From Gary.... Right in front of your eyes.... just look!!!

I am the father of three attractive young women and the husband (for almost 47 years now) of the most beautiful woman in the world. Reality tells me that all my girls are over 40 and not really young anymore. However, there is a certain inner beauty that I think only I can see. It is perceived through the prism of the experiences of over 40 decades with them and the upcoming decades should enlighten me even further.  Sometimes, however, you can be too close to a thing to really appreciate or understand it. And as I think about it, that statement must have applied to the Jews in Jesus' day. The nation of Israel hoped for a deliverer, but when he came, they didn't recognize him. And then someone named Peter delivered a sermon...

Acts, Chapter 2 (WEB)

14  But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and spoke out to them, “You men of Judea, and all you who dwell at Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and listen to my words.  15 For these aren’t drunken, as you suppose, seeing it is only the third hour of the day. 16 But this is what has been spoken through the prophet Joel: 

  17 ‘It will be in the last days, says God,

that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh.

Your sons and your daughters will prophesy.

Your young men will see visions.

Your old men will dream dreams.

  18 Yes, and on my servants and on my handmaidens in those days,

I will pour out my Spirit, and they will prophesy.

  19 I will show wonders in the sky above,

and signs on the earth beneath;

blood, and fire, and billows of smoke.

  20 The sun will be turned into darkness,

and the moon into blood,

before the great and glorious day of the Lord comes.

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

  22  “Men of Israel, hear these words! Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved by God to you by mighty works and wonders and signs which God did by him in your midst, even as you yourselves know,  23 him, being delivered up by the determined counsel and foreknowledge of God, you have taken by the hand of lawless men, crucified and killed; 24 whom God raised up, having freed him from the agony of death, because it was not possible that he should be held by it.  25 For David says concerning him, 

‘I saw the Lord always before my face,

For he is on my right hand, that I should not be moved.

  26 Therefore my heart was glad, and my tongue rejoiced.

Moreover my flesh also will dwell in hope;

  27 because you will not leave my soul in Hades,

neither will you allow your Holy One to see decay.

  28 You made known to me the ways of life.

You will make me full of gladness with your presence.’

  29  “Brothers, I may tell you freely of the patriarch David, that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. 30 Therefore, being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him that of the fruit of his body, according to the flesh, he would raise up the Christ to sit on his throne,  31 he foreseeing this spoke about the resurrection of the Christ, that neither was his soul left in Hades, nor did his flesh see decay.  32 This Jesus God raised up, to which we all are witnesses.  33 Being therefore exalted by the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he has poured out this, which you now see and hear. 34 For David didn’t ascend into the heavens, but he says himself, 

‘The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit by my right hand,

  35 until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.”’

  36  “Let all the house of Israel therefore know certainly that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified.” 

  37  Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” 

  38  Peter said to them, “Repent, and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.  39 For the promise is to you, and to your children, and to all who are far off, even as many as the Lord our God will call to himself.”  40 With many other words he testified, and exhorted them, saying, “Save yourselves from this crooked generation!” 

Sometimes, you can see something right in front of you and not realize how wonderful it is.  Maybe all you need is for someone to spell-it-out-to you. They listened, when they heard the message and responded. Tell me, how did you feel when you read the above excerpt from Acts 2? Do you realize what is next?  

HUMMM....

I apologize- the message is serious, but I was just in the mood for some HORSING AROUND!!!

From Gary... Bible Reading April 18, 19

Bible Reading  

April 18, 19 

The World English Bible

Apr. 18

Numbers 27, 28

Num 27:1 Then drew near the daughters of Zelophehad, the son of Hepher, the son of Gilead, the son of Machir, the son of Manasseh, of the families of Manasseh the son of Joseph; and these are the names of his daughters: Mahlah, Noah, and Hoglah, and Milcah, and Tirzah.

Num 27:2 They stood before Moses, and before Eleazar the priest, and before the princes and all the congregation, at the door of the Tent of Meeting, saying,

Num 27:3 Our father died in the wilderness, and he was not among the company of those who gathered themselves together against Yahweh in the company of Korah: but he died in his own sin; and he had no sons.

Num 27:4 Why should the name of our father be taken away from among his family, because he had no son? Give to us a possession among the brothers of our father.

Num 27:5 Moses brought their cause before Yahweh.

Num 27:6 Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying,

Num 27:7 The daughters of Zelophehad speak right: you shall surely give them a possession of an inheritance among their father's brothers; and you shall cause the inheritance of their father to pass to them.

Num 27:8 You shall speak to the children of Israel, saying, If a man die, and have no son, then you shall cause his inheritance to pass to his daughter.

Num 27:9 If he have no daughter, then you shall give his inheritance to his brothers.

Num 27:10 If he have no brothers, then you shall give his inheritance to his father's brothers.

Num 27:11 If his father has no brothers, then you shall give his inheritance to his kinsman who is next to him of his family, and he shall possess it: and it shall be to the children of Israel a statuteand ordinance, as Yahweh commanded Moses.

Num 27:12 Yahweh said to Moses, Go up into this mountain of Abarim, and see the land which I have given to the children of Israel.

Num 27:13 When you have seen it, you also shall be gathered to your people, as Aaron your brother was gathered;

Num 27:14 because you rebelled against my word in the wilderness of Zin, in the strife of the congregation, to sanctify me at the waters before their eyes. (These are the waters of Meribah of Kadesh in the wilderness of Zin.)

Num 27:15 Moses spoke to Yahweh, saying,

Num 27:16 Let Yahweh, the God of the spirits of all flesh, appoint a man over the congregation,

Num 27:17 who may go out before them, and who may come in before them, and who may lead them out, and who may bring them in; that the congregation of Yahweh not be as sheep which have no shepherd.

Num 27:18 Yahweh said to Moses, Take Joshua the son of Nun, a man in whom is the Spirit, and lay your hand on him;

Num 27:19 and set him before Eleazar the priest, and before all the congregation; and commission him in their sight.

Num 27:20 You shall put of your honor on him, that all the congregation of the children of Israel may obey.

Num 27:21 He shall stand before Eleazar the priest, who shall inquire for him by the judgment of the Urim before Yahweh: at his word shall they go out, and at his word they shall come in, both he, and all the children of Israel with him, even all the congregation.

Num 27:22 Moses did as Yahweh commanded him; and he took Joshua, and set him before Eleazar the priest, and before all the congregation:

Num 27:23 and he laid his hands on him, and commissioned him, as Yahweh spoke by Moses.

Num 28:1 Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying,

Num 28:2 Command the children of Israel, and tell them, My offering, my food for my offerings made by fire, of a pleasant aroma to me, you shall observe to offer to me in their due season.

Num 28:3 You shall tell them, This is the offering made by fire which you shall offer to Yahweh: male lambs a year old without blemish, two day by day, for a continual burnt offering.

Num 28:4 You shall offer the one lamb in the morning, and you shall offer the other lamb at evening;

Num 28:5 with the tenth part of an ephah of fine flour for a meal offering, mixed with the fourth part of a hin of beaten oil.

Num 28:6 It is a continual burnt offering, which was ordained in Mount Sinai for a pleasant aroma, an offering made by fire to Yahweh.

Num 28:7 Its drink offering shall be the fourth part of a hin for the one lamb. You shall pour out a drink offering of strong drink to Yahweh in the holy place.

Num 28:8 The other lamb you shall offer at evening: as the meal offering of the morning, and as the drink offering of it, you shall offer it, an offering made by fire, of a pleasant aroma to Yahweh.

Num 28:9 On the Sabbath day two male lambs a year old without blemish, and two tenth parts of an ephah of fine flour for a meal offering, mixed with oil, and the drink offering of it:

Num 28:10 this is the burnt offering of every Sabbath, besides the continual burnt offering, and the drink offering of it.

Num 28:11 In the beginnings of your months you shall offer a burnt offering to Yahweh: two young bulls, and one ram, seven male lambs a year old without blemish;

Num 28:12 and three tenth parts of an ephah of fine flour for a meal offering, mixed with oil, for each bull; and two tenth parts of fine flour for a meal offering, mixed with oil, for the one ram;

Num 28:13 and a tenth part of fine flour mixed with oil for a meal offering to every lamb; for a burnt offering of a pleasant aroma, an offering made by fire to Yahweh.

Num 28:14 Their drink offerings shall be half a hin of wine for a bull, and the third part of a hin for the ram, and the fourth part of a hin for a lamb: this is the burnt offering of every month throughout the months of the year.

Num 28:15 One male goat for a sin offering to Yahweh; it shall be offered besides the continual burnt offering, and the drink offering of it.

Num 28:16 In the first month, on the fourteenth day of the month, is Yahweh's Passover.

Num 28:17 On the fifteenth day of this month shall be a feast: seven days shall unleavened bread be eaten.

Num 28:18 In the first day shall be a holy convocation: you shall do no servile work;

Num 28:19 but you shall offer an offering made by fire, a burnt offering to Yahweh: two young bulls, and one ram, and seven male lambs a year old; they shall be to you without blemish;

Num 28:20 and their meal offering, fine flour mixed with oil: you shall offer three tenth parts for a bull, and two tenth parts for the ram.

Num 28:21 You shall offer a tenth part for every lamb of the seven lambs;

Num 28:22 and one male goat for a sin offering, to make atonement for you.

Num 28:23 You shall offer these besides the burnt offering of the morning, which is for a continual burnt offering.

Num 28:24 After this manner you shall offer daily, for seven days, the food of the offering made by fire, of a pleasant aroma to Yahweh: it shall be offered besides the continual burnt offering, and the drink offering of it.

Num 28:25 On the seventh day you shall have a holy convocation: you shall do no servile work.

Num 28:26 Also in the day of the first fruits, when you offer a new meal offering to Yahweh in your feast of weeks, you shall have a holy convocation; you shall do no servile work;

Num 28:27 but you shall offer a burnt offering for a pleasant aroma to Yahweh: two young bulls, one ram, seven male lambs a year old;

Num 28:28 and their meal offering, fine flour mixed with oil, three tenth parts for each bull, two tenth parts for the one ram,

Num 28:29 a tenth part for every lamb of the seven lambs;

Num 28:30 one male goat, to make atonement for you.

Num 28:31 Besides the continual burnt offering, and the meal offering of it, you shall offer them (they shall be to you without blemish), and their drink offerings.

Apr. 19

Numbers 29, 30

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Apr. 18, 19

Luke 11

Luk 11:1 It happened, that when he finished praying in a certain place, one of his disciples said to him, "Lord, teach us to pray, just as John also taught his disciples."

Luk 11:2 He said to them, "When you pray, say, 'Our Father in heaven, may your name be kept holy. May your Kingdom come. May your will be done on Earth, as it is in heaven.

Luk 11:3 Give us day by day our daily bread.

Luk 11:4 Forgive us our sins, for we ourselves also forgive everyone who is indebted to us. Bring us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.' "

Luk 11:5 He said to them, "Which of you, if you go to a friend at midnight, and tell him, 'Friend, lend me three loaves of bread,

Luk 11:6 for a friend of mine has come to me from a journey, and I have nothing to set before him,'

Luk 11:7 and he from within will answer and say, 'Don't bother me. The door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed. I can't get up and give it to you'?

Luk 11:8 I tell you, although he will not rise and give it to him because he is his friend, yet because of his persistence, he will get up and give him as many as he needs.

Luk 11:9 "I tell you, keep asking, and it will be given you. Keep seeking, and you will find. Keep knocking, and it will be opened to you.

Luk 11:10 For everyone who asks receives. He who seeks finds. To him who knocks it will be opened.

Luk 11:11 "Which of you fathers, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, he won't give him a snake instead of a fish, will he?

Luk 11:12 Or if he asks for an egg, he won't give him a scorpion, will he?

Luk 11:13 If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him?"

Luk 11:14 He was casting out a demon, and it was mute. It happened, when the demon had gone out, the mute man spoke; and the multitudes marveled.

Luk 11:15 But some of them said, "He casts out demons by Beelzebul, the prince of the demons."

Luk 11:16 Others, testing him, sought from him a sign from heaven.

Luk 11:17 But he, knowing their thoughts, said to them, "Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation. A house divided against itself falls.

Luk 11:18 If Satan also is divided against himself, how will his kingdom stand? For you say that I cast out demons by Beelzebul.

Luk 11:19 But if I cast out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your children cast them out? Therefore will they be your judges.

Luk 11:20 But if I by the finger of God cast out demons, then the Kingdom of God has come to you.

Luk 11:21 "When the strong man, fully armed, guards his own dwelling, his goods are safe.

Luk 11:22 But when someone stronger attacks him and overcomes him, he takes from him his whole armor in which he trusted, and divides his spoils.

Luk 11:23 "He that is not with me is against me. He who doesn't gather with me scatters.

Luk 11:24 The unclean spirit, when he has gone out of the man, passes through dry places, seeking rest, and finding none, he says, 'I will turn back to my house from which I came out.'

Luk 11:25 When he returns, he finds it swept and put in order.

Luk 11:26 Then he goes, and takes seven other spirits more evil than himself, and they enter in and dwell there. The last state of that man becomes worse than the first."

Luk 11:27 It came to pass, as he said these things, a certain woman out of the multitude lifted up her voice, and said to him, "Blessed is the womb that bore you, and the breasts which nursed you!"

Luk 11:28 But he said, "On the contrary, blessed are those who hear the word of God, and keep it."

Luk 11:29 When the multitudes were gathering together to him, he began to say, "This is an evil generation. It seeks after a sign. No sign will be given to it but the sign of Jonah, the prophet.

Luk 11:30 For even as Jonah became a sign to the Ninevites, so will also the Son of Man be to this generation.

Luk 11:31 The Queen of the South will rise up in the judgment with the men of this generation, and will condemn them: for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and behold, one greater than Solomon is here.

Luk 11:32 The men of Nineveh will stand up in the judgment with this generation, and will condemn it: for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and behold, one greater than Jonah is here.

Luk 11:33 "No one, when he has lit a lamp, puts it in a cellar or under a basket, but on a stand, that those who come in may see the light.

Luk 11:34 The lamp of the body is the eye. Therefore when your eye is good, your whole body is also full of light; but when it is evil, your body also is full of darkness.

Luk 11:35 Therefore see whether the light that is in you isn't darkness.

Luk 11:36 If therefore your whole body is full of light, having no part dark, it will be wholly full of light, as when the lamp with its bright shining gives you light."

Luk 11:37 Now as he spoke, a certain Pharisee asked him to dine with him. He went in, and sat at the table.

Luk 11:38 When the Pharisee saw it, he marveled that he had not first washed himself before dinner.

Luk 11:39 The Lord said to him, "Now you Pharisees cleanse the outside of the cup and of the platter, but your inward part is full of extortion and wickedness.

Luk 11:40 You foolish ones, didn't he who made the outside make the inside also?

Luk 11:41 But give for gifts to the needy those things which are within, and behold, all things will be clean to you.

Luk 11:42 But woe to you Pharisees! For you tithe mint and rue and every herb, but you bypass justice and the love of God. You ought to have done these, and not to have left the other undone.

Luk 11:43 Woe to you Pharisees! For you love the best seats in the synagogues, and the greetings in the marketplaces.

Luk 11:44 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like hidden graves, and the men who walk over them don't know it."

Luk 11:45 One of the lawyers answered him, "Teacher, in saying this you insult us also."

Luk 11:46 He said, "Woe to you lawyers also! For you load men with burdens that are difficult to carry, and you yourselves won't even lift one finger to help carry those burdens.

Luk 11:47 Woe to you! For you build the tombs of the prophets, and your fathers killed them.

Luk 11:48 So you testify and consent to the works of your fathers. For they killed them, and you build their tombs.

Luk 11:49 Therefore also the wisdom of God said, 'I will send to them prophets and apostles; and some of them they will kill and persecute,

Luk 11:50 that the blood of all the prophets, which was shed from the foundation of the world, may be required of this generation;

Luk 11:51 from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zachariah, who perished between the altar and the sanctuary.' Yes, I tell you, it will be required of this generation.

Luk 11:52 Woe to you lawyers! For you took away the key of knowledge. You didn't enter in yourselves, and those who were entering in, you hindered."

Luk 11:53 As he said these things to them, the scribes and the Pharisees began to be terribly angry, and to draw many things out of him;

Luk 11:54 lying in wait for him, and seeking to catch him in something he might say, that they might accuse him.