and rise by day, and the seed should sprout and grow, he himself does not know-how. (Mar 4:26-29) There are many videos depicting how nature would eventually take over all the constructions of man over time when a man is removed from the earth. Nature does not need our intervention, we were called to cultivate and guard it. (Gen 2:15) When God does something, it is sustainable. Then one in the council stood up, a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law held in respect by all the people and commanded them to put the apostles outside for a little while. And he said to them: “Men of Israel, take heed to yourselves what you intend to do regarding these men. For some time ago Theudas rose up, claiming to be somebody. A number of men, about four hundred, joined him. He was slain, and all who obeyed him were scattered and came to nothing. After this man, Judas of Galilee rose up in the days of the census, and drew away many people after him. He also perished, and all who obeyed him were dispersed. And now I say to you, keep away from these men and let them alone; for if this plan or this work is of men, it will come to nothing; but if it is of God, you cannot overthrow it—lest you even be found to fight against God.” (Acts 5:34-40) It is thus my contention that only that what is birthed, maintained and fulfilled in Christ will be sustainable.
  8. NATURE IS SEASONAL AND CYCLICAL
    There are 7 days in a week, on the 7th month Sukkot was held; on 7th year your debt was released, on the 7 x 7th year cycle it was Jubilee. The time (Kairos) is fulfilled, and the Kingdom of God is at hand. Repent and believe in the gospel! (Mark 1:15) καιρός kairós; gen. kairoú, masc. noun. Season, opportune time. It is not merely as a succession of minutes, which is chrónos (G5550), but a period of opportunity (though not a necessity).
    There is really no Eng. equivalent to the word kairós, the appropriate or opportune time, which when used in the pl. with chrónoi (times), is translated as “seasons,” times at which certain foreordained events take place. Ask the Lord for rain In the time of the latter rain (Zech 10:1) (Spring Rain) Hypocrites! You can discern the face of the sky and of the earth, but how is it you do not discern this time? (Luk 12:56) And a wise man’s heart discerns both time and judgment, because for every matter there is a time and judgment. (Eccl 8:5-6)