Acts 1 starts with the disciples watching Jesus’ Ascension, but before he leaves Earth he promises they shall receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on them. While waiting for the Holy Spirit Matthias is chosen to replace Judas.
1 Samuel 1 start out with 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 prays and gives her Vow that if she conceives a son she will give him to the LORD. Her wish comes to pass and so Samuel is born and dedicated.
1 Samuel 2 starts out with Hanna’s Prayer, a beautiful piece of poetry. Then comes 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 gives a prophecy against Eli’s household, both his wicked sons will die on the same day.
“Art and architecture have a unique ability to help us connect across our differences and bring people together in important ways,” posted U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar. “Thinking of the people of Paris and praying for every first responder trying to save this wonder.”
No, Ms Omar, it is much more than that, rather
What nearly destroyed Notre Dame;
historical artworks for some.
Not the fall of the steeple,
God’s church is the people
the Cross stands for all who will come.
Yes, the cross still stands as it did when, as U.S. Rep Ilhan Omar so famously quoted “Somebody did something at 9/11”
“The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God” (Psalm 14:1)
For Muslims, atheists and humanists the cross is an offense since it is to them the stench of death. But to us who believe it is the symbol of redemption and new and eternal life in Christ. If they were not pricked in their hearts when they see the cross they would not be offended.
He died on the cross at Ground Zero.
We have only one risen hero.
But the fools do “diss” grace,
stay condemned, cannot face
The truth in The Cross at Ground Zero.
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. (St. John 3:16-17)
Top: The original location where the iron cross was found.
Middle: Intermediate location for the Iron cross.
Bottom: The final place for the Iron cross near the 9/11 museum.
These were the final words of Governor Sarah Palin after a successful week anchoring “On Point” with the One America News.
Governor Palin is a true servant. Her parents, Chuck and Sally Heath, worked at the Fresh Kills landfill in Staten Island, New York in January and February 2002 as part of a federal Department of Agriculture program.
In a telephone interview, Mr. Heath said he and his wife had worked to keep sea gulls and rats from scavenging the human remains in the debris. Mr. Heath, then 70, a retired science teacher, and Mrs. Heath, then 68, a retired secretary, had worked for the Agriculture Department for 15 years. They travel around the world dealing with “nuisance” animals like rats and bears.
“A lot of people just didn’t like the job, it was kind of a morbid thing,” he said of the work at the landfill. “But I thought it was part of history.”
Psalm 25, of David. “Unto Thee, o LORD do I lift up my soul.”
Psalm 26, of David. A Psalm where David asks God to judge him on his merits based on faith.
Judges 12, 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, bad times for Israel for forty years. Then comes the Birth of Samson.
Judges 14, Samson starts out great, but then he takes a Philistine Wife.
Today there are only two chapters to read, read Luke 24 carefully and rejoice over it!
April 14:Luke 24, Judges 10 (click on the chapter to begin reading)
Luke 24, this is it, the Resurrection, the most important event in the Christian calendar! Two dejected disciples meet someone on the Road to Emmaus, then Jesus appears to the Disciples. The Gospel of Luke ends with the Ascension.
Judges 10 Things go from bad to worse with Tola, Jair and Jephthah as leaders and Israel is oppressed again. They finally repent and get rid of their false gods.
Today there are only two chapters to read, read Luke 23 carefully and meditate over it!
April 13: Luke 23, Judges 9 (click on the chapter to begin reading)
Luke 23. This is it, the second most important day in the Christian calendar. Jesus is on trial before Herod and Pilate. Pilate is trying to wiggle out of sentencing Jesus by setting one condemned free on Passover. The crowd chooses Barabbas over Jesus, so Jesus is sentenced to be crucified. On the cross Jesus says the famous “Seven Last Words”, then he dies and is buried before sundown.
Judges 9. The Bible tells it as it is, warts and all. So is the story of Abimelech’s Conspiracy and the parable of the trees. All the evil led to Abimelech’s Downfall. A take home from this chapter is his last words, after his skull was cracked by a millstone, dropped by a woman. “Draw thy sword, and slay me, that men say not of me, A woman slew him.”
April 12: Luke 22, Judges 8 (click on the chapter to begin reading)
Luke 22. Judas agrees to betray Jesus, it is Passover so Jesus eats the Last Supper with his disciples, after which they go to the garden of Gethsemane where Jesus prays. While there Jesus is betrayed, arrested and taken to the house of the high priest. While waiting outside Peter disowns Jesus three times before the cock crows. Jesus is interrogated during the night and before daybreak they have heard enough.
Judges 8. Gideon Defeats the Midianites, it is getting complicated but read it anyhow. After the great victory Gideon makes an Ephod from the Ishmaelites’ golden earrings and this becomes a snare to them all. Finally Gideon dies and immediately after that the Israelites falls back into idolatry, worshiping Baal.
Luke 21, there is giving and there is giving. Jesus teaches a lesson about the widow’s two mites. Then he tells about the signs of the times, the end of the age, the destruction of Jerusalem, the coming of the Son of Man and finally the parable of the fig tree.
Judges 6. Things are going bad for Israel, the Midianites oppress them, God calls Gideon, Gideon is reluctant but after speaking with the Angel of the LORD Gideon destroys the altar of Baal. God wants Gideon to defeat the Midianites but again Gideon is reluctant, so he demands the sign of the Fleece. God provides the sign, so in
Judges 7 eighty-two thousand men gather to fight. God says that is too many, reduce their number, and in two steps they are whittled down to Gideon’s Valiant Three Hundred men. With that army and God the Midianites are defeated.
Luke 20, continuing Holy Week, it is now Tuesday, Jesus is teaching in the Temple and his authority is questioned. There he teaches the parable of the wicked wine dressers. The religious leaders try to entrap Jesus so they ask him: “Is it legal to pay Taxes to Caesar?” You know the answer, “Render therefore unto Caesar the things which be Caesar’s, and unto God the things which be God’s.” then it is the Sadducee’s turn: What about the Resurrection? Jesus answer with scripture: “How can David call his descendant Lord?” Jesus finally warns the people: Beware of the teachers of the Law.
Judges 3, the cycle begins for the nations remaining in the land. Israel does evil in the sight of the LORD and He raises up Judges: Othniel, Ehud, Shamgar, and during their time there is peace in the land for 40 or 80 years
Judges 4. Every now and then God raises up a woman. Deborah was such a woman and judged the people of Israel.
Judges 5 is all about the Song of Deborah. Read it and enjoy!
Luke 19 starts with the story of Zacchaeus, then comes the parable of the minas. One take home from that parable is: “Take from him the pound, and give it to him that hath ten pounds. (And they said unto him, Lord, he hath ten pounds.)” Then comes what is called “Holy Week” starting with the triumphal entry. Seeing Jerusalem, Jesus weeps over it and after entering Jesus cleanses the Temple.
Judges 1 describes the continuing conquest of Canaan, and the Israelites’ incomplete conquest of the land.
In Judges 2 God decries Israel’s disobedience, records the death of Joshua, and chronicles Israel’s unfaithfulness and sin.
Len Bilén's blog, a blog about faith, politics and the environment. 
