QUARANTINE BLOG # 359

March 24, 2021

Twice in recent blogs I’ve written about the insanity in Myanmar – the overthrow of a democratically elected government, the rule of a military usurper, and the people’s struggle to overturn the military government.  And I’ve told you about an independent ministry originating out of England – Partners in Ministry International – that is supporting an orphanage of 30 children and a pastor there.  PIMI shares letters with me to and from Myanmar.  Here is one from Pastor CB Philip Thang.  It is unedited – English is not Pastor Thang’s first language.

“We all are fine.  Everybody says that our revolution will be taking a long time.  Still, all offices and companies are closed.  Our country is going down at the bottom in every area.  Polices and soldiers arrested young people to force into the Myanmar military.  We have no rule and order.  Whatever the General says is rule and law.  We are living in a very dangerous situation.  

“We have minimized food for our Children.  It is starting famine in Myanmar.  Many people have no food to eat.  There are many thefts and robbers in the night since we are living without law.

“Faithfully yours, Pastor CB Philip Thang”

Please pray for the ministry in Myanmar and for the entire nation.

👉  Here are a few more origins of idioms and interesting sayings.

When we say we are going to butter someone up, we mean to flatter or otherwise ingratiate oneself with someone.  The origin of that phrase comes from ancient India where worshipers threw balls of clarified butter at the statues of gods in order to seek a favor.

Put a sock in it, means to stop talking.  And the origin has a literal basis for it.  In the late 19th century people would use woollen socks to stuff the horns of their gramophones or record players to lower the sound, since these machines had no volume controllers.

If you say, “My ears are burning,” it means you are subconsciously aware of being talked about or criticized.  The idiom dates back to ancient Romans who believed that burning sensations in various organs had different meanings.  It was believed that if your left ear is burning it signaled an evil intent, and if your right ear was burning you were actually being praised.  If both ears were burning, you had sassed your mamma and she had boxed your ears.

👉  The cartoon series “He-Man and the Masters of the Universe” had Conan the Barbarian for its inspiration.  Conan was a popular fantasy series first written by Robert E. Howard in 1932.  He was famous for his large frame and notable muscles, reminiscent of Superman who first appeared in DC comics that same year.  Moving on to the late 1970s, Mattel (who had recently turned down an offer from George Lucas to produce action figures for the Star Wars series – big mistake, really big) wanted a new line of characters to save them from financial ruin.  They took an existing figure, added lots of clay to pad him out, made plaster casts, and created three prototype that had the generic name “He-Man.”  The prototype models depicting He-Man as a soldier, a spaceman and a barbarian, and out of the three concepts the barbarian version was the one chosen.

He-Man appeared in February of 1982 to great success, allowing the “Masters of the Universe” series to become a universally recognized brand.  

It was at this point that Filmation Studios was commissioned to produce the “He-Man and the Masters of the Universe” television series, and were given the basis of a story from which to work.  He-Man was “a barbarian from an Eternian tribe,” who must protect Castle Grayskull from the evil Lord Skeletor who wielded one half of a Magic Power Sword with He-Man owning the other half.  When these swords were place together they would form one super weapon and he who controlled both weapons would be the master of the Universe. 

He-Man’s cowardly green tiger named Cringer would turn into an armored steed named Battle Cat by use of magic.  Teela was added and was the daughter of the Sorceress of Castle Grayskull and Man-At-Arms was included to fight at He-Man’s side.   By 1984 He-Man was being seen on American television stations and in more than 30 countries worldwide.

👉  Here is a sign for the times:

👉  Before we close, here is the simple origin story of a very powerful hymn.  Eliza Edmunds Hewitt was one of the premier hymn writers of the late 1800s and the early 1900s.  One of her best known hymns is “When We All Get to Heaven.”  It came to her as she studied John 14, where Jesus told his disciples, “Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in me.  In my Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you.  I go to prepare a place for you.”

Here is the First Baptist Church of Dallas singing this great hymn.

👉  Fragrant Worship

There was one house where Jesus was always welcome.  We know nothing about the accommodations, but if it was a typical family dwelling there would have been one room (for people and animals), two at the most, with stairs outside going up to a flat roof.  But exalted mansion or humble house, it was a home where Jesus stopped frequently.

Three siblings lived there: Mary, Martha, and Lazarus.  On the occasion for this visit as recorded by John, Lazarus and Jesus shared the spot as guests of honor.  Lazarus, because he had been dead a few days ago, and his body already being claimed by decay.  Jesus, because he had rebuked Death and it had released its latest conquest.

Martha, as usual, was busy with domestic doings.  Serving was something she enjoyed and did well, and supper was served.  Mary, whom we’ve earlier seen sitting at Jesus’ feet listening to him teach, was preparing to worship Jesus in a fashion he had yet to receive.  And Lazarus was sitting there, alive!

John didn’t count how many other people came, he just says “a great many.”  They came, “not for Jesus’ sake only, but that they might also see Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead” (John 12:9 NKJV).  Watching, gawking, pointing, amazed, all of those reactions and doubtless more.

Then there was unexpected movement, and every one looked away from the two honored men to Mary as she moved towards the table.  John says simply, “Mary took a pound of very costly oil of spikenard, anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair.  And the house was filled with the fragrance of the oil” (12:3).  Everyone saw it.  Everyone enjoyed the sweet odor as the perfume floated on the air.  

It is not everyday that we can do something personally for Jesus himself, but when the occasion arises, be sure that nothing stops you, not even the grumblers who calculate how little they do and don’t understand how much you love your Lord!

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