“There are three things I have learned never to discuss with people…religion, politics, and the Great Pumpkin.” Linus from Peanuts.
Author: lenbilen
Retired engineer, graduated from Chalmers Technical University a long time ago with a degree in Technical Physics. Career in Aerospace, Analytical Chemistry, computer chip manufacturing and finally adjunct faculty at Pennsylvania State University, taught just one course in Computer Engineering, the Capstone Course.
Mark 14:32-72. After Judas Iscariot left the eleven remaining disciples, they and Jesus went to the Mount of Olives where there is a garden called Gethsemane. While they were there Jesus Prayed intensely. Judas Iscariot reappeared and betrayed Jesus with a kiss. The accompanying soldiers arrested Jesus, and he was brought before the Sanhedrin. Peter was waiting outside and denied Jesus three times, after which the cock crowed twice.
1 Samuel 3 tells of Samuel’s first prophecy, a prophesy against Eli and his sons, because Eli failed to restrain them.
1 Samuel 4. The Philistines captured the Ark of God. Soon after that Eli died, and Phineas died and his wife gave birth to Ichabod, which means “No Glory”, for the glory had departed from Israel.
Psalm 39, of David. At the later part of his life David wrote this Psalm to give words of wisdom, knowing the end for him was near. It is sometimes quoted in part during funerals to give comfort when words are hard to find.
Mark 14:1-31 starts out in Bethany, where Jesus was anointed. The next day Jesus instituted the Lord’s Supper and predicted Peter’s denial.
1 Samuel 1 begins with telling of the birth of Samuel. Elkanah had two wives, one was fruitful and the other, Hannah, was barren. As always with polygamy there is strife, but Hannah prayed and gave her vow that if she conceived a son she would give him to the LORD. Her wish came to pass and so Samuel was born and dedicated to the LORD.
1 Samuel 2 starts out with Hanna’s Prayer, a beautiful piece of poetry. Then is recorded the story of the wicked sons of Eli, how they took and ate the fat that was supposed to be burned! It tells of Samuel’s childhood ministry and finally a man of God gave a prophecy against Eli’s household; both his wicked sons would die on the same day.
Mark 13, Jesus told his disciples of the Signs of the End of the Age, the Great Tribulation, the Coming of the Son of Man, the lesson of the Fig Tree and the Day and Hour of his return, which shall remain unknown until it happens.
Proverbs 2 is telling of the moral benefits of wisdom.
Psalm 37, of David. With two lines dedicated to each letter of the Hebrew alphabet, this psalm is one of the longer acrostics in the book of Psalms. David wrote it late in life (“ I have been young, and now am old; Yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken, Nor his descendants begging bread.“) It is full of promises and praise and was intended for memorization.
Psalm 38, of David, a Petition. This is a Psalm of deep despair and remorse. David acknowledged his sin and cried out to God. Yet, in failing health and abandoned by friends and family, his hope in God remained steadfast.
Mark 12:28-44. Jesus answered the question: “What is the Greatest Commandmen.,” He then gave the people the riddle “whose son is the Christ?” Finally, looking at temple offerings Jesus noticed the widow that gave all she had, two mites.
Ruth 4. Boaz redeemed Ruth, and that’s how Ruth came to be in the genealogy of David and Jesus.
Psalm 36, of David, the Servant of the LORD. This Psalm also tells of wicked people, but then shows the mercies of God and ends up with David recognizing that without God’s protection he too is vulnerable, as are we all.
Mark 12:1-27 begins with Jesus telling the parable of the unfaithful tenants, and after that the Pharisees tried to entrap Jesus with the question “Is it right to pay taxes to Caesar?” You know the answer, if not, check it and ponder. Then it was the Sadducees’ turn to entrap him with the question what happens to marriage at the Resurrection. Jesus answered: “He is not the God of the dead, but the God of the living: ye therefore do greatly err.”
Ruth 1. Elimelech’s family went to Moab, and all the men in the family died. Naomi returned back to Israel with Ruth, a Moabite. The famous quote from Ruth 1: “Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God:”.
Psalm 35, of David. An urgent call for God to execute His righteous judgment on the enemies of God and vindicate David. (This is the Psalm that has received the most hits of any Psalm on my blog!) A sign of the times we are living in.
The 6th IPCC assessment report still suffers from the same fatal flaw that was in the first assessment report regarding greenhouse gases. It assumes greenhouse gases are additive when in fact it is impossible to absorb more energy than is available in any given energy band! This misunderstanding on how nature works leads to a gross misunderstanding of the importance of CO2 and Methane.
Here are their opinion on
One: Retire coal plants. As part of the Paris accord we are allowing China, India, South-east Asia, Africa and other developing countries to build coal plants until 2030, and we will have to pay for some of the expenses to make them cleaner. China alone is allowed to build over 1000 new coal plants. Right now China already exceeds the U.S. in coal fired electric generation per capita, and only U.S, the European Union, Oceania and Latin America are retiring coal plants. See Chart: See details here
Top line:China. next:The U.S. followed by India and South and East Asia,
Two: invest in clean energy. Wind and solar alone will not solve the problem since they are intermittent. They also require a large amount of mining of rare earth and other metals, the total life cycle cost must be included in any calculation. Only a Manhattan type project to facilitate the development of Thorium based nuclear power, and revamp the electric grid will suffice. See the advantages of Thorium nuclear power here
Three: Retrofit and decarbonize buildidngs. They probably mean to insulate old buildings and make more efficient heating and cooling systems, but decarbonize?
Four: Decarbonize cement, steel and plastics. Cement is made by decarbonizing limestone from CaCO3 to CaO, generating yearly about 7% of the world’s CO2. China alone produces over half of the world’s cement. Decarbonizing steel makes it iron, and there are very few uses for pure iron. I don’t understand how to decarbonize plastics.
Five: Shift to electric vehicles. This shift should occur as soon as nearly all coal fired plants have been decommissioned. Again small, sealed Thorium powered units should be used for trains and ships, and maybe even for cargo planes.
Six: Increase public transport, biking and walking. The most important thing about public transport, biking and walking is to make it safer. Lack of safety hinders its growth.
Seven: Decarbonize aviation and shipping. Ships, from Mississippi river size tugboats to large ships should be converted to nuclear. Aviation should be made nuclear in two steps. First make large cargo planes nuclear, then when safety records are established convert passenger traffic to nuclear. This may take some time since lightweight Thorium nuclear reactors are not developed yet.
Eight: Halt deforestation and restore degraded lands. Now we are talking. This is of utmost importance. Should have been number one.
Nine: Reduce food loss and waste and improve agricultural practices. This is why it is of utmost importance to reliably electrify the third world with reliable energy. Rotating and long blackouts are damaging to farming, ranching, the food supply and the economy.
Ten: Eat more plants and less meat. Don’t micromanage our eating habits. Let the farmers produce what the land will support and the people desire. This is the best way.
Mark 11 starts what is called the Holy Week with the Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem. Jesus entered, riding on an unbroken foal of a donkey. This was the sign. The next day Jesus cursed a fig tree (symbol of Israel) and cleared the Temple of the money changers (You don’t want to give too much, you know). Following morning the fig tree was withered, and all marveled. Finally, Jesus authority was questioned by the religious authorities.
Proverbs 1. It extols the virtue of wisdom. Read it and apply it.
Psalm 34, of David. This Psalm is an almost acrostic psalm (except for the letter waw). Like many acrostic Psalms, this is to be sung and memorized as it is full of praise and good advice. It contains one notable prophetic reference: “Many are the afflictions of the righteous, But the LORD delivers him out of them all. He guards all his bones; Not one of them is broken.”
Mark 10:17-52. A Rich Young Ruler asks what he must do to receive eternal life, but he cannot make himself do what Jesus required of him, so Jesus commented: ”It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.” The disciples were astounded and said: “Who then can be saved?” upon which Jesus answered “With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible.” Yes, that’s how it is with salvation. Jesus then predicted his resurrection. James and John wanted to be great, but Jesus pointed out that greatness comes by serving. The chapter finally ends as Jesus healed Bartimaeus.
Judges 19 tells in painful detail about the Levite’s Concubine and Gibeah’s crime, probably the most gruesome story in all the Bible. The Bible is honest and tells it as it was, totally wicked.
Judges 20 describes Israel’s War with the Benjamites. Another horrendous chapter.
In Judges 21 they had killed nearly all so the Israelites had to find wives for the Benjamites. The book of Judges ends fittingly: “In those days there was no king in Israel: every man did that which was right in his own eyes,” in other words, anarchy.
In Mark 10:1-16 Jesus explained the Christian concept of Marriage: One man, one woman, one lifetime,“6 But from the beginning of the creation God made them male and female. 7 For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and cleave to his wife; 8 And they twain shall be one flesh: so then they are no more twain, but one flesh. 9 What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.” Then Jesus blessed the little children and said: “Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein.”
Judges 16 contains the vivid story of Samson and Delilah and how he finally was captured. In his death Samson slew many more than when he lived.
Judges 17 is short, contains only the telling of Micah’s Idolatry.
Judges 18, as the Danites had failed to take their allotted land from the Philistines they wandered around and finally settled in Laish and changed the name of the city to Dan, and there they continued to practice idolatry.
Mark 9:33-50. Jesus’ disciples argued among themselves who was the greatest. To give a perfect object lesson Jesus picked up a little child and explained what it means to be “a servant of all”. Jesus taught unity, not division, “whoever is not against us is for us,” and warned of of the dire consequences of offenses and told them to be “salt with savor” and to be at peace with each other.
Judges 12 records Jephthah’s conflict with Ephraim, where they killed people based on their accent. After that three more people, Ibzan, Elon and Abdon led Israel.
Judges 13 tells of bad times for Israel for forty years. Then came a glimmer of hope, the birth of Samson.
Judges 14. Samson started out great, but then he took a Philistine as his Wife.
Judges 15. Samson defeated the Philistines with the jawbone of an ass.
Len Bilén's blog, a blog about faith, politics and the environment. 