March 26, 2014

From Gary... Bible Reading March 26

Bible Reading

March 26

The World English Bible

Mar. 26

Leviticus 7, 8

Lev 7:1 " 'This is the law of the trespass offering. It is most holy.

Lev 7:2 In the place where they kill the burnt offering, he shall kill the trespass offering; and its blood he shall sprinkle around on the altar.

Lev 7:3 He shall offer all of its fat: the fat tail, and the fat that covers the innards,

Lev 7:4 and the two kidneys, and the fat that is on them, which is by the loins, and the cover on the liver, with the kidneys, shall he take away;

Lev 7:5 and the priest shall burn them on the altar for an offering made by fire to Yahweh: it is a trespass offering.

Lev 7:6 Every male among the priests may eat of it. It shall be eaten in a holy place. It is most holy.

Lev 7:7 " 'As is the sin offering, so is the trespass offering; there is one law for them. The priest who makes atonement with them shall have it.

Lev 7:8 The priest who offers any man's burnt offering, even the priest shall have for himself the skin of the burnt offering which he has offered.

Lev 7:9 Every meal offering that is baked in the oven, and all that is dressed in the pan, and on the griddle, shall be the priest's who offers it.

Lev 7:10 Every meal offering, mixed with oil or dry, belongs to all the sons of Aaron, one as well as another.

Lev 7:11 " 'This is the law of the sacrifice of peace offerings, which one shall offer to Yahweh.

Lev 7:12 If he offers it for a thanksgiving, then he shall offer with the sacrifice of thanksgiving unleavened cakes mixed with oil, and unleavened wafers anointed with oil, and cakes mixed with oil.

Lev 7:13 With cakes of leavened bread he shall offer his offering with the sacrifice of his peace offerings for thanksgiving.

Lev 7:14 Of it he shall offer one out of each offering for a heave offering to Yahweh. It shall be the priest's who sprinkles the blood of the peace offerings.

Lev 7:15 The flesh of the sacrifice of his peace offerings for thanksgiving shall be eaten on the day of his offering. He shall not leave any of it until the morning.

Lev 7:16 " 'But if the sacrifice of his offering is a vow, or a freewill offering, it shall be eaten on the day that he offers his sacrifice; and on the next day what remains of it shall be eaten:

Lev 7:17 but what remains of the flesh of the sacrifice on the third day shall be burned with fire.

Lev 7:18 If any of the flesh of the sacrifice of his peace offerings is eaten on the third day, it will not be accepted, neither shall it be imputed to him who offers it. It will be an abomination, and the soul who eats any of it will bear his iniquity.

Lev 7:19 " 'The flesh that touches any unclean thing shall not be eaten. It shall be burned with fire. As for the flesh, everyone who is clean may eat it;

Lev 7:20 but the soul who eats of the flesh of the sacrifice of peace offerings, that belongs to Yahweh, having his uncleanness on him, that soul shall be cut off from his people.

Lev 7:21 When anyone touches any unclean thing, the uncleanness of man, or an unclean animal, or any unclean abomination, and eats some of the flesh of the sacrifice of peace offerings, which belong to Yahweh, that soul shall be cut off from his people.' "

Lev 7:22 Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying,

Lev 7:23 "Speak to the children of Israel, saying, 'You shall eat no fat, of bull, or sheep, or goat.

Lev 7:24 The fat of that which dies of itself, and the fat of that which is torn of animals, may be used for any other service, but you shall in no way eat of it.

Lev 7:25 For whoever eats the fat of the animal, of which men offer an offering made by fire to Yahweh, even the soul who eats it shall be cut off from his people.

Lev 7:26 You shall not eat any blood, whether it is of bird or of animal, in any of your dwellings.

Lev 7:27 Whoever it is who eats any blood, that soul shall be cut off from his people.' "

Lev 7:28 Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying,

Lev 7:29 "Speak to the children of Israel, saying, 'He who offers the sacrifice of his peace offerings to Yahweh shall bring his offering to Yahweh out of the sacrifice of his peace offerings.

Lev 7:30 With his own hands he shall bring the offerings of Yahweh made by fire. He shall bring the fat with the breast, that the breast may be waved for a wave offering before Yahweh.

Lev 7:31 The priest shall burn the fat on the altar, but the breast shall be Aaron's and his sons'.

Lev 7:32 The right thigh you shall give to the priest for a heave offering out of the sacrifices of your peace offerings.

Lev 7:33 He among the sons of Aaron who offers the blood of the peace offerings, and the fat, shall have the right thigh for a portion.

Lev 7:34 For the waved breast and the heaved thigh I have taken from the children of Israel out of the sacrifices of their peace offerings, and have given them to Aaron the priest and to his sons as their portion forever from the children of Israel.' "

Lev 7:35 This is the anointing portion of Aaron, and the anointing portion of his sons, out of the offerings of Yahweh made by fire, in the day when he presented them to minister to Yahweh in the priest's office;

Lev 7:36 which Yahweh commanded to be given them of the children of Israel, in the day that he anointed them. It is their portion forever throughout their generations.

Lev 7:37 This is the law of the burnt offering, of the meal offering, and of the sin offering, and of the trespass offering, and of the consecration, and of the sacrifice of peace offerings;

Lev 7:38 which Yahweh commanded Moses in Mount Sinai, in the day that he commanded the children of Israel to offer their offerings to Yahweh, in the wilderness of Sinai.

Lev 8:1 Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying,

Lev 8:2 "Take Aaron and his sons with him, and the garments, and the anointing oil, and the bull of the sin offering, and the two rams, and the basket of unleavened bread;

Lev 8:3 and assemble all the congregation at the door of the Tent of Meeting."

Lev 8:4 Moses did as Yahweh commanded him; and the congregation was assembled at the door of the Tent of Meeting.

Lev 8:5 Moses said to the congregation, "This is the thing which Yahweh has commanded to be done."

Lev 8:6 Moses brought Aaron and his sons, and washed them with water.

Lev 8:7 He put the coat on him, tied the sash on him, clothed him with the robe, put the ephod on him, and he tied the skillfully woven band of the ephod on him, and fastened it to him with it.

Lev 8:8 He placed the breastplate on him; and in the breastplate he put the Urim and the Thummim.

Lev 8:9 He set the turban on his head; and on the turban, in front, he set the golden plate, the holy crown; as Yahweh commanded Moses.

Lev 8:10 Moses took the anointing oil, and anointed the tabernacle and all that was in it, and sanctified them.

Lev 8:11 He sprinkled it on the altar seven times, and anointed the altar and all its vessels, and the basin and its base, to sanctify them.

Lev 8:12 He poured some of the anointing oil on Aaron's head, and anointed him, to sanctify him.

Lev 8:13 Moses brought Aaron's sons, and clothed them with coats, and tied sashes on them, and put headbands on them; as Yahweh commanded Moses.

Lev 8:14 He brought the bull of the sin offering, and Aaron and his sons laid their hands on the head of the bull of the sin offering.

Lev 8:15 He killed it; and Moses took the blood, and put it around on the horns of the altar with his finger, and purified the altar, and poured out the blood at the base of the altar, and sanctified it, to make atonement for it.

Lev 8:16 He took all the fat that was on the innards, and the cover of the liver, and the two kidneys, and their fat; and Moses burned it on the altar.

Lev 8:17 But the bull, and its skin, and its flesh, and its dung, he burned with fire outside the camp; as Yahweh commanded Moses.

Lev 8:18 He presented the ram of the burnt offering: and Aaron and his sons laid their hands on the head of the ram.

Lev 8:19 He killed it; and Moses sprinkled the blood around on the altar.

Lev 8:20 He cut the ram into its pieces; and Moses burned the head, and the pieces, and the fat.

Lev 8:21 He washed the innards and the legs with water; and Moses burned the whole ram on the altar. It was a burnt offering for a pleasant aroma. It was an offering made by fire to Yahweh; as Yahweh commanded Moses.

Lev 8:22 He presented the other ram, the ram of consecration: and Aaron and his sons laid their hands on the head of the ram.

Lev 8:23 He killed it; and Moses took some of its blood, and put it on the tip of Aaron's right ear, and on the thumb of his right hand, and on the great toe of his right foot.

Lev 8:24 He brought Aaron's sons; and Moses put some of the blood on the tip of their right ear, and on the thumb of their right hand, and on the great toe of their right foot; and Moses sprinkled the blood around on the altar.

Lev 8:25 He took the fat, and the fat tail, and all the fat that was on the innards, and the cover of the liver, and the two kidneys, and their fat, and the right thigh;

Lev 8:26 and out of the basket of unleavened bread, that was before Yahweh, he took one unleavened cake, and one cake of oiled bread, and one wafer, and placed them on the fat, and on the right thigh.

Lev 8:27 He put all these in Aaron's hands and in his sons' hands, and waved them for a wave offering before Yahweh.

Lev 8:28 Moses took them from their hands, and burned them on the altar on the burnt offering. They were a consecration for a pleasant aroma. It was an offering made by fire to Yahweh.

Lev 8:29 Moses took the breast, and waved it for a wave offering before Yahweh. It was Moses' portion of the ram of consecration, as Yahweh commanded Moses.

Lev 8:30 Moses took some of the anointing oil, and some of the blood which was on the altar, and sprinkled it on Aaron, on his garments, and on his sons, and on his sons' garments with him, and sanctified Aaron, his garments, and his sons, and his sons' garments with him.

Lev 8:31 Moses said to Aaron and to his sons, "Boil the flesh at the door of the Tent of Meeting, and there eat it and the bread that is in the basket of consecration, as I commanded, saying, 'Aaron and his sons shall eat it.'

Lev 8:32 What remains of the flesh and of the bread you shall burn with fire.

Lev 8:33 You shall not go out from the door of the Tent of Meeting seven days, until the days of your consecration are fulfilled: for he shall consecrate you seven days.

Lev 8:34 What has been done this day, so Yahweh has commanded to do, to make atonement for you.

Lev 8:35 You shall stay at the door of the Tent of Meeting day and night seven days, and keep Yahweh's command, that you don't die: for so I am commanded."

Lev 8:36 Aaron and his sons did all the things which Yahweh commanded by Moses.

From Mark Copeland... Heeding The Voice From The Mountain (Hebrews 12:18-29)

                      "THE EPISTLE TO THE HEBREWS"

             Heeding The Voice From The Mountain (12:18-29)

INTRODUCTION

1. In encouraging Christians to run the race that is set before them,
   the Hebrews writer has instructed them to...
   a. Lay aside things that would hinder them - He 12:1
   b. Run with endurance - He 12:1
   c. Keep their focus on Jesus - He 12:2-3
   d. Remember the value of the Lord's chastening - He 12:4-11
   e. Run with "style" - He 12:12-13
   f. Pursue peace and holiness - He 12:14
   g. Look diligently lest one fall short of God's grace, stumble
      because of bitterness, or become a fornicator or profane person
      - He 12:15-17

2. Further encouragement is now provided in the last half of chapter
   twelve...
   a. With a reminder of the "mountain" to which they have come
   b. With a warning to heed "Him who speaks"

3. As we "run the race of faith" today, we need this same reminder and
   warning...
   a. Do we appreciate the significance of the "mountain" to which we
      have come?
   b. Are we "Heeding The Voice From The Mountain"?
   -- How we answer such questions can reveal how well we are running
      the race of faith!

[With our text before us, let's take a look at...]

I. THE MOUNTAIN TO WHICH WE HAVE COME (18-24)

   A. IT IS NOT MOUNT SINAI (18-21)
      1. The mountain described first is Mount Sinai, to which Israel
         came following their deliverance from Egyptian bondage - cf.
         Exo 19:12-19
         a. It seems to have been much like a volcano - Exo 20:18; Deu
            4:11
         b. It frightened the people - Deut 5:22-26; 18:16
         c. Even Moses was afraid - Deut 9:19
      2. We have not come to such a mountain, that forces us to stand
         "afar off"

   B. IT IS MOUNT ZION (22-24)
      1. The "mountain" to which we have come is one that encourages us
         to "draw near"
      2. We have come to "Mount Zion"
         a. Zion was originally the stronghold of the Jebusites in
            Jerusalem that became the "city of David" - 2Sa 5:6-10;
            1Ch 11:4-9
         b. The term "Zion" came to be used to refer to:
            1) The city of Jerusalem - Ps 48:2; 84:7; Am 6:1
            2) The heavenly Jerusalem where God dwells - Isa 28:16;
               Ps 2:6 Re 14:1
      3. In coming to "Mount Zion", we have also come to...
         a. "the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem"
            1) The heavenly city longed for by Abraham and the others
               - cf. He 11:10,13-16
            2) The heavenly city longed for by Christians today - cf.
               He 13:14
            3) The heavenly city we will one day experience - Re 3:12;
               21:1-7; 22:14
            -- "This heavenly city is where our Lord dwells and is our
               eternal home. In coming to Christ we have come into the
               covenant which gives us the right to a place in that
               city." (B. W. Johnson, People's New Testament)
         b. "an innumerable company of angels"
            1) The heavenly servants of God, of which there is a great
               number - cf. Re 5:11
            2) Who also minister to those who will inherit salvation
               - He 1:14
         c. "the general assembly and church of the firstborn
            registered in heaven"
            1) The church in the universal sense, made up of all who
               are saved - Ac 2:47
            2) They are the "firstborn ones", who enjoy special
               privileges of their birthright
            3) Their names are in "the Book of Life" - Php 4:3; Re 3:5
         d. "God the Judge of all"
            1) The Judge of all the earth - cf. Gen 18:25
            2) He is the One to whom we must give heed, as we shall
               note shortly
         e. "the spirits of just men made perfect"
            1) Those who died in faith, such as the Old Testament
               saints - He 11:39-40
            2) Note:  They had not been made perfect apart from us, but
               now they are made perfect;  they were redeemed by the
               blood of Christ! - cf. He 9:15
         f. "Jesus the Mediator of the new covenant"
            1) As we've seen, He is the Mediator of "a better covenant"
               - He 8:6
            2) This "new covenant" is by means of His death - He 9:15
         g. "the blood of sprinkling that speaks better things than
            that of Abel"
            1) Abel still speaks through the example of his faith
               - He 11:4
            2) But in comparison, the blood of Jesus speaks volumes!
               - He 10:11-14

[In coming to Christ, being redeemed by the blood of the New Covenant,
we have drawn near to this wonderful "mountain"!  It is a place that
offers many wonderful blessings, both now and with promise for the
future.

But the author's purpose is not just to review the blessings we have in
coming to this "mountain"; he is warning us:

       "See that you do not refuse Him who speaks." (He 12:25a)

To appreciate the need for his warning, let's now consider...]

II. WHY WE SHOULD HEED THE VOICE FROM THE MOUNTAIN (25-29)

   A. THOSE AT MOUNT SINAI DID NOT ESCAPE (25)
      1. We have seen from our study that...
         a. "every transgression and disobedience received a just
            reward" - He 2:2
         b. Those who sinned, their "corpses fell in the wilderness"
            - He 3:17
         c. Those who rejected Moses' law died "without mercy" - He 10:
            28
      2. Thus the argument is again one of comparison, from the lesser
         to the greater...
         a. "How shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation..."
            - He 2:1-4
         b. "Of how much worse punishment , do you suppose, will he be
            thought worthy..." - He 10:26-31
      3. As Jesus said in Lk 12:48...
         a. "For everyone to whom much is given, from him much will be
            required..."
         b. "...and to whom much has been committed, of him they will
            ask the more."
      -- In Christ we enjoy so much more; dare we refuse to heed Him
         who speaks, not from Mount Sinai, but from Mount Zion (i.e.,
         heaven itself)!

   B. THE ONE WHO SPEAKS WILL SHAKE HEAVEN AND EARTH (26-27)
      1. When God spoke at Mount Sinai, the earth trembled - Exo 19:18
      2. The day is coming when both heaven and earth will be shaken,
         even removed!
         a. As promised in Hag 2:6
         b. Which refers to "the removal of those things that are
            being shaken, as of things that are made" - cf. 2Pe 3:
            10-12
      -- Dare we refuse to heed Him who speaks with such impact?

   C. WE ARE RECEIVING A KINGDOM WHICH CANNOT BE SHAKEN (28)
      1. While everything made will one day perish, we "are receiving"
         a kingdom which cannot be shaken!
         a. Note the present tense ("are receiving")
         b. Thus we are in the process of receiving this "kingdom"
      2. It is a kingdom both present and future...
         a. In one sense, we are now "in" the kingdom - cf. Col 1:13;
            Re 1:9
         b. In another sense, we have yet to enter the kingdom - cf.
            2Pe 1:10-11
      3. It is a kingdom...
         a. Inaugurated when Jesus ascended to sit at God's right hand
            on David's throne - Ac 2:30-36
         b. To be culminated when Jesus returns to deliver the kingdom
            to God - 1Co 15:23-26
      4. Thus it is a kingdom...
         a. "which shall never be destroyed...it shall stand forever"
            - Dan 2:44
         b. Of which "there will be no end" - Lk 1:33
      -- Receiving such a kingdom, dare we refuse to heed Him who
         speaks?

   D. THE ONE WHO SPEAKS IS "A CONSUMING FIRE" (29)
      1. We've read of a "fiery indignation which will devour the
         adversaries" - He 10:27
      2. We've seen "it is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of
         the living God" - He 10:31
      3. Even Jesus taught us to "fear Him who is able to destroy both
         soul and body in hell" - Mt 10:28
      -- Dare we refuse to heed such an awesome God?

CONCLUSION

1. God has indeed spoken...
   a. He has spoken through His Son - cf. He 1:1-2
   b. He has spoken from Mount Zion, that heavenly city, the New
      Jerusalem...
      1) To which we have come through an obedient faith in Jesus - cf.
         He 5:9
      2) Where we can enjoy the fellowship of angels, the redeemed in
         heaven and on earth, and of Jesus and God Himself!
      3) Where we can enjoy a New and better covenant, based upon the
         better sacrifice of Jesus' blood!

2. But with such wonderful blessings come the responsibility of giving
   heed...
   a. Not to neglect our great salvation
   b. Not to refuse Him who speaks from the heavenly "mountain"

Therefore our goal should be that as expressed by the author himself:

   "...let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with
   reverence and godly fear." (He 12:28b)

With God's grace to help us (cf. He 4:14-16), we can serve Him in a
manner well-pleasing to Him.  Are you "Heeding The Voice From The
Mountain"?

From Jim McGuiggan... A CHURCH NOT FAILING ENOUGH

A CHURCH NOT FAILING ENOUGH

We have all those promises from Jesus about our asking “anything” in his name and God will give it. Can you imagine, a God like the God and Father of our lord Jesus Christ and a Lord like the Lord Jesus assuring us that if we ask “anything” in his name he will grant it?

And we, taking him at his word, ask him for what?

We ask advice on…what?

God has given the kingdom to us, we have a new world before us, we have a gospel entrusted to us that brings down castles of rebellion, that tears apart the foundations of forts of evil imagination and despair and we ask for what? We are taught to ask for what?

We’re faced with a world God so loves, a world that’s in darkness and slavery and we ceaselessly ask God to fine-tune our spirituality?

J.A. Stewart said it didn’t trouble him much when he hears people say that the Church is failing. What galls him is that it isn’t failing enough and for the right reasons.

It doesn’t engage or attempt to engage in cosmic-sized adventure so when it fails it fails in trivial ways. It is a humble church with a lot to be humble about!

Many thanks to brother Ed Healy, for allowing me to post from his website, theabidingword.com

March 24, 2014

From Gary... Bible Reading March 24

Bible Reading

March 24

The World English Bible

Mar. 24

Leviticus 3, 4

Lev 3:1 " 'If his offering is a sacrifice of peace offerings; if he offers it from the herd, whether male or female, he shall offer it without blemish before Yahweh.

Lev 3:2 He shall lay his hand on the head of his offering, and kill it at the door of the Tent of Meeting: and Aaron's sons, the priests shall sprinkle the blood around on the altar.

Lev 3:3 He shall offer of the sacrifice of peace offerings an offering made by fire to Yahweh; the fat that covers the innards, and all the fat that is on the innards,

Lev 3:4 and the two kidneys, and the fat that is on them, which is by the loins, and the cover on the liver, with the kidneys, he shall take away.

Lev 3:5 Aaron's sons shall burn it on the altar on the burnt offering, which is on the wood that is on the fire: it is an offering made by fire, of a pleasant aroma to Yahweh.

Lev 3:6 " 'If his offering for a sacrifice of peace offerings to Yahweh is from the flock; male or female, he shall offer it without blemish.

Lev 3:7 If he offers a lamb for his offering, then he shall offer it before Yahweh;

Lev 3:8 and he shall lay his hand on the head of his offering, and kill it before the Tent of Meeting: and Aaron's sons shall sprinkle its blood around on the altar.

Lev 3:9 He shall offer from the sacrifice of peace offerings an offering made by fire to Yahweh; its fat, the entire tail fat, he shall take away close to the backbone; and the fat that covers the inwards, and all the fat that is on the inwards,

Lev 3:10 and the two kidneys, and the fat that is on them, which is by the loins, and the cover on the liver, with the kidneys, he shall take away.

Lev 3:11 The priest shall burn it on the altar: it is the food of the offering made by fire to Yahweh.

Lev 3:12 " 'If his offering is a goat, then he shall offer it before Yahweh:

Lev 3:13 and he shall lay his hand on its head, and kill it before the Tent of Meeting; and the sons of Aaron shall sprinkle its blood around on the altar.

Lev 3:14 He shall offer from it as his offering, an offering made by fire to Yahweh; the fat that covers the innards, and all the fat that is on the innards,

Lev 3:15 and the two kidneys, and the fat that is on them, which is by the loins, and the cover on the liver, with the kidneys, he shall take away.

Lev 3:16 The priest shall burn them on the altar: it is the food of the offering made by fire, for a pleasant aroma; all the fat is Yahweh's.

Lev 3:17 " 'It shall be a perpetual statute throughout your generations in all your dwellings, that you shall eat neither fat nor blood.' "

Lev 4:1 Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying,

Lev 4:2 "Speak to the children of Israel, saying, 'If anyone sins unintentionally, in any of the things which Yahweh has commanded not to be done, and does any one of them:

Lev 4:3 if the anointed priest sins so as to bring guilt on the people, then let him offer for his sin, which he has sinned, a young bull without blemish to Yahweh for a sin offering.

Lev 4:4 He shall bring the bull to the door of the Tent of Meeting before Yahweh; and he shall lay his hand on the head of the bull, and kill the bull before Yahweh.

Lev 4:5 The anointed priest shall take some of the blood of the bull, and bring it to the Tent of Meeting.

Lev 4:6 The priest shall dip his finger in the blood, and sprinkle some of the blood seven times before Yahweh, before the veil of the sanctuary.

Lev 4:7 The priest shall put some of the blood on the horns of the altar of sweet incense before Yahweh, which is in the Tent of Meeting; and he shall pour out all of rest of the blood of the bull at the base of the altar of burnt offering, which is at the door of the Tent of Meeting.

Lev 4:8 He shall take all the fat of the bull of the sin offering off of it; the fat that covers the innards, and all the fat that is on the innards,

Lev 4:9 and the two kidneys, and the fat that is on them, which is by the loins, and the cover on the liver, with the kidneys, he shall take away,

Lev 4:10 as it is taken off of the bull of the sacrifice of peace offerings. The priest shall burn them on the altar of burnt offering.

Lev 4:11 The bull's skin, all its flesh, with its head, and with its legs, its innards, and its dung,

Lev 4:12 even the whole bull shall he carry forth outside the camp to a clean place, where the ashes are poured out, and burn it on wood with fire. Where the ashes are poured out it shall be burned.

Lev 4:13 " 'If the whole congregation of Israel sins, and the thing is hidden from the eyes of the assembly, and they have done any of the things which Yahweh has commanded not to be done, and are guilty;

Lev 4:14 when the sin in which they have sinned is known, then the assembly shall offer a young bull for a sin offering, and bring it before the Tent of Meeting.

Lev 4:15 The elders of the congregation shall lay their hands on the head of the bull before Yahweh; and the bull shall be killed before Yahweh.

Lev 4:16 The anointed priest shall bring of the blood of the bull to the Tent of Meeting:

Lev 4:17 and the priest shall dip his finger in the blood, and sprinkle it seven times before Yahweh, before the veil.

Lev 4:18 He shall put some of the blood on the horns of the altar which is before Yahweh, that is in the Tent of Meeting; and the rest of the blood he shall pour out at the base of the altar of burnt offering, which is at the door of the Tent of Meeting.

Lev 4:19 All its fat he shall take from it, and burn it on the altar.

Lev 4:20 Thus shall he do with the bull; as he did with the bull of the sin offering, so shall he do with this; and the priest shall make atonement for them, and they shall be forgiven.

Lev 4:21 He shall carry forth the bull outside the camp, and burn it as he burned the first bull. It is the sin offering for the assembly.

Lev 4:22 " 'When a ruler sins, and unwittingly does any one of all the things which Yahweh his God has commanded not to be done, and is guilty;

Lev 4:23 if his sin, in which he has sinned, is made known to him, he shall bring as his offering a goat, a male without blemish.

Lev 4:24 He shall lay his hand on the head of the goat, and kill it in the place where they kill the burnt offering before Yahweh. It is a sin offering.

Lev 4:25 The priest shall take some of the blood of the sin offering with his finger, and put it on the horns of the altar of burnt offering. He shall pour out the rest of its blood at the base of the altar of burnt offering.

Lev 4:26 All its fat he shall burn on the altar, like the fat of the sacrifice of peace offerings; and the priest shall make atonement for him concerning his sin, and he will be forgiven.

Lev 4:27 " 'If anyone of the common people sins unwittingly, in doing any of the things which Yahweh has commanded not to be done, and is guilty;

Lev 4:28 if his sin, which he has sinned, is made known to him, then he shall bring for his offering a goat, a female without blemish, for his sin which he has sinned.

Lev 4:29 He shall lay his hand on the head of the sin offering, and kill the sin offering in the place of burnt offering.

Lev 4:30 The priest shall take some of its blood with his finger, and put it on the horns of the altar of burnt offering; and the rest of its blood he shall pour out at the base of the altar.

Lev 4:31 All its fat he shall take away, like the fat is taken away from off of the sacrifice of peace offerings; and the priest shall burn it on the altar for a pleasant aroma to Yahweh; and the priest shall make atonement for him, and he will be forgiven.

Lev 4:32 " 'If he brings a lamb as his offering for a sin offering, he shall bring a female without blemish.

Lev 4:33 He shall lay his hand on the head of the sin offering, and kill it for a sin offering in the place where they kill the burnt offering.

Lev 4:34 The priest shall take some of the blood of the sin offering with his finger, and put it on the horns of the altar of burnt offering; and all the rest of its blood he shall pour out at the base of the altar.

Lev 4:35 All its fat he shall take away, like the fat of the lamb is taken away from the sacrifice of peace offerings; and the priest shall burn them on the altar, on the offerings of Yahweh made by fire; and the priest shall make atonement for him concerning his sin that he has sinned, and he will be forgiven.

From Jim McGuiggan... ZIPPIDITY DO DAH

ZIPPIDITY DO DAH

Occasionally in the morning when I would work with Ethel I would speak to her in Duckese. I’m very fluent in it (especially in the specialized dialect of Duckese called Donald-Duckish). As I say, I’m very fluent in it and she was barely a beginner. As a matter of fact I couldn’t really get her to work on it at all but, as I used to tell her, I thought she’d pick it up in no time because I believe she had as much the gift for languages as I have.

One morning after much coaxing and after many refusals she gave in and responded to my own accentless DD [I really am very good at it—even some ducks think I’m just a misshapen duck when I speak it]. As I was saying, Ethel said a few words in it. I asked her to repeat it because I didn’t quite catch it but she had already turned a little pink, covered her face and was calling herself some kind of idiot. That was the end of it. Still I will always remember and treasure her attempt to boldly go where she had never gone before.

It’s these little treasures that lovers share that give their world its distinctness—things they do together, things they know about each other, affectionate names they call each other that would sound utterly ludicrous to others, their favorite places, songs, stories and more. Such things build walls around their little world—not walls of exclusion; that’s not the aim. They’re walls of security, warmth, mutual acceptance and protection, intimacy and affection. That they exclude others is simply the inevitability of their closeness—a closeness no one can share for the history and commitment doesn’t exist with others and it’s a closeness of such a dimension that they don’t wish to share it with others.

They love each other in a way that they don’t wish to love anyone else in all the world.

In a society where people call each other things that should never be thought much less uttered it’s almost rescue to be able to look at people (many of whom I know) who, while they live very much in society, have their own private, tender, brave world in which either one would climb Mount Everest barefoot for the other.

I say it’s almost redemption because the evil of our world could easily drive a very sensitive person to despair—a despair that might be tinged with the notion that even God has given up on it; or worse, horror of horrors, that God is as helpless as the rest of us [you know, with the reality of human “free will” and all that]. To see such people, boys, girls, women, men, children, parents, friends and on a broader scale, socially caring people who simply can’t live their lives without pitching in to help the oppressed and the defenseless—to see those is a liberating experience. People like that deliver us from bone-deep paralysis of the spirit and tell us: “If there can be one of us there can be millions of us!”

When people like that keep us from a dismay that approaches the level of despair they allow us to enjoy the simple pleasures of life as well. They help us to add harmless lunacy to our lives of deadly seriousness. I think both are needed for a balanced life.

Not long before Ethel went away I tried my hand at a little sewing. A few stitches came loose just below the zip on my favourite pair of trousers and I tried to fix it but I made a real hash of it so I asked Ethel if she could do it for me and she said she would. She’d been very ill for about six months and more especially in the final three weeks of that period but in God’s kindness she had so improved the change was remarkable. In any case, she still had moments of utter confusion and she had one when she began to work on my pants.

She had them turned inside out and was working away when she called on me to cut the stitches around the zip; I cut a few and then she said rip it up further for me. I didn’t understand but somewhere down in my mind I suppose I thought she meant to do a thorough job—I’m sure I thought something like that, so I went ahead and ripped the zip nearly off. It was only when she asked me to cut the pocket off (which I did!!!!!!) that I realized she was off her head. So picture that, now I’m standing with my good pants, ripped up the front and most of one of the pockets in my hand and I’m the one that did it!.

Would you tell me which one of us was more “off the wall”?

When I later asked her about it she remembered clearly asking me to do it but she didn’t know why she would. Oh well.

We laughed about it for days and did until it lost a little of its shine. But for a longer while after that all I had to do was say the word “zip” or “pocket” and off we’d begin giggling and then to screaming with laughter and her accusing me of being the worst of two lunatics!

I don’t say life’s every moment is entirely pleasant but it is a wonderful life.

Zip a dee do dah, zippity ay…………

From Mark Copeland... The Pursuit Of Peace And Holiness (Hebrews 12:12-17)

                      "THE EPISTLE TO THE HEBREWS"

              The Pursuit Of Peace And Holiness (12:12-17)

INTRODUCTION

1. In "Running The Race Of Faith" (He 12:1-3), we saw the need to...
   a. Lay aside things that would hinder us, especially the sin of 
      unbelief
   b. Have endurance, even as Jesus endured hostility and the cross
   c. Focus our gaze on Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, 
      whose own example should encourage us not to become weary and 
      discouraged

2. After reminding his readers of the value of the Lord's chastening, 
   the author of Hebrews returns to the metaphor of "running"...
   a. With a call to "run with style" - He 12:12-13
   b. With instructions to pursue peace and holiness - He 12:14
   c. With a word of caution, appealing to the example of Esau - He 12:
      15-17

3. One way to describe the Christian "race", then, is "The Pursuit Of 
   Peace And Holiness"
   a. How well are you doing in your pursuit?
   b. Do you know what it is you are to be running after?
   c. Are you aware of the possible pitfalls that can hinder you?

[To encourage excellence in regards to our pursuit, let's take a closer
look at the passage, beginning with...]

I. MAKING PREPARATION FOR OUR PURSUIT (12-13)

   A. A CALL TO "RUN WITH STYLE"...
      1. We are to "strengthen"...
         a. "the hands which hang down"
         b. "the feeble knees"
         -- A common figure of speech (Job 4:3-4; Isa 35:3), calling us
            to shake off all weariness, to be firm and strong
      2. We are to "make straight paths" for our feet, so that...
         a. "what is lame may not be dislocated"
         b. "but rather be healed"
         -- Another common expression (Isa 40:3-4), encouraging us to
            remove all that would hinder our progress (especially if we
            are weak)

   B. THE IMPLICATIONS OF THIS CALL...
      1. First, we must respond to this call to action
         a. This is something "we" are being called to do
         b. We can't expect God to do it all!
         c. While God will certainly help us, we must make the effort 
            - cf. Php 2:12-13
      2. This call to action is not limited to strengthening just 
         yourself
         a. Certainly there is the personal application
         b. But as concerned Christians, we should seek to:
            1) "strengthen the hands...and feeble knees" of others
            2) "make straight paths" for others - cf. 1Th 5:14
         c. Just as those who are "spiritual" should be concerned for 
            the weakness of others - Ga 6:1

[In a way, this call is similar to the one the Lord gave to Joshua 
(Josh 1:6-9), which Joshua later gave to Israel (Josh 23:6,11). Shall
we heed the call to "be strong and very courageous", i.e., to "run with
style"?

Now, for some thoughts about...]  

II. THE GOAL OF OUR PURSUIT (14)

   A. PEACE WITH ALL MEN...
      1. We should not be surprised to read that we are to "pursue
         peace..."
         a. Jesus is "The Prince of Peace" - Isa 9:6
         b. He died to make peace possible:  with God, and with man 
            - Ro 5:1; Ep 2:13-17
         c. He taught that peacemakers will be called the children of 
            God - Mt 5:9
         d. A key element of the kingdom of God is peace - Ro 14:17-18
         -- Therefore, we are to pursue peace with all men - Ro 14:19;
            12:18
      2. How does one "pursue peace with all men"?
         a. By seeking peace with God first - Prov 16:7
            1) We must first make our relationship with God what it 
               ought to be
            2) Through Jesus, we can be at peace with God - Ro 5:1
         b. Letting the peace of God rule in our hearts - Col 3:15
            1) The Lord is able to "give you peace always in every way"
               - 2Th 3:16
            2) How the Lord imparts peace:
               a) Through His Word - Ps 119:165
               b) Through prayer - Php 4:6-7
            -- If one is not at peace with himself, it is unlikely he 
               can be at peace with others
         c. By doing things that make for peace - Ro 14:19
            1) Such as being considerate of their conscience - Ro 14:
               13-21
            2) Seeking unity with compassion, love, tenderness, and
               courtesy; willing to respond to evil or reviling with a 
               blessing - cf. 1Pe 3:8-11

   B. HOLINESS, WITHOUT WHICH NO ONE WILL SEE THE LORD...
      1. As God is holy, so His children must be holy - 1Pe 1:14-16; 
         1Th 4:7
      2. How can one "pursue holiness..."?
         a. True holiness (sanctification) comes through:
            1) Faith in Jesus - Ac 26:18; cf. He 10:10,14
            2) The work of the Holy Spirit - 1Co 6:11; 2Th 2:13; 
               cf. Tit 3:5
            3) The Word of God - Jn 17:17,19
         b. We cooperate with God in pursuing holiness by:
            1) Offering ourselves as "slaves of righteousness" - Ro 6:
               19-22
            2) Perfecting holiness in the fear of God - 2Co 7:1
               a) Which includes cleansing ourselves from all 
                  "filthiness of the flesh and spirit" - 2Co 7:1
               b) Also putting on the "new man...in true righteousness 
                  and holiness" - Ep 4:24; cf. Col 3:9-14

[In many respects, this is what the Christian life is all about:  
pursuing peace and holiness!  How successful we are will depend on how 
diligently we avoid...]

III. PITFALLS THAT HINDER OUR PURSUIT (15-17)

   A. FALLING SHORT OF THE GRACE OF GOD...
      1. Without God's grace, none can be saved, pursue peace, or have
         the holiness necessary to see God!
      2. But do Christians need to concern themselves with falling from
         grace?  Consider...
         a. The warning not to neglect our great salvation - He 2:1-3
         b. The warning not to be hardened by sin - He 3:12-14
         c. The warning to be diligent - He 4:1,11; cf. 2Pe 1:10
         d. The warning against willful sin - He 10:26-31
         e. The warning not receive God's grace in vain - 2Co 6:1
         f. The warning not to fall from grace - Ga 5:4
         g. The warning to "look to yourselves, that we do not lose
            those things we worked for..." - 2Jn 8
         -- Indeed, if there were no possibility for one to "fall short
            of the grace of God", then there would be no need for us to
            be "looking diligently"
      3. For the Christian, however, God's grace can be just a prayer 
         away! - cf. He 4:16

   B. LETTING A ROOT OF BITTERNESS TO SPRING UP...
      1. Bitterness can be a stumbling block in our pursuit of peace
         a. It destroys the peace within the person who harbors it 
            (modern medicine has shown that emotions like bitterness 
            and anger can cause problems such as headaches, backaches,
            allergic disorders, ulcers, high blood pressure, and heart
            attacks, etc.)
         b. It can destroy the peace in the congregation where it 
            becomes manifest
      2. It also becomes a stumbling block in our pursuit of holiness,
         for the problems it creates cause many to become "defiled" 
         (unholy)
      -- If we are going to "make straight paths for your feet", then 
         we need to clip any root of bitterness "in the bud"!

   C. BECOMING A FORNICATOR OR PROFANE PERSON...
      1. Fornication is certainly a pitfall to avoid...
         a. Fornication is a generic term for any sort of sexual 
            immorality (including pre-marital sex, adultery, 
            homosexuality, etc.)
         b. It is contrary to God's will regarding our sanctification 
            - 1Th 4:3-8
            1) Later, we will read in Hebrews where God will judge 
               fornicators - He 13:4
            2) It will keep one out of the kingdom of heaven - 1Co 6:
               9-10; Ga 5:19-21
         -- Therefore, let us "Flee fornication!" - 1Co 6:18
      2. We must also not become a "profane person"...
         a. "A worldly person who profanes holy privileges by placing
            on them a worldly estimate." (B. W. Johnson)
         b. One does not have to overtly wicked; they can displease God
            by simply devaluing that which is important to Him!
         c. Such was the case with Esau... - cf. Gen 25:29-34
            1) There is no indication that he was a fornicator
            2) But he was a profane person because he did not proper 
               estimate the value of his birthright
            3) Though he later wanted the blessings of the birthright,
               it was too late; despite his tears, it was too late to 
               change his father's mind ("he found no place for 
               repentance")
         d. We can become "profane" by devaluing our spiritual 
            blessings...
            1) In Christ, we have a spiritual birthright (redemption, 
               fellowship with God, the hope of eternal life)
            2) But we can let careers, hobbies, friends, even families,
               come between us and the things of God
            -- Are we willing to "sell our birthright" for "one morsel 
               of food"?

CONCLUSION

1. As we run the race of faith, peace with others and holiness before 
   God should be our goal

2. To run the race with "style", we need to...
   a. Get in the proper form (lift the hands, strengthen the knees), 
      helping one another to do so
   b. Watch out for the pitfalls that can hinder us in our pursuit, 
      such as...
      1) Not utilizing God's grace to help you in your race
      2) Allowing bitterness to become a stumbling block
      3) Becoming a fornicator or profane person

As we run this "race", the words of the apostle Paul are appropriate...

   "Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one 
   receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it.  
   And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all 
   things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for
   an imperishable crown. Therefore I run thus: not with 
   uncertainty. Thus I fight: not as one who beats the air.  But I
   discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I 
   have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified."
                                           (1Co 9:24-27)

Are you running in such a way as to obtain the imperishable crown?