Today's Reading February 22

Morning reading from the Old Testament
Numbers chapter 7
.
Evening reading from the New Testament
the Gospel of Mark, chapter 4, verses 21 through 41
Jesus calms the storm. He still does that, you know.

Today's Reading February 21

Morning reading from the Old Testament
Numbers, chapters 5 and 6
.
Evening reading from the New Testament
the Gospel of Mark, chapter 4, verses 1 through 20
this is Jesus telling of the parable of the sower. It remains valid today. I have long grieved over one of the tragedies of American Christianity - those who enter our churches through the front door, excited, fresh, eager to know the Lord, and who later disappear out the back door tired, discouraged, disillusioned.

Today's Reading February 20

Morning reading from the Old Testament
Numbers, chapters 3 and 4
.
Evening reading from the New Testament
the Gospel of Mark, chapter 3, verses 22-35

Today's Reading February 19

Morning reading from the Old Testament
today we begin in the book of Numbers, chapters 1 and 2.

Evening reading from the New Testament
the Gospel of Mark, chapter 3, verses 1 through 21

Today's Reading February 18

Morning reading from the Old Testament
Leviticus, chapters 26 and 27

Evening reading from the New Testament
the Gospel of Mark, chapter 2

Today's Reading February 17

Morning reading from the Old Testament
Leviticus, chapters 24 and 25
.
Evening reading from the New Testament
the Gospel of Mark, chapter 1, verses 23 through 45

Illegal Immigration, Part 1007 and Government Non-feasance

It just never seems to end. We elect persons to positions of public trust, based upon our belief that they will ''... well and faithfully carry out the duties of the office ...'', perhaps you've heard it before, or perhaps have taken a similar oath. But some of them seem to have had their fingers crossed. Or perhaps they are just oathbreakers. Our President seems to be one. The Attorney General of the United States is another. And then there are the public officials in North Carolina. I like the place, particularly the western part of it. But it seems to be governed by persons lacking a sense of duty or of honor.

Here's an example, right out of the headlines. You can read it at the Charlotte Observer under the headline ''Driver in fatal wreck had 3 prior N.C. arrests with the sub-head of

Man charged in wreck that killed pregnant woman was deported twice in '90s but not after arrests here

It seems that one Carlos Alfonso Guillen Martinez, a citizen of El Salvador, was deported several times back in the 1990's. But, though apprehended three times since 2002 for various offenses against the public order, was not deported. Instead, he was allowed to remain in the country. I guess no one really cared. Permitting, in turn, him to get into still another wreck one that involved Leeanna Newman, 20, killing Newman and her unborn baby.

Two people are dead now. And for that turn of events we must blame, first, this bum. I'm in favor of hanging him, frankly. Deportation at this point is silly. He didn't learn the first few times, it's silly to assume that he will this time. Hang him. Publicly. Do it today.

But we must, absolutely, hold to account those whose dereliction of duty has led to this tragic turn of events.

First and foremost must be those dishonorable and disreputable officials within the state of North Carolina who refused to do their duty and push the matter when he previously came to the attention of law enforcement. Start with the officials in Alamance County and in Rowan County.

But primary responsibility for the control of the border and the territorial integrity of the United States falls upon the Federal Government. Not only have the feds as a whole failed to do the job, but a good case can be made that this failure is in fact a straightforward refusal to carry out the duties sworn to do.
When all is said and done, the responsibility for this rests with the President of the United States, George W. Bush. He has the blood of this innocent on his hands as a direct and predictable result of his obstinate refusal to secure the borders and to vigorously enforce the laws with respect to illegal aliens. No other term fits. I supported W in two general elections. I have respect for many of his policies and I used to have that respect for him personally. But the blood of this woman and her baby, and many others like them, is on his hands.

According to Rep. Steve King, on the average 12 American citizens are murdered by illegal aliens every day! That works out to about 21,900 since 9/11/01. And 13 Americans are killed in traffic accidents by illegal aliens every day!. That works out to around 23,725 since 9/11/01. Thousands and thousands every year, and the response is a refusal to secure the border, a proposed 'shamnesty', kissy-face with the thieves of the Mexican government, slander about 'vigilantes', and the despicable railroading of two Border Agents into a federal prison as a warning to other agents to cease guarding the border.

What is truly disturbing is that the thieves and liars within the Clinton administration did a better job of guarding the borders, enforcing the law, clamping down on those who hire illegals, workplace enforcement, etc. than the Bush crew has. I don't know why, and right now don't care. They took an oath, they should honor that oath. If they did, we wouldn't be seeing these cases.

What part of this looks good?

Today's Reading February 16

Morning reading from the Old Testament
Leviticus, chapters 22 and 23
.
Evening reading
The Gospel of Mark, Chapter 1, verses 1 through 22
.
We have now in 6 weeks completed the first of the Gospels and are well on our way through the first five books of the Old Testament. This endeavor of reading through the Bible in the space of a year is not difficult, and I urge you to keep up with it daily. And not to read idly, as if it were the newspaper or a light novel, but to do so intentionally. Prayerfully, reverently, expecting God to show you what He would have you to see. He will, you know.

Today's Reading February 15

Morning reading from the Old Testament
Leviticus, chapters 20 and 21


Evening reading from the New Testament
Matthew, chapter 28

''He is not here, He is risen!''

Today's Reading February 14

Morning reading from the Old Testament
Leviticus, chapters 18 and 19
.
Evening reading from the New Testament
the Gospel of Matthew, chapter 27, verses 32 through 66
the Crucifixion

Today's Reading February 13

Morning reading from the Old Testament
Leviticus, chapters 15, 16, and 17
.
Evening reading from the New Testament
the Gospel of Matthew, chapter 27, verses 1 through 31
.
A grim passage, Jesus before Pilate, Judas attempts to recant and his death, and ending with the sorrowful words,

29 And when they had platted a crown of thorns, they put it upon his head, and a reed in his right hand: and they bowed the knee before him, and mocked him, saying, Hail, King of the Jews!
30 And they spit upon him, and took the reed, and smote him on the head.
31 And after that they had mocked him, they took the robe off from him, and put his own raiment on him, and led him away to crucify him.

Today's Reading February 12

Morning reading from the Old Testament
Leviticus chapter 14
.
Evening reading from the New Testament
the Gospel of Matthew chapter 26, verses 55 through 75
this is Jesus before the Council, and Peter's denial.

''... and he wept bitterly''

I've been there. I've done that. I know something of how Peter felt. Do you?

Today's Reading February 11

Morning reading from the Old Testament
Leviticus, chapter 13

Evening reading from the New Testament,
-- the Gospel of Matthew, chapter 26, verses 20 through 54
this is the dark part of the Last Supper, the Passion in the Garden, and the arrest of Jesus

Today's Reading February 10

Morning reading from the Old Testament
Leviticus, chapters 10, 11, and 12

having just gone through extensive and detailed steps as the Tabernacle and the Aaronic priests were set up, consecrated, and installed, just after the patterns of worship, sacrifice, and atonement were established, we see failure.

1 And Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, took either of them his censer, and put fire therein, and put incense thereon, and offered strange fire before the LORD, which he commanded them not.
2 And there went out fire from the LORD, and devoured them, and they died before the LORD.
3 Then Moses said unto Aaron, This is it that the LORD spake, saying, I will be sanctified in them that come nigh me, and before all the people I will be glorified. And Aaron held his peace.

The LORD established a pattern from which they were not to deviate. And immediately, some did. For all those who claim great freedom to treat the worship of GOD lightly, this is a stern warning.



Evening reading from the New Testament
the Gospel of Matthew, chapter 26, verses 1 through 19

These are the events leading up to the Last Supper that Jesus had with His disciples, just before His arrest, show trial, and crucifixion. Every word here is important, don't miss any.

Today's Reading February 09

Morning reading from the Old Testament
Leviticus, chapters 7, 8, and 9

Evening reading from the New Testament
the Gospel of Matthew, chapter 25, verses 31 through 46

''...Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto Me''

Today's Reading February 08

Morning reading from the Old Testament
Leviticus, chapters 4,5, and 6

Evening reading from the New Testament
the Gospel of Matthew, chapter 25, verses 1 through 30

Today's Reading February 07

Morning reading from the Old Testament,
Leviticus, chapters 1,2, and 3

Evening reading from the New Testament,
the Gospel of Matthew, chapter 24, verses 23 through 39


It was, I believe, the late J. Harold Smith who said that if the book of Leviticus is properly understood, then much of the Bible becomes much plainer. I do know that I do not understand everything presented here, but I do know that it is in the Bible because the LORD wanted it there, and that is a pretty powerful argument.

Today's Reading February 06

Morning reading from the Old Testament
the Exodus, chapters 39 and 40

Evening reading from the New Testament
the Gospel of Matthew, chapter 24, verses 1 through 22

Today's morning reading completes the book of the Exodus. The Exodus is the second of the remarkable books that our Jewish friends recognize as Torah and it is for them foundational. But it is no less important to Christians, and does not get the attention it deserves. God Almighty is still in the business of bringing His people out of bondage. And, like the Hebrew children led by Moses, we are still stiff-necked, complaining, and prone to sin. ''All we like sheep have gone astray ...'' and that has not changed. One of the phrases repeated in these two final chapters is ''... as the LORD commanded Moses.'' Doing as the LORD commands is still the way we must go. One of the calls upon our lives is to obedience to what the LORD has revealed to us.

Today's Reading February 05

Morning
the Exodus, chapters 37 and 38

Evening
the Gospel of Matthew, chapter 23, verses 23 through 39

Today's Reading February 04

The morning reading from the Old Testament,
the Exodus, chapters 34, 35, and 36

The evening reading from the New Testament,
the Gospel of Matthew, chapter 23, verses 1 through 22