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Oylmpic Tattoo

Mart De Haan Posted by Mart DeHaan
July 19th, 2012
34 Comments » 

Was interested to read a BBC article today about an Atlanta woman who got a tattoo to celebrate her participation as a 2012  Olympic torch bearer.  Only after sending a picture to a friend did she discover that her badge of honor was misspelled.

The good natured woman said that, even though the parlor artist offered to correct his mistake, she decided to keep it.

Got me thinking about things that last, and those that don’t. Seems to have something to do with our recent conversation about the radical contrast between our interests, and God’s.

Am wondering whether you find that the difference tends to be intuitive—or something that requires reflection and heaven’s help to see?

“There is only one thing worth being concerned about. Mary has discovered it, and it will not be taken away from her”  Jesus     (Luke 10:42).


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34 Responses to “Oylmpic Tattoo”

  1. confeticat says:
    July 19, 2012 at 12:39 pm

    The radical contrast between our interests and God’s requires heaven’s help to see. And heaven is helping us. “I entered this world to…give sight to the blind and to show those who think they can see that they are blind” (John 9:39).

  2. confeticat says:
    July 19, 2012 at 1:15 pm

    The important thing is not the spelling of the tattoo but the spirit in which she wears it. Paul has hijacked the Holy Spirit. By that I mean he has put him in every person that is saved. (Well, halfway anyway, as he taught we have two natures.) So when Christians mess up, disagree with each other, etc., who takes the unspoken heat? The Spirit of God. He is given to every person that is saved (Acts 2:38,39), but what Jesus said in John 14:17 and John 1:12 tells us there are two events in every child of God’s life. Now I don’t know Greek, but if any of you do I would bet there are two tenses in the last phrase in that verse as there is in English., present and future tenses. The Pentecostals got that part right, but it’s so easy to drift off. The filling of the Spirit is not some big outward flourish or the laying on of hands, it is when you are in Jesus and it’s between him and you (Luke 17:33). And he was the example. The Holy Spirit descended on him in the form of a dove (John 1:33), and then he is filled with the Holy Spirit as he is led into the wilderness to be tempted (Luke 4:1). The Spirit walks with you when you’re saved, “he abides with you”, and then when you are in Jesus, “he shall be IN you.” You may not know the exact moment it happens, but he knows.

  3. poohpity says:
    July 19, 2012 at 1:54 pm

    I believe that part of us may be intuitive by that I mean the part of us that desires can only be satisfied and filled by God. But it is so obvious that on a whole we need “something that requires reflection and heaven’s help to see”. Time and desire to be open to learning from the Spirit, that only which can happen by reflection and a open heart to receive things from above.

    Not running around worrying and being troubled by the things in this world (Luke 10:41) but spending time at the feet of our Lord (Luke 10:42).

    confeticat, I do not think that the tenses of Greek would make any difference when even the English is not understood.

  4. isaiah43123 says:
    July 19, 2012 at 2:02 pm

    Mart, you didn’t go in the direction I thought you were going. I was once asked if I thought having pierced ears made me more apt to accept the mark of the beast. That is where I thought you were headed.

    I agree with confeticat, the tatoo is not the focus for this woman. A misspelled word will not diminish the importance of the job she agreed to carry out.

    Keep the Faith!

  5. confeticat says:
    July 19, 2012 at 2:18 pm

    You’re probably right, Pooh. The Greek doesn’t matter to me but it always seems to matter to somebody.

  6. poohpity says:
    July 19, 2012 at 2:20 pm

    The disciples had to spend time with Jesus and with hindsight and reflection after being filled with the Holy Spirit were they able to understand. Even Paul had to have time after conversion to reflect with the Holy Spirit’s help for three years before he started his ministry (Gal 1:16-18).

  7. confeticat says:
    July 19, 2012 at 4:21 pm

    The Lord has pointed out that John the Baptist was an exception to what I said above. He was filled with the Holy Spirit for a special ministry from the moment of birth (Luke 1:15).

  8. cherielyn says:
    July 19, 2012 at 5:17 pm

    The Bible – the WHOLE Bible – is the inspired word of God! The Apostle Paul wrote exactly half of the New Testament books – 14 of 27 books. I sincerely doubt that those books would have been included in our Bible if they weren’t inspired by God himself.

  9. poohpity says:
    July 19, 2012 at 6:26 pm

    And you have to be filled with the Holy
    Spirit to understand the whole inspired Word of God to go along with what you said cherielyn. If a person does not confess who Jesus is and does not realize that He from birth was filled with the Holy Spirit then I would doubt whether in Greek or English they would understand it, the Bible that is.

  10. SFDBWV says:
    July 20, 2012 at 6:36 am

    As to the tattoo story; sadly to this woman the bearing of the Olympic torch seemed to be the crowning achievement of her life and so she wished to have it permanently displayed on her person for the remainder of her life.

    I say sadly because whereas being a part of something as special as being a torch bearer for the Olympics is special, it pales when compared to achieving and living God’s plan for her life. That *tattoo* is reserved for a future time when God gives us all a new name.

    Mary loved Jesus and wanted nothing more than to set at His feet and be close to Him while she could. The something she had was that unexplainable intuition in us all that tries to direct our actions and gives us understanding.

    Martha like many of us argue against that intuition with logic and a more stoic view of taking care of business first then if we have time we may *listen* to see what that still small voice in our heart is trying to say to us.

    Clearly Mary had not yet received the Holy Spirit as the Disciples would after Jesus’ ascension on the Day of Pentecost. But that still small voice of God allowed her to sense that it was more important for her to be close to Jesus now while she could rather than anything else.

    So what did she have that Martha did not?

    As Mart has asked, was it her intuition or was her intuition supplied by God?

    The actions of our hands, the words from our mouths are a result of the workings of our mind; the process of our thinking and the sorting out of our desires are based totally on what influence is most present in our life.

    Or said another way, which voice do we listen to. Is it our voice or is it God’s

    Mary listened to God’s voice and it gave her knowledge she didn’t fully understand, only that she needed to set at Jesus’ feet and be close to Him, that this was what was more important than logic or understanding, so she simply obeyed that still small voice in her heart.

    I pray I can be as sensitive to God’s word as she.

    Steve

  11. confeticat says:
    July 20, 2012 at 8:59 am

    Appreciate your words, Steve. What Mary had in John 11 was a burning desire to know Jesus more – to really know him. As Steve said, she was not yet filled with the Comforter, the Holy Spirit, but this desire must come from within you, like falling in love. Martha loved Jesus too but her love was a casual love based on what she had been taught.

    Both sisters reacted with the same statement, “Lord, if you had been here my brother wouldn’t have died.” But Martha added her doctrinal reasons. “I know that God will give you whatever you ask.” “He will rise when everyone else rises at the last day.” She had it figured out, and those reasons were her cold comfort. It all fit into her theology. Mary didn’t understand and was just heartbroken, and her words touched Jesus so much that he raised Lazarus from the dead. Two kinds of belief – head and heart.

  12. poohpity says:
    July 20, 2012 at 10:04 am

    Mary showed an example of Jesus parable of the four soils. Mary seemed to be the good fertile soil in Mark 4:20 and Martha displayed what the thorny soil looks like Mark 4:19. Mary was faithful to Jesus unlike His disciples standing at the foot of the Cross and then the first to the tomb. In the bible she displayed a faith that had been forgiven much, so she loved much. She anointed Jesus with expensive oil and kissed His feet. Her hearts desire was to learn and cling to Jesus that was her top priority. She was given the first command to go and tell the disciples. Where was Martha? Probably at home to busy with the things that had captivated her mind and heart.

  13. poohpity says:
    July 20, 2012 at 10:11 am

    Not that those things are unimportant but God knows who has first place in our mind, heart and soul and if we really admit to it we know who or what has taken first place in our lives. There is no time better than now to change those priorities and put the Lord back where He belongs and He is waiting with open arms and a yearning heart for us. With Him first then everything else will fall into place and His joy will fill our hearts, minds and souls.

  14. cherielyn says:
    July 20, 2012 at 10:38 am

    Observation: The Mary – of Mary, Martha & Lazarus family, is not the same Mary that anointed Jesus, kissed His feet, etc. There are a number of Mary’s in the NT & sometimes people get confused over them.

  15. poohpity says:
    July 20, 2012 at 10:49 am

    John 12:1-3 oops did not kiss His feet, wiped them with her hair.

  16. poohpity says:
    July 20, 2012 at 11:02 am

    You are also correct about not being the first at the tomb and to go tell the disciples, thanks for keeping me on my toes that was Mary Magdalene.

  17. poohpity says:
    July 20, 2012 at 11:07 am

    But still her desire was to put Jesus first above the everyday toils and snares.

  18. confeticat says:
    July 20, 2012 at 11:08 am

    A love like Mary’s comes after repentance. You won’t fall in love with him if he is still your law, your judge.

    Martha had a Statement of Faith she rattled off when Lazarus died (John 11:27):
    1. You are the Messiah
    2. You are the Son of God
    3. You are the one who has come into the world from God.

    Anyone can affirm those things and more. The Holy Spirit can show you all truth (John 16:13) and give you discernment whether the person who says he believes those things really does or not.

    But if Jesus is even first on your list, other things and people will crowd him out of first place. He wants to be your whole list.

  19. poohpity says:
    July 20, 2012 at 11:45 am

    I do not believe anyone ever insinuated that Jesus was their law or judge in fact quite the opposite. He came to save not condemn Luke 19:10; John 3:17.

    After the verses you have quoted do you now believe that Jesus is the Christ, confeticat?

  20. fadingman says:
    July 20, 2012 at 2:17 pm

    “Am wondering whether you find that the difference tends to be intuitive—or something that requires reflection and heaven’s help to see?” Even reflection isn’t enough without heaven’s help.

    It’s too easy to see the blindness of others while not seeing our own. How many times do we serve our own interests in the name of serving God’s?

    The 12 disciples followed Jesus and sought to build His kingdom… but they did so at least partially for their own benefit (Mark 10:35-37, Luke 9:46). Can we be honest enough with ourselves to see the times when we’re guilty of the same thing?

    God’s interests in me are not just about Him using me to help others, tell them about Jesus, etc. That kind of thing easily puffs me up – knowing God is using me.

    But God also wants to transform me into the image of Christ. And that image includes humbling, and dying to all self-interest.

    I have no problem with God using me to help others. My struggle is letting go of self and letting Him work on me personally.

  21. poohpity says:
    July 20, 2012 at 6:38 pm

    What difference does it all make if we do not show love, grace and mercy. Even if we shout from the mountains about how spiritual we are yet fall so short in the love department then it is all just words anyway. We hear far to many words as it is.

  22. SFDBWV says:
    July 21, 2012 at 6:37 am

    My apologies to all as this morning as I search both my own thoughts as well as attempt to connect to inspiration concerning our subject, I can not help but think of the senseless murder of 12 people in Aurora Colorado.

    My heart breaks for all those who now have lost loved ones and are faced with unanswerable questions. Even having answers as to what would cause anyone to just fire a weapon intent on killing and maiming as many as he could does nothing to ease the pain that will now remain with them the remainder of their lives.

    I will join with many of you in praying for these people as well as praying for our society that listens to the beat of a different drummer.

    Steve

  23. SFDBWV says:
    July 21, 2012 at 8:29 am

    Most all of us can remember a time in our lives when we have had a *gut* feeling about a matter. It is a feeling and not an understanding.

    I have read from various authors that we feel our spirit in our stomachs such as having a *gut* feeling concerning things.

    It is always an unconscious sense not one we can control.

    It is my contention that God through His Spirit communicates to our spirit or enlightens us in an unspoken sensory event that we may sometimes call *intuition*.

    Sometimes you may have an urging to not go to a planned event or not open a door or sometimes you just *know* without reason to understand why.

    That sensory or as some may call it extrasensory perception clearly is active in all human beings, whether confessing Christians or not.

    I believe it is a communication from God though many have come to believe it to be otherwise and the entire *human* experience becomes a belief in a long list of errors and falsehoods directed away from the truth as the lie is more exciting and alluring.

    Point is that intuition is a communication from God, not an ability mankind possesses apart from God.

    Mary instinctively clung to Jesus because she loved Him and surrendered her knowledge to the urging of her spirit, influenced by God’s Spirit. Her love, This connection, this union between her spirit and God’s is what she has and Jesus said that this would not be taken away from her.

    There is a great lesson in just that statement that what she has would not be taken from her.

    A very cool and wet morning in the mountains today, 61 and fog.

    Steve

  24. confeticat says:
    July 21, 2012 at 9:52 am

    Is everybody bashful this morning or what? In Luke 13:1,2,3,5 Pilate had murdered some people from Galilee as they were worshipping in the temple. We don’t hear much about that – what a slaughter that must have been! You go into a theater to watch a movie, or into church to worship, and you get blown away or stabbed to death! Jesus said those people were not worse sinners than anyone else. That is not why they suffered. It was a warning to those who did not die there that they should repent.

  25. poohpity says:
    July 21, 2012 at 10:43 am

    None of us that have any sense can say why that horrible act happened but we can learn a lesson from the friends of Job and just remain quite and mourn with those who are mourning rather than bringing our rational into the mix and causing more harm. Quietly praying for comfort and healing to all involved and grieving with them. :-(

  26. poohpity says:
    July 21, 2012 at 2:27 pm

    “rationale” not “rational”. Ooops another boo boo!! So glad the Lord loves us at our worst to fill us with His best.

  27. SFDBWV says:
    July 22, 2012 at 6:14 am

    When I was a young man I tried to keep myself as informed as I could so at one point in my life I was getting “Time”, “Newsweek” and “US News and World Report”.

    When CNN first came on the TV it was a masterpiece of news orchestrated by Ted Turner.

    However over time the glut of information and the personalities of each news outlet became more of a disappointing experience. Instead of news they all became an outlet for opinion, not news.

    When Ted Turner sold CNN to Time Warner it was the end of CNN as being an unbiased news source and it just became a televised news magazine filled with egos and personalities and opinions.

    So watching the national news or reading it has become something I actually try and avoid, with the exception of reading the ticker stream at the bottom of the screen on Fox with the sound off and of course looking at what may or may not be news on the internet.

    I have mentioned the web site newseum before, I like it because it gives me the option of reading local newspapers from all around the country and if I like all around the world.

    One of the horrible facts is that there are evil acts from someone occurring everywhere some seem worse than others all seem senseless and all should offend us.

    Here in West Virginia they are once again considering letting tens of thousands of criminals out of jail because of over crowding, judges hand down sentences based on the ability of the structure to be able to house them and the severity of the crime and way too often repeat offenders are set free to prey on the public again.

    So what do we do as a society of self governing people? Are we too soft on crime because of our desire to be merciful when we can?

    Is the line between being too lenient on criminals and too barbaric widening?

    A cry should go out from the world for the return of the King and end of all this misery, but instead I fear the cry that will come from the world will usher in the anti-christ as he will seem to have a solution to these and other issues and people will once again believe the lie, partake of the tree and deny the truth.

    This is what my intuition tells me.

    Steve

  28. confeticat says:
    July 22, 2012 at 7:43 am

    Acts 1 begins with the writer Luke saying he told his friend Theophilus everything in his first book about Jesus even including the day he was taken up to heaven. If he hadn’t said that, we could still assume that the close of Luke is just a much-abbreviated version of Acts 1. But he specified that he had included everything about that day in his book of Luke (Acts 1:1,2).

    Luke closes peacefully with Jesus ascending into heaven, and his disciples after worshipping Jesus returning to Jerusalem and spending all of their time in the TEMPLE praising God (Luke 24:53).

    So what are 120 people doing in an upper room in Acts 1? The upper room is James Holmes’ apartment! (James was head of the church). It is tripwired, booby-trapped, a bomb factory of incendiary devices waiting to go off at the right time to disconnect Jesus from Christianity. Because the book of Acts is the bridge, and the only bridge that connects the two. Without it there would be no “Jesus Christ”. Luke turned out to be as crafty as Paul, I mean he had jars of ammo, mortars, fireworks, all requiring a detonator and an electrical source (the Holy Spirit).

    Acts 1 says a cloud received him out of their sight. No mention of a cloud in Luke. Two angels in Acts, no mention in Luke.

    Luke says repentance in his name would be proclaimed to all nations. Acts 1 makes no mention of repentance. But Peter, who must have been in on this too, mentioned it in Acts 3:19. He said refreshing is a result of repentance. But the Church had received their big refreshing at Pentecost without repentance.

    The account of Judas’ death (Acts 1:18) doesn’t match the account in Matt. 27:5.

    They selected an apostle to replace Judas by drawing lots, Matthias, who was never heard of again.

  29. confeticat says:
    July 22, 2012 at 7:45 am

    I left out Acts 3:20 per the refreshment.

  30. poohpity says:
    July 22, 2012 at 12:11 pm

    How would one know that the word “Oylmpic” is missed spelled unless they know the real spelling is “Olympic”. How can one tell even if a news stations are telling truth or is it telling truth according to their bias. When people search for truth in scripture by comparing it to other scripture then living it do they know it is truth. Most on the other hand are left with their own opinions mixed with scripture then the truth is so skewed and how does this happen? When people do not learn from those who have a gift of prophesy or teaching and are left to their own analysis.

    People who do not seek the truth because they do not want to be confronted with the distortion of what they have grown to believe. A majority of people do not want the truth or to really know the will of God because it may mean change, so they stay locked in to their old way of thinking and staying away from the process of truth that leads to change.

    Sitting with at the feet of Jesus Christ will always lead to change and if nothing has changed in a life then I would wonder who’s feet one is really sitting at. Christ Jesus loves us so very much that He will never leave us as He found us, the more we hang around Him the more we will be like Him.

  31. poohpity says:
    July 22, 2012 at 2:35 pm

    Amen sister!!

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