From Gary... Choice, decision and consequences

You are responsible for what you do; while it is true that situations or people may influence you, ultimately you must bear the consequences for the decisions that you make. And the decisions you make are based on choices, plain and simple!!!  A good example of this is found in the book of Joshua...

Joshua, Chapter 7 (WEB)

The Choice to Sin

 1 But the children of Israel committed a trespass in the devoted things; for Achan, the son of Carmi, the son of Zabdi, the son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, took some of the devoted things. Therefore Yahweh’s anger burned against the children of Israel. 

The Disaster of Sin

 4 So about three thousand men of the people went up there, and they fled before the men of Ai. 5 The men of Ai struck about thirty-six men of them, and they chased them from before the gate even to Shebarim, and struck them at the descent. The hearts of the people melted, and became like water. 6 Joshua tore his clothes, and fell to the earth on his face before Yahweh’s ark until the evening, he and the elders of Israel; and they put dust on their heads.  7 Joshua said, “Alas, Lord Yahweh, why have you brought this people over the Jordan at all, to deliver us into the hand of the Amorites, to cause us to perish? I wish that we had been content and lived beyond the Jordan!  8 Oh, Lord, what shall I say, after that Israel has turned their backs before their enemies!  9 For the Canaanites and all the inhabitants of the land will hear of it, and will surround us, and cut off our name from the earth. What will you do for your great name?” 

The Revelation of Sin

  13  “Get up! Sanctify the people, and say, ‘Sanctify yourselves for tomorrow, for Yahweh, the God of Israel, says, “There is a devoted thing in your midst, Israel. You cannot stand before your enemies until you take away the devoted thing from among you.” 

  14  “‘In the morning therefore you shall be brought near by your tribes. It shall be that the tribe which Yahweh selects shall come near by families. The family which Yahweh selects shall come near by households. The household which Yahweh selects shall come near man by man.  15 It shall be, that he who is taken with the devoted thing shall be burnt with fire, he and all that he has, because he has transgressed the covenant of Yahweh, and because he has done a disgraceful thing in Israel.’” 

  16  So Joshua rose up early in the morning and brought Israel near by their tribes. The tribe of Judah was selected.  17 He brought near the family of Judah; and he selected the family of the Zerahites. He brought near the family of the Zerahites man by man, and Zabdi was selected.  18 He brought near his household man by man, and Achan, the son of Carmi, the son of Zabdi, the son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, was selected.  19 Joshua said to Achan, “My son, please give glory to Yahweh, the God of Israel, and make confession to him. Tell me now what you have done! Don’t hide it from me!” 

  20  Achan answered Joshua, and said, “I have truly sinned against Yahweh, the God of Israel, and this is what I have done.  21 When I saw among the plunder a beautiful Babylonian robe, two hundred shekels of silver, and a wedge of gold weighing fifty shekels, then I coveted them and took them. Behold, they are hidden in the ground in the middle of my tent, with the silver under it.” 

  22  So Joshua sent messengers, and they ran to the tent. Behold, it was hidden in his tent, with the silver under it.  23 They took them from the middle of the tent, and brought them to Joshua and to all the children of Israel. They laid them down before Yahweh.

The Penalty for Sin

24 Joshua, and all Israel with him, took Achan the son of Zerah, the silver, the robe, the wedge of gold, his sons, his daughters, his cattle, his donkeys, his sheep, his tent, and all that he had; and they brought them up to the valley of Achor.  25 Joshua said, “Why have you troubled us? Yahweh will trouble you this day.” All Israel stoned him with stones, and they burned them with fire and stoned them with stones.  26 They raised over him a great heap of stones that remains to this day. Yahweh turned from the fierceness of his anger. Therefore the name of that place was called “The valley of Achor” to this day.


Sin is nothing less that departure from the will of God. Achan's choice let to Achan's sin and Achan's sin led to the death of 36 people. Both Achan and his family were executed for this and while this may sound severe, remember 36 people died.  

Truth: we pay for the decisions we make. Achan realized his sin, but he still had to accept the consequences for his actions!!!  We do as well!!!! 

The choices you make are yours, accept the responsibility for them. DON'T PLAY THE BLAME-GAME!!!  Do yourself a favor- read and reread the graphic (you ultimately will be glad you did)!!!

From Gary... Bible Reading March 31

Bible Reading  

March 31

The World English Bible

Mar. 31

Leviticus 17, 18

Lev 17:1 Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying,

Lev 17:2 "Speak to Aaron, and to his sons, and to all the children of Israel, and say to them: 'This is the thing which Yahweh has commanded,

Lev 17:3 Whatever man there is of the house of Israel, who kills a bull, or lamb, or goat, in the camp, or who kills it outside the camp,

Lev 17:4 and hasn't brought it to the door of the Tent of Meeting, to offer it as an offering to Yahweh before the tabernacle of Yahweh: blood shall be imputed to that man. He has shed blood; and that man shall be cut off from among his people.

Lev 17:5 This is to the end that the children of Israel may bring their sacrifices, which they sacrifice in the open field, that they may bring them to Yahweh, to the door of the Tent of Meeting, to the priest, and sacrifice them for sacrifices of peace offerings to Yahweh.

Lev 17:6 The priest shall sprinkle the blood on the altar of Yahweh at the door of the Tent of Meeting, and burn the fat for a pleasant aroma to Yahweh.

Lev 17:7 They shall no more sacrifice their sacrifices to the goat idols, after which they play the prostitute. This shall be a statute forever to them throughout their generations.'

Lev 17:8 "You shall say to them, 'Any man there is of the house of Israel, or of the strangers who live as foreigners among them, who offers a burnt offering or sacrifice,

Lev 17:9 and doesn't bring it to the door of the Tent of Meeting, to sacrifice it to Yahweh; that man shall be cut off from his people.

Lev 17:10 " 'Any man of the house of Israel, or of the strangers who live as foreigners among them, who eats any kind of blood, I will set my face against that soul who eats blood, and will cut him off from among his people.

Lev 17:11 For the life of the flesh is in the blood; and I have given it to you on the altar to make atonement for your souls: for it is the blood that makes atonement by reason of the life.

Lev 17:12 Therefore I have said to the children of Israel, "No person among you shall eat blood, neither shall any stranger who lives as a foreigner among you eat blood."

Lev 17:13 " 'Whatever man there is of the children of Israel, or of the strangers who live as foreigners among them, who takes in hunting any animal or bird that may be eaten; he shall pour out its blood, and cover it with dust.

Lev 17:14 For as to the life of all flesh, its blood is with its life: therefore I said to the children of Israel, "You shall not eat the blood of any kind of flesh; for the life of all flesh is its blood. Whoever eats it shall be cut off."

Lev 17:15 " 'Every person that eats what dies of itself, or that which is torn by animals, whether he is native-born or a foreigner, he shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the evening: then he shall be clean.

Lev 17:16 But if he doesn't wash them, or bathe his flesh, then he shall bear his iniquity.' "

Lev 18:1 Yahweh said to Moses,

Lev 18:2 "Speak to the children of Israel, and say to them, 'I am Yahweh your God.

Lev 18:3 You shall not do as they do in the land of Egypt, where you lived: and you shall not do as they do in the land of Canaan, where I am bringing you; neither shall you walk in their statutes.

Lev 18:4 You shall do my ordinances, and you shall keep my statutes, and walk in them: I am Yahweh your God.

Lev 18:5 You shall therefore keep my statutes and my ordinances; which if a man does, he shall live in them: I am Yahweh.

Lev 18:6 " 'None of you shall approach anyone who are his close relatives, to uncover their nakedness: I am Yahweh.

Lev 18:7 " 'You shall not uncover the nakedness of your father, nor the nakedness of your mother: she is your mother. You shall not uncover her nakedness.

Lev 18:8 " 'You shall not uncover the nakedness of your father's wife: it is your father's nakedness.

Lev 18:9 " 'You shall not uncover the nakedness of your sister, the daughter of your father, or the daughter of your mother, whether born at home, or born abroad.

Lev 18:10 " 'You shall not uncover the nakedness of your son's daughter, or of your daughter's daughter, even their nakedness: for theirs is your own nakedness.

Lev 18:11 " 'You shall not uncover the nakedness of your father's wife's daughter, conceived by your father, since she is your sister.

Lev 18:12 " 'You shall not uncover the nakedness of your father's sister: she is your father's near kinswoman.

Lev 18:13 " 'You shall not uncover the nakedness of your mother's sister: for she is your mother's near kinswoman.

Lev 18:14 " 'You shall not uncover the nakedness of your father's brother, you shall not approach his wife: she is your aunt.

Lev 18:15 " 'You shall not uncover the nakedness of your daughter-in-law: she is your son's wife. You shall not uncover her nakedness.

Lev 18:16 " 'You shall not uncover the nakedness of your brother's wife: it is your brother's nakedness.

Lev 18:17 " 'You shall not uncover the nakedness of a woman and her daughter. You shall not take her son's daughter, or her daughter's daughter, to uncover her nakedness; they are near kinswomen: it is wickedness.

Lev 18:18 " 'You shall not take a wife to her sister, to be a rival, to uncover her nakedness, while her sister is yet alive.

Lev 18:19 " 'You shall not approach a woman to uncover her nakedness, as long as she is impure by her uncleanness.

Lev 18:20 " 'You shall not lie carnally with your neighbor's wife, and defile yourself with her.

Lev 18:21 " 'You shall not give any of your children to sacrifice to Molech; neither shall you profane the name of your God: I am Yahweh.

Lev 18:22 " 'You shall not lie with a man, as with a woman. That is detestable.

Lev 18:23 " 'You shall not lie with any animal to defile yourself with it; neither shall any woman give herself to an animal, to lie down with it: it is a perversion.

Lev 18:24 " 'Don't defile yourselves in any of these things: for in all these the nations which I am casting out before you were defiled.

Lev 18:25 The land was defiled: therefore I punished its iniquity, and the land vomited out her inhabitants.

Lev 18:26 You therefore shall keep my statutes and my ordinances, and shall not do any of these abominations; neither the native-born, nor the stranger who lives as a foreigner among you;

Lev 18:27 (for all these abominations have the men of the land done, that were before you, and the land became defiled);

Lev 18:28 that the land not vomit you out also, when you defile it, as it vomited out the nation that was before you.

Lev 18:29 " 'For whoever shall do any of these abominations, even the souls that do them shall be cut off from among their people.

Lev 18:30 Therefore you shall keep my requirements, that you do not practice any of these abominable customs, which were practiced before you, and that you do not defile yourselves with them: I am Yahweh your God.' "

Mar. 31, Apr. 1

Luke 2

Luk 2:1 Now it happened in those days, that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be enrolled.

Luk 2:2 This was the first enrollment made when Quirinius was governor of Syria.

Luk 2:3 All went to enroll themselves, everyone to his own city.

Luk 2:4 Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David;

Luk 2:5 to enroll himself with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him as wife, being pregnant.

Luk 2:6 It happened, while they were there, that the day had come that she should give birth.

Luk 2:7 She brought forth her firstborn son, and she wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a feeding trough, because there was no room for them in the inn.

Luk 2:8 There were shepherds in the same country staying in the field, and keeping watch by night over their flock.

Luk 2:9 Behold, an angel of the Lord stood by them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.

Luk 2:10 The angel said to them, "Don't be afraid, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be to all the people.

Luk 2:11 For there is born to you, this day, in the city of David, a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.

Luk 2:12 This is the sign to you: you will find a baby wrapped in strips of cloth, lying in a feeding trough."

Luk 2:13 Suddenly, there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly army praising God, and saying,

Luk 2:14 "Glory to God in the highest, on earth peace, good will toward men."

Luk 2:15 It happened, when the angels went away from them into the sky, that the shepherds said one to another, "Let's go to Bethlehem, now, and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us."

Luk 2:16 They came with haste, and found both Mary and Joseph, and the baby was lying in the feeding trough.

Luk 2:17 When they saw it, they publicized widely the saying which was spoken to them about this child.

Luk 2:18 All who heard it wondered at the things which were spoken to them by the shepherds.

Luk 2:19 But Mary kept all these sayings, pondering them in her heart.

Luk 2:20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, just as it was told them.

Luk 2:21 When eight days were fulfilled for the circumcision of the child, his name was called Jesus, which was given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.

Luk 2:22 When the days of their purification according to the law of Moses were fulfilled, they brought him up to Jerusalem, to present him to the Lord

Luk 2:23 (as it is written in the law of the Lord, "Every male who opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord"),

Luk 2:24 and to offer a sacrifice according to that which is said in the law of the Lord, "A pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons."

Luk 2:25 Behold, there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon. This man was righteous and devout, looking for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was on him.

Luk 2:26 It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he should not see death before he had seen the Lord's Christ.

Luk 2:27 He came in the Spirit into the temple. When the parents brought in the child, Jesus, that they might do concerning him according to the custom of the law,

Luk 2:28 then he received him into his arms, and blessed God, and said,

Luk 2:29 "Now you are releasing your servant, Master, according to your word, in peace;

Luk 2:30 for my eyes have seen your salvation,

Luk 2:31 which you have prepared before the face of all peoples;

Luk 2:32 a light for revelation to the nations, and the glory of your people Israel."

Luk 2:33 Joseph and his mother were marveling at the things which were spoken concerning him,

Luk 2:34 and Simeon blessed them, and said to Mary, his mother, "Behold, this child is set for the falling and the rising of many in Israel, and for a sign which is spoken against.

Luk 2:35 Yes, a sword will pierce through your own soul, that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed."

Luk 2:36 There was one Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher (she was of a great age, having lived with a husband seven years from her virginity,

Luk 2:37 and she had been a widow for about eighty-four years), who didn't depart from the temple, worshipping with fastings and petitions night and day.

Luk 2:38 Coming up at that very hour, she gave thanks to the Lord, and spoke of him to all those who were looking for redemption in Jerusalem.

Luk 2:39 When they had accomplished all things that were according to the law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their own city, Nazareth.

Luk 2:40 The child was growing, and was becoming strong in spirit, being filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was upon him.

Luk 2:41 His parents went every year to Jerusalem at the feast of the Passover.

Luk 2:42 When he was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem according to the custom of the feast,

Luk 2:43 and when they had fulfilled the days, as they were returning, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. Joseph and his mother didn't know it,

Luk 2:44 but supposing him to be in the company, they went a day's journey, and they looked for him among their relatives and acquaintances.

Luk 2:45 When they didn't find him, they returned to Jerusalem, looking for him.

Luk 2:46 It happened after three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, both listening to them, and asking them questions.

Luk 2:47 All who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers.

Luk 2:48 When they saw him, they were astonished, and his mother said to him, "Son, why have you treated us this way? Behold, your father and I were anxiously looking for you."

Luk 2:49 He said to them, "Why were you looking for me? Didn't you know that I must be in my Father's house?"

Luk 2:50 They didn't understand the saying which he spoke to them.

Luk 2:51 And he went down with them, and came to Nazareth. He was subject to them, and his mother kept all these sayings in her heart.

Luk 2:52 And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men. 

From Mark Copeland... "THE CHRISTIAN HOME AND FAMILY" The Duties Of Parents

From Mark Copeland... "THE CHRISTIAN HOME AND FAMILY" The Duties Of Parents

                    "THE CHRISTIAN HOME AND FAMILY"

                         The Duties Of Parents

INTRODUCTION

1. Marriage as a sacred institution joins together a man and a woman   ...
   a. As husband and wife in holy matrimony
   b. Each with their God-given duties to one another

2. We’ve considered the duties of husbands, who are commanded to...
   a. Love their wives
   b. Respect their wives
   c. Support their wives

3. We’ve considered the duties of wives, who are commanded to...
   a. Submit to their husbands
   b. Love their husbands
   c. Manage the home

[God’s purpose for marriage is to create families in which children have
the benefit of parents who provide the best upbringing possible.  For
this to occur, parents must fulfill their duties...]

I. THE DUTIES OF FATHERS

   A. PROVIDE LIFE’S NECESSITIES...
      1. Parents ought to provide for their children - 2Co 12:14
      2. A man who fails to do so for his family is worse than an
         infidel - 1Ti 5:8

   B. DO NOT PROVOKE CHILDREN TO WRATH...
      1. This admonition found twice in the Scriptures - Ep 6:4; Col 3:21
      2. By unreasonable commands; by needless severity; by the
         manifestation of anger - Barnes
      3. Lest by your continually finding fault with them, they should
         lose all courage, and despair of ever pleasing you - ibid.

   C. PROVIDE SPIRITUAL TRAINING...
      1. In the training (discipline, ESV) and admonition (instruction,
         ESV) of the Lord - Ep 6:4
      2. Training by way of instruction - e.g., Deut 6:6-7; 32:46; Ps 78:4-6
         a. Note that the Word must first be in the father’s heart
         b. Then the father can lead his family like Joshua led his
            family - cf. Jos 24:14-15
      3. Training by way of example - considering the following:  When
         the father is an active believer, there is about a seventy-five
         percent likelihood that the children will also become active
         believers. But if only the mother is a believer, this
         likelihood is dramatically reduced to fifteen percent. - Keith
         Meyering, Discipleship Journal, #49, p.41

   D. PROVIDE LOVING DISCIPLINE...
      1. Even as our heavenly Father disciplines His children - He 12:6-10
      2. Even though it may be unpleasant at times - He 12:11; cf. Pr 13:24

[From the duties of fathers, let’s now move on to...]

II. THE DUTIES OF MOTHERS

   A. LOVE THEIR CHILDREN...
      1. As older women were to admonish younger women - Tit 2:4
      2. For sin can lead to a lack of proper affection - Ro 1:31
      3. Tragically, more than 200 women kill their children in the
         United States each year - American Anthropological Association

   B. MANAGE THEIR HOUSEHOLDS...
      1. A primary responsibility of the wife and mother - Tit 2:5; 1Ti 5:14
      2. An important quality of the virtuous woman - Pr 31:10-31
      3. The most creative job in the world involves fashion,
         decorating, recreation, education, transportation, psychology,
         romance, cuisine, literature, art, economics, government,
         pediatrics, geriatrics, entertainment, maintenance, purchasing,
         law, religion, energy and management. Anyone who can handle all
         those has to be somebody special. She is. She’s a homemaker.
         - Richard Kerr quoted in Homemade, Feb. 1989

   C. PROVIDE SPIRITUAL TRAINING...
      1. Especially when male leadership is lacking
      2. As seen in the case of Timothy
         a. His mother was a Jew, his father a Greek - Ac 16:1
         b. Perhaps contributing to Timothy not being circumcised - cf.Ac 16:3
         c. But Timothy had become a disciple, well spoken of - Ac 16:2
         d. His faith positively influenced by his grandmother and
            mother - cf.  2Ti 1:5
      3. Too often, fathers neglect spiritual training, leaving mothers
         to pick up the slack

CONCLUSION

1. Blessed are the homes in which...
   a. Fathers fulfill their duties as Christian men
   b. Mothers fulfill their duties as Christian women

2. No home is perfect, and as fathers and mothers we often fall short...
   a. But with God’s grace and mercy, let us do the best we can
   b. Let us give our children the guidance that they may succeed where
      we have failed

Finally, some food for thought:  Seven Ways To Impact Your Child’s Faith

1. Model a growing and personal faith. [If they don’t see it, they won’t catch it.]

2. Include faith in normal conversations.

3. Be well-rounded. [Don’t compartmentalize your faith.]

4. Be authentic.

5. Serve together

6. Pray for your children and with them.

7. Learn and communicate love in their language.

                                -- The Relaxed Parent by Tim Smith

Executable Outlines, Copyright © Mark A. Copeland, 2011

 

Jesus Seminar: No Hidden Agenda by Trevor Major, M.Sc., M.A.

http://apologeticspress.org/APContent.aspx?category=10&article=602

Jesus Seminar: No Hidden Agenda

by	Trevor Major, M.Sc., M.A.

The Five Gospels (Funk, et al., 1993) is not your mother’s Bible. It is a reference work summarizing the present conclusions of Fellows of the Jesus Seminar. The authors wish you to know, from the very beginning, that this book is not the Gospel for conservative Christianity. They appear to sneer at translations “made by academics and endorsed by church boards” (p. xiv). They state that their translation, the Scholars Version, “is free of ecclesiastical and religious control” (p. xviii). Indeed, as its name intends to convey, this is a work “authorized by scholars.” By implication, other versions are suspect because their respective translators allowed their beliefs, or the constraints of church politics, to influence their work.

Of course, anyone who has studied the history of translations acknowledges this potential bias, and compensates accordingly. The Five Gospels is no less deserving of careful consideration. For all its claims to objectivity, Bible students also must consider the translation biases of this new Gospel account [see feature article].

However, these biases go beyond a higher critical approach to translation. The authors make it known that their work upholds the naturalistic world view. They dedicate the book to Galileo Galilei “who altered our view of the heavens forever,” to Thomas Jefferson “who took scissors and paste to the gospels,” and David Friedrich Strauss “who pioneered the quest of the historical Jesus.” They use Galileo and Scopes to perpetuate the tired and questionable conflict metaphor of science versus faith (see Major, 1994). In their assessment,

The contemporary religious controversy, epitomized in the Scopes trial and the continuing clamor for creationism as a viable alternative to the theory of evolution, turns on whether the worldview reflected in the Bible can be carried forward into this scientific age and retained as an article of faith. Jesus figures prominently in this debate. The Christ of creed and dogma, who had been firmly in place in the Middle Ages, can no longer command the assent of those who have seen the heavens through Galileo’s telescope (p. 2).

In other words, if we give up a literal Creator, then we also should give up divine inspiration and a miracle-performing, risen Christ. Clearly, their mission is to constrain biblical history by empirical science, just as evolutionists have attempted to constrain natural history by empirical science. However, this changes neither the deliberate bias of naturalism against non-naturalistic answers, nor the obvious limitations of empirical science.

REFERENCES

Funk, Robert W., Roy W. Hoover, and the Jesus Seminar (1993), The Five Gospels—The Search for the Authentic Words of Jesus (New York: Macmillan).

Major, Trevor (1994), “Is Creation Science?,” Reason & Revelation, 14:17-23, March.

From Jim McGuiggan... The Cross works like this

The Cross works like this

Peter Abelard (1079-1142) was a tremendous debater and a charismatic professor of rhetoric who had an affair and a child with a teenage girl. When she went to a nunnery so that her lover's career wouldn't be ruined her father sent a gang and castrated him. He's remembered for that. He's also remembered for his view on the atoning work of Christ. Roughly but fairly stated he believed that Christ's way of atoning for (dealing with) sin is that he wooed us away from it and transformed us so: he dealt with sin by his moral influence over us. Abelard didn't say enough; but what he did say is an important part of the truth that people who worry ceaselessly about "legalism" and "self-salvation" are almost afraid to acknowledge. But we should acknowledge it because the NT is filled with that truth; a truth that's movingly brought out in Arthur Gossip's Experience Worketh Hope. A Scotsman, Arthur Gossip, was a chaplain in first World War, spoke of the cross and its power to grip a man.

"If you ask, how? Well, once, far up the duckboard track towards 

Pachendaele—which those of you who were out yonder will agree 

was, by far, the most eerie and awesome part of the whole front in 

the last war—I came upon a laddie lying all alone and—dead. I don't 

know why, out of the multitude that one saw killed, he so impressed 

me. But he had given his life for us, given it in the spring and its first 

freshness. And I remember how-all alone in that grim lonesome 

wilderness of endless shell holes, mile upon mile of them, like a 

grey tumbling sea-I pulled off my bonnet, and looking down into his 

dead eyes, promised him that, because he had done this for us, I 

would see to it that his sacrifice was not in vain. 'I promise you,' 

said I, 'that I will be a better man, because you have done this. I 

promise it.' " And he goes on to say, "All which was twenty five 

years ago. And, in the main, I have largely forgotten. Yet, even now, 

at times, it rises up with the old vividness, and stings and shames 

me toward worthier things. This is how the cross of Christ works."

Paul felt that power as we can see from 2 Corinthians 5:14-15 which the NEB renders as, "The love of Christ leaves me no choice." I wonder how many of us are privileged to live long enough to experience that? I'd truly like to know that feeling but I often wonder to myself if I'm really willing to pay the price.

Maybe God will bless me even more richly than he has already by working in me that willingness. In the meantime, I will gladly do what he has so far enabled me to do 

©2004 Jim McGuiggan. All materials are free to be copied and used as long as money is not being made.

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

From Gary... The path from foolishness and stupidity to wisdom

Some things are self-evident. And so, when I saw the pastoral scene above, I thought to myself, how unnecessary, how foolish would one have to be to label the obvious. Stupidity and foolishness are harsh words, but then again somethings in this world are. Consider...

What you love and what you hate defines you

Proverbs, Chapter 12 (WEB)

 1 Whoever loves correction loves knowledge,

but he who hates reproof is stupid.

The fool

Psalms, Chapter 53 (WEB)

 1  The fool has said in his heart, “There is no God.”

The beginning of knowledge is...

Proverbs, Chapter 1 (WEB) 

7 The fear of Yahweh is the beginning of knowledge;

but the foolish despise wisdom and instruction.

The desire of the heart...

Ecclesiastes, Chapter 7 (WEB)

19 Wisdom is a strength to the wise man more than ten rulers who are in a city.  20 Surely there is not a righteous man on earth, who does good and doesn’t sin.  21 Also don’t take heed to all words that are spoken, lest you hear your servant curse you;  22 for often your own heart knows that you yourself have likewise cursed others.  23 All this have I proved in wisdom. I said, “I will be wise”; but it was far from me.  24 That which is, is far off and exceedingly deep. Who can find it out?  25 I turned around, and my heart sought to know and to search out, and to seek wisdom and the scheme of things, and to know that wickedness is stupidity, and that foolishness is madness. 

Even Christians can act foolishly

Galatians, Chapter 3 (WEB)
  1 Foolish Galatians, who has bewitched you not to obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was openly portrayed among you as crucified?  2 I just want to learn this from you. Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by hearing of faith?  3 Are you so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit, are you now completed in the flesh?  4 Did you suffer so many things in vain, if it is indeed in vain? 5 He therefore who supplies the Spirit to you, and works miracles among you, does he do it by the works of the law, or by hearing of faith?  6 Even as Abraham “believed God, and it was counted to him for righteousness.”  7 Know therefore that those who are of faith, the same are children of Abraham.

We once were...

Titus, Chapter 3 (WEB)

 1 Remind them to be in subjection to rulers and to authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good work,  2 to speak evil of no one, not to be contentious, to be gentle, showing all humility toward all men.  3 For we were also once foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving various lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another.  4 But when the kindness of God our Savior and his love toward mankind appeared,  5 not by works of righteousness, which we did ourselves, but according to his mercy, he saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit, 6 whom he poured out on us richly, through Jesus Christ our Savior; 7 that, being justified by his grace, we might be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life. 

Even the most intelligent, educated and just plain savvy people I have known occasionally have said and done foolish or stupid things. To me, this is a truism. But, there is hope: we all can achieve some degree of wisdom if we are willing to genuinely seek it out;for true wisdom comes from God.  I urge you- consider the verses that you see above, and ask yourself the following: Am I seeking out God on my terms or HIS and why?  

From Gary... Bible Reading March 30

Bible Reading  

March 30

The World English Bible

Mar. 30

Leviticus 15, 16

Lev 15:1 Yahweh spoke to Moses and to Aaron, saying,

Lev 15:2 "Speak to the children of Israel, and tell them, 'When any man has a discharge from his body, because of his discharge he is unclean.

Lev 15:3 This shall be his uncleanness in his discharge: whether his body runs with his discharge, or his body has stopped from his discharge, it is his uncleanness.

Lev 15:4 " 'Every bed whereon he who has the discharge lies shall be unclean; and everything he sits on shall be unclean.

Lev 15:5 Whoever touches his bed shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the evening.

Lev 15:6 He who sits on anything whereon the man who has the discharge sat shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the evening.

Lev 15:7 " 'He who touches the body of him who has the discharge shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the evening.

Lev 15:8 " 'If he who has the discharge spits on him who is clean, then he shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the evening.

Lev 15:9 " 'Whatever saddle he who has the discharge rides on shall be unclean.

Lev 15:10 Whoever touches anything that was under him shall be unclean until the evening. He who carries those things shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the evening.

Lev 15:11 " 'Whoever he who has the discharge touches, without having rinsed his hands in water, he shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the evening.

Lev 15:12 " 'The earthen vessel, which he who has the discharge touches, shall be broken; and every vessel of wood shall be rinsed in water.

Lev 15:13 " 'When he who has a discharge is cleansed of his discharge, then he shall count to himself seven days for his cleansing, and wash his clothes; and he shall bathe his flesh in running water, and shall be clean.

Lev 15:14 " 'On the eighth day he shall take two turtledoves, or two young pigeons, and come before Yahweh to the door of the Tent of Meeting, and give them to the priest:

Lev 15:15 and the priest shall offer them, the one for a sin offering, and the other for a burnt offering. The priest shall make atonement for him before Yahweh for his discharge.

Lev 15:16 " 'If any man has an emission of semen, then he shall bathe all his flesh in water, and be unclean until the evening.

Lev 15:17 Every garment, and every skin, whereon the semen is, shall be washed with water, and be unclean until the evening.

Lev 15:18 If a man lies with a woman and there is an emission of semen, they shall both bathe themselves in water, and be unclean until the evening.

Lev 15:19 " 'If a woman has a discharge, and her discharge in her flesh is blood, she shall be in her impurity seven days: and whoever touches her shall be unclean until the evening.

Lev 15:20 " 'Everything that she lies on in her impurity shall be unclean. Everything also that she sits on shall be unclean.

Lev 15:21 Whoever touches her bed shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the evening.

Lev 15:22 Whoever touches anything that she sits on shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the evening.

Lev 15:23 If it is on the bed, or on anything whereon she sits, when he touches it, he shall be unclean until the evening.

Lev 15:24 " 'If any man lies with her, and her monthly flow is on him, he shall be unclean seven days; and every bed whereon he lies shall be unclean.

Lev 15:25 " 'If a woman has a discharge of her blood many days not in the time of her period, or if she has a discharge beyond the time of her period; all the days of the discharge of her uncleanness shall be as in the days of her period: she is unclean.

Lev 15:26 Every bed whereon she lies all the days of her discharge shall be to her as the bed of her period: and everything whereon she sits shall be unclean, as the uncleanness of her period.

Lev 15:27 Whoever touches these things shall be unclean, and shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the evening.

Lev 15:28 " 'But if she is cleansed of her discharge, then she shall count to herself seven days, and after that she shall be clean.

Lev 15:29 On the eighth day she shall take two turtledoves, or two young pigeons, and bring them to the priest, to the door of the Tent of Meeting.

Lev 15:30 The priest shall offer the one for a sin offering, and the other for a burnt offering; and the priest shall make atonement for her before Yahweh for the uncleanness of her discharge.

Lev 15:31 " 'Thus you shall separate the children of Israel from their uncleanness, so they will not die in their uncleanness, when they defile my tabernacle that is in their midst.' "

Lev 15:32 This is the law of him who has a discharge, and of him who has an emission of semen, so that he is unclean thereby;

Lev 15:33 and of her who has her period, and of a man or woman who has a discharge, and of him who lies with her who is unclean.

Lev 16:1 Yahweh spoke to Moses, after the death of the two sons of Aaron, when they drew near before Yahweh, and died;

Lev 16:2 and Yahweh said to Moses, "Tell Aaron your brother, not to come at all times into the Most Holy Place within the veil, before the mercy seat which is on the ark; lest he die: for I will appear in the cloud on the mercy seat.

Lev 16:3 "Herewith shall Aaron come into the sanctuary: with a young bull for a sin offering, and a ram for a burnt offering.

Lev 16:4 He shall put on the holy linen coat, and he shall have the linen breeches on his body, and shall put on the linen sash, and he shall be dressed with the linen turban. They are the holy garments. He shall bathe his body in water, and put them on.

Lev 16:5 He shall take from the congregation of the children of Israel two male goats for a sin offering, and one ram for a burnt offering.

Lev 16:6 "Aaron shall offer the bull of the sin offering, which is for himself, and make atonement for himself and for his house.

Lev 16:7 He shall take the two goats, and set them before Yahweh at the door of the Tent of Meeting.

Lev 16:8 Aaron shall cast lots for the two goats; one lot for Yahweh, and the other lot for the scapegoat.

Lev 16:9 Aaron shall present the goat on which the lot fell for Yahweh, and offer him for a sin offering.

Lev 16:10 But the goat, on which the lot fell for the scapegoat, shall be presented alive before Yahweh, to make atonement for him, to send him away for the scapegoat into the wilderness.

Lev 16:11 "Aaron shall present the bull of the sin offering, which is for himself, and shall make atonement for himself and for his house, and shall kill the bull of the sin offering which is for himself.

Lev 16:12 He shall take a censer full of coals of fire from off the altar before Yahweh, and two handfuls of sweet incense beaten small, and bring it within the veil:

Lev 16:13 and he shall put the incense on the fire before Yahweh, that the cloud of the incense may cover the mercy seat that is on the testimony, so that he will not die.

Lev 16:14 He shall take some of the blood of the bull, and sprinkle it with his finger on the mercy seat on the east; and before the mercy seat he shall sprinkle some of the blood with his finger seven times.

Lev 16:15 "Then he shall kill the goat of the sin offering, that is for the people, and bring his blood within the veil, and do with his blood as he did with the blood of the bull, and sprinkle it on the mercy seat, and before the mercy seat:

Lev 16:16 and he shall make atonement for the Holy Place, because of the uncleanness of the children of Israel, and because of their transgressions, even all their sins; and so he shall do for the Tent of Meeting, that dwells with them in the midst of their uncleanness.

Lev 16:17 There shall be no one in the Tent of Meeting when he enters to make atonement in the Holy Place, until he comes out, and has made atonement for himself and for his household, and for all the assembly of Israel.

Lev 16:18 "He shall go out to the altar that is before Yahweh and make atonement for it, and shall take some of the bull's blood, and some of the goat's blood, and put it around on the horns of the altar.

Lev 16:19 He shall sprinkle some of the blood on it with his finger seven times, and cleanse it, and make it holy from the uncleanness of the children of Israel.

Lev 16:20 "When he has made an end of atoning for the Holy Place, the Tent of Meeting, and the altar, he shall present the live goat.

Lev 16:21 Aaron shall lay both his hands on the head of the live goat, and confess over him all the iniquities of the children of Israel, and all their transgressions, even all their sins; and he shall put them on the head of the goat, and shall send him away into the wilderness by the hand of a man who is in readiness.

Lev 16:22 The goat shall carry all their iniquities on himself to a solitary land, and he shall let the goat go in the wilderness.

Lev 16:23 "Aaron shall come into the Tent of Meeting, and shall take off the linen garments, which he put on when he went into the Holy Place, and shall leave them there.

Lev 16:24 Then he shall bathe himself in water in a holy place, and put on his garments, and come out and offer his burnt offering and the burnt offering of the people, and make atonement for himself and for the people.

Lev 16:25 The fat of the sin offering he shall burn on the altar.

Lev 16:26 "He who lets the goat go for the scapegoat shall wash his clothes, and bathe his flesh in water, and afterward he shall come into the camp.

Lev 16:27 The bull for the sin offering, and the goat for the sin offering, whose blood was brought in to make atonement in the Holy Place, shall be carried forth outside the camp; and they shall burn their skins, their flesh, and their dung with fire.

Lev 16:28 He who burns them shall wash his clothes, and bathe his flesh in water, and afterward he shall come into the camp.

Lev 16:29 "It shall be a statute to you forever: in the seventh month, on the tenth day of the month, you shall afflict your souls, and shall do no manner of work, the native-born, or the stranger who lives as a foreigner among you:

Lev 16:30 for on this day shall atonement be made for you, to cleanse you; from all your sins you shall be clean before Yahweh.

Lev 16:31 It is a Sabbath of solemn rest to you, and you shall afflict your souls; it is a statute forever.

Lev 16:32 The priest, who is anointed and who is consecrated to be priest in his father's place, shall make the atonement, and shall put on the linen garments, even the holy garments.

Lev 16:33 Then he shall make atonement for the Holy Sanctuary; and he shall make atonement for the Tent of Meeting and for the altar; and he shall make atonement for the priests and for all the people of the assembly.

Lev 16:34 "This shall be an everlasting statute for you, to make atonement for the children of Israel once in the year because of all their sins." It was done as Yahweh commanded Moses.

 Mar. 29, 30

Luke 1

Luk 1:1 Since many have undertaken to set in order a narrative concerning those matters which have been fulfilled among us,

Luk 1:2 even as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and servants of the word delivered them to us,

Luk 1:3 it seemed good to me also, having traced the course of all things accurately from the first, to write to you in order, most excellent Theophilus;

Luk 1:4 that you might know the certainty concerning the things in which you were instructed.

Luk 1:5 There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the priestly division of Abijah. He had a wife of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth.

Luk 1:6 They were both righteous before God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord.

Luk 1:7 But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and they both were well advanced in years.

Luk 1:8 Now it happened, while he executed the priest's office before God in the order of his division,

Luk 1:9 according to the custom of the priest's office, his lot was to enter into the temple of the Lord and burn incense.

Luk 1:10 The whole multitude of the people were praying outside at the hour of incense.

Luk 1:11 An angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing on the right side of the altar of incense.

Luk 1:12 Zacharias was troubled when he saw him, and fear fell upon him.

Luk 1:13 But the angel said to him, "Don't be afraid, Zacharias, because your request has been heard, and your wife, Elizabeth, will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John.

Luk 1:14 You will have joy and gladness; and many will rejoice at his birth.

Luk 1:15 For he will be great in the sight of the Lord, and he will drink no wine nor strong drink. He will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother's womb.

Luk 1:16 He will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord, their God.

Luk 1:17 He will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah, 'to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children,' and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord."

Luk 1:18 Zacharias said to the angel, "How can I be sure of this? For I am an old man, and my wife is well advanced in years."

Luk 1:19 The angel answered him, "I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God. I was sent to speak to you, and to bring you this good news.

Luk 1:20 Behold, you will be silent and not able to speak, until the day that these things will happen, because you didn't believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their proper time."

Luk 1:21 The people were waiting for Zacharias, and they marveled that he delayed in the temple.

Luk 1:22 When he came out, he could not speak to them, and they perceived that he had seen a vision in the temple. He continued making signs to them, and remained mute.

Luk 1:23 It happened, when the days of his service were fulfilled, he departed to his house.

Luk 1:24 After these days Elizabeth, his wife, conceived, and she hid herself five months, saying,

Luk 1:25 "Thus has the Lord done to me in the days in which he looked at me, to take away my reproach among men."

Luk 1:26 Now in the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee, named Nazareth,

Luk 1:27 to a virgin pledged to be married to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin's name was Mary.

Luk 1:28 Having come in, the angel said to her, "Rejoice, you highly favored one! The Lord is with you. Blessed are you among women!"

Luk 1:29 But when she saw him, she was greatly troubled at the saying, and considered what kind of salutation this might be.

Luk 1:30 The angel said to her, "Don't be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.

Luk 1:31 Behold, you will conceive in your womb, and bring forth a son, and will call his name 'Jesus.'

Luk 1:32 He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father, David,

Luk 1:33 and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever. There will be no end to his Kingdom."

Luk 1:34 Mary said to the angel, "How can this be, seeing I am a virgin?"

Luk 1:35 The angel answered her, "The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore also the holy one who is born from you will be called the Son of God.

Luk 1:36 Behold, Elizabeth, your relative, also has conceived a son in her old age; and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren.

Luk 1:37 For everything spoken by God is possible."

Luk 1:38 Mary said, "Behold, the handmaid of the Lord; be it to me according to your word." The angel departed from her.

Luk 1:39 Mary arose in those days and went into the hill country with haste, into a city of Judah,

Luk 1:40 and entered into the house of Zacharias and greeted Elizabeth.

Luk 1:41 It happened, when Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, that the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.

Luk 1:42 She called out with a loud voice, and said, "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb!

Luk 1:43 Why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?

Luk 1:44 For behold, when the voice of your greeting came into my ears, the baby leaped in my womb for joy!

Luk 1:45 Blessed is she who believed, for there will be a fulfillment of the things which have been spoken to her from the Lord!"

Luk 1:46 Mary said, "My soul magnifies the Lord.

Luk 1:47 My spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior,

Luk 1:48 for he has looked at the humble state of his handmaid. For behold, from now on, all generations will call me blessed.

Luk 1:49 For he who is mighty has done great things for me. Holy is his name.

Luk 1:50 His mercy is for generations of generations on those who fear him.

Luk 1:51 He has shown strength with his arm. He has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.

Luk 1:52 He has put down princes from their thrones. And has exalted the lowly.

Luk 1:53 He has filled the hungry with good things. He has sent the rich away empty.

Luk 1:54 He has given help to Israel, his servant, that he might remember mercy,

Luk 1:55 As he spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and his seed forever."

Luk 1:56 Mary stayed with her about three months, and then returned to her house.

Luk 1:57 Now the time that Elizabeth should give birth was fulfilled, and she brought forth a son.

Luk 1:58 Her neighbors and her relatives heard that the Lord had magnified his mercy towards her, and they rejoiced with her.

Luk 1:59 It happened on the eighth day, that they came to circumcise the child; and they would have called him Zacharias, after the name of the father.

Luk 1:60 His mother answered, "Not so; but he will be called John."

Luk 1:61 They said to her, "There is no one among your relatives who is called by this name."

Luk 1:62 They made signs to his father, what he would have him called.

Luk 1:63 He asked for a writing tablet, and wrote, "His name is John." They all marveled.

Luk 1:64 His mouth was opened immediately, and his tongue freed, and he spoke, blessing God.

Luk 1:65 Fear came on all who lived around them, and all these sayings were talked about throughout all the hill country of Judea.

Luk 1:66 All who heard them laid them up in their heart, saying, "What then will this child be?" The hand of the Lord was with him.

Luk 1:67 His father, Zacharias, was filled with the Holy Spirit, and prophesied, saying,

Luk 1:68 "Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, for he has visited and worked redemption for his people;

Luk 1:69 and has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David

Luk 1:70 (as he spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets who have been from of old),

Luk 1:71 salvation from our enemies, and from the hand of all who hate us;

Luk 1:72 to show mercy towards our fathers, to remember his holy covenant,

Luk 1:73 the oath which he spoke to Abraham, our father,

Luk 1:74 to grant to us that we, being delivered out of the hand of our enemies, should serve him without fear,

Luk 1:75 In holiness and righteousness before him all the days of our life.

Luk 1:76 And you, child, will be called a prophet of the Most High, for you will go before the face of the Lord to make ready his ways,

Luk 1:77 to give knowledge of salvation to his people by the remission of their sins,

Luk 1:78 because of the tender mercy of our God, whereby the dawn from on high will visit us,

Luk 1:79 to shine on those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death; to guide our feet into the way of peace."

Luk 1:80 The child was growing, and becoming strong in spirit, and was in the desert until the day of his public appearance to Israel.