Psalm 44 ~ at the sight of the enemy and the avenger

Psalm 44

Max McLean Audio Bible, English Standard Version


1 O God, we have heard with our ears,
our fathers have told us,
what deeds you performed in their days,
in the days of old:
2 you with your own hand drove out the nations,
but them you planted;
you afflicted the peoples,
but them you set free;
3 for not by their own sword did they win the land,
nor did their own arm save them,
but your right hand and your arm,
and the light of your face,
for you delighted in them.

4 You are my King, O God;
ordain salvation for Jacob!
5 Through you we push down our foes;
through your name we tread down those who rise up against us.
6 For not in my bow do I trust,
nor can my sword save me.
7 But you have saved us from our foes
and have put to shame those who hate us.
8 In God we have boasted continually,
and we will give thanks to your name forever. Selah

9 But you have rejected us and disgraced us
and have not gone out with our armies.
10 You have made us turn back from the foe,
and those who hate us have gotten spoil.
11 You have made us like sheep for slaughter
and have scattered us among the nations.
12 You have sold your people for a trifle,
demanding no high price for them.
13 You have made us the taunt of our neighbors,
the derision and scorn of those around us.
14 You have made us a byword among the nations,
a laughingstock [a shaking of the head] among the peoples.
15 All day long my disgrace is before me,
and shame has covered my face
16 at the sound of the taunter and reviler,
at the sight of the enemy and the avenger.

17 All this has come upon us,
though we have not forgotten you,
and we have not been false to your covenant.
18 Our heart has not turned back,
nor have our steps departed from your way;
19 yet you have broken us in the place of jackals
and covered us with the shadow of death.
20 If we had forgotten the name of our God
or spread out our hands to a foreign god,
21 would not God discover this?
For he knows the secrets of the heart.
22 Yet for your sake we are killed all the day long;
we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.

23 Awake! Why are you sleeping, O Lord?
Rouse yourself! Do not reject us forever!
24 Why do you hide your face?
Why do you forget our affliction and oppression?
25 For our soul is bowed down to the dust;
our belly clings to the ground.
26 Rise up; come to our help!
Redeem us for the sake of your steadfast love!



~ at the sight of the enemy and the avenger.

Rarely in life are we treated to knowing exactly who and what we are dealing with, when we deal with people. Rarely, if we were to wear a word on our head would it say 'Evil.' Mostly we'd see and, might wear, "Self-centered."

How did David react to Goliath. 40 days Goliath goaded Israel. He [Goliath] said to David, “Am I a dog, that you come at me with sticks?” And the Philistine cursed David by his gods. ⁴⁴ “Come here,” he said, “and I’ll give your flesh to the birds and the wild animals!”

1 Samuel 17:
⁴⁵ David said to the Philistine, “You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the LORD Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. ⁴⁶ This day the LORD will deliver you into my hands, and I’ll strike you down and cut off your head. This very day I will give the carcasses of the Philistine army to the birds and the wild animals, and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel. ⁴⁷ All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the LORD saves; for the battle is the LORD’s, and he will give all of you into our hands.”

⁴⁸ As the Philistine moved closer to attack him, David ran quickly toward the battle line to meet him. ⁴⁹ Reaching into his bag and taking out a stone, he slung it and struck the Philistine on the forehead. The stone sank into his forehead, and he fell face down on the ground.

⁵⁰ So David triumphed over the Philistine with a sling and a stone; without a sword in his hand he struck down the Philistine and killed him.

Jesus dealt with self-centeredness in people. Jesus dealt with evil. What did Jesus do with evil? He rebuked it. And :

Luke 19:45-46
Then he entered the temple area and began driving out those who were selling."It is written," he said to them, "'My house will be a house of prayer'; but you have made it 'a den of robbers.'"

After Jesus had returned to Heaven, the disciples were picked up and arrested, just like Jesus in Acts 4. Same trial. Same rulers and elders and scribes. This time, not at night. When they asked how the disciples were performing signs as they preached about Jesus; when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated, common men, they were astonished. And they recognized that they had been with Jesus.

The disciples, who had hidden weeks earlier, were given a warning to not speak about Jesus. How did they react?

Acts 4:24-31 24
And when they heard it, they lifted their voices together to God and said, “Sovereign Lord, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and everything in them, 25 who through the mouth of our father David, your servant, said by the Holy Spirit,

“‘Why did the Gentiles rage,
and the peoples plot in vain?
26 The kings of the earth set themselves,
and the rulers were gathered together,
against the Lord and against his Anointed’ —

27 for truly in this city there were gathered together against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, 28 to do whatever your hand and your plan had predestined to take place. 29 And now, Lord, look upon their threats and grant to your servants to continue to speak your word with all boldness, 30 while you stretch out your hand to heal, and signs and wonders are performed through the name of your holy servant Jesus.” 31 And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness.

What did Timothy fight against? Timidity

2 Timothy 1:5-14
I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, dwells in you as well. 6 For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands, 7 for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.

8 Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord, nor of me his prisoner, but share in suffering for the gospel by the power of God, 9 who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began, 10 and which now has been manifested through the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel, 11 for which I was appointed a preacher and apostle and teacher, 12 which is why I suffer as I do. But I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed, and I am convinced that he is able to guard until that Day what has been entrusted to me. 13 Follow the pattern of the sound words that you have heard from me, in the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. 14 By the Holy Spirit who dwells within us, guard the good deposit entrusted to you.

Who else was timid? Paul

2 Corinthians 10:10
For they say, “His letters are weighty and strong, but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech of no account.” Let such a person understand that what we say by letter when absent, we do when present.

Really?

Philemon 1:8
Accordingly, though I am bold enough in Christ to command you to do what is required, yet for love’s sake I prefer to appeal to you—I, Paul, an old man and now a prisoner also for Christ Jesus—

Being forceful isn't my favorite thing. I like the idea of salt - flavoring our speech in a teachable way and moment. So, what did the fearful disciples, David and Jesus have in common?

Luke 19:45-46
Then he entered the temple area and began driving out those who were selling."It is written," he said to them, "'My house will be a house of prayer'; but you have made it 'a den of robbers.'"

Yes, the same verse again. Jesus, David and the disciples prayed. Jesus was so convinced of the power of prayer He said, "My House Will Be a House of Prayer!" We are the robbers when we take that out of our Temple. The Disciples, Jesus and David spent a lot of time in prayer. Jesus could have said, His blood created the House of the Covenant. Jesus could have said His House is a House of Worship. His House is a House of Holiness. His House is a House of Music. Or said Communal Prayer is a mighty thing. Jesus emphasized we are His Temple and He cares about our individual prayer. The Psalms give witness to the power of Communal Prayer, but pray. Cast your cares upon Him, for He cares for you.

Rise up; come to our help!
Redeem us for the sake of your steadfast love!

~ My house will be a house of prayer!

Father God, troubling times - the beginning of 2011. Massive fish and animal die offs. Riots around the world. Earthquakes, Tsunamis. Fire. Radiation. Wars. The Google world looking to see if it fits the end times. People feel afraid and forsaken. Lift us up, Father God, as we pray.

Strengthen our feeble arms and weak knees. Make level paths for our feet, for Your glory. So the lame may not be disabled, but rather healed. Help us strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord. Help us to show Your Love, that no one misses the grace of God. Bless us that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble.

We come to Mount Zion, to the heavenly Jerusalem, the city of the living God. We come to you in prayer, to You. Where thousands upon thousands of angels are in joyful assembly. We are Your beloved whose names are written in heaven. With the help of Your Holy Spirit, we will be righteous men made perfect.

I am still confident of this: I will see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living! We ask in the name of Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant! Amen!

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Mark 2:18-22 ~ As long as they have the bridegroom with them, they cannot fast.

Mark 2:18-22

Max McLean Audio Bible, English Standard Version

18 Now John's disciples and the Pharisees were fasting. And people came and said to him, “Why do John's disciples and the disciples of the Pharisees fast, but your disciples do not fast?” 19 And Jesus said to them, “Can the wedding guests fast while the bridegroom is with them? As long as they have the bridegroom with them, they cannot fast. 20 The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast in that day.

21 No one sews a piece of unshrunk cloth on an old garment. If he does, the patch tears away from it, the new from the old, and a worse tear is made. 22 And no one puts new wine into old wineskins. If he does, the wine will burst the skins—and the wine is destroyed, and so are the skins. But new wine is for fresh wineskins.”


When I was a small child we lived in Nice, France for almost 4 years. I loved Mardi Gras even in the rain. (It always seemed to rain and have a cold wind off of the Mediterranean.)

It's a perfect passage for Fat Tuesday, Ash Wednesday and the first Sunday in Lent.



I remember the big parade !! & the colorful, round paper confetti (that was so much fun to throw and then the wind would fling it back on you). It always seemed to rain. But that was okay, after a few months of winter in the Mediterranean - color seemed to disappear. Grey skies, lots of wind, even the sea would turn rather gray. Mardi Gras would bring the color back. It was like the beginning of the sunny skies, the sunlight reflecting off of the bright buildings. Even the paint on the crepe-paper faces of the big cartoon heads was exciting.

The festival would go on for 10 days. Sounds great doesn't it!! Nah, not to a small child. You'd be in the back of the car and suddenly down the Promenade des Anglais, there would be a lone colorful cartoon head!!! Yeah! Then you'd realize there isn't another one. And the confetti on the ground is starting to look like week old snow. - Just like discovering a gift under the Christmas tree the day after - someone practical is saving an empty box....


Lent is like that. Mardi Gras ! New wine - old wine! It doesn't matter!!! Joyeux de Vivre! But quickly Mardi Gras is over. With a thud. Spring is not here and the winter just might continue.

Ash Wednesday, what a jolt. Dust to dust, ashes to ashes. Deeeeeeepressing. Ha! The dust on my forehead is going away, but man, yours is imbedded in your wrink.... Never mind.

And Lent... wow. Giving up chocolate. Or sweets was a great one for my mom. (She didn't have a sweet tooth and let's be honest, it cut down on the trips down the aisle for the grocery and was just one less thing to keep up with!)

Let's have a parable for the very familiar new wine, new wineskins, bridegroom fasting ..... because this is the beginning of Lent.... Mardi Gras is over too soon, Ash Wednesday is too long, and it sets the precedent for Lent being too long to the Easter eggs and bunny and candy.

Who else felt this way? Jesus' cousin, John the Baptist....

John 1:30-34 30
This is he of whom I said, ‘After me comes a man who ranks before me, because he was before me.’ 31 I myself did not know him, but for this purpose I came baptizing with water, that he might be revealed to Israel.” 32 And John bore witness: “I saw the Spirit descend from heaven like a dove, and it remained on him. 33 I myself did not know him, but he who sent me to baptize with water said to me, ‘He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain, this is he who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’ 34 And I have seen and have borne witness that this is the Son of God.”

So why, why doesn't John recognize his cousin Jesus? (Why don't we see Lent as an opportunity for both new wine, wineskins and feasting with the bridegroom?)

It's pretty obvious when we add up what we know. It seems we must look at this question. John's parents were old when he was born. As people become very aged, they do not travel greatly. Traveling was difficult even for the young. John's parents lived 90 miles from Jesus. John surely heard, in his youth, about Jesus and the "funny circumstances" surrounding the quick wedding of pregnant, un-wed cousin Mary. When we see the Gospels record only cousin Elizabeth's support for Mary, we must also remember John the Baptist probably heard more of the rumors from more of the family - who are not remembered in the Scriptures. (We have an ingrained pattern of Lent if we grew up in the Church. Plodding along with the usual traditions.)

So .... why didn't John recognize Jesus??? For the same reasons we didn't recognize Jesus until we invited Him to be part of us. Before we really knew Him: we heard about Jesus from other sources. Not all the sources were credible. Family (Church) is sometimes boring and the time it takes to get there and back is too long. Why put the effort into going when people aren't always nice? We missed the family get-togethers (Church) for so long, people hassle us about That too. If you don't remember the family stories correctly there is mocking. It's all a big tangle to sort out and we have other things to do.

Then, more importantly, it comes to the decision time. As John grew spiritually into God's plan for him, Jesus became important to him. John took the time to dwell and think about who Jesus is. God revealed not just family, a good man, but a Savior. John, bravely, and with certainty says, "And I have seen and have borne witness that this is the Son of God."

Now, again, how does this relate to Lent? Lent is the anticipation of enduring Good Friday to the hope of Easter. Pope John Paul said, "Do not abandon yourselves to despair. We are the Easter people and hallelujah is our song!"

Lent isn't the left over gift under the Christmas tree. Lent is the blessing of reevaluation. An opportunity not to give up something, but to present to the LORD something you think would improve you. A gift to give to God Almighty saying, you've given me the Son of God. I'd like You to have this from me as a willing gift.

Something bright, shiny and new to give to the One who Loves you best.

Romans 12:9-18
Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. 10 Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. 11 Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. 12 Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. 13 Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality. 14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. 16 Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight. 17 Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. 18 If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.



May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.


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40 Days of "Stronger"

Stronger: Forty Days of Metal and Spirituality

New York Times bestselling author Brian "Head" Welch returns with a raw and unforgettable journey through his life with Christ and the scripture that has helped lead him into deeper intimacy with God

In 2007, Brian “Head” Welch, the former lead guitarist for the hard-rock band Korn, shared the dramatic story of his music, drug addiction, and miraculous redemption through Jesus Christ in his New York Times bestselling book, Save Me from Myself. Inspiring and compelling, this book began a new chapter in his life, as he acknowledged the mistakes of his past and looked forward to a brighter future with God at his side.

Now in Stronger, Head continues to share his personal life with an unflinching forty-day devotional of scriptures that have helped him to mold his Christian faith and find light during life’s darkest moments. Written with passion and openness, this forty-day journey offers stories from Head’s past and present, as he speaks candidly about his bouts of depression since finding God, his struggles against the darkness as he’s tried to understand his faith, and how, through these times of weakness, God’s written word has been one of the keys to making him stronger than he’s ever been. Applying both the Old and New Testaments to every aspect of his life—from his time with Korn to his new solo career to his life-altering decisions to his relationship with his daughter—Head details how, no matter what the issue, God has always provided the guidance he’s needed to become a stronger person.

One part journal chronicling his evolving relationship with God, one part spiritual testament to the undeniable strength of the Bible, Stronger is a devotional unlike any other—both a moving tribute to the transformative power of the word and a no-holds-barred look at what it means to give yourself completely to Jesus Christ.

2011 Interview, first half is the interview with Brian Welch. 700 Club.



2 years ago, Brian Head explains his belief in Jesus.

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Luke 4 ~ if you, then, will worship me

Luke 4

Max McLean Audio Bible, English Standard Version

And Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the wilderness 2 for forty days, being tempted by the devil. And he ate nothing during those days. And when they were ended, he was hungry. 3 The devil said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command this stone to become bread.” 4 And Jesus answered him, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone.’” 5 And the devil took him up and showed him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time, 6 and said to him, “To you I will give all this authority and their glory, for it has been delivered to me, and I give it to whom I will. 7 If you, then, will worship me, it will all be yours.” 8 And Jesus answered him, “It is written,
“‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and him only shall you serve.’”

9 And he took him to Jerusalem and set him on the pinnacle of the temple and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down from here, 10 for it is written,
“‘He will command his angels concerning you, to guard you,’

11 and
“‘On their hands they will bear you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone.’”

12 And Jesus answered him, “It is said, ‘You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.’” 13 And when the devil had ended every temptation, he departed from him until an opportune time.

14 And Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit to Galilee, and a report about him went out through all the surrounding country. 15 And he taught in their synagogues, being glorified by all.

16 And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up. And as was his custom, he went to the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and he stood up to read. 17 And the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written,

18 “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, 19 to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor.”

20 And he rolled up the scroll and gave it back to the attendant and sat down. And the eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him. 21 And he began to say to them, “Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.” 22 And all spoke well of him and marveled at the gracious words that were coming from his mouth. And they said, “Is not this Joseph's son?” 23 And he said to them, “Doubtless you will quote to me this proverb, ‘Physician, heal yourself.’ What we have heard you did at Capernaum, do here in your hometown as well.”

24 And he said, “Truly, I say to you, no prophet is acceptable in his hometown. 25 But in truth, I tell you, there were many widows in Israel in the days of Elijah, when the heavens were shut up three years and six months, and a great famine came over all the land, 26 and Elijah was sent to none of them but only to Zarephath, in the land of Sidon, to a woman who was a widow. 27 And there were many lepers [Leprosy was a term for several skin diseases; see Leviticus 13] in Israel in the time of the prophet Elisha, and none of them was cleansed, but only Naaman the Syrian.”

28 When they heard these things, all in the synagogue were filled with wrath. 29 And they rose up and drove him out of the town and brought him to the brow of the hill on which their town was built, so that they could throw him down the cliff. 30 But passing through their midst, he went away.

31 And he went down to Capernaum, a city of Galilee. And he was teaching them on the Sabbath, 32 and they were astonished at his teaching, for his word possessed authority. 33 And in the synagogue there was a man who had the spirit of an unclean demon, and he cried out with a loud voice, 34 “Ha! [Leave us alone] What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God.” 35 But Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be silent and come out of him!” And when the demon had thrown him down in their midst, he came out of him, having done him no harm. 36 And they were all amazed and said to one another, “What is this word? For with authority and power he commands the unclean spirits, and they come out!” 37 And reports about him went out into every place in the surrounding region.

38 And he arose and left the synagogue and entered Simon's house. Now Simon's mother-in-law was ill with a high fever, and they appealed to him on her behalf. 39 And he stood over her and rebuked the fever, and it left her, and immediately she rose and began to serve them.

40 Now when the sun was setting, all those who had any who were sick with various diseases brought them to him, and he laid his hands on every one of them and healed them. 41 And demons also came out of many, crying, “You are the Son of God!” But he rebuked them and would not allow them to speak, because they knew that he was the Christ.

42 And when it was day, he departed and went into a desolate place. And the people sought him and came to him, and would have kept him from leaving them, 43 but he said to them, “I must preach the good news of the kingdom of God to the other towns as well; for I was sent for this purpose.” 44 And he was preaching in the synagogues of Judea [Galilee].


The Holy Spirit never took David up and showed him any kingdom and said "If you will do thus and so, you will have this Kingdom and for your sons as well." Instead David was anointed of God, told he was the anointed to be King of Israel and then had to work out his own behavior to please the LORD. So, David was given the blessing of knowing how it would turn out, but the ABC directions were written in Scripture on how David was to treat the Lord, treat Saul, treat people who followed him, treat people who opposed him and treat people who opposed the Lord.

The devil wasn't clear who Jesus was. Or the evil one might have been just asking for a show of power, but the chapter the devil is repeating is Deuteronomy 8. This is the information the Lord told Moses about temptation. I always thought the devil lived in hell, but recently was informed the Scriptures say he roams the earth. Surely if the evil one wanted badly to find what would sway this One who has the Spirit of a Dove land on Him and a Voice from Heaven say, "This is my beloved Son, I am well pleased." Then the evil one would look for all effective weaponry Heaven says would work. Deuteronomy 8 is all about living high and comfortably, without the Lord, yet resting upon His blessings.

The temptation is interesting in and of itself. The devil doesn't have to be truthful in the tempting, not even with the Son of God. The devil says all nations and their authority and glory belong to him. Yet in the Old Testament, the devil asks God to interfere and makes plans on his own, but the Scriptures are clear all the plans coming to fruition belong to the Lord. Jesus said the New Covenant cast Satan out of Heaven like a bolt of lightning. The devil promises things not belonging to him, by unscrupulous means, with a conniving, convincing reason to enact sin. Even if Jesus had not recognized him as the devil, Jesus would have known what was asked was wrong.

Psalm 24:1
The earth is the Lord's and the fullness thereof,
the world and those who dwell therein


Proverbs 16:4
The Lord has made everything for its purpose,
even the wicked for the day of trouble.


Revelation 4:11
“Worthy are you, our Lord and God,
to receive glory and honor and power,
for you created all things,
and by your will they existed and were created.”

Jesus, as God, places "proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor.”

above

"all this authority and their glory."

God is telling us, today, we are more important to Him than authority and glory. God chose! He chose to live among us. In Revelation we are told God intends to dwell among us.


John 1
All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

To all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God. And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.

And from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace.

Blessed are You, Lord God Almighty. And Your only Son, Jesus Christ. We abide in You, Father, now and always, in the blessing of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

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Acts 6 ~ obedient to the faith

"No foreigner is to enter within the balustrade and embankment around the sanctuary. Whoever is caught will have himself to blame for his death which follows." Both Greek (above and there are 2 Greek signs discovered) and Latin versions of this warning were posted at regular intervals around the balustrade).The engraved block of limestone is about 22 inches high by 33 inches long. Each letter was nearly 1 1/2 inches high and originally painted with red ink against the white limestone. Part of another sign was unearthed in 1936. Currently locatated in the Archaeological Museum of Istanbul, Turkey. It is a fairly well-known and understood archaeological find, labeled CIJ 2.1400

Rather more obscure is CIJ 2.1404 The Theodotus Inscription. Not all of the Second (or First) Temple is completely understood. 75 centimeters long.
The Theodotus inscription (CIJ 2.1404) was discovered in a Jerusalem cistern by R. Weill in 1913. It dates to the first century AD prior to the Temple's destruction. Significantly, the inscription reveals that three generations of priests served as the "rulers of the synagogue" (archisynagôgoi - the Greek word) mentioned in the dedication. Translation:

Theodotus, (son) of Vettenus, priest and
archisynagôgos, son of an archisynagôgos,
grandson of an archisynagôgos, built
the synagogue for the reading of the law and
the teaching of the commandments, and
the guest-chamber and the rooms and the
water installations for lodging for those needing them
from abroad, which his fathers, the elders
and Simonides founded

The area, above, is the larger map with the area pointing to the pool where the stone was found. The area C2 is where the stone was located, below in the larger map.
1913 photo of the discovery. Along with the inscription, additional artifacts were found in the cistern. They had been deliberately deposited there. Perhaps one of the members of the congregation, or someone who had received from their hospitality, planned to return to the site after the destruction of Jerusalem and buried the remains of the building, hoping to reconstruct it someday.


Acts 6

Max McLean Audio Bible, English Standard Version

1 Now in these days when the disciples were increasing in number, a complaint by the Hellenists [Greek-speaking Jews] arose against the Hebrews because their widows were being neglected in the daily distribution. 2 And the twelve summoned the full number of the disciples and said, “It is not right that we should give up preaching the word of God to serve tables. 3 Therefore, brothers, [brothers and sisters] pick out from among you seven men of good repute, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we will appoint to this duty. 4 But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.” 5 And what they said pleased the whole gathering, and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolaus, a proselyte of Antioch. 6 These they set before the apostles, and they prayed and laid their hands on them.

7 And the word of God continued to increase, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests became obedient to the faith. 8 And Stephen, full of grace and power, was doing great wonders and signs among the people.

9 Then some of those who belonged to the synagogue of the Freedmen (as it was called), and of the Cyrenians, and of the Alexandrians, and of those from Cilicia and Asia, rose up and disputed with Stephen. 10 But they could not withstand the wisdom and the Spirit with which he was speaking. 11 Then they secretly instigated men who said, “We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses and God.” 12 And they stirred up the people and the elders and the scribes, and they came upon him and seized him and brought him before the council, 13 and they set up false witnesses who said, “This man never ceases to speak words against this holy place and the law, 14 for we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place and will change the customs that Moses delivered to us.”

15 And gazing at him, all who sat in the council saw that his face was like the face of an angel.



All of these people being obedient to the faith - until it comes to power, jealousy, and seeking to kill Stephen. Preceding the lies and the plots to kill, we saw in Acts 5 multitudes have come to the Temple. The Theodotus Inscription describes itself as a Synagogue having a worship place and lodging place for foreigners. Acts 5 had the disciples moving directly into Solomon's Porch, part of the Temple Mount. Acts 6 describes them in the Foreigners Freedman Synagogue.

This is overlooked. Not only did the disciples convert like a rocket - from hiding while the women go to anoint Jesus' body, but they are so bold, they are holding religious services openly as part of the Synagogue place reserved for Gentiles and doing service for Christ in the actual Temple. How did they have this boldness.... incredible.... priests were being converted.

Doesn't the statue say something about this? This is Glenna Goodacre's statue, not of Stephen, but the joy these men had to carry on Jesus' words and works. Jesus was tried at night by the High Priests, stripped, beaten almost to death, paraded, yet not destroyed. Even Josephus, the Judean General who switched sides to Rome to become the historian to 3 Emperors, wrote the Christians didn't disband after their Christ was killed. " After the Crucifixion of Jesus, James the brother of Jesus became the leader of the Jewish sect that would become known as Jewish Christianity. James "the Just", remained its leader until he was martyred c.62 AD."

Paul was the last of the men referred to as disciples to see the Resurrected Jesus. He proclaimed. John wrote 16 times of the Glory of Jesus. Peter wrote of the Glory. Sometimes today, we forget how the obscure death of one Man, who died for our sins, rocked the planet in just a few years. In less than 16 years, Emperors of the Roman Empire were bent on destroying all the people they could lay hands on for worshiping the Son of God.

1 Timothy 3:16
Beyond all question, the mystery of godliness is great:
He appeared in a body,
was vindicated by the Spirit,
was seen by angels,
was preached among the nations,
was believed on in the world,
was taken up in glory!

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Psalm 57 ~ for the 5th Largest Earthquake in the world. Largest Tsunami for Japan. Then Fires.

Psalm 57

1 Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me,
for in you my soul takes refuge;
in the shadow of your wings I will take refuge,
till the storms of destruction pass by.
2 I cry out to God Most High,
to God who fulfills his purpose for me.
3 He will send from heaven and save me;
he will put to shame him who tramples on me. Selah
God will send out his steadfast love and his faithfulness!

4 My soul is in the midst of lions;
I lie down amid fiery beasts—
the children of man, whose teeth are spears and arrows,
whose tongues are sharp swords.

5 Be exalted, O God, above the heavens!
Let your glory be over all the earth!

6 They set a net for my steps;
my soul was bowed down.
They dug a pit in my way,
but they have fallen into it themselves. Selah
7 My heart is steadfast, O God,
my heart is steadfast!
I will sing and make melody!
8 Awake, my glory!
Awake, O harp and lyre!
I will awake the dawn!
9 I will give thanks to you, O Lord, among the peoples;
I will sing praises to you among the nations.
10 For your steadfast love is great to the heavens,
your faithfulness to the clouds.

11 Be exalted, O God, above the heavens!
Let your glory be over all the earth!


Cataclysmic events in Japan. We have a good friend who has spent years with us at our home stationed in the Japanese island of Okinawa as an EMT. Everyone there is accounted for. Many in Japan are far from this fortunate.

Houston experienced Hurricane Katrina as the evacuees poured in to the Stadium and the hotels were full. 2nd Baptist Church called a meeting with every Christian pastor to attend and the hotels and areas were divided into a grid. The stadium evacuees and the hotel evacuees were fed by the Churches for over 3 months every night. Churches from hundreds of miles away donated time, food, clothing. Our Church collected furniture and household goods as well as moving our evacuees into apartments. At the end of the 3 months, the evacuees held a BBQ buffet for us. During their stay with us, babies were born (2) and one family experienced the death of 2 family members due to the overwhelming stress of being completely homeless. The man of that family said only hope, faith and love where getting him through it. Hope - he knew God would help him through, Faith - God is still at work, Love- all the love given to him for a lifetime. We both stood in the parking lot and cried as he told me this.

So, what is the Google world doing with this information? A whole lot of people are looking to see if this is the end times.

Matthew 24:3-14
3 As he sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things be, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the close of the age?” 4 And Jesus answered them, “See that no one leads you astray. 5 For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and they will lead many astray. 6 And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not alarmed, for this must take place, but the end is not yet. 7 For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places. 8 All these are but the beginning of the birth pains.
 

9 “Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations for my name's sake. 10 And then many will fall away and betray one another and hate one another. 11 And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray. 12 And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold. 13 But the one who endures to the end will be saved. 14 And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.

My honest, prayerful opinion is that this Is a taste of the end times. But Not the End for some great amount of time. Why? The huge amount of people going to seek the LORD. The history of how bad humanity has been is.... so long. Notre Dame was defiled during the French Revolution; 30,000 priests were harmed. It wasn't the end of Christ in France.

The end of Jesus Christ.... that is what the end is seeking to be. People seeking to do away with Scripture. To establish whatever man decides is just. How frightening. Yes. We have a taste of this in the way life is portrayed in the media. But people still really believe in God, go to Church and seek Him.

We look for the life of the world to come. The Dallas Park Cities Baptist Church steeple and clock says "Night Comes."

John 9:4
We must work the works of him who sent me while it is day; night is coming, when no one can work.

This is not new. Too often we are observers. Really believing Christians hunker down. No. This isn't what we should do. We need to remember - Christians have always believed Jesus is coming back for them. Mostly we are going to experience this at our own, God-planned for, natural death. But it is day, and we need to find the blessings in each day He provides for us. To help those in need. Yes, of course to the Christian relief efforts in areas with tragedy, but we Know we all have people in our lives with the tragedy of no hope or belief in the redemption of Jesus Christ. We are called to be salt and light. Not ram our faith down the throat of people. Not hunker down believing this is the drain and so scary. No, the love and care of Jesus given. Continual prayer offered. Help given. Encouragement given. Acts of kindness and compassion.

Not rushing off to another country to do God's work. Of course we need to do this as well. But to realize God has given - each of us - a corner of this earth to do for Him what we can. At Church. At work. In our neighborhoods. In our families.

If we sit back and observe - the love of many will grow cold. How will this be the Light of Jesus Christ?
 

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Psalm 81 ~ open your mouth wide

 I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it. ~ Mark 10:15

Psalm 81


1 Sing aloud to God our strength;
shout for joy to the God of Jacob!
2 Raise a song; sound the tambourine,
the sweet lyre with the harp.
3 Blow the trumpet at the new moon,
at the full moon, on our feast day.

4 For it is a statute for Israel,
a rule [just decree] of the God of Jacob.
5 He made it a decree in Joseph
when he went out over [against] the land of Egypt.
I hear a language I had not known:
6 “I relieved your [his; also next line] shoulder of the burden;
your hands were freed from the basket.
7 In distress you called, and I delivered you;
I answered you in the secret place of thunder;
I tested you at the waters of Meribah [quarreling]. Selah
8 Hear, O my people, while I admonish you!
O Israel, if you would but listen to me!
9 There shall be no strange god among you;
you shall not bow down to a foreign god.
10 I am the Lord your God,
who brought you up out of the land of Egypt.
Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it.

11 “But my people did not listen to my voice;
Israel would not submit to me.
12 So I gave them over to their stubborn hearts,
to follow their own counsels.
13 Oh, that my people would listen to me,
that Israel would walk in my ways!
14 I would soon subdue their enemies
and turn my hand against their foes.
15 Those who hate the Lord would cringe toward him,
and their fate would last forever.
16 But he would feed you [Israel; Hebrew him] with the finest of the wheat,
and with honey from the rock I would satisfy you.”


Is the glass 1/2 full or empty? In this Psalm we are given a statute, a rule, a just decree and seemingly just the hope to just open our mouths to God's blessings. It is both a Psalm of hope and an appeal to us to have more faith in our souls and actions.
The Scriptures are neither 1/2 full or 1/2 empty. They are the Word of the Lord. A statute is a formal written enactment of a legislative authority that governs a state, city, or county. Except in the Scriptures it is much more vital, living and important! The law isn't the 10 commandments every word coming from His mouth, it is:

2 Timothy 3:16
All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work.

More important than empty or full. It's the LORD who doesn't change. Times are difficult during this intense year. Even in Deuteronomy - Christians don't find very exciting, Deuteronomy 5 is about Father God wanting to willingly bless. Just like this Psalm. Prayer isn't the dry need to cultivate a needy Deity.

What we usually pray to God is not that His will be done, but that He approves ours.

~Helga Bergold Gross

Prayer is about opening ourselves to the willingness of God. Just as the LORD tested the Children of Israel at Meribah As long as there are tests, there will be prayer in schools. Prayer is a conversation!

What is the factor of variation seeming to exist in this Psalm? It is within your soul and my soul. It is the expectation God hears our prayer conversations. That this life is meaningful and the works and words accomplished in them matter to Him. Greatly.

Psalm 126 is a great example of this. It tells us of great blessings to come and the desire for more blessings. And ends with:

He who goes out weeping,
bearing the seed for sowing,
shall come home with shouts of joy,
bringing his sheaves with him.

Shouts of joy are required!

Father God, each day help us to cultivate the garden you've given us for our lives. Help us to work in Your Light. Help us to weed out what is not holy in Your eyes, even when we cherish that weed. Help us to see, diligently, Your blessings even when it is rain. Let us be children of Light even when we work with fertilizer. And in the reading of Your Word, help us also to be do-ers, let our lives reflect Your work in our garden. Bless our garden, like a mustard seed, which we took and planted in the garden You've give us. Let it grow and became a tree, so the birds of the air perched in its branches may sing to Your glory. Help us not to cultivate the garden for our use alone, but to be blessings to others with a generous heart.

Father God, teach us to let our words, our time, our talent be the meditation of the heart You hope for. May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer. In the holiest name of Jesus Christ we pray. Amen.

Genesis 45:1-15 ~ he wept

Jesus Wept, painted by Mark Spears



Genesis 45:1-15
Audio for all of Genesis 45

¹ Then Joseph could no longer control himself before all his attendants, and he cried out, "Have everyone leave my presence!" So there was no one with Joseph when he made himself known to his brothers. ² And he wept so loudly that the Egyptians heard him, and Pharaoh's household heard about it.

³ Joseph said to his brothers, "I am Joseph! Is my father still living?" But his brothers were not able to answer him, because they were terrified at his presence.

⁴ Then Joseph said to his brothers, "Come close to me." When they had done so, he said, "I am your brother Joseph, the one you sold into Egypt! ⁵ And now, do not be distressed and do not be angry with yourselves for selling me here, because it was to save lives that God sent me ahead of you. ⁶ For two years now there has been famine in the land, and for the next five years there will not be plowing and reaping. ⁷ But God sent me ahead of you to preserve for you a remnant on earth and to save your lives by a great deliverance.

⁸ "So then, it was not you who sent me here, but God. He made me father to Pharaoh, lord of his entire household and ruler of all Egypt. ⁹ Now hurry back to my father and say to him, 'This is what your son Joseph says: God has made me lord of all Egypt. Come down to me; don't delay. ¹⁰ You shall live in the region of Goshen and be near me—you, your children and grandchildren, your flocks and herds, and all you have. ¹¹ I will provide for you there, because five years of famine are still to come. Otherwise you and your household and all who belong to you will become destitute.'

¹² "You can see for yourselves, and so can my brother Benjamin, that it is really I who am speaking to you. ¹³ Tell my father about all the honor accorded me in Egypt and about everything you have seen. And bring my father down here quickly."

¹⁴ Then he threw his arms around his brother Benjamin and wept, and Benjamin embraced him, weeping. ¹⁵ And he kissed all his brothers and wept over them. Afterward his brothers talked with him.

John 11:35
Jesus wept.

By Dr. George C. Anderson

The good news in the story of Joseph is forgiveness. God wants us to know Joseph’s compassion didn’t come from a careless heart or a blasé heart. The good news of forgiveness is repeated when Jesus wept for Lazarus, "Jesus wept." God will get us from the valley of the shadow of death to the summit. He will meet us at our lowest place and stay with us until we get to a better place. He will meet us in our grief, in our fear, in our doubt, in our despair, in our dark depression. In Christ, God joins his cry to ours. He shares in our grieving so as to share in our rejoicing. God joins us in the verse "Jesus wept."

I say this for all those who may have lost loved ones months, even years ago, and who still grieve, maybe with added pain because others have gone on with their lives and have perhaps forgotten how much was lost in yours. There is good news in knowing the weeping came from Jesus Himself. By His grace, our sighs can become our prayers to the one who raised Lazarus and did not Himself remain in the grave. The Spirit of that resurrected One will join with our spirit and share in the sigh too deep for words and raise it as an offering to the throne of grace.

Repeat Scripture for Today Blogspot.com from 3/9/09

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Ephesians 4 ~ speaking the truth in Love

After a life of 30 years being Protestant (with years of parochial schools), with an Episcopalian Great-Uncle Priest always sitting at the head of the table for Holidays and lots of Sunday dinners, we were Catholic for 5 years before moving, and joining the Anglican Church for the last 11 years. When I used to tell our priest how I liked his sermon, he used to reply, "I'm just teaching myself." After having a spate of grumpiness, this one is another one for "I'm just teaching myself."

My friend Dee sat next to me today at Needlepoint and said she hadn't enjoyed her last Ray Vander Laan bible study because it made her unhappy. A most unusual response. Why? Ray (we all like) said the Children of Israel were grumpy. And Dee said she could understand why. The video showed the well in the desert where the Israelis were tired of wandering in the dry and the heat, without shelter, without food, and without water. Dee said she Knew she'd be Grumpy. And she felt bad.

I didn't feel bad. No, not the one having the "cross your path and I'll be speaking to you week." After wanting to chew out 6 people in 3 days, I realized I am grumpy. Bone Deep Grumpy. Spring Break / College Students who Whine, Stay-cation versus Slump-cation Grumpy. I'll give you - Israel in the Desert - Week.

So.... here is the passage I looked up on anger. 113 times angry is mentioned and 268 for anger. 1200 pages in the King James Version.

Ephesians 4

Max McLean Audio Bible, English Standard Version

I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, 2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, 3 eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 4 There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call— 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. 7 But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ's gift. 8 Therefore it says,

“When he ascended on high he led a host of captives,
and he gave gifts to men.”

9 (In saying, “He ascended,” what does it mean but that he had also descended into the lower regions, the earth? [the lower parts of the earth?] 10 He who descended is the one who also ascended far above all the heavens, that he might fill all things.) 11 And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds [pastors] and teachers, [the shepherd-teachers] 12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, 13 until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, [to a full-grown man] to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, 14 so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. 15 Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, 16 from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.


17 Now this I say and testify in the Lord, that you must no longer walk as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their minds. 18 They are darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, due to their hardness of heart. 19 They have become callous and have given themselves up to sensuality, greedy to practice every kind of impurity. 20 But that is not the way you learned Christ!— 21 assuming that you have heard about him and were taught in him, as the truth is in Jesus, 22 to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, 23 and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, 24 and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.

25 Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another. 26 Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, 27 and give no opportunity to the devil. 28 Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need. 29 Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. 30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31 Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. 32 Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.

I rather like the earnest way this passage is read. Sort of like the way I speak to my sons before I really wind up, but they should know I am ... serious. Rather like the black and white billboards that are messages.


Anger is an emotion. Emotion finds it difficult to sit still and learn. What did you hear (regardless of your emotions right this minute, you are probably not even irritated)?

Without looking back, I heard: I am a new creation in Jesus Christ. Not allowed to be tossed to and fro with emotions. To remember I have been forgiven for a multitude of little petty selfishnesses and for the things that embarrass me. For the things that shame me. I am called to listen to God. Speaking the truth in Love will be the phrase that will carry me through.

Jesus is the Good Shepherd. He didn't slap hands away and tell them to leave Him alone for a moment to think. He did not put a noose of truth around someone and tell them it was for their own good. Jesus never did learn how to lasso.

Just maybe, I am called to remember the Children of Israel were seriously thirsty, hungry, bewildered in the Exodus. I am not even at that point. And remember life does not circle me. Precious, chosen, special, planned for, name in the book of life does not mean... me, me, me and more me. God is for me. I need to remember it is for Him.

One Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.

He calls us to be part of His one body.

Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.

What am I called to do?

2 Peter 3:18
Grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.

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Psalm 5 ~ for You bless the righteous, O Lord

Psalm 5

Max McLean Audio Bible, English Standard Version


1 Give ear to my words, O Lord;
consider my groaning.
2 Give attention to the sound of my cry,
my King and my God,
for to you do I pray.
3 O Lord, in the morning you hear my voice;
in the morning I prepare a sacrifice for you [I direct my prayer to you] and watch.

4 For you are not a God who delights in wickedness;
evil may not dwell with you.
5 The boastful shall not stand before your eyes;
you hate all evildoers.
6 You destroy those who speak lies;
the Lord abhors the bloodthirsty and deceitful man.

7 But I, through the abundance of your steadfast love,
will enter your house.
I will bow down toward your holy temple
in the fear of you.
8 Lead me, O Lord, in your righteousness
because of my enemies;
make your way straight before me.

9 For there is no truth in their mouth;
their inmost self is destruction;
their throat is an open grave;
they flatter with their tongue.
10 Make them bear their guilt, O God;
let them fall by their own counsels;
because of the abundance of their transgressions cast them out,
for they have rebelled against you.

11 But let all who take refuge in you rejoice;
let them ever sing for joy,
and spread your protection over them,
that those who love your name may exult in you.
12 For you bless the righteous, O Lord;
you cover him with favor as with a shield.

Had a morning start out where the tea kettle wasn't on the stove - where it lives.... What. Asked my spring break college student son - Alexander if he knew about it, after throwing a prize fit. Yes, it was in the garage, he used the steam to un-bend my fender. And it un-bent. Guess I will too.

Some words are filled with faith (I believe!), hope (He means me!), and Love (All there ever was and could be directed to the soul God created to be - special, chosen, precious - you).

Behold is one of the phrases. In this Psalm, watch is the key word. Watch for answered pray, watch for favor as with a shield. Sing for Joy. I will exult in You. God hears our voice in prayer.

Psalm 28:2
Hear my cry for mercy as I call to you for help, as I lift up my hands toward your Most Holy Place.

Psalm 63:4
I will praise you as long as I live, and in your name I will lift up my hands.

Psalm 77:2
When I was in distress, I sought the Lord; at night I stretched out untiring hands, and I would not be comforted.

Psalm 134:2
Lift up your hands in the sanctuary and praise the LORD.

Psalm 141:2
May my prayer be set before you like incense; may the lifting up of my hands be like the evening sacrifice.

Psalm 143:6
I spread out my hands to you; I thirst for you like a parched land.

Father God, You know me. You know my Spirit, You formed my inward parts;
You knitted me together in my mother's womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are Your works; my soul knows it very well. My frame was not hidden from You, when I was being made in secret. How well You know me, You know I am a frozen chosen when it comes to lifting my hands in public. How You laugh. Father, but You know my Spirit. Your face Lord, do I seek. The joy to know You hear our prayers and they Delight You. Blessed be the Lord God forever. Blessed be Your Son, Jesus. Amen.

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