Today's Reading August 28

I hope you had an opportunity to see the eclipse last night. We were not in a mood to do so, but our younger daughter was and sent us a text message about 0510 telling us about it.
This week is a rough one. We came home from church Sunday to find the air conditioning is out. Not a good thing in Alabama summers, but we've had a bit of a cooldown from the weeks of 100+ temps so perhaps we'll have a short reprieve. And Sunday night we had three cats, all of who contrived to squeeze through a door and get out - not for the first time either. Yesterday morning, I found one of them across the street, cold and stiff, with evidence, perhaps, that she had been poisoned. And no sign of the other two. Dear wife was distraught - in the last year or so we've lost everything we had, both of our mothers have died, both our daughters have moved out, far away, I'm out of work, the air conditioner is out and we have no money, and now the kitty she raised from a kitten is gone. A very very tough evening, with all the things that have happened all piling up on top of us until we just felt beaten down to the dust.
Until, about 7:30 last night we heard a noise, and admitted one of the cats, the 3rd one, the Siamese. Dear wife about wore him out hugging and patting him, and crying for the other one. So from now on we take special care that he doesn't get out. The other matters, perhaps God will help us with. When, I don't know, but I do know that He sometimes shows His presence in the little things too.
And I will go walking about today, looking for where the Maine Coon cat may have fallen. That's not exactly an enjoyable proposition.
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This morning we will look at a few more of the Psalms, 136, 137, and 138. I love all three of these. Our Jewish friends might be a bit more familiar than we Gentiles with Psalm 137, though I love it too.

Chapter 137
1 By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down, yea, we wept, when we remembered Zion.
2 We hanged our harps upon the willows in the midst thereof.
3 For there they that carried us away captive required of us a song; and they that wasted us required of us mirth, saying, Sing us one of the songs of Zion.
4 How shall we sing the LORD's song in a strange land?
5 If I forget thee, O Jerusalem, let my right hand forget her cunning.
6 If I do not remember thee, let my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth; if I prefer not Jerusalem above my chief joy.
7 Remember, O LORD, the children of Edom in the day of Jerusalem; who said, Rase it, rase it, even to the foundation thereof.
8 O daughter of Babylon, who art to be destroyed; happy shall he be, that rewardeth thee as thou hast served us.
9 Happy shall he be, that taketh and dasheth thy little ones against the stones.

By the way, that is not hyperbole in the 9th verse - such utter brutality was not rare in those days. For that matter, the National Socialists did likewise in Europe not that long ago, and the Islamo-heathens do very similar things today.
But I like Psalm 136 for a responsive reading: every verse ends the same - ''for his mercy endureth for ever'' which is a good thing to remember. Thus it goes

Chapter 136
1 O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.
2 O give thanks unto the God of gods: for his mercy endureth for ever.
3 O give thanks to the Lord of lords: for his mercy endureth for ever.
4 To him who alone doeth great wonders: for his mercy endureth for ever.
5 To him that by wisdom made the heavens: for his mercy endureth for ever.
6 To him that stretched out the earth above the waters: for his mercy endureth for ever.
7 To him that made great lights: for his mercy endureth for ever:
8 The sun to rule by day: for his mercy endureth for ever:
9 The moon and stars to rule by night: for his mercy endureth for ever.
10 To him that smote Egypt in their firstborn: for his mercy endureth for ever:
11 And brought out Israel from among them: for his mercy endureth for ever:
12 With a strong hand, and with a stretched out arm: for his mercy endureth for ever.
13 To him which divided the Red sea into parts: for his mercy endureth for ever:
14 And made Israel to pass through the midst of it: for his mercy endureth for ever:
15 But overthrew Pharaoh and his host in the Red sea: for his mercy endureth for ever.
16 To him which led his people through the wilderness: for his mercy endureth for ever.
17 To him which smote great kings: for his mercy endureth for ever:
18 And slew famous kings: for his mercy endureth for ever:
19 Sihon king of the Amorites: for his mercy endureth for ever:
20 And Og the king of Bashan: for his mercy endureth for ever:
21 And gave their land for an heritage: for his mercy endureth for ever:
22 Even an heritage unto Israel his servant: for his mercy endureth for ever.
23 Who remembered us in our low estate: for his mercy endureth for ever:
24 And hath redeemed us from our enemies: for his mercy endureth for ever.
25 Who giveth food to all flesh: for his mercy endureth for ever.
26 O give thanks unto the God of heaven: for his mercy endureth for ever.

It is a good thing to rehearse and to remember the many great things that He has done. And to give praise: He's worth it.
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This evening we turn our attention to 1st Corinthians chapter 9
Paul is speaking here of his own ministry, of his own practices, of his fervent and focused efforts to bring the Gospel to as many as possible, no matter the cost. It shames me. We know the efforts that an athlete makes in order to achieve something that, in eternal terms at least, is of little value. Should we not put at least that much priority into the eternal?

19 For though I be free from all men, yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I might gain the more.
20 And unto the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain the Jews; to them that are under the law, as under the law, that I might gain them that are under the law;
21 To them that are without law, as without law, (being not without law to God, but under the law to Christ,) that I might gain them that are without law.
22 To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some.
23 And this I do for the gospel's sake, that I might be partaker thereof with you.
24 Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain.
25 And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible.

Today's Reading August 27

And so we begin another week
This posting has a pause in it, one you can't see. We have 3 cats. Correction, we had 3 cats. They went out last night. This morning, I had to go outside and pick up the lifeless body of one of them for disposal. It was my daughter's favorite, and had been moping since she moved out. So she is gone. The one that my other daughter favored was fed this morning but was very upset and ate little. The third, the one my beloved wife dotes on, has not shown up for breakfast, very unlike him. I rather suspect poison as a cause of death. Oh, and yesterday, our air conditioning went out. Not good in Lower Alabama in summer.
So we're having a tough day. I hope we can be forgiven this.
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Our Old Testament portion this morning is Psalms 132, 133, 134, and 135. We are, by the way, getting close to concluding the Psalms, about a week yet.
Out of all of this, there is one verse in particular to point out

1 Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!

Many of us have known the opposite situation all too well.

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Our evening New Testament reading for this evening comes from 1st Corinthians chapter 8.
Paul is continuing to present both doctrine and practice to the church. It remains very applicable to us.

Today's Reading August 26

Happy Sunday!
This morning we continue in the Psalms with Psalms 128, 129, 130, and 131. These are all very short, and like all the Psalms are really best read aloud. I am this morning particularly drawn to Psalm 130, it matches my mood.

Chapter 130
1 Out of the depths have I cried unto thee, O LORD.
2 Lord, hear my voice: let thine ears be attentive to the voice of my supplications.
3 If thou, LORD, shouldest mark iniquities, O Lord, who shall stand?
4 But there is forgiveness with thee, that thou mayest be feared.
5 I wait for the LORD, my soul doth wait, and in his word do I hope.
6 My soul waiteth for the Lord more than they that watch for the morning: I say, more than they that watch for the morning.
7 Let Israel hope in the LORD: for with the LORD there is mercy, and with him is plenteous redemption.
8 And he shall redeem Israel from all his iniquities.

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This evening we continue in 1st Corinthians, chapter 7, verses 25 through 40, completing the chapter.
Paul is continuing on his words to the church in Corinth on the subject of marriage. Then as now, there were questions about how best to serve the Lord and how to live in this world as believers, and to do both together. It's a question that we still face. The Catholics have whole groups set apart, priests and monks and friars and nuns, who covenant to live totally for the Lord. Those of us in the Anabaptist traditions haven't done so, formally, although there are and always have been those who remained single and celibate for any number of reasons, which did free them to go anywhere as the Lord led them to do - I had an uncle like that. Paul is one of them himself, but not all the Apostles were - Peter was married, for example. So Paul spends some time here going over the issue and talking about how we should treat the matter. God honors marriage, He created it! But it is true that there are sometimes issues where our duties to the Lord may be hindered to our duties to our spouse and children, and all the other issues of life. Probably shouldn't happen, but it does.

25 Now concerning virgins I have no commandment of the Lord: yet I give my judgment, as one that hath obtained mercy of the Lord to be faithful.
26 I suppose therefore that this is good for the present distress, I say, that it is good for a man so to be.
27 Art thou bound unto a wife? seek not to be loosed. Art thou loosed from a wife? seek not a wife.
28 But and if thou marry, thou hast not sinned; and if a virgin marry, she hath not sinned. Nevertheless such shall have trouble in the flesh: but I spare you.
29 But this I say, brethren, the time is short: it remaineth, that both they that have wives be as though they had none;
30 And they that weep, as though they wept not; and they that rejoice, as though they rejoiced not; and they that buy, as though they possessed not;
31 And they that use this world, as not abusing it: for the fashion of this world passeth away.
32 But I would have you without carefulness. He that is unmarried careth for the things that belong to the Lord, how he may please the Lord:
33 But he that is married careth for the things that are of the world, how he may please his wife.
34 There is difference also between a wife and a virgin. The unmarried woman careth for the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and in spirit: but she that is married careth for the things of the world, how she may please her husband.
35 And this I speak for your own profit; not that I may cast a snare upon you, but for that which is comely, and that ye may attend upon the Lord without distraction.
36 But if any man think that he behaveth himself uncomely toward his virgin, if she pass the flower of her age, and need so require, let him do what he will, he sinneth not: let them marry.
37 Nevertheless he that standeth stedfast in his heart, having no necessity, but hath power over his own will, and hath so decreed in his heart that he will keep his virgin, doeth well.
38 So then he that giveth her in marriage doeth well; but he that giveth her not in marriage doeth better.
39 The wife is bound by the law as long as her husband liveth; but if her husband be dead, she is at liberty to be married to whom she will; only in the Lord.
40 But she is happier if she so abide, after my judgment: and I think also that I have the Spirit of God.

Immigration and other problems across the pond

Never doubt that the demon-besotted devotees of the false religion of Islam are capable of about anything (except virtue, rational thought, and just about anything good). Comes now a report out of Brussels, Belgium, that bastion of post-Christian life in the Europe that is fast transmogrifying into Eurabia, that shows how far and how fast that rot has come. Scenes from Eurabia: Women Should Know Their Place goes into some detail on it. Coming soon to your town.
What is amazing is that the self-described liberals refuse to condemn such things, it would seem that upholding the sacrament of infanticide takes precedence over all else.

Today's Reading August 25

This day's Old Testament portion is Psalms 124, 125, 126, and 127. Relatively short passages, primarily. You may recognize some of them. Like,

Chapter 124
1 If it had not been the LORD who was on our side, now may Israel say;
2 If it had not been the LORD who was on our side, when men rose up against us:
3 Then they had swallowed us up quick, when their wrath was kindled against us:
4 Then the waters had overwhelmed us, the stream had gone over our soul:
5 Then the proud waters had gone over our soul.
6 Blessed be the LORD, who hath not given us as a prey to their teeth.
7 Our soul is escaped as a bird out of the snare of the fowlers: the snare is broken, and we are escaped.
8 Our help is in the name of the LORD, who made heaven and earth.

or, from 127,

Chapter 127
1 Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the LORD keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain.
2 It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows: for so he giveth his beloved sleep.
3 Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward.
4 As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so are children of the youth.
5 Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them: they shall not be ashamed, but they shall speak with the enemies in the gate.

Where is my security but in the Lord? Everything else may fail (believe it, I know) but He is ever faithful,
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This evening's New Testament passage is from 1st Corinthians, chapter 7, verses 1 through 24. While we do not have a copy of it, it is evident from the text that the church in Corinth had written him with some questions on the order of ''how now do we live?''.
In this passage, Paul is addressing some vexing issues with respect to marriage and divorce, with some attention to the situation when one of the partners in a marriage is a believer and one is not, the matter that is referred to elsewhere as being ''unequally yoked''. He also spends some time addressing the question of whether one should be married at all, and whether - if Christ was to return soon - one should instead forgo marriage and instead be completely devoted to the work of the Lord. I think that our Catholic friends will forgive me if I say that the question is still with us, and that there are those who have been called to the unmarried life. But not all are called to that.
We do frequently encounter the ''unequally yoked'' matter, and it is a problem. I have often had the experience of standing in or near a church pulpit and looking out over the congregation, and seeing too many married women whose husband is rarely - or never - with her. I have seen the reverse, though it is much rarer. I have seen occasions wherein he is affiliated with one church and she is affiliated with a different one. I have seen occasions where one of them becomes a Christian and the other will have none of it. That happened in those days as well, and was no easier for them. Yet, as Paul points out, sometimes having that witness under the same roof may often result in the salvation of both, and it certainly affects the children as well.

Chapter 7
1 Now concerning the things whereof ye wrote unto me: It is good for a man not to touch a woman.
2 Nevertheless, to avoid fornication, let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband.
3 Let the husband render unto the wife due benevolence: and likewise also the wife unto the husband.
4 The wife hath not power of her own body, but the husband: and likewise also the husband hath not power of his own body, but the wife.
5 Defraud ye not one the other, except it be with consent for a time, that ye may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again, that Satan tempt you not for your incontinency.
6 But I speak this by permission, and not of commandment.
7 For I would that all men were even as I myself. But every man hath his proper gift of God, one after this manner, and another after that.
8 I say therefore to the unmarried and widows, It is good for them if they abide even as I.
9 But if they cannot contain, let them marry: for it is better to marry than to burn.
10 And unto the married I command, yet not I, but the Lord, Let not the wife depart from her husband:
11 But and if she depart, let her remain unmarried or be reconciled to her husband: and let not the husband put away his wife.
12 But to the rest speak I, not the Lord: If any brother hath a wife that believeth not, and she be pleased to dwell with him, let him not put her away.
13 And the woman which hath an husband that believeth not, and if he be pleased to dwell with her, let her not leave him.
14 For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband: else were your children unclean; but now are they holy.
15 But if the unbelieving depart, let him depart. A brother or a sister is not under bondage in such cases: but God hath called us to peace.
16 For what knowest thou, O wife, whether thou shalt save thy husband? or how knowest thou, O man, whether thou shalt save thy wife?
17 But as God hath distributed to every man, as the Lord hath called every one, so let him walk. And so ordain I in all churches.
18 Is any man called being circumcised? let him not become uncircumcised. Is any called in uncircumcision? let him not be circumcised.
19 Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing, but the keeping of the commandments of God.
20 Let every man abide in the same calling wherein he was called.
21 Art thou called being a servant? care not for it: but if thou mayest be made free, use it rather.
22 For he that is called in the Lord, being a servant, is the Lord's freeman: likewise also he that is called, being free, is Christ's servant.
23 Ye are bought with a price; be not ye the servants of men.
24 Brethren, let every man, wherein he is called, therein abide with God.

Another ''celebrate diversity'' moment.

Aren't you proud of what multiculturalism has brought us?
Me neither
Check this from Michelle Malkin. I know it's true that - in the eyes of God - all men are created equal. But all cultures are not equal, and quite a few are just plain evil and disgusting. That takes in ALL the places where Islam, the worship of a demon, holds sway. Read the story and be sick.
Good commentary too over at Captain Ed's site.
http://www.captainsquartersblog.com/mt/cq082307.cgi/11997

Today's Reading August 24

It is still dark here, but I had a good feeling during the night. Perhaps something good will happen today.
This morning we look at some more of the Psalms - 120, 121, 122, and 123.
These are all good, but I particularly love 121 and 122 both. You may recognize some of this:

Chapter 121
1 I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help.
2 My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth.
3 He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: he that keepeth thee will not slumber.
4 Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep.
5 The LORD is thy keeper: the LORD is thy shade upon thy right hand.
6 The sun shall not smite thee by day, nor the moon by night.
7 The LORD shall preserve thee from all evil: he shall preserve thy soul.
8 The LORD shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore.

A lot of memories come back when I read this and recall the many things He has done for me. Or,

Chapter 122
1 I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the LORD.
2 Our feet shall stand within thy gates, O Jerusalem.
3 Jerusalem is builded as a city that is compact together:
4 Whither the tribes go up, the tribes of the LORD, unto the testimony of Israel, to give thanks unto the name of the LORD.
5 For there are set thrones of judgment, the thrones of the house of David.
6 Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: they shall prosper that love thee.

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This evening we are in 1st Corinthians chapter 6
Paul packs quite a lot into a relatively short passage. While the whole passage is below, there are a few things highlighted
vs 9-11, particularly vs 11. Paul issues a warning against the immoral behavior of the saved, reminding them (us) of past sins and warning them (us) against falling back into that life. Yes, I know there's a big can of worms there and I don't want to go there right now.
vs 18-20 get into a warning against the very powerful sins going under the name of 'fornication', essentially meaning any sexual behavior outside of marriage of a man and a woman. How some of our more ''progressive'' and ''tolerant'' friends reconcile that I am not certain.
Finally, pay some attention to the opening of the chapter, a warning about lawsuits between Christians. How many times in the last few years have we seen this? We even see lawsuits between church members and church officials, as in some of the breakaway Episcopalian and, I believe, Methodist churches. And lawsuits charging ordained ministers and priests with lewd behavior and perversions against children. This is not, I think, what being a Christian is all about. If Jesus said to pray for our enemies, how much more should we pray for the people in the next pew?

Chapter 6
1 Dare any of you, having a matter against another, go to law before the unjust, and not before the saints?
2 Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world? and if the world shall be judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters?
3 Know ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more things that pertain to this life?
4 If then ye have judgments of things pertaining to this life, set them to judge who are least esteemed in the church.
5 I speak to your shame. Is it so, that there is not a wise man among you? no, not one that shall be able to judge between his brethren?
6 But brother goeth to law with brother, and that before the unbelievers.
7 Now therefore there is utterly a fault among you, because ye go to law one with another. Why do ye not rather take wrong? why do ye not rather suffer yourselves to be defrauded?
8 Nay, ye do wrong, and defraud, and that your brethren.
9 Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind,
10 Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.
11 And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.
12 All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any.
13 Meats for the belly, and the belly for meats: but God shall destroy both it and them. Now the body is not for fornication, but for the Lord; and the Lord for the body.
14 And God hath both raised up the Lord, and will also raise up us by his own power.
15 Know ye not that your bodies are the members of Christ? shall I then take the members of Christ, and make them the members of an harlot? God forbid.
16 What? know ye not that he which is joined to an harlot is one body? for two, saith he, shall be one flesh.
Gen 2:24 Matt 19:5 Mark 10:7 Eph 5:31
17 But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit.
18 Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body.
19 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?
20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.

Today's Reading August 23

Bad morning.
This morning we finish our time in Psalm 119, starting with verse 105 and continuing to verse 176, the end.
This passage contains some familiar and memorization-worthy verses, as well as the whole being worthwhile. For example,

105 Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.

or perhaps,

126 It is time for thee, LORD, to work: for they have made void thy law.

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This evening we continue in 1st Corinthians with chapter 5. Paul is starting to talk about church discipline. This is a difficult subject in some places, and utterly rejected in others. As a result, we have actively practicing homosexuals occupying not only the pews, which is bad enough, but occupying high leadership positions in a number of ''mainstream'' denominations. We also have persons guilty of a number of other sins in the pews, but homosexuality seems to be one that is, somehow ''celebrated'' as if the Lord has changed His mind on the matter. Paul here is taking on other behaviors, in this case a sexual liaison between a man and his father's wife, but the principle is the same - here that action is also being celebrated. Paul comes down hard, leaving us without an excuse. He makes it clear that we are to be holy.

9 I wrote unto you in an epistle not to company with fornicators:
10 Yet not altogether with the fornicators of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or with idolaters; for then must ye needs go out of the world.
11 But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat.
12 For what have I to do to judge them also that are without? do not ye judge them that are within?
13 But them that are without God judgeth. Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person.

Today's Reading August 22

A bit before dawn here.
Psalm 119, verses 49 through 104
The Psalm of praise and the excellence of the Lord's word continues.

63 I am a companion of all them that fear thee, and of them that keep thy precepts.
64 The earth, O LORD, is full of thy mercy: teach me thy statutes.
65 Thou hast dealt well with thy servant, O LORD, according unto thy word.
66 Teach me good judgment and knowledge: for I have believed thy commandments.

There are those who think of the Bible, in particular the Old Testament (Christians are, unfortunately, quite prone to this) as a bunch of dry rules that, if followed, were intended to get you into Heaven. I don't see it that way, as if somehow you were checking off the do's and dont's for the day, trying to earn a merit badge or the like. No, I think of it as developing into the kind of person that the Lord intended, rather like developing the character of being a good student by regularly studying hard, becoming G-d's person by doing the things that He said to do. We can argue the effectiveness of that - clearly it has and had its failures. But it's not a worthless exercise either.

Sow a thought, and you reap an act;
Sow an act, and you reap a habit;
Sow a habit, and you reap a character;
Sow a character, and you reap a destiny.

And there is something to be said for developing the disciplines and the habits of a believer.
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This evening's New Testament passage is 1st Corinthians chapter 4
Again, this is a letter to a group of believers, not an exposition of the Gospel to the unsaved, and therefore deals with the issues of a church
There is a lot here, I am drawn to part of it:

16 Wherefore I beseech you, be ye followers of me.
17 For this cause have I sent unto you Timotheus, who is my beloved son, and faithful in the Lord, who shall bring you into remembrance of my ways which be in Christ, as I teach every where in every church.

Recall that the Bible, or rather the New Testament as we know it, did not yet exist. So for guidance and direction, what did these early churches have? The Holy Spirit, of course, and thanks be to God. But of teaching and written doctrine there was but little. So what Paul - and the other disciples, evangelists, and teachers - were doing was to say ''Look at me! See how I lived. See how I taught. See how I dealt with questions, and with disagreements, and with persecution and opposition. Follow me, as I follow Christ.'' They didn't have the Book. But they did have the followers, of Christ, and were urged to follow that model.
I worry about that. I'm not sure that I would want others to model their lives, their speech, their approach, to how I do things, knowing all too well my own sins and failures. 'Course, the closer I walk with Christ, the more visible my own sins and faults are, to me at least. But, and Paul is right, others should be able to follow us. Others, particularly those outside the church, ought to be able to discover the character of Jesus by watching ours. They may read me, before they want to read the Book. And that is something that sobers me considerably.

Today's Reading August 21

This morning is a little bit rough. Friday afternoon I was led to believe that I would be getting a job offer yesterday. Late in the afternoon I was contacted and told that the answer is NO. Yes, I'm everything and more that they said they wanted. But .... It seems that the plant manager of one of the plants that I would have been responsible for supporting, located in the greater Dallas area, is unhappy that I don't speak Spanish. It appears that a large portion of their hourly workforce is, ummmmm, ''undocumented'', meaning illegal aliens from Mexico, something that had been concealed from me during my visit there. So, once again, an American gets stuck because the leaders of the nation refuse either to obey or to enforce the law.
I hope you'll forgive me if I'm just a bit bitter.
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This morning's passage is Psalms 119, verses 1 through 48. This Psalm is the longest of all, the longest chapter in the Bible, I believe. We will be here a few days.
My primary study Bible here has this subtitled as ''Meditations on the Excellencies of the Word of God'' . This Psalm is broken up into sections each subtitled with one of the letters of the Hebrew alphabet. Thus verses 1 through 8 are under aleph, 9 through 16 under beth, and so on. That serves a couple of purposes, and this is a VERY long section. (It's also a neat way to learn the Hebrew alphabet - we once had a lady wanting to know where she could see some of it in order to make a banner or something : we told her to go look up this Psalm and she would find all the characters in the sub-headings in her own Bible. She'd never noticed before.)
The Psalm lives up nicely to that subheading as you will see. Just start with the first few verses and the direction becomes clear, I think.

1 Blessed are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of the LORD.
2 Blessed are they that keep his testimonies, and that seek him with the whole heart.
3 They also do no iniquity: they walk in his ways.
4 Thou hast commanded us to keep thy precepts diligently.
5 O that my ways were directed to keep thy statutes!
6 Then shall I not be ashamed, when I have respect unto all thy commandments.
7 I will praise thee with uprightness of heart, when I shall have learned thy righteous judgments.
8 I will keep thy statutes: O forsake me not utterly.
9 Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word.
10 With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments.
11 Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.

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This evening's passage is First Corinthians Chapter 3
There is - or was, a few years ago - in a small church in Lousiville, Ohio, where my brother was married a number of years ago, a banner hung across the front, with verse 11 from this passage,

11 For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.

It's a good one, and one frequently forgotten. We were in a Methodist church for a few years - we left for a number of reasons, but one was because the foundation seemed to be John Wesley, not Jesus Christ. We have friends in some of the Presbyterian groups, but too often the foundation seemed to be John Calvin, not Jesus Christ. We have friends in the various Catholic churches, but foundations seems to be the writings of the popes and long-dead clerics, not Jesus Christ. I myself came out of the Mennonite tradition, and too often the foundation was Menno Simons, Conrad Grebel, Joseph Amman, and old-world traditions, and not on Jesus Christ. I am not looking to cause more inter-denominational fights, there are enough of them already. But sometimes the heritage and the traditions are too much the focus, and not the springboard. Watch the foundation.

And another rape by illegals Aug 20

Here's another one, out of Oregon

Two men indicted in the rape and sexual abuse of two Oregon City girls have admitted they entered the U.S. from Mexico illegally, police say.
Oregon City A Clackamas County grand jury indicted two men this week in connection with two Oregon City girls, ages 14 and 15.

Just what is it they're doing that Americans won't??

Today's Reading August 20

This morning we look to Psalms 116, 117, and 118. All of these are good, I'm partial to 116 but that is a matter of personal taste. Yet the 117th Psalm is pretty familiar too. Growing up in that little country church, we were expected to memorize Scripture. We didn't appreciate it at the time, now I'm grateful for it. And, being kids, we naturally looked for the least effort. Many of us know well the shortest verse in all the Bible, ''Jesus wept''. But that got us only a short reprieve. So some of us looked to very short chapters. Psalm 117 is one of those. But good.

Chapter 117
1 O praise the LORD, all ye nations: praise him, all ye people.
Rom 15:11
2 For his merciful kindness is great toward us: and the truth of the LORD endureth for ever. Praise ye the LORD.

Just two verses, but that was all the Psalmist needed to say that day.

_-_-_-_-_-_
This evening's New Testament passage is 1st Corinthians chapter 2.
This is a short little section, only 16 verses long, yet there is much in it. I want to draw attention in particular to two verses in it.

9 But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.
Isa 64:4

The Lord of the universe has, long before we were born, made provisions for those who are His own. We are not an afterthought to Him, and what He has in store for us is far greater than we can imagine. He's quite creative you know.
And there is this,

16 For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.
Isa 40:14

Indeed we do. The term Christian means ''little Christ''. And I understand that to mean, among other things, that anyone wanting to know something of nature of Christ ought to be able to look at a Christian and learn something of His nature. Most of us have a ways to go on that, but it is nonetheless true. There is, within us, a piece of Him, a seed if you like, that needs to grow.

A thought for the day

I lead a Sunday morning Bible study class in our little church. This morning, I was privately overcome with the long list of prayer needs, sensing through it all the many hurts, the hearbreak, the need and the sorrow that gave rise to each request.
It fit with the text and the lesson, but it was still hard, knowing those needs were - and are - not abstract and theoretical, but quite real.
This afternoon, I came across a quote that addresses the matter better than I can.

God Whispers
to us in our pleasures,
Speaks to our conscience,
but shouts in our pains
-- C.S. Lewis
and that's true.

Today's Reading August 19

This morning we turn our attention to Psalms 112, 113, 114, and 115
These are primarily Psalms of praise, and the first three are pretty short.
Psalms 112 and 113 are, in Hebrew, an acrostic poem - the first letter of each line beginning with a successive letter of the Hebrew alphabet. For those of us for whom classical Hebrew is not our native language, we miss that element of it.
Yet the imagery is still worthy. For example,

Chapter 113
1 Praise ye the LORD. Praise, O ye servants of the LORD, praise the name of the LORD.
2 Blessed be the name of the LORD from this time forth and for evermore.
3 From the rising of the sun unto the going down of the same the LORD's name is to be praised.
4 The LORD is high above all nations, and his glory above the heavens.
5 Who is like unto the LORD our God, who dwelleth on high,

or

Chapter 115
1 Not unto us, O LORD, not unto us, but unto thy name give glory, for thy mercy, and for thy truth's sake.
2 Wherefore should the heathen say, Where is now their God?

_______-----------___________
The reading this evening is from 1st Corinthians, chapter 1.
This is Good Stuff too, as Paul lays out his message to a different group of believers, but also leaves a message for us. There are several themes in this passage, one having to to with the regrettable habit we have of forming factions. But also a reminder that the Gospel and God's message did not first come to the 'respectable', the leaders of the community, those who in men's eye's occupy places of honor. No,

18 For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.
19 For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.
Isa 29:14
20 Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?
21 For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.
22 For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom:
23 But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness;
24 But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.
25 Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men.
26 For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called:
27 But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;
28 And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are:
29 That no flesh should glory in his presence.
30 But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:
31 That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.
Jer 9:24

Cost of illegal aliens updated 19Aug

You don't get much better than Mark Steyn so just go over and read this one. Speaking of sanctuary, where's ours?
It has been a long time since I crawled around any lawbooks. But I seem to recall that there are some offenses termed ''malfeasance'' and ''nonfeasance'', terms that describe those who in essence violate their oath of office and either use the office for personal agenda or who refuse to carry out the duties of that office. Seems to me that quite a number of persons occupying what we once termed positions of public trust have fulfilled the elements of those offenses.

Some more on the human cost of illegal aliens

Try some of these

Wisconsin
The man accused of running a stop sign and causing a crash this week that killed a 17-year-old Port Washington boy is an illegal immigrant who was convicted in Wisconsin in December of first-offense drunken driving, authorities confirmed Friday.

or
Michigan

What started as an argument between neighbors over a barking dog led to an assault with a golf club that left a 44-year-old man dead, police say.

or Oregon

Less than nine months before he allegedly killed a 15-year-old girl by stepping on her throat until she stopped breathing, Alejandro Rivera Gamboa pleaded guilty to drunken driving and disclosed that he was not a U.S. citizen.

or New Jersey
or North Carolina

We could probably fill the page. I know we could. Check out this YouTube spot - it shows some of the MANY victims.

And yet, Michael Chertoff proves himself to be an empty suit.
He was picked with that in mind.
One of the foreign phrases that some of us know is in French, ''J'accuse!'' You may recall it from the Dreyfus affair, and from a once famous movie made about it. Well,

J'accuse George W. Bush

I accuse you of criminal nonfeasance in office on this entire issue
I accuse you allowing the good citizens of this nation to be slaughtered like chickens in order to appease the open borders types
I accuse you of placing the interests of the money types of Mexico ahead of the lives of Americans
I accuse you of dishonor, dishonesty, and deceit on this issue
I accuse you, not of failing to do your duty, but of REFUSING to do your duty
I accuse you of spreading the lie of ''work Americans will not do''. It's a lie - I have personally done many of those jobs. So have others, citizens.
I do not respect or honor liars, no matter what their political affiliation. You, Sir, are a liar. I may respect the office, but I do not respect you. Go home.

And I accuse the so-called leaders of this nation, members of both the major political parties of treachery, deceit, and dishonor. High on that list are the names of Ted Kennedy (spit, spit), Lindsey Graham, John McCain, and Mel Martinez. There are many, many names on that last. Decent people would cross the street to avoid them and, if that was impossible, would spit on their shadows.
They need to resign their posts and go serve unpaid and anonymously in far-off leper colonies.

Today's Reading August 18

Good morning. Last night the local weather told us we would hear thunder but would not see any rain, probably. We were awakened around 12:30am to heavy rain. We're grateful for it - the area's been in a drought condition for a year. But the same people purport to tell us things about the climate a hundred years from now. If they can't predict 3 hours ahead, may I be skeptical about their ability to predict a century out?
--
Continuing in the Psalms this morning, we get into Psalms 109, 110, and 111.
Of the three, I like 110 the best (but 111 is great read aloud - try it). And the reason I like it is because you see it quoted in the New Testament, quoted quite extensively in fact. Even when the Lord was inspiring the Psalmist, He was preparing for the Incarnation of the Son.

Chapter 110

1 The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool.

Matt 22:44, 26:64
Mark 12:36
Luke 20:42
Acts 2:34
1 Cor 15:25
Heb 1:13

2 The LORD shall send the rod of thy strength out of Zion: rule thou in the midst of thine enemies.
3 Thy people shall be willing in the day of thy power, in the beauties of holiness from the womb of the morning: thou hast the dew of thy youth.
4 The LORD hath sworn, and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek.

Heb 5:6, 7:17, 21

5 The Lord at thy right hand shall strike through kings in the day of his wrath.
6 He shall judge among the heathen, he shall fill the places with the dead bodies; he shall wound the heads over many countries.
7 He shall drink of the brook in the way: therefore shall he lift up the head.

See what I meant about the later use? Now, to be complete, it would be good to turn to those New Testament sections and see how this passage is used. I assure you, it's not there by accident.

______________ ____________
-----------------
This evening we complete Romans with chapter 16. It is tempting to regard this as somewhat of a ''throwaway'' passage, consisting as it does primarily of Paul's greetings to individuals. Don't make that mistake. Do you know these people? No, and neither do I. But Paul did, and they were important to him. And they were important to God also. Someday we will meet them in Heaven. To an extent, the world in which we live was shaped by those people who,quietly and diligently, served the Lord and furthered the spread of the Gospel and lived in a world we can't imagine. Many of them died quite badly because that was the price paid for faithfulness. And yet, knowing this, Paul greets them and ends his letter quite well --

24 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.
25 Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began,
26 But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith:
27 To God only wise, be glory through Jesus Christ for ever. Amen.

I'll take that blessing any day.

Today's Reading August 17

Tough morning today, for a variety of reasons.
We were up late watching the unfolding events at the mine rescue effort in Utah. I was born in the coal mining areas on the corner of southeast Ohio, southwestern Pennsylvania, northwestern West Virginia. I have lived in northeastern Tennessee (coal country), western Arkansas (coal country) and am now located not too far from the coal mining territory of northern Alabama. While I have never been a miner, I've been around it virtually all of my life. It is a hard and dangerous occupation and like so many others, my thoughts and prayers are with the miners, the families, and the rescue workers.
On a personal note, I'm fighting discouragement. In the last month I've had half a dozen good on-site interviews in my job hunt. I had expected, based on what I was being told, that I should be hearing something this week. It's now Friday morning, we're about out of 'week', and there has been nothing, good or bad. I know we talk about 'waiting on the Lord', but waiting is not one of my chief virtues. Perhaps this is how you grow it.
--
Our Old Testament passage this morning is Psalms 107 and 108.
Some good praise here, but that's not the part that attracts my attention most.
Look at verse 2 of Psalm 107.

2 Let the redeemed of the LORD say so, whom he hath redeemed from the hand of the enemy;

A number of years ago we were part of one of the few remaining evangelistic Methodist churches left. The senior pastor there had been a missionary at one time, and a good friend of his was a wonderful gentleman by the name of Eddie Fox. Rev. Fox had written some things, one of which is a book titled, ''Let the Redeemed of the LORD, Say So!''. I think that this is one of those little phrases that ought to be a mission statement for a lot of us. How many of us are clandestine Christians, no one knows but the Lord? A lot of the Psalms, including the two before us, have a lot to say about proclaiming the Lord publicly. Shouldn't we be doing the same?
---__________ --------
This evening we get into Romans 15, verses 21 through 33
Paul is talking about his future plans in his letter to the Romans. He had plans to go all the way to Spain. Pull a map of the Mediterranean Sea when you get a chance. Only a few years after Jesus ascended into Heaven, the Gospel was being spread from Spain to Egypt, from Italy to the whole Middle East. Christians weren't keeping the Good News to themselves, they were spreading the Word.

28 When therefore I have performed this, and have sealed to them this fruit, I will come by you into Spain.
29 And I am sure that, when I come unto you, I shall come in the fulness of the blessing of the gospel of Christ.
30 Now I beseech you, brethren, for the Lord Jesus Christ's sake, and for the love of the Spirit, that ye strive together with me in your prayers to God for me;

Now go back and look at the exhortation, ''Let the redeemed of the Lord SAY SO!''

Today's Reading August 16

Sorry for the delay this morning. I have not been in the proper frame of mind and spirit to do this. It happens sometimes.
This morning we turn to Psalms 105 and 106. These complete one of the great divisions of the the Psalms, the so-called 'Psalms of the Earth' that emphasize both the Lord's ruling power, and our capacity to resist that power and to wander from His care. But only He is trustworthy. Psalm 105 recounts the eternal faithfulness of the Lord, beginning with

1 O give thanks unto the LORD; call upon his name: make known his deeds among the people.
2 Sing unto him, sing psalms unto him: talk ye of all his wondrous works.
3 Glory ye in his holy name: let the heart of them rejoice that seek the LORD.
4 Seek the LORD, and his strength: seek his face evermore.

while Psalm 106 is subtitled in one of my Bibles as ''Joy in Forgiveness of Israel's Sins'', and begins with

1 Praise ye the LORD. O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.
2 Who can utter the mighty acts of the LORD? who can shew forth all his praise?
3 Blessed are they that keep judgment, and he that doeth righteousness at all times.
4 Remember me, O LORD, with the favour that thou bearest unto thy people: O visit me with thy salvation;

. Good themes both, and both of these would do well in public reading, such as in a worship service or group study.

This evening we get into Romans 15, verses 1 through 20. Paul is writing here about bearing one another's burdens. We need that reminder, don't we?

1 We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves.
2 Let every one of us please his neighbour for his good to edification.
3 For even Christ pleased not himself; but, as it is written, The reproaches of them that reproached thee fell on me.
Psa 69:9
4 For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.
5 Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be likeminded one toward another according to Christ Jesus:
6 That ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
7 Wherefore receive ye one another, as Christ also received us to the glory of God.

Today's Reading August 15

Psalms 103 and 104
One of the things we can do in our private moments is to count our blessings. The list can get quite long. Similarly, when you are in a moment of worship, it's a good thing to consider the blessings and the majesty of the Lord. Both of these Psalms are good for this, parts have, again, been incorporated into hymns and praise songs. I am personally very fond of Psalm 103, a portion of which is shown here. Like all the Psalms, this should be spoken aloud, not read silently.

1 Bless the LORD, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name.
2 Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits:
3 Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases;
4 Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies;
5 Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle's.
6 The LORD executeth righteousness and judgment for all that are oppressed.
7 He made known his ways unto Moses, his acts unto the children of Israel.
8 The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy.
9 He will not always chide: neither will he keep his anger for ever.
10 He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities.
11 For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him.
12 As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.
13 Like as a father pitieth his children, so the LORD pitieth them that fear him.
14 For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust.
15 As for man, his days are as grass: as a flower of the field, so he flourisheth.
16 For the wind passeth over it, and it is gone; and the place thereof shall know it no more.
17 But the mercy of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him, and his righteousness unto children's children;

This evening we look at Romans 14. Paul is continuing his instructions in the way that Christians ought to conduct themselves, now turning to some of the ways that we should act towards one another. The church was starting to see some of the effects of having believers of differing backgrounds. We see that today, unfortunately, we see people wanting to be part of a fellowship of those who are ''just like us''. Some of that is inevitable - I don't speak Sicilian , at all, and therefore would probably have some problems at a Sicilian Orthodox service. But Paul is addressing those situations where some of the believers are Jewish by heritage, others are various kinds of Gentiles. Some - many, particularly the Jews - had grown up with dietary restrictions among others. Again, we see that today - there are vegetarian Christians, there are those who oppose the use of coffee, or pork, or any number of other things. There are those who hold to an old language - the Orthodox churches, for example, who hold to the Liturgy in Russian or Greek or whatever, or my Amish cousins who still hold to a corrupt form of Low German. All of these and more besides were creating stresses and divisions in the Church, while others made to throw off all the rules and live however they pleased at the moment. We have that today too. Paul addresses both issues and urges the believers to focus on Christ and on building up one another.

1 Him that is weak in the faith receive ye, but not to doubtful disputations.
2 For one believeth that he may eat all things: another, who is weak, eateth herbs.
3 Let not him that eateth despise him that eateth not; and let not him which eateth not judge him that eateth: for God hath received him.
4 Who art thou that judgest another man's servant? to his own master he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand.
5 One man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth every day alike. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind.
6 He that regardeth the day, regardeth it unto the Lord; and he that regardeth not the day, to the Lord he doth not regard it. He that eateth, eateth to the Lord, for he giveth God thanks; and he that eateth not, to the Lord he eateth not, and giveth God thanks.
7 For none of us liveth to himself, and no man dieth to himself.
8 For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord's.

There is more here, and it needs to be taken seriously. Satan loves to create dissension in the Church, it keeps us focused on that rather than on reaching the lost.