15 September 2007

Backlink to the Anchoress

The Anchoress, a lady whose blog I read regularly and always respect, has posted today on the subject of illegal aliens and the proper remedy. She is a decent and kind person, but I had to take issue with her approach. You can find her original statements here and you may, if you wish, scroll down to read my post here.
I repeat - I respect her position and I respect her. I don't agree with her, but she is Good People.

Illegal Aliens Again, Sept 15 (morning)

The title simply recognizes that there will be further issues today.
Try this one, out of Michigan (not bordering the southern border, last I looked). Driver facing 8th DWI in country illegally
No, you just can't make these things up. You really can be an illegal alien, a criminal. a creep, a crook. And you can get caught over and over, violating the law, endangering citizens, damaging the entire community. And you will be excused, the Chief Magistrate of the nation will make excuses for you, and those who swore solemn oaths to uphold the law in the community will be revealed as liars, and oath-breakers, and knaves. But you will be excused, and you, who have NO RIGHT to even pollute our streets, will still be here.

New link on the evil that is Islam

Try Prophet of Doom

Today's Reading September 15

This morning we look at Proverbs 28 and 29
Everywhere you look here you find good words to live by

28:1 The wicked flee when no man pursueth: but the righteous are bold as a lion.
28:4 They that forsake the law praise the wicked: but such as keep the law contend with them.
5 Evil men understand not judgment: but they that seek the LORD understand all things.
6 Better is the poor that walketh in his uprightness, than he that is perverse in his ways, though he be rich.
13 He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.
29:12 If a ruler hearken to lies, all his servants are wicked.
and leading
22 An angry man stirreth up strife, and a furious man aboundeth in transgression.
23 A man's pride shall bring him low: but honour shall uphold the humble in spirit.
24 Whoso is partner with a thief hateth his own soul: he heareth cursing, and bewrayeth it not.
25 The fear of man bringeth a snare: but whoso putteth his trust in the LORD shall be safe.
26 Many seek the ruler's favour; but every man's judgment cometh from the LORD.
27 An unjust man is an abomination to the just: and he that is upright in the way is abomination to the wicked.

When we began this brief survey of the Proverbs, I said that there are those who make it part of their regular study, to look at one chapter of Proverbs every day, month after month. The first of every month, to look at Proverbs 1, the third of the month Proverbs 3, and so on. Year after year. To make these part of their lives, part of their world view. I can thing of worse practices, we see them every day.

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This evening's reading is 2nd Corinthians chapter 7.
Paul is reviewing a bit of history here, as recalling some exchanges between the church in Corinth and him, exchanges on issues that required some painful changes in individuals and in that body of believers. Yet he takes pains to present these as ultimately beneficial and part of a growing process, and so they are.
1 Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.
2 Receive us; we have wronged no man, we have corrupted no man, we have defrauded no man.
3 I speak not this to condemn you: for I have said before, that ye are in our hearts to die and live with you.
4 Great is my boldness of speech toward you, great is my glorying of you: I am filled with comfort, I am exceeding joyful in all our tribulation.
5 For, when we were come into Macedonia, our flesh had no rest, but we were troubled on every side; without were fightings, within were fears.
6 Nevertheless God, that comforteth those that are cast down, comforted us by the coming of Titus;
7 And not by his coming only, but by the consolation wherewith he was comforted in you, when he told us your earnest desire, your mourning, your fervent mind toward me; so that I rejoiced the more.
9 Now I rejoice, not that ye were made sorry, but that ye sorrowed to repentance: for ye were made sorry after a godly manner, that ye might receive damage by us in nothing.
10 For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.
11 For behold this selfsame thing, that ye sorrowed after a godly sort, what carefulness it wrought in you, yea, what clearing of yourselves, yea, what indignation, yea, what fear, yea, what vehement desire, yea, what zeal, yea, what revenge! In all things ye have approved yourselves to be clear in this matter.

Leading to
16 I rejoice therefore that I have confidence in you in all things.
Would you not be happy if that were said of you?

14 September 2007

Illegal alien outrage of the day, 14September

Hat tip to Michelle Malkin. How's this for a headline, ''“Undocumented residents” arrested in brazen NJ rape''.
Once again, political correctness, once again the refusal to enforce the law and the borders has lead to evil.
Oh, and two of the three rapists were able to be on welfare. Just what is it that they are doing that Americans won't? I think we have quite enough rapists here already. We need not import any more, and we certainly don't need to provide a stipend to support them.

Today's Reading September 14

Good morning and a very Happy Friday to you.
This morning's passage out of Proverbs is 25, 26, and 27. You find them part of the life of God's people forever.

21 If thine enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat; and if he be thirsty, give him water to drink:
Rom 12:20
22 For thou shalt heap coals of fire upon his head, and the LORD shall reward thee.
Rom 12:20
Where have we seen that before? And if you want an example of how God's people are supposed to be in word and deed, here are two. And rarely obeyed, either.
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This evening's passage is 2nd Corinthians chapter 6
The entirety is shown below, but I draw particular attention this morning to verses 14 through 18
Chapter 6
1 We then, as workers together with him, beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain.
2 (For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.)
Isa 49:8
3 Giving no offence in any thing, that the ministry be not blamed:
4 But in all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses,
5 In stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labours, in watchings, in fastings;
6 By pureness, by knowledge, by longsuffering, by kindness, by the Holy Ghost, by love unfeigned,
7 By the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armour of righteousness on the right hand and on the left,
8 By honour and dishonour, by evil report and good report: as deceivers, and yet true;
9 As unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and, behold, we live; as chastened, and not killed;
10 As sorrowful, yet alway rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.
11 O ye Corinthians, our mouth is open unto you, our heart is enlarged.
12 Ye are not straitened in us, but ye are straitened in your own bowels.
13 Now for a recompence in the same, (I speak as unto my children,) be ye also enlarged.
14 Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?
15 And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?
16 And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.

Lev 26:12
17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you.
Isa 52:11
18 And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.
2 Sam 7:14
We are commanded to be set apart. The very human urge to be just like everyone else can not be heeded, we are to be different, because we are different. Much of the church has forgotten that.

13 September 2007

Today's Reading September 13

Short shrift again this morning. As Pogo used to say, ''Friday the 13th came on a Thursday this month''.
This morning we continue in Proverbs with 23 and 24

23:17 Let not thine heart envy sinners: but be thou in the fear of the LORD all the day long.
19 Hear thou, my son, and be wise, and guide thine heart in the way.
20 Be not among winebibbers; among riotous eaters of flesh:
21 For the drunkard and the glutton shall come to poverty: and drowsiness shall clothe a man with rags.
22 Hearken unto thy father that begat thee, and despise not thy mother when she is old.
23 Buy the truth, and sell it not; also wisdom, and instruction, and understanding.
24 The father of the righteous shall greatly rejoice: and he that begetteth a wise child shall have joy of him.
25 Thy father and thy mother shall be glad, and she that bare thee shall rejoice.
26 My son, give me thine heart, and let thine eyes observe my ways.
27 For a whore is a deep ditch; and a strange woman is a narrow pit.
28 She also lieth in wait as for a prey, and increaseth the transgressors among men.
29 Who hath woe? who hath sorrow? who hath contentions? who hath babbling? who hath wounds without cause? who hath redness of eyes?
30 They that tarry long at the wine; they that go to seek mixed wine.
31 Look not thou upon the wine when it is red, when it giveth his colour in the cup, when it moveth itself aright.
32 At the last it biteth like a serpent, and stingeth like an adder.
33 Thine eyes shall behold strange women, and thine heart shall utter perverse things.
34 Yea, thou shalt be as he that lieth down in the midst of the sea, or as he that lieth upon the top of a mast.
35 They have stricken me, shalt thou say, and I was not sick; they have beaten me, and I felt it not: when shall I awake? I will seek it yet again.
1 Be not thou envious against evil men, neither desire to be with them.
2 For their heart studieth destruction, and their lips talk of mischief.
3 Through wisdom is an house builded; and by understanding it is established:

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This evening, 2nd Corinthians chapter 5.

Chapter 5
1 For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.
2 For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven:
3 If so be that being clothed we shall not be found naked.
4 For we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened: not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of life.
5 Now he that hath wrought us for the selfsame thing is God, who also hath given unto us the earnest of the Spirit.
6 Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord:
7 (For we walk by faith, not by sight:)
8 We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.
9 Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him.
10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.
11 Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are made manifest unto God; and I trust also are made manifest in your consciences.
12 For we commend not ourselves again unto you, but give you occasion to glory on our behalf, that ye may have somewhat to answer them which glory in appearance, and not in heart.
13 For whether we be beside ourselves, it is to God: or whether we be sober, it is for your cause.
14 For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead:
15 And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.
16 Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more.
17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
18 And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;
19 To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.
20 Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God.
21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

12 September 2007

Today's Reading September 12

Running VERY late. Will try to post later
Morning reading Proverbs 21 and 22

hapter 21
1 The king's heart is in the hand of the LORD, as the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will.
2 Every way of a man is right in his own eyes: but the LORD pondereth the hearts.
3 To do justice and judgment is more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice.
4 An high look, and a proud heart, and the plowing of the wicked, is sin.

Evening reading 2nd Corinthians chapter 4
Chapter 4
1 Therefore seeing we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we faint not;
2 But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God.
3 But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost:
4 In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.
5 For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake.
6 For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.
8 We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair;
9 Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed;
10 Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body.
11 For we which live are alway delivered unto death for Jesus' sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh.
12 So then death worketh in us, but life in you.
13 We having the same spirit of faith, according as it is written, I believed, and therefore have I spoken; we also believe, and therefore speak;
Psa 116:10
14 Knowing that he which raised up the Lord Jesus shall raise up us also by Jesus, and shall present us with you.
15 For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God.
16 For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.
17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;
18 While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.

11 September 2007

Today's Reading September 11

Today will be a somber day of reflection. It is good to do that periodically. I do not know what the day will bring. But I know who, or better yet Who, wins in the end.
Short of time this morning. The Old Testament passage is Proverbs 19 and 20

20:1 Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise.
20:5 Counsel in the heart of man is like deep water; but a man of understanding will draw it out.
6 Most men will proclaim every one his own goodness: but a faithful man who can find?
7 The just man walketh in his integrity: his children are blessed after him.
11 Even a child is known by his doings, whether his work be pure, and whether it be right.

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The evening's New Testament passage is 2nd Corinthians chapter 3
Chapter 3
1 Do we begin again to commend ourselves? or need we, as some others, epistles of commendation to you, or letters of commendation from you?
2 Ye are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read of all men:
3 Forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart.
4 And such trust have we through Christ to God-ward:
5 Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God;
6 Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.
7 But if the ministration of death, written and engraven in stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not stedfastly behold the face of Moses for the glory of his countenance; which glory was to be done away:
8 How shall not the ministration of the spirit be rather glorious?
9 For if the ministration of condemnation be glory, much more doth the ministration of righteousness exceed in glory.
10 For even that which was made glorious had no glory in this respect, by reason of the glory that excelleth.
11 For if that which is done away was glorious, much more that which remaineth is glorious.
12 Seeing then that we have such hope, we use great plainness of speech:
13 And not as Moses, which put a vail over his face, that the children of Israel could not stedfastly look to the end of that which is abolished:
14 But their minds were blinded: for until this day remaineth the same vail untaken away in the reading of the old testament; which vail is done away in Christ.
15 But even unto this day, when Moses is read, the vail is upon their heart.
16 Nevertheless when it shall turn to the Lord, the vail shall be taken away.
17 Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.
18 But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.

10 September 2007

Todays Reading September 10

Today is our wedding anniversary, the date that my beloved and I said, ''I do'', and , ''I will'' in front of God and a whole lot of people. I am so grateful for her and that He put us together. As I said here a year ago in very different circumstances, I will always be struck by the contrast between today and the love it represents, and tomorrow's anniversary of the evil done by Islam on 9/11 (and every other day of the year, for that matter).
This morning, continuing in the Proverbs, we take up chapters 17 and 18. Like all the Proverbs, these contain some you will probably recognize. These are good teaching tools, good rules for life. They don't get you into Heaven, but if followed by all would make life on Earth better.

10 The name of the LORD is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe.
or
19 A brother offended is harder to be won than a strong city: and their contentions are like the bars of a castle.
20 A man's belly shall be satisfied with the fruit of his mouth; and with the increase of his lips shall he be filled.
21 Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.
22 Whoso findeth a wife findeth a good thing, and obtaineth favour of the LORD.
23 The poor useth intreaties; but the rich answereth roughly.
24 A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.

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This evening's New Testament reading is 2nd Corinthians Chapter 2.
14 Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place.
15 For we are unto God a sweet savour of Christ, in them that are saved, and in them that perish:
16 To the one we are the savour of death unto death; and to the other the savour of life unto life. And who is sufficient for these things?
17 For we are not as many, which corrupt the word of God: but as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God speak we in Christ.

09 September 2007

A tale of the evil that is Islam

Mohammad was a demon-possessed child molester, the product of the homosexual union of a swine and a dog. He resides in Hell along with his master. May his name be cursed forever.
Allah is the name of a demon
Islam is a lie
The Koran is only good for toilet paper. It's not particularly good for that, but that's about all that it is good for. It is a pack of lies waved by monsters.

Islam must be destroyed, sent back to the pits of Hell from whence it came, along with its close relatives, the worship of Marduk, and Baal, and Astoreth, and all the other false gods.

You want some good examples of the evil that is Islam? Go here. Listen to Brigitte Gabriel, one of those who have experienced this vile evil. I do not understand why allow Muslims to pollute our land. I do not understand why we allow their mosques, a temple to a false god, to be built anywhere.

Today's Reading September 9

Good Sunday morning to you.
This morning's Old Testament reading is Proverbs 15 and 16.
At one time, I understand, it was common for those of certain religious persuasions to have their school-children copy these out, that thereby they might be committed to memory and be a guide to them. I only wish we did that today. It might be somewhat of a defense against the mass foolishness that we see all about us. These are all short, barely a sentence in most of these verses. But good practical instruction for all walks and stages of life.

16:18 Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.
You don't see that much on American Idol. Or
16:32 He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city.
33 The lot is cast into the lap; but the whole disposing thereof is of the LORD.
And
15:1 A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger.

These are so contrary to the world we inhabit, and we are the worse for it. We abandoned the search for wisdom and truth, in many cases denying that such things even exist. And we are reaping the bitter harvest now.

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This evening's New Testament portion is chapter 1 of 2nd Corinthians. This is a very personal letter of Paul's, very autobiographical, and some believe that he had no anticipation nor intention that it ever be circulated. And yet it was and we are glad of it. Paul here acknowledges that, contrary to today's messages of 'easy-beliefism' and ''cheap grace'', the life of a believer is going to be one of struggle and strife and it will not be easy. It wasn't then and it isn't today either. Someone once said that if your not being opposed by the Devil, then perhaps it means you're walking in the direction that he wanted you going. I don't know how high-end theologically approved that is, but there's a great deal of truth in it. Paul didn't have that situation and he frankly admits here to the existence of opposition and despair almost to the point of death. Yet he did not give up. He continued on, going here and there, an unwelcome stranger almost everywhere, greeted with open hostility and opprobrium. But he just kept on going. Our lives are sometimes like that - I recall reading of missionaries who labored diligently in a mission field for 20 years or more and saw little or no signs of success - the visible success came later, in the ground that they had plowed and tended so diligently out of a sense of obedience to the calling. We too, all of us who claim the name of Christ, have a calling too, more than one in fact. All of us have our own unique gifts, talents, and calling. But some things are commanded of ALL, and that includes the Great Commission. Paul was faithful to his, obedient no matter the cost. What will it cost each of us? Are we willing, as was he?
3 Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort;
4 Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.
5 For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ.
6 And whether we be afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation, which is effectual in the enduring of the same sufferings which we also suffer: or whether we be comforted, it is for your consolation and salvation.
7 And our hope of you is stedfast, knowing, that as ye are partakers of the sufferings, so shall ye be also of the consolation.
8 For we would not, brethren, have you ignorant of our trouble which came to us in Asia, that we were pressed out of measure, above strength, insomuch that we despaired even of life:
9 But we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God which raiseth the dead:
10 Who delivered us from so great a death, and doth deliver: in whom we trust that he will yet deliver us;
and later
18 But as God is true, our word toward you was not yea and nay.
19 For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by us, even by me and Silvanus and Timotheus, was not yea and nay, but in him was yea.
20 For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us.
21 Now he which stablisheth us with you in Christ, and hath anointed us, is God;