Rick Warren's method is simple, first tolerate as much as possible for number gain. After achieving fame and popularity, then focus on the doctrinal issues. In contrast, Jesus achieved fame without toleration of anything outside and then He exhibited compassion.
The reality show Secret Millionaire, produced in Britain and America, where Millionaires pretending to be poor people living among the real poor people in poverty neighborhoods for a week and then revealing themselves giving these people a large checks in hundreds of thousands each, reminds me of the kind of missionaries sent out from America.
Albert Barnes' Notes have expounded rather clearly in this case.
I would adjourn this research at the junction of two possibilities:
1. That Matthew gives the account of Joseph's line from David; and Luke gives us Mary's from David.
2. Most acceptable one, that is according to the historian and church father, Africanus, that is as far as Joseph(husband of Mary mother of Jesus)'s father is in concern, there are intermingling of family lines of kinsman or brotherhood according to the law regarding how a brother must take the widow of his deceased brother.
"Matthan, descended from Solomon, married Estha, of whom was born Jacob. After Matthan’s death, Matthat being of the same tribe, but of another family, married his widow, and of this marriage Heli was born. Jacob and Heli were therefore children of the same mother. Heli dying without children, his brother Jacob married his widow, and begat Joseph, who was thus the legal son of Heli. This is agreeable to the account in the two evangelists. Matthew says that Jacob begat Joseph; Luke says that Joseph was the son of Heli, i. e., was his legal heir, or was reckoned in law to be his son."
The Americans love to say "I'm sorry" on account of politeness, an excuse to get by their days. But nay, we must be serious when we apologize.
We love in Truth, for Truth, because of Truth. (2 John)
Unfortunately, today, even for those who claim to be Christians, define "love" with pampering, materialism, godless(or godly pretend) fellowships, denial of being judgmental and hypocrisy.
1Jn 2:3 And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments.
1Jn 2:3 我们若遵守他的诫命，就晓得是认识他。
I find reading very helpful especially when I have surrounded by retards for too long, so that I may keep check of my own mentality, lest I go mad, and turn into one of these.
Unlike Bible Belt hypocrites and Most English speaking churches in America, many non-Engilsh churches' enthusiasm towards immigration process is somewhat commendable, to some point.
Nevertheless, their value of this country may have exceeded. So many seek extreme (but legal) ways to make their members "proud" Americans. They resort to religious asylum or marriage. In my opinion, using marriage or God's name to obtain American residency is just giving America too much undeserving credit.
I believe in certain situations, the immigration issue is more of a problem of greedy Uncle Sam and his jealous children than it is of the individual immigrant. Perhaps it is better for the spouse or spouse-to-be who is American to give up his/her citizenship. At least this would ensure a better reputation when America falls and is despised by every other nations.
This is not to say one should be rebellious. If proper channel is available, one must seek to follow the rules of any authorities, regardless of disagreement.
I heard a pastor attributed the brothers in this story to Araunah and Ornan. However, after years of patient searching, since none of the commetaries I've looked into suggest they are brothers, I found the background of this story after assuming that the attribution may have been a mistake. So I searched google with the keywords: brothers grain secretly.
It appears that this is a folklore about the origin of Jerusalem. It is about the brotherly love of two brothers secretly donating their harvest to each other because one felt the other needs to feed his wife and family while the other wished to provide enough for his brother through old age. While they kept taking out of their storages, they were amazed the next mornings to find as if nothing was taken out of their granaries. Until one night they met each other with their bags of rice on their way. Hence that meeting place being Mount Moriah, and the origin of Jerusalem.
[Source is believed to be of Arabic/Jewish origin, it's non-talmudic/non-midrashic: The Jewish tradition relates this story to King Solomon's solution by telling this story to another two brothers who brought dispute of lands to the king]
I find it amazing how this folklore gets linked to the dual identity of Araunah and Ornan by this pastor. Perhaps someday I would get the chance to ask him.
A good point by John Calvin in his sermons on 2nd Samuel 1-13, (Published by The Banner of Truth Trust) pg. 87:
"And even when there are two opposing camps in the Church, if one is opposing the truth of God in order to overthrow it and the other holds to the good so that it may always follow what is commanded, it is certain that whoever is neutral will be disloyal and a traitor."
May God teach us always, to be humble and grow.
