03 July 2010

Today's Readings -- 03 July 2010

We're having a tough time here. Bear with us, please.

This morning, chapters 26-28 of Job.

1
But Job answered and said,
2
How hast thou helped him that is without power? how savest thou the arm that hath no strength?
3
How hast thou counselled him that hath no wisdom? and how hast thou plentifully declared the thing as it is?
4
To whom hast thou uttered words? and whose spirit came from thee?
5
Dead things are formed from under the waters, and the inhabitants thereof.
6
Hell is naked before him, and destruction hath no covering.
7
He stretcheth out the north over the empty place, and hangeth the earth upon nothing.
8
He bindeth up the waters in his thick clouds; and the cloud is not rent under them.
9
He holdeth back the face of his throne, and spreadeth his cloud upon it.
10
He hath compassed the waters with bounds, until the day and night come to an end.
11
The pillars of heaven tremble and are astonished at his reproof.
12
He divideth the sea with his power, and by his understanding he smiteth through the proud.
13
By his spirit he hath garnished the heavens; his hand hath formed the crooked serpent.
14
Lo, these are parts of his ways: but how little a portion is heard of him? but the thunder of his power who can understand?



1 Moreover Job continued his parable, and said,
2
As God liveth, who hath taken away my judgment; and the Almighty, who hath vexed my soul;
3
All the while my breath is in me, and the spirit of God is in my nostrils;
4
My lips shall not speak wickedness, nor my tongue utter deceit.
5
God forbid that I should justify you: till I die I will not remove mine integrity from me.
6
My righteousness I hold fast, and will not let it go: my heart shall not reproach me so long as I live.
7
Let mine enemy be as the wicked, and he that riseth up against me as the unrighteous.
8
For what is the hope of the hypocrite, though he hath gained, when God taketh away his soul?
9
Will God hear his cry when trouble cometh upon him?
10
Will he delight himself in the Almighty? will he always call upon God?
11
I will teach you by the hand of God: that which is with the Almighty will I not conceal.
12
Behold, all ye yourselves have seen it; why then are ye thus altogether vain?
13
This is the portion of a wicked man with God, and the heritage of oppressors, which they shall receive of the Almighty.
14
If his children be multiplied, it is for the sword: and his offspring shall not be satisfied with bread.
15
Those that remain of him shall be buried in death: and his widows shall not weep.
16
Though he heap up silver as the dust, and prepare raiment as the clay;
17
He may prepare it, but the just shall put it on, and the innocent shall divide the silver.
18
He buildeth his house as a moth, and as a booth that the keeper maketh.
19
The rich man shall lie down, but he shall not be gathered: he openeth his eyes, and he is not.
20
Terrors take hold on him as waters, a tempest stealeth him away in the night.
21
The east wind carrieth him away, and he departeth: and as a storm hurleth him out of his place.
22
For God shall cast upon him, and not spare: he would fain flee out of his hand.
23
Men shall clap their hands at him, and shall hiss him out of his place.


1
Surely there is a vein for the silver, and a place for gold where they fine it.
2
Iron is taken out of the earth, and brass is molten out of the stone.
3
He setteth an end to darkness, and searcheth out all perfection: the stones of darkness, and the shadow of death.
4
The flood breaketh out from the inhabitant; even the waters forgotten of the foot: they are dried up, they are gone away from men.
5
As for the earth, out of it cometh bread: and under it is turned up as it were fire.
6
The stones of it are the place of sapphires: and it hath dust of gold.
7
There is a path which no fowl knoweth, and which the vulture's eye hath not seen:
8
The lion's whelps have not trodden it, nor the fierce lion passed by it.
9
He putteth forth his hand upon the rock; he overturneth the mountains by the roots.
10
He cutteth out rivers among the rocks; and his eye seeth every precious thing.
11
He bindeth the floods from overflowing; and the thing that is hid bringeth he forth to light.
12
But where shall wisdom be found? and where is the place of understanding?
13
Man knoweth not the price thereof; neither is it found in the land of the living.
14
The depth saith, It is not in me: and the sea saith, It is not with me.
15
It cannot be gotten for gold, neither shall silver be weighed for the price thereof.
16
It cannot be valued with the gold of Ophir, with the precious onyx, or the sapphire.
17
The gold and the crystal cannot equal it: and the exchange of it shall not be for jewels of fine gold.
18
No mention shall be made of coral, or of pearls: for the price of wisdom is above rubies.
19
The topaz of Ethiopia shall not equal it, neither shall it be valued with pure gold.
20
Whence then cometh wisdom? and where is the place of understanding?
21
Seeing it is hid from the eyes of all living, and kept close from the fowls of the air.
22
Destruction and death say, We have heard the fame thereof with our ears.
23
God understandeth the way thereof, and he knoweth the place thereof.
24
For he looketh to the ends of the earth, and seeth under the whole heaven;
25
To make the weight for the winds; and he weigheth the waters by measure.
26
When he made a decree for the rain, and a way for the lightning of the thunder:
27
Then did he see it, and declare it; he prepared it, yea, and searched it out.
28
And unto man he said, Behold, the fear of the LORD, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding.



This evening, chapter 11 of the Acts
1
And the apostles and brethren that were in Judaea heard that the Gentiles had also received the word of God.
2
And when Peter was come up to Jerusalem, they that were of the circumcision contended with him,
3
Saying, Thou wentest in to men uncircumcised, and didst eat with them.
4
But Peter rehearsed the matter from the beginning, and expounded it by order unto them, saying,
5
I was in the city of Joppa praying: and in a trance I saw a vision, A certain vessel descend, as it had been a great sheet, let down from heaven by four corners; and it came even to me:
6
Upon the which when I had fastened mine eyes, I considered, and saw fourfooted beasts of the earth, and wild beasts, and creeping things, and fowls of the air.
7
And I heard a voice saying unto me, Arise, Peter; slay and eat.
8
But I said, Not so, Lord: for nothing common or unclean hath at any time entered into my mouth.
9
But the voice answered me again from heaven, What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common.
10
And this was done three times: and all were drawn up again into heaven.
11
And, behold, immediately there were three men already come unto the house where I was, sent from Caesarea unto me.
12
And the Spirit bade me go with them, nothing doubting. Moreover these six brethren accompanied me, and we entered into the man's house:
13
And he shewed us how he had seen an angel in his house, which stood and said unto him, Send men to Joppa, and call for Simon, whose surname is Peter;
14
Who shall tell thee words, whereby thou and all thy house shall be saved.
15
And as I began to speak, the Holy Ghost fell on them, as on us at the beginning.
16
Then remembered I the word of the Lord, how that he said, John indeed baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost.
17
Forasmuch then as God gave them the like gift as he did unto us, who believed on the Lord Jesus Christ; what was I, that I could withstand God?
18
When they heard these things, they held their peace, and glorified God, saying, Then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life.
19
Now they which were scattered abroad upon the persecution that arose about Stephen travelled as far as Phenice, and Cyprus, and Antioch, preaching the word to none but unto the Jews only.
20
And some of them were men of Cyprus and Cyrene, which, when they were come to Antioch, spake unto the Grecians, preaching the LORD Jesus.
21
And the hand of the Lord was with them: and a great number believed, and turned unto the Lord.
22
Then tidings of these things came unto the ears of the church which was in Jerusalem: and they sent forth Barnabas, that he should go as far as Antioch.
23
Who, when he came, and had seen the grace of God, was glad, and exhorted them all, that with purpose of heart they would cleave unto the Lord.
24
For he was a good man, and full of the Holy Ghost and of faith: and much people was added unto the Lord.
25
Then departed Barnabas to Tarsus, for to seek Saul:
26
And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch.
27
And in these days came prophets from Jerusalem unto Antioch.
28
And there stood up one of them named Agabus, and signified by the Spirit that there should be great dearth throughout all the world: which came to pass in the days of Claudius Caesar.
29
Then the disciples, every man according to his ability, determined to send relief unto the brethren which dwelt in Judaea:
30
Which also they did, and sent it to the elders by the hands of Barnabas and Saul.

To Remember Why We Celebrate

More than 200 years ago, a radical document was published. It's still radical today, and would not be approved by our President, the majority in our Congress, much of the Supreme Court or nominees to same. It would likewise be opposed by most of academia, the rulers of our media, and the various other self-anointed shapers of the public opinion. Certainly it is anathema to the Transnational Progressivists, the North American Union crowd, the thugs in SEIU and ACORN, and of course the UN and it's spawn.
But it means a lot to some of use nonetheless.

Read it and weep for what we once had.

IN CONGRESS, JULY 4, 1776

The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America



When, in the course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the laws of nature and of nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. That to secure these rights, governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed. That whenever any form of government becomes destructive to these ends, it is the right of the people to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their safety and happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shown that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such government, and to provide new guards for their future security. --Such has been the patient sufferance of these colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former systems of government. The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute tyranny over these states. To prove this, let facts be submitted to a candid world.

He has refused his assent to laws, the most wholesome and necessary for the public good.

He has forbidden his governors to pass laws of immediate and pressing importance, unless suspended in their operation till his assent should be obtained; and when so suspended, he has utterly neglected to attend to them.

He has refused to pass other laws for the accommodation of large districts of people, unless those people would relinquish the right of representation in the legislature, a right inestimable to them and formidable to tyrants only.

He has called together legislative bodies at places unusual, uncomfortable, and distant from the depository of their public records, for the sole purpose of fatiguing them into compliance with his measures.

He has dissolved representative houses repeatedly, for opposing with manly firmness his invasions on the rights of the people.

He has refused for a long time, after such dissolutions, to cause others to be elected; whereby the legislative powers, incapable of annihilation, have returned to the people at large for their exercise; the state remaining in the meantime exposed to all the dangers of invasion from without, and convulsions within.

He has endeavored to prevent the population of these states; for that purpose obstructing the laws for naturalization of foreigners; refusing to pass others to encourage their migration hither, and raising the conditions of new appropriations of lands.

He has obstructed the administration of justice, by refusing his assent to laws for establishing judiciary powers.

He has made judges dependent on his will alone, for the tenure of their offices, and the amount and payment of their salaries.

He has erected a multitude of new offices, and sent hither swarms of officers to harass our people, and eat out their substance.

He has kept among us, in times of peace, standing armies without the consent of our legislature.

He has affected to render the military independent of and superior to civil power.

He has combined with others to subject us to a jurisdiction foreign to our constitution, and unacknowledged by our laws; giving his assent to their acts of pretended legislation:

For quartering large bodies of armed troops among us:

For protecting them, by mock trial, from punishment for any murders which they should commit on the inhabitants of these states:

For cutting off our trade with all parts of the world:

For imposing taxes on us without our consent:

For depriving us in many cases, of the benefits of trial by jury:

For transporting us beyond seas to be tried for pretended offenses:

For abolishing the free system of English laws in a neighboring province, establishing therein an arbitrary government, and enlarging its boundaries so as to render it at once an example and fit instrument for introducing the same absolute rule in these colonies:

For taking away our charters, abolishing our most valuable laws, and altering fundamentally the forms of our governments:

For suspending our own legislatures, and declaring themselves invested with power to legislate for us in all cases whatsoever.

He has abdicated government here, by declaring us out of his protection and waging war against us.

He has plundered our seas, ravaged our coasts, burned our towns, and destroyed the lives of our people.

He is at this time transporting large armies of foreign mercenaries to complete the works of death, desolation and tyranny, already begun with circumstances of cruelty and perfidy scarcely paralleled in the most barbarous ages, and totally unworthy the head of a civilized nation.

He has constrained our fellow citizens taken captive on the high seas to bear arms against their country, to become the executioners of their friends and brethren, or to fall themselves by their hands.

He has excited domestic insurrections amongst us, and has endeavored to bring on the inhabitants of our frontiers, the merciless Indian savages, whose known rule of warfare, is undistinguished destruction of all ages, sexes and conditions.

In every stage of these oppressions we have petitioned for redress in the most humble terms: our repeated petitions have been answered only by repeated injury. A prince, whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a tyrant, is unfit to be the ruler of a free people.

Nor have we been wanting in attention to our British brethren. We have warned them from time to time of attempts by their legislature to extend an unwarrantable jurisdiction over us. We have reminded them of the circumstances of our emigration and settlement here. We have appealed to their native justice and magnanimity, and we have conjured them by the ties of our common kindred to disavow these usurpations, which, would inevitably interrupt our connections and correspondence. They too have been deaf to the voice of justice and of consanguinity. We must, therefore, acquiesce in the necessity, which denounces our separation, and hold them, as we hold the rest of mankind, enemies in war, in peace friends.

We, therefore, the representatives of the United States of America, in General Congress, assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the name, and by the authority of the good people of these colonies, solemnly publish and declare, that these united colonies are, and of right ought to be free and independent states; that they are absolved from all allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the state of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved; and that as free and independent states, they have full power to levy war, conclude peace, contract alliances, establish commerce, and to do all other acts and things which independent states may of right do. And for the support of this declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our lives, our fortunes and our sacred honor.

02 July 2010

Today's Readings -- 02 July 2010

Happy Friday to all. Off to bed for a little while.

This morning, chapters 23, 24, 25 of Job.

1
Then Job answered and said,
2
Even to day is my complaint bitter: my stroke is heavier than my groaning.
3
Oh that I knew where I might find him! that I might come even to his seat!
4
I would order my cause before him, and fill my mouth with arguments.
5
I would know the words which he would answer me, and understand what he would say unto me.
6
Will he plead against me with his great power? No; but he would put strength in me.
7
There the righteous might dispute with him; so should I be delivered for ever from my judge.
8
Behold, I go forward, but he is not there; and backward, but I cannot perceive him:
9
On the left hand, where he doth work, but I cannot behold him: he hideth himself on the right hand, that I cannot see him:
10
But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.
11
My foot hath held his steps, his way have I kept, and not declined.
12
Neither have I gone back from the commandment of his lips; I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food.
13
But he is in one mind, and who can turn him? and what his soul desireth, even that he doeth.
14
For he performeth the thing that is appointed for me: and many such things are with him.
15
Therefore am I troubled at his presence: when I consider, I am afraid of him.
16
For God maketh my heart soft, and the Almighty troubleth me:
17
Because I was not cut off before the darkness, neither hath he covered the darkness from my face.


1
Why, seeing times are not hidden from the Almighty, do they that know him not see his days?
2
Some remove the landmarks; they violently take away flocks, and feed thereof.
3
They drive away the ass of the fatherless, they take the widow's ox for a pledge.
4
They turn the needy out of the way: the poor of the earth hide themselves together.
5
Behold, as wild asses in the desert, go they forth to their work; rising betimes for a prey: the wilderness yieldeth food for them and for their children.
6
They reap every one his corn in the field: and they gather the vintage of the wicked.
7
They cause the naked to lodge without clothing, that they have no covering in the cold.
8
They are wet with the showers of the mountains, and embrace the rock for want of a shelter.
9
They pluck the fatherless from the breast, and take a pledge of the poor.
10
They cause him to go naked without clothing, and they take away the sheaf from the hungry;
11
Which make oil within their walls, and tread their winepresses, and suffer thirst.
12
Men groan from out of the city, and the soul of the wounded crieth out: yet God layeth not folly to them.
13
They are of those that rebel against the light; they know not the ways thereof, nor abide in the paths thereof.
14
The murderer rising with the light killeth the poor and needy, and in the night is as a thief.
15
The eye also of the adulterer waiteth for the twilight, saying, No eye shall see me: and disguiseth his face.
16
In the dark they dig through houses, which they had marked for themselves in the daytime: they know not the light.
17
For the morning is to them even as the shadow of death: if one know them, they are in the terrors of the shadow of death.
18
He is swift as the waters; their portion is cursed in the earth: he beholdeth not the way of the vineyards.
19
Drought and heat consume the snow waters: so doth the grave those which have sinned.
20
The womb shall forget him; the worm shall feed sweetly on him; he shall be no more remembered; and wickedness shall be broken as a tree.
21
He evil entreateth the barren that beareth not: and doeth not good to the widow.
22
He draweth also the mighty with his power: he riseth up, and no man is sure of life.
23
Though it be given him to be in safety, whereon he resteth; yet his eyes are upon their ways.
24
They are exalted for a little while, but are gone and brought low; they are taken out of the way as all other, and cut off as the tops of the ears of corn.
25
And if it be not so now, who will make me a liar, and make my speech nothing worth?


1
Then answered Bildad the Shuhite, and said,
2
Dominion and fear are with him, he maketh peace in his high places.
3
Is there any number of his armies? and upon whom doth not his light arise?
4
How then can man be justified with God? or how can he be clean that is born of a woman?
5
Behold even to the moon, and it shineth not; yea, the stars are not pure in his sight.
6
How much less man, that is a worm? and the son of man, which is a worm?




This evening, verses 24-48 of chapter 10. This is radical here, though we rarely think of it. Up to this point, the church was almost entirely comprised of converted Jews, and any other arrangement would have been considered odd, threatening even. Here is an example of the change in plans that lets someone like Yours Truly in.
24
And the morrow after they entered into Caesarea. And Cornelius waited for them, and he had called together his kinsmen and near friends.
25
And as Peter was coming in, Cornelius met him, and fell down at his feet, and worshipped him.
26
But Peter took him up, saying, Stand up; I myself also am a man.
27
And as he talked with him, he went in, and found many that were come together.
28
And he said unto them, Ye know how that it is an unlawful thing for a man that is a Jew to keep company, or come unto one of another nation; but God hath shewed me that I should not call any man common or unclean.
29
Therefore came I unto you without gainsaying, as soon as I was sent for: I ask therefore for what intent ye have sent for me?
30
And Cornelius said, Four days ago I was fasting until this hour; and at the ninth hour I prayed in my house, and, behold, a man stood before me in bright clothing,
31
And said, Cornelius, thy prayer is heard, and thine alms are had in remembrance in the sight of God.
32
Send therefore to Joppa, and call hither Simon, whose surname is Peter; he is lodged in the house of one Simon a tanner by the sea side: who, when he cometh, shall speak unto thee.
33
Immediately therefore I sent to thee; and thou hast well done that thou art come. Now therefore are we all here present before God, to hear all things that are commanded thee of God.
34
Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons:
35
But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him.
36
The word which God sent unto the children of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ: (he is Lord of all:)
37
That word, I say, ye know, which was published throughout all Judaea, and began from Galilee, after the baptism which John preached;
38
How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.
39
And we are witnesses of all things which he did both in the land of the Jews, and in Jerusalem; whom they slew and hanged on a tree:
40
Him God raised up the third day, and shewed him openly;
41
Not to all the people, but unto witnesses chosen before God, even to us, who did eat and drink with him after he rose from the dead.
42
And he commanded us to preach unto the people, and to testify that it is he which was ordained of God to be the Judge of quick and dead.
43
To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.
44
While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word.
45
And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost.
46
For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter,
47
Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we?
48
And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days.

01 July 2010

Today's Readings -- 01 July 2010

Imagine. The year is half over. Where has the time gone?

This morning's reading is chapters 21 and 22 from Job.

1
But Job answered and said,
2
Hear diligently my speech, and let this be your consolations.
3
Suffer me that I may speak; and after that I have spoken, mock on.
4
As for me, is my complaint to man? and if it were so, why should not my spirit be troubled?
5
Mark me, and be astonished, and lay your hand upon your mouth.
6
Even when I remember I am afraid, and trembling taketh hold on my flesh.
7
Wherefore do the wicked live, become old, yea, are mighty in power?
8
Their seed is established in their sight with them, and their offspring before their eyes.
9
Their houses are safe from fear, neither is the rod of God upon them.
10
Their bull gendereth, and faileth not; their cow calveth, and casteth not her calf.
11
They send forth their little ones like a flock, and their children dance.
12
They take the timbrel and harp, and rejoice at the sound of the organ.
13
They spend their days in wealth, and in a moment go down to the grave.
14
Therefore they say unto God, Depart from us; for we desire not the knowledge of thy ways.
15
What is the Almighty, that we should serve him? and what profit should we have, if we pray unto him?
16
Lo, their good is not in their hand: the counsel of the wicked is far from me.
17
How oft is the candle of the wicked put out! and how oft cometh their destruction upon them! God distributeth sorrows in his anger.
18
They are as stubble before the wind, and as chaff that the storm carrieth away.
19
God layeth up his iniquity for his children: he rewardeth him, and he shall know it.
20
His eyes shall see his destruction, and he shall drink of the wrath of the Almighty.
21
For what pleasure hath he in his house after him, when the number of his months is cut off in the midst?
22
Shall any teach God knowledge? seeing he judgeth those that are high.
23
One dieth in his full strength, being wholly at ease and quiet.
24
His breasts are full of milk, and his bones are moistened with marrow.
25
And another dieth in the bitterness of his soul, and never eateth with pleasure.
26
They shall lie down alike in the dust, and the worms shall cover them.
27
Behold, I know your thoughts, and the devices which ye wrongfully imagine against me.
28
For ye say, Where is the house of the prince? and where are the dwelling places of the wicked?
29
Have ye not asked them that go by the way? and do ye not know their tokens,
30
That the wicked is reserved to the day of destruction? they shall be brought forth to the day of wrath.
31
Who shall declare his way to his face? and who shall repay him what he hath done?
32
Yet shall he be brought to the grave, and shall remain in the tomb.
33
The clods of the valley shall be sweet unto him, and every man shall draw after him, as there are innumerable before him.
34
How then comfort ye me in vain, seeing in your answers there remaineth falsehood?


1
Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered and said,
2
Can a man be profitable unto God, as he that is wise may be profitable unto himself?
3
Is it any pleasure to the Almighty, that thou art righteous? or is it gain to him, that thou makest thy ways perfect?
4
Will he reprove thee for fear of thee? will he enter with thee into judgment?
5
Is not thy wickedness great? and thine iniquities infinite?
6
For thou hast taken a pledge from thy brother for nought, and stripped the naked of their clothing.
7
Thou hast not given water to the weary to drink, and thou hast withholden bread from the hungry.
8
But as for the mighty man, he had the earth; and the honourable man dwelt in it.
9
Thou hast sent widows away empty, and the arms of the fatherless have been broken.
10
Therefore snares are round about thee, and sudden fear troubleth thee;
11
Or darkness, that thou canst not see; and abundance of waters cover thee.
12
Is not God in the height of heaven? and behold the height of the stars, how high they are!
13
And thou sayest, How doth God know? can he judge through the dark cloud?
14
Thick clouds are a covering to him, that he seeth not; and he walketh in the circuit of heaven.
15
Hast thou marked the old way which wicked men have trodden?
16
Which were cut down out of time, whose foundation was overflown with a flood:
17
Which said unto God, Depart from us: and what can the Almighty do for them?
18
Yet he filled their houses with good things: but the counsel of the wicked is far from me.
19
The righteous see it, and are glad: and the innocent laugh them to scorn.
20
Whereas our substance is not cut down, but the remnant of them the fire consumeth.
21
Acquaint now thyself with him, and be at peace: thereby good shall come unto thee.
22
Receive, I pray thee, the law from his mouth, and lay up his words in thine heart.
23
If thou return to the Almighty, thou shalt be built up, thou shalt put away iniquity far from thy tabernacles.
24
Then shalt thou lay up gold as dust, and the gold of Ophir as the stones of the brooks.
25
Yea, the Almighty shall be thy defence, and thou shalt have plenty of silver.
26
For then shalt thou have thy delight in the Almighty, and shalt lift up thy face unto God.
27
Thou shalt make thy prayer unto him, and he shall hear thee, and thou shalt pay thy vows.
28
Thou shalt also decree a thing, and it shall be established unto thee: and the light shall shine upon thy ways.
29
When men are cast down, then thou shalt say, There is lifting up; and he shall save the humble person.
30
He shall deliver the island of the innocent: and it is delivered by the pureness of thine hands.




This evening, verses 1-23 of Acts 10
1
There was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius, a centurion of the band called the Italian band,
2
A devout man, and one that feared God with all his house, which gave much alms to the people, and prayed to God alway.
3
He saw in a vision evidently about the ninth hour of the day an angel of God coming in to him, and saying unto him, Cornelius.
4
And when he looked on him, he was afraid, and said, What is it, Lord? And he said unto him, Thy prayers and thine alms are come up for a memorial before God.
5
And now send men to Joppa, and call for one Simon, whose surname is Peter:
6
He lodgeth with one Simon a tanner, whose house is by the sea side: he shall tell thee what thou oughtest to do.
7
And when the angel which spake unto Cornelius was departed, he called two of his household servants, and a devout soldier of them that waited on him continually;
8
And when he had declared all these things unto them, he sent them to Joppa.
9
On the morrow, as they went on their journey, and drew nigh unto the city, Peter went up upon the housetop to pray about the sixth hour:
10
And he became very hungry, and would have eaten: but while they made ready, he fell into a trance,
11
And saw heaven opened, and a certain vessel descending upon him, as it had been a great sheet knit at the four corners, and let down to the earth:
12
Wherein were all manner of fourfooted beasts of the earth, and wild beasts, and creeping things, and fowls of the air.
13
And there came a voice to him, Rise, Peter; kill, and eat.
14
But Peter said, Not so, Lord; for I have never eaten any thing that is common or unclean.
15
And the voice spake unto him again the second time, What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common.
16
This was done thrice: and the vessel was received up again into heaven.
17
Now while Peter doubted in himself what this vision which he had seen should mean, behold, the men which were sent from Cornelius had made enquiry for Simon's house, and stood before the gate,
18
And called, and asked whether Simon, which was surnamed Peter, were lodged there.
19
While Peter thought on the vision, the Spirit said unto him, Behold, three men seek thee.
20
Arise therefore, and get thee down, and go with them, doubting nothing: for I have sent them.
21
Then Peter went down to the men which were sent unto him from Cornelius; and said, Behold, I am he whom ye seek: what is the cause wherefore ye are come?
22
And they said, Cornelius the centurion, a just man, and one that feareth God, and of good report among all the nation of the Jews, was warned from God by an holy angel to send for thee into his house, and to hear words of thee.
23
Then called he them in, and lodged them. And on the morrow Peter went away with them, and certain brethren from Joppa accompanied him.

30 June 2010

Today's Readings -- 30 June 2010

Last day of the quarter. Tomorrow we begin the last of the months with short names. I like names like "May", hate names like "January".

Running very short on time, my apologies
This morning, chapters 19 and 20 from Job.

Job 19
1 Then Job answered and said,
2 How long will ye vex my soul, and break me in pieces with words?
3 These ten times have ye reproached me: ye are not ashamed that ye make yourselves strange to me.
4 And be it indeed that I have erred, mine error remaineth with myself.
5 If indeed ye will magnify yourselves against me, and plead against me my reproach:
6 Know now that God hath overthrown me, and hath compassed me with his net.
7 Behold, I cry out of wrong, but I am not heard: I cry aloud, but there is no judgment.
8 He hath fenced up my way that I cannot pass, and he hath set darkness in my paths.
9 He hath stripped me of my glory, and taken the crown from my head.
10 He hath destroyed me on every side, and I am gone: and mine hope hath he removed like a tree.
11 He hath also kindled his wrath against me, and he counteth me unto him as one of his enemies.
12 His troops come together, and raise up their way against me, and encamp round about my tabernacle.
13 He hath put my brethren far from me, and mine acquaintance are verily estranged from me.
14 My kinsfolk have failed, and my familiar friends have forgotten me.
15 They that dwell in mine house, and my maids, count me for a stranger: I am an alien in their sight.
16 I called my servant, and he gave me no answer; I intreated him with my mouth.
17 My breath is strange to my wife, though I intreated for the children's sake of mine own body.
18 Yea, young children despised me; I arose, and they spake against me.
19 All my inward friends abhorred me: and they whom I loved are turned against me.
20 My bone cleaveth to my skin and to my flesh, and I am escaped with the skin of my teeth.
21 Have pity upon me, have pity upon me, O ye my friends; for the hand of God hath touched me.
22 Why do ye persecute me as God, and are not satisfied with my flesh?
23 Oh that my words were now written! oh that they were printed in a book!
24 That they were graven with an iron pen and lead in the rock for ever!
25 For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth:
26 And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God:
27 Whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another; though my reins be consumed within me.
28 But ye should say, Why persecute we him, seeing the root of the matter is found in me?
29 Be ye afraid of the sword: for wrath bringeth the punishments of the sword, that ye may know there is a judgment.


Job 20
1 Then answered Zophar the Naamathite, and said,
2 Therefore do my thoughts cause me to answer, and for this I make haste.
3 I have heard the check of my reproach, and the spirit of my understanding causeth me to answer.
4 Knowest thou not this of old, since man was placed upon earth,
5 That the triumphing of the wicked is short, and the joy of the hypocrite but for a moment?
6 Though his excellency mount up to the heavens, and his head reach unto the clouds;
7 Yet he shall perish for ever like his own dung: they which have seen him shall say, Where is he?
8 He shall fly away as a dream, and shall not be found: yea, he shall be chased away as a vision of the night.
9 The eye also which saw him shall see him no more; neither shall his place any more behold him.
10 His children shall seek to please the poor, and his hands shall restore their goods.
11 His bones are full of the sin of his youth, which shall lie down with him in the dust.
12 Though wickedness be sweet in his mouth, though he hide it under his tongue;
13 Though he spare it, and forsake it not; but keep it still within his mouth:
14 Yet his meat in his bowels is turned, it is the gall of asps within him.
15 He hath swallowed down riches, and he shall vomit them up again: God shall cast them out of his belly.
16 He shall suck the poison of asps: the viper's tongue shall slay him.
17 He shall not see the rivers, the floods, the brooks of honey and butter.
18 That which he laboured for shall he restore, and shall not swallow it down: according to his substance shall the restitution be, and he shall not rejoice therein.
19 Because he hath oppressed and hath forsaken the poor; because he hath violently taken away an house which he builded not;
20 Surely he shall not feel quietness in his belly, he shall not save of that which he desired.
21 There shall none of his meat be left; therefore shall no man look for his goods.
22 In the fulness of his sufficiency he shall be in straits: every hand of the wicked shall come upon him.
23 When he is about to fill his belly, God shall cast the fury of his wrath upon him, and shall rain it upon him while he is eating.
24 He shall flee from the iron weapon, and the bow of steel shall strike him through.
25 It is drawn, and cometh out of the body; yea, the glittering sword cometh out of his gall: terrors are upon him.
26 All darkness shall be hid in his secret places: a fire not blown shall consume him; it shall go ill with him that is left in his tabernacle.
27 The heaven shall reveal his iniquity; and the earth shall rise up against him.
28 The increase of his house shall depart, and his goods shall flow away in the day of his wrath.
29 This is the portion of a wicked man from God, and the heritage appointed unto him by God.

This evening, verses 23-43 from Acts 9.

Acts 9:23-43
23 And after that many days were fulfilled, the Jews took counsel to kill him:
24 But their laying await was known of Saul. And they watched the gates day and night to kill him.
25 Then the disciples took him by night, and let him down by the wall in a basket.
26 And when Saul was come to Jerusalem, he assayed to join himself to the disciples: but they were all afraid of him, and believed not that he was a disciple.
27 But Barnabas took him, and brought him to the apostles, and declared unto them how he had seen the Lord in the way, and that he had spoken to him, and how he had preached boldly at Damascus in the name of Jesus.
28 And he was with them coming in and going out at Jerusalem.
29 And he spake boldly in the name of the Lord Jesus, and disputed against the Grecians: but they went about to slay him.
30 Which when the brethren knew, they brought him down to Caesarea, and sent him forth to Tarsus.
31 Then had the churches rest throughout all Judaea and Galilee and Samaria, and were edified; and walking in the fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost, were multiplied.
32 And it came to pass, as Peter passed throughout all quarters, he came down also to the saints which dwelt at Lydda.
33 And there he found a certain man named Aeneas, which had kept his bed eight years, and was sick of the palsy.
34 And Peter said unto him, Aeneas, Jesus Christ maketh thee whole: arise, and make thy bed. And he arose immediately.
35 And all that dwelt at Lydda and Saron saw him, and turned to the Lord.
36 Now there was at Joppa a certain disciple named Tabitha, which by interpretation is called Dorcas: this woman was full of good works and almsdeeds which she did.
37 And it came to pass in those days, that she was sick, and died: whom when they had washed, they laid her in an upper chamber.
38 And forasmuch as Lydda was nigh to Joppa, and the disciples had heard that Peter was there, they sent unto him two men, desiring him that he would not delay to come to them.
39 Then Peter arose and went with them. When he was come, they brought him into the upper chamber: and all the widows stood by him weeping, and shewing the coats and garments which Dorcas made, while she was with them.
40 But Peter put them all forth, and kneeled down, and prayed; and turning him to the body said, Tabitha, arise. And she opened her eyes: and when she saw Peter, she sat up.
41 And he gave her his hand, and lifted her up, and when he had called the saints and widows, presented her alive.
42 And it was known throughout all Joppa; and many believed in the Lord.
43 And it came to pass, that he tarried many days in Joppa with one Simon a tanner.