Good morning!
This morning's Old Testament portion on our journey through the Bible is taken from the book of Deuteronomy, chapters 20, 21 and 22.
.
Our evening portion from the New Testament is taken from the Gospel of Mark, chapter 14, verses 26 through 50. Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane, and His betrayal.
Morning reading from the Old Testament
Deuteronomy, chapters 17, 18, and 19
,
Evening Reading from the New Testament
the Gospel of Mark, chapter 14, verses 1 through 25
this is the Last Supper account of Mark
Morning's reading, from the Old Testament
Deuteronomy, chapters 14, 15, and 16
,
Evening reading, from the New Testament
the Gospel of Mark, chapter 13, verses 14 through 37
Morning reading, from the Old Testament,
the book of Deuteronomy Chapters 11, 12, and 13
.
I was watching a discussion last night over at the lucianne.com web site, and one of the topics was the woeful lack of Biblical knowledge in our land. We would, perhaps, expect some of this from the unsaved, from those who do not now nor ever have had the grounding we once presumed to be the case in the church. Sadly, this is not the case. There are all too many Christians who have almost no grounding in the Old Testament, outside of some of the Psalms and some of the Davidic history and a very brief look at early parts of Genesis (which many privately doubt). And not all of the Psalms - mention the imprecatory Psalms and many will give you a blank look. These ''hard'' parts of the Pentateuch, the blessings and cursings, the absolute commandments, the requirements that the Almighty placed upon his people - these aren't so much ignored by the Church as the fact that most are unaware of them. Grace and forgiveness are the emphasis, which is proper, but the word ''sin'' is all too rarely heard. I am told that most Baptist pastors kicked out of their pastorate are removed because they mentioned sins that some of the parishoners were quietly practicing. Somehow I doubt that the Lord approves of this.
Evening reading from the New Testament
the Gospel of Mark, chapter 13, verses 1 through 13
Jesus is speaking of the end of days.
Like most people over the age of 20 or so, I generally expect the American Judiciary to be largely composed of power-mad imbeciles. I offer as evidence the 9th Circuit Court, SCOTUS blemish Ruth Bader Ginsberg, and such historical nitwits as Federal Judge John Nixon in Nashville, SCOTUS blights Blackmun, Brennan, Souter, Douglas, as well as lesser-known others like Bradford Timbers of PA.
.
So it came as a shock and surprise to learn that an appellate court, in this case the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit in Washington, has, quite correctly, upheld the validity of the Constitution, in particular the 2nd Amendment thereto. And said that, no, the blatherskites mis-ruling the DC area, really do not have the authority to ban handguns within the district. I am indeed surprised. But you can go read it for yourself.
Read Federal Appeals Court Strikes Down D.C. Handgun Ban at Bloomberg. com.
This could go to extra innings.
Another Friday, and it seems as if the year is flying past.
Not everything is going well for any of us. I have been advised that my mother will be going Home to be with the Lord very soon now. And I believe that my father will join her there soon. Their rooms are just about ready for them.
There is much about us to bring to the Lord. Don't be hesitant to do so.
.
Today's morning reading from the Old Testament is from Deuteronomy, chapters 8, 9, and 10. Good stuff here, don't miss it.
,
The afternoon is still in the Gospel of Mark, chapter 12, verses 28 through 44. Go over this (and all these readings) carefully and prayerfully. It's important.
Morning Reading from the Old Testament,
Deuteronomy, chapters 5, 6, and 7
,
Evening reading from the New Testament
The Gospel of Mark, chapter 12, verses 1 through 27
Morning reading from the Old Testament
Deuteronomy, chapters 3 and 4
Moses is addressing the people before his death, before the cross over the river Jordan into the Promised Land, reminding them of the Lord's provisions for them, their journeys in the wilderness, and reminding them to follow the Lord's leading.
..
Evening reading from the New Testament,
the Gospel of Mark, chapter 11, verses 20 through 33
Morning reading from the Old Testament,
Today we begin in Deuteronomy, chapters 1 and 2. Deuteronomy is the last of the 5 books of Moses, we sometimes call that Pentateuch. This book is the final account of the Exodus of the Israelites on their way to the promised land. It remains important to us even today.
..
Evening reading from the New Testament,
the Gospel of Mark, chapter 11, verses 1 through 19 -- Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem
Morning reading from the Old Testament
Numbers, chapters 34, 35, and 36
.
.
Evening reading from the New Testament
the Gospel of Mark, chapter 10, verses 32 through 52
Morning reading, from the Old Testament
Numbers, chapters 32 and 33
the Gadites and the Reubenites seek to take the lands east of the Jordan as their inheritance. This would include much of modern-day Syria and Jordan.
.
Evening reading, from the New Testament,
the Gospel of Mark, chapter 10, verses 1 through 31
this passage includes, among others, the story of the rich young ruler
Morning reading, from the Old Testament
Numbers, chapters 30 and 31
.
Evening reading, from the New Testament
the Gospel of Mark, chapter 9, verses 30 through 50
.
Morning reading from the Old Testament
Numbers, chapters 28 and 29
.
Evening reading from the New Testament
the Gospel of Mark, chapter 9, verses 1 through 29
the Transfiguration is in this passage
..
I ask for prayers today. We live in central Alabama. Last evening, tornadoes tore through the state and many are dead, and there is damage, and pain, and sorrow, and broken dreams. Please keep the situation in your prayers.
Morning reading from the Old Testament,
Numbers, chapters 26 and 27
Evening reading from the New Testament
the Gospel of Mark, chapter 8, verses 22 through 38
.
Today we begin a new month. We are now 60 days into our new year. Like the Israelites in the Old Testament at the time of this reading, we are on a journey. My desire is that, like them, you too have left the bondage of sin and your old way of life and are headed towards the Promised Land. None of us is promised a trip without some trials along the way. But, just like them, we have with us at all times a very faithful G-d who cares for us. So the destination at least is assured.
Morning reading from the Old Testament,
Numbers, chapters 21 and 22
.
Evening reading from the New Testament
the Gospel of Mark, chapter 7, verses 14 through 37
.
If you are following along in this 'Through the Bible in a Year' path, note how far we've come in only 59 days.
Morning reading from the Old Testament
Numbers, chapters 18, 19, and 20
.
Evening reading from the New Testament
the Gospel of Mark, chapter 7, verses 1 through 13
.
Morning reading from the Old Testament,
Numbers chapters 16 and 17
in chapter 16 we see trouble again, this time a rebellion. The result is that the earth opens underneath the rebels and swallows them up. Along with their wives, their children, their tents and possessions. As today, sin has consequences, and not only for ourselves, but often the ramifications affect all those around us. I have only this consolation - that those who bear the consequences in this life are not necessarily condemned eternally for the sin of another.
.
.
Evening reading from the New Testament
the Gospel of Mark, chapter 6, verses 33 through 56
the feeding of the 5000 (counting just the men, women and children also fed) followed by Jesus walking on the water
Morning reading from the Old Testament,
Numbers, chapters 14 and 15
The Israelites, having heard the evil report of 10 of the 12 spies, first determine to NOT go into the land but instead speak of even returning to Egypt, the land of bondage. Then, warned of their 40 more years of wandering in punishment, decide to go up in direct disobedience in their own strength, and meet disaster.
Some things never change, do they?
Evening reading from the New Testament,
the Gospel of Mark, chapter 6, verses 1 through 32
Morning's reading, from the Old Testament
Numbers, chapters 11, 12, and 13
There's a lot here.
Chapter 11 recounts more complaining by the Israelites. They actually spoke of going back to their slavery in Egypt on the grounds that the food was better! I guess there will always be those who prefer to be in bondage. (which ties in with the lesson I'll be teaching Sunday morning). The Lord did several things here. The first was to place His spirit upon more of the Israelites, so that they did prophesy. The second was to dump loads of quail upon the camp, so that they might eat meat and cease their whining about food. The third was to smite them with a great plague.
.
Chapter 12 gets into what I'd call a power struggle, with Moses on the one hand and Miriam and Aaron on the other. The result was that Miriam was stricken with a temporary form of leprosy, such that she had to remain outside the camp, out of fellowship, for a full week. If you've ever been in a church controversy, you'll probably admit to a sneaking desire that the ones overstepping themselves might meet a similar result. That's probably not a laudable wish, but it would make the Lord's will clear. I'd like to think we've progressed beyond such squabbles, but the evidence to the contrary is pretty strong.
.
Chapter 13 is a momentous one. This is the point at which the spies are sent into Canaan, and come back with an evil report. This is the matter which led in turn to events which caused the Israelites to spend an addition 40 years in the wilderness. There are consequences for our actions. That's not a popular view these days, but the popularity of it is of no consequence: death isn't popular either but that doesn't deter germs or drunk drivers.
Evening reading, from the New Testament,
the Gospel of Mark, chapter 5, verses 21 through 43
two of Jesus' healings.
The first of the daughter of Jairus, a ruler of the synagogue. She was dead, by all accounts. Yet He raised her to life. I guess that the One who invented life has power to restore it when He wills to do so. Both physical life, as in this case, and spiritual life, which is the real reason He was on earth in any event.
The other of a woman with ''an issue of blood'' who obtained a healing by touching ''the hem of his garment'' but with faith. Such a woman was ceremonially unclean and by all rights should have not even been in such a crowd of people. Yet her need drove her to Jesus, a story many of us can tell. And as for touching the hem of his garment, I'm told that there was an old prophecy that when Moshiach came, even the tassels at the corner of his garment (recall that this was required for the Hebrews) would bring healing. Clearly, this prophecy was fulfilled here.
Morning's reading, from the Old Testament
Numbers, chapters 8, 9, 10
.
Evening reading, from the New Testament
the Gospel of Mark, chapter 5, verses 1 through 20
please do not skim right over this passage. It's one of my personal favorites. Jesus goes across to the Gadarenes, those ''other people'', and enocunters a demon-possessed man. He casts out the demons, restoring the man to reason. The demons enter the herd of pigs nearby, who thereupon drown themselves. The people of the area, far from being delighted at the restoration of their fellow, beg Jesus to leave, and He does. The restored man begs to come along. Instead, Jesus directs him to publish abroad what the Lord has done for him. And he does. This is a picture of our own salvation.
