Acts 17:16-34. Paul was escorted to Athens. Waiting for Timothy and Silas to arrive Paul reasoned with the Greeks about Jesus and the resurrection. Being Greeks they thought the resurrection was the female counterpart to Jesus, so they took him to Areopagus (or Mars Hill), where Paul gave his famous “Athens discourse”. Read it and ponder.
2 Chronicles 9. The Queen of Sheba praised Solomon,” the one half of the greatness of thy wisdom was not told me: for thou exceedest the fame that I heard.” The chapter continues listing Solomon’s wealth and splendor, ending with a record of his death.
2 Chronicles 10. Israel rebelled against Rehoboam, and nothing good came out of that.
Psalm 116:15 Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints.
Our current President Joseph R. Biden Jr gave a highly anticipated speech on how to reduce crime, mostly through gun control, but also to attack the problem by using unspent Covid money. But a few of his other sayings were puzzling:
President Joe Biden’s speech 6/23 2021
We just celebrated Juneteenth as the day the Republicans freed the Democrats slaves, and the Civil War was bloody and deadly indeed, and fought with physical guns. The Government likes to point to January 6 2021 as an armed insurrection to overthrow the government. Even though over 400 people are arrested and still held in D.C. prison on trespassing charges, none is accused of being armed with guns. The only casualty from guns is an unarmed protestor, Ashley Babbit, shot by an as of yet unidentified D.C. police. All the protestors demanded was a 12 day audit of the results in seven states to make sure all was done properly and in order. The Government should have welcomed an audit to finally lay to rest accusations of impropriety in the 2020 election.
No, the problem is much deeper, and it is spiritual. Both Republicans and Democrats are deeply flawed people, as are we all, in need of a redeemer. That is why the battle is spiritual. As the Scripture says in 2 Corintians 10:4(For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;).
So what are the weapons of our warfare? Ephesians 6:13-17
Yes, this battle is much bigger than gun control, bigger than Democrat versus Republican. It is a battle for good vs. evil, liberty vs. Government control of what defines freedom, anarchy vs. law and order, and most important is is a spiritual battle for the soul of every individual, the nation and the world.
Deuteronomy 23:6 If you come across a bird’s nest beside the road, either in a tree or on the ground, and the mother is sitting on the young or on the eggs, do not take the mother with the young.
We live in a quiet peaceful neighborhood. When we had been away for a week we found that barn swallows had been building a nest right outside our front door, and a mother had already started to lay eggs! We let the birds nest, and after the young was flown out we let the nest stand. This year a couple of tree swallows took the nest and re-feathered it, and now they are having young birds. We believe that protection of all life, especially “birthing people and birds” (birthing person is the new official name for biological women) is of utmost importance.
2020 barn swallow and young
The verse is remarkable, check the context.
Yes, there is a difference between a man and a woman, and especially when bearing or raising a child, she deserves all protection
Acts 17:1-15. Paul and Silas arrived in Thessalonica, preached in the Synagogue, many people were converted, the Jews didn’t like it and a crowd attacked Jason’s home. But in Berea they were welcomed: “These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.” The net result though was similar to what happened in Thessalonica, so Paul was escorted to Athens.
2 Chronicles 6 records Solomon’s speech when the work was completed and Solomon’s prayer of dedication.
2 Chronicles 7. Solomon dedicated the Temple, and God appeared to Solomon a second time, promising “If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.”
Acts 16:16-40. In Philippi Paul and Silas were put in prison, but while singing praises to God their chains fell off, the Philippian Jailer, rather than killing himself asked “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” And they answered, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.” Since Paul and Silas were Roman citizens they were asked to leave secretly, but they went to Lydia’s house instead. After that they departed.
2 Chronicles 3. Solomon did build the temple to man’s standard, six hands to a cubit. He even used gold nails instead of iron nails in the ceiling, far more gold than was called for in the tabernacle.
2 Chronicles 4 contains a listing of the temple furnishings.
2 Chronicles 5. The ark was brought into the Temple, and the glory of the LORD filled the Temple.
Deuteronomy:30:15 See, I have set before thee this day life and good, and death and evil; Deuteronomy 30:19 I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live:
White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki declined to say if President Biden believes a 15-week-old unborn baby is a human being during Monday’s press briefing.
“Does the president believe that a 15-week-old unborn baby is a human being?” a reporter asked Psaki.
“Are you asking me if the president supports a woman’s right to choose? He does,” Psaki said.
This is what a 15 week unborn baby looks like
The two verses above was from the King James Bible.The context is that Moses, having been forbidden to enter the promised land gave his final instruction to the people before they were to finally end their desert journey by crossing the Jordan River. This is from the New International Bible.
Acts 16:1-15. Timothy joined Paul and Silas in Lystra, in Troas Paul received “the Macedonian Call”. Lydia, a new convert was baptized at Philippi.
2 Chronicles 1. Solomon asked for wisdom, he received it and more, God also gave him economic and military power.
2 Chronicles 2. Solomon Prepared to build the temple, took inventory of all things collected and tallied the number of constricted aliens to do the work.
Psalm 45, of the Sons of Korah, a Wedding Song. C.S. Lewis saw this psalm pointing to Christmas: “The birth of Christ is the arrival of the great warrior and the great king. Also of the Lover, the Bridegroom, whose beauty surpasses that of man. But not only the Bridegroom as the lover, the desired; the Bridegroom also who makes fruitful, the Father of children still to be begotten and born.” (C.S. Lewis, cited in Willem VanGemeren)
Len Bilén's blog, a blog about faith, politics and the environment. 