2H. Biblical Pieces

1. A Rock:

Jesus says in the New Testament that if a large rock falls on you, it will flatten you. Love, truth and faith is like this rock. Love is a rock, truth is a rock, faith is a rock. If you stand in their way you will be obliterated.

2. A Sword:
Those that have ears to hear; do indeed hear. On the other hand 'there are none so blind as they who will not see'. The rift between the two is an ever widening one...

3. An Ass’ Ears:

Respect
In the Old Testament one finds the account of some children who mocked and taunted a prophet. He subsequently put a curse on them and they all grew the ears of an ass on their heads. This story is most likely not literally true, but is of proverbial value, as it is unlikely that anyone will grow ass’s ears by any manner of means. One can also make one’s rivals and enemies grow ass’s ears, should one better them and put them to shame. Figuratively is as good as literally, as it is not what it is; but what it represents.

4. Authority:

In the Bible one finds the account of Jesus casting out demons out of a possessed man. The demons are then driven into a herd of pigs that run of a cliff and perish.
Interpretation:
Injustice is dealt with swiftly by authority, and eventually comes to a downfall.

5. The Bridegroom:
In the last century many great men have appeared among mankind. Men of peace and vision. These are names like Gandhi, Martin-Luther King, Jim Morrison, Bob Marley and John Lennon. They died young or by wrongful means. They were taken from us to soon, whichever way you look at it. We were blessed with their message and their presence. They are like the proverbial ‘Bridegroom’ in the Bible that is only with us for a little while.
There is no greater love than to lay down your life for your brother
While they were alive they were like the proverbial 'voice crying out in the wilderness', spreading a message of peace and hope.
Others are still with us like Bob Dylan, Leonard Cohen and Roger Waters; indeed 'two will go out to the field to work, and the one will be taken away, and the other left behind.'

6. Consistency:
Jesus says that one should not swear by Heaven, but should rather let your yes be yes, and your no; no.
Interpretation:
One must be consistent

7. Criminals:
From bad to worse
In the Bible one finds the parable of a demon leaving his home, and it is then restored to order. The Demon returns with several others and causes much more harm than the first time around.
Interpretation:
People are the same; when criminals are left unpunished they will come back and cause much more harm than they did to start with. We more and more become the person that we really are...

8. Debate:
It is written in the Gospels that you can't rob a strong man unless you tie him up first. Once he is tied up he is powerless, and you can rob him.
Interpretation:
The truth binds your adversary, rendering him powerless...

9. Decisions:
This is a quote that I heard in Church when I was small; “Will you wash your hands in innocence like Pontius Pilate, and walk away…?”
Meaning:
With difficult decisions it is all a matter of responsibility…

10. Discipline:
Jesus says if one wishes to be the master of one's brothers, you must first be their servant.
Interpretation:
In order to be a master at something, you must first be able to master yourself.

11. Grass to be mowed:
Like grass that grows in the morning, and is cut in the evening...
Life is spread out like desert-flowers throughout the universe. It is 'seasonal' in that it only lasts a short period of time, relative to the bigger picture.
Our sun is a small class of star with a limited lifespan.
(An individual human life is even more fleeting.)

12. Hope:
In the Gospels Jesus says that not one sparrow falls from the sky, but our Father in heaven is aware of it. How much more are you worth than a few birds...
Interpretation:
One must cling on to hope during difficult circumstances. Everything happens with a reason...

13. Ignorance:
In the New Testament one finds the parable of a farmer who sowed his fields with wheat, but his crops was then sabotaged by an enemy who planted thorns among it. He decides to let the crops reach maturity, then has the wheat collected, and the thorns burnt.
Interpretation: This is a universal truth. One gets the enlightened and the unenlightened. Some people just don't get it, and if that happens to you, you're screwed whichever way you look at it...

14. Improvise:
In the Bible one finds the account of Jesus turning water into wine. His first miracle.
Interpretation.
With improvisation, the seemingly impossible becomes possible...

15. Injustice:
In the Bible one finds the parable of Lazarus and the rich man. The rich man eventually goes to Hell, whilst the poor beggar Lazarus ends up in Heaven.
Interpretation:
Every dog will have its day. Injustice comes to a fall...

16. Laws:
When Jesus says that not a letter of the Law will be changed, he means; some laws are universal among mankind, and always holds true...

17. Miracles:
In the New Testament one finds the parable of the Kingdom of Heaven being like a man who finds a treasure hidden in a field. He then sells all he has and goes and purchases this field.
Interpretation: If you follow your heart and follow your dreams; miracles happen...

18. Needs:
In the New Testament it says that the needs of the birds of the heavens are provided for. They have no want of food nor shelter. Do not ask where your daily bread will come from, God will provide...
Interpretation:
One day at a time. Easy does it.

19. Obedience:
In the story of Samuel in the Bible, he awaits God's calling to him. He says; "Speak Lord, for your servant is listening."
Interpretation:
One should listen when God speaks to you, and obey. In life one should do what one knows to be right...

20. Oil in my lamp:
In the bible one finds the parable about the maidens waiting for the bridegroom to arrive at a wedding feast. Some manage to keep enough oil in their lamps until he arrives, others don't. This symbolizes that one should always retain faith in a Higher power; 'God'. This is to help keep one going in your day to day life...

21. Peace:
In the New Testament one finds the account of Jesus and his disciples in the Garden of Gethsemane. He is arrested by Roman soldiers, and in the process Peter cuts one of the soldiers ear off, where after Jesus replaced it for the man.
This story illustrates that one must do good towards those who hate and persecute you. One must do good towards one's enemies. The message also tells you; 'I do not condone retribution.'

22. Prison:
Jesus tells us the parable of someone who owed someone else a large sum of money. The person was dragged before the magistrate, and was sentenced to jail until the last penny he owed was paid. The jail of your mind is your conscience. You will never be free until your conscience is clean...

23. The Rainbow:
In the tale about Noah's Ark one finds a rainbow at the end of the story to show the flood is over and will never again occur. This symbolizes that one's troubles are over, and that you will prosper on the road ahead.

24. Real life:
In the New testament one finds the account of Jesus telling his disciples that they will find a donkey tied to a post awaiting them. They must tell its owner that the Master has need of it. It will then be given unto them. This was before his entry into Jerusalem.
This story illustrates that small, everyday miracles happen, if you have faith and believe they do...

25. Real terms:
In the Bible one finds the parable of two brothers whom their father asks to go out and work in the vineyard. The first brother says he will, but then does not. The second at first says he won't go and work in the vineyard, but eventually he does go out and works for his father nonetheless.
Interpretation:
If you want to talk the talk, you've got to be willing to walk the walk...

26. Reason:
In the Bible one finds the account of a possessed man among tombs, who harms himself and screams at times, being possessed of demons. Jesus goes and talks to the man, restoring his sanity.
Interpretation:
Reason overcomes brute force.

27. Reward:
Jesus tells the parable of a rich man who gathered up much wealth for himself. He thought to himself; 'How fortunate I am that I am so rich'. That very night he died. Then Jesus tells his disciples to rather strive for the Kingdom of Heaven, and all shall be added unto them. One should rather work for the benefit of your fellow man, than strive after material gain (money). When you are dead you are dead, and your riches mean nothing...

28. Self-control:
When Jesus says that if you call your brother useless you run the risk of going to Hell, he meant; you are just doing yourself a disfavor by taking this approach. In other words, he is advocating self-control...

29. Talents:
In the Bible Jesus tells the parable of a Master who gave his servants several talents, and then went away for a long time. When he returned, they had to report on what they did with their various talents. You stand accountable towards yourself the day you die; what did I do with the opportunities which life has given me? What did I do with my life, and where do I stand with myself?

30. The Big-Picture:
In the Bible Jesus says that if one's neighbour's sheep falls in a ditch on the Sabbath, one should help him get it out despite the fact that it is the Sabbath.
Interpretation:
Sometimes one needs to transgress in some small way, in order to perform a greater good. The end justifies the means...

31. The Result:
In the Bible one is told that the road to Hell is wide and many are on it. The road to Heaven is narrow and hard, and few find it...
Interpretation:
If you start out on a life of crime and eventually get caught, you ask yourself; 'Where did I go wrong? How did I get caught?'
The answer is simple; it was when you thought crime is the answer, and the easy way out. From that moment your fate was sealed.

32. The Vineyard:
In the Bible one gets the parable of workers working in a rich man's vineyard. Those that work half-day eventually gets just as much reward as those that worked the full day, because it is his money and his land. He does with it as he wishes.
Working for the benefit of your fellow man is the same; it pays everyone the same in that it gives you piece of mind. An easy conscience the day you die is every good person's reward.

33. The Widow’s Jar:
Faith
In the Old Testament there is a tale about a prophet who, during hard times, seeks refuge from a widow. The widow is in possession of a jar of oil which replenishes itself by miraculous means, and which is the source of the prophet’s daily sustenance. The source of one’s faith is like this jar of oil, it replenishes itself continually. It can never dry up. It is like a waterfall that just keeps on running with cascading water. It is an ever flowing stream of hope…
Hope
When one sees the far, blue mountains in the distance while travelling by road, they are a beacon of hope to you. Once you reach your destination, everything will be as it should be...

34. Veritas:
In the Bible one finds the story of a blind man sitting beside the road that calls out to Jesus to heal him. Jesus then applies mud to the man's eyes, restoring his sight.
Interpretation:
If you truly wish to see and acknowledge the truth behind a matter, you will.

35. Wheel inside a Wheel:
‘A wheel in the middle of a wheel.’ Ezekiel 1:16.
The truth within any context, remains the truth, as such it is the truth in every regard. Figuratively is as good as literally. Literally is as good as figuratively. The one is the same thing as the other. Figuratively is the same thing as literally, as it is not what it is; but what it represents. In whichever context, the truth remains a principle. As such the truth is untainted and unchangeable in any form. It remains the same thing regardless of which form it is in.
The one stands in place of the other; and they are both 100% complete and accurate. The truth is completely accurate like the answer to a sum. Thus the one is as accurate a representation of the truth as the other

36. Who by fire, who by water:
In the Bible Jesus says that two people will be working in the field, the one will be taken away, and the other left behind...
Interpretation:
'They are chopping in our part of the woods'. We all loose loved ones from time to time.

37. Duty
The Bible tells us that when someone asks you to carry his pack a mile, you should carry it for two miles.
Interpretation:
When assigned an important task you must be willing to carry your share of the burden, and more; regardless of whether its an unpleasant task.

38.Good News:

Two Parables:

1. The parable of the Sower...your seed is planted in fertile soil if you realize one day what the right thing is to do towards yourself and others, and then act accordingly. In other words; being receptive towards the truth...
2. The parable of the Prodigal Son...the way you live is what will become of you, but you can always find redemtion by turning from your ways...

39. My Neighbour:
In the Gospels one finds the words; "All those who do the will of my Father in Heaven, are my brothers and sisters."
The average person is not a bad person...

40. Good or Evil?
In the Gospels Pontius Pilate asks the Jews: "Jesus or Barrabas?"
Meaning:
What do you want out of life? Good or bad? Good or evil?