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Hi Ray and fellow Students, Last Thursday you, Ray, asked the Group whether or not it believed King Solomon (The Preacher) will make it to Heaven or not. I was one of those who believe he did not repent, nor did he find peace, nor find God (or The Lord) and died a bitter, albeit very knowledgeable and rich man. My reasons: I didn’t hear anything said that the Preacher gave thanks to God, or thanks to anyone for that matter. Nor did I hear that he received joy in giving – his only happiness was through “living the high life”. In fact, in giving Advice to Young People starting in Chapter 11 at verse 9: Enjoy your youth. Be happy while you are still young. Do what you want to do, and follow your heart’s desire. But remember that God is going to judge you for whatever you do. ...... you aren’t going to be young very long. So “remember” your Creator while you are still young, before those dismal days and years come when you will say “I don’t enjoy life”. He then proceeds to go on and on about the dismal reality of Old Age quoting that “..... and all desire will have gone”. Not a word here about being glad in the Lord, or finding joy in loving God. ALL the way through Ecclesiastes His God is portrayed as a God of judgement, righteous, keen to give us our “just deserts” so as to speak. Nothing about He is preparing a Place for us, etc. etc. after mortal death – no hope promised here. He repeatedly advises to continue to eat, drink and enjoy yourselves, i.e. MATERIAL, bodily happiness. Even to the extent in Chapter 11 to Invest your money wisely. Although God made everything, it is not given to us to know Him nor how He works or even whether or not He helps us, especially when the Preacher says – you never know whether or it it will grow well etc. – intimating it is all a matter of chance. No matter how long you live, remember that you will be dead much longer – there is nothing AT ALL to look forward to ever. In Chapter 9 verse 7: Go ahead – eat your food and be happy; drink your wine and be cheerful. It’s alright with God. Enjoy life with the woman you love, as long as you live the useless life that God has given you in this world. Enjoy every useless day of it!! Nothing here about God also giving us another richer SPIRITUAL LIFE. What!! Have I misread it. No, I don’t think so. The Preacher is intimating that there is NO life after death, except that God is going to judge us – see his final words in verse 13: there is only one thing to say: have reverence for God and obey His commands, because this is ALL THAT MAN WAS CREATED for. Finally, verse 14: God is going to judge everything we do, whether good or bad, even things done in secret. I believe that Solomon didn’t search for God in a personal way, even at the end. What he felt was regret and sorrow that all his good times of dining, wining, excesses, doing as he pleased, indulging himself, etc. and so on, were going to end, and he didn’t want that AT ALL. He wanted it to continue forever, but without his aging body which I believe he resented. The whole tone of Ecclesiastes is one of despair, not regret, but despair that the life he lived on earth was going to end and that was THE END – nothing more for mankind. Not a mention that God is a God of love and a rewarder of those who do give Him reverence and obey His commands – but didn’t say “love and honour Him, Praise Him” – didn’t see those words anywhere! All of Solomon’s wealth, wisdom and physical attraction didn’t help him at the End – he believed he returned to dust! Over to the rest of you for your comments - I hope I can be convinced that I am wrong – but I don’t think so – and I’ll need some convincing on this one! Sincerely to you All, Merlene

G'day all, This is a friendly reminder that U3A Term 4 2020 has begun. Our class on the Bible will recommence this Thursday 8 October 2020 from 11:00 AM to 12:30. This term we're going to study two fascinating New Testament books: Galatians and Hebrews. Galatians has been called the "Magna Carta of the Reformation." Arguably Martin Luther's favourite book, it became the manifesto of freedom in Christ and was largely responsible for the revival of Biblical truth during the Protestant Reformation. It's also been referred to as "Paul's little Romans". Paul's instructions to the Galatians is considered his treatise on how justified believers should live, which makes it relevant today. By contrast, the epistle to the Hebrews is one of the most neglected documents in the New Testament Canon, yet it covers many of the same topics. Although unsigned, early Church Fathers considered it to be written by Paul or at the very least by someone in his circle. But some influential post-Constantine movers and shakers debated whether it should be removed from the Canon, and some might argue that in the end, it survived in the Canon because it was deemed a Pauline letter and because it is a fabulous treatise on faith. You have been sent the full log-in details, so I'll simply summarise them here: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89208017420?pwd=OU45MkprVU00Uk5NOSt6K1JsSmNFdz09 Meeting ID: 892 0801 7420 Passcode: 744932 Some of you may also be interested in the separate U3A class that I'm starting entitled U3A Term 4 2020 Course H10 Two Heroines in the Bible: Ruth and Esther. It will start tomorrow 6 October at a different time, 10:30-12:00. You are welcome to attend if you'd like. Log-in is: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86744477413?pwd=RWg5ZGlFbkpBa2VwOTdpM3BpcFlLdz09 Meeting ID: 867 4447 7413 Passcode: 814764 I hope to see you Thursday. Blessings, Ray

G'day all, This is a friendly reminder that Session 2 of our R09 study of Galatians will be held this Thursday 15 October 2020 from 11:00 AM to 12:30. You have been sent the full log-in details, so I'll simply summarise them here: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89208017420?pwd=OU45MkprVU00Uk5NOSt6K1JsSmNFdz09 Meeting ID: 892 0801 7420 Passcode: 744932 You are also invited to attend the separate U3A history class H10 Two Heroines in the Bible: Ruth and Esther. It will start tomorrow 13 October at a different time, 10:30-12:00. This week we'll also be looking at a summary of the literary structure of Hebrew Poetry and how that relates to the book of Ruth. Your attendance would be most welcome. Log-in is: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86744477413?pwd=RWg5ZGlFbkpBa2VwOTdpM3BpcFlLdz09 Meeting ID: 867 4447 7413 Passcode: 814764 I hope to see you Thursday. Blessings, Ray

G'day all, This is a friendly reminder that Session 3 of our R09 study of Galatians will be held this Thursday 15 October 2020 from 11:00 AM to 12:30. Please be advised that the unofficial class website at https://www.b4uc.xyz is now up to date. You have been sent the full log-in details for R09, so I'll simply summarise them here for logging in via a PC or tablet: You are also invited to attend the separate U3A history class H10 Two Heroines in the Bible: Ruth and Esther. It is held each Tuesday of Term 4 at a different time, 10:30-12:00. This week we'll finish our study of the book of Ruth. Your attendance would be most welcome. Log-in is: I hope to see you Thursday. Blessings, Ray

G'day all, Mandy sent a query after the last session that read, "Hi there Ray thank you for the class yesterday, there is much information to absorb however the past, present and future meaning of salvation is a challenge for me. Is it the way salvation is written in the sentence as to the meaning? Take care Mandy " Shea gave me permission to share her email and my response. Hi Mandy, The paradigm of the three tenses of salvation (past, present, and future) is actually carried out throughout the whole of the Old and New Testaments. The phrase in Habakkuk 2:4, however, is what unlocked two concepts for Paul in the 1st century AD and the reformers Luther, etc. 1,500 years later: "But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith.” 1. A person is not and can never be justified (declared righteous by God and thus become a child of God) through any works that they themselves do, including the work of obeying the Law. As Ephesians 2:8-9 states clearly: "For by grace are you saved through faith, and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast." 2. The clause "The just shall live by faith" unlocked the second blinding insight that they experienced. "The just" are those to whom point 1 pertains, in other words, those who had already by faith accepted Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour; this is past tense, done and dusted. When they were justified, they were saved from the penalty of sin ("the wages of sin is death") and now had life eternal with Christ. "Shall live: expresses how those who had been justified will live their lives by setting themselves apart (sanctified) from sin. This doesn't mean that they will never sin, but that with the aid of the Holy Spirit, "... sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace. (Romans 6:14)" In other words, ongoing throughout the rest of their lives, the justified believer, buttressed by the strength of the Holy Spirit, is free to live a life saved from the power of sin. Satan has lost his power over the sanctified because they live in the strength of God. "By faith". Faith provides protection in several ways: first, it was faith that led to being justified. Faith helps one live day-to-day sanctified lives. Finally, it is faith in life after death and being redeemed to live with Christ in the future (glorification) that provides moral and spiritual strength today as well. In the presence of Jesus, believers will be protected (saved) from the power of sin. So, huge and powerful concepts are contained in a mere six words! "The just shall live by faith." It's not surprising that you find this challenging - it has riven religions and nations and families over centuries. In our lifetimes, we are experiencing the collapse of Western Civilisation as it has chosen to ignore the basis of its existence and strength. In just two weeks, the people of the United States, weakened by decades of white-anting from within, will decide whether to continue in faith (with not only faith in God but faith in themselves as a free people) as a Constitutional Republic or trade that in to become enslaved serfs in an elitist-dominated Marxist totalitarian nation.* As I said, no wonder you find this concept challenging. I do too. Thanks for asking. Let me know if this answer helped. Blessings, Ray * As in the time of the Judges, the West now reflects Judges 17:6: "In those days there was no king in Israel, but every man did that which was right in his own eyes." And now, as then, the people clamour for a king, "... now make us a king to judge us like all the nations. (1 Sam. 8:5)"

Good morning, This is a friendly reminder for anyone interested that the U3A Class H10 on Ruth and Esther will commence at 10:30 am today. Today's session will begin the study of the book of Esther. To join the Zoom meeting on your home computer or tablet, click on or enter https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86744477413?pwd=RWg5ZGlFbkpBa2VwOTdpM3BpcFlLdz09. Enter the Meeting ID 867 4447 7413 and Passcode 814764 if and when asked. The full formal meeting invitation is shown below. I look forward to seeing you online. Blessings, Ray Ray Sarlin, U3A Tutor, H10 Ray Sarlin is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting. Topic: U3A Term 4 2020 Course H10 Two Heroines in the Bible: Ruth and Esther Time: Oct 27, 2020 10:30 AM Brisbane Every week on Tuesday: Oct 27, 2020 10:30 AM Nov 3, 2020 10:30 AM Nov 10, 2020 10:30 AM Nov 17, 2020 10:30 AM Nov 24, 2020 10:30 AM Dec 1, 2020 10:30 AM Dec 8, 2020 10:30 AM Please download and import the following iCalendar (.ics) files to your calendar system. Weekly: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/tZIqc-2sqTwuG9egN9JW3YRLWT3EnAO33kgY/ics?icsToken=98tyKuGuqT8uHtOStBiERpwAB4-gLOjwtmZbjfpYmzG8KRcAWzHaAdYRF7xeP4uD Join Zoom Meeting https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86744477413?pwd=RWg5ZGlFbkpBa2VwOTdpM3BpcFlLdz09 Meeting ID: 867 4447 7413 Passcode: 814764 One tap mobile +16699009128,,86744477413#,,,,,,0#,,814764# US (San Jose) +12532158782,,86744477413#,,,,,,0#,,814764# US (Tacoma) Dial by your location +61 7 3185 3730 Australia +61 8 6119 3900 Australia +61 8 7150 1149 Australia +61 2 8015 6011 Australia +61 3 7018 2005 Australia Meeting ID: 867 4447 7413 Passcode: 814764 Find your local number: https://us02web.zoom.us/u/kekVlxHJep

G'day all, This is a friendly reminder that Session 4 of our R09 study of Galatians will start at 11:00 AM today. Please be advised that the unofficial class website at https://www.b4uc.xyz is up to date. You have been sent the full log-in details for R09, so I'll simply summarise them here for logging in via a PC or tablet: Blessings, Ray

G'day all, Just a quick notice that all course notes to date for R09 What the Bible is About are posted for you at https://www.b4uc.xyz Enjoy. Blessings, Ray

Good afternoon, everyone. The slides for all five Galatians sessions are now posted on our website Unofficial U3A Course Resources for your use and enjoyment. This has been a meaningful series for me personally, and I hope that it may have been of interest or possibly even significance to you as well. Thank you for your participation. Next week, we'll start on another of the trilogy on Habakkuk 2:4, "The just shall live by faith," as we examine the main treatise on faith in the New Testament. The book of Romans was written about who the "just" are (justified, declared righteous by God through faith in the Person and Work of Christ). Galatians covers Paul's treatise on how the just "shall live" (sanctification, living lives set apart for God in the power of the Holy Spirit). The book of Hebrews will discourse on the meaning of the third aspect of Habakuk 2:4, "by faith." We'll examine what faith is, why it's important, in Whom should faith be placed, examples of faith in Scripture, and much more. Don't be too surprised if you gain some insights into the intellectually complex issue of "glorification," the third item in the Biblical definition of "salvation." In the meantime, I really would welcome comments or questions about anything we've covered. Your emails are a major source of inspiration. Take care and keep safe. Blessings, Ray

G'day all, This is a friendly reminder that Session 5 of our R09 study of Galatians will be held this Thursday 5 November 2020 from 11:00 AM to 12:30. You have been sent the full log-in details, so I'll simply summarise them here: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89208017420?pwd=OU45MkprVU00Uk5NOSt6K1JsSmNFdz09 Meeting ID: 892 0801 7420 Passcode: 744932 You are also invited to attend the separate U3A history class H10 Two Heroines in the Bible: Ruth and Esther. It is again on today at a different time, 10:30-12:00. This week we're on our second session in the book of Esther. Your attendance would be most welcome. Log-in is: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86744477413?pwd=RWg5ZGlFbkpBa2VwOTdpM3BpcFlLdz09 Meeting ID: 867 4447 7413 Passcode: 814764 I hope to see you Thursday. Blessings, Ray

Good morning, This is a friendly reminder for anyone interested that the U3A Class H10 on Ruth and Esther will commence at 10:30 am today. Today's session will focus on Chapters 3 to 5 of the book of Esther and feature several diversions that were not presented in R09, including a look at Esther and Vashti from a feminist perspective, lots of additional artwork, and some insights into the little-studied character of Zeresh, the wife of Haman,. To join the Zoom meeting on your home computer or tablet, click on or enter https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86744477413?pwd=RWg5ZGlFbkpBa2VwOTdpM3BpcFlLdz09. Enter the Meeting ID 867 4447 7413 and Passcode 814764 if and when asked. The full formal meeting invitation is shown below. I look forward to seeing you online. Blessings, Ray Ray Sarlin, U3A Tutor, H10 Ray Sarlin is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting. Topic: U3A Term 4 2020 Course H10 Two Heroines in the Bible: Ruth and Esther Time: Oct 27, 2020 10:30 AM Brisbane Every week on Tuesday: Nov 10, 2020 10:30 AM Nov 17, 2020 10:30 AM Nov 24, 2020 10:30 AM Dec 1, 2020 10:30 AM Dec 8, 2020 10:30 AM Please download and import the following iCalendar (.ics) files to your calendar system. Weekly: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/tZIqc-2sqTwuG9egN9JW3YRLWT3EnAO33kgY/ics?icsToken=98tyKuGuqT8uHtOStBiERpwAB4-gLOjwtmZbjfpYmzG8KRcAWzHaAdYRF7xeP4uD Join Zoom Meeting https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86744477413?pwd=RWg5ZGlFbkpBa2VwOTdpM3BpcFlLdz09 Meeting ID: 867 4447 7413 Passcode: 814764 One tap mobile +16699009128,,86744477413#,,,,,,0#,,814764# US (San Jose) +12532158782,,86744477413#,,,,,,0#,,814764# US (Tacoma) Dial by your location +61 7 3185 3730 Australia +61 8 6119 3900 Australia +61 8 7150 1149 Australia +61 2 8015 6011 Australia +61 3 7018 2005 Australia Meeting ID: 867 4447 7413 Passcode: 814764 Find your local number: https://us02web.zoom.us/u/kekVlxHJep

Good afternoon, everyone. I regret that due to a personal issue I must cancel the 12 November 2020 session of R09 What the Bible is About tomorrow from 1100-1230. I'm terribly sorry. I hope to see you all Thursday week, 19 November 2020 at the usual time. Please email me at ray.sarlin@... if you have any questions. Thanks. Take care and keep safe. Blessings, Ray

G'day all, Thanks for your emails indicating a desire to continue with Zoom classes for Term 1 next year. That's made my decision relatively easy. Now I can concentrate on finding someplace nice to move to. As today's H10 class on Ruth and Esther was closing today, I was asked where I get the illustrations for my slides. I'm glad that I was NOT asked how I choose them, because that's more art than science. I'm equally glad that no one asked how or why I sometimes hack them up (like animating Jan Steen's “Wrath of Ahasuerus” this week for Esther). Hmm. Move along, nothing to see here... Here are some of the websites I peruse regularly. The first two listed are my main go-to sites. Art Renewal Center (my favourite secular site for high-quality downloads), https://www.artrenewal.org/ Web Gallery of Art, searchable database of European fine arts and architecture (3rd-19th centuries), https://www.wga.hu/index.html Caravaggio and his paintings: 100 famous paintings, analysis, and biography, https://caravaggio.org/ Caravaggio: The Complete Works, https://www.caravaggio-foundation.org/ Candy Archer’s Religious Masterpieces on Printerest has a large range of often Catholic Style work, https://www.pinterest.com/candy2221/religious-masterpieces/ By the way, there are also some very good Mormon artists who often mix religious and patriotic themes (which I like), but the content has to be carefully scrutinized as I'm not a Mormon. Then we come to Greek and Russian iconology, of which there are many different schools from the Byzantine era to modern times. I particularly like Russian medieval art for some strange reason (I do have some insight into this from my family history, military history, and DNA studies). I often play “go fish” for graphics by entering a Bible chapter and verse in a browser's image page to see what comes up. That usually leads to disappointment but occasionally there’s a bonanza. Surprisingly, I sometimes do original work as well, but sometimes I think that my art medium of choice is PowerPoint. Hmm, there may be something wrong with me if that's actually the case. For the record, the epistle of Hebrews isn't that easy a book to illustrate, it's more of a theological treatise. I'm looking forward to beginning our study this coming Thursday. Blessings, Ray

G'day all, This is a friendly reminder of the two non-religious Bible courses this week. You are enrolled in R09 which will start the book of Hebrews this week on Thursday 19/11 at 11 am. The sign-in details are: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89208017420?pwd=OU45MkprVU00Uk5NOSt6K1JsSmNFdz09 Meeting ID: 892 0801 7420 Passcode: 744932 For those who also attend the H10 Ruth and Esther tomorrow 17/11 at 10:30 am, the sign-in details are: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86744477413?pwd=RWg5ZGlFbkpBa2VwOTdpM3BpcFlLdz09 Meeting ID: 867 4447 7413 Passcode: 814764 An email from U3A just arrived advising that they are further opening up all classrooms for Term 1 2021. Room 4 will have seating for 15. I am assuming that they think that the CCP-virus vaccine will be available. Quite frankly, I am a bit confused about which direction to take and would appreciate any guidance that you might provide. I will likely be moving house in December or January and whatever transpires may affect my decision-making. I sincerely apologise if my PowerPoint on the Viking ships offended anyone. I was so excited about finding ancestors like that that I didn't consider all aspects. At least I am now motivated to perhaps add my Family History course back to the U3A schedule in Term 1 if we decide to go in-person then. So once again, if sorry is appropriate, I apologise. Blessings, Ray

G'day all, Thank you for your understanding about my absence last Thursday. This is a reminder that next Thursday’s class will proceed as scheduled at 11 am on 19 November. As an aside, while taking a break from class prep, I checked my DNA matches which is like a busman's holiday because of all the biblical genealogies. A new academic paper posted last month was entitled "442 Ancient Viking Skeletons Hold DNA Surprises." It covered an article just published in Nature magazine entitled "Population genomes of the Viking world" that reported the results of a six-year project. 442 Viking skeletons from outside Scandinavia were sequenced by a university lab, producing whole genome sequences for both men and women from known Viking battlefield sites outside Scandinavia. All remains are more than 1,000 years old. The Viking culture thrived from the 8th to the late 11th centuries, or so they thought. Well, the paper DID hold surprises! Through Dad, I’m directly related to two of the Vikings and through Mom a half-dozen others. What’s astonishing to me is that three of my relatives fell in the same battle in Salme, Estonia, 100 years before the Vikings were supposed to be Viking’ing. One is a direct paternal ancestor and two are related through my maternal ancestry. Knowing me as you do, you might guess that I immediately ripped off another PowerPoint for my school-age nephews, nieces, and grandkids (attached if you might be interested). Beware, there are some happy-snaps of my Viking ancestors. The two names given in the PowerPoint are Reino Sarlin (my Dad) and Selma Leyde (my Mom's mother). Please don’t buy any horned helmets for me for Christmas, though; those first appeared in early 19th century Wagnerian opera. This email affirms that I am alive and surviving. Hope that you are, too. Blessings, Ray

G'day all, This is a friendly reminder of the two non-religious Bible courses this week. You are enrolled in R09 which will start the book of Hebrews this week on Thursday 26/11 at 11 am. The sign-in details are: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89208017420?pwd=OU45MkprVU00Uk5NOSt6K1JsSmNFdz09 Meeting ID: 892 0801 7420 Passcode: 744932 For those who also attend the H10 Ruth and Esther today 24/11 at 10:30 am, the sign-in details are: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86744477413?pwd=RWg5ZGlFbkpBa2VwOTdpM3BpcFlLdz09 Meeting ID: 867 4447 7413 Passcode: 814764 Blessings, Ray

Hi Ray, Sorry I had to leave just after 12:30 – I had to go to the Gold Coast this afternoon. Another great session. Thank you. I’d invite your comment on – Chapter 4 Verse 12: “word of God is quick and powerful, and sharper than .... two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart”. A very thought provoking verse indeed. Apart from that, what’s your viewpoint on the difference between “soul” and “spirit”. Aren’t they the same? Certainly different from “mind” (thoughts and intents of the heart). The more one ponders on this verse, the more powerful it becomes. Care for some explanation please? Blessings, Merlene From: Ray via groups.io Sent: Tuesday, November 24, 2020 9:40 AM To: [email protected] ; Yvonne Hurst Subject: [b4uc] U3A Classes this week: R09 Session 7 commences at 11:00 am Thursday. #Term4 #Hebrews G'day all, This is a friendly reminder of the two non-religious Bible courses this week. You are enrolled in R09 which will start the book of Hebrews this week on Thursday 26/11 at 11 am. The sign-in details are: Blessings, Ray

G'day all, This is a friendly reminder of the two non-religious Bible courses this week. You are enrolled in R09 which will get into the key section of the book of Hebrews this week on Thursday 3/12 at 11 am. Abraham was the patriarch of patriarchs, yet this little-known priest and king is said to be superior to Abraham; who is this Melchizadek character? The sign-in details are: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89208017420?pwd=OU45MkprVU00Uk5NOSt6K1JsSmNFdz09 Meeting ID: 892 0801 7420 Passcode: 744932 For those who also attend the H10 Ruth and Esther, today we're finishing the book of Esther and looking behind the text to discover many, many of the things hidden in the book of something hidden. To join today, 1 December at 10:30 am, the sign-in details are: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86744477413?pwd=RWg5ZGlFbkpBa2VwOTdpM3BpcFlLdz09 Meeting ID: 867 4447 7413 Passcode: 814764 Blessings, Ray

Hi Merlene, Sorry for the delay in responding to your question on Hebrews 4:12 about body, soul, and spirit. There will be another look in next week’s class, but I’ll try to address the basics here. “For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” Hebrews 4:12. The distinction between body and soul is first spelled out in the Garden of Eden in Genesis Chapter 2. There’s some sophisticated Hebrew wordplay here meant for us to stop and ponder body and soul, but we tend to miss it in English. In Genesis 2:5-7, there is no human (‘adam) in the Garden of Eden to till the humus (‘adamah), so God creates one from the ground itself to become a living soul. From the same ground (humus), God grows fruit trees as well as the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. God then charges the creature to till and watch over the garden. Alas, Eve and the serpent come along and the land (‘adamah) becomes cursed, and under the curse the now mortal ‘Adam is sentenced to hard labour tilling the ‘adamah until ‘Adam dies and returns to the ‘adamah from which ‘Adam (humanity) was taken. So the ground that gives us life and swallows us in death. Note the Hebrew wordplay in Genesis 2:7: “And the Lord (???????, YHVH, Jehovah) God (????????, elohiym, true God) formed man (?????, ‘adam, human, man, mankind) of the dust (?????, ‘aphar, dry earth) of the ground (???????, ‘adamah, ground, humus, land, earth) and breathed (?????, naphach, to breathe or blow) into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being (??????, nephesh, soul, creature, emotion, being).” So what we see here are the body (made from dust, atoms, etc.) with its physical functions and senses and the soul, which is the breath of life that animates our mind, feelings and emotions and gives us a sense of self. Modern neuroscience also believes that the mind is more than the brain. So through the soul, we interact with people and the things around us that we can perceive; our soul is anchored internally and is an integral part of being a living human being. If you compare a dead body with a live body, the difference is the soul. The soul is everything that makes you alive rather than dead. The body is perishable, the soul is an immortal state of existence. Interestingly, the soul is neither good nor evil; since people can be either, there must be something more than just body or soul. Now spirit enters the picture. Per St. Thomas Aquinas, the spirit consists of those aspects of the soul that are not material, including the intellect, the will, and the ability to reason. That’s fine from a philosophical standpoint, although it may seem difficult to distinguish some aspects of soul and spirit; fortunately, Hebrews 4:12 informs us that the distinctions between soul and spirit are child’s play for God’s two-edged sword. So what does His Word have to say on this? Quite a lot, actually, but the New Testament concept seems to be outward-looking, “Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world (1 John 4:1).” Through the spirit we can be in contact with the divine. And the New Testament gift of the Holy Spirit makes one’s spirit alive to connect with eternal heavenly things and allows one to enter into rest in God. So the NT concept of spirit is not only outward looking but upward-looking. The result is a life of faith lived with a biblical worldview that focuses on life and hope rather than a secular earthly worldview that is consumed by struggle and fear of death. The author of Hebrews is not finished talking about body, soul, and spirit, so we’ll see more on this later. Blessings, Ray On Thursday, 26 November 2020, 04:46:26 pm AEST, Merlene <merlene@...> wrote: Hi Ray, Sorry I had to leave just after 12:30 – I had to go to the Gold Coast this afternoon. Another great session. Thank you.

Hi Mandy (and others), After the class on Thursday, 26 November 2020, Amanda Flynn wrote: "Hi there Ray .... I did want to ask a question regarding God resting on the 7th day. What was your explanation? It made sense but I couldn't recall it. Have a good week see you Thursday." Sorry for my delayed response, but here it is. The context was God’s Rest, as in Hebrews 3:10-11: “Therefore I was angry with that generation, and said, ‘They always go astray in their heart, and they have not known My ways. So I swore in My wrath, ‘They shall not enter My rest.’” This example was given in conjunction with the epistle's second major warning on the danger of disobedience. The Israelites had been saved from slavery in Egypt, and remained saved throughout their lives throughout the 40 years in the Wilderness, but because of their disobedience at Kadesh-Barnea they DID NOT get to enter into the Promised Land, Canaan, which Hebrews metaphorically called “God’s Rest” or “Canaan Rest”. Two Hebrew words are used for “rest”: ?????? sabath (rest) and ???????? Manuka (place of rest). The Greek used is κατ?παυσι? katapausis, which literally means "calming of the winds or cessation of activity". Neither sabath nor katapausis mean resting in terms of relaxing or rejuvenating, but rather "desisting from exertion.” After all, God didn’t rest on the 7th day because He was tired because, as Isaiah 40:28 states, “God does not get tired!” God rested to provide an example for us! I also mentioned how the concept of God’s Rest has three tenses: the plain text of Hebrews 3:11 refers to the Promised Land, the fixed and tranquil abode in Canaan (and also called “Canaan Rest”). At the time that the letter to the Hebrews was written, both God’s Sabbath Rest (i.e., the 7th day of Creation) and the Canaan Rest (the Israelites entering Canaan under Joshua) were past historical events (past tense). But God’s Rest also refers metaphorically to the heavenly blessedness wherein God dwells (heaven), where persevering believers in Christ are promised to become partakers after the toils and trials of life on earth cease (future tense). The latter is also called “glorification.” But the author will also see these rests as illustrations of the ongoing spiritual experiences of believers as well: The Sabbath rest is a picture of our rest in Christ through salvation (justification – past tense) and the Canaan rest pictures our present rest as we claim our inheritance in Christ by living in submission to Him (sanctification – present tense). The message is that God’s rest is all around us, for us, and in us. Blessings, Ray