Tag: Christianity

April 28, read through the Holy Bible in a year in Power-point, with comments.

Today we read one chapter in the Acts of the Apostles and two chapters in 1 Samuel.

April 28: Acts 9, 1 Samuel 18, 1 Samuel 19 (click on the chapter to begin reading)

Acts 9. On the road to Damascus Saul was Converted.  Ananias met up with Saul and from that time on Saul preached Christ. The Jews decided to kill Saul, but he escaped at night by being lowered out  through a window, hidden in a basket. Saul then went to Jerusalem. The believers were at first suspicious of him, but Barnabas told what had happened to Saul, and accepting Saul’s conversion the Church Prospered. Later Saul healed the paralytic Aeneas, and in Joppa a woman named Tabitha (or Dorcas) died. The believers immediately called for Peter, and he uttered the words “Tabitha cumi” and she rose up again.

1 Samuel 18. Saul began to resent David, and no wonder, women started chanting “Saul hath slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands.” Saul’s daughter Michal fell in love with David, and Saul let them marry after a rather unusual dowry, but he became more and more suspicious and afraid of David.

In 1 Samuel 19 the paranoia is fully developed, and Saul persecuted David, trying to kill him over and over again.

April 27, read through the Holy Bible in a year in Power-point, with comments.

Today we read two chapters in the Acts of the Apostles and two chapters in 1 Samuel.

April 27: Acts 8, 1 Samuel 16, 1 Samuel 17 (click on the chapter to begin reading)

Acts 8. Saul persecuted the Church, it was so  severe that the believers scattered all over the nations. Thanks to the persecution the Gospel reached Samaria where Philip met Simon the Sorcerer who came to believe, but he still thought the Holy Spirit could be purchased with money! Finally Philip met the Ethiopian eunuch. Thanks to God’s word in the scroll of Isaiah, he too came to believe and was baptized.

1 Samuel 16, Samuel anointed David as King after rejecting all of David’s older brothers and David entered into Saul’s service while Saul was still the titular King. Whenever Saul’s spirit troubled him David played for him and that soothed Saul.

1 Samuel 17 tells the story of David and Goliath. Just read it, it is great reading.

April 26, read through the Holy Bible in a year in Power-point, with comments.

Today we read only one chapter in the Acts of the Apostles, but it is a giant chapter.

April 26: Acts 7 (click on the chapter to begin reading)

Acts 7 begins with Stephen’s speech to the Sanhedrin and ends with the Stoning of Stephen.

April 25, read through the Holy Bible in a year in Power-point, with comments.

Today we read one chapter in the Acts of the Apostles and two chapters in 1 Samuel.

April 25: Acts 6, 1 Samuel 14, 1 Samuel 15 (click on the chapter to begin reading)

Acts 6. To better serve the needs of widows seven people were chosen, among them Stephen. They would later be called deacons.  Stephen spoke boldly about Jesus, in the Spirit, and was seized and so a trial began.

In 1 Samuel 14  Jonathan Defeated the Philistines. Saul’s made an oath that no one was allowed to eat until nightfall. Jonathan didn’t know that, so he ate, and Saul wanted to put Jonathan to death but his men refused the King’s order, and thus Jonathan’s life was spared.

1 Samuel 15, the chapter where Saul is rejected as King.

April 24, read through the Holy Bible in a year in Power-point, with comments.

Today we read one chapter in the Acts of the Apostles and three chapters in 1 Samuel.

April 24: Acts 5, 1 Samuel 11, 1 Samuel 12, 1 Samuel 13 (click on the chapter to begin reading)

Acts 5, Ananias and Sapphira were lying to the Holy Spirit and fell down dead. This lead to great fear and great power in the Church. An Angel of the LORD came during the night and freed the Apostles that had been jailed the previous day. They went back to the Temple courts and got called in to the Sanhedrin again for the crime of preaching about Jesus, but Gamaliel gave them good advice, they listen and after flogging the Apostles they let them go.

In 1 Samuel 11 King Saul rescued Jabesh Gilead. Then the people reaffirmed Saul as King.

1 Samuel 12 contains Samuel’s speech at Saul’s coronation.

1 Samuel 13  the real trouble began, Saul offered an unlawful sacrifice, so God would no longer fight for them, Saul’s kingship would be taken away and God would choose a king after his own heart. The weapons for the army were taken away from the Israelites and the Philistines took control of the iron trade.

Ramadan will begin tonight after sundown – or will it?

In 2020 the month of Ramadan will begin at sundown tonight Apr 23. Will it? That depends on what kind of Muslim you are. If you are a Sunni Muslim it begins right at sundown  on Apr 23. If you are a Shiite you also have to see the crescent moon after sunset, in the twilight. This usually occurs one day later , so for most Shiites Ramadan starts Apr 24. Ramadan starts every year 10 or 11 days earlier than the previous year, so in a century Muslims have 103 Ramadan months, and also 103 years.

During Ramadan you must observe a total fast from sunrise to sunset if you are a Sunni, if you are a Shiite you must fast from dawn to the end of twilight. The fasting is total, no eating, no drinking even if there is risk of dehydration during the hot summer days. As an extra prohibition, no sexual relations or vomiting is permitted during this time, and if you are temporary ill you must make up the time later so the total time of fasting is 30 days. This has its problems in northern latitudes if Ramadan occurs in the Summer, especially near or above the polar circle, you could go for more than a month without eating or drinking, so they have set a time limit for fasting, it doesn’t begin before 3 A.M. and doesn’t end after 9 P.M. sun time, not standard or daylight savings time.

All Muslims are encouraged to pray five times a day, kneeling down with the face near the ground facing Mecca. Muhammad and his followers used to face Jerusalem, but when they moved to Medina they changed direction and faced Mecca to distinguish them from the Jews, who faced Jerusalem.

During Ramadan these prayers become mandatory. Normally a Mosque looks like this during Ramadan prayer

This year is different. You are supposed to pray at home, but when do you start your prayer? It matters greatly when you do it. Luckily there are apps available that will tell all the proper time to start your prayers for over 3 million locations.

The times are FAJR (crack of dawn), Sunrise, DHUHR ( a couple of minutes past the Zenith of the sun, ASR (afternoon), Maghrib (Sunset), ISHA (end of twilight) and finally QIJAM (night prayer) which is voluntary for all except for Sufis which have to recite all 99 names of Allah starting right at midnight sun time. The noon prayer is very important, it must be started a couple of minutes after the sun passes its Zenith. To pray right through noon would be offensive to Allah.

Being a Christian am thankful to be able to go to the throne of grace, praying directly to God the Father in the name of Jesus at any time of the day or night. The door is always open.

 

April 23, read through the Holy Bible in a year in Power-point, with comments.

Today we read one chapter in the Acts of the Apostles and two chapters in 1 Samuel.

April 23: Acts 4, 1 Samuel 9, 1 Samuel 10 (click on the chapter to begin reading)

Acts 4. Peter and John were arrested and hauled before the Sanhedrin, were told not to speak about Jesus anymore. Their response? “Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye. For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.” They were let go and continued telling about Jesus and his resurrection, and a good time was had by all, sharing all things.

1 Samuel 9. Saul  was a tall and handsome man, his father had lost some donkeys, so he sent Saul and his servant to look for them. Not finding them for three days they went to the prophet Samuel, God tells Samuel to meet them, and so they meet up, and thus Saul was chosen to be King.

In 1 Samuel 10 Saul was Anointed King and proclaimed King over all Israel.

April 22, read through the Holy Bible in a year in Power-point, with comments.

Today we read one chapter of the Acts of the Apostles and four chapters in 1 Samuel.

April 22: Acts 3, 1 Samuel 5, 1 Samuel 6,  1 Samuel 7, 1 Samuel 8 (click on the chapter to begin reading)

In Acts 3 Peter healed a crippled man sitting at the Beautiful Gate with these words:  “Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk.” Then Peter preached at Solomon’s Portico.

1 Samuel 5, the Ark of the LORD brought nothing but trouble to the Philistines.

So in 1 Samuel 6  the Ark was returned to Israel together with a guilt offering of five gold tumors and five golden rats.The Ark was brought back as far as to Kirjath Jearim.

1 Samuel 7. Samuel grew up and became Judge over Israel. He subdued the Philistines at Mizpah, and there he raised his Ebenezer (stone of help). He judged Israel all the days of his life.

1 Samuel 8. Samuel’s sons were not following the Lord, so Israel demanded a King. Samuel complained to the LORD, but He answered : Hearken unto their voice, and make them a king.”

April 21, read through the Holy Bible in a year in Power-point, with comments.

Today we continue reading one chapter in the Acts of the Apostles and two chapters in First Samuel.

April 21: Acts 2, 1 Samuel 3, 1 Samuel 4  (click on the chapter to begin reading)

Acts 2, at the day of Pentecost the Holy Spirit arrived, and that day was many languages spoken by the disciples, at least 15 different tongues that the listeners understood. Peter stood up and delivered his first sermon, a powerful one that led to about 3000 new converts. The following few weeks were good times and the believers were in good fellowship with each other.

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.

April 20, read through the Holy Bible in a year in Power-point, with comments.

Today we begin reading the Acts of the Apostles and two chapters of 1 Samuel.

April 20: Acts 1, 1 Samuel 1, 1 Samuel 2 (click on the chapter to begin reading)

Acts 1 begins with the disciples watching Jesus’ Ascension, but before he left Earth he promised they would receive power when the Holy Spirit came upon them. While waiting for the Holy Spirit to come Matthias was chosen to replace Judas.

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, 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.