My interest in board games (I’m a bit of a board game nut) has led me to consider the role of games in our lives and spirituality, and I’m going to focus on this up to Advent. This week we explore the role of chance in decisions and religion (the old word for this is divination). How do we know what to do in our lives? Christians have sometimes flipped open a Bible to see what God is saying to them right now, or in regards to a persona decision (Muslims have done the same thing with the Qur’an, as have other religions). So I wanted to see what I could discover in the Bible, and TBH it happens fairly often in the Bible (often known as casting lots). The 2 passages for this week are:
Jonah 1:3-7
But Jonah set out to flee to Tarshish from the presence of the LORD. He went down to Joppa and found a ship going to Tarshish; so he paid his fare and went on board, to go with them to Tarshish, away from the presence of the LORD.
But the LORD hurled a great wind upon the sea, and such a mighty storm came upon the sea that the ship threatened to break up. Then the sailors were afraid, and each cried to his god. They threw the cargo that was in the ship into the sea, to lighten it for them. Jonah, meanwhile, had gone down into the hold of the ship and had lain down and was fast asleep. The captain came and said to him, “What are you doing sound asleep? Get up; call on your god! Perhaps the god will spare us a thought so that we do not perish.”
The sailors said to one another, “Come, let us cast lots, so that we may know on whose account this calamity has come upon us.” So they cast lots, and the lot fell on Jonah.
Acts 1:21-26
“So one of the men who have accompanied us during all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, beginning from the baptism of John until the day when he was taken up from us—one of these must become a witness with us to his resurrection.” So they proposed two, Joseph called Barsabbas, who was also known as Justus, and Matthias. Then they prayed and said, “Lord, you know everyone’s heart. Show us which one of these two you have chosen to take the place in this ministry and apostleship from which Judas turned aside to go to his own place.” And they cast lots for them, and the lot fell on Matthias, and he was added to the eleven apostles.
Interesting Links from the Week
• This is a very moving personal testimony from a great board game designer Shem Phillips – how he lost his father at a young age, found comfort in his Christian faith, and came to become a renowned board game creator.
• This guy was clearly a deranged artist – but, it’s still kind of awesome.
• You know what Halloween movie really stands the test of time? Beetlejuice. It’s so wacky and fun to pull for the ghosts because some living people are weird and annoying! There is a sequel announced for next year, they will probably ruin it but oh well.
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