Christ the GREAT

In this era of modern marvel, most men, including Christians are in awe of the abilities of those who call themselves the greatest of all time, or the g.o.a.t. But, for those who read scripture, they can tell you that satan is often depicted as a goat that walks upright, as well as a serpent.

Recently, a retired professional basketball player spoke of the “drug-circus” that his famous “threepeating” team was when he signed on in the late-1980s. He was an amazing athlete who seemingly levitate on the court and left the masses in awe at his skill. Could one only imagine how phenomenal modern athletes might be if they lived a life free from any illicit drugs and alcohol. Little need likely would exist for the use of any performance enhancing substances, such as steroids or creatine.

Yet, the abuses of his team were not a secret for many. While working a part-time, temporary role the helped fund college in the late-1990s, the author met and conversed with a not so famous relative of one of his teammates. He said the he had met the man deemed as the greatest of all time in basketball and partied with some of this player’s teammates. He spoke more the “wildness” of the party and the athlete’s tolerance for illicit drugs than anything else. This man said that he “smoked a little refer”, but the athlete handled some the “hard stuff” and lots of it.

And, this likely is true and normal for most wealthy professional athletes, in many sports, with multi-million-dollar annual contracts which have made some billionaires over the years. Extreme wealth initially acquired in the late teens or early twenties with all the temptation found in those years of life is a recipe for trouble.

Yet, this concept of the g.o.a.t., a human man idolized for his ability and accomplishments. A man, who was not willingly crucified on a cross for the sins of others, is not innocent, and is guilty of the sin common in the life of all modern men, become the one youth and adults imitate. Yet, his wealth, fame, and “good” reputation is our desire.

The author vaguely remembers sketching this phrase in an idea journal of his while in junior high. It accompanied some sketches of automobile body designs. He was dreaming of building more efficient cars at the time the produced less pollution. And, like many youths he sought the position of a frontrunner. Outspoken, as many of his classmates would say about him, he really was not interested in mediocrity.

In fact, he has had many dreams in life that produce déjà vu moments. Occasionally, this might be only a few days after the dream was had. One of those dreams was had in high school and it concerned working with “relatives” who worked in senior management at Sun Microsystems and developing a computing language. When he shared this with his mother she was much like Joseph’s parents and brothers. Another, the occurred during high school involved building an automotive vehicle that had a projected service cycle of over thirty-five years and that only required a single initial fuel charge. He does not remember if this vehicle in his dream used shielding and large permanent magnets as the core technology for the motor or not. This was a theoretical design for an electromechanical battery that the Lord blest him with one day while he sat on the orange shag carpet in his room. It somewhat circumvents Newton's Third Law. And, it was his goal that he engineer such a long-running battery-engine when he reached graduate school, if he stayed in the field of physics. This he did not do. Life and circumstances, primarily medical malpractice, drove him away from this goal and dream.

We often admire men whose accomplishments have been noted in history. For the author, he thought the selfless work of men such as Peter Salk and George Washington Carver best showed the value of an education in the sciences. And, he sought the life of a god-fearing Christian steward who worked in the sciences. Yet, with a decade of nightlife under his belt, he not a Salk or a Carver and will never be. He mortgaged away those dreams a dollar and a drink at a time.

Yet, what is the value of earning a reputation as the greatest, if you have not learnt of him who is truly GREAT?

Christ is the Greatest. Rabbi. Exceeding. All. Times. (GREAT) A young Hebrew friend of mine would often ask questions about Christianity. She said that one could not deny that Jesus lived, since his birth records were recorded in history. And, one could not deny the he was a great and sincere teacher of the scriptures, but she said that she did not believe that he was Israel’s Messiah. So, we might have some common ground, the author shared with her this, “We cannot agree upon whether Jesus of Nazareth was the Messiah, but we can agree that a Messiah is coming and He is our Ever-Present Hope and Joy.”

Jesus, himself, said that all would not accept him as the Messiah.

In the following, verse 11 suggests that many will not accept Him as Lord, yet verse 14 simultaneously state the Gospel of Jesus Christ would reach the for corners of the Earth. He simply will not be accepted by all men as the Messiah.

[Mat 24:3-14 KJV] 3 And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what [shall be] the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world? 4 And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you. 5 For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many. 6 And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all [these things] must come to pass, but the end is not yet. 7 For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places. 8 All these [are] the beginning of sorrows. 9 Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name's sake. 10 And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another. 11 And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. 12 And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. 13 But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved. 14 And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.

If it were ever the case that they had or did, His Prophetic Words would be nullified as false, simultaneous proving that He was not. This is a paradox. And, it could be safely said that the Gospel of Christ has reached the Earth’s four corners.

And, as prophesied in Isaiah and stated in John, He would not be accept by all men nor many of His own, and his life would see many challenges.

[Isa 53:1-12 KJV] 1 Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the LORD revealed? 2 For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, [there is] no beauty that we should desire him. 3 He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were [our] faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not. 4 Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. 5 But he [was] wounded for our transgressions, [he was] bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace [was] upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. 6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. 7 He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth. 8 He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken. 9 And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither [was any] deceit in his mouth. 10 Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put [him] to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see [his] seed, he shall prolong [his] days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand. 11 He shall see of the travail of his soul, [and] shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities. 12 Therefore will I divide him [a portion] with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.

[Jhn 1:10-14 KJV] 10 He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. 11 He came unto his own, and his own received him not. 12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, [even] to them that believe on his name: 13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. 14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

So, it is rather senseless when Christians feel they must “make” every other person carry the same label as them. Truth be told, many of us are "Christian: in name only. Often, the bulk of our behaviors contradict His Teachings. Many who have a different faith label are a “Law unto themselves” as Paul stated in Romans below and truly more "Christian" than us. 

This does not mean that they profess the same “catch-phrases” that we Christians do, but they follow an “unseen” leading that sets them apart for a life “righteous” living. They do all the things that a God-fearing Christian would do and at times more, yet the were born with and claim a different faith label. Consider the following passages. The first are the words of the apostle Paul. The second are the words of Christ.

[Rom 2:14-15 KJV] 14 For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves: 15 Which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and [their] thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another;)

[Mat 7:21-23 KJV] 21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? 23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

[Mat 25:31-46 KJV] 31 When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory: 32 And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth [his] sheep from the goats: 33 And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left. 34 Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: 35 For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: 36 Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me. 37 Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed [thee]? or thirsty, and gave [thee] drink? 38  When saw we thee a stranger, and took [thee] in? or naked, and clothed [thee]? 39  Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee? 40 And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done [it] unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done [it] unto me. 41 Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels: 42 For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink: 43 I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not. 44 Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee? 45 Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did [it] not to one of the least of these, ye did [it] not to me. 46 And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.

Yet, Jesus the GREAT was present before there was a when or a where or a then or a there. He was with the Father and the Spirit when the very foundations of the universe were laid as noted in John 1 (KJV).

[Jhn 1:1-5 KJV] 1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 The same was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. 4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men. 5 And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.

Christ is seen as the Word as stated later in the first chapter of John.

[Jhn 1:10-14 KJV] 10 He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. 11 He came unto his own, and his own received him not. 12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, [even] to them that believe on his name: 13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. 14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

And, as seen in Matthew 4, a g.o.a.t has very little power of him who is G.R.E.A.T!

[Mat 4:1-25 KJV] 1 Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil. 2 And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungred. 3 And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread. 4 But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. 5 Then the devil taketh him up into the holy city, and setteth him on a pinnacle of the temple, 6 And saith unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in [their] hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone. 7 Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God. 8 Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them; 9 And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me. 10 Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve. 11 Then the devil leaveth him, and, behold, angels came and ministered unto him. 12 Now when Jesus had heard that John was cast into prison, he departed into Galilee; 13 And leaving Nazareth, he came and dwelt in Capernaum, which is upon the sea coast, in the borders of Zabulon and Nephthalim: 14 That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying, 15 The land of Zabulon, and the land of Nephthalim, [by] the way of the sea, beyond Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles; 16 The people which sat in darkness saw great light; and to them which sat in the region and shadow of death light is sprung up. 17 From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. 18 And Jesus, walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brethren, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers. 19 And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men. 20 And they straightway left [their] nets, and followed him. 21 And going on from thence, he saw other two brethren, James [the son] of Zebedee, and John his brother, in a ship with Zebedee their father, mending their nets; and he called them. 22 And they immediately left the ship and their father, and followed him. 23 And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people. 24 And his fame went throughout all Syria: and they brought unto him all sick people that were taken with divers diseases and torments, and those which were possessed with devils, and those which were lunatick, and those that had the palsy; and he healed them. 25 And there followed him great multitudes of people from Galilee, and [from] Decapolis, and [from] Jerusalem, and [from] Judaea, and [from] beyond Jordan.

So admire Him that is GREAT and be not in awe of this world's many g.o.a.t s.

Be Better...

In a capitalistic nation where men compete for financial reward, social status, and accolades, this is the author's simple request for any young person reading this passage, "Be Better...Be Better Than Me!"

The author is quickly approaching his fiftieth birthday and came make some rather bold claims concerning his successes which include receiving an acceptance letter from Stanford University personally sign by the Arts and Sciences Dean in the Spring of 1988. But, with a number of academic accomplishments, including time as an adjunct instructor at Southern Methodist, and an influence in modern computing and engineering, as a concept promoter, that has brought the world JAVA, object-orientation, markup languages such as HTML, the popular modern hybrids, in that physics, a career as a modern scientific steward, and work in environmentalism were his original career goals. he learnt a vital truth concerning scripture very late in life. As such, he is little more than an educated fool. So, Be Better Than Me!

While in elementary school, he was asked by a well-meaning Jewish classmate one simple question, "Do Christians love Jesus? Why will they not do what he says?" Then, somewhat perplexed, she quoted Matthew 5:17.

[Mat 5:17-20 KJV] 17 Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. 18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. 19 Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach [them], the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 20 For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed [the righteousness] of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.

But, most Christians who ears itch for a "free pass" on sin will selectively cite verses from Romans out of context, including verse #22, #28, and #30 in the following passage. and other letters written by the apostle Paul that talk about "justification by faith and faith alone", discounting the Law. Yet, they skirt over verses such as verse #31 in the third chapter of Romans, passages such as excerpt from Galatians 1 below this one, and what was Christ's "Good News" in His Sermon on the Mount in the fifth chapter of Matthew starting at verse seventeen. It is above.

[Rom 3:1-31 KJV] 1 What advantage then hath the Jew? or what profit [is there] of circumcision? 2 Much every way: chiefly, because that unto them were committed the oracles of God. 3 For what if some did not believe? shall their unbelief make the faith of God without effect? 4 God forbid: yea, let God be true, but every man a liar; as it is written, That thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest overcome when thou art judged. 5 But if our unrighteousness commend the righteousness of God, what shall we say? [Is] God unrighteous who taketh vengeance? (I speak as a man) 6 God forbid: for then how shall God judge the world? 7 For if the truth of God hath more abounded through my lie unto his glory; why yet am I also judged as a sinner? 8 And not [rather], (as we be slanderously reported, and as some affirm that we say,) Let us do evil, that good may come? whose damnation is just. 9 What then? are we better [than they]? No, in no wise: for we have before proved both Jews and Gentiles, that they are all under sin; 10 As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: 11 There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. 12 They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one. 13 Their throat [is] an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps [is] under their lips: 14 Whose mouth [is] full of cursing and bitterness: 15 Their feet [are] swift to shed blood: 16 Destruction and misery [are] in their ways: 17 And the way of peace have they not known: 18 There is no fear of God before their eyes. 19 Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. 20 Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law [is] the knowledge of sin. 21 But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; 22 Even the righteousness of God [which is] by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: 23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; 24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: 25 Whom God hath set forth [to be] a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; 26 To declare, [I say], at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus. 27 Where [is] boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith. 28 Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law. 29 [Is he] the God of the Jews only? [is he] not also of the Gentiles? Yes, of the Gentiles also: 30 Seeing [it is] one God, which shall justify the circumcision by faith, and uncircumcision through faith. 31 Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law.

[Gal 1:6-10 KJV] 6 I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: 7 Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. 8 But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. 9 As we said before, so say I now again, If any [man] preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed. 10 For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.

Notice verse 8 and 9 immediately above and what was preached in the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 5:17-20.

Truth be told, the verses that Paul preaches concerning "justification by faith" are in the context of adult Gentile men undergoing the painful act of faith known as circumcision. This usually occurs in infant males shortly after they are born. The stinging pain is forgotten by most.

The author remembers his circumcision and the plump brunette nurse who applied the anesthetic salve that eased the pain of the cut flesh. She wore hospital togs that were solid primary colors and white.

Paul states in the second chapter of Galatians below that Peter ate the unclean foods of Gentiles, which was also considered a sin. Yet, all legal scriptural compliance would have cost him was controlling his gullet and resisting temptation. Scriptural adherence and fidelity would not have cost him the sting of cut flesh. And, notice verse 16 in this passage whose true context and topic of discourse is the requirement of circumcision for adult Gentile men joining the fold.
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[Gal 2:1-21 KJV] 1 Then fourteen years after I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, and took Titus with [me] also. 2 And I went up by revelation, and communicated unto them that gospel which I preach among the Gentiles, but privately to them which were of reputation, lest by any means I should run, or had run, in vain. 3 But neither Titus, who was with me, being a Greek, was compelled to be circumcised: 4 And that because of false brethren unawares brought in, who came in privily to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage: 5 To whom we gave place by subjection, no, not for an hour; that the truth of the gospel might continue with you. 6 But of these who seemed to be somewhat, (whatsoever they were, it maketh no matter to me: God accepteth no man's person:) for they who seemed [to be somewhat] in conference added nothing to me: 7 But contrariwise, when they saw that the gospel of the uncircumcision was committed unto me, as [the gospel] of the circumcision [was] unto Peter; 8 (For he that wrought effectually in Peter to the apostleship of the circumcision, the same was mighty in me toward the Gentiles:) 9 And when James, Cephas, and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given unto me, they gave to me and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship; that we [should go] unto the heathen, and they unto the circumcision. 10 Only [they would] that we should remember the poor; the same which I also was forward to do. 11 But when Peter was come to Antioch, I withstood him to the face, because he was to be blamed. 12 For before that certain came from James, he did eat with the Gentiles: but when they were come, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing them which were of the circumcision. 13 And the other Jews dissembled likewise with him; insomuch that Barnabas also was carried away with their dissimulation. 14 But when I saw that they walked not uprightly according to the truth of the gospel, I said unto Peter before [them] all, If thou, being a Jew, livest after the manner of Gentiles, and not as do the Jews, why compellest thou the Gentiles to live as do the Jews? 15 We [who are] Jews by nature, and not sinners of the Gentiles, 16 Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified. 17 But if, while we seek to be justified by Christ, we ourselves also are found sinners, [is] therefore Christ the minister of sin? God forbid. 18 For if I build again the things which I destroyed, I make myself a transgressor. 19 For I through the law am dead to the law, that I might live unto God. 20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. 21 I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness [come] by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.

And, let us examine the purpose of circumcision. Some say that some of "cleanliness" surround circumcision. Yet, like a a young lady's maiden head, the loosing of the flesh on that part of a circumcised males body can be used as an indicator of sexual activity. So. the body of an adult Gentile male with a wife would only appear "circumcised" for the brief period before they united themselves in a "scriptural acceptable" marital act, based upon His Law. So, the visible nature of the legal compliance would be short-lived. So, demanding such from the Gentile men would require that they perform a painful and effectively futile act. This is why Paul said that those who insist upon the circumcision of adult male converts might as well "emasculate" themselves, as verse 12 of the following, in the NIV translation, states:

[Gal 5:6-12 KJV] 6 For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love. 7 Ye did run well; who did hinder you that ye should not obey the truth? 8 This persuasion [cometh] not of him that calleth you. 9 A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump. 10 I have confidence in you through the Lord, that ye will be none otherwise minded: but he that troubleth you shall bear his judgment, whosoever he be. 11 And I, brethren, if I yet preach circumcision, why do I yet suffer persecution? then is the offence of the cross ceased. 12 I would they were even cut off which trouble you.

When God speaks with men through His Word, we see what our eyes, ears, and heart lust and long for. For as the earlier passages state, Peter, whose name means rock, was a stout man, had a dream given by the Lord. His stomach translated it literally, but many dreams that are presented in scripture are not literal. And, when such contradicts His Word, they should not be taken that way. As such, he ate the food of the Gentile, at times. Yet, a more figurative interpretation of his dream would suggest that the body of Israel which followed Christ should consume and absorb the "unclean" Gentiles, accepting them as part of the fold. The verses describing his dream is below:

[Act 10:8-22 KJV] 8 And when he had declared all [these] things unto them, he sent them to Joppa. 9  On the morrow, as they went on their journey, and drew nigh unto the city, Peter went up upon the housetop to pray about the sixth hour: 10 And he became very hungry, and would have eaten: but while they made ready, he fell into a trance, 11 And saw heaven opened, and a certain vessel descending unto him, as it had been a great sheet knit at the four corners, and let down to the earth: 12 Wherein were all manner of fourfooted beasts of the earth, and wild beasts, and creeping things, and fowls of the air. 13 And there came a voice to him, Rise, Peter; kill, and eat. 14 But Peter said, Not so, Lord; for I have never eaten any thing that is common or unclean. 15 And the voice [spake] unto him again the second time, What God hath cleansed, [that] call not thou common. 16  This was done thrice: and the vessel was received up again into heaven. 17 Now while Peter doubted in himself what this vision which he had seen should mean, behold, the men which were sent from Cornelius had made enquiry for Simon's house, and stood before the gate, 18 And called, and asked whether Simon, which was surnamed Peter, were lodged there. 19 While Peter thought on the vision, the Spirit said unto him, Behold, three men seek thee. 20 Arise therefore, and get thee down, and go with them, doubting nothing: for I have sent them. 21 Then Peter went down to the men which were sent unto him from Cornelius; and said, Behold, I am he whom ye seek: what [is] the cause wherefore ye are come? 22 And they said, Cornelius the centurion, a just man, and one that feareth God, and of good report among all the nation of the Jews, was warned from God by an holy angel to send for thee into his house, and to hear words of thee.

Could verse 13 above be interpreted as, "Arise Peter, slay [demons] and consume [your Gentile brethren].

Remember when Christ said:

[Mat 16:13-19 KJV] 13 When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am? 14 And they said, Some [say that thou art] John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets. 15 He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? 16 And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. 17 And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed [it] unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. 18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. 19 And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.

Does that passage put Peter's dream in perspective? Peter, the rock and an apostle, was a pillar of the early church. They both has quite a capricious nature. And, Jesus, the Rock and the Messiah, was the Cornerstone.

Also, note how the dreams which Joseph had and interpreted were not literal. Remember the dream of Pharaoh. Seven gaunt kinne did not devour seven fat kinne on the banks of the Nile. The cattle represented years of prosperity and paucity. [Reference: Genesis 41]

But, on the topic of "by faith alone" touching issues other that circumcision in the epistles of Paul. It really does not.

Teaching otherwise is costly. The author has committed many needless sins in his life because the community of Christian believers as a whole take the Law with a "grain of salt". As such, many of us lose our "saltiness" at an early age. And, we often acquire sinful and addictive behaviors that are self-defeating, self-destructive, and worldly. The author "unwittingly" was one such person. Young men, be better than me! Navigate around the deceptions in this world much better than this author.

We separate ourselves from the Father and His Kingdom through our actions. We thinking ourselves wise are nothing more than fools in our folly bound for damnation.

In second Timothy, Paul himself says:

[2Ti 2:15 KJV] 15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

And, in first Corinthian's he, Paul, says:

[1Co 1:12-13 KJV] 12 Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ. 13 Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul?

If one is looking for a clearer view of Christ's teaching on the Law and godly works, why do we not ask His siblings on this earth. James was His brother and Jude was James' brother-in-law. So, they were all family. What did James say in the book which carries his name?

[Jas 2:14-26 KJV] 14 What [doth it] profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, 16 And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be [ye] warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what [doth it] profit? 17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. 18 Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works. 19 Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. 20 But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? 21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? 22 Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect? 23 And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God. 24 Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only. 25 Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent [them] out another way? 26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.

What did Jude say in the book which carries his name?[Note verse 14 through 19]

[Jde 1:1-25 KJV] 1 Jude, the servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James, to them that are sanctified by God the Father, and preserved in Jesus Christ, [and] called: 2 Mercy unto you, and peace, and love, be multiplied. 3 Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort [you] that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints. 4 For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ. 5 I will therefore put you in remembrance, though ye once knew this, how that the Lord, having saved the people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed them that believed not. 6 And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day. 7 Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire. 8 Likewise also these [filthy] dreamers defile the flesh, despise dominion, and speak evil of dignities. 9 Yet Michael the archangel, when contending with the devil he disputed about the body of Moses, durst not bring against him a railing accusation, but said, The Lord rebuke thee. 10 But these speak evil of those things which they know not: but what they know naturally, as brute beasts, in those things they corrupt themselves. 11 Woe unto them! for they have gone in the way of Cain, and ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward, and perished in the gainsaying of Core. 12 These are spots in your feasts of charity, when they feast with you, feeding themselves without fear: clouds [they are] without water, carried about of winds; trees whose fruit withereth, without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots; 13 Raging waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame; wandering stars, to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness for ever. 14 And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints, 15 To execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard [speeches] which ungodly sinners have spoken against him. 16 These are murmurers, complainers, walking after their own lusts; and their mouth speaketh great swelling [words], having men's persons in admiration because of advantage. 17 But, beloved, remember ye the words which were spoken before of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ; 18 How that they told you there should be mockers in the last time, who should walk after their own ungodly lusts. 19 These be they who separate themselves, sensual, having not the Spirit. 20 But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost, 21 Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. 22 And of some have compassion, making a difference: 23 And others save with fear, pulling [them] out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh. 24 Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present [you] faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, 25 To the only wise God our Saviour, [be] glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.

And, the disciple that Christ loved, John the Evangelist wrote below ( note verses 3 - 7 in light of Matt 5:17-20 which was one of Christ's commandments ):

[1Jo 2:1-29 KJV] 1 My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: 2 And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for [the sins of] the whole world. 3 And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. 4 He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. 5 But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him. 6 He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked. 7 Brethren, I write no new commandment unto you, but an old commandment which ye had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word which ye have heard from the beginning. 8 Again, a new commandment I write unto you, which thing is true in him and in you: because the darkness is past, and the true light now shineth. 9 He that saith he is in the light, and hateth his brother, is in darkness even until now. 10 He that loveth his brother abideth in the light, and there is none occasion of stumbling in him. 11 But he that hateth his brother is in darkness, and walketh in darkness, and knoweth not whither he goeth, because that darkness hath blinded his eyes. 12 I write unto you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for his name's sake. 13 I write unto you, fathers, because ye have known him [that is] from the beginning. I write unto you, young men, because ye have overcome the wicked one. I write unto you, little children, because ye have known the Father. 14 I have written unto you, fathers, because ye have known him [that is] from the beginning. I have written unto you, young men, because ye are strong, and the word of God abideth in you, and ye have overcome the wicked one. 15 Love not the world, neither the things [that are] in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that [is] in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. 17 And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever. 18 Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time. 19 They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would [no doubt] have continued with us: but [they went out], that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us. 20 But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things. 21 I have not written unto you because ye know not the truth, but because ye know it, and that no lie is of the truth. 22 Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son. 23 Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father: [(but) he that acknowledgeth the Son hath the Father also]. 24 Let that therefore abide in you, which ye have heard from the beginning. If that which ye have heard from the beginning shall remain in you, ye also shall continue in the Son, and in the Father. 25 And this is the promise that he hath promised us, [even] eternal life. 26 These [things] have I written unto you concerning them that seduce you. 27 But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him. 28 And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming. 29 If ye know that he is righteous, ye know that every one that doeth righteousness is born of him.

As Paul admonished in:

[1Co 10:24 NKJV] 24 Let no one seek his own, but each one the other's [well-being].

This the author does. And, he says. "young man be better than me!" Do not trod the foolish path which which the author compassed and come full-circle at fifty. Make progress. The academic accomplishment without "right living" and "self-discipline" is of little value:

[Pro 17:1 NKJV] 1 Better [is] a dry morsel with quietness, Than a house full of feasting [with] strife.

[Pro 15:17 KJV] 17 Better [is] a dinner of herbs where love is, than a stalled ox and hatred therewith.

The "quality" of a man's life is not necessarily a function of his financial wealth or academic accomplishment. The author lived his "best" years volunteering in church as a disciplined chaise celibate working for modest wages in his thirties and early forties. A self-chosen non-ordained oblation he was. He spent his "worst" years with a pornography addiction, although he envisioned and promoted concepts during that time at elite college and universities which have revolutionized modern computing and engineering.

It is better that one had done the former without leaving the latter undone. As Christ admonished the Pharisees:

[Mat 23:23 NKJV] 23 "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have neglected the weightier [matters] of the law: justice and mercy and faith. These you ought to have done, without leaving the others undone.

Be better than the author of this web-history.

Stop and think. How many of your friends, in this competitive world, who have seen any great successes would suggest that you outperform them and tell you how? How many have truly been genuinely happy for you when you excelled beyond what they could imagine or achieve for themselves? How many would tell you how such could done?

In all honesty, if it were not for all of the author's truly close friends, the bar hopping buddies whose secrets he keeps, he would likely not have any enemies.

Whether you win a Nobel Prize, Turing Award, Field Medal, or National Science Medal, or simply spend your years managing a mop and broom and swabbing toilets stools for a living, live a life of quality and integrity. Young man, be a "better" man than me. You can do it, if you learn the truth early and stay the course. The days that the author spent as a volunteer custodian at local churches has meant more, in terms of his salvation, than the early-entry offer and a four-year Presidential Scholarship at the University of Southern California, the time spent study at Vanderbilt University and Grinnell College, the experience teaching at Southern Methodist University, or the computing visions which he shared with mentors that have netted others Turing Awards and million dollar purses. How can a man ego-trip when he is worse than a dead dog lapping up his refuse as stated in:

[2Pe 2:22 KJV] 22 But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog [is] turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire.

Be a Better Than Me. You have your whole life ahead of you and "true success" is just a prayer away.

Stay Blest Young Man. Be Law Abiding.