Another view on global economy

Worth reading

The Establishment Rethinks Globalization

I'm not normally a big fan of The Nation magazine. Long story and all of that. On the other hand, they do sometimes publish something that other people would rather not think about, and this is one of those times.
As my background shows, I'm an engineer by trade, specializing in the manufacturing side of the field rather than straight design. Probably that was a mistake. In the last 20+ years, I have worked in manufacturing facilities that included some of the largest and most respected names in America. Of the few that still remain, almost all have undergone turmoil, buyouts, mergers, divestitures, outsourcing, downsizing, reorganizations, and all the other terms we use to conceal the fact that we are spending more money and effort on rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic than in running the operation. Often this is the fault of the bean-counters that seem to run all to many businesses these days. Sometimes it's due to imbeciles in government. And sometimes its just due to the Bright Boys who took a business degree somewhere and decided that the path to greatness was to send all the actual doing of the business to some slave labor camp in China, Mexico, or the like, or just to the contract manufacturer across town who employs illegal aliens. Much was and is defended on the philosophy of globalization for the Greater Good of All. Observations of negative results were derided as unimportant.

Comes now a bit of research and a book based on that research that provides some foundation to argue that indeed, globalization ain't all it's cracked up to be. Check out the article.

Today's Reading June 30

This morning, from the Old Testament, Job, chapters 19 and 20.

This passage contains a few verses that are among my own favorites in all of the Bible. Job has had a rough time. He's lost his wealth, every one of his children, the respect of his own wife. He's covered in boils sitting in the dust. And his ''friends'' have come by to visit, and to presume his guilt on some terrible sin. Yet Job has not rejected the Lord. He is hurt, and he is grieving, and he doesn't understand any of it. But he still has his faith. And, in one of the great sections he says,

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.

Good words. You could probably write a couple of good songs with those words prominently in there. And, of course, Job was correct. His Redeemer, and mine, lives.

----

This evening, from the New Testament, Acts, chapter 9, verses 23 through 43

More of the early life of the Church, which was really starting to be noticed all around, and more persecution and opposition, and more of the impact of Peter and Paul, with some insights on how Paul (formerly Saul) was becoming accepted. And the too-little-honored team players like Barnabas.

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.

Today's Reading June 29

This morning we continue in Job. Tough reading, isn't it? I think that this account is familiar, all of us have been there - the world crashes down on us. [and if it hasn't happened yet, it will]. Yet Job hangs on.
Today we cover chapters 16, 17, and 18. Job speaks here too of those who come to visit the afflicted, and make the matter worse. Sound familiar?

2 I have heard many such things: miserable comforters are ye all.
3 Shall vain words have an end? or what emboldeneth thee that thou answerest?
4 I also could speak as ye do: if your soul were in my soul's stead, I could heap up words against you, and shake mine head at you.
5 But I would strengthen you with my mouth, and the moving of my lips should asswage your grief.

--
This evening the portion is from the Acts, chapter 9, verses 1 through 22. This is the story of Saul of Tarsus, who in the passage encounters the Lord, and is now known as Paul, whose writings comprise a large portion of the New Testament.
We go from

1 And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest,

and ends with

22 But Saul increased the more in strength, and confounded the Jews which dwelt at Damascus, proving that this is very Christ.

Today's Reading June 28

Continuing in Job, chapters 13, 14, and 15.
We start to come across some familiar verses. Such as, from chapter 13,

15 Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain mine own ways before him.
16 He also shall be my salvation: for an hypocrite shall not come before him.

or, from chapter 14,

1 Man that is born of a woman is of few days and full of trouble.
2 He cometh forth like a flower, and is cut down: he fleeth also as a shadow, and continueth not.

And later today, from the Acts, chapter 8, verses 26 through 40.
Phillip is called away from a great evangelistic outreach to preach the Good News to an Ethiopian eunuch. That's worth a great deal of discussion.

Today's Reading June 27

This morning, Job, chapters 10, 11, and 12
Job continues the dialog with his 'friends'. He is struggling with his problems, and can make no sense of them. Yet he continues to regard the Lord as sovereign and in control. And nowhere do I see him taking his wife's advice to ''curse God and die''. No, he continues to grapple, to wrestle, to hang on.


This evening, Acts, chapter 8, verses 1 through 25
More of the early days of the church. Persecution comes - at the hands of one Saul of Tarsus - and the believers are scattered. And, as a result, the Gospel is preached in many places, including Samaria, that might not have been in the growth plan otherwise. Funny how the Lord uses bad circumstances, isn't it?

Today's Reading June 26

We continue in the book of Job, chapters 7, 8, 9
Job is tough reading sometimes. Comments that I've received, both those posted and those not, confirm that it's not just me. We all have questions, many of which boil down to ''why??''. Why me, Lord? Why did my dog die? or my mother? my wife? why did my employer close down and leave us without an income? why the cancer? why did my husband leave? why?
And the sad fact is, there is no one answer. I believe with all my heart that the Lord can use any person and any circumstance for His glory. I believe with all of my heart that He loves His children no matter what the circumstances. And I believe that He is good all the time, even when the circumstance aren't. And, perhaps, that will have to do.
This passage in Job continues his discourse with his ''helpful'' friends. Like many of us, they make the assumption that whatever ill has befallen him is his own fault. In this case, we saw the early part of the story and we know that's not the case. They don't know that.

-

Acts chapter 7 , verses 44 through 60
The final act of Steven. He finishes his speech, and the 'reward' is to be the first martyr of the church.

Today's Reading June 25

We continue this morning in Job, chapters 4, 5, and 6
To add to his other troubles, his ''friends'' come calling. And give him the benefit of their words, the theme of which is that what has come upon Job is probably his fault, the fit recompense for wickedness somewhere.
From chapter 4,

7 Remember, I pray thee, who ever perished, being innocent? or where were the righteous cut off?

or

17 Shall mortal man be more just than God? shall a man be more pure than his maker?
18 Behold, he put no trust in his servants; and his angels he charged with folly:
19 How much less in them that dwell in houses of clay, whose foundation is in the dust, which are crushed before the moth?

From chapter 5

6 Although affliction cometh not forth of the dust, neither doth trouble spring out of the ground;
7 Yet man is born unto trouble, as the sparks fly upward.

and

17 Behold, happy is the man whom God correcteth: therefore despise not thou the chastening of the Almighty:
18 For he maketh sore, and bindeth up: he woundeth, and his hands make whole.
19 He shall deliver thee in six troubles: yea, in seven there shall no evil touch thee.

Acts, chapter 7, verses 20 through 43
Steven continues his speech before the religious leaders of the day, reciting the works of the Almighty in His dealings with the Jews.

Today's Reading June 24

Good morning.
Today we change direction a bit, and begin in the book of Job. Job is interesting, one of my favorite books of the Bible. There are those who believe it may have been written down before any of the others, I have no idea of the correctness of that belief. The theme is an important one: why do the innocent suffer while the wicked flourish? Who among us has not asked that question? I have, certainly in the trials of the last few years. And yet, through it all, Job never, and I do mean never, loses his faith. He questions the circumstances, he doesn't like the situation, he is confused, but he never condemns God nor does he reject Him. Indeed, he clings ever tighter. A good lesson in itself. When his wealth was taken from him, and all of his children died in a disaster,

20 Then Job arose, and rent his mantle, and shaved his head, and fell down upon the ground, and worshipped,
21 And said, Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return thither: the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD.
22 In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly.

When sickness came upon him personally, and his own wife urged him to give up his faith,

9 Then said his wife unto him, Dost thou still retain thine integrity? curse God, and die.
10 But he said unto her, Thou speakest as one of the foolish women speaketh. What? shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil? In all this did not Job sin with his lips.

At most, he tells his friends,

25 For the thing which I greatly feared is come upon me, and that which I was afraid of is come unto me.

But he still held to the Lord. What else is there to do?

-
Our New Testament portion continues in the Acts, chapter 7, verses 1 through 19. Steven, one of the first deacons, is on trial before the religious authorities of the day. He responds with a sermon, really, that begins with a recitation of the marvelous things that the Lord has done for his people, the leading and guiding, the very Presence in their nation and their nation's history. They knew this history of course, but Steven is going somewhere with it. They knew the history, and yet they did not truly understand it. They weren't the last to make that mistake.

Today's Reading June 23

Morning reading
Old Testament - Esther 7,8,9, and 10. This concludes the Book of Esther
Her obedience, and faith, and that of Mordecai, is amply rewarded. The plans of the evil to slaughter all the Jews are frustrated and they themselves are destroyed. This event is remembered even today in the Jewish festival of Purim. It was celebrated in our year 2007 on March 4th and will be celebrated in 2008 running from sunset March 20, 2008 to nightfall March 21, 2008.

Evening reading
Acts, chapter 6
Two main things here. The first is the establishment of the office of deacon, something that is with us today. The second is the early part of the events surrounding one of the first deacons, Stephen.

Today's Reading June 22

We start the day in the book of Esther, (Hadassah), chapters 4, 5, and 6.
This is, once again, the story of those who are faithful to the Lord despite being in lousy circumstances. Mordecai looks out for the interests of the king who has him in bondage. So does Esther. In addition, we have here one of those wonderful and memorable quotes from the Bible. When Esther expresses fear that carrying an unwelcome message to the king may result in her death, Mordecai replies,

13 Then Mordecai commanded to answer Esther, Think not with thyself that thou shalt escape in the king's house, more than all the Jews.
14 For if thou altogether holdest thy peace at this time, then shall there enlargement and deliverance arise to the Jews from another place; but thou and thy father's house shall be destroyed: and who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this?

I love that phrase. The Lord puts us in places and in circumstances for His purposes, and simply asks that we be faithful and obedient. She was, and we remember her for it. And, in ways we perhaps can not understand, the world is a different place as a result.
-

The New Testament reading comes from the Acts, chapter 5, verses 17 through 42.
Just wonderful stuff here, hard to pick out the best parts.
Persecution comes from the religious leaders of the day, and the response is

7 Then the high priest rose up, and all they that were with him, (which is the sect of the Sadducees,) and were filled with indignation,
18 And laid their hands on the apostles, and put them in the common prison.
19 But the angel of the Lord by night opened the prison doors, and brought them forth, and said,
20 Go, stand and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this life.
21 And when they heard that, they entered into the temple early in the morning, and taught. But the high priest came, and they that were with him, and called the council together, and all the senate of the children of Israel, and sent to the prison to have them brought

And later on,

40 And to him they agreed: and when they had called the apostles, and beaten them, they commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go.
41 And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name.
42 And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ.

Today's Reading June 21

Good morning
Today's Old Testament reading is from the book of Esther, chapters 1, 2, and 3. This is one of the books of the Bible that most Christians have paid little attention to, though the Jews do: if you've ever come across the Jewish women's group of Hadassah, that is in honor of the actual Jewish name of the woman the Babylonians called Esther. There was a movie last year called ''A Night With the King'' or something like that, which is an account of this and made the story more known to a wider audience. It's worth a second read.

The New Testament reading comes from the Acts, chapter 5, verses 1 through 16. Like everywhere else in the Bible, there is a lot here, beginning with the account of Ananias and Sapphira. It's important, but keeping in the line of yesterday's account , I also like this section.

12 And by the hands of the apostles were many signs and wonders wrought among the people; (and they were all with one accord in Solomon's porch.
13 And of the rest durst no man join himself to them: but the people magnified them.
14 And believers were the more added to the Lord, multitudes both of men and women.)
15 Insomuch that they brought forth the sick into the streets, and laid them on beds and couches, that at the least the shadow of Peter passing by might overshadow some of them.
16 There came also a multitude out of the cities round about unto Jerusalem, bringing sick folks, and them which were vexed with unclean spirits: and they were healed every one.

Today's Reading June 20

Old Testament reading - Nehemiah, chapters 12 and 13.
This concludes the book of Nehemiah. It deals further with the organization and purification of the city and the the people and their practices. And it shows, yet again, the trend towards going wrong by an unseemly desire to be like everybody else. God practices discrimination, and a Good Thing Too.
--

New Testament passage - Acts, chapter 4, verses 23 through 37. As we've been saying, this is the early development of the Church as we understand it today, the mission, the practices, the attitudes. Not that we hold to it well, but it's an example for us. For example,

29 And now, Lord, behold their threatenings: and grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy word,
30 By stretching forth thine hand to heal; and that signs and wonders may be done by the name of thy holy child Jesus.
31 And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness.
32 And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul: neither said any of them that ought of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common.
33 And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all.

Does that not sound like something you would like to be part of? Me too, and we are, I believe, called to exactly that.

Today's Reading June 19

Old Testament portion, Nehemiah, chapters 9, 10, and 11
The worship and the organization of the people of GOD.

2	And the seed of Israel separated themselves from all strangers, and stood and confessed their sins, and the iniquities of their fathers.
3	And they stood up in their place, and read in the book of the law of the LORD their God one fourth part of the day; and another fourth part they confessed, and worshipped the LORD their God.
4	Then stood up upon the stairs, of the Levites, Jeshua, and Bani, Kadmiel, Shebaniah, Bunni, Sherebiah, Bani, and Chenani, and cried with a loud voice unto the LORD their God.
5	Then the Levites, Jeshua, and Kadmiel, Bani, Hashabniah, Sherebiah, Hodijah, Shebaniah, and Pethahiah, said, Stand up and bless the LORD your God for ever and ever: and blessed be thy glorious name, which is exalted above all blessing and praise.

New Testament portion is from Acts, chapter 4, verses 1 through 22
More of the pattern of the Early church, and it should be ours as well - pointing to Jesus in all circumstances.

8	Then Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost, said unto them, Ye rulers of the people, and elders of Israel,
9	If we this day be examined of the good deed done to the impotent man, by what means he is made whole;
10	Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole.
11	This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner. Ps 118:22 Matt 21:42 Mark 12:10 Luke 20:17 Eph 2:20 1 Pet 2:7
12	Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.

and, in a pattern that the ACLU would later follow:

18	And they called them, and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus.
19	But Peter and John answered and said unto them, Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye.
20	For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.
21	So when they had further threatened them, they let them go, finding nothing how they might punish them, because of the people: for all men glorified God for that which was done.

Today's Reading June 18

From the Old Testament, Nehemiah chapters 7 and 8.
Having built the Temple under the direction of Ezra, and having rebuilt the wall and the gates of the city of Jerusalem, as directed by the Lord, the attention is now directed towards recovering the sense of the nation and of the duties to the LORD, such having had a break in continuity with the fall of the kingdom. Even the language was somewhat lost. So, a solemn assembly is called.
5 And Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people; (for he was above all the people;) and when he opened it, all the people stood up:
6 And Ezra blessed the LORD, the great God. And all the people answered, Amen, Amen, with lifting up their hands: and they bowed their heads, and worshipped the LORD with their faces to the ground.
7 Also Jeshua, and Bani, and Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodijah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, Pelaiah, and the Levites, caused the people to understand the law: and the people stood in their place.
8 So they read in the book in the law of God distinctly, and gave the sense, and caused them to understand the reading.
9 And Nehemiah, which is the Tirshatha, and Ezra the priest the scribe, and the Levites that taught the people, said unto all the people, This day is holy unto the LORD your God; mourn not, nor weep. For all the people wept, when they heard the words of the law.
10 Then he said unto them, Go your way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions unto them for whom nothing is prepared: for this day is holy unto our LORD: neither be ye sorry; for the joy of the LORD is your strength.
When we hear the word of the Lord, it should cause us to repent. Yet it should also give us joy - He cares enough about us to become involved in our lives. That's worth quite a lot to me.
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From the New Testament, Acts chapter 3
We are here just beginning what is called the Church Age, which we are still in and will, I trust, be in until the Lord returns. This is the time when some of the patterns are laid down. As here.

4 And Peter, fastening his eyes upon him with John, said, Look on us.
5 And he gave heed unto them, expecting to receive something of them.
6 Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk.
7 And he took him by the right hand, and lifted him up: and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength.
8 And he leaping up stood, and walked, and entered with them into the temple, walking, and leaping, and praising God.
9 And all the people saw him walking and praising God:
10 And they knew that it was he which sat for alms at the Beautiful gate of the temple: and they were filled with wonder and amazement at that which had happened unto him.
11 And as the lame man which was healed held Peter and John, all the people ran together unto them in the porch that is called Solomon's, greatly wondering.
12 And when Peter saw it, he answered unto the people, Ye men of Israel, why marvel ye at this? or why look ye so earnestly on us, as though by our own power or holiness we had made this man to walk?
13 The God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Jacob, the God of our fathers, hath glorified his Son Jesus; whom ye delivered up, and denied him in the presence of Pilate, when he was determined to let him go.

Peter very properly does not claim the credit, but uses the occasion to point to Jesus. As we should, always.

19 Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord.
20 And he shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you:
21 Whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began.
22 For Moses truly said unto the fathers, A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; him shall ye hear in all things whatsoever he shall say unto you.
Deut 18:15,18,19
23 And it shall come to pass, that every soul, which will not hear that prophet, shall be destroyed from among the people.
Deut 18:19
24 Yea, and all the prophets from Samuel and those that follow after, as many as have spoken, have likewise foretold of these days.

Who says it's impossible?

I have been listening for far too long to craven liars whining that we can't enforce the law, we can't keep out the illegals, we can't remove the illegals, we can't gain control of our borders, or our destiny, or our nation.

BULL!

We've been here before, and we've dealt with it before. And what man has done, man can aspire to do again.
Go here and read the account.

It's one thing to try and fail. It is another thing to be afraid to try because you might fail. It is inexcusable to refuse to try because you might succeed. That is how we must characterize the criminal nonfeasance of the President and the behavior of much of the Senate.

Today's Reading June 17

This morning's reading is in the book of Nehemiah, chapters 4, 5, and 6
The wall is going up, and opposition is rising.

6 So built we the wall; and all the wall was joined together unto the half thereof: for the people had a mind to work.

And it had a good completion.

15 So the wall was finished in the twenty and fifth day of the month Elul, in fifty and two days.
16 And it came to pass, that when all our enemies heard thereof, and all the heathen that were about us saw these things, they were much cast down in their own eyes: for they perceived that this work was wrought of our God.

- - - - -
This evening we get further into the Acts of the Apostles, chapter 2, verses 14 through 47, continuing the account of Pentecost. A great message is delivered here upon the occasion of the Holy Spirit of God indwelling the believers, as He does today. I have been told that Pentecost, the Jewish festival, is not only the Feast of Weeks, but also commemorates the Giving of the Law, as it came through Moses. If you go back into the Old Testament and look up the event, you will find that upon that occasion, Moses came down from the mountain to find the people engaged in every sort of wicked behavior, including idolatry. In the hours after that, 3000 people died. Upon the occasion in Acts, 3000 people were converted. There's a good verse we should all know, ''.. the law killeth, but the Spirit gives life''. Go look it up. Meanwhile, read, study, pray over this section of Acts. It's all good, but I like,

36 Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made the same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.
37 Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?
38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
39 For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the LORD our God shall call.
40 And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation.
41 Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.

and

46 And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart,
47 Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.

I've never been at an church service that saw 3000 people saved. But it could happen, it already has. I'd love to be there.

Ever feel like this?

Some days you know how this one feels

Today's Reading June 16

This morning we get into the book of Nehemiah, chapters 1, 2, and 3.
Ezra was focused on rebuilding the Temple in Jerusalem and cleansing the leadership, especially the priests and Levites, of their compromises with the idolators who lived around them. The relationship of the people to the LORD has to come first.
Nehemiah follows on to that by rebuilding the city of Jerusalem, beginning with its walls and gates.
Walls and gates have become controversial in our time, part and parcel over the erroneous desire to avoid accusations of discrimination. That's nonsense. There is nothing inherently wrong with discrimination, it simply means the ability to draw a distinction, something the Lord does throughout the Bible. If you can't distinguish between cow manure and steak, I'm not eating barbecue at your house, but the distinction between the two is ''discrimination'', and A Good Thing, too. Likewise, walls, and gates, and fences make clear that there are lines and boundaries that should not be lightly crossed. There are locks on the doors to my house, and even latches on interior doors like those into the bathroom. There are doors and walls and such on the bank and bank vault. There are normally, and should be, walls and fences and gates on the borders between two countries. And distinctions between the sacred and the profane, the Hebrews and the Syrians, the good and the bad. The idolators who lived near Jerusalem didn't like the idea of the wall. But the Lord did, and so it was built. Nehemiah really didn't care about Political Correctness, he cared about doing what the Lord had set him to do. Good advice. From chapter 2,

20 Then answered I them, and said unto them, The God of heaven, he will prosper us; therefore we his servants will arise and build: but ye have no portion, nor right, nor memorial, in Jerusalem.

But before this could happen, back when he was a servant in the Captivity, he prayed to the Lord, which is also good advice. From chapter 1,

2 That Hanani, one of my brethren, came, he and certain men of Judah; and I asked them concerning the Jews that had escaped, which were left of the captivity, and concerning Jerusalem.
3 And they said unto me, The remnant that are left of the captivity there in the province are in great affliction and reproach: the wall of Jerusalem also is broken down, and the gates thereof are burned with fire.
4 And it came to pass, when I heard these words, that I sat down and wept, and mourned certain days, and fasted, and prayed before the God of heaven,
5 And said, I beseech thee, O LORD God of heaven, the great and terrible God, that keepeth covenant and mercy for them that love him and observe his commandments:
6 Let thine ear now be attentive, and thine eyes open, that thou mayest hear the prayer of thy servant, which I pray before thee now, day and night, for the children of Israel thy servants, and confess the sins of the children of Israel, which we have sinned against thee: both I and my father's house have sinned.
7 We have dealt very corruptly against thee, and have not kept the commandments, nor the statutes, nor the judgments, which thou commandedst thy servant Moses.
8 Remember, I beseech thee, the word that thou commandedst thy servant Moses, saying, If ye transgress, I will scatter you abroad among the nations:
9 But if ye turn unto me, and keep my commandments, and do them; though there were of you cast out unto the uttermost part of the heaven, yet will I gather them from thence, and will bring them unto the place that I have chosen to set my name there.
10 Now these are thy servants and thy people, whom thou hast redeemed by thy great power, and by thy strong hand.
11 O LORD, I beseech thee, let now thine ear be attentive to the prayer of thy servant, and to the prayer of thy servants, who desire to fear thy name: and prosper, I pray thee, thy servant this day, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man. For I was the king's cupbearer.

I am convinced that NOTHING worthwhile done for the Lord, no matter how strong the effort or how worthy the motive, can really prosper without prayer. It is perhaps the least practiced of all the spiritual disciplines.
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Acts, chapter 2, verses 1 through 13. This is the record of the event that we Christians call Pentecost. Pentecost was of course already a special day in the Jewish calendar, coming 50 days after Passover. But to Christians it has a special meaning - it is the date that the Holy Spirit came in power to indwell believers. It was an event that could not have been explained away by some trick of nature or of men. It could only be what it in fact was, God's presence in a very real and continuous way. As it is today. There are and have long been various ideas, even heated arguments, about the nature of the Holy Spirit, the Spiritual Gifts, the continuation of the various gifts, and so on. I don't know the answer, but I find some of the disputes to be at odds with Jesus command to ''Love one another''
At any rate, it creates quite a stir, and we'll be talking about it some.

1 And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.
2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.
3 And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.
4 And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

Today's Reading June 15

This morning we take up Ezra, chapters 9 and 10. This is an account of repentance - the people of God had, beginning with the leaders, had tried to ''be like everybody else'', in defiance of the Lord's laws, and had taken wives from among the heathens. This is, of course, the classic way that they became involved in false gods - the mothers taught their children and the next generation went astray. Ezra is trying to restore the Temple, and learns of the wickedness of the people. The result we see in chapter 9

2 For they have taken of their daughters for themselves, and for their sons: so that the holy seed have mingled themselves with the people of those lands: yea, the hand of the princes and rulers hath been chief in this trespass.
3 And when I heard this thing, I rent my garment and my mantle, and plucked off the hair of my head and of my beard, and sat down astonied.
4 Then were assembled unto me every one that trembled at the words of the God of Israel, because of the transgression of those that had been carried away; and I sat astonied until the evening sacrifice.
5 And at the evening sacrifice I arose up from my heaviness; and having rent my garment and my mantle, I fell upon my knees, and spread out my hands unto the LORD my God,
6 And said, O my God, I am ashamed and blush to lift up my face to thee, my God: for our iniquities are increased over our head, and our trespass is grown up unto the heavens.
7 Since the days of our fathers have we been in a great trespass unto this day; and for our iniquities have we, our kings, and our priests, been delivered into the hand of the kings of the lands, to the sword, to captivity, and to a spoil, and to confusion of face, as it is this day.
8 And now for a little space grace hath been shewed from the LORD our God, to leave us a remnant to escape, and to give us a nail in his holy place, that our God may lighten our eyes, and give us a little reviving in our bondage.
9 For we were bondmen; yet our God hath not forsaken us in our bondage, but hath extended mercy unto us in the sight of the kings of Persia, to give us a reviving, to set up the house of our God, and to repair the desolations thereof, and to give us a wall in Judah and in Jerusalem.
10 And now, O our God, what shall we say after this? for we have forsaken thy commandments,
11 Which thou hast commanded by thy servants the prophets, saying, The land, unto which ye go to possess it, is an unclean land with the filthiness of the people of the lands, with their abominations, which have filled it from one end to another with their uncleanness.
12 Now therefore give not your daughters unto their sons, neither take their daughters unto your sons, nor seek their peace or their wealth for ever: that ye may be strong, and eat the good of the land, and leave it for an inheritance to your children for ever.
13 And after all that is come upon us for our evil deeds, and for our great trespass, seeing that thou our God hast punished us less than our iniquities deserve, and hast given us such deliverance as this;
14 Should we again break thy commandments, and join in affinity with the people of these abominations? wouldest not thou be angry with us till thou hadst consumed us, so that there should be no remnant nor escaping?

This Evening, we begin the Acts of the Apostles. This is very nearly as important as the Gospels are - and yes, I realize that ALL Scripture is important, but it's not all equally important.
We begin with Acts chapter 1. This is the account, beginning with the Ascension of Jesus, Now they have to begin to carry out His order ''follow Me''.

Today's Reading June 14

This morning we continue in the book of Ezra, chapters 6,7,8
This is not a part of the Bible that many people get into, which is unfortunate. For it shows something of how the people of the Lord should conduct themselves in bad circumstances. Take, for example, a good verse from chapter 7,

10 For Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the law of the LORD, and to do it, and to teach in Israel statutes and judgments.

. Have we, ourselves, ''prepared our hearts to seek the law of the LORD, and to do it?''. Speaking for myself, not well.

This evening, we finish the Gospel of John, all of chapter 21
Jesus, having arisen from the grave, now meets with His disciples briefly. He gives them - and us - the marching orders ''Follow me.'' And so we should.