-=> Quoting Mark Bloss to Clarence Hogan <=-
 >Clarence Hogan wrote to Mark Bloss about MARK 16.18
 BE> -the divinely inspired Matthew and Luke did not repeat it is pretty
 BE> -good evidence that God had second thoughts about Mark 16.18.
 
 >Ah.  "Second thoughts".  Got it AFU the first time, eh?
 
 MB> There is even good support for this from the Bible itself - where
 MB> Paul writes "let every fact be established by two or three
 MB> witnesses", being also found as part of the Law of Moses (and
 MB> therefore fits the rule in itself); and implies that for every facet
 MB> of the scripture - whether it is to be rendered more or less reliable,
 MB> must be stated twice or three times to _establish_ it as reliable or
 MB> important, as each instance is considered a "witness" to it.
 
 CH> Excellent observation brother Mark and I couldn't agree more!
 
 CH> And in regard to Mr 16:18, might we not consider Lu 10:19 and
 CH> Ps 91:13 also?  And was this not fulfilled in Acts 28 by Paul
 CH> and the viper?  IOW's, are we to think/believe that we are to
 CH> tempt Yahweh by taking up serpents or by drinking any deadly
 CH> thing in order to prove to someone that we are believers?  IMHO,
 CH> NO, but when it is seen by Yahweh to be of benefit to others as
  
 MB> Right!  And these two other scriptures are witness to Mark 16:18,
 MB> even though the section was added by, most probably, a later source,
 MB> it is supported by two witnesses, Ps 91:13 and Lu 10:19, therefore
 MB> can be accepted on that basis - which is precisely why it _was_
 MB> left in when the Canon was established.  Much else was not left in;
 MB> and other things added later still; what is extant as the Canon is
 MB> a montage.
 
 Exactly, for all things are to be established by two or three witnesses
 according to what I read in The Scriptures!  I have always said that
 I would just love to read the ORIGINAL words as they were when they
 were first penned, but after many years of study, I have come to the
 conclusion that the original intent and message had been preserved to
 the point that it matters not that I have the original word for word
 penned parchments in order to know and understand the Gospel message!
 CH> in the case of Paul and the viper or if our enemies should make
 CH> us drink any deadly thing, our Father will see to it that it will
 CH> do us no harm as a testimony to those who do not believe!  For He
 CH> is the one in control and not us and therefore it is not up to us
 CH> to take it upon ourselves to make such showings but to leave the
 CH> time and the circumstances of the trial in His hands, right?
 MB> It's not up to us to "prove" with poison - but to trust when it
 MB> happens accidentally, as in the case of Paul and the snake on the
 MB> island of Malta.  This faith will also void food poisoning, as I can
 MB> attest. And it's the reason we are to bless the food before we partake
 MB> of it - not to make God feel better about it - but I've found out I'm
 MB> supposed to pray over it to bless _it_; now I won't eat without
 MB> praying over my food first!  ;-)
 
 Exactly and it most certainly will as far as my faith is concerned!
 And you are most certainly correct to ask Yahweh's blessing for each
 and every thing that you eat and also in all your comings and goings
 and doings in this world, for in doing so, your success is assured in
 accordance with His Will and who could possibly ask for more, since 
 He will NEVER do anything or allow anything to harm us so long as we
 leave it in His capable Hands and Will!  Just as when I do nothing
 more than leave the house to go to the grocery store, my prayer is
 "I praise thee Father that Thou hast held me in Thy Mighty Wonderful
 Loving Saving Hand as I go out and return, in Thy Holy Son's Mighty
 and Wonderful Saving Name, AMEN!"  And if any food passes my lips
 prior to prayer, the prayer is right behind it, for we are still in
 this forgetful fleshly body and the cares of this world still distract
 us momentarily, which I do believe that our Father makes allowances
 for as it is not an intentional omission of prayer, which is further
 reason for us to keep our mind's eye on Him from moment to moment and
 not be distracted as Peter was on the water, right?  But even with 
 all of this, I must still declare myself an unprofitable servant!
 
 CH> And finally, are we not admonished to use discretion, wisdom
 CH> and understanding in our doings and not to be foolish in them?
 CH> IOW's are we anywhere in The Scriptures directed to go out and
 CH> start picking up deadly snakes and drinking poisons and if not
 CH> are we to be so foolish as to do so without a direct command
 CH> from Him as in the case of Moses and his staff?
 MB> It nowhere says anything about picking up deadly snakes on purpose,
 MB> to demonstrate anything.  They are to be avoided, just as bee stings
 MB> and pot holes.  ;-)
 
 You have got it brother!  For a prudent man foreseeth the evil, 
 and hideth himself; but the simple pass on, and are punished.
 Pr 22:3 and 27:12 which is proof enough for me that this was
 quoted twice for even the child to understand!
 CH> Say hey to your folks for me.......abe.......
 MB> I will!  
 Thanks!
Just another humble servant of The Kingdom.......clarence.......
... Prayer must be the foundation of every endeavor!
--- Blue Wave/DOS v2.30
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