1 Samuel 1:9-20 ~ all the days of his life

Shiloh was the center of worship, before the Temple was built by Solomon. The Iron Age Archaeological digs of Shiloh remains yielded a pillared two storey public building near the top of the tel. Collared rim storage jars found in these buildings, pointing to usage as part of worship complex. More than 20 silos were uncovered from this era, included one with carbonized wheat. The destruction layer evident throughout the tel may have occurred in the wake of the Philistine victory at Eben-Ezer. One of the more intriguing finds was that of a heap of pottery outside the city wall. This pile of pottery was the remnant of a number of animal sacrifices, which were tossed over the wall after completion of the ritual and then buried. This find points to a sacral status of Shiloh during the Canaanite period, and by the Israelites. The top of the tel, where Finkelstein supposes that the tabernacle would have been placed, is now just exposed bedrock.

The current synagogue is a copy of the Original Tabernacle.

1 Samuel 1:9-20

9 After they had eaten and drunk in Shiloh, Hannah rose. Now Eli the priest was sitting on the seat beside the doorpost of the temple of the Lord. 10 She was deeply distressed and prayed to the Lord and wept bitterly. 11 And she vowed a vow and said, “O Lord of hosts, if you will indeed look on the affliction of your servant and remember me and not forget your servant, but will give to your servant a son, then I will give him to the Lord all the days of his life, and no razor shall touch his head.”

12 As she continued praying before the Lord, Eli observed her mouth. 13 Hannah was speaking in her heart; only her lips moved, and her voice was not heard. Therefore Eli took her to be a drunken woman. 14 And Eli said to her, “How long will you go on being drunk? Put your wine away from you.” 15 But Hannah answered, “No, my lord, I am a woman troubled in spirit. I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink, but I have been pouring out my soul before the Lord. 16 Do not regard your servant as a worthless woman, for all along I have been speaking out of my great anxiety and vexation.” 17 Then Eli answered, “Go in peace, and the God of Israel grant your petition that you have made to him.” 18 And she said, “Let your servant find favor in your eyes.” Then the woman went her way and ate, and her face was no longer sad.

19 They rose early in the morning and worshiped before the Lord; then they went back to their house at Ramah. And Elkanah knew Hannah his wife, and the Lord remembered her. 20 And in due time Hannah conceived and bore a son, and she called his name Samuel, for she said, “I have asked for him from the Lord.”

Hannah and the Lord God are on the same path. They both want Hannah to have a child and for that child to live to the glory of God. It was a good, a very sweet time for Father God to richly reward Hannah for her faith. We all have something in our lives that we are equally grateful for.

We praise you, Lord God Almighty! You have upheld us. And You overcome. In the name of Jesus Christ the Lord. Amen.

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Matthew 12:14-21 ~ But the Pharisees went out and conspired against Him, how to destroy Him.

Matthew 12:14-21

But the Pharisees went out and conspired against him, how to destroy him.

15 Jesus, aware of this, withdrew from there. And many followed him, and he healed them all 16 and ordered them not to make him known. 17 This was to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah:

18 “Behold, my servant whom I have chosen,
my beloved with whom my soul is well pleased.
I will put my Spirit upon him,
and he will proclaim justice to the Gentiles.
19 He will not quarrel or cry aloud,
nor will anyone hear his voice in the streets;
20 a bruised reed he will not break,
and a smoldering wick he will not quench,
until he brings justice to victory;
21 and in his name the Gentiles will hope.”


Jesus created controversy.

People came to the core of their souls, their true desires and found a knot, a clash, a joy, a resounding hope, a fear of loss of power. He, as the Word of God made flesh, was alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, Jesus penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; He could judge the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.

What did the prophets have in common? They hoped in HIM. Jesus is our hero. He healed all who followed Him. Justice, Peace, Gentleness, Quenching the weary, Bearing their burdens.

Isaiah 35
the wilderness will rejoice and blossom.
Like the crocus, 2 it will burst into bloom;
it will rejoice greatly and shout for joy.
The glory of Lebanon will be given to it,
the splendor of Carmel and Sharon;
they will see the glory of the Lord,
the splendor of our God.

3 Strengthen the feeble hands,
steady the knees that give way;
4 say to those with fearful hearts,
“Be strong, do not fear;
your God will come

Hosea 6
“Come, let us return to the Lord.
He has torn us to pieces
but he will heal us;
he has injured us
but he will bind up our wounds.
2 After two days he will revive us;
on the third day he will restore us,
that we may live in his presence.


2 Corinthians 4:6
For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.


1 Corinthians 1:18
For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.

John 14:6

Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

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Isaiah 36:4-21 ~ Do not let Hezekiah deceive you, for he will not be able to deliver you.

God's plan sweeps through time. See Israel thrive during the time they listened to God.


Isaiah 36:4-21

4 And the Rabshakeh said to them, “Say to Hezekiah, ‘Thus says the great king, the king of Assyria: On what do you rest this trust of yours? 5 Do you think that mere words are strategy and power for war? In whom do you now trust, that you have rebelled against me? 6 Behold, you are trusting in Egypt, that broken reed of a staff, which will pierce the hand of any man who leans on it. Such is Pharaoh king of Egypt to all who trust in him.

7 But if you say to me, “We trust in the Lord our God,” is it not he whose high places and altars Hezekiah has removed, saying to Judah and to Jerusalem, “You shall worship before this altar”? 8 Come now, make a wager with my master the king of Assyria: I will give you two thousand horses, if you are able on your part to set riders on them. 9 How then can you repulse a single captain among the least of my master's servants, when you trust in Egypt for chariots and for horsemen? 10 Moreover, is it without the Lord that I have come up against this land to destroy it? The Lord said to me, Go up against this land and destroy it.’”

11 Then Eliakim, Shebna, and Joah said to the Rabshakeh, “Please speak to your servants in Aramaic, for we understand it. Do not speak to us in the language of Judah within the hearing of the people who are on the wall.” 12 But the Rabshakeh said, “Has my master sent me to speak these words to your master and to you, and not to the men sitting on the wall, who are doomed with you to eat their own dung and drink their own urine?”

13 Then the Rabshakeh stood and called out in a loud voice in the language of Judah: “Hear the words of the great king, the king of Assyria! 14 Thus says the king: ‘Do not let Hezekiah deceive you, for he will not be able to deliver you. 15 Do not let Hezekiah make you trust in the Lord by saying, “The Lord will surely deliver us. This city will not be given into the hand of the king of Assyria.” 16 Do not listen to Hezekiah. For thus says the king of Assyria: Make your peace with me[b] and come out to me. Then each one of you will eat of his own vine, and each one of his own fig tree, and each one of you will drink the water of his own cistern, 17 until I come and take you away to a land like your own land, a land of grain and wine, a land of bread and vineyards. 18 Beware lest Hezekiah mislead you by saying, “The Lord will deliver us.” Has any of the gods of the nations delivered his land out of the hand of the king of Assyria? 19 Where are the gods of Hamath and Arpad? Where are the gods of Sepharvaim? Have they delivered Samaria out of my hand? 20 Who among all the gods of these lands have delivered their lands out of my hand, that the Lord should deliver Jerusalem out of my hand?’”

21 But they were silent and answered him not a word, for the king's command was, “Do not answer him.”


There is a famous quote in the Bible about the Father of Lies ~

Jude 1:9
But even Michael, one of the mightiest of the angels, did not dare accuse the devil of blasphemy, but simply said, "The Lord rebuke you!" (This took place when Michael was arguing with the devil about Moses' body.)

I got roped into a Ghost Tour of Charleston. Without much enthusiasm, I trailed our group and just as we started out, a group of local Churchmen were placing a well printed sign,  "May We Pray With You?" The invitation was appealing!!!  I was starting to have to put effort into keeping up and so I just gave them a broad smile and put my thumb up in the air. Christian Encouragement is a lovely thing and they waved and thumbed back. Okay!!! Prayed for.

So. It became night and got dark. We stood beside a Round Christian Church and the guide told us this was the most haunted site in Charleston. Because the round Christian Church was round, so the devil couldn't hide in the corners.

How much hooey tour I had been given, according to the internet - Quite a lot. People can take a round Church and make a square peg.



“We trust in the Lord our God,” is it not he whose high places and altars Hezekiah has removed

Hezekiah  is amazing, saving the Temple from becoming a heap of gold offered to the Assyrians. Keeping precious what is Holy. 

Solomon, our King noted for wisdom, heard right away from Father God and then began to go his own way, going to these high places - trying to get the LORD's attention as Solomon lived Solomon's own path.

The High Places - in Assyria, in Hebrew - bamof - are always places of worship. It has been surmised and so called because the places of worship were originally upon hilltops. Unfortunately, 
without the Holy Spirit, 
these high places lead to worship of sacred prostitution and of prosperity worship leading to child sacrifice and infant sacrifice. See the first chapter Paul wrote to the Romans.

Yet the LORD GOD, the ALMIGHTY had this to say about His own Temple.

Isaiah 66 

Thus says the Lord:
“Heaven is my throne,
and the earth is my footstool;
what is the house that you would build for me,
and what is the place of my rest?
2 All these things my hand has made,
and so all these things came to be,
declares the Lord.
But this is the one to whom I will look:
he who is humble and contrite in spirit
and trembles at my word."

Psalm 19
The heavens declare the glory of God,
and the sky above proclaims his handiwork


And that same day, The LORD spoke again about His Temple.

Jesus had something to say about High Places - He traveled far and was tired. The Son of GOD went up to the mountainous region in the Southern Levant,  called Samaria."Continuing that thought, Jesus was to give "the bottom line" to a Samaritan, a mere woman.

John 4:7-26

7 A woman from Samaria came to draw water. Jesus said to her, “Give me a drink.” 8 (For his disciples had gone away into the city to buy food.) 9 The Samaritan woman said to him, “How is it that you, a Jew, ask for a drink from me, a woman of Samaria?” (For Jews have no dealings with Samaritans.) 10 Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God, and who it is that is saying to you, ‘Give me a drink,’ you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water.” 11 The woman said to him, “Sir, you have nothing to draw water with, and the well is deep. Where do you get that living water? 12 Are you greater than our father Jacob? He gave us the well and drank from it himself, as did his sons and his livestock.” 13 Jesus said to her, “Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, 14 but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again.[b] The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” 15 The woman said to him, “Sir, give me this water, so that I will not be thirsty or have to come here to draw water.”

16 Jesus said to her, “Go, call your husband, and come here.” 17 The woman answered him, “I have no husband.” Jesus said to her, “You are right in saying, ‘I have no husband’; 18 for you have had five husbands, and the one you now have is not your husband. What you have said is true.” 19 The woman said to him, “Sir, I perceive that you are a prophet. 20 Our fathers worshiped on this mountain, but you say that in Jerusalem is the place where people ought to worship.” 21 Jesus said to her, “Woman, believe me, the hour is coming when neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem will you worship the Father. 22 You worship what you do not know; we worship what we know, for salvation is from the Jews. 23 But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him. 24 God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.” 25 The woman said to him, “I know that Messiah is coming (he who is called Christ). When he comes, he will tell us all things.” 26 Jesus said to her, “I who speak to you am he.


Jesus continued to celebrate High Places.

Matthew 17
After six days Jesus took with him Peter, James and John the brother of James, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. 2 There he was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light. 3 Just then there appeared before them Moses and Elijah, talking with Jesus.

4 Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here. If you wish, I will put up three shelters—one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.”

5 While he was still speaking, a bright cloud covered them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!”


Should we? Oh... yes!

1 Corinthians 22:22-23
I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some.  I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings.

Proclaim HIM with your mouth, Live HIM in your heart. Find Him by seeking Him diligently.

Matthew 17
6 When the disciples heard this, they fell facedown to the ground, terrified. 7 But Jesus came and touched them. “Get up,” he said. “Don’t be afraid.” 8 When they looked up, they saw no one except Jesus.

Jeremiah 29:13
You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart.

Jesus, You go in all places where the soul is willing to find you. To You the dark, is not dark at all. Be with us, Father GOD, forever.  In the name of Jesus Christ the LORD; Please let the Holy Spirit dwell within me, let me move and dwell and have my being with You. We are Your's, Father GOD. You bought us with a price. Help us to glorify God in our bodies. May the Words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be always acceptable to you my Rock and my Redeemer. Amen!

Don't forget our worship - learning and worshiping and praying together !!!

Mark 10:32
They were now on the way up to Jerusalem, and Jesus was walking ahead of them. The disciples were filled with awe

Acts 1

Then the apostles returned to Jerusalem from the hill called the Mount of Olives, a Sabbath day’s walk from the city. 13 When they arrived, they went upstairs to the room where they were staying. Those present were Peter, John, James and Andrew; Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew; James son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot, and Judas son of James. 14 They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers.


The family of GOD, adopted, invited, loved, cherished, pull together and - worship HIM, together, giving HIM their love.



“The Lord will deliver us.”

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Psalm 19 ~ One day tells a story to the next

Psalm 19 ~ God's Word Translation

For the choir director; a psalm by David.

1 The heavens declare the glory of God,
and the sky displays what his hands have made.
2 One day tells a story to the next.
One night shares knowledge with the next
3 without talking,
without words,
without their voices being heard.
4 Yet, their sound has gone out into the entire world,
their message to the ends of the earth.
He has set up a tent in the heavens for the sun,
5 which comes out of its chamber like a bridegroom.
Like a champion, it is eager to run its course.
6 It rises from one end of the heavens.
It circles around to the other.
Nothing is hidden from its heat.

7 The teachings of the Lord are perfect.
They renew the soul.
The testimony of the Lord is dependable.
It makes gullible people wise.
8 The instructions of the Lord are correct.
They make the heart rejoice.
The command of the Lord is radiant.
It makes the eyes shine.
9 The fear of the Lord is pure.
It endures forever.
The decisions of the Lord are true.
They are completely fair.
10 They are more desirable than gold, even the finest gold.
They are sweeter than honey, even the drippings from a honeycomb.
11 As your servant I am warned by them.
There is a great reward in following them.

12 Who can notice every mistake?
Forgive my hidden faults.
13 Keep me from sinning.
Do not let anyone gain control over me.
Then I will be blameless,
and I will be free from any great offense.

14 May the words from my mouth and the thoughts from my heart
be acceptable to you, O Lord, my rock and my defender.

One day tells a story to the next.

Proverbs 24:27
Prepare your work outside; get everything ready for yourself in the field, and after that build your house.

Today, was a great day of Disc Golf!! Observing grown men salute nine year old Connell Stillwagon as he play with - shine!  Genuine talent, fostered carefully, by coaching from his dad, Matt Stillwagon. Connell is the World Champion Disc Golfer of the Junior Division, 10 years and younger. Not United States Champion, mind you. The World Champion Disc Golfer Amateur (the Professional category is not available in this age range) for a nine year old. We will notice with Connell, he is playing in a division allowing ten year olds! And, further mind you, Connell did something heretofar unheard of - he hit an Ace drive - a one stroke win  - - - on a Championship Course !!!!

I watched him casually flick an impossible shot today and smile with genuine satisfaction as eight grown men applauded, whooped and hollered. This boy plays DG, Disc Golf, daily with the grown men. Many who play daily - and he - holds his own.

With only a twinkle and a genuine smile. Awwwww.

This year the Stillwagons hosted both a Disc Gold Boy Scout Camp and helped with Stonebridge's Vacation Bible School. This is building a house.

One day tells a story to the next.
One night shares knowledge with the next
without talking,
without words,
without their voices being heard.
Yet, their sound has gone out into the entire world,
their message to the ends of the earth.

This man is teaching his son more than video games. More than an evening of television. With determination, Matt is teaching his son, not just a sport, but using his time, talent and effort to build Connell into a talented man - each day with purpose. Matt is not a soccer mom, but reasonable and witty using words to fence and entertain. He said today, his mom told him if he wanted a good woman, he'd have to have good looks or wit. So Matt has been sharpening his wit for many a year, holding on to RaeAnn - they celebrated their 13th anniversary.

1 Corinthians 3:9
For we are God's fellow workers. You are God's field, God's building.

Conall Stillwagon - Juniors 10 and under.

Matt Stillwagon
July 9
105 degrees at the Country club at our 1:30 tee time. Add the infamous 20 mph winds, on a card of 5 players, and you have a 5 hour round!!!!!!
At the end of day 1, Conall Stillwagon leads by 4!
8 am tomorrow we'll be back at Country Club to do it again

Proverbs 31:26
She opens her mouth with wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.

Rae-Ann Stillwagon
July 11 near The Woodlands
Before I go to bed I must say how unbelievably proud of my son I am. He has been playing at the PDGA Worlds Disc Gold Tournament in Emporia, Kansas. He playing in heat as hot as Hades with the sun beating down in him and he's keeping his cool :0) he only lost two strokes today on his 13 stroke lead from yesterday. He has 27 holes left to play (18 tomorrow and 9 on Saturday) Matt, correct me if I'm wrong. He still has the lead by 11 and I am literally sitting on the edge of my chair waiting for a recap of every round. Please wish him luck here or on Matt's page because he can always use people cheering for him. I know I sure am :0) C-Dawg, this is your year!!

Rae-Ann Stillwagon
July 11 near The Woodlands
Sorry dad! I have a baby asleep on my lap so I couldn't answer your call. I DO know how the boy did on his first round. He lost one stroke and is still in the lead by 12!! He has unfortunately taken it hard but he'll bounce back! He needs all the encouragement he can get. I told Matt to show him our Facebook pages to see all of the people wishing him luck and cheering him on. I know that'll make his day :0) Dee Dee and Papa have already landed but are on their way. I bet that'll brighten his day too. —

Matt Stillwagon
July 14
Wow! We drove through the night so we could share the hardware w the North Side Chain Gang. To our surprise, after the mini, Conall came back to a hero's welcome

CONALL STILLWAGON!!! 
CONALL STILLWAGON!!!  CONALL STILLWAGON!!! 

Proverbs 11:17
A man who is kind benefits himself, but a cruel man hurts himself.

Galatians 6:10
So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.

2 Thessalonians 3:13
As for you, brothers, do not grow weary in doing good.

Kindness and encouragement are tools that pay off for generations. We are the-elbows-out- generation. But I want to share another story about goodness and the payoff.

We don't personally know Bill Engvall, the comedian, but his kindness and his fraternity room - benefited my eldest son Cal - in a way that creates a grateful heart for me today.

Cal was traveling home, as college students do, at 2:00 in the morning, and he reached a stretch of highway outside of Austin, Texas that was brand new, multi-lanes and suddenly Cal noticed the street lights just ended, plunging the road into complete darkness. He Really did Notice, because his car went from no problems, to completely dead with the steering wheel locking up totally.

He was rather panicked, as even a completely adult person would be. We agreed to drive to meet him, but he did tell us he was rather afraid. We told him it would be about two hours before we could get there, but we were leaving immediately. Cal seemed to get younger and rather make a whimper noise at that. He decided he would call a fraternity alumni to see if Jerry, the alumni, would help. Jerry is a policeman and enjoys walking in on his own fraternity, years past, in uniform, with a smile. It causes them.... to sit up straighter. And I have to smile, and admit, cleans them up to a good degree.

Jerry got out of his bed, drove to Cal stranded on the highway and decided to help him locate the right place to have the car towed to, calmly, I might add. And wait with Cal, for the right tow truck (for a long time!), signing for night time delivery at the dealership, taking him back to the fraternity house and arriving only about a half hour ahead of us.

John 15:13
Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.

Jerry, as a police man, is fully aware, you take your life in your hands resting on the side of major highway/freeway.

So - how does Bill Engval come into the picture? You may well ask. Well, Bill's class of fraternity boys were hanging out on the porch about,  let's be kind, and say a few decades back. And the high school bus was in view every afternoon. Finally, a geek arrived and said to the cool, ultra cool, fraternity "Men"..."You all look cool." The High School geek was assured, they were cool, indeed. He said he was not cool, new to the city, friendless, with a divorced, dumped mom, and no one was having anything to do with Jerry.

Who still comes by to see that dilapidated horror of a fraternity room? Bill Engvall - once a year. By the way, if you meet Bill Engvall, tell him mothers across the nation hope he will in the future give 48 hour notice to clean said room before the request to visit that just nastiness. Bill Engvall does visit with the current ultra cool fraternity boys, but mostly he is coming by to see Jerry Pate. Jerry was inducted upon High School graduation. He was never a student at said lofty university - but he was, and is, the back bone for something much more important. Jerry learned to tile and he tiled the bathroom with the fraternity seal. Until the University President, slash former alumni himself, got nasty and ripped out the work they all still talk about. Spoilsport.

Proverbs 24:27
Prepare your work outside; get everything ready for yourself in the field, and after that build your house.

Thank you, Bill Engvall for your kindness to a son of a dumped mom, who announced he was friendless and geeky. Jerry Pate is the result of that kindness and decades later - I say - Thank YOU SO MUCH!!!!! 

JERRY PATE !!! JERRY PATE!!! JERRY PATE!!!!

Galatians 6:9
And let us not grow weary of doing good..............
............ for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.

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Psalm 105 ~ To you I give the land

Psalm 105


Oh give thanks to the Lord; call upon his name;
make known his deeds among the peoples!
2 Sing to him, sing praises to him;
tell of all his wondrous works!
3 Glory in his holy name;
let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice!
4 Seek the Lord and his strength;
seek his presence continually!
5 Remember the wondrous works that he has done,
his miracles, and the judgments he uttered,
6 O offspring of Abraham, his servant,
children of Jacob, his chosen ones!

7 He is the Lord our God;
his judgments are in all the earth.
8 He remembers his covenant forever,
the word that he commanded, for a thousand generations,
9 the covenant that he made with Abraham,
his sworn promise to Isaac,
10 which he confirmed to Jacob as a statute,
to Israel as an everlasting covenant,
11 saying, “To you I will give the land of Canaan
as your portion for an inheritance.”

12 When they were few in number,
of little account, and sojourners in it,
13 wandering from nation to nation,
from one kingdom to another people,
14 he allowed no one to oppress them;
he rebuked kings on their account,
15 saying, “Touch not my anointed ones,
do my prophets no harm!”

16 When he summoned a famine on the land
and broke all supply of bread,
17 he had sent a man ahead of them,
Joseph, who was sold as a slave.
18 His feet were hurt with fetters;
his neck was put in a collar of iron;
19 until what he had said came to pass,
the word of the Lord tested him.
20 The king sent and released him;
the ruler of the peoples set him free;
21 he made him lord of his house
and ruler of all his possessions,
22 to bind his princes at his pleasure
and to teach his elders wisdom.

23 Then Israel came to Egypt;
Jacob sojourned in the land of Ham.
24 And the Lord made his people very fruitful
and made them stronger than their foes.
25 He turned their hearts to hate his people,
to deal craftily with his servants.

26 He sent Moses, his servant,
and Aaron, whom he had chosen.
27 They performed his signs among them
and miracles in the land of Ham.
28 He sent darkness, and made the land dark;
they did not rebel against his words.
29 He turned their waters into blood
and caused their fish to die.
30 Their land swarmed with frogs,
even in the chambers of their kings.
31 He spoke, and there came swarms of flies,
and gnats throughout their country.
32 He gave them hail for rain,
and fiery lightning bolts through their land.
33 He struck down their vines and fig trees,
and shattered the trees of their country.
34 He spoke, and the locusts came,
young locusts without number,
35 which devoured all the vegetation in their land
and ate up the fruit of their ground.
36 He struck down all the firstborn in their land,
the firstfruits of all their strength.

37 Then he brought out Israel with silver and gold,
and there was none among his tribes who stumbled.
38 Egypt was glad when they departed,
for dread of them had fallen upon it.

39 He spread a cloud for a covering,
and fire to give light by night.
40 They asked, and he brought quail,
and gave them bread from heaven in abundance.
41 He opened the rock, and water gushed out;
it flowed through the desert like a river.
42 For he remembered his holy promise,
and Abraham, his servant.

43 So he brought his people out with joy,
his chosen ones with singing.
44 And he gave them the lands of the nations,
and they took possession of the fruit of the peoples' toil,
45 that they might keep his statutes
and observe his laws.
Praise the Lord!


The Bible is clearly the most important evidence of the Exodus. Clearly, we cannot please our Heavenly Father without faith. Archaeology proves everyday that history is His story. For a further demonstration, God says His words are the truth. Qumran Dead Sea Scrolls go back for two millenniums showing that scripture does not change. Everyday the gospel fragments indicate that it was written in about 40 A.D. and written by the authors the Gospel indicates.

The media does not frequently try to pull the evidence together supporting faith in the scriptures. Even when the evidence is very compelling:

Exodus archaeology is not announced loudly or repeated with frequency in the media. But evidence exists. It is important to remember that Egyptian culture removed the Pharaoh from his many children, the child who grew into Pharaoh frequently scraped buildings and monuments removing evidence of his father's accomplishments changing them to his own accomplishments and memorials.

One of the most fascinating Exodus archaeology artifacts is an eye-witness to the Exodus on the Egyptian side of the Exodus. This citizen is complaining about government officials dealing poorly with plague after plague. The document exists today because all references to the Pharaoh's name in charge were removed. Ipuwer Papyrus ~ An Egyptian Eyewitness to the Exodus ~ Just as the date of the Exodus is debated for centuries, the Ipuwer Papyrus is placed from 1600 B.C. to 1200 B.C. A man named Anastasi discovered the Papyrus in the area of Memphis, near the pyramids of Saqqara in Egypt. Resides now in a museum of Leiden in the Netherlands. Both the Exodus and Thera interpretations assume that the poem records a historical event, which is disputed by many Egyptologists. Ipuwer Papyrus

In his book Pharaohs and Kings: A Biblical Quest, David Rohl suggests that the tomb of Joseph himself is found (1995: 360-67).[6] The evidence seems to support this hypothesis. The Bible is very specific as to what became of Joseph's body. The bones of Joseph were removed and carried with the children of Israel in the Exodus. The statue of the tomb's recipient had a mushroom-shaped hairstyle, painted red, different skin color than that used for Egyptians. A throwstick, the Egyptian hieroglyph for a foreigner, was held against the right shoulder. The statue had been intentionally smashed and defaced.

In Ramses II's topographical list (ca.1275 BC) the place-name "Jacob-El" (#9) appears again (ANET 1969, 242; Simons 1937). The first appearance was in Thutmose III's list. This means that this city of Jacob has been around for two hundred years. Another interesting name that was found is yhw which is "Yahweh" in Hebrew (Horn 1953, 201; Giveon 1964, 244). In Ramses II's topographical list (ca.1275 BC) the place-name "Jacob-El" (#9) appears again (ANET 1969, 242; Simons 1937).

It seems abundantly clear from all these topographical lists the Hebrews were in Egypt at this time.

On a statue-base of Amenhotep III at Kom el Hetan which is the funerary temple of Amenhotep III there is a topographical list with the place-name Yspir (Series a:1; Kitchen 1965, 2). This is the same name translated "Joseph-El" in Thutmose III's Topographical list (ANET 1969, 242). After Yspir in both lists the place-name Rkd appears (Series a:2 in Amenhotep III's list, and #79 in Thutmose III's list; Simons 1937, 112). Rkd is the same place-name as Ruhizzi in the El Amarna letters (EA 53:36, 56; EA 5426; EA 56:26; EA 191:2; Rainey 1982, 354). The ruler of Ruhizzi is Arsawuya who seems to be located in northern Palestine or southern Syria (EA 53:36, 56; Moran, 125)

Now there arose a new king over Egypt, who did not know Joseph. - Exodus 1:8

Satellite images have been reported to show the 40 years of travelling out of Egypt. Other non-biblical accounts are: Hectaeus, a Hellenist who came to Alexandria about 320 BCE, according to Jan Assmann. The Egyptian version begins with a ravaging plague in Egypt, interpreted by the priesthood as a divine punishment for the presence of aliens, whose rites and customs has infiltrated worship. They were expelled under their leader Moses. Lysimachos, 2nd century BCE, begins his story with a famine, that the priestly oracle ordered the Pharaoh to cleanse Egypt from impious settlers, a reference to the Jews who sought refuge from leprosy. The Pharaoh gave orders to drown the lepers, and expel the Hebrews, who gathered around Moses into the desert. Chaeremon, Alexandrian pedagogue and Nero's tutor, gives another version of the story, as expelling the Asiatic and purging Egypt of their associated lepers.

History is His story. 

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Psalm 69 ~ Reproaches have broken my heart, so that I am in despair.

Psalm 69

Save me, O God!
For the waters have come up to my neck.
2 I sink in deep mire,
where there is no foothold;
I have come into deep waters,
and the flood sweeps over me.
3 I am weary with my crying out;
my throat is parched.
My eyes grow dim
with waiting for my God.

4 More in number than the hairs of my head
are those who hate me without cause;
mighty are those who would destroy me,
those who attack me with lies.
What I did not steal
must I now restore?
5 O God, you know my folly;
the wrongs I have done are not hidden from you.

6 Let not those who hope in you be put to shame through me,
O Lord God of hosts;
let not those who seek you be brought to dishonor through me,
O God of Israel.
7 For it is for your sake that I have borne reproach,
that dishonor has covered my face.
8 I have become a stranger to my brothers,
an alien to my mother's sons.

9 For zeal for your house has consumed me,
and the reproaches of those who reproach you have fallen on me.
10 When I wept and humbled my soul with fasting,
it became my reproach.
11 When I made sackcloth my clothing,
I became a byword to them.
12 I am the talk of those who sit in the gate,
and the drunkards make songs about me.

13 But as for me, my prayer is to you, O Lord.
At an acceptable time, O God,
in the abundance of your steadfast love answer me in your saving faithfulness.
14 Deliver me
from sinking in the mire;
let me be delivered from my enemies
and from the deep waters.
15 Let not the flood sweep over me,
or the deep swallow me up,
or the pit close its mouth over me.

16 Answer me, O Lord, for your steadfast love is good;
according to your abundant mercy, turn to me.
17 Hide not your face from your servant;
for I am in distress; make haste to answer me.
18 Draw near to my soul, redeem me;
ransom me because of my enemies!

19 You know my reproach,
and my shame and my dishonor;
my foes are all known to you.
20 Reproaches have broken my heart,
so that I am in despair.
I looked for pity, but there was none,
and for comforters, but I found none.
21 They gave me poison for food,
and for my thirst they gave me sour wine to drink.

22 Let their own table before them become a snare;
and when they are at peace, let it become a trap.
23 Let their eyes be darkened, so that they cannot see,
and make their loins tremble continually.
24 Pour out your indignation upon them,
and let your burning anger overtake them.
25 May their camp be a desolation;
let no one dwell in their tents.
26 For they persecute him whom you have struck down,
and they recount the pain of those you have wounded.
27 Add to them punishment upon punishment;
may they have no acquittal from you.
28 Let them be blotted out of the book of the living;
let them not be enrolled among the righteous.

29 But I am afflicted and in pain;
let your salvation, O God, set me on high!

30 I will praise the name of God with a song;
I will magnify him with thanksgiving.
31 This will please the Lord more than an ox
or a bull with horns and hoofs.
32 When the humble see it they will be glad;
you who seek God, let your hearts revive.
33 For the Lord hears the needy
and does not despise his own people who are prisoners.

34 Let heaven and earth praise him,
the seas and everything that moves in them.
35 For God will save Zion
and build up the cities of Judah,
and people shall dwell there and possess it;
36 the offspring of his servants shall inherit it,
and those who love his name shall dwell in it.

Matthew Henry starts by concisely saying," To commit the keeping of our souls to God, that we may not be soured with discontent, or sink into despair. David was hated wrongfully, but the words far more fully apply to Christ."

People get tired of the same message of hope David brings saying trust in God and HE will fulfill His promises on earth. I hear more people, outside of Church, Church gatherings, Pregnancy Assistance really question if the Word of God - Scripture - is old rickety, washed up, nonsensical.

My son was president of his fraternity and his room was were Bill Engvall lived during college. Yesterday we read the Pew Research asking if Americans think less religion in the country is positive or negative. Here is your sign - look at the news. Look at the problems schools face with the students - with the teachers - with the way people interact.

Fortunately we see most of the complaints about the Word of God are the same.

Deuteronomy 25:11,12
If two men, a man and his countryman, are struggling together, and the wife of one comes near to deliver her husband from the hand of the one who is striking him, and puts out her hand and seizes his genitals,then you shall cut off her hand; you shall not show pity.

This is so archaic, surely we understand we are dealing with 'bogie men'.

Led up into how the New Covenant is surely the nonsense of Y2K Year 2000 update.

And 'Jesus' would not have said cut off her hand. Actually Jesus spoke of this scenario:

Matthew 5:30
If your right hand makes you stumble, cut it off and throw it from you; for it is better for you to lose one of the parts of your body, than for your whole body to go into hell.

Matthew 5:17
Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.

According to Jews, they quit doing the sacrifice at the time Jerusalem and the Temple were destroyed in 70 A.D. Sacrifices quit, people don't cut off their own arms. A Gift from HIM who fills the gap where sin would destroy.

What has not quit is the people seeking HIM. According to more research by the Pew Forum ~

Worldwide, more than eight-in-ten people identify with a religious group. A comprehensive demographic study of more than 230 countries and territories conducted by the Pew Research Center’s Forum on Religion & Public Life estimates that there are 5.8 billion religiously affiliated adults and children around the globe, representing 84% of the 2010 world population of 6.9 billion.

The demographic study – based on analysis of more than 2,500 censuses, surveys and population registers – finds 2.2 billion Christians (32% of the world’s population)

Speak up kindly - even if your voice squeaks. Let people know why the Word isn't archaic, but living and active ~ filled with the Mercy of Jesus Christ. What was true in David's time - is true today -

Hebrews 4:12
For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.

John 5:17
But Jesus responded to them, "My Father is still working, and I am working also."

1 Thessalonians 2:13
And we also thank God continually because, when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as a human word, but as it actually is, the word of God, which is indeed at work in you who believe.

It's not archaic, the Word of God points to the coming of Jesus Christ. Even in the Deuteronomy quote.


 Let heaven and earth praise him,
the seas and everything that moves in them.
For God will save Zion
and build up the cities of Judah,
and people shall dwell there and possess it;
the offspring of his servants shall inherit it,
and those who love his name shall dwell in it.

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