THREE TOPICS, ONE NOTE

I want to write tonight but am having a hard time focusing the right subject. Several are running through my head and none are stopping long enough for me to grab hold and go for the ride.

I mentioned that my dietician was concerned that my blood sugar readings were too low. So without consulting with my doctor I am conducting my own little experiment. I had already figured out that if I had low blood sugar numbers two hours after the evening meal, I needed to eat to keep the number high enough so as not to nearly faint. As a result I was defeating my weight loss goal. For the past few days, I have stopped taking my insulin at night and have not been eating after supper. The result is that I am not waking up in the middle of the night with low blood sugar and I am not waking up multiple times to go to the bathroom. I am also beginning to lose some weight. Minor, but a start. Also, I feel better. I have believed I have been over medicated for a long time. He and I are going to have a serious talk at my next appointment.

I blew it this morning at coffee during a discussion of what kind of fruit Adam and Eve ate. There were some interesting suggestions. All decided it was not an apple. I don’t know why they did that. Every picture I ever saw was of them eating an apple. Can all those artists be wrong? I cannot remember how the conversation shifted, but we moved on to a simple discussion of the first couple. One of our women always (yes always) expresses her opinion in a strong way with a tone that says I have spoken and that it the final word. Few ever challenge her as she will argue to the end that she is right — and she keeps getting louder and only gives up when everyone else shuts up. In her very dogmatic way she pronounced that Eve was Adam’s second wife. I was so dumbfounded I turned to her and said, “Where or earth did you ever get that absolutely ridiculous idea,” then explained the rib being taken from Adam and Eve being created. Maybe others of you have heard that second wife idea but that was a first for me and I felt that if it wasn’t challenged some would begin to wonder if it might be true. She answered my question with, “From my childhood.” This was the first time I ever heard her stop arguing. The discussion ended with everyone around the table confirming that they understood Eve was number one. I could not believe my ears and was ready to pull out the Bible and take they through Genesis 2-3.

The California Supreme courts decision this morning announcing that it was unconstitutional to have a referendum on Gay marriage so they overturned the previous decision to ban same sex marriage, mucked up my hackles – whatever those are. To me, it was just one more place where government was getting into it with the churches. I thought there was a separation of church and state. Technically, these may not be religious issue vs. the state, but it sure raises the roof in religious circles. The Catholic Church, The Mormon Church and National Association of Evangelicals have already spoken out. This may have even raised the profile of Mitt Romney, as he was very outspoken against gay marriage. It may have also sealed his fate with that voter group.

I spent a fair amount of time trying to see if scripture defines marriage. It doesn’t, but it has plenty to say about same sex relationships, and it is not supportive. In scripture all marriage in used in terms of a man and a woman. That is also true historically, culturally and politically. To me, marriage is just one more word the rainbow coalition wants to reinvent. They have already confiscated “gay,” “rainbow” and now they want marriage. I for one want them to have equal governmental rights. That would not benefit them alone, but same sex heterosexuals who share a life and home together. But I object to the term marriage being used. I don’t know what is wrong with civil union. I am sure they want to feel equal with heterosexuals. I will go along with that as soon as they produce offspring without outside help.. Leave “marriage” alone. They already have all the rights they have fought for in California. Find another word or expression like “shacking –up.”

KING JAMES TRANSLATION

For the past several days I have been studying an article from the December 2011 issue of National Geographic. It seemed a strange subject for them, but an interesting one nonetheless. “The King James Bible – Making a Masterpiece.” I have never really known much at all about the 1611 Bible publication other than it has been the English standard for a very long time — over 400.

I was interested in the chart reflecting the various translations that preceded the King James Version. They report of eighteen of them, many, which I recognized, but knew little. I wasn’t so much fascinated by that process as the impact the KJV has had on the English culture.

“The King James translation introduced eighteen classic phrases into the English language” some of which are:

The root of the matter

Stand in awe

As a lamb (led) to the slaughter

A thorn in the flesh

Suffer (the) little children

Get thee behind me (Satan)

A still small voice

How the mighty have fallen

East of Eden

Know for a certainty

Unto the pure all things are pure

Lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven

No small stir

Much study is a weariness of the flesh

To everything there is a season

The skin of my teeth

Fell flat on his face

From time to time

Pour out your heart

Put words in his mouth

Set thine house in order

Be horribly afraid

I for one have used every one of them as some time or another. Some I was aware were from Scripture. Others were so common I never gave them a second thought. I grew up on the KJV, as did everyone in my age group. Many, not just churchgoers, knew –parts of the Bible. In my public school classroom was the quote “Spar the rod and spoil the child.” I think it was there as a threat. Many homes had plaques with Biblical phrases. In my friend Saul’s home (Jewish) hung “Train up a child in the way he should go.” My own home displayed “As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” We also had the framed print by Warner Sallman of “Christ at the Door.”

I struggle to quote Scripture from a modern translation even though that is what I now read. I just learned far too many verses in the KJV. So many in fact that when I try to quote something in a modern translation I get it all mixed up.

Since 1611, hundred’s of new translations have come and gone. It seems like there is a new one every year or so. With this diversity, none will ever compete with the popularity of the KJV, but all are trying to do the very same thing for which the JKV was translated. They want to put Scripture into the language of the people.

I have never had much patience with those who hold to the belief that the KJV is “THE BIBLE” and nothing else will do. I know Shakespeare is popular in some circles, but it is difficult, if not impossible, to read by the average person. He wrote in the same time period as the JKV was written. They sound the same because it is the same language. Admittedly there is something somewhat romantic about the KJV, if not emotionally connective. But if you did not grow up with it, there are some difficult words. I liked the fact that my KJV version had the punctuation markings for all those extremely difficult to pronounce Biblical names. The pastor I worked with in my first church had a habit of handing me an Old Testament passage to read in the service just as we were about to walk onto the platform. I was thankful for those pronunciation markings. However, the key factor in actually reading these name-riddled passages is not the correct pronunciation as much as reading them with clarity and authority. When one does that people begin to think they are finally learning the correct pronunciation. How would I know? I just spoke with authority.