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.

Luke 1:1-56, to Theophilus, Zacharias and the Angel, Gabriel’s announcement to Mary, Mary and Elizabeth, Mary’s song.

Luke 1:1-56, to Theophilus, Zacharias and the Angel, Gabriel’s announcement to Mary, Mary and Elizabeth, Mary’s song.

March 9: Read through the Holy Bible in a year.

Matthew 19:13-30 contains some of the most important aspects of life. Here is a jewel: “Let the little children come to me…” After Jesus gave that lesson, a rich young ruler asked what good thing he must do to get eternal life. Jesus answered: “If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me.” This he could not do, so he sighed and walked away. Jesus then commented “It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of God,” in other words, impossible. But cheer up, “with God all things are possible.” And God’s pecking order is not economic or based on power. Instead, sometimes “the first shall be last, and the last shall be first.” There are many idioms in the English language taken from the Bible. Yet the origin of these quotations are not allowed to be mentioned in public schools. Ponder that.

Deuteronomy 1 starts with the LORD’s command telling the Israelites to leave Horeb and enter Canaan. Leaders were appointed and spies sent out, but Israel refused to enter the land. The penalty for Israel’s rebellion was that no one would enter the promised land except Caleb and Joshua.

 

March 8: Read through the Holy Bible in a year.

Matthew 19:1-12 is relatively short but contains some of the most important aspects of life, such as marriage and divorce. “What therefore God hath joined together, let no man put asunder.”

Ecclesiastes 7. There is value in practical wisdom.

Ecclesiastes 8. Obey authorities for God’s Sake, and yes, this too is in Ecclesiastes: “Eat, drink and be merry.” It fits with the theme of vanity.

Psalm 19, of David. “This Psalm reflects, more than any other, the beauty and splendor of the Hebrew poetry found in the Psalter. C.S. Lewis wrote, ‘I take this to be the greatest poem in the Psalter and one of the greatest lyrics in the world.’” (VanGemeren)

Psalm 20, of David. The people’s prayer for the King is heard by the LORD. The most quoted part is: “ Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the Lord our God.” The Lord saves, we pray for the King.

Psalm 21, of David. The New Testament references from Revelation 14 seems to fit. When I read the Psalm the battle hymn of the republic kept ringing in my ears.

Mark 15:1-20, Jesus Before Pilate, Barabbas, the Soldiers mock Jesus.

Mark 15:1-20, Jesus Before Pilate, Barabbas, the Soldiers mock Jesus.

 

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Duccio interpreted the scene, between 1308-11, with this tempera on wood (entitled Christ Before Pilate Again).  It is maintained at the Museo dell’Opera del Duomo in Siena, Italy.

Media Credits Image online, courtesy Wikipaintings.org website.

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March 7: Read through the Holy Bible in a year.

Matthew 18:10-35. This chapter contains the parable of the lost sheep, which leads naturally into the subject of forgiveness, reconciliation and church discipline. Jesus also promised that “where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them”. The chapter ends with the parable of the unmerciful servant.

Numbers 33 is a reciting of Israel’s Journey from Egypt, and provides instructions on how the Israelites were to conquer Canaan.

Numbers 34, defines the Boundaries of Canaan and mentions all the leaders appointed to divide the land.

Numbers 35 defines the forty-two Cities for the Levites and their six Cities of Refuge.

Numbers 36 tells about the Inheritance of Zelophehad’s Daughters and why the Israelite women must marry within their tribe.

With over 116 million COVID-19 cases in the world, how is USA doing compared to the rest of the world?

 

The table below shows that USA came in as number 28 of the 40 countries with the largest outbreak of the Wuhan virus. This table reflects the first 40 days of the new U.S. administration. Most countries have a declining death rate, with the notable exceptions of Mexico, South Africa, Germany, United Kingdom, Colombia, Poland, Romania, France, Spain, Pakistan, Russia, Portugal, Ukraine, Iraq, and the United States of America.

 

  Country                Cases             Deaths                Death Rate    

                               Mar 5             Mar 5             Mar 5           Jan 24    

World        ,116,779,394         2,593,566          2.22%           2.15%

  1. Mexico           2,119,305             189,578           8.95%           8.51%
  2. China                   89,962                 4,636           5.15%
  3. Iran                 1,681,682              60.594            3.60%           4.16%
  4. Peru                1,358,294              47,491            3.50%           3.62%                
  5. South Africa  1,518,979              50,566            3.33%           2.94%
  6. Italy                3,023,129              99,271            3.28%           3.48%
  7. Germany         2,493,887             72,297            2.90%           2,51%
  8. UK                    4.312,181            124,261            2.88%           2.71%
  9. Belgium             783,010              22,215            2,84%           3.00%
  10. Indonesia        1,373,836             37,154            2.70%           2.81%
  11. Colombia        2,269,582             60,300            2.66%           2.55%
  12. Poland            1,781,345               45,159           2.54%           2.41%
  13. Romania            824,995              20,854            2.53%          2.51%
  14. Canada               881,761             22,192            2.52%           2.56%
  15. Chile                   845,450             20,928            2.48%           2.55%
  16. Argentina       2,141,854             52,784            2.46%           2.51%
  17. Brazil            10,871,843            262,948           2.42%           2.45%
  18. France             3.859,102              88,274            2.29%          2.01%
  19. Spain               3,149,012              71,138           2.26%           2.08% 
  20. Pakistan            588,728               13,166            2.24%           2.12%
  21. Philippines        591,138               12,465           2.11%   
  22. Russia             4,312,181               88,726           2.06%          1.88%
  23. Portugal             808,405               16,486           2.04%           1.68%
  24. Ukraine           1,394,061              26,919            1.93%          1.84%
  25. Sweden              684,961               13,003           1.90%           2.02%
  26. Iraq                    723,189               13,548           1.87%           2.11%
  27. Japan                  436,728                8,119           1.86%
  28. USA               29,594,742             535,566          1.81%          1.67%
  29. Switzerland       562,290               10,041           1.79% 
  30. Morocco             485,567                  8,673          1.79%
  31. Austria               472,871                  8,694           1.78%
  32. Czechia            1,312,164               21,558          1.64%           1.65%
  33. Bangladesh        549,724                  8,451           1.54%         
  34. India              11,192,088              157,693          1.41%           1,44%
  35. Netherlands    1,110,213                15,762          1.42%           1.43%
  36. Jordan                417,934                  4,862           1.16%
  37. Turkey             2,757,460                28,901          1.05%          1.04%
  38. Serbia                 478,878                  4,525           0.94%
  39. Israel                  796,465                  5,834           0.73%           0.73%
  40. UAE                     408,236                  1,310           0.32%

Mark 14:32-72, the garden of Gethsemane, Jesus Arrested, Jesus Before the Sanhedrin, Peter’s denial.

Mark 14:32-72, the garden of Gethsemane, Jesus Arrested, Jesus Before the Sanhedrin, Peter’s denial.

Mark 14, Jesus anointed at Bethany, the Lord’s Supper, Peter’s Denial Predicted, Gethsemane, Jesus Arrested, Before the Sanhedrin, Peter’s denial.

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March 6: Read through the Holy Bible in a year.

Matthew 18:1-10. To the question: “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” Jesus called a little child. Then he expanded the question and elaborated on the subject of sin.

In Numbers 29 the specifications for offerings continue, Offerings at the Feast of Trumpets, Offerings at the Day of Atonement and finally Offerings at the Feast of Tabernacles.

Numbers 30 is short, and it deals with what the Law says about vows.

Numbers 31. The Israelites executed vengeance on the Midianites, returned from the war and dividied the spoils.

Numbers 32, The Reubenites, the Gadites and the half-tribe of Manasseh decided to settle East of Jordan.

Psalm 18 is the fourth longest psalm. David wrote it ” To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David the servant of the LORD, who spoke to the LORD the words of this song on the day that the Lord delivered him from the hand of all of his enemies and from the hand of Saul. And he said:” (Read it, ponder and enjoy it.)

Mark 14:1-31, Jesus anointed at Bethany, the Lord’s Supper, Peter’s Denial Predicted.

Mark 14:1-31, Jesus anointed at Bethany, the Lord’s Supper, Peter’s Denial Predicted.

 

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The month of Abib is the same as the month of Nisan, the first month of the sacred year and the seventh month of the secular year.

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