22 September 2007

Illegal Aliens September 22 w/ update

Haven't posted much of these lately - haven't been in the mood, I guess.
Try this:

4 men arrested in headless body case
We must have had a shortage of those who like to commit murder and then dismember the bodies. I guess we needed to import some. Thanks for nothing, W. Thanks for nothing, McCain. Thanks for nothing, Mel Martinez. Thanks for nothing, Ted Kennedy (spit, spit). Thanks for nothing, Lindsay Graham. Thanks for nothing, Mike Chertoff.


UPDATE: Forgot this one earlier. Woman with knife fends off attacker
Yes, three of those ''just doing the things Americans won't'' sent one of their bravest to attack a 3-month-pregnant woman. She won, by the way, using a pocketknife that probably would have gotten HER arrested in Merrie Old England. So, now in jail (briefly, I'm sure, Mike Chertoff and GW Bush will fret until they're freed) are three ILLEGAL ALIENS. Hear that, W? ILLEGAL ALIENS attacking pregnant women. So we get Filemon Del Hoyo, 18, Abel Lorenzo Reyes, 18, and Isidro Mendoza, 22, all of Mesa. Oh, by the way, one had just been deported Monday, and managed to re-invade by Thursday. Seems we don't yet have a FENCE! And it seems that one of these illegitimate sons of whores may even be released, even though he's known to be an illegal.

Thanks for nothing, W.

Backlink to the Anchoress part 2

Let me say first that I respect and admire the owner of the site. That she is a devout Roman Catholic, and I am not; that she has her take on a number of issues that is not in perfect agreement with mine, does not alter that in the least. Reasonable people may differ on range of issues and not descend into bitter rancor. I thank her for her devotion and tone of respect.
Just for the record, and perhaps some self-aggrandizement, I am showing below the backlinks to some comments that I made on a recent thread on the issues surrounding illegal aliens in America. She by no means agrees with me, but has nevertheless graciously posted my rather lengthy comments. Your are invited to examine the entire colloquy.
It begins here
My comments are here , here, and here.
Again, I have profound admiration and respect for her, even in principled disagreement. May her tribe increase.

Today's Reading September 22

Happy Saturday to you. I hope the day finds you well.
This morning's reading is from the Song of Solomon, chapters 4 and 5.
I really don't want to comment on this very much. It reminds me of all the love of first beginning that goes on between a newly married couple. Or it should. This is very very intense stuff. I don't recall it ever being preached or taught in that little country church I grew up in, ever, and it's rarely mentioned in the, umm, months since I turned 21. But it's worth reading. Starting with

1 Behold, thou art fair, my love; behold, thou art fair; thou hast doves' eyes within thy locks: thy hair is as a flock of goats, that appear from mount Gilead.
2 Thy teeth are like a flock of sheep that are even shorn, which came up from the washing; whereof every one bear twins, and none is barren among them.
3 Thy lips are like a thread of scarlet, and thy speech is comely: thy temples are like a piece of a pomegranate within thy locks.
4 Thy neck is like the tower of David builded for an armoury, whereon there hang a thousand bucklers, all shields of mighty men.
5 Thy two breasts are like two young roes that are twins, which feed among the lilies.
6 Until the day break, and the shadows flee away, I will get me to the mountain of myrrh, and to the hill of frankincense.
7 Thou art all fair, my love; there is no spot in thee.


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This evening's passage is 2nd Corinthians chapter 13. This completes Paul's letter to them. In it, he ties up the loose ends and summarizes what he has said,
5 Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?
6 But I trust that ye shall know that we are not reprobates.
7 Now I pray to God that ye do no evil; not that we should appear approved, but that ye should do that which is honest, though we be as reprobates.
8 For we can do nothing against the truth, but for the truth.
9 For we are glad, when we are weak, and ye are strong: and this also we wish, even your perfection.
10 Therefore I write these things being absent, lest being present I should use sharpness, according to the power which the Lord hath given me to edification, and not to destruction.
11 Finally, brethren, farewell. Be perfect, be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace shall be with you.
12 Greet one another with an holy kiss.
13 All the saints salute you.
14 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen.

Clearly, a great deal of the art of writing letters has been lost in the time since this was written.

21 September 2007

Today's Episode of the North American Union folly

Easiest thing to do is to just post the link. Go here, and read
Mexican official urges North American Union
Tells Denver trade conference EU is 'model we need to follow quickly
yeah, this is what the ''right'' people want. Guess they didn't think it necessary to ask our opinion of the matter.

Today's Reading September 21

Happy Friday to you
This morning's reading is from The Song of Solomon, chapters 1, 2, and 3
This is intense stuff, so much so that I am sometimes uncomfortable reading it out loud.

1 The song of songs, which is Solomon's.
2 Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth: for thy love is better than wine.
3 Because of the savour of thy good ointments thy name is as ointment poured forth, therefore do the virgins love thee.
4 Draw me, we will run after thee: the king hath brought me into his chambers: we will be glad and rejoice in thee, we will remember thy love more than wine: the upright love thee.
5 I am black, but comely, O ye daughters of Jerusalem, as the tents of Kedar, as the curtains of Solomon.
6 Look not upon me, because I am black, because the sun hath looked upon me: my mother's children were angry with me; they made me the keeper of the vineyards; but mine own vineyard have I not kept.
7 Tell me, O thou whom my soul loveth, where thou feedest, where thou makest thy flock to rest at noon: for why should I be as one that turneth aside by the flocks of thy companions?
8 If thou know not, O thou fairest among women, go thy way forth by the footsteps of the flock, and feed thy kids beside the shepherds' tents.
9 I have compared thee, O my love, to a company of horses in Pharaoh's chariots.
10 Thy cheeks are comely with rows of jewels, thy neck with chains of gold.
11 We will make thee borders of gold with studs of silver.
12 While the king sitteth at his table, my spikenard sendeth forth the smell thereof.
13 A bundle of myrrh is my well-beloved unto me; he shall lie all night betwixt my breasts.
14 My beloved is unto me as a cluster of camphire in the vineyards of Engedi.
15 Behold, thou art fair, my love; behold, thou art fair; thou hast doves' eyes.
16 Behold, thou art fair, my beloved, yea, pleasant: also our bed is green.
17 The beams of our house are cedar, and our rafters of fir.

Who says that the people of the Almighty God are those without passion? Who repeats such nonsense. It is not true, it has never been true.
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This evening's reading is 2nd Corinthians chapter 12. IN the last few readings, Paul speaks somewhat of his own ministry, the struggles and trials and persecutions that he has personally undergone. Do not make light of them. He was nearly beaten to death, legally, on several occasions and most of the time is life was in danger. And now he goes on from there.
10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.
11 I am become a fool in glorying; ye have compelled me: for I ought to have been commended of you: for in nothing am I behind the very chiefest apostles, though I be nothing.
12 Truly the signs of an apostle were wrought among you in all patience, in signs, and wonders, and mighty deeds.
13 For what is it wherein ye were inferior to other churches, except it be that I myself was not burdensome to you? forgive me this wrong.
14 Behold, the third time I am ready to come to you; and I will not be burdensome to you: for I seek not your's but you: for the children ought not to lay up for the parents, but the parents for the children.
15 And I will very gladly spend and be spent for you; though the more abundantly I love you, the less I be loved.
This is not the ''cheap grace'' that we see in too many places today.

20 September 2007

Today's Reading September 20

This morning's reading is Ecclesiastes chapters 10, 11, 12 This ends the book, and I recommend chapter 12 above all. Great wisdom there.

Chapter 12
1 Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them;
2 While the sun, or the light, or the moon, or the stars, be not darkened, nor the clouds return after the rain:
3 In the day when the keepers of the house shall tremble, and the strong men shall bow themselves, and the grinders cease because they are few, and those that look out of the windows be darkened,
4 And the doors shall be shut in the streets, when the sound of the grinding is low, and he shall rise up at the voice of the bird, and all the daughters of musick shall be brought low;
5 Also when they shall be afraid of that which is high, and fears shall be in the way, and the almond tree shall flourish, and the grasshopper shall be a burden, and desire shall fail: because man goeth to his long home, and the mourners go about the streets:
6 Or ever the silver cord be loosed, or the golden bowl be broken, or the pitcher be broken at the fountain, or the wheel broken at the cistern.
7 Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it.
8 Vanity of vanities, saith the preacher; all is vanity.
9 And moreover, because the preacher was wise, he still taught the people knowledge; yea, he gave good heed, and sought out, and set in order many proverbs.
10 The preacher sought to find out acceptable words: and that which was written was upright, even words of truth.
11 The words of the wise are as goads, and as nails fastened by the masters of assemblies, which are given from one shepherd.
12 And further, by these, my son, be admonished: of making many books there is no end; and much study is a weariness of the flesh.
13 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.
14 For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.


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This evening's passage is from 2nd Corinthians chapter 11, verses 16 through 33.
There are a few ways to take this passage. Here is one.
We are buried under a wave of 'easy-beliefism'', the notion that Christianity leads to popularity, worldly wealth, an easy life, the 'right' to live for yourself and in any way you wish. Scripture does not support that as we will see. Neither does any reasonable examination of the life of believers in places like China, Cuba, any place infested by the evil of Islam, any place over-run by socialism. If they world ran to crucify our Lord Jesus, why do any believe it will not do the same to us? Paul lists his past:
16 I say again, Let no man think me a fool; if otherwise, yet as a fool receive me, that I may boast myself a little.
17 That which I speak, I speak it not after the Lord, but as it were foolishly, in this confidence of boasting.
18 Seeing that many glory after the flesh, I will glory also.
19 For ye suffer fools gladly, seeing ye yourselves are wise.
20 For ye suffer, if a man bring you into bondage, if a man devour you, if a man take of you, if a man exalt himself, if a man smite you on the face.
21 I speak as concerning reproach, as though we had been weak. Howbeit whereinsoever any is bold, (I speak foolishly,) I am bold also.
22 Are they Hebrews? so am I. Are they Israelites? so am I. Are they the seed of Abraham? so am I.
23 Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as a fool) I am more; in labours more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft.
24 Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one.
25 Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep;
26 In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren;
27 In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness.
28 Beside those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches.
29 Who is weak, and I am not weak? who is offended, and I burn not?
30 If I must needs glory, I will glory of the things which concern mine infirmities.
31 The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which is blessed for evermore, knoweth that I lie not.
32 In Damascus the governor under Aretas the king kept the city of the Damascenes with a garrison, desirous to apprehend me:
33 And through a window in a basket was I let down by the wall, and escaped his hands.

19 September 2007

Today's Reading September 19

Where has the year gone? It seems only yesterday that we were celebrating the new year. Now we are more than half the way through the 9th month of the year. And the daily highs here have dipped down into the mid-80's.
This morning's reading is from the book of Ecclesiastes, chapters 7, 8, and 9. You may recognize this snippet from chapter 9

9 Live joyfully with the wife whom thou lovest all the days of the life of thy vanity, which he hath given thee under the sun, all the days of thy vanity: for that is thy portion in this life, and in thy labour which thou takest under the sun.
10 Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest.
11 I returned, and saw under the sun, that the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, neither yet bread to the wise, nor yet riches to men of understanding, nor yet favour to men of skill; but time and chance happeneth to them all.

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
This evening's reading is 2nd Corinthians, chapter 11, verses 1 through 15.
Paul is spending some effort here to justify his own authority to teach and to proclaim ''thus says the Lord!''. Even in those early days, disputes arose, some deliberately fomented by the Devil, some I'm sure from disagreements over emphases here and there, some just the product of being imperfect people in a fallen world. Regardless, Paul takes some effort to establish his own bona fides.
1 Would to God ye could bear with me a little in my folly: and indeed bear with me.
2 For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.
3 But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.
4 For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him.
5 For I suppose I was not a whit behind the very chiefest apostles.
6 But though I be rude in speech, yet not in knowledge; but we have been throughly made manifest among you in all things.
7 Have I committed an offence in abasing myself that ye might be exalted, because I have preached to you the gospel of God freely?
8 I robbed other churches, taking wages of them, to do you service.
9 And when I was present with you, and wanted, I was chargeable to no man: for that which was lacking to me the brethren which came from Macedonia supplied: and in all things I have kept myself from being burdensome unto you, and so will I keep myself.
10 As the truth of Christ is in me, no man shall stop me of this boasting in the regions of Achaia.
11 Wherefore? because I love you not? God knoweth.
12 But what I do, that I will do, that I may cut off occasion from them which desire occasion; that wherein they glory, they may be found even as we.
13 For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ.
14 And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.
15 Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.

18 September 2007

Today's Reading September 18

Good morning.
This morning we continue in the book of Ecclesiastes, chapters 4,5, and 6. The Preacher has considered the things that occupy us, and has found them wanting, vain pointless pursuits of the here and now, and without eternal significance, without real meaning. That was perceptive, something we normally forget.

11 Seeing there be many things that increase vanity, what is man the better?
12 For who knoweth what is good for man in this life, all the days of his vain life which he spendeth as a shadow? for who can tell a man what shall be after him under the sun?


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This evening's reading is 2nd Corinthians chapter 10. I particularly like verse 5. It's a good life lesson.
For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh:
4 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)
5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;
6 And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled.
7 Do ye look on things after the outward appearance? If any man trust to himself that he is Christ's, let him of himself think this again, that, as he is Christ's, even so are we Christ's.
and also
17 But he that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.
Jer 9:24
18 For not he that commendeth himself is approved, but whom the Lord commendeth.

17 September 2007

Today's Reading September 17

Short shrift again this morning for which I apologize. Short night, long day ahead.
This morning we again change course and begin in the book of Ecclesiastes with chapters 1, 2, and 3. This is not light reading. What things are important, really? Read in this book and you'll find yourself asking that question.

Chapter 1
1 The words of the Preacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem.
2 Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher, vanity of vanities; all is vanity.
3 What profit hath a man of all his labour which he taketh under the sun?
4 One generation passeth away, and another generation cometh: but the earth abideth for ever.
5 The sun also ariseth, and the sun goeth down, and hasteth to his place where he arose.
6 The wind goeth toward the south, and turneth about unto the north; it whirleth about continually, and the wind returneth again according to his circuits.
7 All the rivers run into the sea; yet the sea is not full; unto the place from whence the rivers come, thither they return again.
8 All things are full of labour; man cannot utter it: the eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear filled with hearing.
9 The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun.
10 Is there any thing whereof it may be said, See, this is new? it hath been already of old time, which was before us.
11 There is no remembrance of former things; neither shall there be any remembrance of things that are to come with those that shall come after.

Chapter 3
1 To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:
2 A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted;
3 A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up;
4 A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;
5 A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;
6 A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away;
7 A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;
8 A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.

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This afternoon we turn to 2nd Corinthians chapter 9
6 But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully.
7 Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.
Prov 22:9
8 And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work:

16 September 2007

Today's Reading September 16

Happy Sunday. This is the day the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it.
This morning's reading concludes our journey through the Proverbs with Proverbs 30 and 31. Most of the Proverbs were, if not written by Solomon, at least compiled by him. These last ones were done by others, but rank up there with any of them. Proverbs 31 deserves pride of place. It is the honor paid to a worthy woman and I see no reason to not to reproduce much of it here.

10 Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies.
11 The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil.
12 She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life.
13 She seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands.
14 She is like the merchants' ships; she bringeth her food from afar.
15 She riseth also while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and a portion to her maidens.
16 She considereth a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard.
17 She girdeth her loins with strength, and strengtheneth her arms.
18 She perceiveth that her merchandise is good: her candle goeth not out by night.
19 She layeth her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff.
20 She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy.
21 She is not afraid of the snow for her household: for all her household are clothed with scarlet.
22 She maketh herself coverings of tapestry; her clothing is silk and purple.
23 Her husband is known in the gates, when he sitteth among the elders of the land.
24 She maketh fine linen, and selleth it; and delivereth girdles unto the merchant.
25 Strength and honour are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come.
26 She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness.
27 She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness.
28 Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her.
29 Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all.
30 Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised.
31 Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates.
Sounds a lot like the woman that the Lord sent to share my life.
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This evening we turn to chapter 8 of 2nd Corinthians.
9 For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich.
10 And herein I give my advice: for this is expedient for you, who have begun before, not only to do, but also to be forward a year ago.
11 Now therefore perform the doing of it; that as there was a readiness to will, so there may be a performance also out of that which ye have.
12 For if there be first a willing mind, it is accepted according to that a man hath, and not according to that he hath not.