Hunting the Elements

The NOVA video we recently watched was pretty darn cool, if I say so myself.

 

It’s super interesting how everything is tested so minutely; anything could mess it up.

Sodium and Chlorine go together to make… salt? Are you saying we’re ingesting (no longer) deadly chemicals? Oh boy!

Wait, calcium ISN’T white and chalky? It’s… metal?!

 

It’s fascinating how we just create new elements. I bet those scientists don’t just wake up and say “Oh boy, let’s make a new element!” That’s so strange, yet awesome at the same time.

 

Ah yes, Science.

Bible Writing Exam Project

The Fire (1).

[GOD MAKES A PROMISE AND WE RESPOND]

So, we’re brought here today by something greater than us. “What is that ‘greater force?’” you may ask. That greater force is the spirit of Christ.

It’s driven us solely by the covenant we made with Jesus when he died on the cross. We trust Jesus. He died on the cross to save our sins, correct? We will “choose this day whom we will serve.” It’s your choice on rather or not you choose to serve God or not. If you didn’t, there’s no way you’d be reading this right now. God connects us; he is the bond between Man and Spirit.

This picture I can really relate to. Do you ever get that feeling where you just need to explore? Find what’s out there in this great wide planet God’s made? To venture into the unknown. Man shall prosper. 

“Embracing change is essential to living a successful and prosperous life.” 

~Sound Remedy, 2015

We wouldn’t be anywhere if it we didn’t take risks. We just need to learn to embrace them.

 

torn (2)

[TRUST]

Would you rather have wealth and be loved by many, or have little-to-no wealth and be loved by nearly none? Obvious answer, right? Now think of how the Disciples felt. They had almost no wealth, but preached the right word- the one nobody wanted to hear. They suffered through hatred, harassment, and harm. (And more h’s.) But they were driven by God; it’s what they were meant to do. 

Many times, we feel as though we’re being driven blindly through our relationship with God; some have even driven the path to say such as, “You can’t see him, so how do you know he’s real?” There’s physical proof he’s real. You see him in everyday life; he makes the world ‘tick’. Without Jesus coming and dying on the cross, our world would be covered in sin and ruin.

Now, I’m not saying the world is ridden of sin now. That’d be a lie, by far. But the day he rose from the dead; the world was perfect for a few moments in time. Imagine what that will be like upon the Second Coming. Perfect. Peace, tranquility, and there wouldn’t ever be sin. The ‘New Jerusalem’ would truly have come.

This picture symbolizes something broken; that something is our world. Swallowed in sin, but somehow not turned to ruin. No matter how far into sin we go, Jesus will always love us.

One piece out (3)

[ASK QUESTIONS]

What do we know about God? Very little, correct? We don’t truly even know as to what he looks like. Sure, the Bible hints at his appearance quite often. Some say he wears white robes. Some say he has long brown hair. But how will we truly ever know what he looks like? The truth is, we won’t.

Until go up into Heaven, we will never know what God looks like. He is such a divine being that human eyes never saw upon his face; granted, that brought some to ruin. Take the story of the Golden Calf into consideration. Moses went up Mount Sinai to speak with God. The people he had left to go speak with God then turned on the Lord; they crated a Golden Calf and idolized it. Both Moses and the Lord were flaming mad. Moses then commanded them to kill each other. This went on 3 days straight.

But, I guess what I’m trying to say is that it is our choice in life to rather or not we worship God. If we do, we will make it to Heaven, and live a successful spiritual life. But if we do not, we will surely not make it to Heaven, and live a life of sin and ruin.

We’ve always had that missing piece out somewhere; sometimes, WE were the missing piece. Once you find it, everything is good. But what if you never found that missing piece?

This picture symbolizes a missing piece. Perhaps even one we won’t find. But that’s the unique thing; it’s likely we are the missing piece in God’s puzzle of a life.

the white house (4)

[NAGIDS & MALEKS]

What do you look for in a leader? Someone with great power? Someone with great knowledge? Someone with great wealth? Someone who’s going to build a wall? (Heh. Trump.) Or someone with great spiritual growth? Surely, you’ll want all of these when you decide who you’re going to vote for. Obviously you aren’t old enough, but think in the eyes of your parents. But, here’s the catch: What if you could only have one?

Back in the days of Israel, the people wanted military kings, or maleks. But, that’s not what Jesus wanted for Israel. He wanted nagids to rule. Take King Saul into example; sure, he was a good king, but never fully obeyed God. God dethroned him shortly after. The people greatly liked him, but the One who really matters did not.

How do you think the prophets felt back when they were sent to bring Israel out of darkness? They were Nagids. (They were never really kings though- with some exceptions) Nobody really listened to them either, which was a shame, considering they were sent directly by God to preach the message. The people wanted a military king. They wanted a Malek. Thus leading them into the beginning of the ‘Slide to Destruction’.

I chose this picture because for the United States, the White House is where the “ruler” of America lives; whether or not you like him is up to you.

 rotten apple (4)

[SOMETHING IS ROTTEN]

Do you ever feel pressured by society to do something? Let’s say the cutest girl in the school (or guy depending on your preference,but hey I don’t judge) asks you to do something you don’t want to do. But, she’s really cute, right? You want to do everything to impress her. Therefore, you’ll do what she asks you to.

You may think that’s just persuasion at its finest, but it isn’t, really.

Israel felt the same way with Ahab; he was a figure of power. He said to Israel, “Hey guys, forget that God dude. Baal’s pretty cool y’know.” And considering how powerful Ahab was, the Israelites followed him. Baal was the rain god, and what do you know? There was no rain. The Israelites were desperate. Once more, Israel was worshipping false idols. (Man, they’ve got a problem with blasphemy) 

How did Elijah prove Baal was a false idol? He had a ‘competition’ (if you can even call it that) between gods. The challenge was to get a bull, and prepare to burn it- by the fire of God. Elijah says in 1 Kings 18:24, “Then you call on the name of your god, and I will call upon the name of the Lord. He who answers by fire- he is God.”

Sure enough, the Baal worshippers did all they could to set fire to the bull. Nothing happened.

Elijah prayed to God. Suddenly, the fire of the Lord fell, burning the sacrifice. Elijah had proven that God was the only true god.

This pictures something that’s not right; something rotten. Something out of the ordinary, and not in a good way.

floaties (5)

Now Israel had really messed up. They needed true salvation; one that could be brought only one way.

They needed Jesus.

The Savior came. The Messiah came. YHWH came. Jesus came. Jesus forged a new covenant with the world; he gave forgiveness. However, in order for him to do that, he died on the cross for our sins. He resurrected shortly after, marking the new coming of the Lord.

This picture symbolizes the fact that the Lord will always be there to carry us, keep us up right; even in the darkest of times.

'slide to destruction' (6)

[SLIDE TO DESTRUCTION]

Now that we’re done talking about bad kings, we’ve got to see what happened to the kingdom of Israel now that we’ve had all these awful kings. 

Let’s be honest- these kings were awful. God didn’t approve of their actions, so he let his anger out. What punishments did the Lord Almighty bring forth? He exiled the people of Israel for their sins. Shortly after, Jesus then came forth and paid our punishment by dying on the cross. That marked A NEW COVENANT. An unconditional covenant. Within Jesus’ death came the resurrection- the one that banished our sins. This covenant is unconditional; one that will last forever. It shall last forever.

This picture symbolizes something bad, but unknown as to when or why it is going to happen. With the Israelites, they essentially had a timer; and it ran thin very quickly.

hello_name_jesus (7)

[NAMES, FINAL]

So, I guess what I’m trying to say is that God has many different names. It just depends on ‘what mood he’s in’ at the time, or what’s been happening in his kingdom, otherwise known as Earth. 

He has many names; but which one shall we call him by?