Podcasts about lord they

Antiphon:  All generations shall call Him blessed.Scripture:  Psalm 19:3                   Ephesians 6:13Reflector:  Sr. KaraMusic:       Good Morning, Jesus;  Good Morning, Lord                   They'll know we are Christians by our loveNotes:   Today is the feast of St. Catherine Labouré, the Daughter of Charity who had apparitions of the Blessed Virgin who instructed her to have what became known as the Miraculous Medal struck.  Since then, there have been countless miracles attributed to the Miraculous Medal, hence the name. (see the image for today)

Peter's last letter is an exhortation to grow in the grace - knowledge of God as we live in the last days. After encouraging us with the certainty of the Christian life based on the fulfillment of the Old Testament prophetic Scriptures, he know transitions to warn us about false teachers within the church. --THEIR EXISTENCE -V. 1--Note the Connection with 1-16-21-False Prophets Among the People of God in Ancient Days-False Teachers Among the People of God in the Last Days--THEIR EXPOS- -VV. 1-3--They are Devious-They Deny the Lord-They are Destructive-Their Destiny-Their Defrauding

"The wicked man earns deceptive wages, but he who sows righteousness reaps a sure reward." Proverbs 11:18   Sowing righteousness in your life is like planting seeds that will bear the fruit of blessings and peace. Just as a farmer carefully selects the best seeds for planting, we must also intentionally choose to cultivate goodness and righteousness in our thoughts, words, and actions. Remember, deception may pay its dues in silver, but righteousness sows its seeds in gold - unyielding and ever-bright.   Consider the story of the farmer who diligently worked his field, tilling the soil and sowing seeds with faith and patience. Despite facing challenges like droughts and pests, he continued to trust in the growth process. In the same way, let us persevere in sowing righteousness even when faced with obstacles or discouragement.   Galatians 6:9 encourages us, saying, "Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up."   Just as a tree draws nourishment from its roots deep within the ground, our souls are enriched by the depth of our commitment to living righteously. Cultivating this spiritual growth requires regular care and attention through prayer, meditation on scripture, and fellowship with other believers. Psalm 1:3 paints a beautiful picture of those who delight in the law of the Lord: They are like trees planted along the riverbank, bearing fruit each season. May we strive to be firmly rooted in God's word so that we may thrive and bear abundant fruit.   As you sow seeds of righteousness in your daily life, remember that God sees your efforts and promises to bless those who follow His ways. Trust in His timing and have faith that He will bring about a harvest of blessings beyond what you can imagine. So continue to sow seeds of righteousness with faith and hope, knowing that God's promise of abundant life awaits those who walk in His paths. Amen. Proverbs 11:28 says, "Those who trust in their riches will fall, but the righteous will thrive like a green leaf." Amen.   Prayer for the Day! May your achievements stand as monuments of God's faithfulness, ensuring that your rise will not be shadowed by a fall. Where the Lord has elevated you, making your standing distinguished among peers, I pray that your position remains secure in righteousness. In Jesus' name. Amen. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/pastor-divineo/support

Generational faith or Generational death  The generations had died now this generation didn't know the Lord or what he had done for Israel.   It seems like in the past couple of readings we have seen a theme of not following idols and teaching your children. Here we see that they failed to teach their children so their faith wasn't passed on. If we don't teach our children how will they have an impact on society? We need to take this very seriously. We can't wait for the school system the church, sunday school or youth groups  to teach our children.   Moses told them they needed to tell the children. They didn't even know the deliverance of Eygpt/slavery  Romans 10:14 How, then, can they call on him they have not believed in? And how can they believe without hearing about him? And how can they hear without a preacher? How do we expect our children to call on him? If they don't see us call on him  How do we expect them to hear about Him? If we not talk or expose them to the gospel truth? One day we will be gone, and our children will be the next generation how will they tell your grandchildren?     They did evil in the eyes of the Lord  They served the Baals Baal idol of the Canaanites-god of fertility. Idol as we learned earlier this week any person place thing or thought that you look to as your source, meaning, provision, deliverance and fulfillment  Forsaking God vs Following God  They forsook the Lord  They followed and worshiped various gods of the people around them They let the gods of the people around them affect them instead them affecting the people around with the one true living God. So this shows how easily it is to be influenced by the world around us even when we know God. We must be woke in this sleeping generation who have abandoned God and canceled his Holy word. The Word is rubbing off and influencing our children with a great agenda. But our God says in His Word that he has a future and hope for our children. So we must tell them about God and live it out alongside them so that they will stand in this dark world and be the light    The Lord was angry because they had forsaken him and served Baal So he handed them to their enemies and his hand was against them to defeat just as he had told them. They were in great distress  They had forsaken God so he removed his hand and the disaster came to them via the enemy. God was working against them. That might seem harse but God is just and jealous. He desires our whole heart not half. Its like you abandoned me and it hurts. They were stressed out.  God aganist you vs God for you  If God is against you, it doesnt matter what you have going for you. And if God is for you, it doesn't matter Who is against you. -Tony Evans  Then The Lord raised judges to save them from the raiders Even then they would not listen to their judges but instead prostituted themselves to other gods and worshiped them. Turning from the ways of their ancestors who were obedient to the Lord's commands The Lord raised up judges for them. He would be with that judge and save them as long as the judge lived.  The Lord relented because of their groaning under those who oppressed and afflicted them Even when we reject and abandon God he can't abandon us, because of his character. He heard when they cried out and sent the judges to defeat the enemy, the judges would die and they would return to idols. As soon as the judge died, the people returned to their ways even more corrupt than those of their ancestors, back to following, serving, and worshiping other gods. They refused to give up their evil practices and stubborn ways  This make me think about when some people get into a dying situation, they call on him for help promising to serve and surrender, and as soon as he delivers them they go right back to the old life.    Digest How will you pass down a generational faith? In what ways can you protect your faith while being surrounded with people who are against our God? Who are you truly following? What idols do you need to remove? Seeing that this is a cycle and pattern in the biblical culture that is still prevalent in our culture, what steps can you take to break the spiritual curse of abandoning God in your sphere of influence?   The Chew Break the generational faith cycle 

Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near: Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.(Isa 55:6-7)When your fear cometh as desolation, and your destruction cometh as a whirlwind; when distress and anguish cometh upon you. Then shall they call upon me, but I will not answer; they shall seek me early, but they shall not find me: For that they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of the LORD: They would none of my counsel: they despised all my reproof. Therefore shall they eat of the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own devices.(Pro 1:27-31)

October 23 Service Opening Music OPENING MUSIC “Open Our Eyes, Lord” “They'll Know We Are Christians” “ Victory in Jesus” Hymnal # 370 Groveport UMC, Groveport Ohio Jonathan Mann, Pastor

October 23rd Service Groveport UMC, Groveport Ohio OPENING MUSIC “Open Our Eyes, Lord” “They'll Know We Are Christians” “ Victory in Jesus” Hymnal # 370 BAPTISM Colt Brobst PRAYER “Sanctuary” MISSION MOMENT Operation Christmas Child SCRIPTURE Philippians 4:14-19 SERMON “God's Electric Power Company: Philippians” Rev. Jonathan Mann *CLOSING “In the Garden” Hymnal # 314

2 Kings 4:42-44 Then a man came from Baal Shalisha, and brought the man of God bread of the firstfruits, twenty loaves of barley bread, and newly ripened grain in his knapsack. And he said, “Give it to the people, that they may eat.” But his servant said, “What? Shall I set this before one hundred men?” He said again, “Give it to the people, that they may eat; for thus says the LORD: ‘They shall eat and have some left over.'” So he set it before them; and they ate and had some left over, according to the word of the LORD. Jesus twice fed multitudes with a few loaves and fish (Matthew 14:13-21 and 15:32-39). God used Elisha to do a similar miracle hundreds of years before.We see in this story that they had relatively few loaves of barley bread to feed many. Elisha told his servant to give the twenty loaves of bread to the one hundred men He asked, “How can I set this before a hundred men?” But Elisha answered, “Give it to the people to eat. For this is what the Lord says: ‘They will eat and have some left over.'” Then he set it before them, and they ate and had some left over, according to the word of the Lord.Also barley was regarded as simple food, better for feeding animals than people. Humble barley loaves aren't much to work with, but God doesn't need much.More than enoughBy God's miracle, few loaves were made many and they had more than enough. It says, “they ate and had some left over,” and it was all according to the word of the LORD.” God promised more than provision, but to provide beyondthe immediate need. Elisha trusted the promise of God, acted upon it, and saw the promise miraculously fulfilled.Here in 2 Kings it was 20 loaves for about 100 people. In the ministry of Jesus, it was 5 loaves for 5,000 people! In 2 Kings there was some left over, but in the ministry of Jesus they filled 12 big baskets with the leftovers (John 6:13).God's provisionPsalm 37:16 Better is the little that the righteous has than the abundance of many wicked.Times were tight, food was scarce, but the company of prophets were learning from Elisha about God's faithfulness in providing for his people even through times of famine.Isaiah 61:7 Instead of your shame you will have a double portion, And instead of humiliation they will shout for joy over their portion. Therefore they will possess a double portion in their land, Everlasting joy will be theirs.God promised a double portion many times in the Bible. We need to believe that he is our provider and can multiply the little that we have.Zechariah 9:12 Return to the stronghold, O prisoners who have the hope; This very day I am declaring that I will restore double to you. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit myeveningdevotional.substack.com

Lehi's sons return to Jerusalem and enlist Ishmael and his household in their cause---Laman and others rebel---Nephi exhorts his brethen to hsve faith in the Lord---They bind him with cords and plan his destruction---He is freed by the power of faith---His brethen ask forgiveness---Lehi and his company offer Sacrifice and burnt offerings.If you have questions regarding this ,you can log on to www.come unto Christ.org

You must cultivate deep spiritual roots. ‘Blessed are those who trust in the LORD…They are like trees planted along a riverbank, with roots that reach deep into the water. Such trees are not bothered by…heat or worried by…months of drought. Their leaves stay green, and they never stop producing fruit' (Jeremiah 17:7-8 NLT). This Scripture gives you one reason why you need deep spiritual roots: to make it through the rough times – times of heat and drought. Solomon said, ‘No one can be established through wickedness, but the righteous cannot be uprooted' (Proverbs 12:3 NIV). It's when seasons of adversity hit your life that you discover what you're ‘rooted' to: God's strength or merely your own. When the Bible speaks of ‘heat', it's speaking about the pressures of life. When it speaks about ‘drought', it's speaking about seasons of crisis and lack. What's the answer? ‘Roots that reach deep into the water.' What's the result? ‘They never stop producing fruit.' Because of their roots, the giant redwoods of Northern California can withstand the major forest fires. If you were to measure the roots of a large oak tree, they would stretch out for several hundred miles. That's why they're stable in the storms of life. Paul writes this: ‘I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit. Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God's love and keep you strong…you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God' (Ephesians 3:16-17, 19 NLT).

The disciples were sad walking along the road to Emmaus. In their words, -We had hoped that it should have been Jesus who would redeem Israel.-----The Lord Jesus gently rebuked them for being -slow of heart to believe all that the prophets had written- about Christ. Shouldn't Christ have suffered, as foretold, and then entered into His glory------How likely we are to cherry pick what we want to believe- In fact, we generally believe what we like.----Between the two major aspects of prophesies about Messiah, those two disciples ignored the ones they didn't like to entertain, those that described His humiliation and rejection and death as an offering for their sin.----There was a difference in the things promised to Mary and the shepherds, on the one hand, and to Joseph on the other, at the time Jesus was born.----Mary was promised that her Son would be very great, the Son of God, and would rule forever on the throne of David.----The shepherds were told tidings of great joy, that today is born in Bethlehem a Savior Who is Messiah the Lord- They were given a strange sign to identify Jesus by - He would be wrapped in swaddling clothes and found in a manger.----But to Joseph, the promise had been quite different- you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sin.----The angel appealed to Joseph by his broken down family name - the house of David, which had not had a king to reign in 500 years. Yet the angel exhorted Joseph to courage-----But the angel did not promise Joseph that the baby his wife carried would be a king or rule on David's throne.----Rather, Joseph was told that Jesus would save His people from their sin- And Joseph believed him-

The disciples were sad walking along the road to Emmaus. In their words, -We had hoped that it should have been Jesus who would redeem Israel.-----The Lord Jesus gently rebuked them for being -slow of heart to believe all that the prophets had written- about Christ. Shouldn't Christ have suffered, as foretold, and then entered into His glory-----How likely we are to cherry pick what we want to believe- In fact, we generally believe what we like.----Between the two major aspects of prophesies about Messiah, those two disciples ignored the ones they didn't like to entertain, those that described His humiliation and rejection and death as an offering for their sin.----There was a difference in the things promised to Mary and the shepherds, on the one hand, and to Joseph on the other, at the time Jesus was born.----Mary was promised that her Son would be very great, the Son of God, and would rule forever on the throne of David.----The shepherds were told tidings of great joy, that today is born in Bethlehem a Savior Who is Messiah the Lord- They were given a strange sign to identify Jesus by - He would be wrapped in swaddling clothes and found in a manger.----But to Joseph, the promise had been quite different- you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sin.----The angel appealed to Joseph by his broken down family name - the house of David, which had not had a king to reign in 500 years. Yet the angel exhorted Joseph to courage-----But the angel did not promise Joseph that the baby his wife carried would be a king or rule on David's throne.----Rather, Joseph was told that Jesus would save His people from their sin- And Joseph believed him-

Lehi's sons return to Jerusalem and invite Ishmael and his household to join them in their journey—Laman and others rebel—Nephi exhorts his brethren to have faith in the Lord—They bind him with cords and plan his destruction—He is freed by the power of faith—His brethren ask forgiveness—Lehi and his company offer sacrifice and burnt offerings. ... The post 1 Nephi 7 appeared first on Sacred Text Daily.

Devotional Prayer by Be Inspired by His Word © Good Morning Song by Sinach Mighty is our God, hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah Glorious is our God, hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah Lord we bless Your name, hallelujah Lord we bless Your name, hallelujah Lord we bless Your name, hallelujah You are worthy of my praise You are worthy Lord You are worthy of my praise You are worthy Lord Powerful is our God, hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah Glorious is our God, hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah Mighty is our God, hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah Lord we bless Your name, hallelujah Lord we bless Your name, hallelujah Lord we bless Your name, hallelujah You are worthy of my praise You are worthy Lord You are worthy of my praise You are worthy Lord [They are living memorials] to declare that the Lord is upright and faithful [to His promises]; He is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in Him. Psalms 92:15 AMP Prayer Holy one of Israel I worship and honour your majesty for who you are to me King of kings thank you for who you are to me and what you do for me each and everyday Father have mercy and forgive all my short comings in Jesus name Lord thank you for your word that upholds and strengthen me always King of glory take preeminence over my life and destiny remove every impediment in my journey henceforth I decree that the presence of God Is overwhelming my life and household I decree the power of God is overwhelming my existence and all that concerns me in Jesus name I decree the lord is my rock I will never be moved or put to shame in any area of life in Jesus name Jehovah have your way in my life and destroy all hinderance working against my life and destiny I decree divine occurrence is my portion in every aspect of my life in Jesus name I destroy every power of darkness working against my entire being and family in Jesus name Lord eternal move everything that is working contrary to your will in my life in Jesus name I come against every power of negativity that wants to keep my life bottled in uncertainty in Jesus name I decree the power of God is manifesting in my life all that is impossible is becoming possible in Jesus name I decree the mighty hands of God is erasing all evil ordinance and handwriting written against my household and I I cancel all evil report, all grave clothes all evil expectations over my household and I in Jesus name I decree concerning the vessel used for this daily prayer, all impacted by it and our household we are strengthened no weakness or weariness spiritually or physically in Jesus name *Spend time to intercede for your family and yourself* Thank you ancient of days for answered prayers in Jesus name amen *Confess Daily; Sin shall not have dominion over me, I am operating in the power of the word of God. I am the righteousness of God by faith as Jesus is so am I in this world. I have the life of God in me, I have the spirit of the son of God. I am empowered and strengthened by the blood of Jesus. The grace of God is sufficiently at work in and through me, my days are filled with good news. Evil reports are cancelled forever and I am a conqueror in Jesus name amen.* Today's Prayer by Be Inspired (by His Word)© 7th August 2021 --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/be-inspired-by-his-word/message

Sermon Manuscript IntroductionOne of my college math professors was an expert in fractals. Fractals are these geometric patterns that are really amazing. If you do an internet image search on fractals, you will see several examples - some look like snowflakes, some like paisley patters, others like the stars in the galaxy – each intermixing patterns in a magnificent array of colors. The beauty of fractals is in their simplicity – You take a simple formula and keep re-applying the results to the same simple formula. When you do that over and over and over again, you are creating a fractal – an exquisite, almost mesmerizing pattern.Fractals came to mind as I was studying this passage.The beauty here is the pattern that God is developing – a pattern for the church. And it's a pattern, that has been applied over and over and over. Not just in the book of Acts, but throughout the centuries as Jesus has furthered his church. And the simple formula here in these verse… when they've been worked out in the church, through out the ages… has created an amazing fractal-like design to behold. And we don't even know the half of it! Actually, we don't even know a fraction of a percent, but what we do see is breathtaking! God's glory, worked out in his church with his priorities… over and over and over. Perhaps in eternity, God will show us just how magnificent his work has been through his church.And this pattern for the church – this simple formula… it began here in these verses we read. Up to this point, God has been laying the foundations for the church:• Many many people had come to faith in Christ and these believers in Christ were scattered – Luke, the author, reminds us of that in verse 19 of chapter 11• Furthermore, God has established several leaders in the church – and through them, He's clarified what the Gospel is – the good news of salvation in Christ alone, and who it's for - everyoneAnd now, God is beginning to develop roots for his church in Christ – he's showing us the broader categories upon which to focus. As we move on in Acts, we'll see more details worked out.To give a little background, It's been about 10-12 years now since Jesus ascension. The Holy Spirit has been at work all over the eastern Mediterranean region… Jerusalem was initially the center hub, but as the Gospel went out, that would shift to the city of Antioch. If you can picture in your mind the southern coast of modern-day Turkey… just south of Turkey on the Mediterranean Sea is the island of Cyprus. And from Cyprus if you travel northeast on the sea, you would run in to Syria. Well, Antioch is a few miles inland in Syria. It's about 300 miles north from Joppa and Cesarea. And Antioch was very influential. It was the third largest city in the Roman empire and on the trade route between Asia and Egypt. They called Antioch “the queen of the east” Her population at the time is estimated in the hundreds of thousands… and Antioch was very diverse… with large populations of Jews, and Greeks and Romans and Persians and northern Africans.And do you know what was happening in Antioch? God was at work! We read that the scattered church was preaching Christ to the Jews first, and then the Hellenists – which were the Greeks. The hand of the Lord was with them and they were growing.Well, word came back to the church in Jerusalem – and given the prominence of Antioch, they wanted to check things out. Verse 21. So they sent Barnabas. We met Barnabas back in chapters 4 and 9 – He was a faithful Godly man, full of joy and encouragement. And when Barnabas arrived at Antioch, he was greatly encouraged! In verse 23, he exhorted them – which means he encouraged them in Christ “to remain faithful to the Lord with steadfast purpose.” Those words are at the end of 23. And they really encapsulates our Scripture text this morning. Barnabas was affirming their faithfulness in what they were believing and doing! And so he tells them to remain faithful to Christ in this steadfast purpose. In other words, keep doing what you are doing, and believing what you are believing, don't waver, for this is the purpose to which you are called.And that's our focus this morning. Considering their faithfulness because it's an example and pattern for the church. It's the same faithfulness and purpose to which we are called.If you look on the back of your bulletin at the top, you'll read the summary sentence… the pattern… and where each statement comes from in the text.Here it is:A church faithful to the Lord with steadfast purpose and a Christ-centered identity (Acts 11:23,26) teaches and preaches Christ and His Word (Acts 11:20,26,27; 13:1,5,7,10,12); dedicates itself to worship and prayer (Acts 11:24; Acts 13:2); supports the ‘ends of the earth' ministry of Christ (Acts 11:29-30; Acts 13:2,4); sends out committed witnesses for Christ (Acts 11:20,22,25,26;Acts 13:3,4); defends true faith in Christ (Acts 13:6-11); and experiences the grace of God (Acts 11:21-22) through the Holy Spirit (Acts 11:24; 13:2,4,9) and growth in Him (Acts 11:21,24; 13:12).That last part highlights the blessing in Christ that we receive when we are being a faithful church.And so, let's walk through this… and as we do, let's ask the question – are we individually and corporately being faithful to God's call?A church faithful to the Lord with steadfast purpose and a Christ-centered identity (Acts 11:23,26)And let me note, besides verse 23 about their faithfulness to the Lord … They also had a clear identity in Christ. Jump down to verse 26 and look at the very last sentence. “In Antioch, the disciples were first called Christians.” We use that word, Christian, all the time today, but in the new Testament, there are only 3 places where the word Christian is used. This is the first. Christians had been called “believers,” “disciples,” “brothers,” “saints,” and “those according to the way.” But now they've been given this new label. It's most likely, in fast, the word “Christian” was given them by outsiders in a derogatory way. “Who are those people?” “Oh, they're Jesus freaks, you know, Christ followers – Christians.” Well, that's exactly who they were. At the very core of their identity was their faith in Christ.That's what we need to have. The word Christian today is so watered down. It doesn't mean a faithful obedience, a hoping in Christ alone for Salvation, no, if you believe in God, that will do. Or if you are in the Middle East and you're not Muslim, you're identified as a Christian. So being labelled a Christian today doesn't mean you believe in Jesus as your savior.But the true meaning of being a Christian and what it showed here, is fully embracing Christ. The believers in Antioch were all about Jesus. He was their Savior. Their identity was in Christ - his forgiveness, salvation in him, his Word, his mission. And for us, the center of our identity as individuals and a church needs to be in Christ alone.That's who they were – faithful and steadfast believers in Christ – and they are a model for us.(1) teaches and preaches Christ and His Word (Acts 11:20,26,27; 13:1,5,7,10,12);Ok, let's now get to the things that they were faithful in…. First they taught and preached Christ and his Word. You can see the various verses referenced. All throughout this text Christ and the Gospel is being taught and preached. When the believers first arrived in Antioch and when other Christians came, it says in verse 21, they preached the Lord Jesus Christ. Barnabas witnessed that. And after seeing what was happening, he went to Tarsus to find the apostle Paul – Saul, as he was known. And they both came back to Antioch – and for a whole year, verse 25, they “taught a great many people.”And the fruit of their teaching ministry was evident. If you jump ahead to chapter 13 verse 1 – you'll see a list of prophets and teachers. Besides Saul and Barnabas there's Simeon - many believe that Simeon was from north Africa who likely had dark skin. Then Lucious of Cyrene – he was from Syria. And then Manaen – likely a Roman – he held high status in the Roman system…. having been close friends with Herod. They were all teaching or prophesying. Prophesying could mean God giving them specifics words or visions for the church, or it could mean here more of what we would call preaching today. Either way, the church in Antioch had a strong foundation of preaching and teaching.Now, it's easy for a church to over-emphasize any one of these areas. In our circles – we tend to overemphasize teaching. What I mean is this - we are limited as individuals and as a specific church. And if we dedicate all our time to teaching and studying, then we can miss the other areas of focus. It can turn into a legalism – or a religion without a heart devotion to Christ and mission for the lost. Those things should all be connected.(2) dedicates itself to worship and prayer (Acts 11:24; Acts 13:2);Which brings us to the next area of faithfulness. A dedication to worship and prayer. Notice that in the church in Antioch, they weren't just teaching. No, they had a deep sense of dedication to Christ. First of all, Barnabas modelled a life of faith. It says, “he was full of the Holy Spirit and of faith.”Have you every met a Barnabas? When you're in that person's presence, you can sense the depth of their devotion to God in Christ… their prayer and piety. And when they speak, there's this humble faith that is infectious. They don't just know the Word, they live the Word – they are filled with the Holy Spirit.And besides Barnabas, in chapter 13 verse 2 – we're given insight into the devotional life of the church in Antioch. It says, “while they were worshipping the Lord and fasting” It's like this little parenthetical comment, but it speaks volumes to the depth of faith. It doesn't say “One time they fasted” rather “they were worshipping and fasting” They were worshipping – of course - praising the Lord. Exalting His name, together. And they were fasting. Fasting means you take a pre-determined break from meals – and instead of eating, you pray. This was part of their identity. Verse 3 repeats their dedication to prayer and fasting. Part of what Barnabas was encouraging them in… was to remain faithful in their worship and prayer. We worship and we pray – both are areas that we can and should grow in. But one area that is weak or non-existent in our lives and church is fasting. Would you consider taking 1 day between now and Easter to fast? Commit… that from the time you wake up until sundown, just drink water. Dedicate the times when you would usually eat to prayer. When you feel the hunger pains, don't get hangry – you know hungry and therefore angry, instead, pray. Do that by yourself, or if you're part of a family, maybe fast together.(3) supports the ‘ends of the earth' ministry of Christ (Acts 11:29-30; Acts 13:2,4); (4) sends out committed witnesses for Christ (Acts 11:20,22,25,26;Acts 13:3,4);Ok, let's take these next two together because they are related. A faithful church supports the ‘ends of the earth' ministry of Christ… and sends out committed witnesses for Christ. We're talking outward ministry and mission - Supporting the broader ministry of the church and sending workers into the harvest.This sending and supporting is the greatest emphasis in this text. It's all over the place.In chapter 11, it's the Christians from Jerusalem who came to Phoenicia and Cyprus and Antioch. Then even within those areas, believers were sent back and forth, preaching the Lord Jesus. Barnabas was sent to Antioch. He found and brought Paul. So, it starts out and Antioch is at first the receiver of the sending and supporting by believers from Jerusalem and surrounding areas.But then, the church in Antioch begins to itself send and support. First, Agabus, the prophet, came from Jerusalem to Antioch. He told of a great famine that would arise. And so what did the church in Antioch do? They sent relief to the believers in Judea.And next we get to the beginning of chapter 13… The Holy Spirit was at work in Antioch! He led them to send off Paul and Barnabas to the mission of spreading the Gospel to the ends of the earth. By the way, this is the beginning of Paul's first missionary journey – and it's the church in Antioch that commissioned Paul and Barnabas.It's easy for an individual church to act as islands unto itself. But this is not God's will for His church – rather, His call is for his church to be working together with other churches, caring for their needs as God has enabled, bearing one another's burdens, and sending out – to either support the work of Christ or to plant new churches in Christ.Earlier this week I was reading Jim Boice's commentary on Acts. Boice was the pastor of Tenth Pres in Philadelphia for many years. He put it this way and I think it's helpful:“A church that is floundering is inadequate even for it's own needs, and it certainly is not alert to the needs of others. A church that does not know where it is coming from, why it is here, or where it is going is not likely to be of use in the missionary enterprise. [Antioch] was a church that in a very short time had become very sound indeed.” And the Lord used that soundnessYou see, the church in Antioch had a clear steadfast purpose… they had a heart for Christ, which was displayed in their worship and devotion… and they had a passion to teach and preach the Word of God - clearly proclaiming the Gospel. And out of that heart for God and mind for truth, God gave them the vision and ability to send and support the work of Christ outside of their city. I know we're only a few months into our ministry here in Tucker, but I have been praying that we would be like the church Antioch – supporting the work of Christ here in Tucker… and sending our own out for the work of Christ to the ends of the earth.(5) defends true faith in Christ (Acts 13:6-11); Before we jump to the blessings that a faithful church receives, there's one final characteristic. A faithful church defends true faith in Christ.In chapter 13 starting in verse 4, Paul and Barnabas had just been sent out by Antioch, in the power of the Holy Spirit. They didn't get far before they were confronted by a false prophet.This man, Elymas, was vehemently opposed the Gospel. His own influence and power was on the line. He had the ear of the proconsul of the region – the proconsul was a governor of sorts. And when Barnabas and Paul arrived, their very presence threatened Elymas. Elymas did whatever he could to dissuade the proconsul – but Paul and Barnabas would have none of it. And look how Paul responded. Verse 10: “You son of the devil, you enemy of all righteousness, full of all deceit and villainy, will you not stop making crooked the straight paths of the Lord?” Elymas was also known by the name bar-Jesus – or son of Jesus – but he was not follower of Christ. No, Paul called him son of the devil! He called him out for his deceit. And Paul, through the work of Jesus and the Holy Spirit – blinded the man. And this testimony… this display of the work of God led the proconsul to believe.There are so many false truths… and false Gospels… and false prophecy out there. And our call – the call of the church is to stand firm – to defend true faith in Christ. It's tempting to not want to offend anyone… or to try to be so relevant that we lose the clarity of the Gospel. Friends, the Gospel itself is offensive. 1 Corinthians 1:23 – “We preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to the Jews and foolishness to the Gentiles.”May we stand firm as Paul and Barnabas did in the face of opposition… defending true faith in Christ.and experiences the grace of God (Acts 11:21-22) through the Holy Spirit (Acts 11:24; 13:2,4,9) and growth in Him (Acts 11:21,24; 13:12).Ok, here's where we are: A church faithful to the Lord with steadfast purpose and a Christ-centered identity (1) teaches and preaches Christ and His Word; (2) dedicates itself to worship and prayer; (3) supports the ‘ends of the earth' ministry of Christ; (4) sends out committed witnesses for Christ; and (5) defends true faith in Christ…And what did their faithful steadfastness in Christ lead to? Well, God's grace abounded in them – his sustaining grace. Going back to chapter 11 verses 21-22. There it says, “the hand of the Lord was with them” and then Barnabas witnessed “the grace of God.” And all throughout, it's the Holy Spirit that has been working in them and through them. So part of the grace of God is the Holy Spirit at work. He draws people closer to Jesus. He calls people to faith, and he gives confidence and help to teach and preach the Word.In Antioch, they were growing• verse 21, again – a great number turned to the Lord. • Verse 24 – a great many people were added to the Lord. • And in chapter 13 – the proconsul himself came to faith in Christ.Let me say it this way – growth is something we should expect – Gospel growth. It's not always necessarily numbers – some contexts and situations are harder than others. But we should be striving for Gospel conversion growth – testifying to and being witnesses for Christ. When that's not happening, we need to be evaluating our faithfulness to God's call… but trusting in the Holy Spirit to be working in His timing, not ours. However, one thing we can certainly expect is growth in righteousness and grace and wisdom. When we are faithful as a church in all of these areas – he will bless us in maturity and deeper faith and obedience to His Word.ConclusionOne of the most remarkable things about fractals is that their beauty comes out of their details. Fractals are not formed from the top-down. No, rather, their very elegant patterns are formed one point at a time – from the bottom up. Each point building on the one before – and working together to form the wonder of each design.In the same way, starting with the church in Jerusalem and Antioch – God has been forming an amazing array and network of his church and his people throughout the world. And God's design continues that with you, with me, with all the believers in Christ throughout history. What God has been doing through His Holy Spirit is first applying His salvation in each of our lives. Applying the work of Christ on the cross and the hope of the resurrection to each of us. And he's using each believer to build his church – using the gifts He's given us. And each step of the way is like a beautiful fractal coming together as his church is formed through us… each one of us contributing to the overall display of splendor and wonder.And when we as individuals and a church seek to be faithful, embracing our identity in Christ, it's then that we will begin to see and realize the amazing work that God is accomplishing to the ends of the earth.May we at Tucker Pres be a church faithful to the Lord with steadfast purpose and a Christ-centered identity that teaches and preaches Christ and His Word; that dedicates ourselves to worship and prayer; that supports the ‘ends of the earth' ministry of Christ; that sends out committed witnesses for Christ; and that defends true faith in Christ… so that we may experience the grace of God through His Spirit and grow in HimAmen.

The focus of this episode is:Ephesians 5:32-6:9. Family members submitting one to anotherHave you ever been in a conversation like this? Maybe you're talking with a lovable old uncle, or you're in conversation with a friendly neighbor. You've been talking about one thing and then you get off the track and start talking about something else. Finally, comes a moment when one of you says, “Let's get back to what we were talking about.” And you pick up with that earlier train of thought right where you left off.That's something like what we find at the start of Ephesians 5:33. Paul uses a Greek word that is usually translated into English as “nevertheless” or “however.” This Greek word, “nevertheless” refers to something said earlier and picks up the train of thought that was left off for a moment. In this case, with “nevertheless” Paul is referring back to verse 21 where he redefined the vertical act of submitting and turned it into the horizontal relationship of reciprocally submitting. This was the new way Christian believers were to be getting along in the Spirit. Even though “nevertheless” is Paul's first word in the Greek sentence of verse 5:33, some English translations omit the word all together. I think it is important to include it, because it alerts us that Paul is linking back to the subject of verse 21.Paul not only redefined the verb “to submit, ” he also used the word “fear” at the end of the verse 21. Paul said we mutually submit one to another in the fear of Christ, or in respect of Christ. By using the word “fear” Paul signals a second time in verse 33 that he is linking back to verse 21. In verse 33, after he says a Christian husband should demonstrate agape love toward his wife, Paul says a Christian wife “fears” her Christian husband. How does she do that? Not in the way of a frightening fear. Not that kind of fear. But of a fear in the way of a serious and profound respect because of the ties that bind us to Christ. Because we are united in Christ how do we then live as a married couple? Paul says (1) we love our spouse – that's an idea from verse 25 and (2) we respect our spouse – that's an idea from verse 21.If a man is to love his own wife the same as himself, does a wife also love her spouse? Of course! If a wife is to respect her husband, does a husband also respect his spouse? Of course! Our underlying status as members of the body of Christ enriches our relationship with one another as husband and wife. As Christian spouses, each being filled with the Spirit, we reciprocally love and respect one another.Taken out of context, people misuse the words in this verse. They think wives aren't supposed to love their husbands. That husbands don't need to respect their wives. They even claim that wives are to fear their husbands in what is basically a wrong way. These ideas misuse the words in this verse.Recognizing that verse 5:33 has hooks and references back to the previous verses of 32, and 25, and 21, helps us to clear away these misconceptions. And we see again the idea Paul introduced in verses 22-24. We see that the Christian couple is a wonderful example of Christians in a reciprocal relationship.Ephesians 5:32 is the middle point of a pattern that Kenneth E. Bailey called elsewhere a “prophetic rhetorical template.” This modified seven-point prophetic rhetorical pattern runs from Ephesians 5:22 to 6:9. All of it illustrates how believers submit reciprocally one to another. Recognizing this pattern is being used here is a big help to us in understanding what is going on in verses 5:33 and following. [Study Guide note will talk about “the high jump,” as labeled by Bailey, used elsewhere in biblical literature - several smaller sections that give a running start before the major arcing template is presented. This running start begins in verses 15-18. A second step is taken in verses 19-21. And the 7-point chiasm begins in verse 22 and runs through 6:9.]The first three segments of the rhetorical template begin at verses 22, 25 and 28. The middle part is in verse 32. The last three segments of the rhetorical template begin at 5:33, 6:1 and 6:5.As Paul's readers digested what he had just written in verses 22-31, they were coming to understand that Christians should be submitting one to another in church. But was it possible to practice this behavior in the home?That's what Paul addresses in 5:33-6:9. He takes up, one by one, the three basic relationships that could occur in the household of believers in his day. He discusses each category in turn:Husbands and wives (5:33)children and parents (6:1-4)servants and masters (6:5-9)Try not to pay attention to the chapter break that occurs here. It is important to remember that Paul wrote this section on “walking” in the Spirit hundreds of years before chapter breaks and verse numbers were added by other people to his writings. There were no chapter and verse breaks when Paul wrote Ephesians. The big fat number 6 we see in our Bibles standing as the start of chapter 6 should not have been inserted where it now is. It would better have been inserted after the end of verse 9, at the end of this fifth “walking” section of the second half of the Book of Ephesians.Paul uses the word “fear” in 5:33 to link back to verse 21. Paul also uses the word “fear” to tie together all three pairs of relationships that he gives us in 5:33-6:9. Here's how he uses “fear” in each set of relationships. In verse 33, Paul uses “fear” when he talks about wives and their husbands.In 6:1-4, the word “fear” is implied in the verses that are addressed to children and parents.In 6:5-9, “fear” is part of servant-master relationship.Verse 33 deals with married adults in the household. Theirs is a horizontal and reciprocal relationship. In 6:1-4 and 5-9, Paul focuses on two other pairs of relationships in the household. These are relationships in which the individuals are in a position of inequality – as child and parent, and as servant and master. Family Circus! In these 10 verses Paul provides us with a rhetorical three-ring circus. In each ring, Christian family members defy normal expectations and live in Spirit-filled relationships that portray living scenes demonstrating life together in the body of Christ.As a child, I was taken to the final outdoor three-ring performance of the Ringling Brothers, Barnum and Bailey Circus. It was the last one ever held under their enormous tent, called the Big Top. And it was tremendous! Plenty was going on in the center ring! There were trapeze artists flying high overhead while clowns and animal acts performed underneath. To one side in another ring there was an animal act with a lion tamer and plenty of threatening beasts. But wait. There was more! In a third ring there was the noise of a wild west scene with horse riding tricks and cracking pistol displays of incredible marksmanship. Could I follow all that at one time? I sure tried! In these verses there are three rings of activity too. Can we follow all that is going on in them? We can sure try! Readers of ancient literature were used to asking, “How does this apply to life in the household?” These verses sound and feel something like other household lists that were in circulation in Paul's day. Those other lists on “how to” organize a household reflected the value systems of the pagan religions of the day, and of Judaism. These are called “domestic codes.”Paul provides something like a domestic code of his own, except that he modifies the typical literary forms and their content. This has frustrated a number of scholars who have tried to squeeze this section of Ephesians into an outline typical of other ancient domestic codes.Surprisingly, many claim to see a household code in Ephesians starting back in verses 22-31 of chapter 5. But as we have demonstrated those verses are about a household only tangentially. The focus there is on Christ's sacrificial love for the church.When Paul takes up the subject of the Christian household from 5:33 on, he breaks almost every rule in those other domestic codes. He reverses the usual order they use in the way he names the members of the family and he advises family members to relate to one another in ways that are quite revolutionary when compared to the established patterns of his day.Ephesians 6:1-9. Let's look at the Christians who are in unequal positions in the household. Starting with Ephesians 6:1, “obedience” enters the picture. For Paul, there are relationships within a Christian household where obedience is appropriate: between children and parents, and between slaves and masters.These unequal relationships can be limited in duration. They exist only as long as the child is obligated to obey, and only as long as the slave is obligated to serve. Bye the way, the word “obedience” is never used in Ephesians 5:22-31 for how Christians interact with one another. And “obedience” is not required of either Christian spouse to the other in 5:33. Some people hold up verse 33 as a proof text that wives are required to obey their husbands. But verse 33 does not say this. The word “fear” is used in verse 33 but it is not used as a synonym for “obedience.”Children and parents. In Ephesians 6:1-3, Paul exhorts children to obey their parents. In verse 4, he addresses their parents. His comments apply to individuals living in a Christian household. Paul specifies this in verses 1 and 4 by adding the words, “in the Lord” and “of the Lord.”In verses 1-3, four reasons are given for children to be obedient. Paul makes his appeal in terms that are appropriate to children who already old enough and know the Lord. The four reasons are instructive and encouraging. Children are to obey because:They are “in the Lord”They are expected to do what is “right”They have a “commandment” of GodThey are given a “promise”In verses 2-3, Paul quotes the Fifth of the Ten Commandments. It is in Deuteronomy 5:16 and reads as follows: “Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.” To this familiar commandment, the Jewish mind was trained to associate the parallel statement in Leviticus 19:3, “Each of you shall fear his mother and his father ….”The phrase “in the Lord” is reminiscent of Ephesians 5:21. And the idea of “fearing” also refers back to 5:21. Thus, believing children actively and fully enjoy all the rights and privileges of reciprocally submitting members of the body of Christ.Christian children are, nevertheless, called on to obey. Disobedience to parents is not something taken lightly by Paul (see Romans 1:30, 2 Timothy 3:2).In verse 4, Paul turns from Christian children to their Christian parents. The Greek word he uses to refer to them is pateres, a word frequently translated as “fathers” in English Bibles. However, pateres should be translated “parents.”In Ephesians 6:1-2, both parents are specifically named. In the reference to Leviticus 19:3, mothers and fathers are both mentioned. Mothers are mentioned first. There is no preferential treatment given to fathers by Paul in Ephesians 6:4, as if in some special way he is writing to them to the exclusion of mothers.The Greek word for “parents” used in Ephesians 6:4 is the same Greek word used in Hebrews 11:23. There, it designates the “parents” of Moses who hid him for three months.In his commentary on Ephesians, F. F. Bruce explained that Ephesians 6:4 denoted not just fathers, but both parents. He pointed out how this fit with the parallel passage correctly translated in Colossians 3:20-21. Hand washing. One day, many years ago, after Sunday morning church we greeted everyone as we left in the usual way by shaking hands all around. This day we had been invited for dinner at the home of an older member in that church. It was our first time in his home. As soon as we were in the door of his house he pointed us to where we could go wash our hands. With a playful smile and a comment about germs he encouraged us to “go wash off the brethren.” By brethren he meant both the brothers and sisters we had just greeted.In a similar way, in his letters, Paul often referred to all believers, both male and female, as “brothers.” Galatians 1:2, is an example of this.Thus, in verse 4, Paul forbids both Christian parents from “embittering” or “provoking to wrath” their children. Both parents are to be respectful in their dealings with their children. In Christ, their children are members together with them in one shared spiritual joint-body.Similarly, according to the Greek of verse 4, both parents are responsible for their children, to “nurture them in the discipline and admonition of the Lord.” Paul teaches that nurturing children includes both “discipline” and “admonition.” The word “discipline” Paul uses here is a general term. It means “discipline in general” (as used in 2 Timothy 3:16, and Hebrews 12:5). “Admonition” means “special admonition” as in Titus 3:10. Some Bible versions translate this into English as “the training and instruction of the Lord.”Thus, honorable parents, worthy of obedience, are to model righteous and measured living. Both the mother and the father are to instruct their children in biblical doctrines, clarifying for their children the motivation behind their acts as parents. In this way their children will come to know that the loving care and discipline they receive from their parents is the outflow of the will of their loving God, who inspired the commandments they and their parents are putting into practice.Servants and masters. In Roman households in and around Ephesus in Paul's day, often there were many servants. It has been estimated that in some of the cities and towns where Paul preached a large percentage of the population was either enslaved or worked as servants. What word does Paul have for these Christian members of the household? What equivalent truth does he have for today's members of the household?In verses 5-9, Paul illustrates how, even in the context of the obedience required in the servant-master relationship, submitting reciprocally can still be practiced in everyday life in the context of Christian households.In verse 5, Paul again uses the words “fear” and “as Christ,” reminding readers of the connection with 5:21 and verses 22 to 31. In life, the distinction made between servants and masters is not a spiritual distinction. It is only a social and a temporary one. Paul exhorts servants to be thoroughly Christian in all they do (verse 5). They are to work “as servants of Christ” (verse 6) and serve “as to the Lord” (verse 7) because their ultimate master is the Lord (verse 8).It is from the Lord that payment would come. In this way, vertical relationships of servants with their earthly masters are overlaid with the priority of spiritual relationships. This being the case, Paul makes a bold application to Christian masters in verse 9. He tells them to act as do their Christian servants!In addition, masters are to hold themselves back from threatening, remembering that they too share a master in heaven. Their heavenly master is no respecter of person or rank, whether male or female, young or old, slave or free.Completing the “walk.” In sum, according to the two three-part strings of illustrations that Paul uses to explain the meaning of Christian submission in Ephesians 5:21, “walking carefully in the Spirit” means every believer is to be submitting reciprocally to every other member in the body of Christ. Above all, Christ sets the example for us to follow.This kind of behavior is possible in the church and at home. Each one is to practice this reciprocal submitting with other believers at church. And where the case applies, each Christian is to practice this reciprocal submitting to others in the household, whether as spouses, as children and parents, and even as servants and masters.What this passage does and does not sayIn Ephesians 5:15-6:9, Paul explains how to walk carefully and successfully in the Spirit. In verses 15 through 21 he introduces in broad strokes how to do this. The culmination of these verses presents the dramatically transformed behavior of Spirit-filled believers reciprocally submitting one-to-another in Christ. Then, in verses 22 through 6:9 Paul presents a modified seven-part prophetic rhetorical chiasm that illustrates in detail “how to” practice this kind of mutual submission. In parts one through three in verses 22-31, he gives three “as Christ” examples.The middle of the chiasm is the high truth that believers united are one in a joint-body with Christ himself.In Ephesians 5:33-6:9, he gives three “in the household” examples.In this passage, from Ephesians 5:15-6:9, Paul does not teach that man is ‘head' of the woman. He does not teach that a man is ‘head' of the house. He does not teach that a husband is responsible for the spiritual health of a wife. He does not teach that a father is more responsible than a mother for the upbringing of their children.Such ideas are “leadership” heresies based on misunderstandings of the passage. I wrote an entire book discussing how these “leadership” heresies are not part of seven major passages in the Bible. They are not biblical. In fact they are counter-biblical. Trying to practice these non-biblical teachings has damaged the Christian experience, poisoned home life and weakened the church. This passage is about walking carefully as Christians filled with the Spirit. From verse 21 on this passage is not primarily about marriage. An individual may know Christ yet never marry. Or, an individual might know Christ as a single before marrying, as a spouse during marriage, and as a single again after the death of a spouse. According to Ephesians 5:15-6:9, the great mystery now revealed is that believers enjoy a relationship with Christ that goes beyond even that enjoyed by the first humans with God in the Garden of Eden. Walking together, filled with the Spirit, our relationship with Christ, goes even beyond Eden.***I invite you to visit our website at Tru316.com for links to the podcast, plus our books, blog posts and our YouTube Channel with more than a dozen in-depth Workshops on the 7 key Bible passages on women and men from Eden on. There is also a Study Guide on this episode for use in personal study or in small groups and more. You can find it in the blog posts on Tru316.com or write me at Bruce@Tru316.com. And thanks for joining me on The Eden Podcast!The Eden Podcast is brought to you by the Tru316 Project. YOU can help equip others by becoming a member of the Tru316 Project for $3.16/month or more. Go topatreon.com/tru316project. 

The righteous cry unto the Lord—They remember the wonders of old, how He redeemed the sons of Jacob and led Israel like a flock. The post Psalms 77 appeared first on Sacred Text Daily.

The righteous cry unto the Lord—They remember the wonders of old, how He redeemed the sons of Jacob and led Israel like a flock. The post Psalms 77 appeared first on Sacred Text Daily.

The shepherds went to see the baby Jesus after the angels announced His glorious birth. They were told that He is a savior, Christ the Lord- They were told that this brought glory to God, with peace and good will toward all people.----The signs they were given - Jesus would be wrapped in swaddling clothes, and lying in a manger - were inauspicious. How could such a glorious person be found in such a low estate-----But there is another, remarkable aspect of Christ appearing to the shepherds as a lowly, new-born babe. His birth, and their seeing Him, fulfilled a curious claim that God had made to His people just before He brought them out of Egypt.----That claim by God to Israel was repeated many times in the Scriptures.----Of course, the Lord Jesus came to die in the place of His loved ones, poor sinners who cannot save themselves. Jesus came to be God's Lamb of sacrifice to die in substitution for poor sinners, to pay the ransom price for our crimes against the justice of God.----All that was foretold in Isaiah, and the Psalms, and Zechariah in particular.----In the New Testament, the writers use the term -redeem- to describe Christ's rescue of us. He is our Redeemer-----The Greek words for -redeem- mean the release of a man by the payment of a ransom.----Thus, Peter exclaims that we were not redeemed by silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a dying lamb without blemish.----Paul exults in the truth that Jesus redeemed us by being put under the curse of the law in our place, when we should have been.----But in the Old Testament, the word to redeem carries with it an additional characteristic- that of a near kinsman who can redeem his brethren-

The Nephites and the Lamanites are all converted unto the Lord—They have all things in common, work miracles, and prosper in the land—After two centuries, divisions, evils, false churches, and persecutions arise—After three hundred years, both the Nephites and the Lamanites are wicked—Ammaron hides up the sacred records. About A.D. 35–321.

The Nephites and the Lamanites are all converted unto the Lord—They have all things in common, work miracles, and prosper in the land—After two centuries, divisions, evils, false churches, and persecutions arise—After three hundred years, both the Nephites and the Lamanites are wicked—Ammaron hides up the sacred records. About A.D. 35–321.

The book of Jeremiah was written during a time when Judah had a chance to repent. Jeremiah wrote it between 630 to 580 BC. His main purpose was to convey God's warning that if Judah will not turn away from its wicked ways, it will be destroyed. Jeremiah was called a weeping prophet because he would cry his heart out just to convince the people to repent. They did not accept the message of God, and because of that, they fell into destruction and captivity by the forces of Babylon. So we read Jeremiah 17:5 to 8 with the help of history. We already know that the people of Judah did not listen to Prophet Jeremiah. So what the prophet wrote here, the people did not follow. So this is the same with us, as proven in history, that if we do not follow what God says, it will also result in our downfall. Let us learn from history so that we will not repeat what the people of Judah did. What is the warning of Jeremiah to us? What is the instruction that he wants us to do? First, Jeremiah warns us not to trust in human strength only. Jeremiah wrote that those who put their trust in humans only will be cursed. This does not mean that we should not trust each other anymore. What Jeremiah meant is not to trust in people whose hearts have turned away from God. These people are those who say that there is no God, and we should just rely on ourselves. The COVID-19 pandemic has taught us that we are helpless without God. Even powerful governments all over the world are still scrambling on what to do. In our country, we can still see a lot of politicking and bickerings. Jeremiah wrote a graphic description of people who trust in themselves only -- "They will dwell in the parched places of the desert, in a salt land where no one lives." If we put our trust in ourselves, then we are bound to fail. That is what happened to Judah, and will continue to happen to those who rely on themselves only. Second, Jeremiah is pleading us to trust in the Lord. Yes, we need to put our complete confidence in God. It took about 70 years during exile when the Jews were able to return to their homeland. They were stubborn and their captivity was the event that opened their eyes. Hopefully, the pandemic will open our eyes too! Jeremiah describes a person whose trust is in the Lord -- "They will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit." Now, it is up to us to choose. Should we rely on ourselves only? Or Should we put our complete trust in God? May God bless us all! Amen!

HOS 8:4-7, 11-13 - acting without God's approval Psalm 115 - Our God feels MT 9:32-38 - Jesus is moved by pity Here are today's readings HOS 8:4-7, 11-13 Thus says the LORD: They made kings in Israel, but not by my authority; they established princes, but without my approval. With their silver and gold they made idols for themselves, to their own destruction. Cast away your calf, O Samaria! my wrath is kindled against them; How long will they be unable to attain innocence in Israel? The work of an artisan, no god at all, Destined for the flames— such is the calf of Samaria! When they sow the wind, they shall reap the whirlwind; The stalk of grain that forms no ear can yield no flour; Even if it could, strangers would swallow it. When Ephraim made many altars to expiate sin, his altars became occasions of sin. Though I write for him my many ordinances, they are considered as a stranger's. Though they offer sacrifice, immolate flesh and eat it, the LORD is not pleased with them. He shall still remember their guilt and punish their sins; they shall return to Egypt. Responsorial Psalm115:3-4, 5-6, 7AB-8, 9-10 R. (9a) The house of Israel trusts in the Lord. or: R. Alleluia. Our God is in heaven; whatever he wills, he does. Their idols are silver and gold, the handiwork of men. R. The house of Israel trusts in the Lord. or: R. Alleluia. They have mouths but speak not; they have eyes but see not; They have ears but hear not; they have noses but smell not. R. The house of Israel trusts in the Lord. or: R. Alleluia. They have hands but feel not; they have feet but walk not. Their makers shall be like them, everyone that trusts in them. R. The house of Israel trusts in the Lord. or: R. Alleluia. GospelMT 9:32-38 A demoniac who could not speak was brought to Jesus, and when the demon was driven out the mute man spoke. The crowds were amazed and said, “Nothing like this has ever been seen in Israel.” But the Pharisees said, “He drives out demons by the prince of demons.” Jesus went around to all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the Gospel of the Kingdom, and curing every disease and illness. At the sight of the crowds, his heart was moved with pity for them because they were troubled and abandoned, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few; so ask the master of the harvest to send out laborers for his harvest.” --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/sofia-fonseca7/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/sofia-fonseca7/support

The children of Israel are to cross the Jordan, build an altar, and worship the Lord—They are the Lord's people but will be cursed if they do not obey Him. The post Deuteronomy 27 appeared first on Sacred Text Daily.

The children of Israel are to cross the Jordan, build an altar, and worship the Lord—They are the Lord's people but will be cursed if they do not obey Him. The post Deuteronomy 27 appeared first on Sacred Text Daily.

The proverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel. To know wisdom and instruction; to perceive the words of understanding; To receive the instruction of wisdom, justice, and judgment, and equity; To give subtilty to the simple, to the young man knowledge and discretion. A wise man will hear, and will increase learning; and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels: To understand a proverb, and the interpretation; the words of the wise, and their dark sayings. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction. My son, hear the instruction of thy father, and forsake not the law of thy mother: For they shall be an ornament of grace unto thy head, and chains about thy neck. My son, if sinners entice thee, consent thou not. If they say, Come with us, let us lay wait for blood, let us lurk privily for the innocent without cause: Let us swallow them up alive as the grave; and whole, as those that go down into the pit: We shall find all precious substance, we shall fill our houses with spoil: Cast in thy lot among us; let us all have one purse: My son, walk not thou in the way with them; refrain thy foot from their path: For their feet run to evil, and make haste to shed blood. Surely in vain the net is spread in the sight of any bird. And they lay wait for their own blood; they lurk privily for their own lives. So are the ways of every one that is greedy of gain; which taketh away the life of the owners thereof. Wisdom crieth without; she uttereth her voice in the streets: She crieth in the chief place of concourse, in the openings of the gates: in the city she uttereth her words, saying, How long, ye simple ones, will ye love simplicity? and the scorners delight in their scorning, and fools hate knowledge? Turn you at my reproof: behold, I will pour out my spirit unto you, I will make known my words unto you. Because I have called, and ye refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no man regarded; But ye have set at nought all my counsel, and would none of my reproof: I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your fear cometh; When your fear cometh as desolation, and your destruction cometh as a whirlwind; when distress and anguish cometh upon you. Then shall they call upon me, but I will not answer; they shall seek me early, but they shall not find me: For that they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of the Lord: They would none of my counsel: they despised all my reproof. Therefore shall they eat of the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own devices. For the turning away of the simple shall slay them, and the prosperity of fools shall destroy them. But whoso hearkeneth unto me shall dwell safely, and shall be quiet from fear of evil. Proverbs Chapter 1 Join me for church at 10:40 AM CST USA by using the link ccsaintpaul.org/ultra Or on Video by YouTube https://www.youtube.com/user/CCStPaul http://www.ccsaintpaul.org/teachings/ http://www.ccsaintpaul.org/our-beliefs/bible-studies/

Lehi’s sons return to Jerusalem and invite Ishmael and his household to join them in their journey—Laman and others rebel—Nephi exhorts his brethren to have faith in the Lord—They bind him with cords and plan his destruction—He is freed by the power of faith—His brethren ask forgiveness—Lehi and his company offer sacrifice and burnt offerings. About 600–592 B.C.

The proverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel. To know wisdom and instruction; to perceive the words of understanding; To receive the instruction of wisdom, justice, and judgment, and equity; To give subtilty to the simple, to the young man knowledge and discretion. A wise man will hear, and will increase learning; and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels: To understand a proverb, and the interpretation; the words of the wise, and their dark sayings. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction. My son, hear the instruction of thy father, and forsake not the law of thy mother: For they shall be an ornament of grace unto thy head, and chains about thy neck. My son, if sinners entice thee, consent thou not. If they say, Come with us, let us lay wait for blood, let us lurk privily for the innocent without cause: Let us swallow them up alive as the grave; and whole, as those that go down into the pit: We shall find all precious substance, we shall fill our houses with spoil: Cast in thy lot among us; let us all have one purse: My son, walk not thou in the way with them; refrain thy foot from their path: For their feet run to evil, and make haste to shed blood. Surely in vain the net is spread in the sight of any bird. And they lay wait for their own blood; they lurk privily for their own lives. So are the ways of every one that is greedy of gain; which taketh away the life of the owners thereof. Wisdom crieth without; she uttereth her voice in the streets: She crieth in the chief place of concourse, in the openings of the gates: in the city she uttereth her words, saying, How long, ye simple ones, will ye love simplicity? and the scorners delight in their scorning, and fools hate knowledge? Turn you at my reproof: behold, I will pour out my spirit unto you, I will make known my words unto you. Because I have called, and ye refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no man regarded; But ye have set at nought all my counsel, and would none of my reproof: I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your fear cometh; When your fear cometh as desolation, and your destruction cometh as a whirlwind; when distress and anguish cometh upon you. Then shall they call upon me, but I will not answer; they shall seek me early, but they shall not find me: For that they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of the Lord: They would none of my counsel: they despised all my reproof. Therefore shall they eat of the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own devices. For the turning away of the simple shall slay them, and the prosperity of fools shall destroy them. But whoso hearkeneth unto me shall dwell safely, and shall be quiet from fear of evil. Proverbs 1 Join me for church at 10:40 AM CST USA by using the link ccsaintpaul.org/ultra Or on Video by YouTube https://www.youtube.com/user/CCStPaul http://www.ccsaintpaul.org/teachings/ http://www.ccsaintpaul.org/our-beliefs/bible-studies/

Subscribe to the Quran Talk podcast: https://apple.co/2lLnsFE Check out video notes: https://qurantalk.podbean.com/ Quran translation on iOS: https://apple.co/2C1YGXj Additional Resources: http://www.masjidtucson.org Contact: qurantalk (at) gmail (dot) com How was Thamud Annihilated? 5 communities annihilated (أَهْلَكْ / ahlak) by God in one single event. Transgressed so far from the right path there was no coming back These communities rejected the 3 M’s: messenger, the message, and the miracle  People of Noah People of Hud People of Saleh People of Lot People of Shu'aib The annihilation of these communities are mentioned consistently in this order in Suras: 7, 11, and 26. [14:9] Have you not heard about those before you—the people of Noah, 'Ãd, Thamûd, and others who came after them and known only to GOD? Their messengers went to them with clear proofs, but they treated them with contempt and said, "We disbelieve in what you are sent with. We are skeptical about your message; full of doubt.” Death of any disbeliever is annihilation [6:6] Have they not seen how many generations before them we have annihilated? We established them on earth more than we did for you, and we showered them with blessings, generously, and we provided them with flowing streams. We then annihilated them because of their sins, and we substituted another generation in their place. [10:13] Many a generation we have annihilated before you when they transgressed. Their messengers went to them with clear proofs, but they refused to believe. We thus requite the guilty people. [8:54] Such was the case with the people of Pharaoh and others before them. They first rejected the signs of their Lord. Consequently, we annihilated them for their sins. We drowned Pharaoh's people; the wicked were consistently punished. People of Noah / flood People of Hud / Ad / storm People of Saleh / Thamud ? People of Lot / Sodom / shower of rocks People of Shu’aib / Midyan / quake In this episode want to take a closer look at what exactly annihilated the people of Saleh. [7:78] Consequently, the quake annihilated them, leaving them dead in their homes. [51:43] In Thamûd (there is a lesson). They were told, "Enjoy temporarily.” [51:44] They rebelled against the command of their Lord. Consequently, the lightning struck them as they looked.   Saleh was a messenger sent to Thamud. [26:141] Thamûd disbelieved the messengers. [26:142] Their brother Sãleh said to them, "Would you not be righteous? [26:143] "I am an honest messenger to you. [26:144] "You shall reverence GOD, and obey me. [26:145] "I do not ask you for any wage; my wage comes only from the Lord of the universe. [26:146] "Do you suppose you will be left forever, secure in this state? [26:147] "You enjoy gardens and springs. [26:148] "And crops and date palms with delicious fruits. [16:112] GOD cites the example of a community that used to be secure and prosperous, with provisions coming to it from everywhere. But then, it turned unappreciative of GOD's blessings. Consequently, GOD caused them to taste the hardships of starvation and insecurity. Such is the requital for what they did. People of Sheba Sura 34 [34:15] Sheba's homeland used to be a marvel, with two gardens on the right and the left. Eat from your Lord's provisions, and be appreciative of Him—good land, and a forgiving Lord. [34:16] They turned away and, consequently, we poured upon them a disastrous flood, and we substituted their two gardens into two gardens of bad tasting fruits, thorny plants, and a skimpy harvest. [34:17] We thus requited them for their disbelief. Do we not requite only the disbelievers? [34:18] We placed between them and the communities that we blessed other oases, and we secured the journey between them: "Travel therein days and nights in complete security." [34:19] But they (turned unappreciative and) challenged: "Our Lord, we do not care if You increase the distance of our journeys (without any stations)." They thus wronged their own souls. Consequently, we made them history, and scattered them into small communities throughout the land. This should provide lessons for those who are steadfast, appreciative. [26:149] "You carve out of the mountains luxurious mansions. [26:150] "You shall reverence GOD, and obey me. [26:151] "Do not obey the transgressors. [26:152] "Who commit evil, not good works." [7:74] "Recall that He made you inheritors after 'Ãd, and established you on earth, building mansions in its valleys, and carving homes from its mountains. You shall remember GOD's blessings, and do not roam the earth corruptingly.”  Al-Hijr [29:38] Similarly, 'Ãd and Thamûd (were annihilated). This is made manifest to you through their ruins. The devil had adorned their works in their eyes, and had diverted them from the path, even though they had eyes. [15:80] The people of Al-Hijr disbelieved the messengers. [15:81] We gave them our revelations, but they disregarded them. [15:82] They used to carve secure homes out of the mountains. [15:83] The disaster hit them in the morning. [15:84] What they hoarded did not help them. Mada'in Saleh = Al-Hijr https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mada%27in_Saleh One of three cities of the Nabateen Arabs = Hijr, Petra, and Busra   Camel [11:62] They said, "O Sãleh, you used to be popular among us before this. Are you enjoining us from worshiping what our parents are worshiping? We are full of doubt concerning everything you have told us.” [11:63] He said, "O my people, what if I have solid proof from my Lord, and mercy from Him? Who would support me against GOD, if I disobeyed Him? You can only augment my loss. [11:64] "O my people, this is GOD's camel to serve as a proof for you. You shall let her eat from GOD's earth, and do not touch her with any harm, lest you incur an immediate retribution.” [26:153] They said, "You are bewitched. [26:154] "You are no more than a human like us. Produce a miracle, if you are truthful." [26:155] He said, "Here is a camel that will drink only on a day that is assigned to her; a day that is different from your specified days of drinking. [26:156] "Do not touch her with any harm, lest you incur retribution on an awesome day." [26:157] They slaughtered her, and thus incurred sorrow. [17:79] What stopped us from sending the miracles is that the previous generations have rejected them. For example, we showed Thamoud the camel, a profound (miracle), but they transgressed against it. We sent the miracles only to instill reverence. Moses miracle turn staff into serpent Jesus time of famine bring food from the sky heal the sick Muhammad poetry is big - and Quran is far beyond anything they have ever heard before Today we live in the information age and our miracle is the mathematical structure of the Quran via a cryptographic message for our generation. If we provided this to the people of Saleh it would be meaningless to them. [27:45] We have sent to Thamûd their brother Sãleh, saying, "You shall worship GOD." But they turned into two feuding factions. [27:46] He said, "O my people, why do you hasten to commit evil instead of good works? If only you implore GOD for forgiveness, you may attain mercy." [27:47] They said, "We consider you a bad omen for us, you and those who joined you." He said, "Your omen is fully controlled by GOD. Indeed, you are deviant people." [7:75] The arrogant leaders among his people said to the common people who believed, "How do you know that Sãleh is sent by his Lord?" They said, "The message he brought has made us believers." It’s not necessarily the miracle that makes someone believe. Sometimes the message alone is enough to make someone believe. The opposite of this is the history of the magicians at the time of Moses. [27:48] There were nine gangsters in the city who were wicked, and never did anything good. [27:49] They said, "Let us swear by GOD that we kill him and his people, then tell his tribe, 'We know nothing about their death. We are truthful.’" [7:76] The arrogant ones said, "We disbelieve in what you believe in." [7:77] Subsequently, they slaughtered the camel, rebelled against their Lord's command, and said, "O Sãleh, bring the doom you threaten us with, if you are really a messenger." [7:78] Consequently, the quake annihilated them, leaving them dead in their homes. [7:79] He turned away from them, saying, "O my people, I have delivered my Lord's message to you, and advised you, but you do not like any advisers.” Proverbs 12: 1 Whoever loves instruction loves knowledge, But he who hates correction is stupid. [7:73] To Thamûd we sent their brother Sãleh. He said, "O my people, worship GOD; you have no other god beside Him. Proof has been provided for you from your Lord: here is GOD's camel, to serve as a sign for you. Let her eat from GOD's land, and do not touch her with any harm, lest you incur a painful retribution. [27:50] They plotted and schemed, but we also plotted and schemed, while they did not perceive. [27:51] Note the consequences of their plotting; we annihilated them and all their people. [27:52] Here are their homes utterly ruined, because of their transgression. This should be a lesson for people who know. [27:53] We save those who believe and lead a righteous life. [11:65] They slaughtered her. He then said, "You have only three days to live. This is a prophecy that is inevitable." [11:66] When our judgment came, we saved Sãleh and those who believed with him by mercy from us, from the humiliation of that day. Your Lord is the Most Powerful, the Almighty. [11:67] Those who transgressed were annihilated by the disaster, leaving them in their homes, dead. [11:68] It was as if they never lived there. Indeed, Thamûd have rejected their Lord. Absolutely, Thamûd have incurred their annihilation. Sãleh: One and the Same Message [11:61] To Thamûd we sent their brother Sãleh. He said, "O my people, worship GOD; you have no other god beside Him. He initiated you from the earth, then settled you in it. You shall seek His forgiveness, then repent to Him. My Lord is always near, responsive." [26:158] The retribution overwhelmed them. This should be a lesson, but most people are not believers. [26:159] Most assuredly, your Lord is the Almighty, Most Merciful.   So what annihilated the people of Thamud? [7:78] Consequently, the quake annihilated them, leaving them dead in their homes. 7 78 1 فَأَخَذَتْهُمُ So [it] struck them fa-akhadhathumu ا خ ذ 7 78 2 الرَّجْفَةُ the earthquake, l-rajfatu ر ج ف 7 78 3 فَأَصْبَحُوا then they became fa-aṣbaḥū ص ب ح 7 78 4 فِي in fī ف ي 7 78 5 دَارِهِمْ their home(s) dārihim د و ر 7 78 6 جَاثِمِينَ laying on their chest motionless / dead. jāthimīna ج ث م **Quake is the same word used for Shuaib annihilation in 7:91 & 29:37 [51:43] In Thamûd (there is a lesson). They were told, "Enjoy temporarily.” [51:44] They rebelled against the command of their Lord. Consequently, the lightning struck them as they looked. [51:45] They could never get up, nor were they helped. الصَّاعِقَةُ (l-ṣāʿiqatu) comes from the root ص ع ق and means thunderbolt, but also stunning noise (e.g. thunder), or something that stuns or strikes 51 44 1 فَعَتَوْا But they rebelled faʿataw ع ت و 51 44 2 عَنْ against ʿan ع ن 51 44 3 أَمْرِ (the) command amri ا م ر 51 44 4 رَبِّهِمْ (of) their Lord, rabbihim ر ب ب 51 44 5 فَأَخَذَتْهُمُ so [it] stuck them fa-akhadhathumu ا خ ذ 51 44 6 الصَّاعِقَةُ the (thunderous blast) lightning l-ṣāʿiqatu ص ع ق 51 44 7 وَهُمْ while they wahum ه م 51 44 8 يَنْظُرُونَ [they] were looking. yanẓurūna ن ظ ر   Same word used again in 41:17: [41:17] As for Thamûd, we provided them with guidance, but they preferred blindness over guidance. Consequently, the disastrous and shameful retribution annihilated them, because of what they earned.   41 17 1 وَأَمَّا And as for wa-ammā ا م م ا 41 17 2 ثَمُودُ Thamud, thamūdu ث م د 41 17 3 فَهَدَيْنَاهُمْ we guided them, fahadaynāhum ه د ي 41 17 4 فَاسْتَحَبُّوا but they preferred fa-is'taḥabbū ح ب ب 41 17 5 الْعَمَىٰ the blindness l-ʿamā ع م ي 41 17 6 عَلَى over ʿalā ع ل ي 41 17 7 الْهُدَىٰ the guidance, l-hudā ه د ي 41 17 8 فَأَخَذَتْهُمْ so [it] struck them fa-akhadhathum ا خ ذ 41 17 9 صَاعِقَةُ a terrifying cry / crack of thunder / disaster (of) ṣāʿiqatu ص ع ق 41 17 10 الْعَذَابِ the retribution l-ʿadhābi ع ذ ب 41 17 11 الْهُونِ the humiliating, l-hūni ه و ن 41 17 12 بِمَا for what bimā ب م ا 41 17 13 كَانُوا they used to kānū ك و ن 41 17 14 يَكْسِبُونَ [they] earn. yaksibūna ك س ب   [69:4] Thamûd and 'Ãd disbelieved in the Shocker. [69:5] As for Thamûd, they were annihilated by the devastating (quake). The word بِالطَّاغِيَةِ (bil-ṭāghiyati) also a meaning of something exceedingly wicked but also a meaning of a storm of lightning and thunder. 69 4 1 كَذَّبَتْ [It] denied / disbelieved kadhabat ك ذ ب 69 4 2 ثَمُودُ Thamud thamūdu ث م د 69 4 3 وَعَادٌ and Ad waʿādun ع و د 69 4 4 بِالْقَارِعَةِ in the Striking Calamity / Shocker. bil-qāriʿati ق ر ع 69 5 1 فَأَمَّا So as for fa-ammā ا م م ا 69 5 2 ثَمُودُ Thamud, thamūdu ث م د 69 5 3 فَأُهْلِكُوا so they were annihilated fa-uh'likū ه ل ك 69 5 4 بِالطَّاغِيَةِ by the thunderous blast / lightning bil-ṭāghiyati ط غ و   [54:31] We sent upon them one blow, whereupon they became like harvested hay.   Summary of what we know They were in their homes (11:67) [11:67] Those who transgressed were annihilated by the disaster, leaving them in their homes, dead. Their homes were carved in mountains (7:74) [7:74] "Recall that He made you inheritors after 'Ãd, and established you on earth, building mansions in its valleys, and carving homes from its mountains. The quake annihilated them (7:78) [7:78] Consequently, the quake annihilated them, leaving them dead in their homes. In the morning (15:83) [15:83] The disaster hit them in the morning. But before they were annihilated they saw lightning (51:44) [51:44] They rebelled against the command of their Lord. Consequently, the lightning struck them as they looked. Their homes survived because we have their ruins (29:38) [29:38] Similarly, 'Ãd and Thamûd (were annihilated). This is made manifest to you through their ruins. And whatever the event was left them like dried harvested hay (54:31) [54:31] We sent upon them one blow, whereupon they became like harvested hay.   Earthquake lightning Over the centuries, there have been many reports of earthquake lights, both before and while the ground is shaking. Normal lightning results from the buildup of electrical charge in clouds. However, lab experiments now suggest earthquake lights may instead originate from the buildup of electrical charge in the ground surrounding geological faults…. Scientists previously sought to explain other mysteries regarding electrical charge. For example, it remains unclear how lightning can happen in sandstorms, even though sand is an electrical insulator, making lightning in sandstorms akin to seeing thunderbolts emerge from a storm full of rubber balls. The researchers suggested there may be some unknown material property that produces voltages whenever cracks appear in powders or grains. Appearances of the earthquake light seem to occur when the quakes have a high magnitude, generally 5 or higher on the Richter scale. There have also been incidents of yellow, ball-shaped lights appearing before earthquakes. One hypothesis involves intense electric fields created piezoelectrically by tectonic movements of rocks containing quartz. https://www.nationalgeographic.com/news/2014/1/140106-earthquake-lights-earthquake-prediction-geology-science/ https://www.livescience.com/43686-earthquake-lights-possible-cause.html Rocks in the are are sandstone which is made of sand cemented by silica, iron, lime etc. It is quartz-based stone. [54:31] We sent upon them one blow, whereupon they became like harvested hay.   54 31 1 إِنَّا Indeed, [we] innā ا ن ن 54 31 2 أَرْسَلْنَا we sent arsalnā ر س ل 54 31 3 عَلَيْهِمْ upon them ʿalayhim ع ل ي 54 31 4 صَيْحَةً blast / blow ṣayḥatan ص ي ح 54 31 5 وَاحِدَةً single, wāḥidatan و ح د 54 31 6 فَكَانُوا and they became fakānū ك و ن 54 31 7 كَهَشِيمِ like dry twig fragments / harvested hay kahashīmi ه ش م 54 31 8 الْمُحْتَظِرِ (used by) the fence builder / the one who builds enclosures. l-muḥ'taẓiri ح ظ ر   Because the disaster hit them in the morning  (15:83) there was moisture on the rock When in the electric chair they would put wet sponges When electricity runs through a body the energy is converted to thermal energy  People who die in electric chair the body gets so hot that if anyone was to touch the body they can get 2nd or 3rd degree burns even after a few minutes can still blisters  Body could catch fire or even melt  Cooks the person inside out  70% of our body is water a conductor  When electrocuted all the moisture was taken out of their body leaving them like harvested hay And their homes were like a fence builder (electric fence) cooking them alive The homes that they used for their protection ended up being the source of their destruction.  

The proverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel. To know wisdom and instruction; to perceive the words of understanding; To receive the instruction of wisdom, justice, and judgment, and equity; To give subtilty to the simple, to the young man knowledge and discretion. A wise man will hear, and will increase learning; and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels: To understand a proverb, and the interpretation; the words of the wise, and their dark sayings. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction. My son, hear the instruction of thy father, and forsake not the law of thy mother: For they shall be an ornament of grace unto thy head, and chains about thy neck. My son, if sinners entice thee, consent thou not. If they say, Come with us, let us lay wait for blood, let us lurk privily for the innocent without cause: Let us swallow them up alive as the grave; and whole, as those that go down into the pit: We shall find all precious substance, we shall fill our houses with spoil: Cast in thy lot among us; let us all have one purse: My son, walk not thou in the way with them; refrain thy foot from their path: For their feet run to evil, and make haste to shed blood. Surely in vain the net is spread in the sight of any bird. And they lay wait for their own blood; they lurk privily for their own lives. So are the ways of every one that is greedy of gain; which taketh away the life of the owners thereof. Wisdom crieth without; she uttereth her voice in the streets: She crieth in the chief place of concourse, in the openings of the gates: in the city she uttereth her words, saying, How long, ye simple ones, will ye love simplicity? and the scorners delight in their scorning, and fools hate knowledge? Turn you at my reproof: behold, I will pour out my spirit unto you, I will make known my words unto you. Because I have called, and ye refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no man regarded; But ye have set at nought all my counsel, and would none of my reproof: I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your fear cometh; When your fear cometh as desolation, and your destruction cometh as a whirlwind; when distress and anguish cometh upon you. Then shall they call upon me, but I will not answer; they shall seek me early, but they shall not find me: For that they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of the Lord: They would none of my counsel: they despised all my reproof. Therefore shall they eat of the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own devices. For the turning away of the simple shall slay them, and the prosperity of fools shall destroy them. But whoso hearkeneth unto me shall dwell safely, and shall be quiet from fear of evil. Proverbs Chapter 1

Subscribe to the podcast and notes: https://qurantalk.podbean.com/Quran translation on iOS:https://apple.co/2C1YGXjAdditional Resources: http://www.masjidtucson.orgContact: qurantalk (at) gmail (dot) com   Debating with an Atheist If you debate with an atheist one of the core arguments they try to make it to try to prove that God is not Most Gracious, Most Merciful, All Powerful or Most Just I think this is a really interesting indication that they even in their disbelief know that for God to exist he would have to be Most Gracious, Most Merciful, All Powerful or Most Just Rather than even entertaining that God may not be these things they know to their core that God would HAVE to possess these qualities? What does that tell you about human nature? Monotheism natural instinct [30:30] Therefore, you shall devote yourself to the religion of strict monotheism. Such is the natural instinct placed into the people by GOD. Such creation of GOD will never change. This is the perfect religion, but most people do not know. *30:30 Recognizing God ALONE as our Lord and Master is a natural instinct. We are born into this world with such an instinct. See 7:172-173 and Appendix 7. We know deep down instinctively who God is. [7:172] Recall that your Lord summoned all the descendants of Adam, and had them bear witness for themselves: "Am I not your Lord?" They all said, "Yes. We bear witness." Thus, you cannot say on the Day of Resurrection, "We were not aware of this." [7:173] Nor can you say, "It was our parents who practiced idolatry, and we simply followed in their footsteps. Will You punish us because of what others have innovated?" [7:174] We thus explain the revelations, to enable the people to redeem themselves. In order to know God, we need to be able to differentiate between good and evil [91:7] The soul and Him who created it. [91:8] Then placed innate knowledge what is evil and what is good. فَأَلْهَمَهَا = fa-al-ham-aha Root = ل ه م = laham = natural instinct, divine inspiration, innate knowledge Migration Short Story   “The fact that our heart yearns for something Earth can't supply is proof that Heaven must be our home.” C.S. Lewis I have a desire for food because food exists I have a desire for sleep because sleep exists I have a desire for love because love exists  I have a desire for forgiveness because forgiveness exists I have a desire for God because God exists  Universal yearning Look at all cultures and people - Even claim that humans are hard wired to believe in God Why do people search for atonement when they do something wrong Feel bad for what they have done - do they do that to please God these are instinctive qualities When someone does not feel these things we call them arrogant or anti-social or a psychopath What is the definition of religion There is a debate in academic circles about what is the definition of religion. Recently BBC ran a series of articles about this topic. And I couldn’t help notice that their definition of religion vs. culture were completely interchangeable. In the Quran the Arabic word for religion is the same word as judgement Deen = religion يَوْمِ الدِّينِ. = Yawm edeen - Day of Judgment   Therefore our religion is the metric by which we judge Universal Morality There is a debate among atheist and believers is there such thing in universal morality (objective morality) or is all morality purely subjective (non-universal) If someone does not believe in a universal law giver then there is no universal morality, and therefore what is moral is just a mere opinion and purely subjective. And if you follow this argument to its limits it means there may be conditions where torturing an innocent child could be a moral act. The only reason we can say that there is universal morality that under no conditions would such an act in our world ever be justified as moral is if we believe in a God who established the laws. [55:7] He constructed the sky and established the law. [55:8] You shall not transgress the law. [55:9] You shall establish justice; do not violate the law. The Declaration of Independence states, “We hold these Truths to be self-evident, that all Men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness….” unalienable: unable to be taken away from or given away by the possessor. If you believe what is legal means that it is moral then let’s look at what was considered legal in the past and ask yourself was this moral?  Or the greek practice of pedophilia (aka pederasty) is perfectly moral because their culture at the time accepted it https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pederasty If you don’t stand for something you will fall for anything Hypocrites wants to change the definition of righteousness  [11:12] You may wish to disregard some of that which is revealed to you, and you may be annoyed by it. [2:8] Then there are those who say, "We believe in GOD and the Last Day," while they are not believers. [2:9] In trying to deceive GOD and those who believe, they only deceive themselves without perceiving. [2:10] In their minds there is a disease. Consequently, GOD augments their disease. They have incurred a painful retribution for their lying. [2:11] When they are told, "Do not commit evil," they say, "But we are righteous!" مُصْلِحُونَ = peace-makers / reformers / righteous While a believer aims to reform themselves the hypocrite aims to reform the difference between what is right and wrong. What is moral and immoral. [2:12] In fact, they are evildoers, but they do not perceive. [2:13] When they are told, "Believe like the people who believed," they say, "Shall we believe like the fools who believed?" In fact, it is they who are fools, but they do not know. [40:35] They argue against GOD's revelations, without any basis. This is a trait that is most abhorred by GOD and by those who believe. GOD thus seals the hearts of every arrogant tyrant. [40:56] Surely, those who argue against GOD's revelations without proof are exposing the arrogance that is hidden inside their chests, and they are not even aware of it. Therefore, seek refuge in GOD; He is the Hearer, the Seer. When to follow your heart and when to follow your brain [17:36] You shall not accept any information, unless you verify it for yourself. I have given you the hearing, the eyesight, and the brain, and you are responsible for using them. The word that is used is: وَالْفُؤَادَ = wa-al-fu-ad as opposed to galb Comes from the root  = ف ا د = fahd Connection with not just what is in one’s head e.g. the brain Technically known as the enteric nervous system, the second brain consists of sheaths of neurons embedded in the walls of the long tube of our gut, or alimentary canal, which measures about nine meters end to end from the esophagus to the anus. The second brain contains some 100 million neurons, more than in either the spinal cord or the peripheral nervous system, For comparison, the human brain contains 100 billion neurons https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/gut-second-brain/?redirect=1 99.9% we use our brain 0.01% of the time we use our heart / feelings See it - visual Hear it - be objective Think about it (feel about it) Difference between hearing something and seeing something But don’t fool yourself So clever that he could convince himself fo anything “The first principle is that you must not fool yourself – and you are the easiest person to fool.” Richard Feynman Second level thinking Criminal justice system Our belief should never override our morality Are we ever allowed to act immorally? Is it ever justified Ends justify the means - never justify bad behavior [7:28] They commit a gross sin, then say, "We found our parents doing this, and GOD has commanded us to do it." Say, "GOD never advocates sin. Are you saying about GOD what you do not know?" Are you allowed to do sin to get to righteousness? [5:32] Because of this, we decreed for the Children of Israel that anyone who murders any person who had not committed murder or horrendous crimes, it shall be as if he murdered all the people. And anyone who spares a life it shall be as if he spared the lives of all the people. Our messengers went to them with clear proofs and revelations, but most of them, after all this, are still transgressing. Bearing witness - be equitable God takes care of both You Shall Not Bear False Witness [4:135] O you who believe, you shall be absolutely equitable, and observe GOD, when you serve as witnesses, even against yourselves, or your parents, or your relatives. Whether the accused is rich or poor, GOD takes care of both. Therefore, do not be biased by your personal wishes. If you deviate or disregard (this commandment), then GOD is fully Cognizant of everything you do. God controls the outcome, we are not responsible for the outcome we are only responsible for making the right decisions to please God. Not sure then consult with others Traits of the Believers [42:37] They avoid gross sins and vice, and when angered they forgive. [42:38] They respond to their Lord by observing the Contact Prayers (Salat). Their affairs are decided after due consultation among themselves, and from our provisions to them they give (to charity).  

True mothers are a lot like our Lord: They'd rather “let go” and grant life than hold on and cause death. Christ is the Author of Truth and the Author of Life, no matter how a life was conceived."Who's Your Mother?"Jim Solomon1 Kings 3: 16-27.#mothersday#firstpresbyterianbr#1kings#mothersday2019

Assyrian Proverb: “The tallest blade of grass is the first to be cut”  This element of conformity to not be targeted is evolutionarily instilled in us  Across the entire animal kingdom you see a similar pattern with fish and birds The reason for this is that it makes it difficult for the animal to focus on anyone out of the group to target so the hunter gets confused and fails in their approach Zebras blend in to confuse the lion The thought is that if everyone is responsible then by theory no one is responsible because it is hard to assert blame when everyone is involved While this works for animals in the wild to preserve their physical survival, the opposite is true for our spiritual survival  A sure-fire way of not making it to heaven is thinking that if we stick with the majority and just believe what we were told by our parents or religious scholars will be sufficient [74:49] Why are they so averse to this reminder? [74:50] Running like zebras. [74:51] Who are fleeing from the lion! We are each responsible for what we believe and how we choose to live our life. On the Day of Judgment, we cannot say that we were only following the group.  [6:116] If you obey the majority of people on earth, they will divert you from the path of GOD. They follow only conjecture; they only guess.  The Majority of People Do Not Believe [12:103] Most people, no matter what you do, will not believe. [12:104] You are not asking them for any money; you simply deliver this reminder for all the people. [12:105] So many proofs in the heavens and the earth are given to them, but they pass by them, heedlessly! The Majority of Believers Destined for Hell [12:106] The majority of those who believe in GOD do not do so without committing idol worship. “Whenever you find yourself on the side of the majority, it is time to reform (or pause and reflect).” “When you're the only sane person, you look like the only insane person.” [19:73] When our revelations are recited to them, clearly, those who disbelieve say to those who believe, "Which of us is more prosperous? Which of us is in the majority?"  Luckily for us God made the Quran easy to learn. You don’t need to be a scholar or even know Arabic to understand the Quran [54:17] We made the Quran easy to learn. Does any of you wish to learn?  Those who are sincere will understand it  [6:20] Those to whom we have given the scripture recognize this as they recognize their own children. The ones who lose their souls are those who do not believe. Additionally, God holds us responsible each individually based on what information we know and the decisions we made in our own lives. And God made the Quran easy to learn. Crucial Advice [17:36] You shall not accept any information, unless you verify it for yourself. I have given you the hearing, the eyesight, and the brain, and you are responsible for using them. Following Parents Blindly There are millions of beliefs in this world, ask yourself what is the probability that the belief you were born into was the right one? Maybe it was, but statistically this is pretty low.   Maintaining the Status Quo: A Human Tragedy [2:170] When they are told, "Follow what GOD has revealed herein," they say, "We follow only what we found our parents doing." What if their parents did not understand, and were not guided? [2:171] The example of such disbelievers is that of parrots who repeat what they hear of sounds and calls, without understanding. Deaf, dumb, and blind; they cannot understand. We Are Born With Instinctive Knowledge About God* [7:172] Recall that your Lord summoned all the descendants of Adam, and had them bear witness for themselves: "Am I not your Lord?" They all said, "Yes. We bear witness." Thus, you cannot say on the Day of Resurrection, "We were not aware of this." [7:173] Nor can you say, "It was our parents who practiced idolatry, and we simply followed in their footsteps. Will You punish us because of what others have innovated?" [7:174] We thus explain the revelations, to enable the people to redeem themselves.* Following the Parents Blindly: A Common Tragedy [31:21] When they are told, "Follow these revelations of GOD," they say, "No, we follow only what we found our parents doing." What if the devil is leading them to the agony of Hell? Do Not Follow Your Parents' Religion Blindly [5:104] When they are told, "Come to what GOD has revealed, and to the messenger," they say, "What we found our parents doing is sufficient for us." What if their parents knew nothing, and were not guided? We Are Each Responsible For Our Own Souls [5:105] O you who believe, you should worry only about your own necks. If the others go astray, they cannot hurt you, as long as you are guided. To GOD is your ultimate destiny, all of you, then He will inform you of everything you had done.  [2:134] Such is a community from the past. They are responsible for what they earned, and you are responsible for what you earned. You are not answerable for anything they have done.  [6:121] Do not eat from that upon which the name of GOD has not been mentioned, for it is an abomination. The devils inspire their allies to argue with you; if you obey them, you will be idol worshipers.* Religious Leaders  Idea is that this person did all the research I’ll just follow them instead of figuring out myself Religion is too important for it to be left to the religious scholars  [14:21] When they all stand before GOD,* the followers will say to the leaders, "We used to follow you. Can you spare us even a little bit of GOD's retribution?" They will say, "Had GOD guided us, we would have guided you. Now it is too late, whether we grieve or resort to patience, there is no exit for us." Upholding the Teachings of Religious Leaders Instead of God's Teachings [9:31] They have set up their religious leaders and scholars as lords,* instead of GOD. Others deified the Messiah, son of Mary. They were all commanded to worship only one god. There is no god except He. Be He glorified, high above having any partners. [9:32] They want to put out GOD's light with their mouths, but GOD insists upon perfecting His light, in spite of the disbelievers.  We each choose a path when it comes to belief the thought that I won’t choose, but instead go with the flow is still a choice [2:148] Each of you chooses the direction to follow; you shall race towards righteousness. Wherever you may be, GOD will summon you all. GOD is Omnipotent. Don’t follow the group blindly. Example of Abraham, Muhammad, Lot, Saleh, Hud, Noah Ego  But don’t do the other extreme either and be one who follows only their own ego The Ego as a god [25:43] Have you seen the one whose god is his own ego? Will you be his advocate? [25:44] Do you think that most of them hear, or understand? They are just like animals; no, they are far worse.  Common Form of Idolatry: The Ego As A god [45:23] Have you noted the one whose god is his ego? Consequently, GOD sends him astray, despite his knowledge, seals his hearing and his mind, and places a veil on his eyes. Who then can guide him, after such a decision by GOD? Would you not take heed? [47:30] If we will, we can expose them for you, so that you can recognize them just by looking at them. However, you can recognize them by the way they talk. GOD is fully aware of all your works.  [40:56] Surely, those who argue against GOD's revelations without proof are exposing the arrogance that is hidden inside their chests, and they are not even aware of it. Therefore, seek refuge in GOD; He is the Hearer, the Seer. People with ego lack sincerity [2:285] The messenger has believed in what was sent down to him from his Lord, and so did the believers. They believe in GOD, His angels, His scripture, and His messengers: "We make no distinction among any of His messengers." They say, "We hear, and we obey. Forgive us, our Lord. To You is the ultimate destiny."

Public Key Cryptography One Public Key one Private Key Public Key validates the sender of the message Private Key unlocks the message  #19 is the public key - anyone anywhere can validate every letter, word, verse, sura of the Quran, but does not mean that they will have access to it Sincerity is the private key - this is what allows someone to unlock the message of the Quran.   If someone is not sincere - they will not be able to understand Quran [74:18 – 36] For he reflected, then decided. Miserable is what he decided. Miserable indeed is what he decided. He looked. He frowned and whined. Then he turned away arrogantly. He said, "This is but clever magic! "This is human made." …  Over it is nineteen. We appointed angels to be guardians of Hell, and we assigned their number (19) (1) to disturb the disbelievers, (2) to convince the Christians and Jews (that this is a divine scripture), (3) to strengthen the faith of the faithful, (4) to remove all traces of doubt from the hearts of Christians, Jews, as well as the believers, and (5) to expose those who harbor doubt in their hearts, and the disbelievers; they will say, "What did GOD mean by this allegory?" GOD thus sends astray whomever He wills, and guides whomever He wills. None knows the soldiers of your Lord except He. This is a reminder for the people. Absolutely, (I swear) by the moon. And the night as it passes. And the morning as it shines. This is one of the great miracles. A warning to the human race. In order to access the Quran we need to be sincere.    [56:75] I swear by the positions of the stars. [56:76] This is an oath, if you only knew, that is awesome. [56:77] This is an honorable Quran. [56:78] In a protected book. [56:79] None can grasp it except the sincere.* There are two things that can happen when someone who is not sincere receives the Quran.  They disbelieve  They become a hypocrite Three Categories of People (1) The Righteous [2:3] who believe in the unseen, observe the Contact Prayers (Salat),* and from our** provisions to them, they give to charity. [2:4] And they believe in what was revealed to you, and in what was revealed before you,* and with regard to the Hereafter, they are absolutely certain. [2:5] These are guided by their Lord; these are the winners.  (2) The Disbelievers [2:6] As for those who disbelieve, it is the same for them; whether you warn them, or not warn them, they cannot believe. [2:7] GOD seals their minds and their hearing, and their eyes are veiled. They have incurred severe retribution.  (3) The Hypocrites [2:8] Then there are those who say, "We believe in GOD and the Last Day," while they are not believers. [2:9] In trying to deceive GOD and those who believe, they only deceive themselves without perceiving. [2:10] In their minds there is a disease. Consequently, GOD augments their disease. They have incurred a painful retribution for their lying. [2:11] When they are told, "Do not commit evil," they say, "But we are righteous!" [2:12] In fact, they are evildoers, but they do not perceive. [2:13] When they are told, "Believe like the people who believed," they say, "Shall we believe like the fools who believed?" In fact, it is they who are fools, but they do not know. [2:14] When they meet the believers, they say, "We believe," but when alone with their devils, they say, "We are with you; we were only mocking." [2:15] GOD mocks them, and leads them on in their transgressions, blundering. [2:16] It is they who bought the straying, at the expense of guidance. Such trade never prospers, nor do they receive any guidance. [2:17] Their example is like those who start a fire, then, as it begins to shed light around them, GOD takes away their light, leaving them in darkness, unable to see. [2:18] Deaf, dumb, and blind; they fail to return.  They will be blocked out if they are not sincere Divine Intervention [18:57] Who are more evil than those who are reminded of their Lord's proofs, then disregard them, without realizing what they are doing. Consequently, we place shields on their hearts to prevent them from understanding it (the Quran), and deafness in their ears. Thus, no matter what you do to guide them, they can never ever be guided. [35:8] Note the one whose evil work is adorned in his eyes, until he thinks that it is righteous. GOD thus sends astray whoever wills (to go astray), and He guides whoever wills (to be guided). Therefore, do not grieve over them. GOD is fully aware of everything they do. [15:90] We will deal with the dividers. [15:91] They accept the Quran only partially. Can’t take the interpretation of one verse when it contradicts the other. [3:78] Among them are those who twist their tongues to imitate the scripture, that you may think it is from the scripture, when it is not from the scripture, and they claim that it is from GOD, when it is not from GOD. Thus, they utter lies and attribute them to GOD, knowingly. [4:44] Have you noted those who received a portion of the scripture, and how they choose to stray, and wish that you stray from the path?  This is part of God’s system [2:88] Some would say, "Our minds are made up!" Instead, it is a curse from GOD, as a consequence of their disbelief, that keeps them from believing, except for a few of them.  [3:178] Let not the disbelievers think that we lead them on for their own good. We only lead them on to confirm their sinfulness. They have incurred a humiliating retribution.  [45:23] Have you noted the one whose god is his ego? Consequently, GOD sends him astray, despite his knowledge, seals his hearing and his mind, and places a veil on his eyes. Who then can guide him, after such a decision by GOD? Would you not take heed? That is why it is so important to kill our egos in order to understand God’s message If we want to be sincere we have to kill our egos – start fresh and listen to what God tells us in the Quran God is Most Gracious, Most Merciful  Instinctive Knowledge about who our Lord is [7:172] Recall that your Lord summoned all the descendants of Adam, and had them bear witness for themselves: "Am I not your Lord?" They all said, "Yes. We bear witness." Thus, you cannot say on the Day of Resurrection, "We were not aware of this." [7:173] Nor can you say, "It was our parents who practiced idolatry, and we simply followed in their footsteps. Will You punish us because of what others have innovated?" [7:174] We thus explain the revelations, to enable the people to redeem themselves.*  [52:25] They will meet each other and reminisce among themselves. [52:26] They will say, "We used to be kind and humble among our people. [52:27] "GOD has blessed us, and has spared us the agony of ill winds. [52:28] "We used to implore Him; He is the Most Kind, Most Merciful.” [47:29] Did those who harbor doubts in their hearts think that GOD will not bring out their evil thoughts? [47:30] If we will, we can expose them for you, so that you can recognize them just by looking at them. However, you can recognize them by the way they talk. GOD is fully aware of all your works. [47:31] We will certainly put you to the test, in order to distinguish those among you who strive, and steadfastly persevere. We must expose your true qualities. [3:7] He sent down to you this scripture, containing straightforward verses—which constitute the essence of the scripture—as well as multiple-meaning or allegorical verses. Those who harbor doubts in their hearts will pursue the multiple-meaning verses to create confusion, and to extricate a certain meaning. None knows the true meaning thereof except GOD and those well founded in knowledge. They say, "We believe in this—all of it comes from our Lord." Only those who possess intelligence will take heed. [83:7] Indeed, the book of the wicked is in Sijjeen. [83:8] Do you know what Sijjeen is? [83:9] A numerically structured book. [83:18] Indeed, the book of the righteous will be in 'Elleyyeen. [83:19] Do you know what 'Elleyyeen is? [83:20] A numerically structured book. Solomon and The Queen of Sheba  [27:20] He inspected the birds, and noted: "Why do I not see the hoopoe? Why is he missing? [27:21] "I will punish him severely or sacrifice him, unless he gives me a good excuse." [27:22] He did not wait for long. (The hoopoe) said, "I have news that you do not have. I brought to you from Sheba, some important information. [27:23] "I found a woman ruling them, who is blessed with everything, and possesses a tremendous palace. [27:24] "I found her and her people prostrating before the sun, instead of GOD. The devil has adorned their works in their eyes, and has repulsed them from the path; consequently, they are not guided." [27:25] They should have been prostrating before GOD, the One who manifests all the mysteries in the heavens and the earth, and the One who knows everything you conceal and everything you declare. [27:26] GOD: there is no other god beside Him; the Lord with the great dominion. [27:27] (Solomon) said, "We will see if you told the truth, or if you are a liar. [27:28] "Take this letter from me, give it to them, then watch for their response." Back in Sheba [27:29] She said, "O my advisers, I have received an honorable letter. [27:30] "It is from Solomon, and it is, 'In the name of GOD, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.' [27:31] "Proclaiming: 'Do not be arrogant; come to me as submitters.'" [27:32] She said, "O my advisers, counsel me in this matter. I am not deciding anything until you advise me." [27:33] They said, "We possess the power, we possess the fighting skills, and the ultimate command is in your hand. You decide what to do." [27:34] She said, "The kings corrupt any land they invade, and subjugate its dignified people. This is what they usually do. [27:35] "I am sending a gift to them; let us see what the messengers come back with." [27:36] When the hoopoe returned to Solomon (he told him the news), and he responded (to Sheba's people): "Are you giving me money? What GOD has given me is far better than what He has given you. You are the ones to rejoice in such gifts." [27:37] (To the hoopoe, he said,) "Go back to them (and let them know that) we will come to them with forces they cannot imagine. We will evict them, humiliated and debased." Faster Than the Speed of Light [27:38] He said, "O you elders, which of you can bring me her mansion, before they arrive here as submitters?" [27:39] One afrit from the jinns said, "I can bring it to you before you stand up. I am powerful enough to do this." [27:40] The one who possessed knowledge from the book said, "I can bring it to you in the blink of your eye." When he saw it settled in front of him, he said, "This is a blessing from my Lord, whereby He tests me, to show whether I am appreciative or unappreciative. Whoever is appreciative is appreciative for his own good, and if one turns unappreciative, then my Lord is in no need for him, Most Honorable." [27:41] He said, "Remodel her mansion for her. Let us see if she will be guided, or continue with the misguided." [27:42] When she arrived, she was asked, "Does your mansion look like this?" She said, "It seems that this is it." (Solomon said,) "We knew beforehand what she was going to do, and we were already submitters."  [27:43] She had been diverted by worshiping idols instead of GOD; she belonged to disbelieving people. [27:44] She was told, "Go inside the palace." When she saw its interior, she thought it was a pool of water, and she (pulled up her dress,) exposing her legs. He said, "This interior is now paved with crystal." She said, "My Lord, I have wronged my soul. I now submit with Solomon to GOD, Lord of the universe." Solomon – Judgment to cut the baby in half. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Judgment_of_Solomon

Transformation Tuesdays was inspired by the CD "The Jesus Question" by Matthew Kelly. We recap the Gospel from the prior Sunday and give action steps and resources to transform our lives for that week every Tuesday at 2:10 p.m. at Morris Hall from Ss. Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Collinsville, IL…A Spiritual Home from Everyone… Deacon Jimmy Ghiglione: Hello, I’m Deacon Jimmy Ghiglione Aaron Emig: And I’m Aaron Emig We are celebrating the Third Sunday of Easter… The Question for this week is…Do we recognize the Lord in our life? The Gospel comes from: Luke 24:13-35 Deacon Jimmy Ghiglione: Why was it difficult for the disciples to recognize the risen Lord? They had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel. They saw the cross as defeat and could not understand the empty tomb until the Lord appeared to them and gave them understanding. Jesus lays it on the line to the disciples on the road to Emmaus for their slowness of heart to believe what the scriptures had said concerning the Messiah. They did not recognize the risen Jesus until he had broken bread with them. Do we recognize the Lord Jesus in his word and in the breaking of the bread? Do we recognize Him in our life? Aaron Emig: Two disciples were on a walk conversing what had happened… Then Jesus joined in and they thought He was a visitor… I love Jesus was messing with them by acting like He didn’t know what occurred… They gave story and Jesus preached them from Scripture… Then finally realize the He was Jesus after the breaking of bread… Do you realize that Jesus is always at our side conversing with us just like those two disciples? Deacon Jimmy Ghiglione: The Harmony of the Gospels says, "Their eyes were obstructed, that they should not recognize him until the breaking of the bread. And thus, in accordance with the state of their minds, which was still ignorant of the truth (that the Christ would die and rise again") “It was not that the truth himself was misleading them, but rather that they were themselves unable to perceive (or accept) the truth." Does that happen to us when we experience some tragedy or failure, some sorrow or sin in our life? How often do we fail to recognize the Lord? The Risen Lord is always ready to brighten, to change and transform our lives. Do we allow Him to come into our lives? Aaron Emig: We need to believe that Jesus is always at our side… No matter if it’s good times or bad times… We need to a friendly conversation with Jesus during our daily prayer… We need ask Jesus for guidance on life decisions and then we need to listen at what He says to us and then immediately take massive action… Deacon Jimmy Ghiglione: Wisdom Words for the Week Are… St. Augustine of Hippo (5th century) reflects on these two disciples’ lack of perception and understanding: "They were so disturbed when they saw him hanging on the cross that they forgot his teaching, they did not look for his resurrection, and failed to keep his promises in mind." (Sermon 235.1) Aaron Emig: Transformation Tool… The Joy of the Gospel book by Pope Francis Our Papa basically tells us why the Gospel is the foundation of Christianity and how it helps us build that personal relationship with Jesus… We are giving free copies of the book at Morris Hall on each Tuesday at 2:10 p.m.… Again, on while supplies last… Aaron Emig: Transformation Tuesdays Prayer… “Jesus, how do You want me to transform my life today?” Deacon Jimmy Ghiglione: Easter Blessing… May God continue to bless each and every one of you, may He fill your lives with Easter joy today and every day. The Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Deacon Jimmy Ghiglione: God Bless from Ss. Peter & Paul Catholic Church…A Spiritual Home for Everyone

2 Kings 4: 42 Then a man came from Baal Shalisha, and brought the man of God bread of the firstfruits, twenty loaves of barley bread, and newly ripened grain in his knapsack. And he said, “Give it to the people, that they may eat.” 43 But his servant said, “What? Shall I set this before one hundred men?” He said again, “Give it to the people, that they may eat; for thus says the Lord: ‘They shall eat and have some left over.’” 44 So he set it before them; and they ate and had some left over, according to the word of the Lord.    

[74:1] O you hidden secret.[74:2] Come out and warn. [74:3] Extol your Lord. [74:4] Purify your garment.[74:30] Over it is nineteen.[74:31] We appointed angels to be guardians of Hell, and we assigned their number (19) (1) to disturb the disbelievers, (2) to convince the Christians and Jews (that this is a divine scripture), (3) to strengthen the faith of the faithful, (4) to remove all traces of doubt from the hearts of Christians, Jews, as well as the believers, and (5) to expose those who harbor doubt in their hearts, and the disbelievers; they will say, "What did GOD mean by this allegory?" GOD thus sends astray whomever He wills, and guides whomever He wills. None knows the soldiers of your Lord except He. This is a reminder for the people. [74:32] Absolutely, (I swear) by the moon. [74:33] And the night as it passes. [74:34] And the morning as it shines. [74:35] This is one of the great miracles. [74:36] A warning to the human race.[7:75] The arrogant leaders among his people said to the common people who believed, "How do you know that Saaleh is sent by his Lord?" They said, "The message he brought has made us believers."[39:3] Absolutely, the religion shall be devoted to GOD alone. Those who set up idols beside Him say, "We idolize them only to bring us closer to GOD; for they are in a better position!" GOD will judge them regarding their disputes. GOD does not guide such liars, disbelievers.[39:45] When GOD ALONE is mentioned, the hearts of those who do not believe in the Hereafter shrink with aversion. But when others are mentioned beside Him, they become satisfied.Interview with Kavon McKinnon from BossTalk Podcast:http://bosstalk.madewithopinion.com/religion-talk-ep-6/#

The Nephites and the Lamanites are all converted unto the Lord—They have all things in common, work miracles, and prosper in the land—After two centuries, divisions, evils, false churches, and persecutions arise—After three hundred years, both the Nephites and the Lamanites are wicked—Ammaron hides up the sacred records. About A.D. 35–321.

Lehi’s sons return to Jerusalem and invite Ishmael and his household to join them in their journey—Laman and others rebel—Nephi exhorts his brethren to have faith in the Lord—They bind him with cords and plan his destruction—He is freed by the power of faith—His brethren ask forgiveness—Lehi and his company offer sacrifice and burnt offerings. About 600–592 B.C.