(For the honor of being the introduction post of this inconspicuous and soon to be obscure blog, I have selected one of the first sermonettes I preached for our nursing home outreach ministry. It is not remarkable in any way to merit it's selection, but simply the fact that it's subject matter is that of "names".
In regards to the name of this blog, it was selected because of a few perspectives I have from where I sit.
I live in Seattle where it is cloudy most of the year, so looking forward to a sunny day, and enjoying it when the sun does come out, are good metaphors for our hope of eternity with Jesus and appreciating the blessings he showers on us while we are in this world.
I pray that this blog is a blessing to all that visit, that all will get inspiration to keep our eyes on Jesus during the periods of time when the clouds roll into our lives and the weather is stormy. - RB)
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In regards to the name of this blog, it was selected because of a few perspectives I have from where I sit.
I live in Seattle where it is cloudy most of the year, so looking forward to a sunny day, and enjoying it when the sun does come out, are good metaphors for our hope of eternity with Jesus and appreciating the blessings he showers on us while we are in this world.
I pray that this blog is a blessing to all that visit, that all will get inspiration to keep our eyes on Jesus during the periods of time when the clouds roll into our lives and the weather is stormy. - RB)
When we were born, or just before we were born, our parents had to make the first of many decisions affecting our lives. And that was the decision of what to name us.
Some of us have what we would call normal names, like John or Mark or Ruth or Mary. And some of us have rather odd names. In fact, the name of my distant uncle from Norway is really Odd. I’m serious – his named is spelled o-d-d. Its pronounced “ode”, but when you read it, it spells the word “odd”.
Every time he comes to the United States to visit, people always say “that’s an odd name”…and he just says "Uff Da!"
Most of us are more fortunate than to have a name that causes people to laugh. Some of us have names that are things, like mine.
My name is Rod, which is kind of an odd name – it even rhymes with odd! I work in the steel business, and when anyone in my office mentions an anchor rod, or a hanger rod, or a tie-rod, I turn my head thinking they are talking about me! It can be pretty confusing at times. Some people have names that are vocational names, names that reveal what occupation their ancestors had like Miller, Smith or Shepherd. Or Hunter, Fletcher or Baker.
Others have names that are descriptive. American Indians are good examples of that – Kohana (swift), Ahote (restless one), Lokni (rain falls through the roof) You have to wonder what frame of mind that boys parents were in when they named him “rain falls through the roof”! A couple more indian names are Lalawethika (he makes noise), Makkapitew (he has large teeth) and finally Wahanassatta (he who walks with his toes turned outward).
I’m glad my parents didn’t name me after my behavior, or they would have named me “he who has a really hard head”!
The Bible has many people mentioned by name in it. And they all have very interesting names. It is a fascinating study to examine their names with their meanings.
Every time he comes to the United States to visit, people always say “that’s an odd name”…and he just says "Uff Da!"
Most of us are more fortunate than to have a name that causes people to laugh. Some of us have names that are things, like mine.
My name is Rod, which is kind of an odd name – it even rhymes with odd! I work in the steel business, and when anyone in my office mentions an anchor rod, or a hanger rod, or a tie-rod, I turn my head thinking they are talking about me! It can be pretty confusing at times. Some people have names that are vocational names, names that reveal what occupation their ancestors had like Miller, Smith or Shepherd. Or Hunter, Fletcher or Baker.
Others have names that are descriptive. American Indians are good examples of that – Kohana (swift), Ahote (restless one), Lokni (rain falls through the roof) You have to wonder what frame of mind that boys parents were in when they named him “rain falls through the roof”! A couple more indian names are Lalawethika (he makes noise), Makkapitew (he has large teeth) and finally Wahanassatta (he who walks with his toes turned outward).
I’m glad my parents didn’t name me after my behavior, or they would have named me “he who has a really hard head”!
The Bible has many people mentioned by name in it. And they all have very interesting names. It is a fascinating study to examine their names with their meanings.
A few of them are:
Moses, who was drawn out of the river, his name means “to draw”.
Abram, which means “exalted father” had his name changed by God to be Abraham, which means “father of a multitude”, and from him descends all the peoples of the middle east.
Adam, which means “ruddy, or red” could refer to the color of his blood, the color of his face, or the color of the earth from which he was made.
David, means “beloved one”. In fact, King David was indeed adored. There are more verses in The Bible that say David was loved than it says that of any other individual.
Mary, now this is a very interesting name. Mary is the mother of Jesus, and her name means “rebellious”. Now why would the mother of our savior be named “rebellious”?. When you think about the fact that it’s because of the rebellious sinful nature of man, that makes it necessary for Jesus to come into the world in the first place, it makes sense.
It’s because of our rebellion that we need a savior, it is rebellion that brought Jesus into the world, and he did it through a woman named “rebellion”. Fascinating!
The name Jesus is another interesting study. It is Yehoshua, or Joshua, in Hebrew and it means “Yahweh is salvation” – “God is salvation”. And the Greek title Christ, or the Hebrew title Messiah, means “anointed one”. Rulers and kings were always anointed with oil like we have Presidential inaugurations.
David, means “beloved one”. In fact, King David was indeed adored. There are more verses in The Bible that say David was loved than it says that of any other individual.
Mary, now this is a very interesting name. Mary is the mother of Jesus, and her name means “rebellious”. Now why would the mother of our savior be named “rebellious”?. When you think about the fact that it’s because of the rebellious sinful nature of man, that makes it necessary for Jesus to come into the world in the first place, it makes sense.
It’s because of our rebellion that we need a savior, it is rebellion that brought Jesus into the world, and he did it through a woman named “rebellion”. Fascinating!
The name Jesus is another interesting study. It is Yehoshua, or Joshua, in Hebrew and it means “Yahweh is salvation” – “God is salvation”. And the Greek title Christ, or the Hebrew title Messiah, means “anointed one”. Rulers and kings were always anointed with oil like we have Presidential inaugurations.
Sometimes not having a name is very interesting. In Greek mythology there is a story where a man says he is no one. Ancient Greek mythology is based on two books, the Illiad and The Odyssey, both written by a guy named Homer. Has anyone read them? The Odyssey is a book that describes a mans journey back home after a war. His name was Odysseus, a very cunning man.
Now, I'm not advocating that you do read them, and I am not saying there is anything historically or spiritually accurate in them, but I do like to draw from all aspects of life for my illustrations. I apologize ahead of time if any of my illustrations or references are offensive, at the time I use them they just seem like good ideas, only later do I find out otherwise...
But according to that mythology, after the war against Troy, Odysseus and his men had a difficult time getting back home. They had many adventures that ended in tragedy. One of their stops along the way was at an Island of the Cyclops. The Cyclops were brutal giants who had only one eye. Odysseus and his men found the cave of one of the Cyclops named Polyphemus and were hiding in his cave when he came home. The Cyclops had them trapped inside his cave and wouldn’t let them out. In fact, he’d eat two men each night before he went to sleep.
He asked Odysseus what his name was and Odysseus said “my name is No-man”! I am nobody. The next night, while Polyphemus the Cyclops was sleeping, Odysseus and his men put out the only eye of the giant so he was blind. As he screamed in pain his neighbors came around and yelled into his cave “whats wrong brother, is someone harming you?”
Polyphemus said “No-man is harming me!” “Nobody!” So his neighbors just shrugged their shoulders and said “well hush up then, pipe down in there!” and then they went away and left Polyphemus blind and alone.
That little story reminds me of when one of my kids broke something when they were children, I’d ask “who did this” and they each said “not me”. I would always say “how can no one do this, SOMEBODY must have done it”!
No-man is in The Bible too! I was reading my Bible the other day and I came across this passage in the book of Revelation:
No man could open this book of judgement, or pronounce the judgement decree upon the world, because ALL men have sinned and are guilty and deserve to suffer under this judgement. There is only one man who lived who has not sinned, who is not guilty, and who is not subjected to the judgement – And that is Jesus Christ.
Now, I'm not advocating that you do read them, and I am not saying there is anything historically or spiritually accurate in them, but I do like to draw from all aspects of life for my illustrations. I apologize ahead of time if any of my illustrations or references are offensive, at the time I use them they just seem like good ideas, only later do I find out otherwise...
But according to that mythology, after the war against Troy, Odysseus and his men had a difficult time getting back home. They had many adventures that ended in tragedy. One of their stops along the way was at an Island of the Cyclops. The Cyclops were brutal giants who had only one eye. Odysseus and his men found the cave of one of the Cyclops named Polyphemus and were hiding in his cave when he came home. The Cyclops had them trapped inside his cave and wouldn’t let them out. In fact, he’d eat two men each night before he went to sleep.
He asked Odysseus what his name was and Odysseus said “my name is No-man”! I am nobody. The next night, while Polyphemus the Cyclops was sleeping, Odysseus and his men put out the only eye of the giant so he was blind. As he screamed in pain his neighbors came around and yelled into his cave “whats wrong brother, is someone harming you?”
Polyphemus said “No-man is harming me!” “Nobody!” So his neighbors just shrugged their shoulders and said “well hush up then, pipe down in there!” and then they went away and left Polyphemus blind and alone.
That little story reminds me of when one of my kids broke something when they were children, I’d ask “who did this” and they each said “not me”. I would always say “how can no one do this, SOMEBODY must have done it”!
No-man is in The Bible too! I was reading my Bible the other day and I came across this passage in the book of Revelation:
(Revelation 5:1-5)My first thought was wow! This no-man sure gets around! But this ‘no-man’ is different. This really is nobody. Unlike the cunning of Oddyseus, there is no cunning or deception here. And this book with the seven seals is not some work of mythology, it is instead a book of judgement upon the unbelieving world at the end of the age. The judgement that happens during the Great Tribulation.
1 And I saw in the right hand of him that sat on the throne a book written within and on the backside, sealed with seven seals.
2 And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, Who is worthy to open the book, and to loose the seals thereof?
3 And no man in heaven, nor in earth, neither under the earth, was able to open the book, neither to look thereon.
4 And I wept much, because no man was found worthy to open and to read the book, neither to look thereon.
5 And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof.
No man could open this book of judgement, or pronounce the judgement decree upon the world, because ALL men have sinned and are guilty and deserve to suffer under this judgement. There is only one man who lived who has not sinned, who is not guilty, and who is not subjected to the judgement – And that is Jesus Christ.
You see, in a court of law the judge cannot be guilty himself. His ruling would not be legal if he also was guilty. In the God’s great legal court, only Jesus Christ can be the judge.
So all will be judged by Jesus at the end of the age. And just like Odysseus and his men knew each night the Cyclops in the cave was going to eat two of them, we also know ahead of time the judgement that is to come upon this world of unbelievers.
But there is good news my friends! We can be prepared. We still have time left before we enter the cave of the Cyclops, we can escape the judgement that is to come.
But there is good news my friends! We can be prepared. We still have time left before we enter the cave of the Cyclops, we can escape the judgement that is to come.
(Romans 5:8-9)
8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
9 Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.
(1 Thessalonians 5:9-10)We can live with the judge! We can be with Jesus and escape the wrath to come! That is awesome news! And that’s how God wants it to be, he doesn’t want any of us to suffer from his wrath. God is not a brutal Cyclops in a cave desiring to consume us, he wants all of us to be saved.
9 For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ,
10 Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him.
(John 3:16-18)If we believe in the name of the only begotten Son of God, Jesus Christ, we will be saved. And our name will be written in the Lambs book of life.
16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
(Revelation 3:5)Remember when I said earlier that God had changed the name of Abram to Abraham? Abraham was refered to as the friend of God. We too will be the friends of God if we put our faith in his son.
5 He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.
(James 2:23)And just as God changed Abrams name, he will change our name as well. He will give us a new name.
23 And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.
(Revelation 2:17)
17 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it.
We don’t know what name he will give us, if it will be funny, descriptive or if it will be a name of a thing or an occupation. But a parent of a child, or a master of a servant who has the authority to name that person…there also is the responsibility to care for that person.
So whatever he choses to name us, it will be perfect and it will be a special name given to us by the only one we can have ultimate trust and faith in, and confidence that he will do just as he has said…that he will save us from the wrath to come.
There is a hymn we sing that has the words…”There’s a new name written down in glory, and its mine, oh yes its mine!” My prayer is that all of us here today have their names written in the Lambs book of life.
There is a hymn we sing that has the words…”There’s a new name written down in glory, and its mine, oh yes its mine!” My prayer is that all of us here today have their names written in the Lambs book of life.
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