Memorial Monday Metal... In the presence of our enemies, we will prevail...

Bumped into this as I roamed the net... too good not to post, a kickin' Swedish Christian metal band... Enjoy!

Anonymous Letter Left At The Tomb Of The Unknown Soldier, Memorial Day 2010

Upon this day of poignant reflection, we are humbled by your sacrifice; No measure of recompense doth any possess which may serve to satisfice- Our very liberty hath been your precious gift-your dutiful life, its price- Our humble gratitude is all we have, no manner of quittance would suffice! Our Forefathers advented Liberty, yet your loss saw to its abiding; Countless men and women still, much like you, cease its subsiding; Your life of honor and duty, for country-this shall ne'er perish- In our hearts and minds, upon this day and all others, we cherish Every solitary liberate moment, which you have given and ensured; The most selfless sacrifice-your safeguard guaranteed Liberty endured! 'I can not say and I will not say that he is dead - He is just away! ' ** You live still; Your dutiful life inspires men and women to this very day; The obligation owed to you is immeasurable-words may ne'er convey Our gratitude for your service and sacrifice-though we endeavor all we may! **(James Whitcomb Riley, 'He is Only Away')

"Which Christ Do You Believe? You Gotta Know Before You Leave"

Raising The Standard: Availability Is Refusing To Be Deterred By Deceptive Distractions

"No Man that warmeth entangleth himself with the affairs of his life: that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier." ~ 2 Timothy 2:4 A wise trial lawyer takes special notice of which point his opponent emphasizes the most; often that is the weakest argument. Every leader must have the skill of a lawyer when dealing with the many appeals which come to him, especially appeals which would deter him from accomplishing his basic objective. God illustrates this principle in an account of one of history's most important military campaigns. The commanding general led an army of hundreds of thousands of men. They conquered powerful enemies and great walled cities, but one small group of clever men outwitted this general and his leaders. If the general and his men had not been deterred by an appeal, they would have avoided a dangerous and deceptive distraction.

Scripture warns that anyone who flatters his neighbor spreads a net for his feet. What leader was flattered by a group of neighbors and stumbled into their net? Joshua

Weary men in tattered clothes hobbled toward a distant army camp. Dusty sacks covered their donkeys. The men clutched worn out wine skins and dry, moldy bread. As they neared the camp, soldiers resting from battle stared at these curious visitors. The general and his army leaders listened as they explained their mission. "We are ambassadors from a far country. Now, therefore, make a league with us." This was hardly the time to think about a league with a distant country. Surrounded by hostile enemies in nearby cities, this army had been commanded to conquer and destroy. Strict instructions had been given to the general not to make an alliance with any of those cities. Several army leaders voiced their hesitation. "What if we find out that you actually live in this country? How could we make a league with you?" The matter was almost dropped. The leaders nearly escaped deception, but the general grew curious. He asked a few more questions. "Who are you? From where did you come?" The clever visitors had carefully prepared their answers. They told the general and his army that the fame of their previous battles had spread to their country. When their nation, which was very far away, had heard the news, they wanted to become allies. This proposal appealed to the pride of the general and his men. Then they took their moldy bread and their worn out wine skins and passed them around to the general and his leaders. "This bread was fresh from the oven when we began our journey, " they said, " and these wine skins were new; but we have traveled a long distance to come to you." Through these arguments and evidence they appealed to human reason. At this point the general and his leaders should have asked counsel of the Lord. Instead, they relied upon their own reasoning and entered into the league. Their military campaign continued. Every army they fought was conquered and destroyed. After their battles they returned to the camp for what should have been a joyous celebration. Instead the army and their families wept. An angel of the Lord brought them a message from God. "You were commanded to make no league with the inhabitants of this land but to destroy them totally and to throw down their altars. But you have not obeyed. Therefore, they shall be thorns in your sides and their gods a snare unto you." Among other things God was referring to the small group of travelers who had deceived them. Three days after the league was made, the general and his men discovered that their visitors actually represented a neighboring city which God had marked for destruction. But they were bound to honor the alliance which they had made. If only Joshua had refused to be deterred by the deception of flattery, he would have avoided a major obstacle in reaching his goal. He would have also removed from future generations the conflict and temptations which came as a result of this league. ~ From Joshua 9:1-10-14

Why Was Joshua Forbidden To Make Peace With The Canaanites?

The primary reason was that the Lord purposed to destroy utterly the Canaanites because of their wickedness. "And the land is defiled; therefore I do visit the iniquity thereof upon it, and the land itself vomiteth out her inhabitants." (Leviticus 18:25) A second reason is that the Lord knew that involvement with these wicked people would cause the Israelites to imitate their ways (cf. Exodus 23:33). This proved to be painfully true throughout the history of Israel A recurring theme in the book of Judges is: "And the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the Lord, and served Baalim...and followed other gods, of the gods of the people who were round about them , and bowed themselves unto them, and provoked the Lord to anger." (Judges 2:11, 12)

Why Didn't Joshua Let The Canaanite Kings Destroy The Gibeonites?

When Joshua made the original league with the Gibeonites, there was no mention of a protection clause in regard to third party invaders. Such an agreement was impractical. Joshua would never have consented to lead his army to a distant land in order to defend these strangers, nor was their any offer by the Gibeonites to help fight Joshua's enemies. The responsibility of protection was added three days later when they made the Gibeonites their slaves. The Mosaic Law was clear in its exhortation to the master of a slave. If he cruelly punished him so that he happened to die, the master himself was to be punished (Exodus 21:20). Having made the Gibeonites their bond slaves, the Israelites were bound by honor to protect them.

What Did This Deceptive Distraction Cost The Israelites?

After the conquest of Canaan, the city of Gibeon was allotted to the tribe of Benjamin (Joshua 18:25, 21:17). It may be significant that this tribe became so corrupt that it was almost annihilated soon after Joshua's death (cf Judges 20:12, 28:30, 33, 35). As a result of these disobedient leagues with the Canaanites, the Lord made them to be a thorn in their side and their gods became a snare unto the Israelites (Judges 2:2-3). As early as 1630, just ten short years after the Pilgrims arrived in America, a reward was offered for killing the wolf. This first bounty was offered in Massachusetts, and the conflict between man and wolf has continued even to this day. Many methods have been used to exterminate this animal. Trapping was one attempt, but it was only moderately effective. Trappers consider this animal to be the smartest in America. Another effort was strychnine poisoning --- effective only until the wolf learned to recognize and avoid the smell. But the more man understood the intelligence and habits of the wolf, the more he wanted to protect it. The wolf was placed on the endangered species list. Of twenty-four subspecies of the North American grey wolf, six are believed to be extinct.

How Does The Wolf Illustrate Availability By Refusing To Be Deterred By Deceptive Distractions?

A promising scent in the air made the animals eager with excitement. An aroma had drawn the group together and they were all wagging their tails excitedly. The animals were alert and expectant; it had been quite a while since they last smelled this fragrance. This was the beginning of a very important mission.

Conditions were hard and food was scarce. The cold winter had sent many of their food sources to sheltered places to wait out the bitter weather. The white-tailed deer was always a favorite food, but over the years its population had dwindled. These animals were now few and far between, and the chances of the pack finding and overtaking a deer were remote. Another animal in the area was more plentiful, but it was a creature the wolf preferred to avoid. This mighty beast was not an easy target and should the wolf become careless or over-confident, an attempt to attack might prove fatal. The massive moose is almost twelve times the wolf's weight. It is surprisingly agile. Its senses are almost as keen as those of the wolf, and its hooves and antlers are lethal weapons. The head male wolf had returned to the pack that day bringing the good news that its acute sense of smell had picked up the fresh aroma of a nearby moose. Their empty stomachs and the scarcity of the winter made them all eager to accept this formidable challenge. If they were to be successful, however, they would have to rely on strategy to hunt this mighty beast. This pack was a family composed of eight wolves. Each worked in harmony with the others and because of this teamwork the animals were usually successful in capturing their prey. One by one each wolf moved toward their quarry. Soon they caught a glimpse of the mighty bull. The animal had a magnificent set of horns and appeared healthy. The wolves set their plan into operation. Each animal quickly took its position. Soon all eight had encircled it. The alert bull angrily snorted and braced itself for the onslaught of these intruders. The lead female wolf positioned herself in front of the moose. It began rushing at the moose in an effort to force it to run. But it refused to move. Alternately others lunged at it, trying to excite the beast, but to no avail. It continued to stand its ground. The enraged moose defied them, bellowing and raking the ground with its hooves, daring them to try again. Unexpectedly, the wolves turned and left. They did not bother to try again. They knew it was fruitless. This animal was too healthy. They would only be wasting their precious strength to persist any further. The wolves would not be detained by this distraction. The hope of bringing it down was a deception. They knew that if they couldn't get the animal to panic and run within the first few minutes, they would not be able to conquer it. The pack moved on to find a weaker or more inexperienced animal --- one that they could overtake.

Scriptural References To The Wolf

"Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves." ~ Matthew 7:13

A wolf is ordinarily shy and would prefer to avoid a man rather than confront him. But, a pack of wolves is an entirely different matter. Each wolf of a pack becomes one of the most dangerous animals alive. Relentless in pursuit, wolves maintain their chase for hours at a time. The wolf usually singles out the weakest member of the herd, bypassing other prey until it has tracked down and devoured its victim. The comparison of a wolf to a false prophet is revealing. A false prophet seems harmless when alone: but once inside the church he singles out the weaker Christians and, with other false prophets with whom he associates, makes easy prey of them. Their goal is to satisfy their ever-growing greed for money and sensual fulfillment (1 Timothy 6:5; 2 Timothy 3:1-8; 2 Peter 2:10-22).

"Her princes in her midst are like wolves ravening the prey, to shed blood, and to destroy souls, to get dishonest gain." ~ Ezekiel 22:27

"Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves, be ye, therefore, wise as serpents, and harmless as doves." ~ Matthew 10:16

"But he that is a hireling...seeth a wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth; and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep." ~ John 10:12

Raising The Standard: Availability Is Serving My Family First Before I Consider Other Needs Or Wants

From the Pages of Scripture... The most discerning audience we will ever have is our own family. They know precisely whether or not our life matches our message. Only when we pass the test of consistent living at home are we qualified to expand our ministry; they are basic training for it. For example, the skills David learned in order to protect and feed the family flock were later used to conquer a giant and feed a nation. The skills a church learderr learns in order to meet the needs of the church. This explains why Christ told a certain man to go home to his family and first demonstrate his faith to them.

"But if any provide not for his own, and specifically for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith and is worse than an infidel." ~ 1 Timothy 5:8

Sometimes it is easier and more glamorous to serve the Lord in a faraway country than to be a faithful witness in front of our own family. Who in Scripture could have given a sensational testimony of his own conversion but instead was told by the Lord to go home and first demonstrate his new found faith to his family? The Gadarene of Gadara. The silence of the night was pierced by blood-curdling screams from a distant cemetery. Wide eyed children ran to their parents. Their parents explained what they had herd and firmly warned them never to go near those graves. A wild man was slashing himself with sharp stones and crying out as he ran among the tombs. The incidents at that cemetery were frightening enough when this man was contained, but it became even more terrifying when he broke his chains and ran unrestrained. Whenever this occurred, a large group of men from the village gathered to search for the maniac. They would capture him and bind him to the tombs. But again and again he broke the chains that held him. Curious villagers would approach the tombs to look at him from a distance, then they returned to eager listeners and reported what they had seen. This man was an embarrassment and the threat to his family as well as to the villagers who were linked to the terrifying stories of this behavior. Then one day an incredible event took place. This wild man watched a boat edging toward his shore and ran toward it. As the men stepped out of the boat, he knelt before one of them. Bystanders watched in amazement as the unclean spirit and legion of demons were commanded to leave him. After coming out of him, they entered a huge heard of swine which immediately ran down a steep hill and drowned in the sea. Those who saw what had happened rushed back to the city and returned with a great crowd of frightened and curious citizens. They saw the wild man clothed and being taught by Jesus Christ. They saw that the herd of swine had been destroyed. They were filled with fear. Rather than rejoicing over what had happened to the man possessed of devils, they begged Jesus to leave their countryside. As He returned to the boat with His disciples, the man who had been possessed of the devils begged to follow Jesus. Wisely Jesus commanded, "Return to your own house and show how great things God hath done unto you." So the Gadarene went as Jesus had commanded to the most difficult people he would ever reach --- hi own family, relatives, and neighbors --- and proclaimed throughout the whole city the treat things Jesus had done unto him. ~ From Mark 5:1-20 and Luke 8:26-39

Why Was Everyone Alarmed When They Saw That The Gadarene Had Been Healed?

It was probably early the next morning when the men who had heard the startling news came to investigate. By this time, the Gadarene had dressed, cleaned his bruised body, and was quietly sitting with Jesus and the disciples "in his right mind." (Mark 5:15) The men were struck with awe and fear and begged Him to leave. It is doubtful that their request was prompted only by the loss of the swine. There was no doubt in their minds that One possessing supreme and unlimited power was in their midst. Gadara was one of ten cities in the Greek federation known as the Decapolis (cf. Mark 5:20). The predominantly non-Jewish population was ignorant of spiritual truth and steeped in pagan superstition. The loss of their pigs indicated to them that this supereme Power was hostile. They were not seeking the truth and begged the man with such awesome power to leave.

Why Did The Gadarene Ask To Remain With Jesus?

There is a striking contrast between the attitude of the men in the area and the attitude of the healed demoniac. The men begged Jesus to leave, and he agreed; the healed man begged to stay in the company of Jesus, and his request was refused. There are at least two reasons why he wanted to remain with the Lord. Jesus was going to leave immediately. The Gadarene had many questions to ask and many things to learn about his new Master. He had been with the Lord only a few, short hours --- the happiest of his life. He could not bear the thought of leaving the One who had freed him from his bonds of men and the devil. Second, he had found calm, safety, and happiness only in His presence. Would he remain free from the demons that had possessed him, or would he return to the tombs and chains? He had been an outcast from his fellow men for such a long time; it was difficult for him to be denied further fellowship with the One who had made him whole.

Why Did Christ First Send The Gadarene Home To His Family?

The reason is given in the Lord's directive, "Go home to thy friends, and tell them what great things the Lord hath done for thee, and hath had compassion on thee." (Mark 5:19) In Capernaum, Jesus had strictly forbidden the leper he had cleansed to let anyone but the priest know (Mark 1:43-44). But this healed man, the Gadarene, was commanded to spread the news. There are good reasons for this apparent inconsistency. First, the area in which the Gadarene lived was predominantly Greek. Christ had been called to deliver His message first to the house of Israel (cf. Matthew 10:5-6). Second the people had not welcomed His presence. These men needed evidence that the Lord would not only perform great miracles but that He could permanently transform a life. By sending the man home, Christ was ensured a witness in a needy area. The man "began to publish in Decapolis what great things Jesus had done for him; and all men did marvel." (Mark 5:20) He may have been the very first apostle to the Gentiles. When the Lord returned to that area later, He was much better received. The Gadarene had prepared the way, and Jesus was now able to work in their midst (cf. Mark 7 31-37).

Illustrated In The World Of Nature: How Does The Cowbird Illustrate The Need To Serve Its Family First? In the Greek language, molothrus refers to a tramp, vagabond, parasite, or greedy person. The cowbird's name characterizes the species well. The bird entered North America from Mexico. Then it spread through the prairie states and expanded its range to the east and west coasts as civilization cleared forests and cultivated the land. This bird is described as a parasite because of the manner in which it allows its young to be raised. The bird appeared to be excited and anxious as it flittered from bush to bush in the hedgerow. There seemed to be an urgency in its activity. In fact, it appeared to have lost its nest. The events which followed were typical for this particular bird but not very unusual in the avian world.

Finally, it found the nest low on a branch. Slipping inside, it reached down, stretched its beak wide open, picked up one of the four eggs and then darted away. Finding a perch, she cracked and ate the egg --- its contents as well as part of the shell. Once she had destroyed the egg she stayed away from the nest until the following day. Why would she destroy one of her own eggs? Late the next morning when it did fly back to the hedgerow, the bird did not go directly in. It seemed very hesitant and anxious as it waited. After a delay of several minutes, it made a nervous and cautious approach to the nest and it perched on its rim. Quickly the female entered the nest, staying only a few seconds before flying rapidly away. But when she left, there was something different in the nest --- a new egg, a different color than the others. The cowbird is referred to as a parasite. This bird does not build its own nest but instead relies on the construction of others. In the spring, the cowbird watches for birds building their nests and waits as they complete their busy construction work. Or it may find an already completed nest and make plans to use that. One day before the cowbird lays its egg it waits until the owner of the marked nest is gone. Once the parent bird leaves, this interloper slips in and steals an egg from the nest of the rightful occupant. This it destroys. The next day it cautiously returns, lays its own egg in a period of less than one minute and quickly leaves again. It is very careful not to disturb the nest for it will not return but will rely on the owner of the nest to care for the young cowbird. But in this particular case, the female cowbird made a wrong choice. She had chosen the home of a robin. Upon returning to the nest, the robin immediately recognized the foreign object. By using its bill, the robin worked the egg up to the rim of the nest and rolled it over the edge. The egg tumbled to the ground, smashing the shell and spilling its liquid contents. The cowbird succeeded in shirking its responsibility and in the process failed its young. While the negligent parent abandoned its egg to enjoy a carefree life with others of its kind, the embryonic life of the one she was supposed to be serving was destroyed.

Athiests Don't Have No Songs... A Steve Martin Sunday...

Suddenly I know what I want the most... I need some time to get my life on track

There Could Never Be a More Beautiful You....

Your moment of pop... Hawk Nelson, The Meaning of Life

Raising the Standard: Alertness Is Visualizing The Consequences Of Subtle Dangers

"Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall." ~ Proverbs 16:18

"Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall." ~ 1 Corinthians 10:12

Idolatry is a sin that many of us do not believe we commit because we fail to understand what it really is. If we allow a secret desire in our heart for something which God has forbidden, we begin to worship a false god. When we expect that falce god to give us whatonly God can give, we commit idolatry. Idolatry is the illusion that lasting happiness and true fulfillment can be experienced in the things which God has forbidden. A certain ruler began to lust after something which was contrary to God's Word. His deceptive heart convinced him that God's laws were designed to restrict his happiness, but their real purpose was to spare him from the destruction of unseen danger.

A birthday should be the mark of growing maturity and wisdom, but for one man it was a memory of moral weakness and spiritual foolishness. Who was the man whose birthday celebration haunted him for the rest of his life?? Herod Antipas

History records this man as the ablest of several ruling brothers, but the security of his reign was constantly threatened. Riots and rebellions had toppled many other leaders. He recognized that there were seeds of insurrection within his own realm. A host of aides, lords, captains, and soldiers were trained to watch for any sign of danger. He worked hard and long to maintain peace and establish his rule. Thing seemed to go well, but inwardly the ruler was waging an even greater struggle. He desired to marry another man's wife. Holding himself above the law, he did as he pleased. But his wrong action provoked sharp rebuke from one man who boldly proclaimed God's holy standard. This godly man was held in great reverence by the people. The ruler's illegal new wife wanted to kill him, but her husband knew that such an action might trigger a bloody rebellion. Instead, he imprisoned him in a formidable dungeon. Once again the political situation seemed to be in control. The day came for this ruler to celebrate his birthday. He made a great feast for his lords, high captains, and the chief leaders of his province. What was to be the highlight of this occasion became instead his moment of infamy. This powerful ruler whose servants obeyed his every whim now sat at the feet of one who skillfully subdued him. The man who trained the eyes of many others to watch for signs of trouble, now allowed his own eyes to be dimmed to greater danger by the seductive charms of one who stood before him. Confident in his physical prowess, he was lulled into a spiritual stupor. He and his guests gaped in sensual pleasure at the lewd dancing of a young girl. In a burst of proud revelry, he said to the girl, "Ask of me what you want and I will give it to you, even to half of my kingdom." The girl, directed by her mother, gave her answer. When the ruler heard her request, he was shocked back to reality. He had been caught in the trap of his own ways. This girl was the daughter of his new wife, and her request was the death of that great man of God who spoke against her marriage. The ruler did not want to carry out this request and regretted that it had been made;but for the sake of his oath to the girl and to maintain the respect of his guests, he sent a messenger to the dungeon. The head of John the Baptist was brought back on a platter. In a moment of moral weakness, Herod Antipas had added yet another scar to his seared conscience. This scar was to haunt him for the rest of his life because he failed to visualize the consequences of subtle danger. Shortly after this event, he heard of the miraculous works of Christ. His troubled conscience caused him to conclude that it was the return of this righteous man whom he had murdered. ~ From Matthew 14:1-14 and Mark 6:14-29

Why Did Herod Imprison John But Not Want To Kill Him?

Herod Antipas was a tetarch, not a king. He ruled under the authority of the Caesar. He had seen his brother removed by a popular appeal to Rome. His marraige to Herodias was not well received by the powerful group of religious leaders called the Pharasees. The Mosiac Law forbade the marriage of a brother's wife (Leviticus 18:16; 20:21) with the exception of raising children of a deceased, childless brother by levirate marriage (Deuteronomy 25:5; Mark 12:19). But Herodias was not barren, and Antipas' brother was still alive. The fact that his mother was a Samaritan did not increase his acceptance with the Jews (John 4:9; 8:48). Herod could not tolerate open criticism of himself. He imprisoned John to keep him quiet. On the other hand, he feared to kill him. His conscience had not yet completely deadened, and he knew that John was a righteous and holy man. Moreover, John had made such a powerful impression on the people that he feared an unjust murder would create a riot. (cf. Matthew 4:15), or even worse, cost him his career.

Why Did Christ Never Speak To Herod?

Only three contacts between Jesus and Herod Antipas are recorded in the New Testament. First, when Herod heard of the miracles Jesus was performing, he feared that He was John raised from the dead and desired to see Him (Luke 9:7-9). Second, the Pharisees reported to Jesus that Herod wanted to kill Him. Christ knew that he was afraid to use force for fear of stirring up the people as he had done with the murder of John ans so resorted to this cowardly intimidation to force Jesus to leave this domain. Jesus called him a fox--- the animal which is weak and uses cunning deceit to achieve its aims --- hence, a crafty coward (Luke 13:31-11). The third contact occurred when Jesus was tried before his death. Herod "questioned him in many words; but he answered him nothing." (Luke 23:9) The same Jesus who patiently talked to the despised Samaritan woman and the woman taken in adultery refused to utter a sound before Herod. Jesus knew that Herod's conscience was now completely seared and he would no longer listen to the words of truth. Jesus refused to give that which is holy unto the dogs or cast his pearls before swine, lest Herod trample them under his feet (Matthew 7:6). Humiliated by the Lord's silence, the pitiable "Herod, with his men of war, set him at nought, and mocked him, and arrayed him in a gorgeous robe, and sent him again to Pilate." (Luke 23:11)

How Did God Judge Herod For Failing To Visualize Subtle Dangers?

In A.D. 36, the upset father of Herod's divorced wife attacked and defeated Herod's army. The Jews viewed this defeat as divine judgement for his execution of John the Baptist. In A>D> 37 the new emperor, Caligula, began his rule. He gave the brother of Herod's wife the prestigious title of king. Herodias convinced Antipas to go to Rome to request this long-coveted title. Herodias' brother, suspicious of Herod's aspirations, sent word to the emperor that Herod was planning a revolt from the empire. When Herod arrived in Rome, his wealth and tetrarchy were given to his scheming brother-in-law. Herod was banished to France where he lived out his life in obscurity with his disappointed wife. Many insects which bear the name "fly" --- the dragonfly, mayfly, and damselfly --- are not really true flies. A true fly has only two wings and from the Greek, Dipitera (two wings), it includes approximately 100,000 different species. The best known is probably the common housefly. The wings of the fly are so thin and transparent that its veins show through. These veins serve at least two purposes. One purpose is to carry blood to the wing, and the other is to give the wing support and stiffness. The housefly is capable of beating its wings 200 times per second and can fly an average speed of 4 and a half miles an hour. Faster speeds are possible for short distances in order to escape its enemies --- the chiefest of which are birds and man.

How Does the Housefly Illustrate the Need to Recognize Subtle Dangers? Gorged on a meal of decaying flesh and filth, the sluggish creature basked under the warm rays of the sun. An overhanging branch offered some degree of protection and seclusion, and the insect rested peacefully that beautiful mid-summer morning.

The housefly had little to fear. It is well equipped to protect itself against enemies. For one thing, it has the ability of quick take-off. The moment its wings began to beat it can be in the air, racing away and evading the clutches of any would-be assailant. Another and even more remarkable defense is the housefly's keen vision. The insect has approximately 4,000 eyes! These tiny, individual eyes --- each equipped with its own lense --- are connected together to form one large or "compound eye." This large eye does not move but really doesn't need to because no two eyes see exactly the same thing. At each eye's strategic position the lens points in a different direction and works independently. The result is 180 degree, mosaic-type vision as each piece fits together to form the whole picture. The arrangement and structure of its eyes are of particular advantage to the fly because they enable it to detect instantly any quick movement. The fly is alert to danger and its sensitive eyes and swift flight serve as strong allies in its struggle to survive. But this particular morning its meal and the warm sun lulled the fly into a lazy rest. Suddenly, the fly was swept skyward. Flashing pain darted throughout its tiny body as sharp spines pierced it through. It was held tightly in a vice-like grip. The attack had come quickly and the insect was in the unyielding claws of a preying mantis. With long patience and cunning the mantis had stalked its prey. Its movements were almost negligible. The hunter's coloration and structure blended perfectly with the surroinding vegetation. Slowly and deliberately, taking one step at a time, the praying manits had approached the fly. When it came within striking range, the victim still failed to recognize its presence. The predator had so perfectly executed its surprise attack that even the quick take-off and the 4,000 eyes of the fly could not help now. It had not seen the lightening swift movement of the outstretched claw until it was too late. Because it had failed to be alert to the subtle changes which had taken place around it, the fly lost its life.

Scriptural References to the Fly

"And there came a grievous swarm of flies into the house of Pharaoh, and ... the land was corrupted by reason of the swarms of flies." ~ Exodus 8:24

The "swarms of flies" could have included several species. Among them the flies that thrive on filth and waste and reproduce at a phenomenal rate. They breed on decay and vermin, harbor millions of bacteria, and carry many diseases. They would have corrupted the land in a number of destructive ways. This plague, as well as the other nine plagues of Egypt, was miraculous in its intensity. violence and precise timing. God chose to use natural phenomena for the plagues because the Egyptians worshipped such things as the frog, the river, the fly, etc. This was God's way of mocking their false gods and demonstrating His supremacy over every part of His creation. Baal-zebub, a god which the Philistines worshiped, was "god of the flies."

"Dead flies cause the ointment of the apothecary to send forth a stinking savour, so doth a little folly him that is in reputation for wisdom and honor." ~ Ecclesiastes 10:1

The "ointment" which the druggist mixes is designed for helthful purposes, but the fly breeds death and decay. A dead fly can be removed from the ointment but its eggs will become maggots. The spoiling mixture gives off a warning of danger by a foul smell. A little folly is like the eggs of a fly in the ointment. It is out of character for a wise man and causes his good reputation to stink.