It's been a while since a cross-posted a blog entry to StillTruth.com. But, while learning about the landscape of my yard I have found comparison to the teaching of Scripture. So, I thought I would cross-post tonight.

Original post: http://geppy.gephart.info/2008/07/fruit-of-rose-bush.html

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So, I've mentioned how I'm learning about fruit development in a rose bush. I just thought I would describe what I am learning so you might use the illustration as a way to interpret/understand the Scriptures when it speaks of the fruit of the Spirit and the fruit of the fleshly nature.

So, a rose bush develops the pretty and beautiful rose flowers. When they bloom, you get to enjoy the sights and smells of this wonderful flower. But then over the course of a week or two, that flower dies and collapses in on itself. And as it collapses, it grows into a ball. This ball then grows in size and in "meat" as it turns into a full fledged fruit (rose hips). As this process occurs, the plant is putting its energy into growing this fruit - and while it does so, in that area it does not put energy into creating more flowers. If you want more flowers, then you need to prune off the fruit so the plant stops giving energy to the fruit and redirects the energy to the flower.

Originally posted at: http://gephartr.blogspot.com

URL: http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/10/08/world/main3341472.shtml

"Israel's deputy prime minister Haim Ramon says the Israeli government would support a division of Jerusalem. This would be a key component of an Israeli-Palestinian declaration to be made at an international peace conference in the U.S. this year."

"Also Monday, Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert told parliament that peace would require Israel to make "costly" concessions and that the Palestinians give up part of their dreams."

Originally posted at: http://gephartr.blogspot.com

So, with the waves that have been crashing against my boat this week, these lyrics have been bugging me the entire time (lyrics at bottom). "Sheep go to heaven and goats go to hell" at first gave some comfort - but not for long. Then the thoughts start striking that you don't want that goat to go there; they aren't usually that bad of a person - they must only be having a bad time. So instead, I should be praying that God can reach their heart and teach them from this circumstance.

Originally posted at http://gephartr.blogspot.com

In a recent conversation I was asked what my opinion is on the status of man and wife, and the "headship" of man. This can be a touchy subject, and I'm pretty sure that many will disagree with me. But here goes.

Starting with the most used scripture for this topic: Ephesians.

Eph 4:23-5:33 (NLT)

Originally posted at: http://gephartr.blogspot.com

We all "know" what the truth is. The Bible tells us clearly. Our problem is, how do we get everyone else to see the truth.

Does this viewpoint sound familiar to anyone?

It is a narrow road to walk, that road that leads to truth. How do we find a balance between our understanding of the truth and everyone else's understanding of the truth? How do we find the balance between one religion and another? Between nations?

Originally posted at http://gephartr.blogspot.com

Warning: I speak in generic terms in this article, and with some small amount of sarcasm.