Text Box: We Write For You! You Decide For Us!
Pittsburgh Standard

Text Box: I'm putting my rainbow in the clouds, a sign of the covenant between Me and the Earth. (Gen. 9:13, The Message)
  

 

Home

Mission Of Paper

PS 2008 Board
Monthly Archives 
JAN - FEB 2008

Best of 2005-2006

Best of 2004-2005

Best of 2003-2004

Best of 2002-2003

Best of 2001-2002

Our Coverage  

Express Your View
 

Search this site or the web powered by FreeFind

Site search Web search

 

 

EXPRESSIONS
 

Posted on Mon, March 10, 2008 at 7:11 a.m. EST

 

BEST OF

AUG 2006 - JULy 2007

 

NEWS

 

Video: SGB's Shady Henien Spoke Sensational Speech

 

"Coulter Comments Concerning Liberals Leaving Land!"

 

Slideshow: "Sodexho Serves Recepients the Champion of Diversity Award "

 

Photo: "Circle of Christians come to communicate with Christ at the Cathedral of Learning fountain"

 

Photos: Light Up Night Lights with Liveliness!


SGB ELECTIONS:

 

“Pitt News wants you to believe Shady Henien is the wrong guy for SGB President, but we don't"

 

Photos: “Egyptian-American Ascends to SGB Presidency with INTEGRITY believing in Almighty!"

 

Will Powers of TRUE slate attacks Shady Henien of INTEGRITY slate"

 

GREEK LIFE:

Video: Delta Zeta Deliciously Delivers Lusciously with Lambda Chi Alpha

Video: "Kappa Kappa Gammas Go Groovie Partnering with Pi Kappa Alphas!"

Video:"Delta Delta Delta's Dominate Delta Chi's Circus!"

Video: Chi Omega's Operation Offers Nothin' But a Gangsta Party at Kappa Alpha Psi's Place

Video: "Alpha Delta Pi & Kappa Sigma Sing in School"  

EXPRESSIONS:

 

"Dennis Muttu Delivered Before His Death!"

 

IMPRESSIONS:

 

Photos: “Egyptian-American Ascends to SGB Presidency with INTEGRITY believing in Almighty!"

 

Will Powers of TRUE slate attacks Shady Henien of INTEGRITY slate"

 

“Powers Promotes Preposterous Resolution to be Ratified Regarding Racism!"  

 

"Russia’s renegade attitude alienates and aggravates War on Terror"

 

FEATURE:

 

Slideshow: "Peer PGSIS 2006 Poster Portfolio Presentations! "

 

“Top 25 candy cane responses given by Pitt students eating at Schenley Cafe in 2006!"

 

"If Cocaine were an alien, what it would not want you to know!"

 

EDUCATION:

 

Food and Culture Sample Exam I

 

Nutrition Exam II Sample Questions on Energy Balance, Water Balance, Vitamins, and Minerals 

 

Nutrition Exam I Sample Questions"  

 

Nutrition Exam II Sample Questions on Energy Balance, Water Balance, Vitamins, and Minerals 

 

Nutrition Exam V, Sample II for FinalNutrition Final Sample Exam

“People Are Revealed Almighty’s Beautiful Lessons Emancipating Souls!(P.A.R.A.B.L.E.S)”

By Ramesh C.Reddy
Pittsburgh Standard


March 10, 2008

Editors Note: The devotional has a background song by called 'Don't Let Your Heart Be Hardened' which can be heard if you use Internet Explorer.

SCRIPTURE:
“Again Jesus began to teach by the lake. The crowd that gathered around him was so large that he got into a boat and sat in it out on the lake, while all the people were along the shore at the water's edge. He taught them many things by parables, and in his teaching said: "Listen! A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants, so that they did not bear grain. Still other seed fell on good soil. It came up, grew and produced a crop, multiplying thirty, sixty, or even a hundred times." (Mark 4:1-8, NIV)

 “Then Jesus said, "He who has ears to hear, let him hear." When he was alone, the Twelve and the others around him asked him about the parables. He told them, "The secret of the kingdom of God has been given to you. But to those on the outside everything is said in parables so that," 'they may be ever seeing but never perceiving, and ever hearing but never understanding; otherwise they might turn and be forgiven!'" (Mark 4:10-12, NIV)

“Then Jesus said to them, "Don't you understand this parable? How then will you understand any parable? The farmer sows the word. Some people are like seed along the path, where the word is sown. As soon as they hear it, Satan comes and takes away the word that was sown in them. Others, like seed sown on rocky places, hear the word and at once receive it with joy. But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away. Still others, like seed sown among thorns, hear the word; but the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth and the desires for other things come in and choke the word, making it unfruitful. Others, like seed sown on good soil, hear the word, accept it, and produce a crop—thirty, sixty or even a hundred times what was sown." (Mark 4:13-20, NIV)

Observations:
I asked myself what did Jesus decide to do?

  1. Jesus began to teach by the lake.

  2. The crowd got so large that Jesus got into a boat.

  3. Jesus sat in it out on the lake.

  4. While all the people were along the shore at the water’s edge, He taught them many things by parables.

Interpretations:
I asked myself what is a parable?
I learned three things about a parable:

  1. It is a transliteration of the Greek “parabole”, (para-bow-LAY) which means “to place beside, to cast alongside”! If you look at the parables carefully, you would realize there is always some kind of comparison.
     

  1. It can be seen as an extended metaphor or illustration:

  .                     a.       An illustration turned into a tale.
                b.
       A tale elaborated on the spur of the moment by a gifted     teacher.
                c.
       A gifted teacher who used common everyday events that made up life to make a main point.

  1. It can be a sermon hidden inside of it for those who diligently seek to understand the parable.

Observation:
I asked myself what happens after Jesus tells the parable?
Let us remember that a large crowd had gathered to hear Jesus and they heard this parable.  Jesus does something very interesting after telling the parable:

“Then Jesus said, "He who has ears to hear, let him hear." (Mark 4:9, NIV)

I asked myself what is the outcome?
No one in the large crowd asked Jesus what the parable meant except His disciples and the others around Him.

“When he was alone, the Twelve and the others around him asked him about the parables.” (Mark 4:10, NIV)

Jesus does not even answer them right away regarding the parable but makes two puzzling statements:

  1. “He told them, "The secret of the kingdom of God has been given to you. But to those on the outside everything is said in parables…” (Mark 4:11, NIV)

  2. “so that," 'they may be ever seeing but never perceiving, and ever hearing but never understanding; otherwise they might turn and be forgiven!'" (Mark 4:12, NIV)

Observation/Interpretation/Application:
I asked myself what point was Jesus trying to get across by answering them this way?

I believe there were four reasons why Jesus spoke this way and can be remembered by the acronym: CARE!

  1. To Conceal

  2. To Appeal

  3. To Reveal

  4. To Excitedly fulfill prophecy!

Reason 1:
“It was to CONCEAL to those who were not genuinely interested in the ‘meaning of the parables’”

I believe, when Jesus spoke to large crowds with his parables he did not want to force his truth on those whose hearts were already hardened.

In v. 9, “Then Jesus said, "He who has ears to hear, let him hear." (Mark 4:9, NIV)

Jesus wants those who are there to hear Him and take to heart what is being said. Those who just hear a message may not necessarily understand what it means. A parable weeds out those who are not seriously interested in the message being given (v. 12)

“So that," 'they may be ever seeing but never perceiving, and ever hearing but never understanding;” (Mark 4:12, NIV)

Jesus wants his message to sink into the hearts of the people. Jesus is calling each person and wants that person to take his illustration very seriously.

 If their hearts were hardened, they would not grasp what the parable meant nor ask what it meant. They would just ignore it. In that way, though they see Jesus’ illustration they would not really perceive what it means and though they hear they would not really understand what it meant. So, they cannot be forgiven because they have not acted upon what Jesus has told them because their hearts have been hardened. There is a cyclical effect here.

Reason 2:
“It was to APPEAL to those genuinely interested in ‘meaning of the parables’

On the other hand if their hearts were not hardened such as the disciples and those around Him, they would be more curious about what the parable meant and ask Jesus to explain it to them. This way it would be of their free choice learning about the secrets of the Kingdom of God rather than being forced to learn it. They would have gained more understanding but also realize the cost of following Jesus.

Reason 3:
”It was to REVEAL to those genuinely interested in the ‘meaning of the parables’”

Those who were interested in what Jesus was saying would ask Jesus about it and Jesus would then reveal the meaning to them so they could understand. I saw that with the Parable of the Sower or four soils.

Reason 4: 
“It was to fulfill prophecy”

People there who knew their Scriptures would know that this was a fulfillment of prophecy given in Isaiah.

In the Book of Isaiah chapter 6, v. 9 we learn, "Go and tell this people: `Be ever hearing, but never understanding; be ever seeing, but never perceiving.' (Isaiah 6:9, NIV)

Observation:
I asked myself what is the explanation Jesus gave to the disciples?

I remember that every parable has a ‘central point or theme to it and read the explanation:

“Then Jesus said to them, "Don't you understand this parable? How then will you understand any parable? The farmer sows the word. Some people are like seed along the path, where the word is sown. As soon as they hear it, Satan comes and takes away the word that was sown in them. Others, like seed sown on rocky places, hear the word and at once receive it with joy. But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away. Still others, like seed sown among thorns, hear the word; but the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth and the desires for other things come in and choke the word, making it unfruitful. Others, like seed sown on good soil, hear the word, accept it, and produce a crop—thirty, sixty or even a hundred times what was sown." (Mark 4:13-20, NIV)

Interpretation:
I asked myself what does the parable relate to?
I learned that the parable can be categorized into four types:

  1. Relating to God’s Kingdom

  2. Relating to Israel and Judaism

  3. Relating to the Christian Walk

  4. Relating to Christ’s Return and the Final Judgment.

I also learned that many parables could overlap especially with ‘Relating to God’s Kingdom’. The one the Lord has been teaching me today has to do with God’s Kingdom and our Christian Walk.

Interpretation:
I asked myself how should parables be interpreted?
There are four questions to keep in mind:

  1. What is the setting of the parable? (Who, what, where, and why) The setting helps us see who Jesus is specifically addressing with the parable, what is being addressed, where, and why it is being addressed?

  2. What is Jesus concerned with when He tells the parable?

  3. What is the central theme behind this entire parable?

  4. How am I to apply Jesus’ parable in my own life?

There is no need to interpret the "Parable of the Sower" because Jesus already explained it. Interpretation is needed for parables that have not been explained.

Source: Most of the bulleted points I shared regarding parables came from the IVP Dictionary and IVP study guide on parables.

I ask you now dear friend, what do parables mean to you?
Dear friend, parables have a central theme and meaning. Even this parable has a central theme and meaning, especially our walk with the Lord. We can learn a lot about parables by interpreting them the right way. To do that we need the help of the Lord as we allow Him to guide us and lead us. May we understand the parables Jesus gives us and apply them to our own lives.

To be continued......

“People Are Revealed Almighty’s Beautiful Lessons Emancipating Souls!” (P.A.R.A.B.L.E.S)/”What do parables mean to you?”

Prayer:
Dear Lord Jesus, thank you so much for helping me learn about parables and why you speak in parables. Thank you for the parables you have taught. Help us to learn what you would have us learn from each parable. Thank you Jesus! Thank you that you hear us and answer us. Please forgive us our sin and help us Oh Lord for the glory and honor of your Name. Teach us your ways Oh Lord and help us to learn from you. Cleanse us with your cleansing blood and we will be clean again, wash us and we will be whiter than snow. Thank you so much Jesus. Thank you for your mercy and your grace. Thank you for being my Lord and Personal Savior. You know the times I have messed up and the times I would mess up and you still chose me to be your child. Thank you so much Jesus. I love you Jesus. Thank you for dying for my sin and coming back to life to save me. Thank you that you have heard our prayer and answered us. In Your Name I Pray Jesus! Amen!

You can invite the GREAT PHYSICIAN right now as you make this your prayer.

Dear Jesus, thank you for healing the paralytic after forgiving his sins. You set him free to go home. I want to be free. I don’t know everything about you. I still have a lot of questions. What I do know is that you died on the cross for my sins. When it comes to sin, I am a paralytic Oh Lord. I am infected with this deadly disease known as sin. I am not perfect but a sinner who needs your cleansing blood to clean me of my sin everyday. I confess to you my sin and repent of my sin. I know you have forgiven me when you died on the cross. I want to accept that forgiveness. Thank you for shedding your cleansing precious blood for me. You were nailed to the cross because of me. It is like I actually held the hammer and pounded the nails so I could be free. Thank you for willingly dying for me Jesus. Thank you for taking the shame and pain for me. Thank you for doing that to set me free. I come to the cross and ask you for your healing in my life. Thank you for the power of your Blood to redeem humanity. Thank you for coming back to life to save us and give us Eternal Life as we yield to you. Your blood can heal us where we are. I love you Jesus. Even with my questions, I come to you now and accept you into my heart. Please Jesus come into my heart and make my heart your home. Give me a transfusion of change. Live in me Jesus and I will live for you and serve you the rest of the days of my life. I thank you Jesus for coming into my heart and making my heart your home. Thank you for living in me Jesus. I acknowledge you now as my Lord and Personal Savior. Please be the Lord and Savior of my life. Thank you for being my Lord and Personal Savior Jesus and because of what you have done for me when God looks at me, He now sees me covered in your blood and His judgment passes over me. Thank you that you have heard my prayer and answered me. Thank you for being with me Lord. Please fill me with your Holy Spirit. Thank you Jesus I now belong to you and never need to be alone! You will always be with me and have given me Salvation.  In Your Name I Pray Jesus! Amen!

Friend, if you have prayed this prayer and meant it in your heart, you are a new creation in Christ and all old things are passed away and everything has become new! You may feel something or may not but don’t base it on feelings but base your new life in Christ on the promises of our Savior who will never leave you nor forsake you! Amen!

No matter what you feel in your heart, know that Jesus has come in and resides with you! You are not alone! To make your walk strong with the Lord, spend time in prayer talking to Him as you would to a friend. You don’t need special words to talk to the Lord. Spend time in His Word reading Psalms and turning them into prayer. Next allow God to heal you and speak to you through the Gospel of John or Gospel of Mark before moving on to other Books of the Bible! Slowly, let the Lord show you to which Scriptures He wants you to go to next. It is also important to be part of a body of believers to help you grow in the faith. Find a Bible believing church that preaches the Word of God from Genesis to Revelation proclaiming Jesus Christ our crucified and risen Lord who brings us hope, healing, and help! But beware of churches who do believe in the Word of God completely but there is no freedom in Christ but legalism involved.

As a student, it is not too late to join a fellowship on campus too this blessed New Year of 2008! May the Lord's presence and peace fill you with His love now and forever! Amen!

Feel free to email me at reddy4hisglory2004@yahoo.com if you want to meet to study the Bible, pray with, talk about spiritual issues or whatever is on your mind! My number is 412-720-4579.

"This is my work and I can do it only because Christ's mighty energy is at work within me." (Colossians 1:29, TLB)

Express Your View

 

.Click picture to read my dad's memoriam:

' I AM ' Series Archives:

What kind of L.I.G.H.T do you follow? (Dec 13, 07, 10:09 a.m.)

"What kind of B.R.E.A.D do you eat?" (Dec 08, 07, 10:10 a.m.)

"Who is your S.H.E.P.H.E.R.D?" (June 30, 06)

Gospel of Mark Archives:

Mark 1:1: "What does the G.O.S.P.E.L mean to you?" (Jan 15, 08, 1:15 p.m.)

Mark 1:1-4: "How seriously do you T.E.S.T.I.F.Y about prophesy?" (Jan 12, 08, 11:18 p.m.)

Mark 1:5-8: "Who do you P.O.I.N.T to?" (Jan 16, 08, 8:48 a.m.)

Mark 1:9: How will you take a S.T.A.N.D? (Jan 17, 08, 11:21 a.m.)

Mark 1:9-11: "How is your loving P.R.A.I.S.E?" (Jan 18, 08, 8:53 a.m.)

Mark 1:12-13: "How do you handle T.E.M.P.T.A.T.I.O.N?" (Jan 19, 08, 12:27 p.m.)

Mark 1:14-15: How do you handle T.I.M.E given to you? (Jan 21, 08, 1:31 p.m.)

Mark 1:16-18: "What kind of P.R.O.F.E.S.S.I.O.N are you in?" (Jan 26, 08, 10:22 a.m.)

Mark 1:19-20: "Without having to  P.R.O.C.R.A.S.T.I.N.A.T.E, what should you do?"  (Jan 29, 08, 10:44 a.m.)

Mark 1:20-22: "How do you rate in the B.U.S.I.N.E.S.S of Jesus?" (Jan 30, 08, 11:29 a.m.)

Mark 1:20-22: "Whose T.E.A.C.H.I.N.G.S do you follow?" (Jan 31, 08, 11:52 a.m.)

Mark 1:23-28: "What C.A.P.T.I.V.I.T.Y are you facing today?" (Feb 01, 08, 10:35 a.m.)

Mark 4:3-20: "What if Jesus talked F.O.O.T.B.A.L.L?" (Feb 02, 08, 10:35 a.m.)

Mark 1:29-31: "Where do you need H.E.A.L.I.N.G?" (Feb 05, 08, 11:44 a.m.)

Mark 1:32-34: "Where do you need an A.N.S.W.E.R?" (Feb 06, 08, 11:16 a.m.)

Mark 1:35-39: "Where do you give your S.O.L.I.T.A.R.Y time to the Lord?" (Feb 07, 08, 11:41 a.m.)

Mark 1:40-42: "Where do you need to be C.L.E.A.N?" (Feb 09, 08, 11:00 a.m.)

Mark 1:43-45: "What do your actions C.A.U.S.E?" (Feb 11, 08, 9:23 a.m.)

MARK CHAPTER 2:

Mark 2:1-2: "What do you do with your P.O.P.U.L.A.R.I.T.Y?" (Feb 12, 08, 9:52 a.m.)

Mark 2:2-5: "What kind of F.R.I.E.N.D are you?" (Feb 13, 08, 11:49 a.m.)

Mark 2:5-12: "Where does P.A.R.A.L.Y.S.I.S take hold of you?" (Feb 15, 08, 7:42 a.m.)

Mark 2:5-12: "What are you thinking in your M.I.N.D?" (Feb 16, 08, 11:08 a.m.)

Mark 2:5-12: "What do you represent by your A.C.T.I.O.N.S?" (Feb 18, 08, 8:23 a.m.)

Mark 2:13-15: "Where are you looking for A.C.C.E.P.T.A.N.C.E?" (Feb 19, 08, 11:22 a.m.)

Mark 2:15-17: "Who do you I.N.V.I.T.E to Jesus?" (Feb 20, 08, 9:57 a.m.)

Mark 2:18-20: "When do you F.A.S.T?" (Feb 21, 08, 9:32 a.m.)

Mark 2:21-22: "How do you see your L.I.F.E?" (Feb 22, 08, 9:56 a.m.)

Mark 2:23-28: "What kind of L.E.A.D.E.R will you be? (Feb 23, 08, 10:46 a.m.)

Mark 2:23-28: "What does the S.A.B.B.A.T.H mean to you?" (Feb 25, 08, 10:46 a.m.)

CHAPTER 3:

Mark 3:1-6:"Whose N.E.E.D.S do you meet?" (Feb 26, 08, 9:54 a.m.)

Mark 3:7-8: "What is your I.M.P.A.C.T?" (Feb 27, 08, 8:17 a.m.)

Mark 3:9-11: "What S.P.A.C.E do you give yourself?" (Feb 28, 08, 9:38 a.m.)

Mark 3:11-12: "How do you fight E.V.I.L?" (Feb 29, 08, 9:11 a.m.)

Mark 3:13-16: "What emphasis do you put on your R.E.L.A.T.I.O.N.S.H.I.P with Jesus?" (March 01, 08, 9:29 a.m.)

Mark 3:17-19: "Where do you have your A.P.P.O.I.N.T.M.E.N.T in?" (March 03, 08, 9:49 a.m.)

Mark 3:20: "Where do you G.A.T.H.E.R?" (March 04, 08, 12:07 p.m.)

Mark 3:21: "How are your actions seen by your F.A.M.I.L.Y?" (March 05, 08, 10:24 a.m.)

Mark 3:22-27: "How do you handle S.L.A.N.D.E.R?" (March 06, 08, 7:57 a.m.)

Mark 3:28-30: "What is your V.I.E.W of Jesus?" (March 07, 08, 8:18 a.m.)

Mark 3:31-34: "What do you do with God's Will?" (March 08, 08, 8:45 a.m.)

 


 

 

 

 

 

Copyright 2008 Pittsburgh Standard

Reproduction or reuse for profit prohibited without written consent from Pittsburgh Standard