Fun with the Johnson Family

Emily, Audrey & Karis

Julie, Kyle, & Kristen

Sally & Julie

Bill & Rick

Rick & Bill in 1999, Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire

Bill & Rick in 2011, Wagoner, OK

Bill Johnson and son

Kyle and Bill

My friend, Bill Johnson, and I both raised daughters.  Then things changed.  God bless Bill and Julie with a son.  And what a blessing he is!

Talking About Africa

It was such a delight to have Bill & Julie Johnson and their family come for a visit this evening!  I went to college with Bill at OU and we were all neighbors when we lived in Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire.  Bill drove us to the hospital the night Emily was born.  Audrey and Karis were best friends when they were young.

Boynes and Johnsons

It was so fun to reminisce about old times in Abidjan.  To remember friends, events, and a time before civil war tore it all apart.  We all agreed that we REALLY miss Chez Abou's!

MK's now PK's

What was really neat was to watch the kids reconnect after so much time.  It was as if it had only been since last week that they have seen each other. There is something about a connection that MK's have with each other that they can't share with others.  It is an experience shared that others simply can never understand.

While we only had an evening to share, it was a treasured one.  In fact, for the girls, it's still going on, as Karis and Kristen are spending the night. (a really big deal since, it means a night that they won't spend at grandma's house)

We shared so many meals together overseas; it was so nice to do so again. (see picture of grill, below)  Good friends are few and far between, but friends like this are just incredibly rare.  But, like the children, we can take up in the relationship as if it was only last week.

We left Abidjan in 2002.  We saw them in 2007 and 2009.  WAY too long between visits.

I thank God for the blessing of friends.

Burger Time

A feast for friends!

Grand River

Taken from Ft. Gibson Dam

Ft. Gibson Dam

Memorial Day Sunday. Lake is 18.5' above normal.

Driving Lessons (a little early)

 

Emily's driving her Big Daddy's Mule

Wagoner Tornado was EF-2 not EF-0

I saw on the news tonight where the tornado that struck Wagoner Saturday night was actually an EF-2! I had no idea! KOTV reported that it was on the ground for 4.4 miles.

Wagoner Tornado Damage (Photo by Kellie Jennings)

The Storm Prediction Center details the Enhanced Fujita Scale 2 (EF-2) has having winds between 113 and 157 mph and describes the possibility of "considerable damage."

For more information about tornadoes, go to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) Storm Prediction Center's (SPC) Online Tornado FAQ.

Further information about this actual tornado can be found at the National Weather Service site.

KJV Celebrates 400 Years

2011 marks the 400th anniversary of the King James Version of the Bible.  Many of us, certainly myself included, were raised with the flowery Shakespearean words comprising our memory verses:

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:16 KJV)

and

A Psalm of David. The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever. (Psalms 23:1-6 KJV)

Certainly no one can  dispute its distinct place in history or even number the times its words have been preached or quoted.  Most people recognize that it is a very good translation and the folks who translated it 400 years ago did a very good job.

Yet, there is a disturbing trend taking place called the King James Only (KJVO) movement/cause/cult.  In my estimation, people have begun to nearly worship the KJV making it a form of idolatry.  Adherents to this movement do so out of blind allegiance to the written Word of God without regard to the facts of history.

Hear me well; I do not find fault with the King James Version. But that is all it is: a VERSION.

Most who blow the KJVO trumpet do so with an added caveat; the KJV-AV1611.  Or the King James Version-Authorised Version of 1611.  They do this in complete ignorance thinking the KJV they use is the ORIGINAL TRUE TO TEXT version that was first issued in 1611 by the British King, James I. The work began in 1604 and was completed 7 years later by the Church of England translators.

Adherents of KJVO proudly state that the KJV has not changed in 400 years, except for font or spelling.

1611 Hebrews  (click to enlarge)

This isn't true.

The first edition of the KJV-AV1611 contained the Apocrypha, an entire section that is still considered Scripture by the Roman Catholic church. (For an explanation of the apocrypha, click here)

Index Page of 1611 Edition (click to enlarge)

Most likely, KJV-AV1611 adherents are using the 1769 revision.  Most Bible printers fail to mention that on their copyright page.  The apocrypha wasn't removed from the KJV until the 1896 revision. The KJV has been changed or revised in one form or another in: 1611, 1613, 1616, 1617, 1618, 1629, 1630, 1633, 1634, 1637, 1638, 1640, 1642, 1653, 1659, 1675, 1679, 1833, 1896, & 1904. [REF]

There have been hundreds, if not thousands, of corrections to the original 1611 ranging from gender and tense, to actually saying "Judas" instead of "Jesus" in the 1611 version of Matthew 26:36.

I found a KJV translation mistake (I'm not the first) when I was preparing a sermon in I Samuel. In the KJV, it reads:

Yet they had a file for the mattocks, and for the coulters, and for the forks, and for the axes, and to sharpen the goads. (1 Samuel 13:21 KJV)

 In the New American Standard, it reads:

The charge was two-thirds of a shekel for the plowshares, the mattocks, the forks, and the axes, and to fix the hoes. (1 Samuel 13:21 NASB)

So, was it a file (KJV) or did they have to pay 2/3 of a shekel (NASB)?  The answer comes from the original Hebrew word "פים" or "pim."  The translators of the KJV and other early English versions, (including the Geneva) did not know what this was. From the context, they assumed it was a file to sharpen the blunt implements. However, later archeological discoveries showed that a pim was a unit of measurement [REF] which renders the earlier translation assumption inaccurate (wrong).

And don't forget the current edition KJV use of the word "unicorn" a total of 9 times: Num 23:22, Num 24:8, Deut 33:17, Job 39:9, Job 39:10, Ps 22:21, Ps 29:6, Ps 92:10, & Isa 34:7.

Here is Ps 22:21 in the Original:

Saue me from the lyons mouth: for thou hast heard me from the hornes of the vnicornes.
(Psalms 22:21 KJV-1611)

and the current:

Save me from the lion's mouth: for thou hast heard me from the horns of the unicorns.
(Psalms 22:21 KJV)

and the same in the NAS:

Save me from the lion's mouth; From the horns of the wild oxen You answer me.
(Psalms 22:21 NASB)

The translation was authorized by King James I in the Church of England's response to the Puritans who were questioning the Anglican stance on the ordination of priests. King James' instructions were to translate it in such a way as to strengthen the Anglican position and weaken the Puritan position.  Puritans had been using the Geneva Bible and the Church of England had created a previous English translation in 1568, but was inadequate to quell the common use of the Geneva Bible.

The puritans charged that the "Great Bible" and "Bishop's Bible"  failed in at least these areas:

First, Galatians iv. 25 (from the Bishops' Bible). The Greek word susoichei is not well translated as now it is, bordereth neither expressing the force of the word, nor the apostle's sense, nor the situation of the place. Secondly, psalm cv. 28 (from the Great Bible), ‘They were not obedient;’ the original being, ‘They were not disobedient.’ Thirdly, psalm cvi. 30 (also from the Great Bible), ‘Then stood up Phinees and prayed,’ the Hebrew hath, ‘executed judgment.’   [REF]

In my opinion, Americans have embraced the KJV because of the small print on the title page that says, "Authorized Version." Ask them what it means or who authorized it and the reply will likely be "God did."

Title Page from 1909 Cambridge Edition

Another proposes that it stems from a 1930 Seventh Day Adventist publication,  “Our Authorized Bible Vindicated” by Dr. Benjamin Wilkinson who believed the new modern translations were undermining the Sabbath worship and soul sleep/annihilation doctrines maintained by the Seventh Day Adventists. Later, a Baptist minister reproduced 16 chapters of the book without footnote references to any SDA affiliation. All, or most, KJVO proponents directly, or indirectly, cite these references to this day.

Criticism of the KJV back when it was introduced, included complaints of the formal, flowery language used, already being archaic and outdated to English speakers.  It wasn't widely accepted, even in England, until the 1660's, when they added "Authorised Version"to the title page.

Today, fundamental, independent Baptist churches, along with many other kinds of Baptists, Charismatics, and brand-X churches, are King James ONLY.  If you aren't aware of the controversy, just Google, "King James Only" and look-out.

The "scholarship" that KJVO proponents use to defend their positions and criticize newer versions are interesting, at best.  Some of them are down-right silly.  I remember reading (many years ago) some KJVO preacher saying that "yes, a person could get saved under a different version BUT HIS SALVATION WOULDN'T BE AS STRONG AS UNDER THE KING JAMES."  This is often the kind of thinking that goes along with this blind allegiance to the KJV.  Well meaning, but way off base.

However, my caution to you: do not get caught up in reading ABOUT the Bible instead of reading the Bible. If the KJV is too hard to understand, then try a different version.  Personally, I use the New American Standard which is a very accurate translation, supplemented with the English Standard Version.  I enjoy looking at MANY different versions, especially when I'm trying to get my feeble mind around a concept that I'm having trouble understanding. I recommend a free download from esword.net.  It has MANY free versions, including the KJV1611, Bishops Bile, Geneva Bible, ESV, and many others.  There are also some versions available for purchase.

Speaking of purchase, you can buy a High-Quality Facsimile KJV 1611 here.  It'd make a nice gift for your friend or pastor (hint, hint). :)

The bottom line: There is no doubt in my mind that God has used the King James Version. It is the best selling and hence the widest read version today. It is a very good version. But that is all it is - a version; a translation. To use it, memorize it, and preach the message it contains is one thing; to hold it up as the only accurate preserved Word of God is naive at best, generally misleading and, at worst, a form of idolatry.

Wagoner Tornado Damage

A small tornado struck along 15th street in Wagoner, OK, May 24, 2011. Here are a few pictures:

al-Qa'ida in West Africa

From HotSpots:

Senegal (Security threat level - 3): On 24 May 2011 the U.S. Embassy in Dakar released a Warden Message, which reads in part as follows: "As of May 2011, it was reported that terrorist organizations in West Africa affiliated with al-Qa’ida, will seek to capture or kill U.S. citizens in the region, possibly from locations frequented by Westerners, including markets, shops, hotels and restaurants, in revenge for the death of Usama bin Laden. We advise U.S. citizens traveling in the region to exercise caution, to maintain a low profile, and to avoid areas frequented by foreigners or tourists."

Now isn't that just "peachy?"

Pray for our missionaries scattered all over West Africa.

Emily's Award Assembly

Emily really racked-up at her Middle School Awards Assembly today!  I posted pictures from my phone in the posts below, but in this post are pictures from the regular camera.

Math Lab Award

4.0 Grade Point Average

Top 10% of Middle School & Oklahoma Honor Society

Outstanding 6th Grade Girl

Proud Parents

Emily, We're so proud of you!

Top 10%

Emily getting Top 10% of entire school and Oklahoma Honor Society

Emily's 4.0

Emily's award for 4.0 grade this year.

Math Lab Award

Emily getting the 6th grade Math Lab Award

A Letter to the President of the United States

The following is a letter I sent to the President today.  If this is how you feel, I urge you to send your own letter, too.  You can do so at www.whitehouse.gov

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Dear Mr. President,

Today, in your "middle-East" speech, you said something along the lines of "We'd like to see the borders in Israel return to the 1967 boundaries."

Just exactly who is this "we" you were talking about?

The only group of people in the whole world I can think of that want what you proposed is the Muslims.

Surely you don't mean "Muslims" when you say "we", do you?

You have consistently insisted that you are not a Muslim, yet you attended a Koranic school, have Muslim family, have Muslim sympathies, and now seem to be giving the Muslims what they want.

Exactly what is going on here, Mr. President?

As a natural-born citizen who upholds and defends the constitution (and pays my taxes), I protest your giving away Jerusalem to the Muslims.

If you are indeed a follower of Jesus Christ, as you say you are, you, too, would not want the most holy places in all of Christendom to fall under the control of Muslims, would you?

Under your plan, Calvary, the Garden Tomb, and the Eastern Gate would all be controlled by Muslims.

Historically, the United States has stood WITH Israel; why are you changing things now? 

Just exactly what is your agenda here, Mr. President?  It certainly doesn't seem to satisfy AMERICANS.

I beg you, by the mercies of God; reconsider your policy proposal. Withdraw it before you do real damage.

Sincerely,

Richard Boyne
Wagoner, OK

Harold Camping and May 21, 2011

Most likely, by now, most people have heard that there is "some preacher who is predicting Jesus' return on May 21" and you might be wondering, "What's up with that?"

Well,here's my 2¢ about Harold Camping...

He's a quack. He's a false prophet.

Now, I can't judge the intentions of his heart, obviously, but I can evaluate what he is saying against what God's word says.

First and foremost, this isn't the first time he's predicted Christ's return.  He did it back in 1994. September 6, 1994, to be exact.  He was wrong then, too.(duh)

'But the prophet who speaks a word presumptuously in My name which I have not commanded him to speak, or which he speaks in the name of other gods, that prophet shall die.' "You may say in your heart, 'How will we know the word which the LORD has not spoken?' "When a prophet speaks in the name of the LORD, if the thing does not come about or come true, that is the thing which the LORD has not spoken. The prophet has spoken it presumptuously; you shall not be afraid of him.
(Deuteronomy 18:20-22 NASB)

Second, despite his arguments against what I'm going to say, Matthew says:

But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father alone.
(Matthew 24:36 NASB)

He claims that this particular passage is misunderstood and we CAN know when Jesus will return.

Let's see... I choose to believe God's word...

Camping arrives at this particular date because he says it is exactly seven thousand years after Noah's flood.  He claims to have special understanding of God's word that has given him insight into the mysteries of God.

RUN AWAY, CHILDREN!  RUN AWAY!

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The bottom line.

At the heart of the matter is a great truth; Jesus WILL return for His bride. We just don't know when that will happen.

Personally, I happen to think that it is MUCH closer than many people are willing to think.

While we can't know the day of Christ's return, Jesus tells us this:

Now learn the parable from the fig tree: when its branch has already become tender and puts forth its leaves, you know that summer is near; so, you too, when you see all these things, recognize that He is near, right at the door.
(Matthew 24:32-33 NASB)

and

For the coming of the Son of Man will be just like the days of Noah. "For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and they did not understand until the flood came and took them all away; so will the coming of the Son of Man be.
(Matthew 24:37-39 NASB)

and

Therefore be on the alert, for you do not know which day your Lord is coming.
(Matthew 24:42 NASB)

and

In My Father's house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you. "If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also.
(John 14:2-3 NASB)

and finally

He who testifies to these things says, "Yes, I am coming quickly." Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.
(Revelation 22:20 NASB)

And to that, I humbly cry, "Maranatha! Come get us, Lord Jesus!"

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Will I be upset if Harold Camping is right and I am wrong?

Of course not!  I'll be the first to apologize to him and to my Lord for not believing. Why would I be upset? I'll be in the presence of Jesus!  I HOPE he IS right!

...but I'm sure he isn't.

I guess we'll find out on Sunday.  If you don't hear from me on Facebook, Twitter or on this blog by Monday or Tuesday, I have either died, or I have been taken up with the Lord.

If I died, please don't cry at my funeral; I'm in the presence of my Lord! :)

If I was taken up (along with the rest of the believers) and you are still around to read this, know that you will be made to make a choice between Jesus and the leader of this world. If you choose the leader of this world, you will be condemned by God to eternal damnation.

If you choose Jesus, you will suffer incredibly at the hands of those who are of this world, but do not give up or give in. If your faith is in Jesus, you are on the winning side.  Jesus will return, once again, to fight the leader of this world.  I've read the last chapter; Jesus wins!

Failblog.org Submission

With apologies to my friend, Stew R, I stole and submitted his picture to failblog.

Failblog.org is a website that shows funny pictures of things that just aren't right.

Please take a minute, click on the link below and vote on my submission.

The funny thing about it is that they labeled it as a clothing line fail when it is really a eyeglasses marketing fail.

http://cheezburger.com/View/4773245440

Here is the original picture that I stole from Stew:

Rob McNamara

Rob McNamara charging Chris at his ordination.

Chris McCarley

Chris McCarley giving his testimony at his ordination

Doesn't he clean up nice?  :)

Chris McCarley's Office

Chris McCarley in T-town.

What's Going On Here????

Something is weird.  Something is out of place.  And it looks like too many of us have our heads in the sand.

Do you ever recall a time, ever, that we had so many questions about a current American president? 

Why is this so hard?

Why are there so many questions?

I don't think it's a race thing; too many conservative African Americans don't like what he's doing.

I don't think it's a partisan thing; too many Democrats don't like what he's doing.

The weird thing is how many people who call themselves Christians do like what he's doing and get offended if anyone dares says anything about him or questions his origins or intentions.

I'm not perfect, nor do I claim to be.  I have made many, many mistakes in my forty some years on this earth and have embarrassed my Savior and my God more times than I care to admit.  I, unfortunately, have my own idols that I struggle against, but, to the best of my knowledge, have never, ever, been mistaken as a follower of another god or another religion.

Nor has anyone regarded me as "America's Messiah."

At best, I am barely tolerant of other world religions; I am jealous for my God and I believe that there is salvation in Jesus alone.

Before Obama became president, a NYT writer quoted Obama saying that the "Muslim call to prayer is one of the prettiest sounds on earth..."  The writer quoted Obama reminiscing about growing up in Islamic school in Indonesia getting in trouble for acting up during Koran study.  Also how he can quote the first lines of the call to prayer in perfect Arabic.

No president is perfect; just bring up Bill Clinton or George W. Bush and we'll have plenty of things to groan about.  It is completely embarrassing that Bill Clinton was Southern Baptist while in office.

I also THINK I understand how hard it is to balance personal beliefs with public political office.  Personally, I wouldn't want to be in that position, for I would be tempted to compromise my beliefs to make political gains.

However, something is still wrong.

Obama has way too many personal ties to Islam and has "accidentally" spoken about his "Muslim faith" too many times to be truly an accident.

Michelle Obama spoke about going to Kenya, the land of Obama's birth.

The Kenyan Parliament applauded the US people for electing a Kenyan national as president of the US.  The official minutes from that day's proceedings have been purged from internet history.

Kenyan hotels will arrange excursions to the village of Obama's birth and are excited and proud to do so.

There are simply too many inconsistencies around the Hawaii birth certificate situation.  Personally, I believe there is a conspiracy to defraud.

I've learned that Muslims participating in Jihad are allowed to deny their loyalty to Allah if in the process of Jihad; they can even deny being Muslim.

I find it extremely interesting that Michelle won't travel with Obama when he goes to Arab countries.

I find it extremely disturbing that he bows to foreign kings.

I find it bizarre that he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize within two weeks or so of his inauguration.

I find it strange that he is heralded as such a great speaker, but actually stammers when he talks. (and apparently can't without a teleprompter)

I am extremely concerned with his ties to ACORN. (and other dubious characters)


So, what's all this about?

Undoubtedly, some will call me a hater.  Some will accuse me of criticism without praying.  Some will even go so far as to challenge my spirituality by questioning my authority.  Some may even call me a racist.

To them I say: No, I am not a hater.  Nor am I a racist.  I don't hate Obama. I do actually pray for him, especially that he would be surrounded by Godly advisers and that if he is indeed a Christian, that he would be led by the Holy Spirit (and for salvation if he is not.)  I don't care what ethnicity our president is, as long as he is actually an American.

I bring all this up because I don't know what is going on and I think someone is trying to pull the wool over my eyes.

I stand opposed to Obama's policies; I think he's trying to destroy our republic with debt and entitlements.  I think he's destroying the fabric of our culture with his policies on abortion, homosexuality, marriage, and morality.  I think his socialist political agenda threatens our future, our security, and our very existence as a country.

I feel that since I voted, I am entitled to express my opinion.  If you voted, you are entitled to express yours, too.  If you didn't vote, you are still entitled to your opinion, but you should thank those who have gone before us for your ability to hold your opinion.  If things go the way I think they will go, you may not have that privilege too much longer.

 

I think this matter transcends partisan politics; I think it is a moral issue.  I think that if America re-elects Obama, we have simply laid down and will let America die.  It's a case of "fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice, shame on me."

May God continue to bless America by withholding his hand of wrath from us.  May He continue to show us mercy that we might repent of our evil ways, turn from our sin, and seek His face.

The Storm that Rolled through Wagoner

Storm cloud that led the severe thunderstorm through Wagoner last night.