4/30/11

Cookie begins with "C"

If you have watched TV in the past 20 or so years, then there probably is no need for me to tell you what this scene is all about.  Names like Kermit the Frog, Miss Piggy and the Cookie Monster will not just be familiar, they will be VERY FAMILIAR!!!   Its all part of growing up; becoming the very best of what you can be, and the lessons learned from Sesame Street will undoubtedly stay with you a lifetime.  But, sooner or later, the time will come when more important things will enter your life; higher education, employment and raising a family.  Again, enter Sesame Street.  Through all this change, we need to remember the following...

1 Corinthians 13:11-13 (WEB)


11) When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I felt as a child, I thought as a child. Now that I have become a man, I have put away childish things.

12) For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I will know fully, even as I was also fully known.

13) But now faith, hope, and love remain—these three. The greatest of these is love.

If you remember Bible verses, then you probably know this one.  And its a Dusey!!  To love and be loved, now there is a life worth living!!!  It doesn't matter how smart you are, whether you come from a wealthy family, or have a fancy education, if you love and are loved, then you are SOMEBODY OF WORTH!!!  Our lives change as we get older, but love just gets better and better!!  And that is something I don't need a Cookie Monster to teach me!!!

4/29/11

Not every king lives in a castle


This "fairy tale" castle in Germany once again reminded me of the royalty that I have been seeing so much of on TV the last few days.  Its hard to imagine what it must be like to live in such splendor, but I am sure it would become commonplace after awhile.  Today, as I watched the marriage of William and Kate, something the minister said impressed me.  He said something like: "in one sense, every wedding is a royal wedding".  How true; each of us is royalty because we have been adopted into the family of God as sons and daughters.  Naturally, I thought of these verses from the book of 1st Peter....

1 Peter 2:1-9 (WEB)
1) Putting away therefore all wickedness, all deceit, hypocrisies, envies, and all evil speaking,

2) as newborn babies, long for the pure milk of the Word, that you may grow thereby,

3) if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is gracious:

4) coming to him, a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God, precious.

5) You also, as living stones, are built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

6) Because it is contained in Scripture, “Behold, I lay in Zion a chief cornerstone, chosen, and precious: He who believes in him will not be disappointed.”

7) For you who believe therefore is the honor, but for those who are disobedient, “The stone which the builders rejected, has become the chief cornerstone,”

8) and, “a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense.” For they stumble at the word, being disobedient, to which also they were appointed.

9) But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, that you may proclaim the excellence of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light:

Each of us is very, very precious because of the price that God paid for each and every one of us.  We may live in a shack, a townhouse, a mobile home or a castle, but we are loved with a love that shows how special we are.  We are God's, we are a royal priesthood and precious in his sight.  It might be nice to become the king of England, but we each have a high calling.  Besides, I will have something in 5 years that William will not... a full head of hair!!

4/28/11

Nanny, Nanny, Nanny!!!


To my "Western" mind, this little story sounds ridiculous.  Somebody turned into a goat?  Really?  Yet, the Bible talks about miracles; miracles with a purpose... to confirm that that which was spoken by a prophet or apostle of Jesus was the truth.  Here is one example.

Acts 19:11-20 (WEB)


11) God worked special miracles by the hands of Paul,

12) so that even handkerchiefs or aprons were carried away from his body to the sick, and the evil spirits went out.

13) But some of the itinerant Jews, exorcists, took on themselves to invoke over those who had the evil spirits the name of the Lord Jesus, saying, “We adjure you by Jesus whom Paul preaches.”

14) There were seven sons of one Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, who did this.

15) The evil spirit answered, “Jesus I know, and Paul I know, but who are you?”

16) The man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, and overpowered them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded.

17) This became known to all, both Jews and Greeks, who lived at Ephesus. Fear fell on them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified.

18) Many also of those who had believed came, confessing, and declaring their deeds.

19) Many of those who practiced magical arts brought their books together and burned them in the sight of all. They counted their price, and found it to be fifty thousand pieces of silver.

20) So the word of the Lord was growing and becoming mighty.


How do we understand such things in our present day?  The answer is a tough one, but to me, God has proclaimed his word and so it just doesn't seem applicable.  In the book of Acts, God used people like Peter and Paul to proclaim the new faith and people needed something to have confidence in them, so miracles were necessary.  To those who tried to speak in God's name without authority... good luck, you will need it.  If you are looking to get better from a disease, take your medicine, see a chiropractor, go on a diet or begin an exercise program... whatever.  Only thing is, play it safe.... pet the next goat you meet with kindness... hey, you never know!

4/27/11

Things change for the better


Most of the time, Florida is a wonderful place to live.  After all, they don't call it the "Sunshine state" for nothing!  Hurricane season is an exception to the previous sentences of course and when the wind blows here, hang on for dear life!!!  Yet, Florida is where I live and where I will stay, but at times I miss upstate New York.  Especially when I know that the fall season has arrived with all its splendor and its at times like this that I remember what it was like to live there....

Ezra 3:1-13 (WEB)
1) When the seventh month had come, and the children of Israel were in the cities, the people gathered themselves together as one man to Jerusalem.

2) Then stood up Jeshua the son of Jozadak, and his brothers the priests, and Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and his brothers, and built the altar of the God of Israel, to offer burnt offerings thereon, as it is written in the law of Moses the man of God.

3) They set the altar on its base; for fear was on them because of the peoples of the countries: and they offered burnt offerings thereon to Yahweh, even burnt offerings morning and evening.

4) They kept the feast of tents, as it is written, and offered the daily burnt offerings by number, according to the ordinance, as the duty of every day required;

5) and afterward the continual burnt offering, and the offerings of the new moons, and of all the set feasts of Yahweh that were consecrated, and of everyone who willingly offered a freewill offering to Yahweh.

6) From the first day of the seventh month began they to offer burnt offerings to Yahweh: but the foundation of the temple of Yahweh was not yet laid.

7) They gave money also to the masons, and to the carpenters; and food, and drink, and oil, to them of Sidon, and to them of Tyre, to bring cedar trees from Lebanon to the sea, to Joppa, according to the grant that they had of Cyrus king of Persia.

8) Now in the second year of their coming to the house of God at Jerusalem, in the second month, began Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Jeshua the son of Jozadak, and the rest of their brothers the priests and the Levites, and all those who were come out of the captivity to Jerusalem, and appointed the Levites, from twenty years old and upward, to have the oversight of the work of the house of Yahweh.

9) Then stood Jeshua with his sons and his brothers, Kadmiel and his sons, the sons of Judah, together, to have the oversight of the workmen in the house of God: the sons of Henadad, with their sons and their brothers the Levites.

10) When the builders laid the foundation of the temple of Yahweh, they set the priests in their clothing with trumpets, and the Levites the sons of Asaph with cymbals, to praise Yahweh, after the order of David king of Israel.

11) They sang one to another in praising and giving thanks to Yahweh, “For he is good, for his loving kindness endures forever toward Israel.” All the people shouted with a great shout, when they praised Yahweh, because the foundation of the house of Yahweh was laid.

12) But many of the priests and Levites and heads of fathers’ households, the old men who had seen the first house, when the foundation of this house was laid before their eyes, wept with a loud voice; and many shouted aloud for joy:

13) so that the people could not discern the noise of the shout of joy from the noise of the weeping of the people; for the people shouted with a loud shout, and the noise was heard afar off.

Deportation, living in a strange land and homesickness must have been hard on the Jews.  They loved their homeland and longed for their GOD!  Now, the time had arrived to restore the temple and fully return to the GOD of their fathers.  Some wept for joy and some for sorrow because the memory of past times was a hard thing to deal with.  Yet, even for those who wept, there must have been something wonderful, because God blesses you right where you are and with what you are capable of handling.  Just like the picture evokes mixed emotions in me, so the sight of the new temple must have done the same for those at the rebuilding.  I have learned over the years that GOD never takes away something without putting something these in its place.  Oh, it may not look the same (the colors or shape may be different), but the blessing is there nonetheless!  Remember, God is not a God of the dead, but of the living and life with God is life indeed.  Bring on the change!!

4/26/11

Three's a charm


I didn't grow up in a household with guns, so it seemed a little strange to me when my father-in-law showed me his extensive collection.  Still, I didn't have anything to do with them until my youngest daughter's husband got me interested.  When I saw this shotgun, I immediately thought how much he would love to have something like this.  Three barrels; WOW!!!  You can't have too much of a good thing; RIGHT?  That may be fine with guns, but NOT with the word of GOD.  Consider just two verses from the Bible...

Galatians 1:6-9 (WEB)


6) I marvel that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ to a different “good news”;

7) and there isn’t another “good news.” Only there are some who trouble you, and want to pervert the Good News of Christ.

8) But even though we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you any “good news” other than that which we preached to you, let him be cursed.

9) As we have said before, so I now say again: if any man preaches to you any “good news” other than that which you received, let him be cursed.

Its human nature to always want something better; to keep on impoving the current state of things.  The exact opposite should be true with religion; keep it in its purest form, its original one.  How can anyone top the sacrifice of Jesus?  More importantly, why would you want to?  Frankly, I can't think of one good reason.  Anything less than the "Good News" is BAD NEWS!!!  A three barreled shot gun may be a great idea, but an adulterated Gospel, NEVER!!!

4/25/11

The Answer


Obviously, this was a guess.  People will do that; reach for anything that sounds even remotely reasonable, even when it isn't.  To me, this is funny, but then, that's me.  When I saw this I thought of the book of Acts...

Acts 17:22-31 (WEB)


22) Paul stood in the middle of the Areopagus, and said, “You men of Athens, I perceive that you are very religious in all things.

23) For as I passed along, and observed the objects of your worship, I found also an altar with this inscription: ‘TO AN UNKNOWN GOD.’ What therefore you worship in ignorance, this I announce to you.

24) The God who made the world and all things in it, he, being Lord of heaven and earth, doesn’t dwell in temples made with hands,

25) neither is he served by men’s hands, as though he needed anything, seeing he himself gives to all life and breath, and all things.

26) He made from one blood every nation of men to dwell on all the surface of the earth, having determined appointed seasons, and the boundaries of their dwellings,

27) that they should seek the Lord, if perhaps they might reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us.

28) ‘For in him we live, and move, and have our being.’ As some of your own poets have said, ‘For we are also his offspring.’

29) Being then the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Divine Nature is like gold, or silver, or stone, engraved by art and design of man.

30) The times of ignorance therefore God overlooked. But now he commands that all people everywhere should repent,

31) because he has appointed a day in which he will judge the world in righteousness by the man whom he has ordained; of which he has given assurance to all men, in that he has raised him from the dead.”

Mankind longs for God, but most do not make it into a close relationship with HIM.  Why, I wonder?  The Athenians were certainly looking, but somehow didn't find God.  Its not that they weren't religious, far from the case indeed; they were VERY religious.  They just needed to know Jesus.  Simple, but true.  Jesus is the answer.  Sometimes the answer is so simple that its very simplicity seems deceptive.  Yet, God is near, God is waiting and waiting and waiting.  Look, feel, think; God is very close indeed.  Just as close as an open Bible and as near as a seeking heart.  And that is no joke, its a blessing!!!

4/24/11

How is this going to end?


This youngster looks a little afraid, doesn't he?  A bath can be a terrifying thing the first time and this appears to be the case here.  That's true of most things, isn't it, if its going to affect us physically, fear may be close at hand.  If its true at the beginning of life, it follows that its true at the end of it.  Then what?  We die and nothing.  Like Rover, are we dead all over?  To some of us this little saying may be true, but truthfully, if we had a choice wouldn't we want something better than a dog's life.  Consider the following:

1 Corinthians 15:1-8 (WEB)


1) Now I declare to you, brothers, the Good News which I preached to you, which also you received, in which you also stand,

2) by which also you are saved, if you hold firmly the word which I preached to you—unless you believed in vain.

3) For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures,

4) that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures,

5) and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve.

6) Then he appeared to over five hundred brothers at once, most of whom remain until now, but some have also fallen asleep.

7) Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles,

8) and last of all, as to the child born at the wrong time, he appeared to me also.

The man Jesus actually lived; this is proven historically beyond all doubt.  His death is well documented and as this passage from the book of 1st Corinthians proves, so is his resurrection.  This is really good news to those of us who know we will die someday.  Like to avail yourself of life after death?  Read Acts chapter two and do what those people did!!!  Don't be afraid, there is a happy ending!

4/23/11

Remember when?

Wouldn't this be a lovely addition to your baby pictures.  Face it, we all do foolish things; we all make many, many mistakes over the course of our lifetime.  Just one more to add to the list.  Even as adults we continue to make mistakes, remember Rhoda in the book of Acts (Chapter 12).  She went to the door and when she heard Peter's voice, she didn't open the door and went inside to tell everyone instead.  I have always enjoyed this one, but somehow this passage from the book of Jonah came to the forefront of my mind.

Jonah 4:1-11 (WEB)

1) But it displeased Jonah exceedingly, and he was angry.

2) He prayed to Yahweh, and said, “Please, Yahweh, wasn’t this what I said when I was still in my own country? Therefore I hurried to flee to Tarshish, for I knew that you are a gracious God, and merciful, slow to anger, and abundant in loving kindness, and you relent of doing harm.

3) Therefore now, Yahweh, take, I beg you, my life from me; for it is better for me to die than to live.”

4) Yahweh said, “Is it right for you to be angry?”

5) Then Jonah went out of the city, and sat on the east side of the city, and there made himself a booth, and sat under it in the shade, until he might see what would become of the city.

6) Yahweh God prepared a vine, and made it to come up over Jonah, that it might be a shade over his head, to deliver him from his discomfort. So Jonah was exceedingly glad because of the vine.

7) But God prepared a worm at dawn the next day, and it chewed on the vine, so that it withered.

8) It happened, when the sun arose, that God prepared a sultry east wind; and the sun beat on Jonah’s head, so that he fainted, and requested for himself that he might die, and said, “It is better for me to die than to live.”

9) God said to Jonah, “Is it right for you to be angry about the vine?” He said, “I am right to be angry, even to death.”

10) Yahweh said, “You have been concerned for the vine, for which you have not labored, neither made it grow; which came up in a night, and perished in a night.

11) Shouldn’t I be concerned for Nineveh, that great city, in which are more than one hundred twenty thousand persons who can’t discern between their right hand and their left hand; and also much livestock?”



Jonah was a character!  When God told him to go to Nineveh, he disobeyed.  It took being swallowed by a really big fish to make him change, but finally he obeyed and went to Nineveh and preached God's message of repentance.  To Jonah's surprise, Nineveh listened!!!  Instead of being happy about this, Jonah went outside the city and sat down, awaiting its destruction.  Why?  Pride, arrogance and just plain stubborness are the best answers I can come up with.  He cared more for himself than even the young, who don't know their left from their right hand.  Baby pictures remind us of what we used to be like and that can be very cute, but stubborness to the will of God is not something I would like to be remembered for.

4/22/11

The cure

If this ad were to be used today, what an uproar would occur!!!  Everyone knows of the deleterious effects of alcohol, but back in the day, nobody would even bother to think about it.  If you watch health shows on TV, you will see someone promoting a different treatment or vitamin daily.  But ask your doctor and chances are he will put it down.  From personal experience, I can tell you that some vitiamins work better than pharmacy prescriptions, but hey, that's just me!!!  People do what seems best to them as they see fit.  But what do they know???


1 Corinthians 1:20-24 (WEB)


20) Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the lawyer of this world? Hasn’t God made foolish the wisdom of this world?

21) For seeing that in the wisdom of God, the world through its wisdom didn’t know God, it was God’s good pleasure through the foolishness of the preaching to save those who believe.

22) For Jews ask for signs, Greeks seek after wisdom,

23) but we preach Christ crucified; a stumbling block to Jews, and foolishness to Greeks,

24) but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God.

People have all kinds of ideas as to what is best for them and when it comes to religion, solutions abound.  One thing is certain, Jesus is the only person to have been resurrected from death; documented beyond any doubt.  Since all of us will someday die, why not listen to someone who has been there and came BACK FROM THE DEAD!!!  Jesus is the answer to the really big problem... death.  And, oh yes, the solution never changes!!!

4/21/11

Tomorrow


What I first noticed was the brilliant colors in this picture; not just the colors, but the contrasts and combination of them, simple beautiful!!!  As I looked at it a bit more closely, I noticed that the tree was barren and that bothered me a little, because I like to think of a tree as having fruit.  But, the picture shows the dawn of a new day and with each new day there is hope.  So, I thought of this passage from the book of Revelation....

Revelation 22:1-5 (WEB)


1) He showed me a river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb,

2) in the middle of its street. On this side of the river and on that was the tree of life, bearing twelve kinds of fruits, yielding its fruit every month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.

3) There will be no curse any more. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and his servants serve him.

4) They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads.

5) There will be no night, and they need no lamp light; for the Lord God will illuminate them. They will reign forever and ever.

Just as a new day begins, so eras change.  Eventually, things will be restored so that there is fellowship with God as before the fall.  All things will be made right, all things will reflect the perfection of God.  I forgot to mention that the picture reminds me a little of the old movie "Gone with the Wind" and just as the antebellum life in the South is gone forever, so will Sin and its effects someday end.  Nice thought on a warm Spring day; who knows what tomorrow will bring...

4/20/11

Oh, NO!!!!!!

This reminds me of a situation I faced in Februrary 1977.  I had just finished work and it was about 5:30, so it was completely dark.  The ground was covered with about 6 inches of snow and so was my brand new ford Pinto (yes, I was one of those fortunate few who actually owned this bomb on wheels).  I was in a hurry to go home because my youngest daughter was having a birthday party, so I just wasn't as careful as I usually am about the car.  After I started it up and began to scrape the snow off the windshield, I thoughtlessly closed the door.  Then in horror, I realized I had locked my keys in the car and to make matters worse, the engine was just warming up, so it was on high idle.  Ever been in a bad situation?  What did YOU DO?  Here are a couple of examples from the Bible.

1 Samuel 31:1-6 (WEB)

1) Now the Philistines fought against Israel: and the men of Israel fled from before the Philistines, and fell down slain on Mount Gilboa.

2) The Philistines followed hard on Saul and on his sons; and the Philistines killed Jonathan, and Abinadab, and Malchishua, the sons of Saul.

3) The battle went hard against Saul, and the archers overtook him; and he was greatly distressed by reason of the archers.

4) Then Saul said to his armor bearer, “Draw your sword, and thrust me through with it, lest these uncircumcised come and thrust me through, and abuse me!” But his armor bearer would not; for he was terrified. Therefore Saul took his sword, and fell on it.

5) When his armor bearer saw that Saul was dead, he likewise fell on his sword, and died with him.

6) So Saul died, and his three sons, and his armor bearer, and all his men, that same day together.


Philippians 1:12-26 (WEB)


12) Now I desire to have you know, brothers, that the things which happened to me have turned out rather to the progress of the Good News;

13) so that it became evident to the whole palace guard, and to all the rest, that my bonds are in Christ;

14) and that most of the brothers in the Lord, being confident through my bonds, are more abundantly bold to speak the word of God without fear.

15) Some indeed preach Christ even out of envy and strife, and some also out of good will.

16) The former insincerely preach Christ from selfish ambition, thinking that they add affliction to my chains;

17) but the latter out of love, knowing that I am appointed for the defense of the Good News.

18) What does it matter? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed. I rejoice in this, yes, and will rejoice.

19) For I know that this will turn out to my salvation, through your supplication and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ,

20) according to my earnest expectation and hope, that I will in no way be disappointed, but with all boldness, as always, now also Christ will be magnified in my body, whether by life, or by death.

21) For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.

22) But if I live on in the flesh, this will bring fruit from my work; yet I don’t know what I will choose.

23) But I am in a dilemma between the two, having the desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better.

24) Yet, to remain in the flesh is more needful for your sake.

25) Having this confidence, I know that I will remain, yes, and remain with you all, for your progress and joy in the faith,

26) that your rejoicing may abound in Christ Jesus in me through my presence with you again.

Saul gave up, and Paul didn't.  The difference... faith.  Paul put his life in God's hands and that made all the difference.  So, the next time things look bleak, (and sooner or later they will) remember these two people and make the right choice.  Oh, as far as my car is concerned... I managed to short out the battery and stop the engine so it didn't do any damage.  Some bystander just happened to have a coat hanger, so I was able to open the car.  I was three hours late for the birthday party and that wasn't such a good thing....

4/19/11

Just a number


How would a president of one of the major drug companies feel if he (she) saw this?  Would it cause any pain, sorrow or regret?  There is no way for me to know, but based on the actions of the past, they would get over it and move on; after all, its all about money, isn't it?  If I had only one chance to share something of the Bible with them, the first would be something in regards to becoming a Christian and the second would be.....

1 Timothy 6:10 (WEB)


10) For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some have been led astray from the faith in their greed, and have pierced themselves through with many sorrows.

America has become a land where people are no longer important, only profit is.  I have no idea who the sign refers to, except that she was a human being.  Therefore, someone of importance!!!  Somehow, there must be found a way to change things or one day it could be your name on a sign just like this one.

OT Reading 4/19

Apr. 19


Numbers 29, 30



Num 29:1 In the seventh month, on the first day of the month, you shall have a holy convocation; you shall do no servile work: it is a day of blowing of trumpets to you.

Num 29:2 You shall offer a burnt offering for a pleasant aroma to Yahweh: one young bull, one ram, seven male lambs a year old without blemish;

Num 29:3 and their meal offering, fine flour mixed with oil, three tenth parts for the bull, two tenth parts for the ram,

Num 29:4 and one tenth part for every lamb of the seven lambs;

Num 29:5 and one male goat for a sin offering, to make atonement for you;

Num 29:6 besides the burnt offering of the new moon, and the meal offering of it, and the continual burnt offering and the meal offering of it, and their drink offerings, according to their ordinance, for a pleasant aroma, an offering made by fire to Yahweh.

Num 29:7 On the tenth day of this seventh month you shall have a holy convocation; and you shall afflict your souls: you shall do no manner of work;

Num 29:8 but you shall offer a burnt offering to Yahweh for a pleasant aroma: one young bull, one ram, seven male lambs a year old; they shall be to you without blemish;

Num 29:9 and their meal offering, fine flour mixed with oil, three tenth parts for the bull, two tenth parts for the one ram,

Num 29:10 a tenth part for every lamb of the seven lambs:

Num 29:11 one male goat for a sin offering; besides the sin offering of atonement, and the continual burnt offering, and the meal offering of it, and their drink offerings.

Num 29:12 On the fifteenth day of the seventh month you shall have a holy convocation; you shall do no servile work, and you shall keep a feast to Yahweh seven days:

Num 29:13 and you shall offer a burnt offering, an offering made by fire, of a pleasant aroma to Yahweh; thirteen young bulls, two rams, fourteen male lambs a year old; they shall be without blemish;

Num 29:14 and their meal offering, fine flour mixed with oil, three tenth parts for every bull of the thirteen bulls, two tenth parts for each ram of the two rams,

Num 29:15 and a tenth part for every lamb of the fourteen lambs;

Num 29:16 and one male goat for a sin offering, besides the continual burnt offering, the meal offering of it, and the drink offering of it.

Num 29:17 On the second day you shall offer twelve young bulls, two rams, fourteen male lambs a year old without blemish;

Num 29:18 and their meal offering and their drink offerings for the bulls, for the rams, and for the lambs, according to their number, after the ordinance;

Num 29:19 and one male goat for a sin offering; besides the continual burnt offering, and the meal offering of it, and their drink offerings.

Num 29:20 On the third day eleven bulls, two rams, fourteen male lambs a year old without blemish;

Num 29:21 and their meal offering and their drink offerings for the bulls, for the rams, and for the lambs, according to their number, after the ordinance;

Num 29:22 and one male goat for a sin offering; besides the continual burnt offering, and the meal offering of it, and the drink offering of it.

Num 29:23 On the fourth day ten bulls, two rams, fourteen male lambs a year old without blemish;

Num 29:24 their meal offering and their drink offerings for the bulls, for the rams, and for the lambs, according to their number, after the ordinance;

Num 29:25 and one male goat for a sin offering; besides the continual burnt offering, the meal offering of it, and the drink offering of it.

Num 29:26 On the fifth day nine bulls, two rams, fourteen male lambs a year old without blemish;

Num 29:27 and their meal offering and their drink offerings for the bulls, for the rams, and for the lambs, according to their number, after the ordinance;

Num 29:28 and one male goat for a sin offering, besides the continual burnt offering, and the meal offering of it, and the drink offering of it.

Num 29:29 On the sixth day eight bulls, two rams, fourteen male lambs a year old without blemish;

Num 29:30 and their meal offering and their drink offerings for the bulls, for the rams, and for the lambs, according to their number, after the ordinance;

Num 29:31 and one male goat for a sin offering; besides the continual burnt offering, the meal offering of it, and the drink offerings of it.

Num 29:32 On the seventh day seven bulls, two rams, fourteen male lambs a year old without blemish;

Num 29:33 and their meal offering and their drink offerings for the bulls, for the rams, and for the lambs, according to their number, after the ordinance;

Num 29:34 and one male goat for a sin offering; besides the continual burnt offering, the meal offering of it, and the drink offering of it.

Num 29:35 On the eighth day you shall have a solemn assembly: you shall do no servile work;

Num 29:36 but you shall offer a burnt offering, an offering made by fire, of a pleasant aroma to Yahweh: one bull, one ram, seven male lambs a year old without blemish;

Num 29:37 their meal offering and their drink offerings for the bull, for the ram, and for the lambs, shall be according to their number, after the ordinance:

Num 29:38 and one male goat for a sin offering, besides the continual burnt offering, and the meal offering of it, and the drink offering of it.

Num 29:39 You shall offer these to Yahweh in your set feasts, besides your vows, and your freewill offerings, for your burnt offerings, and for your meal offerings, and for your drink offerings, and for your peace offerings.

Num 29:40 Moses told the children of Israel according to all that Yahweh commanded Moses.

Num 30:1 Moses spoke to the heads of the tribes of the children of Israel, saying, This is the thing which Yahweh has commanded.

Num 30:2 When a man vows a vow to Yahweh, or swears an oath to bind his soul with a bond, he shall not break his word; he shall do according to all that proceeds out of his mouth.

Num 30:3 Also when a woman vows a vow to Yahweh, and binds herself by a bond, being in her father's house, in her youth,

Num 30:4 and her father hears her vow, and her bond with which she has bound her soul, and her father holds his peace at her; then all her vows shall stand, and every bond with which she has bound her soul shall stand.

Num 30:5 But if her father disallow her in the day that he hears, none of her vows, or of her bonds with which she has bound her soul, shall stand: and Yahweh will forgive her, because her father disallowed her.

Num 30:6 If she be married to a husband, while her vows are on her, or the rash utterance of her lips, with which she has bound her soul,

Num 30:7 and her husband hear it, and hold his peace at her in the day that he hears it; then her vows shall stand, and her bonds with which she has bound her soul shall stand.

Num 30:8 But if her husband disallow her in the day that he hears it, then he shall make void her vow which is on her, and the rash utterance of her lips, with which she has bound her soul: and Yahweh will forgive her.

Num 30:9 But the vow of a widow, or of her who is divorced, even everything with which she has bound her soul, shall stand against her.

Num 30:10 If she vowed in her husband's house, or bound her soul by a bond with an oath,

Num 30:11 and her husband heard it, and held his peace at her, and didn't disallow her; then all her vows shall stand, and every bond with which she bound her soul shall stand.

Num 30:12 But if her husband made them null and void in the day that he heard them, then whatever proceeded out of her lips concerning her vows, or concerning the bond of her soul, shall not stand: her husband has made them void; and Yahweh will forgive her.

Num 30:13 Every vow, and every binding oath to afflict the soul, her husband may establish it, or her husband may make it void.

Num 30:14 But if her husband altogether hold his peace at her from day to day, then he establishes all her vows, or all her bonds, which are on her: he has established them, because he held his peace at her in the day that he heard them.

Num 30:15 But if he shall make them null and void after that he has heard them, then he shall bear her iniquity.

Num 30:16 These are the statutes, which Yahweh commanded Moses, between a man and his wife, between a father and his daughter, being in her youth, in her father's house.

4/17/11

Do you see what I see?

Human beings see what they want to see; we hear what we want and do what we want.  This is human nature and it never will change.  By the time we are 30 or so (perhaps even earlier) we are pretty much locked into the way we think and our world view.  Perhaps this picture (with its emphasized portion) of the destruction in New York City a few years back has a picture of Satan in it, maybe not, but one thing is certain; evil exists in the world and it hates those who try to follow God.  I like the following verse from the book of 1St Peter....

1 Peter 5:8 (WEB)


8) Be sober and self-controlled. Be watchful. Your adversary, the devil, walks around like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.

If you were to force me to commit myself about this picture, I would err on the side of reality, because forewarned is watchful and really is the only safe course to follow.  I consider it a fact that many of the nations of the world are our enemies and want to destroy the freedoms we enjoy in the United States of America.  If you want to hear something interesting, listen to Donald Trump, so far I like what he has to say.  Perhaps its time to take care of America first and let the world fend for itself.  When something bad happens here, who helps us?  So, be watchful, careful and spiritual, who knows the picture may just be true.  Taking care of business in the USA couldn't hurt either...

Bible Reading 4/17

Apr. 17


Numbers 25, 26

Num 25:1 Israel abode in Shittim; and the people began to play the prostitute with the daughters of Moab:

Num 25:2 for they called the people to the sacrifices of their gods; and the people ate, and bowed down to their gods.

Num 25:3 Israel joined himself to Baal Peor: and the anger of Yahweh was kindled against Israel.

Num 25:4 Yahweh said to Moses, Take all the chiefs of the people, and hang them up to Yahweh before the sun, that the fierce anger of Yahweh may turn away from Israel.

Num 25:5 Moses said to the judges of Israel, Everyone kill his men who have joined themselves to Baal Peor.

Num 25:6 Behold, one of the children of Israel came and brought to his brothers a Midianite woman in the sight of Moses, and in the sight of all the congregation of the children of Israel, while they were weeping at the door of the Tent of Meeting.

Num 25:7 When Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, saw it, he rose up from the midst of the congregation, and took a spear in his hand;

Num 25:8 and he went after the man of Israel into the pavilion, and thrust both of them through, the man of Israel, and the woman through her body. So the plague was stayed from the children of Israel.

Num 25:9 Those who died by the plague were twenty-four thousand.

Num 25:10 Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying,

Num 25:11 Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, has turned my wrath away from the children of Israel, in that he was jealous with my jealousy among them, so that I didn't consume the children of Israel in my jealousy.

Num 25:12 Therefore say, Behold, I give to him my covenant of peace:

Num 25:13 and it shall be to him, and to his seed after him, the covenant of an everlasting priesthood; because he was jealous for his God, and made atonement for the children of Israel.

Num 25:14 Now the name of the man of Israel that was slain, who was slain with the Midianite woman, was Zimri, the son of Salu, a prince of a fathers' house among the Simeonites.

Num 25:15 The name of the Midianite woman who was slain was Cozbi, the daughter of Zur; he was head of the people of a fathers' house in Midian.

Num 25:16 Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying,

Num 25:17 Harass the Midianites, and strike them;

Num 25:18 for they harassed you with their wiles, with which they have deceived you in the matter of Peor, and in the matter of Cozbi, the daughter of the prince of Midian, their sister, who was slain on the day of the plague in the matter of Peor.

Num 26:1 It happened after the plague, that Yahweh spoke to Moses and to Eleazar the son of Aaron the priest, saying,

Num 26:2 Take the sum of all the congregation of the children of Israel, from twenty years old and upward, by their fathers' houses, all who are able to go forth to war in Israel.

Num 26:3 Moses and Eleazar the priest spoke with them in the plains of Moab by the Jordan at Jericho, saying,

Num 26:4 Take the sum of the people, from twenty years old and upward; as Yahweh commanded Moses and the children of Israel, that came forth out of the land of Egypt.

Num 26:5 Reuben, the firstborn of Israel; the sons of Reuben: of Hanoch, the family of the Hanochites; of Pallu, the family of the Palluites;

Num 26:6 of Hezron, the family of the Hezronites; of Carmi, the family of the Carmites.

Num 26:7 These are the families of the Reubenites; and those who were numbered of them were forty-three thousand seven hundred thirty.

Num 26:8 The sons of Pallu: Eliab.

Num 26:9 The sons of Eliab: Nemuel, and Dathan, and Abiram. These are that Dathan and Abiram, who were called of the congregation, who strove against Moses and against Aaron in the company of Korah, when they strove against Yahweh,

Num 26:10 and the earth opened its mouth, and swallowed them up together with Korah, when that company died; what time the fire devoured two hundred fifty men, and they became a sign.

Num 26:11 Notwithstanding, the sons of Korah didn't die.

Num 26:12 The sons of Simeon after their families: of Nemuel, the family of the Nemuelites; of Jamin, the family of the Jaminites; of Jachin, the family of the Jachinites;

Num 26:13 of Zerah, the family of the Zerahites; of Shaul, the family of the Shaulites.

Num 26:14 These are the families of the Simeonites, twenty-two thousand two hundred.

Num 26:15 The sons of Gad after their families: of Zephon, the family of the Zephonites; of Haggi, the family of the Haggites; of Shuni, the family of the Shunites;

Num 26:16 of Ozni, the family of the Oznites; of Eri, the family of the Erites;

Num 26:17 of Arod, the family of the Arodites; of Areli, the family of the Arelites.

Num 26:18 These are the families of the sons of Gad according to those who were numbered of them, forty thousand and five hundred.

Num 26:19 The sons of Judah: Er and Onan; and Er and Onan died in the land of Canaan.

Num 26:20 The sons of Judah after their families were: of Shelah, the family of the Shelanites; of Perez, the family of the Perezites; of Zerah, the family of the Zerahites.

Num 26:21 The sons of Perez were: of Hezron, the family of the Hezronites; of Hamul, the family of the Hamulites.

Num 26:22 These are the families of Judah according to those who were numbered of them, seventy-six thousand five hundred.

Num 26:23 The sons of Issachar after their families: of Tola, the family of the Tolaites; of Puvah, the family of the Punites;

Num 26:24 of Jashub, the family of the Jashubites; of Shimron, the family of the Shimronites.

Num 26:25 These are the families of Issachar according to those who were numbered of them, sixty-four thousand three hundred.

Num 26:26 The sons of Zebulun after their families: of Sered, the family of the Seredites; of Elon, the family of the Elonites; of Jahleel, the family of the Jahleelites.

Num 26:27 These are the families of the Zebulunites according to those who were numbered of them, sixty thousand five hundred.

Num 26:28 The sons of Joseph after their families: Manasseh and Ephraim.

Num 26:29 The sons of Manasseh: of Machir, the family of the Machirites; and Machir became the father of Gilead; of Gilead, the family of the Gileadites.

Num 26:30 These are the sons of Gilead: of Iezer, the family of the Iezerites; of Helek, the family of the Helekites;

Num 26:31 and of Asriel, the family of the Asrielites; and of Shechem, the family of the Shechemites;

Num 26:32 and of Shemida, the family of the Shemidaites; and of Hepher, the family of the Hepherites.

Num 26:33 Zelophehad the son of Hepher had no sons, but daughters: and the names of the daughters of Zelophehad were Mahlah, and Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah.

Num 26:34 These are the families of Manasseh; and those who were numbered of them were fifty-two thousand seven hundred.

Num 26:35 These are the sons of Ephraim after their families: of Shuthelah, the family of the Shuthelahites; of Becher, the family of the Becherites; of Tahan, the family of the Tahanites.

Num 26:36 These are the sons of Shuthelah: of Eran, the family of the Eranites.

Num 26:37 These are the families of the sons of Ephraim according to those who were numbered of them, thirty-two thousand five hundred. These are the sons of Joseph after their families.

Num 26:38 The sons of Benjamin after their families: of Bela, the family of the Belaites; of Ashbel, the family of the Ashbelites; of Ahiram, the family of the Ahiramites;

Num 26:39 of Shephupham, the family of the Shuphamites; of Hupham, the family of the Huphamites.

Num 26:40 The sons of Bela were Ard and Naaman: of Ard, the family of the Ardites; of Naaman, the family of the Naamites.

Num 26:41 These are the sons of Benjamin after their families; and those who were numbered of them were forty-five thousand six hundred.

Num 26:42 These are the sons of Dan after their families: of Shuham, the family of the Shuhamites. These are the families of Dan after their families.

Num 26:43 All the families of the Shuhamites, according to those who were numbered of them, were sixty-four thousand four hundred.

Num 26:44 The sons of Asher after their families: of Imnah, the family of the Imnites; of Ishvi, the family of the Ishvites; of Beriah, the family of the Berites.

Num 26:45 Of the sons of Beriah: of Heber, the family of the Heberites; of Malchiel, the family of the Malchielites.

Num 26:46 The name of the daughter of Asher was Serah.

Num 26:47 These are the families of the sons of Asher according to those who were numbered of them, fifty-three thousand and four hundred.

Num 26:48 The sons of Naphtali after their families: of Jahzeel, the family of the Jahzeelites; of Guni, the family of the Gunites;

Num 26:49 of Jezer, the family of the Jezerites; of Shillem, the family of the Shillemites.

Num 26:50 These are the families of Naphtali according to their families; and those who were numbered of them were forty-five thousand four hundred.

Num 26:51 These are those who were numbered of the children of Israel, six hundred one thousand seven hundred thirty.

Num 26:52 Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying,

Num 26:53 To these the land shall be divided for an inheritance according to the number of names.

Num 26:54 To the more you shall give the more inheritance, and to the fewer you shall give the less inheritance: to everyone according to those who were numbered of him shall his inheritance be given.

Num 26:55 Notwithstanding, the land shall be divided by lot: according to the names of the tribes of their fathers they shall inherit.

Num 26:56 According to the lot shall their inheritance be divided between the more and the fewer.

Num 26:57 These are those who were numbered of the Levites after their families: of Gershon, the family of the Gershonites; of Kohath, the family of the Kohathites; of Merari, the family of the Merarites.

Num 26:58 These are the families of Levi: the family of the Libnites, the family of the Hebronites, the family of the Mahlites, the family of the Mushites, the family of the Korahites. Kohath became the father of Amram.

Num 26:59 The name of Amram's wife was Jochebed, the daughter of Levi, who was born to Levi in Egypt: and she bore to Amram Aaron and Moses, and Miriam their sister.

Num 26:60 To Aaron were born Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar.

Num 26:61 Nadab and Abihu died, when they offered strange fire before Yahweh.

Num 26:62 Those who were numbered of them were twenty-three thousand, every male from a month old and upward: for they were not numbered among the children of Israel, because there was no inheritance given them among the children of Israel.

Num 26:63 These are those who were numbered by Moses and Eleazar the priest, who numbered the children of Israel in the plains of Moab by the Jordan at Jericho.

Num 26:64 But among these there was not a man of them who were numbered by Moses and Aaron the priest, who numbered the children of Israel in the wilderness of Sinai.

Num 26:65 For Yahweh had said of them, They shall surely die in the wilderness. There was not left a man of them, save Caleb the son of Jephunneh, and Joshua the son of Nun.

4/16/11

Consequences


Duh!  Someone needs a bit of improvement in reading comprehension skills, don't they!!!  Of course it was supposed to be signed at the bottom of the document, but what they really want to know is WHERE!!!  Technically, I suppose this answer is correct, but I REALLY, REALLY DOUBT IF THE TEACHER DIDN'T MARK IT AS INCORRECT!!!!  There are consequences for not thinking, for not considering what your actions will put into motion.  In this case its just an exam, but suppose it was something for serious....

Genesis 3:1-24 (WEB)
1) Now the serpent was more subtle than any animal of the field which Yahweh God had made. He said to the woman, “Has God really said, ‘You shall not eat of any tree of the garden?’”

2) The woman said to the serpent, “Of the fruit of the trees of the garden we may eat,

3) but of the fruit of the tree which is in the middle of the garden, God has said, ‘You shall not eat of it, neither shall you touch it, lest you die.’”

4) The serpent said to the woman, “You won’t surely die,

5) for God knows that in the day you eat it, your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”

6) When the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit, and ate; and she gave some to her husband with her, and he ate.

7) The eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew that they were naked. They sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons.

8) They heard the voice of Yahweh God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of Yahweh God among the trees of the garden.

9) Yahweh God called to the man, and said to him, “Where are you?”

10) The man said, “I heard your voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself.”

11) God said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree that I commanded you not to eat from?”

12) The man said, “The woman whom you gave to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I ate.”

13) Yahweh God said to the woman, “What is this you have done?” The woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.”

14) Yahweh God said to the serpent, “Because you have done this, you are cursed above all livestock, and above every animal of the field. On your belly you shall go, and you shall eat dust all the days of your life.

15) I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring. He will bruise your head, and you will bruise his heel.”

16) To the woman he said, “I will greatly multiply your pain in childbirth. In pain you will bear children. Your desire will be for your husband, and he will rule over you.”

17) To Adam he said, “Because you have listened to your wife’s voice, and have eaten of the tree, of which I commanded you, saying, ‘You shall not eat of it,’ cursed is the ground for your sake. In toil you will eat of it all the days of your life.

18) It will yield thorns and thistles to you; and you will eat the herb of the field.

19) By the sweat of your face will you eat bread until you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken. For you are dust, and to dust you shall return.”

20) The man called his wife Eve, because she was the mother of all living.

21) Yahweh God made coats of skins for Adam and for his wife, and clothed them.

22) Yahweh God said, “Behold, the man has become like one of us, knowing good and evil. Now, lest he reach out his hand, and also take of the tree of life, and eat, and live forever...”

23) Therefore Yahweh God sent him out from the garden of Eden, to till the ground from which he was taken.

24) So he drove out the man; and he placed Cherubs at the east of the garden of Eden, and the flame of a sword which turned every way, to guard the way to the tree of life.



Genesis 5:1-27 (WEB)
1) This is the book of the generations of Adam. In the day that God created man, he made him in God’s likeness.

2) He created them male and female, and blessed them, and called their name “Adam,” in the day when they were created.

3) Adam lived one hundred thirty years, and became the father of a son in his own likeness, after his image, and named him Seth.

4) The days of Adam after he became the father of Seth were eight hundred years, and he became the father of sons and daughters.

5) All the days that Adam lived were nine hundred thirty years, then he died.

6) Seth lived one hundred five years, and became the father of Enosh.

7) Seth lived after he became the father of Enosh eight hundred seven years, and became the father of sons and daughters.

8) All the days of Seth were nine hundred twelve years, then he died.

9) Enosh lived ninety years, and became the father of Kenan.

10) Enosh lived after he became the father of Kenan, eight hundred fifteen years, and became the father of sons and daughters.

11) All the days of Enosh were nine hundred five years, then he died.

12) Kenan lived seventy years, and became the father of Mahalalel.

13) Kenan lived after he became the father of Mahalalel eight hundred forty years, and became the father of sons and daughters

14) and all the days of Kenan were nine hundred ten years, then he died.

15) Mahalalel lived sixty-five years, and became the father of Jared.

16) Mahalalel lived after he became the father of Jared eight hundred thirty years, and became the father of sons and daughters.

17) All the days of Mahalalel were eight hundred ninety-five years, then he died.

18) Jared lived one hundred sixty-two years, and became the father of Enoch.

19) Jared lived after he became the father of Enoch eight hundred years, and became the father of sons and daughters.

20) All the days of Jared were nine hundred sixty-two years, then he died.

21) Enoch lived sixty-five years, and became the father of Methuselah.

22) Enoch walked with God after he became the father of Methuselah three hundred years, and became the father of sons and daughters.

23) All the days of Enoch were three hundred sixty-five years.

24) Enoch walked with God, and he was not, for God took him.

25) Methuselah lived one hundred eighty-seven years, and became the father of Lamech.

26) Methuselah lived after he became the father of Lamech seven hundred eighty-two years, and became the father of sons and daughters.

27) All the days of Methuselah were nine hundred sixty-nine years, then he died.


Once again we are back at the first disobedience and the consequences of this one episode are unthinkable!  They are legion, but the one I would like to focus on is death.  Notice that the phrase "he died" is repeated over and over again.  Satan (in Genesis 3:4) said that man would not die, but over and over and over again, MAN HAS DIED!!!  The consequences of disbelief and disobedience is death, plain and simple.  Jesus gave us a real "declaration of independence" when he substituted his life for ours.  It was "signed" in the shedding of his life's blood for us.  And I really don't care where it was "signed", all I care about that it is an established fact; period!!!

NT Reading 4/16, 4/17

Apr. 16, 17


Luke 10

Luk 10:1 Now after these things, the Lord also appointed seventy others, and sent them two by two ahead of him into every city and place, where he was about to come.

Luk 10:2 Then he said to them, "The harvest is indeed plentiful, but the laborers are few. Pray therefore to the Lord of the harvest, that he may send out laborers into his harvest.

Luk 10:3 Go your ways. Behold, I send you out as lambs among wolves.

Luk 10:4 Carry no purse, nor wallet, nor sandals. Greet no one on the way.

Luk 10:5 Into whatever house you enter, first say, 'Peace be to this house.'

Luk 10:6 If a son of peace is there, your peace will rest on him; but if not, it will return to you.

Luk 10:7 Remain in that same house, eating and drinking the things they give, for the laborer is worthy of his wages. Don't go from house to house.

Luk 10:8 Into whatever city you enter, and they receive you, eat the things that are set before you.

Luk 10:9 Heal the sick who are therein, and tell them, 'The Kingdom of God has come near to you.'

Luk 10:10 But into whatever city you enter, and they don't receive you, go out into its streets and say,

Luk 10:11 'Even the dust from your city that clings to us, we wipe off against you. Nevertheless know this, that the Kingdom of God has come near to you.'

Luk 10:12 I tell you, it will be more tolerable in that day for Sodom than for that city.

Luk 10:13 "Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty works had been done in Tyre and Sidon which were done in you, they would have repented long ago, sitting in sackcloth and ashes.

Luk 10:14 But it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon in the judgment than for you.

Luk 10:15 You, Capernaum, who are exalted to heaven, will be brought down to Hades.

Luk 10:16 Whoever listens to you listens to me, and whoever rejects you rejects me. Whoever rejects me rejects him who sent me."

Luk 10:17 The seventy returned with joy, saying, "Lord, even the demons are subject to us in your name!"

Luk 10:18 He said to them, "I saw Satan having fallen like lightning from heaven.

Luk 10:19 Behold, I give you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy. Nothing will in any way hurt you.

Luk 10:20 Nevertheless, don't rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven."

Luk 10:21 In that same hour Jesus rejoiced in the Holy Spirit, and said, "I thank you, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding, and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for so it was well-pleasing in your sight."

Luk 10:22 Turning to the disciples, he said, "All things have been delivered to me by my Father. No one knows who the Son is, except the Father, and who the Father is, except the Son, and he to whomever the Son desires to reveal him."

Luk 10:23 Turning to the disciples, he said privately, "Blessed are the eyes which see the things that you see,

Luk 10:24 for I tell you that many prophets and kings desired to see the things which you see, and didn't see them, and to hear the things which you hear, and didn't hear them."

Luk 10:25 Behold, a certain lawyer stood up and tested him, saying, "Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?"

Luk 10:26 He said to him, "What is written in the law? How do you read it?"

Luk 10:27 He answered, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself."

Luk 10:28 He said to him, "You have answered correctly. Do this, and you will live."

Luk 10:29 But he, desiring to justify himself, asked Jesus, "Who is my neighbor?"

Luk 10:30 Jesus answered, "A certain man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he fell among robbers, who both stripped him and beat him, and departed, leaving him half dead.

Luk 10:31 By chance a certain priest was going down that way. When he saw him, he passed by on the other side.

Luk 10:32 In the same way a Levite also, when he came to the place, and saw him, passed by on the other side.

Luk 10:33 But a certain Samaritan, as he traveled, came where he was. When he saw him, he was moved with compassion,

Luk 10:34 came to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. He set him on his own animal, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him.

Luk 10:35 On the next day, when he departed, he took out two denarii, and gave them to the host, and said to him, 'Take care of him. Whatever you spend beyond that, I will repay you when I return.'

Luk 10:36 Now which of these three do you think seemed to be a neighbor to him who fell among the robbers?"

Luk 10:37 He said, "He who showed mercy on him." Then Jesus said to him, "Go and do likewise."

Luk 10:38 It happened as they went on their way, he entered into a certain village, and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house.

Luk 10:39 She had a sister called Mary, who also sat at Jesus' feet, and heard his word.

Luk 10:40 But Martha was distracted with much serving, and she came up to him, and said, "Lord, don't you care that my sister left me to serve alone? Ask her therefore to help me."

Luk 10:41 Jesus answered her, "Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things,

Luk 10:42 but one thing is needed. Mary has chosen the good part, which will not be taken away from her."

4/14/11

Surprise, Surprise?


Some things are a complete surprise, like the vehicle that just crosses over into your lane without warning.  But, if you are sick, many times your body tells you something is wrong.  If your first-grader comes home with a sniffle and complains their head is hot, its no surprise if the next day you begin to feel a little "out-of-sorts".  Like that, there are warning signs for cancer too and this chart lists ten of them.  Warning signs can save your life and here are some from Jesus himself.....


Matthew 24:1-44 (WEB)


1) Jesus went out from the temple, and was going on his way. His disciples came to him to show him the buildings of the temple.

2) But he answered them, “You see all of these things, don’t you? Most certainly I tell you, there will not be left here one stone on another, that will not be thrown down.”

3) As he sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things be? What is the sign of your coming, and of the end of the age?”

4) Jesus answered them, “Be careful that no one leads you astray.

5) For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will lead many astray.

6) You will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you aren’t troubled, for all this must happen, but the end is not yet.

7) For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; and there will be famines, plagues, and earthquakes in various places.

8) But all these things are the beginning of birth pains.

9) Then they will deliver you up to oppression, and will kill you. You will be hated by all of the nations for my name’s sake.

10) Then many will stumble, and will deliver up one another, and will hate one another.

11) Many false prophets will arise, and will lead many astray.

12) Because iniquity will be multiplied, the love of many will grow cold.

13) But he who endures to the end, the same will be saved.

14) This Good News of the Kingdom will be preached in the whole world for a testimony to all the nations, and then the end will come.

15) “When, therefore, you see the abomination of desolation, which was spoken of through Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place (let the reader understand),

16) then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains.

17) Let him who is on the housetop not go down to take out things that are in his house.

18) Let him who is in the field not return back to get his clothes.

19) But woe to those who are with child and to nursing mothers in those days!

20) Pray that your flight will not be in the winter, nor on a Sabbath,

21) for then there will be great oppression, such as has not been from the beginning of the world until now, no, nor ever will be.

22) Unless those days had been shortened, no flesh would have been saved. But for the sake of the chosen ones, those days will be shortened.

23) “Then if any man tells you, ‘Behold, here is the Christ,’ or, ‘There,’ don’t believe it.

24) For there will arise false christs, and false prophets, and they will show great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the chosen ones.

25) “Behold, I have told you beforehand.

26) If therefore they tell you, ‘Behold, he is in the wilderness,’ don’t go out; ‘Behold, he is in the inner rooms,’ don’t believe it.

27) For as the lightning flashes from the east, and is seen even to the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.

28) For wherever the carcass is, there is where the vultures gather together.

29) But immediately after the oppression of those days, the sun will be darkened, the moon will not give its light, the stars will fall from the sky, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken;

30) and then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky. Then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky with power and great glory.

31) He will send out his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together his chosen ones from the four winds, from one end of the sky to the other.

32) “Now from the fig tree learn this parable. When its branch has now become tender, and puts forth its leaves, you know that the summer is near.

33) Even so you also, when you see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors.

34) Most certainly I tell you, this generation will not pass away, until all these things are accomplished.

35) Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.

36) But no one knows of that day and hour, not even the angels of heaven, but my Father only.

37) “As the days of Noah were, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.

38) For as in those days which were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the ship,

39) and they didn’t know until the flood came, and took them all away, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.

40) Then two men will be in the field: one will be taken and one will be left;

41) two women grinding at the mill, one will be taken and one will be left.

42) Watch therefore, for you don’t know in what hour your Lord comes.

43) But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what watch of the night the thief was coming, he would have watched, and would not have allowed his house to be broken into.

44) Therefore also be ready, for in an hour that you don’t expect, the Son of Man will come.


Jesus was at the temple, talking about the temple and the judgement soon to come upon it.  He spoke to his disciples and told them that their generation would not pass away until the judgement of which he spoke happened.  Did it?  Yes, Jerusalem fell to the Romans in 70 a.d..  Just as judgement came upon the Jews, so it will eventually come upon us all; someday there will be a penalty for evil and a reward for good.  Look at your life; what is it like?  People are not stupid (at least not the vast majority)!  Change what needs to be changed and get ready for any little surprise that may come your way. 

NT Reading 4/15, 4/16

Apr. 14, 15


Luke 9



Luk 9:1 He called the twelve together, and gave them power and authority over all demons, and to cure diseases.

Luk 9:2 He sent them forth to preach the Kingdom of God, and to heal the sick.

Luk 9:3 He said to them, "Take nothing for your journey-neither staffs, nor wallet, nor bread, nor money; neither have two coats apiece.

Luk 9:4 Into whatever house you enter, stay there, and depart from there.

Luk 9:5 As many as don't receive you, when you depart from that city, shake off even the dust from your feet for a testimony against them."

Luk 9:6 They departed, and went throughout the villages, preaching the Good News, and healing everywhere.

Luk 9:7 Now Herod the tetrarch heard of all that was done by him; and he was very perplexed, because it was said by some that John had risen from the dead,

Luk 9:8 and by some that Elijah had appeared, and by others that one of the old prophets had risen again.

Luk 9:9 Herod said, "John I beheaded, but who is this, about whom I hear such things?" He sought to see him.

Luk 9:10 The apostles, when they had returned, told him what things they had done. He took them, and withdrew apart to a deserted place of a city called Bethsaida.

Luk 9:11 But the multitudes, perceiving it, followed him. He welcomed them, and spoke to them of the Kingdom of God, and he cured those who needed healing.

Luk 9:12 The day began to wear away; and the twelve came, and said to him, "Send the multitude away, that they may go into the surrounding villages and farms, and lodge, and get food, for we are here in a deserted place."

Luk 9:13 But he said to them, "You give them something to eat." They said, "We have no more than five loaves and two fish, unless we should go and buy food for all these people."

Luk 9:14 For they were about five thousand men. He said to his disciples, "Make them sit down in groups of about fifty each."

Luk 9:15 They did so, and made them all sit down.

Luk 9:16 He took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to the sky, he blessed them, and broke them, and gave them to the disciples to set before the multitude.

Luk 9:17 They ate, and were all filled. They gathered up twelve baskets of broken pieces that were left over.

Luk 9:18 It happened, as he was praying alone, that the disciples were with him, and he asked them, "Who do the multitudes say that I am?"

Luk 9:19 They answered, " 'John the Baptizer,' but others say, 'Elijah,' and others, that one of the old prophets is risen again."

Luk 9:20 He said to them, "But who do you say that I am?" Peter answered, "The Christ of God."

Luk 9:21 But he warned them, and commanded them to tell this to no one,

Luk 9:22 saying, "The Son of Man must suffer many things, and be rejected by the elders, chief priests, and scribes, and be killed, and the third day be raised up."

Luk 9:23 He said to all, "If anyone desires to come after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me.

Luk 9:24 For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever will lose his life for my sake, the same will save it.

Luk 9:25 For what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses or forfeits his own self?

Luk 9:26 For whoever will be ashamed of me and of my words, of him will the Son of Man be ashamed, when he comes in his glory, and the glory of the Father, and of the holy angels.

Luk 9:27 But I tell you the truth: There are some of those who stand here, who will in no way taste of death, until they see the Kingdom of God."

Luk 9:28 It happened about eight days after these sayings, that he took with him Peter, John, and James, and went up onto the mountain to pray.

Luk 9:29 As he was praying, the appearance of his face was altered, and his clothing became white and dazzling.

Luk 9:30 Behold, two men were talking with him, who were Moses and Elijah,

Luk 9:31 who appeared in glory, and spoke of his departure, which he was about to accomplish at Jerusalem.

Luk 9:32 Now Peter and those who were with him were heavy with sleep, but when they were fully awake, they saw his glory, and the two men who stood with him.

Luk 9:33 It happened, as they were parting from him, that Peter said to Jesus, "Master, it is good for us to be here. Let's make three tents: one for you, and one for Moses, and one for Elijah," not knowing what he said.

Luk 9:34 While he said these things, a cloud came and overshadowed them, and they were afraid as they entered into the cloud.

Luk 9:35 A voice came out of the cloud, saying, "This is my beloved Son. Listen to him!"

Luk 9:36 When the voice came, Jesus was found alone. They were silent, and told no one in those days any of the things which they had seen.

Luk 9:37 It happened on the next day, when they had come down from the mountain, that a great multitude met him.

Luk 9:38 Behold, a man from the crowd called out, saying, "Teacher, I beg you to look at my son, for he is my only child.

Luk 9:39 Behold, a spirit takes him, he suddenly cries out, and it convulses him so that he foams, and it hardly departs from him, bruising him severely.

Luk 9:40 I begged your disciples to cast it out, and they couldn't."

Luk 9:41 Jesus answered, "Faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you and bear with you? Bring your son here."

Luk 9:42 While he was still coming, the demon threw him down and convulsed him violently. But Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit, and healed the boy, and gave him back to his father.

Luk 9:43 They were all astonished at the majesty of God. But while all were marveling at all the things which Jesus did, he said to his disciples,

Luk 9:44 "Let these words sink into your ears, for the Son of Man will be delivered up into the hands of men."

Luk 9:45 But they didn't understand this saying. It was concealed from them, that they should not perceive it, and they were afraid to ask him about this saying.

Luk 9:46 There arose an argument among them about which of them was the greatest.

Luk 9:47 Jesus, perceiving the reasoning of their hearts, took a little child, and set him by his side,

Luk 9:48 and said to them, "Whoever receives this little child in my name receives me. Whoever receives me receives him who sent me. For whoever is least among you all, this one will be great."

Luk 9:49 John answered, "Master, we saw someone casting out demons in your name, and we forbade him, because he doesn't follow with us."

Luk 9:50 Jesus said to him, "Don't forbid him, for he who is not against us is for us."

Luk 9:51 It came to pass, when the days were near that he should be taken up, he intently set his face to go to Jerusalem,

Luk 9:52 and sent messengers before his face. They went, and entered into a village of the Samaritans, so as to prepare for him.

Luk 9:53 They didn't receive him, because he was traveling with his face set towards Jerusalem.

Luk 9:54 When his disciples, James and John, saw this, they said, "Lord, do you want us to command fire to come down from the sky, and destroy them, just as Elijah did?"

Luk 9:55 But he turned and rebuked them, "You don't know of what kind of spirit you are.

Luk 9:56 For the Son of Man didn't come to destroy men's lives, but to save them." They went to another village.

Luk 9:57 As they went on the way, a certain man said to him, "I want to follow you wherever you go, Lord."

Luk 9:58 Jesus said to him, "The foxes have holes, and the birds of the sky have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head."

Luk 9:59 He said to another, "Follow me!" But he said, "Lord, allow me first to go and bury my father."

Luk 9:60 But Jesus said to him, "Leave the dead to bury their own dead, but you go and announce the Kingdom of God."

Luk 9:61 Another also said, "I want to follow you, Lord, but first allow me to bid farewell to those who are at my house."

Luk 9:62 But Jesus said to him, "No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the Kingdom of God."

OT Reading 4/14

Apr. 14


Numbers 19, 20

Num 19:1 Yahweh spoke to Moses and to Aaron, saying,

Num 19:2 This is the statute of the law which Yahweh has commanded, saying, Speak to the children of Israel, that they bring you a red heifer without spot, in which is no blemish, and on which never came yoke.

Num 19:3 You shall give her to Eleazar the priest, and he shall bring her forth outside of the camp, and one shall kill her before his face:

Num 19:4 and Eleazar the priest shall take of her blood with his finger, and sprinkle her blood toward the front of the Tent of Meeting seven times.

Num 19:5 One shall burn the heifer in his sight; her skin, and her flesh, and her blood, with her dung, shall he burn:

Num 19:6 and the priest shall take cedar wood, and hyssop, and scarlet, and cast it into the midst of the burning of the heifer.

Num 19:7 Then the priest shall wash his clothes, and he shall bathe his flesh in water, and afterward he shall come into the camp, and the priest shall be unclean until the even.

Num 19:8 He who burns her shall wash his clothes in water, and bathe his flesh in water, and shall be unclean until the even.

Num 19:9 A man who is clean shall gather up the ashes of the heifer, and lay them up outside of the camp in a clean place; and it shall be kept for the congregation of the children of Israel for a water for impurity: it is a sin offering.

Num 19:10 He who gathers the ashes of the heifer shall wash his clothes, and be unclean until the even: and it shall be to the children of Israel, and to the stranger who lives as a foreigner among them, for a statute forever.

Num 19:11 He who touches the dead body of any man shall be unclean seven days:

Num 19:12 the same shall purify himself with water on the third day, and on the seventh day he shall be clean: but if he doesn't purify himself the third day, then the seventh day he shall not be clean.

Num 19:13 Whoever touches a dead person, the body of a man who has died, and doesn't purify himself, defiles the tabernacle of Yahweh; and that soul shall be cut off from Israel: because the water for impurity was not sprinkled on him, he shall be unclean; his uncleanness is yet on him.

Num 19:14 This is the law when a man dies in a tent: everyone who comes into the tent, and everyone who is in the tent, shall be unclean seven days.

Num 19:15 Every open vessel, which has no covering bound on it, is unclean.

Num 19:16 Whoever in the open field touches one who is slain with a sword, or a dead body, or a bone of a man, or a grave, shall be unclean seven days.

Num 19:17 For the unclean they shall take of the ashes of the burning of the sin offering; and running water shall be put thereto in a vessel:

Num 19:18 and a clean person shall take hyssop, and dip it in the water, and sprinkle it on the tent, and on all the vessels, and on the persons who were there, and on him who touched the bone, or the slain, or the dead, or the grave:

Num 19:19 and the clean person shall sprinkle on the unclean on the third day, and on the seventh day: and on the seventh day he shall purify him; and he shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and shall be clean at even.

Num 19:20 But the man who shall be unclean, and shall not purify himself, that soul shall be cut off from the midst of the assembly, because he has defiled the sanctuary of Yahweh: the water for impurity has not been sprinkled on him; he is unclean.

Num 19:21 It shall be a perpetual statute to them: and he who sprinkles the water for impurity shall wash his clothes, and he who touches the water for impurity shall be unclean until even.

Num 19:22 Whatever the unclean person touches shall be unclean; and the soul that touches it shall be unclean until evening.

Num 20:1 The children of Israel, even the whole congregation, came into the wilderness of Zin in the first month: and the people abode in Kadesh; and Miriam died there, and was buried there.

Num 20:2 There was no water for the congregation: and they assembled themselves together against Moses and against Aaron.

Num 20:3 The people strove with Moses, and spoke, saying, Would that we had died when our brothers died before Yahweh!

Num 20:4 Why have you brought the assembly of Yahweh into this wilderness, that we should die there, we and our animals?

Num 20:5 Why have you made us to come up out of Egypt, to bring us in to this evil place? it is no place of seed, or of figs, or of vines, or of pomegranates; neither is there any water to drink.

Num 20:6 Moses and Aaron went from the presence of the assembly to the door of the Tent of Meeting, and fell on their faces: and the glory of Yahweh appeared to them.

Num 20:7 Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying,

Num 20:8 Take the rod, and assemble the congregation, you, and Aaron your brother, and speak to the rock before their eyes, that it give forth its water; and you shall bring forth to them water out of the rock; so you shall give the congregation and their livestock drink.

Num 20:9 Moses took the rod from before Yahweh, as he commanded him.

Num 20:10 Moses and Aaron gathered the assembly together before the rock, and he said to them, Hear now, you rebels; shall we bring you water out of this rock for you?

Num 20:11 Moses lifted up his hand, and struck the rock with his rod twice: and water came forth abundantly, and the congregation drank, and their livestock.

Num 20:12 Yahweh said to Moses and Aaron, Because you didn't believe in me, to sanctify me in the eyes of the children of Israel, therefore you shall not bring this assembly into the land which I have given them.

Num 20:13 These are the waters of Meribah; because the children of Israel strove with Yahweh, and he was sanctified in them.

Num 20:14 Moses sent messengers from Kadesh to the king of Edom, Thus says your brother Israel, You know all the travail that has happened to us:

Num 20:15 how our fathers went down into Egypt, and we lived in Egypt a long time; and the Egyptians dealt ill with us, and our fathers:

Num 20:16 and when we cried to Yahweh, he heard our voice, and sent an angel, and brought us forth out of Egypt: and behold, we are in Kadesh, a city in the uttermost of your border.

Num 20:17 Please let us pass through your land: we will not pass through field or through vineyard, neither will we drink of the water of the wells: we will go along the king's highway; we will not turn aside to the right hand nor to the left, until we have passed your border.

Num 20:18 Edom said to him, You shall not pass through me, lest I come out with the sword against you.

Num 20:19 The children of Israel said to him, We will go up by the highway; and if we drink of your water, I and my livestock, then will I give its price: let me only, without doing anything else, pass through on my feet.

Num 20:20 He said, You shall not pass through. Edom came out against him with much people, and with a strong hand.

Num 20:21 Thus Edom refused to give Israel passage through his border, so Israel turned away from him.

Num 20:22 They traveled from Kadesh: and the children of Israel, even the whole congregation, came to Mount Hor.

Num 20:23 Yahweh spoke to Moses and Aaron in Mount Hor, by the border of the land of Edom, saying,

Num 20:24 Aaron shall be gathered to his people; for he shall not enter into the land which I have given to the children of Israel, because you rebelled against my word at the waters of Meribah.

Num 20:25 Take Aaron and Eleazar his son, and bring them up to Mount Hor;

Num 20:26 and strip Aaron of his garments, and put them on Eleazar his son: and Aaron shall be gathered to his people, and shall die there.

Num 20:27 Moses did as Yahweh commanded: and they went up into Mount Hor in the sight of all the congregation.

Num 20:28 Moses stripped Aaron of his garments, and put them on Eleazar his son; and Aaron died there on the top of the mountain: and Moses and Eleazar came down from the mountain.

Num 20:29 When all the congregation saw that Aaron was dead, they wept for Aaron thirty days, even all the house of Israel.

4/13/11

Woof!


I wonder; do dogs have languages?  If you have ever had a dog, then you know that they do communicate, they bark in different ways depending upon their situation, they use body language and look at you in different ways.  Human, no, intelligent, yes.  This sign will remain a mystery until someone researches the North Vancouver Bylaw it displays, but as far as dogs go, I don't think we will ever know about their "speech".  Mysterous speech is mentioned in the Bible in Acts chapter 2.  Read it to see what I mean....

Acts 2:1-21 (WEB)


1) Now when the day of Pentecost had come, they were all with one accord in one place.

2) Suddenly there came from the sky a sound like the rushing of a mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.

3) Tongues like fire appeared and were distributed to them, and one sat on each of them.

4) They were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to speak with other languages, as the Spirit gave them the ability to speak.

5) Now there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men, from every nation under the sky.

6) When this sound was heard, the multitude came together, and were bewildered, because everyone heard them speaking in his own language.

7) They were all amazed and marveled, saying to one another, “Behold, aren’t all these who speak Galileans?

8) How do we hear, everyone in our own native language?

9) Parthians, Medes, Elamites, and people from Mesopotamia, Judea, Cappadocia, Pontus, Asia,

10) Phrygia, Pamphylia, Egypt, the parts of Libya around Cyrene, visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes,

11) Cretans and Arabians: we hear them speaking in our languages the mighty works of God!”

12) They were all amazed, and were perplexed, saying one to another, “What does this mean?”

13) Others, mocking, said, “They are filled with new wine.”

14) But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and spoke out to them, “You men of Judea, and all you who dwell at Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and listen to my words.

15) For these aren’t drunken, as you suppose, seeing it is only the third hour of the day.

16) But this is what has been spoken through the prophet Joel:

17) ‘It will be in the last days, says God, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh. Your sons and your daughters will prophesy. Your young men will see visions. Your old men will dream dreams.

18) Yes, and on my servants and on my handmaidens in those days, I will pour out my Spirit, and they will prophesy.

19) I will show wonders in the sky above, and signs on the earth beneath; blood, and fire, and billows of smoke.

20) The sun will be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and glorious day of the Lord comes.

21) It will be, that whoever will call on the name of the Lord will be saved.’

People always focus in on the miracle of tongues, but it fact there were three miracles.  First, that of the wind, second, the fire and lastly, the tongues.  So, the Spirit is testifying by all three, not just one.  That the tongues, were a known languages comes from an understanding of the Greek word and I think its blessing is that it fulfills the prophecy of Joel.  The Gospel was to be preached to all, REGARDLESS of their native tongue.  All this is fine, but I still don't know about the languages of dogs, so I will have to say woof (I mean goodbye) for now.