Nonsensical Ramblings of Mark

“For God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” Genesis 3:5, NIV We have certain hymns and services, which we say daily, of Lord and thanks to God for His marvelous works; and some forms of prayer, imploring His aid and blessing for the illumination of our labors, and the turning of them into good and holy uses.  -  Francis Bacon, The New Atlantis I am convinced that there is a popular and fuller interpretation of Genesis 3:5 than that which is the popular one. This interpretation can be found in considering the phrase "knowing good and evil" as a Hebrew merism. A merism is a rhetorical device where a whole is represented by its parts, For example, saying "we searched high and low" means "we searched everywhere". Thus, a merism is a way to express totality or completeness by referencing the extremes of a concept. I have come to cognitive rest on this considering "knowing good and ev...

John MacArthur died yesterday. I have benefitted greatly from his books, interviews with Larry King, and other media that he has produced and that I have consumed. I read an article about him entitled  Died: John MacArthur, Reformed Expositor with Worldwide Reach—and Tainted Legacy and that led me to reflect on my own public and private lives. You know, the one people see and the ones that God sees. If Christ is to be believed, and he is, he has made the pronouncement over my life and even the life of someone as accomplished as MacArthur: “Why do you call me good?” Jesus answered. “No one is good—except God alone." (Mark 10:18) I am not a good man, nor am I a good father. I am not a good spouse nor a good employee. I am not good because, frankly, I am not God. That should not be a surprise to anyone. Any superlatives that may be directed to me while I am living or after I have died should have an asterisk after them for: Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down ...