The Watchmaker

The Watchmaker

Many thanks to Terry Grams at northernpartners.com.  By the way, this is a great website if you are interested in railroad pocket watches!!!

New

During the past 12 months, a good friend of mine (Bruce Arnold) introduced me to an alternative to Microsoft Windows operating systems, Linux UBUNTU.  This open source system is free, runs faster and more reliably than Windows and has thousands of free programs.  Question: Why would I ever want to stay with the Microsoft products?  Aside from a very few programs that I haven't outgrown, I have no good reason to stay with the overrated, overpriced, clunky "standard".  Which brings me to the picture.  Does anyone out there know where I can buy this...???  Admittedly, its a shot in the dark, but right now I would at least try something new; who knows, maybe it will be GREAT!!!  Whether or not it will be better is any one's guess, but I am in the mood for something NEW, SOMETHING BETTER.  Its hard NOT to think of the book of Hebrews when I think of something BETTER....

Hebrews, Chapter 10

1 For the law, having a shadow of the good to come, not the very image of the things, can never with the same sacrifices year by year, which they offer continually, make perfect those who draw near.  2 Or else wouldn’t they have ceased to be offered, because the worshippers, having been once cleansed, would have had no more consciousness of sins?  3 But in those sacrifices there is a yearly reminder of sins.  4 For it is impossible that the blood of bulls and goats should take away sins.  5 Therefore when he comes into the world, he says,

“Sacrifice and offering you didn’t desire,
but you prepared a body for me;


  6 You had no pleasure in whole burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin.
  7 Then I said, ‘Behold, I have come (in the scroll of the book it is written of me)
to do your will, O God.’”


  8 Previously saying, “Sacrifices and offerings and whole burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin you didn’t desire, neither had pleasure in them” (those which are offered according to the law), 9 then he has said, “Behold, I have come to do your will.” He takes away the first, that he may establish the second,  10 by which will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.  11 Every priest indeed stands day by day serving and often offering the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins,  12 but he, when he had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down on the right hand of God;  13 from that time waiting until his enemies are made the footstool of his feet.  14 For by one offering he has perfected forever those who are being sanctified.  15 The Holy Spirit also testifies to us, for after saying,

  16 “This is the covenant that I will make with them:
‘After those days,’ says the Lord,


‘I will put my laws on their heart,
I will also write them on their mind;’”


then he says,

  17 “I will remember their sins and their iniquities no more.”


  18 Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin. 19 Having therefore, brothers, boldness to enter into the holy place by the blood of Jesus,  20 by the way which he dedicated for us, a new and living way, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh; 21 and having a great priest over the house of God,  22 let’s draw near with a true heart in fullness of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and having our body washed with pure water,  23 let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering; for he who promised is faithful.

  24 Let us consider how to provoke one another to love and good works,  25 not forsaking our own assembling together, as the custom of some is, but exhorting one another; and so much the more, as you see the Day approaching.  26 For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remains no more a sacrifice for sins, 27 but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and a fierceness of fire which will devour the adversaries.  28 A man who disregards Moses’ law dies without compassion on the word of two or three witnesses.  29 How much worse punishment, do you think, will he be judged worthy of, who has trodden under foot the Son of God, and has counted the blood of the covenant with which he was sanctified an unholy thing, and has insulted the Spirit of grace?  30 For we know him who said, “Vengeance belongs to me,” says the Lord, “I will repay.”Again, “The Lord will judge his people.”  31 It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

The nation of Israel had a long history of rebelling against God.  They rebelled time and time again, only to realize their error after prolonged suffering.  But the problem was that they could not completely keep God's law and violation demanded punishment.  Enter Jesus and a new way, a better way; faith.  Instead of law breaking, faith-living became the standard.  Jesus made things very personal by HIS sacrifice.  He made one sacrifice (himself) for sins and had done with it; which, of course is much better than repeated offerings. This makes things simpler which is better.  Which is why I migrated to Ubuntu.  Now, if can only find this cola....

June 6 1 Samuel 5, 6

June 6

1 Samuel 5, 6

1Sa 5:1 Now the Philistines had taken the ark of God, and they brought it from Ebenezer to Ashdod.

1Sa 5:2 The Philistines took the ark of God, and brought it into the house of Dagon, and set it by Dagon.

1Sa 5:3 When they of Ashdod arose early on the next day, behold, Dagon was fallen on his face to the ground before the ark of Yahweh. They took Dagon, and set him in his place again.

1Sa 5:4 When they arose early on the next day morning, behold, Dagon was fallen on his face to the ground before the ark of Yahweh; and the head of Dagon and both the palms of his hands lay cut off on the threshold; only the stump of Dagon was left to him.

1Sa 5:5 Therefore neither the priests of Dagon, nor any who come into Dagon's house, tread on the threshold of Dagon in Ashdod, to this day.

1Sa 5:6 But the hand of Yahweh was heavy on them of Ashdod, and he destroyed them, and struck them with tumors, even Ashdod and its borders.

1Sa 5:7 When the men of Ashdod saw that it was so, they said, The ark of the God of Israel shall not abide with us; for his hand is sore on us, and on Dagon our god.

1Sa 5:8 They sent therefore and gathered all the lords of the Philistines to them, and said, What shall we do with the ark of the God of Israel? They answered, Let the ark of the God of Israel be carried about to Gath. They carried the ark of the God of Israel there.

1Sa 5:9 It was so, that after they had carried it about, the hand of Yahweh was against the city with a very great confusion: and he struck the men of the city, both small and great; and tumors broke out on them.

1Sa 5:10 So they sent the ark of God to Ekron. It happened, as the ark of God came to Ekron, that the Ekronites cried out, saying, They have brought about the ark of the God of Israel to us, to kill us and our people.

1Sa 5:11 They sent therefore and gathered together all the lords of the Philistines, and they said, Send away the ark of the God of Israel, and let it go again to its own place, that it not kill us and our people. For there was a deadly confusion throughout all the city; the hand of God was very heavy there.

1Sa 5:12 The men who didn't die were struck with the tumors; and the cry of the city went up to heaven.

1Sa 6:1 The ark of Yahweh was in the country of the Philistines seven months.

1Sa 6:2 The Philistines called for the priests and the diviners, saying, "What shall we do with the ark of Yahweh? Show us with which we shall send it to its place."

1Sa 6:3 They said, "If you send away the ark of the God of Israel, don't send it empty; but by all means return him a trespass offering: then you shall be healed, and it shall be known to you why his hand is not removed from you."

1Sa 6:4 Then they said, "What shall be the trespass offering which we shall return to him?" They said, "Five golden tumors, and five golden mice, according to the number of the lords of the Philistines; for one plague was on you all, and on your lords.

1Sa 6:5 Therefore you shall make images of your tumors, and images of your mice that mar the land; and you shall give glory to the God of Israel: peradventure he will lighten his hand from off you, and from off your gods, and from off your land.

1Sa 6:6 Why then do you harden your hearts, as the Egyptians and Pharaoh hardened their hearts? When he had worked wonderfully among them, didn't they let the people go, and they departed?

1Sa 6:7 Now therefore take and prepare yourselves a new cart, and two milk cows, on which there has come no yoke; and tie the cows to the cart, and bring their calves home from them;

1Sa 6:8 and take the ark of Yahweh, and lay it on the cart; and put the jewels of gold, which you return him for a trespass offering, in a coffer by its side; and send it away, that it may go.

1Sa 6:9 Behold; if it goes up by the way of its own border to Beth Shemesh, then he has done us this great evil: but if not, then we shall know that it is not his hand that struck us; it was a chance that happened to us."

1Sa 6:10 The men did so, and took two milk cows, and tied them to the cart, and shut up their calves at home;

1Sa 6:11 and they put the ark of Yahweh on the cart, and the coffer with the mice of gold and the images of their tumors.

1Sa 6:12 The cows took the straight way by the way to Beth Shemesh; they went along the highway, lowing as they went, and didn't turn aside to the right hand or to the left; and the lords of the Philistines went after them to the border of Beth Shemesh.

1Sa 6:13 They of Beth Shemesh were reaping their wheat harvest in the valley; and they lifted up their eyes, and saw the ark, and rejoiced to see it.

1Sa 6:14 The cart came into the field of Joshua of Beth Shemesh, and stood there, where there was a great stone: and they split the wood of the cart, and offered up the cows for a burnt offering to Yahweh.

1Sa 6:15 The Levites took down the ark of Yahweh, and the coffer that was with it, in which the jewels of gold were, and put them on the great stone: and the men of Beth Shemesh offered burnt offerings and sacrificed sacrifices the same day to Yahweh.

1Sa 6:16 When the five lords of the Philistines had seen it, they returned to Ekron the same day.

1Sa 6:17 These are the golden tumors which the Philistines returned for a trespass offering to Yahweh: for Ashdod one, for Gaza one, for Ashkelon one, for Gath one, for Ekron one;

1Sa 6:18 and the golden mice, according to the number of all the cities of the Philistines belonging to the five lords, both of fortified cities and of country villages, even to the great stone, whereon they set down the ark of Yahweh, which stone remains to this day in the field of Joshua of Beth Shemesh.

1Sa 6:19 He struck of the men of Beth Shemesh, because they had looked into the ark of Yahweh, he struck of the people fifty thousand seventy men; and the people mourned, because Yahweh had struck the people with a great slaughter.

1Sa 6:20 The men of Beth Shemesh said, Who is able to stand before Yahweh, this holy God? and to whom shall he go up from us?

1Sa 6:21 They sent messengers to the inhabitants of Kiriath Jearim, saying, The Philistines have brought back the ark of Yahweh; come down, and bring it up to yourselves.

"ACTS OF THE APOSTLES" Chapter Twenty by Mark Copeland

                         "ACTS OF THE APOSTLES"

                             Chapter Twenty

OBJECTIVES IN STUDYING THIS CHAPTER

1) To review Paul's travels in Macedonia and Greece, during the 3rd
   journey

2) To note Paul's preaching until midnight and then talking until
   daybreak, after Eutychus falls out of the third floor window

3) To review Paul's travels from Troas to Miletus

4) To examine Paul's meeting with the Ephesian elders while in Miletus

SUMMARY

After the uproar in Ephesus had ceased, Paul gathered the disciples and
exhorted them; he then departed for Macedonia.  [During this period, 2
Corinthians may have been written.]  Paul provided much exhortation
throughout the region.  He then arrived in Greece and remained some
three months.  [Romans may have been written at this time.] As Paul
planned to sail to Syria, the Jews plotted against him.  He decided to
return through Macedonia.  The seven brethren traveling with Paul
travelled on to Troas, while Paul went to Philippi.  Luke joined Paul,
and they met the seven brethren in Troas.  (1-6)

The traveling group remained in Troas for seven days.  Paul preached on
Sunday until midnight, for they had gathered to "break bread."  Paul
planned to depart on the next day.  A young man, Eutychus, was sitting
in the window.  He was overcome with sleep, and fell from the third
floor window.  He was taken up dead.  Paul went down and "fell on him."
Eutychus was made alive.  Paul broke bread with them, and continued
talking with them until daybreak.  They were greatly comforted that
Eutychus was alive. (7-12)

Paul traveled from Troas to Assos by foot, while his companions sailed
there.  Paul joined them aboard ship in Assos.  Over some four days,
they sailed to/near:  Mitylene, Chios, Samos, and Miletus.  Paul
decided to sail past Ephesus, as he desired to be in Jerusalem on the
day of Pentecost. (13-16)

While at Miletus, Paul called for the elders of the church at Ephesus.
Paul reviewed his labors (history) with them:  he had served the Lord
with humility, tears and trials; he taught publicly and house-to-house;
he taught Jews and Greeks; and, he taught repentance toward God and
faith toward Christ.  Paul spoke of his future.  He was to go "bound in
the Spirit" to Jerusalem.  "Chains and tribulations" awaited him there.
In light of these things, Paul focused on his work to continue
proclaiming the Gospel.  He wanted to finish his race "with joy."  He
told the elders that they would not see his face anymore.  Paul
declared that he was "innocent of the blood of all men," as he had not
failed to declare to them the "whole counsel of God."  Paul exhorted and
warned them as elders; they were to follow his example.  Paul admonished
them to "take heed" unto themselves and to all the flock, over which
they were overseers.  They were to feed the church.  Paul warned them
that "wolves" would enter in, "not sparing the flock."  Some, even among
them, would arise to draw away the flock - "wherefore, watch ye."  Paul
reminded them that he had warned them day and night for three years.
Paul then commended them to God and to His Word, which is "able to build
you up."  Paul reminded them of his example of providing for himself and
those that were with him; laboring in this way, enabled them to provide
for the weak.  Paul then prayed with them and bade them farewell.  They
were weeping and sorrowful that they would not see him again.  They then
escorted him back to the ship for his departure.  (17-38)

OUTLINE

I. TRAVELS IN MACEDONIA AND GREECE (1-6)

   A. PAUL BADE FAREWELL TO THE EPHESIAN BRETHREN (1)
      1. Paul called the disciples to himself and said, "Goodbye"
      2. Paul departed to Macedonia

   B. PAUL ENCOURAGED THEM IN MACEDONIA AND GREECE, THEN TO TROAS (2-6)
      1. Paul traveled throughout Macedonia and encouraged them
      2. He then spent three months in Greece
      3. Paul planned to sail to Syria; the Jews plotted against him
         a. He decided to return through Macedonia
         b. Seven brethren accompanied Paul (messengers, see 1 Cor.
            16:3)
         c. The seven traveled on to Troas, while Paul went to Philippi
         d. Through the use of "us" and "we," it is noted that Luke
            joined Paul in Philippi
         e. Paul and Luke joined the others at Troas, five days later

II. PAUL PREACHED IN TROAS (7-12)

   A. PAUL PREACHED ON SUNDAY UNTIL MIDNIGHT (7-8)
      1. The travelers remained in Troas for seven days
      2. When the disciples assembled "to break bread," Paul preached
      3. He preached until midnight
      4. Paul planned to depart on the next day

   B. EUTYCHUS FELL OUT OF THE WINDOW (9-12)
      1. The young man, Eutychus, was sitting in the window
      2. He was overcome by sleep and fell from the third floor window
      3. Eutychus was taken up dead
      4. Paul went down and "fell on him"
      5. Eutychus was made alive
      6. Paul broke bread and continued talking with them until
         daybreak; they were comforted - Eutychus was alive

III. TRAVELING FROM TROAS TO MILETUS (13-16)

   A. PAUL MET THE OTHERS IN ASSOS AND BOARDED THE SHIP (13-14)
      1. Paul traveled from Troas to Assos by foot; his companions
         sailed by ship
      2. Paul joined them aboard ship at Assos
      3. Over some four days, they traveled to/near:
         a. Mitylene
         b. Chios
         c. Samos
         d. Miletus
      4. Paul decided to sail past Ephesus, as he desired to be in
         Jerusalem on the day of Pentecost

IV. MEETING WITH THE EPHESIAN ELDERS (17-38)

   A. PAUL REVIEWED HIS HISTORY WITH THE EPHESIAN ELDERS (17-21)
      1. While at Miletus, Paul called for the elders from Ephesus
      2. Paul reviewed his labors while he was in Ephesus
         a. He served the Lord with humility, tears and trials
         b. He taught publicly and house-to-house
         c. He taught Jews and Greeks
         d. He taught repentance toward God and faith toward Christ

   B. PAUL SPOKE OF HIS FUTURE (22-27)
      1. Paul was going to Jerusalem "bound in the Spirit"
      2. "Chains and tribulations" awaited him
      3. In light of these things, Paul focused on his work to continue
         to proclaim the Gospel, and to finish his race "with joy"
      4. He noted that they would not see his face anymore
      5. Paul declared that he was "innocent of the blood of all men,"
         as he had not failed to declare to them the "whole counsel of
         God"

   C. PAUL EXHORTED AND WARNED THEM AS ELDERS OF THE EPHESIAN CHURCH;
      THEY WERE TO FOLLOW HIS EXAMPLE (28-35)
      1. Paul admonished the elders to "take heed" unto themselves and
         to all the flock, of which they were overseers
      2. They were to "shepherd the flock"
      3. Paul warned them that "wolves" would enter in, "not sparing the
         flock"
      4. Some, even among them, would arise to draw away the flock
      5. "Wherefore, watch ye"
      6. Paul reminded them that he had warned them day and night for
         three years
      7. Paul commended them to God and to His Word, which was "able to
         build you up"
      8. Paul reminded them of his example of providing for himself and
         those with him; laboring in this way, enabled them to provide
         for the weak

   D. PAUL PRAYED WITH THE ELDERS AND BADE THEM FAREWELL (36-38)
      1. Paul kneeled and prayed with them
      2. They all wept, sorrowed that they would not see Paul again
      3. They escorted Paul back to the ship

REVIEW QUESTIONS FOR THE CHAPTER

1) What are the main events in this chapter?
   - Paul's travels in Macedonia and Greece (1-6)
   - Paul preached in Troas (7-12)
   - Travelling from Troas to Miletus(13-16)
   - Meeting with the Ephesian Elders (17-38)

2) When the uproar had ceased in Ephesus, who did Paul call for? (1)
   - Called for the disciples and exhorted them (1)

3) Paul departed Ephesus and went where?  And, where next? (1-2)
   - Macedonia (1)
   - Greece (2)

4) As Paul planned to sail to Syria, what did the Jews do? How did he
   change his plans? (3)
   - They plotted against him (3)
   - He determined to return through Macedonia (3)

5) How many companions were traveling with Paul?  Where did they go
   ahead before Paul? (4-5)
   - Seven brethren (4)
   - They went ahead to Troas and waited (5)

6) What can be noted by the use of the pronouns, "we" and "us" in this
   passage? (5-6)
   - The writer, Luke, had joined the travelers (13)

7) Upon which day of the week and for what purpose had they gathered
   together? (7)
   - They gathered together on the first day of the week - Sunday (7)
   - They had gathered together to "break bread" (Lord's Supper) (7)

8) How long did Paul prolong his message? (7)
   - Until midnight (7)

9) Where was Eutychus and what happened to him? (9-12)
   - Sitting on the window sill (9)
   - Sank into a deep sleep (9)
   - Fell from the third floor window (9)
   - He was picked up dead (9)
   - Paul went down and fell upon him, embracing him (10)
   - He was alive again (12)

10) Where did the travelers sail to? How did Paul travel there? (13)
   - Assos (13)
   - Paul traveled by land (13)

11) List the locations they sailed to/near from Assos to Miletus?
    (14-15)
   - Assos, Mitylene, Chios, Samos, and Miletus (14-15)

12) What was Paul's reason for sailing past Ephesus? (16)
   - He was hurrying to be in Jerusalem for the day of Pentecost (16)

13) While in Miletus, who did Paul call to meet with him? (17)
   - The elders of the church in Ephesus (17)

14) Briefly list Paul's history with the Ephesians that he reviewed with
    them. (18-21)
   - He served the Lord with humility, tears and trials (19)
   - He taught publicly and house-to-house (20)
   - He taught Jews and Greeks (21)
   - He taught repentance toward God and faith toward Christ (21)

15) What did Paul say was in his future? (22-27)
   - He was going to Jerusalem "bound in the Spirit" (22)
   - "Chains and tribulations" awaited him (23)
   - In light of these things, Paul focused on his work to continue to
     proclaim the Gospel and to finish his race "with joy" (24)
   - He noted that they would not see his face anymore (25)
   - Paul declared that he was "innocent of the blood of all men," as he
     had not failed to declare to them the "whole counsel of God"
     (26-27)

16) How did Paul exhort and warn the elders? Whose example were they to
    follow? (28-35)
   - Paul admonished the elders to "take heed" unto themselves and to
     all the flock, of which they were overseers (28)
   - They were to "shepherd the flock" (28)
   - Paul warned them that "wolves" would enter in, "not sparing the
     flock" (29)
   - Some, even among them, would arise to draw away the flock (30)
   - "Wherefore, watch ye" - be on the alert (31)
   - Paul reminded them that he had warned them day and night for three
     years (31)
   - Paul commended them to God and to His Word, which was "able to
     build you up" (32)
   - Paul reminded them of his example of providing for himself and
     those with him; laboring in this way, enabled them to provide for
     the weak (33-35)

17) After Paul exhorted and warned the elders, what did he do? (36)
   - He knelt down and prayed with them (36)

18) What were they especially grieved over? (37-38)
   - Over the word that he had spoken, that they would see his face no
     longer (38)