It is inspiring to see the power of God displayed throughout creation. The mountains, the stars, the storms, all declare His glory. And it is comforting to see God’s righteousness in His actions. He wields His power justly and rightly, according to His character. As He imparts His righteousness on us, His power sustains us.
Lord, You alone are worthy to be praised. From near to far, Your creation displays Your glory and praises Your name. Your hands alone have to power to create. You create and govern with goodness, with justice, and with righteousness, because that is Who You are. I praise You for revealing Your glory and Your goodness. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Hate The term “hate” can be misleading. When used in a hate crime law, the word “hate” does not mean rage, anger, or general dislike. In this context “hate” means bias against people or groups with specific characteristics that are defined by the law.
At the federal level, hate crime laws include crimes committed on the basis of the victim’s perceived or actual race, color, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, or disability.
Most state hate crime laws include crimes committed on the basis of race, color, and religion; many also include crimes committed on the basis of sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, and disability.
Crime The “crime” in hate crime is often a violent crime, such as assault, murder, arson, vandalism, or threats to commit such crimes. It may also cover conspiring or asking another person to commit such crimes, even if the crime was never carried out.
Under the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, people cannot be prosecuted simply for their beliefs. People may be offended or upset about beliefs that are untrue or based upon false stereotypes, but it is not a crime to express offensive beliefs, or to join with others who share such views. However, the First Amendment does not protect against committing a crime, just because the conduct is rooted in philosophical beliefs.
Why have hate crime laws? Hate crimes have a broader effect than most other kinds of crime. Hate crime victims include not only the crime’s immediate target but also others like them. Hate crimes affect families, communities, and at times, the entire nation.
Why report hate crimes? The Hate Crimes Reporting Gap is the significant disparity between hate crimes that actually occur and those reported to law enforcement. It is critical to report hate crimes not only to show support and get help for victims, but also to send a clear message that the community will not tolerate these kinds of crimes. Reporting hate crimes allows communities and law enforcement to fully understand the scope of the problem in a community and put resources toward preventing and addressing attacks based on bias and hate.
Experts estimate an average of 250,000 hate crimes were committed each year between 2004 and 2015 in the United States. The majority of these were not reported to law enforcement.
Terminology Hate Crime: At the federal level, a crime motivated by bias against race, color, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, or disability.
Bias or Hate Incident: Acts of prejudice that are not crimes and do not involve violence, threats, or property damage.
Cling to Jesus as a branch to a vine. Engrave God’s word on the tablet of your heart. We’ve been given a great treasure, the knowledge of God and His saving grace. And it is something that is worth holding on to and protecting. And God gives us His Spirit, to guard our knowledge by His wisdom so that we do not lose hold of what we’ve been given.
Lord, thank You for opening my eyes to the truth of Your grace. Please fill me with Your Spirit, so that Your wisdom may never depart from me. May Your truth grow deep roots within my heart, and may you open my eyes and mind to be always discerning and watchful for the temptations and lies that would try to steal Your truth away from me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother’s eye. Matthew 7:5
When we are quick to judge others, we often find that a moment of self-examination is in order. It’s not that we should remain silent when a loved one is caught in sin. But we must be sure that our own shortcomings do not prevent us from offering sincere and beneficial help. When we are blinded by our own sin, we risk inflicting more harm on those we wish to help.
Dear Father, thank You for Your deep well of forgiveness. Please search my heart and reveal any sins to confess even as I prepare to intervene in my loved one’s situation. Cleanse me by Your righteousness and fill me with Your grace so that I may see with wisdom and truth, and act with love and mercy toward others. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Having faith in God is complicated: in happy, positive times, it is easy to forget that God carried you along the way, and in difficult times it is easy to blame Him. I have looked at my faith from a narcissistic lense too often, desiring a reward for being faithful to God. I forget that faith is the reward. Believing in the Lord is what gives me peace and joy, hope and power. In happy times or times of any trouble, we are comforted by God (2 Corinthians 1: 3-4). Let us rejoice in His holy name!
Holy, holy, holy Lord. God of power and might. Heaven and earth are full of your glory. The hope I feel for the future with you knows no bounds, my Lord, and I aim to please you with every moment of my life. Forgive me for my transgressions and doubts, but I pray to you with a resolve that I did not feel before. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory forever. Amen.
Today in the Word logo FULL ISSUE • RESOURCES • GIVE Fear of the Lord John’s Fear of the Lord Sunday, April 28 | Revelation 1:9–18 On the Go? Listen Now!
Fear of the Lord is an important part of worship in the book of Revelation: “Fear God and give him glory, because the hour of his judgment has come. Worship him who made the heavens, the earth, the sea and the springs of water” (14:7). “Who will not fear you, Lord, and bring glory to your name? For you alone are holy. All nations will come and worship before you, for your righteous acts have been revealed” (15:4).
This truth is seen and the tone set at the very start of the book, in John’s vision of the risen Christ. When he saw Him, he “fell at his feet as though dead” (v. 17). A mere man like John should feel overwhelmed upon seeing a vision of the incarnate and glorified Christ. Awe, reverence, and a sense of God’s greatness literally knocked him out!
What did John see (vv. 12–16)? Christ appeared “like a son of man,” a Messianic allusion (Dan. 7:13) and Jesus’s favorite name for Himself in the synoptic Gospels. His robe with a golden sash indicates His role as both priest and judge as well as His kingly status. His white hair signifies wisdom, dignity, and eternality. His eyes of blazing fire represent penetrating insight and omniscience. His feet of glowing bronze symbolize victorious strength. The two-edged sword in His mouth is the Word of God (Heb. 4:12). His face shining like the sun suggests God’s glory.
Christ placed His hand on John and reassured him, “Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last. I am the Living One; I was dead, and now look, I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades” (vv. 17–18). How incredibly comforting! The eternal Lord of the universe has won the victory and is on our side.
Go Deeper John experienced his vision on the Lord’s Day, that is, Sunday (v. 10). In what ways have you experienced the fear of the Lord during your church’s Sunday worship services?
Pray with Us: Dear Jesus, You told John, “Do not be afraid” (Rev. 1:17). What comforting words! We praise You for Your victory over death, for bringing us freedom from sin, for taking away worldly fear, and giving us godly fear. Bless Your holy name!
When is the last time you took a risk? How did it work out?
I walk out in support of Israel! Israel, officially the State of Israel, is a country in the Southern Levant region of West Asia. It is bordered by Lebanon to the north, Syria to the northeast, Jordan to the east, the Red Sea to the south, Egypt to the southwest, the Mediterranean Sea to the west, and the Palestinian territories – the West Bank along the east and the Gaza Strip along the southwest. Tel Aviv is the financial, economic, and technological center of the country, while its seat of government is in its proclaimed capital of Jerusalem, although Israeli sovereignty over East Jerusalem is unrecognized internationally.
God’s word is a precious resource for us- but only if we use it. Scripture is a firm foundation for all areas of life- family, work, and community. When we try to build these things up without the wisdom of God’s word, we are vulnerable to the shifting sands and shaky ground of human thinking and feeling. Only God’s word provides a sure foundation for our lives.
Father, thank You for the gift of Your word. I pray that as I read and study, You would give me wisdom to not only understand Your word but to apply it. Show me how I can use Your instructions and insights in all areas of my life so that when storms arise around me, I may remain firm in Your truth. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Share Share Tweet Tweet Forward Forward Today With Allen Jackson Daily Devotional Authority In the Cross Romans 6:6 (NIV®) We know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin.
We are hardwired toward ungodliness. Have you noticed? We don’t need classes on how to be selfish, stubborn, or impatient. We’re just naturally good at those things! This verse, however, has great news: We have been given authority over our carnal nature. But many of us seem to be unaware of the authority that has been given to us. We think whatever authority we have is derived from the correctness of our doctrine, the group to which we belong, or the sign on the building where we gather. Our authority is much greater than any of those things because it is anchored in the redemptive work of Jesus of Nazareth. When you are faced with your carnal nature—and you will be—remind yourself that you are no longer a slave to sin because your old self was crucified with Jesus. That’s an amazing promise!
THINK ABOUT IT We are born with carnal, selfish minds. But God gave us a way to overcome our selfish nature through our faith in Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross and the power of His Holy Spirit.
PRAYER Heavenly Father, I rest in the authority You have given me through Your Son, Jesus of Nazareth, and His death and resurrection. I place my ungodliness at the foot of the cross and remind myself that I am no longer a slave to my carnal nature. Thank You for Your faithfulness to me. In Jesus’ name, amen.
What place in the world do you never want to visit? Why? Sometimes, we needlessly complicate our faith, and that can quickly put us on the wrong path. Fad teachings and new doctrines seem to emerge every day, but we already have God’s word and we already have the Lord’s Supper. We need not reinvent our faith with extraneous rituals, they only lead to polluted doctrine. Instead, let us hold to the simple gatherings and foundational truth that we have already been given.
Lord, thank You for revealing Yourself to me in Your word, and thank You for the simple communion that I share with my fellow believers. Please work in these things to build me up, so that I may be satisfied in You. Give me the wisdom to discern unsound doctrine, so that I may remain steadfast in Your truth. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
The fall of Man was a terrible time. Not only had man disobeyed God, but they had lost the freedom, peace and comfort in having a relationship with God. Once they made the mistake and discovered they were naked, Adam and Eve ran to hide when God came to look for them. They hid because they were ashamed – they were ashamed of what they had done. Despite the fact that God was looking for them, Adam and Eve felt that they couldn’t face Him. Not after what they had done.
That is what sin does to us. It makes us feel as if we cannot commune with God. When we make mistakes, the devil tries to take advantage of them and make us feel like we are less than who we actually are. The devil is bent on causing a divide between us and God. He will go at any length to do so. When we slip up and disobey God, the devil jumps in, ready to condemn us and make us feel like we are unworthy. If we are not knowledgeable of God’s love and His everlasting mercy, we will end up falling for the enemy’s trickery. The moment the enemy manages to make us feel less, he will keep on beating us down until we believe it.
God doesn’t want us to see ourselves in that light. There is nothing we will gain from beating ourselves up. God doesn’t delight in seeing it. That is not what He desires for our lives. When we make mistakes, we need to realize that God has forgiven us. This does not mean we deliberately repeat the offense. No. It simply means that we should focus our eyes back on Christ, and keep on moving forward. Guilt is not from God and neither is condemnation.
It takes wisdom to understand the importance of keeping peace with everyone in your life. Only a fool will take delight in starting quarrels and stirring up dissension among people. There is nothing to benefit from strife; all it brings is pain, discomfort, and sorrow. Why would one want to live like that? When you have godly wisdom, you will know when to confront and when to draw back. Godly wisdom will also help you confront a person in a respectful, yet firm, manner. You do not need to insult a person in order to get your point across – that is foolishness. We often find it necessary to insult people we think are below us – call center assistants, customer service, waiters, employees, etc. Every heart matters and the words you speak will either break or build a heart. Wisdom will guide you in speaking effectively without causing strife with another person.
Dear God, it can become hard to think clearly when I am caught in tense situations. Father, I pray that if I am ever caught in a tough situation, may I think clearly, guided by your wisdom, and not by my emotions or my feelings. May I always have it in my heart to want to be at peace with everyone; and may you help me live this out. I cannot do it on my own power. I know that maintaining peace with my neighbors is attainable, through you, O Lord. May you guide me accordingly, with your wisdom at the front of my mind. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.
Bring my soul out of prison, that I may praise thy name: the righteous shall compass me about; for thou shalt deal bountifully with me. Psalm 142:7
Sin takes many forms. Pride, greed, lust, envy, and more. But all sin leads to bondage. All sin imprisons us. And even as Christians, our enemy continues to set traps of temptation for us, hoping to bind us once again. And every time, it is God who breaks us free, on our day of salvation, and each time we stumble. And when He rescues us, His glory is revealed when others see us living liberated lives.
Lord God, thank You for saving me and rescuing me from my bondage to sin. Sometimes, I stumble or wander back into those familiar chains. Please break me free once again and guard my heart and life. Surround me with Your righteous ones, so that I may be better defended against the enemy as I move forward proclaiming the goodness of Your name. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
The fact that people promote domestic violence like Late Night With Colorado Phil does. I had checked out his Facebook and I saw horrifying. He Rape Promoted and domestic violence. I talked to him about it and he said get what deserves. He says he’s a talk show host. We have enough problems therefore, we don’t need a a person promoting rape. Verbal or physical.
Britannica Dictionary definition of RAPIST. [count] : a person who rapes someone : a person who commits rape. a convicted rapist.
O my soul, thou hast said unto the Lord, Thou art my Lord: my goodness extendeth not to thee; Psalm 16:2
Without God, we could have no good thing. Even before we know Him, He gave us tastes of His goodness by His grace. And now that we have received the full measure of His grace, let us draw nearer to Him. All joy, all gladness, everything that is good is a gift from our Heavenly Father who loves us.
Father God, I am in awe at the unending depth of Your goodness. Even in my sin, You chose to pour out Your love on me so that I could experience a measure of Your goodness. And know that I know You, I want to know You even more. Every blessing and joy of this life fills my heart with gratitude, for they all flow from You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Growing up, the Bible was in my bedroom but seldom opened. I believed in Jesus and cannot remember a time I felt as if God didn’t exist. God just was. However, I did not follow Him as Lord and Savior growing up. In God’s lovingkindness and faithfulness to me, that changed over time. Far from being a God who “just was,” I discovered that he is “the one who is, who always was, and who is still to come” (Revelation 1:8).
As different opportunities arose, I heard more of God’s Word through circumstances, through other believers, through music, and for myself as I started to open up the Bible and engage with it more. What I found was a book that was the very word of God, which is “alive and active… sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart” (Hebrews 4:12).
Here are a selection of verses that have shaped my walk as a follower of Jesus. May they bless you as much as they have encouraged and sustained me.
Describe a positive thing a family member has done for you.
If you’ve ever visited an art museum, you know that some pieces are so expertly made that they make you stop and think. They invite you to consider the artist’s mind, passion, and purpose as you take in the intricacies of the finished work. God’s creation, from vast galaxies to delicate flowers, instills the same wonder in all who seek to know Him.
God, You are magnificent and awesome. As I look at the beauty of creation around me, I am overwhelmed by the power of Your hands and the creativity of Your mind. You’ve built beauty and grandeur into everything that You have made, and seeing Your work makes me want to know You even more. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Marriage is meant to be one of the earthly representations of love. When a man and woman decide to come together as one, as one unit, one flesh, one family, and they decide to take on the world together. The best marriages are the marriages that are rooted in the love of God. Couples who choose to make Christ the center of their relationship make the journey slightly easier for themselves. Marriage is an illustration of God’s relationship with the church – we are the church.
Patience and forgiveness are major parts of marriage. Without them, no marriage is able to survive. You need to understand that there will be times where your spouse will disappoint you and you will disappoint your spouse. You will discover things about each other that will require a lot of adjusting. There are times where you will share opposing points-of-view. Instead of burning the house down with words of anger, you will have to work out your issues in love. Love is more than a feeling. It is more than the butterflies or sweet sensations you experience in your stomach. Love is a choice. Every day, you make the decision to love you partner and work with them as a team.
Love means that you are well aware of your partner’s flaws and shortcomings but you choose to see the better parts of them. Marriage is a joint effort at becoming better people. You challenge each other. You cheer each other one. When one of you is down, the other one pulls them up and vice-versa. Marriage is not 50/50. It is not about splitting the effort in half. Marriage is 100/100 – you both have to be all in all the time.
Prayers: We can’t walk out of our marriage because You said what You put together may no man take apart! I thank You for being here with us both and every marriage You have put together in Jesus name Amen
Sometimes growing in faith hurts. When we face difficulties and have to lean heavily on God, it feels like walking through fire. Yet God uses these fiery trials the way a refiner uses fire, to burn away the impurities. Through trials, God rids us of pride, greed, lust, and more. And when we emerge, we are purer and able to shine brighter for Him.
Father God, the trials of life weigh heavily on me. It hurts to endure the suffering, the persecution, and the waiting. Yet I know that You are with me, and I ask that You use this time to purify my heart. Burn away everything that is not of You, so that all that remains is what You would have me be. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
A new series for people who don’t want plastic in their water or bugs on their plate. From Nellie Bowles for The Free Press. (Photo illustration by T
Why is this necessary?
A few reasons.
First, because the mainstream press is losing credibility when it comes to health and science news. The legacy reporters tend to run their health coverage through government communications departments and have a mindset that puts your actual health last on the priority list, far below a thousand other very interesting niche environmental and social concerns, which leads to things like a Time magazine feature on “The White Supremacist Origins of Exercise.”
Second, there is a thriving, incredible world of smart new health and science writing and podcasting. But it’s hard to figure out who or what to trust when you’re beyond the gatekeepers. In this Wild West, you’ll find a lot of truth. Let’s be real though: you’ll also have to bushwhack through folks telling you the flu shot makes you glow in the dark. When I call up Peter Attia for advice on this newsletter, he reminds me: “The mainstream media has problems, but the freewheeling podcast landscape does too.”
Finally—and probably the biggest reason to start something sense-making in this space—is that the new world is very hard to navigate. People doing the most cutting-edge research are not always the greatest writers. Meanwhile, those who communicate clearly are often in little hideaways—obscure blogs and feeds.
We want to separate the signal from the noise to bring you the information that you need to know when it comes to your survival: insights from doctors and experts who have earned our trust, plus, of course, some takedowns of the best of the worst in mainstream health coverage. Our aim is to bring you healthy skepticism (not paranoia), exciting new developments (not snake oil), and honesty (not cynicism).
Your guide for now is me, Nellie Bowles, who you may know as the deranged narrator of TGIF.
I believe I am infallible, of course, but my colleagues here insist otherwise. And given that health and science are subjects of such importance, I’m not flying solo. We’re going to do our own version of peer review by bringing in a roster of health experts to weigh in on topics of the day.
Now, a note on politics. We’re here to learn about health. A lot of the most interesting thinkers on this are wacky. If I recommend an article about the benefits of goat meat, and the goat farmer also happens to believe that Jesus is going to come back as a turtle next Tuesday, that’s what I call: not my problem. Obviously, this is all within limits, and there’s a good-faith gray zone—I’m not getting Stalin’s sauna tips. But I’m not stressing out if my kombucha lady burned a cop car in Seattle or was at January 6 and honestly, knowing kombucha ladies, either one is entirely possible. Both, even.
Our view is that you don’t need your health news sugarcoated; you can look elsewhere for spiritual and political guidance. Because the truth is, health is not fair. It’s not equitable. And as anyone who has known a young person diagnosed with cancer knows, it’s certainly not just.
So who is this for? This is for people who’d rather not have hormones in their milk, plastic in their water, or bugs on their plate. This is for old-school environmentalists and new-school health nuts. It’s for people who know that worrying about seed oils and lifting weights isn’t “right-wing” and wanting clean air and water isn’t “left-wing.” This is for people who don’t want every health and science story prechewed by ideology before it gets to them.
One note on timing: FP Health will be piloted at random intervals for a few months. Send feedback to health@thefp.com. By the fall, we’ll be in a regular rhythm. Now, for a look at the health news from the last few weeks:
→ Microplastics tied to colon cancer and diseased arteries: There’s a new study out of Austrian universities that shows microplastics seem to accelerate colon cancer cell growth. And a study out of Chinese research hospitals finds these plastics in our arteries. If you’ve found your way to this newsletter, you probably have some idea that microplastics are bad for us, and we should generally avoid them. But we’re all figuring out the extent of it, day by day. How panicked should we actually be? (I write this as hot Thai curry sits in a melting plastic to-go container for me to eat tonight.) How much should we inconvenience ourselves? Which sources are the worst culprits? I imagine that plastic—its impact on us, what the hell to do about it—will be a theme of this newsletter. Because I read studies like that but still have no idea whether or not my dinner is going to kill me.
→ The CDC got the maternal death rate totally wrong: The CDC has been telling us a story of disaster and panic for pregnant women (birthing peoplx). The maternal death rate is a crisis, the CDC said. The maternal death rate has more than doubled over two decades, and it’s the worst among non-white women. America—with a reported 32.9 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2021—is a far more dangerous place to have a baby than in other rich countries. The media was very sure to trumpet the alarm.
Now, there is a quiet correction. A very subtle adjustment, if you will.
It turns out that the CDC was just poorly categorizing things. It was counting any maternal death (i.e., a pregnant woman in a car accident) along with women who die during childbirth. Thanks to researchers at Rutgers University, we learned that our real maternal mortality rate is “slightly more than 10 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births”—well in line with our international peers. Okay, so the entire panic that we’re so much worse than Europe was, basically, fake. Will there be any corrections or changes to the many, many headlines about this crisis? No, there will not be.
This reminds me of the old chestnut from when I went to college: that one in four college women was the victim of sexual assault, making campuses more dangerous than Afghanistan. That turned out to be true only by counting just about any unwanted advance as sexual assault, which we’ve known for decades, but the statistical lie is useful for political arguments, so it still gets trotted out.
→ The great sex decline, visualized: Just in a chart, don’t get too excited. I have no idea if it’s the phones or the porn, but the reality is we’re all a little neutered now.
→ The federal budget is just a diabetes slush fund: The new class of semaglutides (Ozempic, Wegovy) might save Americans a lot of money, per a new study showing that their use reduces kidney disease hugely. Diabetes care is a strain on the U.S. economy: nearly 1 percent of the federal budget is spent on diabetes and dialysis (a stat from Duke economist Ryan McDevitt, backed up by numbers from National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases). Anyway, yes, 1 percent. Just on dialysis, basically. There’s also a book out last year about the insanity and corruption of the dialysis industry, if you want to deep dive into Big Diabetes. A lot of people are skeptical of these drugs, which makes sense because there’s no such thing as a side effect–free miracle drug. But obesity is also dangerous—and really expensive.
→ Antidepressant use skyrocketing: Covid took the trend of growing antidepressant use and poured rocket fuel on it. The most dramatic increase was among adolescent girls, but the rise hit boys and adults too. Here from researchers out of University of Michigan and published in Pediatrics in February:
You’re considered anti-science if you question whether all these teens need antidepressants. Like, why would you want these teens to suffer? Also: these drugs are clearly useful, even if no one is quite sure why. I took Zoloft for a few years and loved it, the gentle muting of my panic, but I was and am in my 30s. We really have no idea how these drugs will broadly impact teenage life and development.
→ Donald McNeil on being lied to about Covid’s origins: Before he was forced out by The New York Times in one of the dumber scandals of 2020–2021, Donald McNeil was the paper’s top Covid reporter, a graybeard with the gravitas to say when something was an emergency and the experience to know when he was being manipulated. And yet in his new memoir, he reflects on how top scientists flatly lied to him about Covid’s origins, a truth we now know through their various Slack messages. Those messages show top scientists around the world coordinating both on the origins lie and specifically how to deceive McNeil about it. He writes about being a “victim of deception,” about being disappointed in himself, and about how hard it was to push back against their wall of faux certainty: “It’s one thing to be lied to by a politician and fail to check it out. But on viral evolution, to whom do you go for a second opinion? If Albert Einstein assured you that nuclear fission is harmless, whom would you trust to quote saying, ‘Einstein’s dead wrong?’ ”
We’re still due for the reckoning we deserve on this. The take from Experts is still why does it matter where Covid came from, and asking is racist. Call me crazy, but I do care if Covid was made in a U.S.-funded Chinese lab and would want to, like, figure out what went wrong there.
→ The myocarditis false start: A study came out of Oxford in March claiming that Covid vaccines actually reduce the risk of myocarditis, or inflammation of the heart muscle, which has been a concern especially with young men getting boosters. The argument is basically that while the vaccine triggers some amount of inflammation that causes myocarditis, Covid itself triggers even more. I wanted this one to be true, but for all these topics I turn to Dr. Vinay Prasad, professor of epidemiology and biostatistics at the University of California, San Francisco. Unfortunately, he gives it a thorough debunking. The vaccinated are different in many ways from the unvaccinated, ways that have nothing to do with the shot. Prasad writes: “It is obvious that people who get vaccinated are different than those who don’t, and these patterns of covariates cannot be easily adjust[ed] for because they pertain to domains of life that are not readily captured in health records.”
→ You must stay on birth control forever: Hormonal birth control, because they’re hormones a woman takes every month, has real side effects—especially on mood and sex drive and of course, on weight. Seems fine to talk about? No. “Women are getting off birth control amid misinformation explosion,” The Washington Post alerts us. See, there’s a new movement to help women get off birth control and use either physical methods or cycle-timing—and to generally get more in sync with the body’s natural cycle. An example the Post goes after is the new company 28 Wellness that sells a product called Toxic Breakup, whose founder talks a lot about cycle-syncing and being in tune with your female body, natural vibes, moon rhythms, I don’t know, guys, things that used to be read as quite hippy-dippy. But did you know that’s actually right-wing now?
From The Washington Post: “Physicians and researchers say little data is available about the scale of this new phenomenon, but anecdotally, more patients are coming in with misconceptions about birth control fueled by influencers and conservative commentators.” And “an underlying conservative push” is behind all this, the paper claims.
Now, for sure there are conservative groups who have always been against birth control and generally sex outside of marriage (I’m thinking most major religions). But this new movement has more to do with personal health optimization and taking young women seriously when they talk about side effects than it does with traditional Catholic values. No matter. Nothing upsets Experts more than if people talk about getting off a medication, any medication. I could be taking canine flea medicine and there’d be some reporter alarmed that I’d consider quitting it. But I say: let the ladies do their moon cycle dances! Just for fun I looked up “Washington Post sponsored by Purdue Pharma,” since that was the first pharmaceutical brand I could think of. Well:
→ Concerns that psychedelics trials are biased: A large research review by the Institute for Clinical and Economic Review last week has found “substantial concerns” about the validity of research on psychedelics. Psychedelics, in the past few years, have been cast as something like a miracle drug, especially for PTSD, which is something everyone says they suffer from these days. From the review team, citing bias among the researchers: “We heard from multiple experts about the very strong prior beliefs of those involved in the trials (as investigators, therapists, and patients) about the benefits of MDMA-AP. Concerns have been raised by some that therapists encouraged favorable reports by patients and discouraged negative reports by patients including discouraging reports of substantial harms, potentially biasing the recording of benefits and harms.” There’s also the issue that it’s impossible to do blind randomized controlled testing—you definitely know if you’re in the test versus placebo group! I know a lot of people—stressed out moms, every single tech executive in America—who have benefited a lot from mushrooms and MDMA and other things I refuse to try. But every since I bought Dogecoin, I’m always skeptical when something is hyped too aggressively. And these drugs are covered glowingly, almost without exception.
→ All this autism is a blessing! Autism diagnoses are rising, and fast. Jill Escher, the mother of two autistic children, wrote a profound piece for The Free Press on the insanity of these takes. In my mind, it’s one of the most important pieces we’ve run. She’s now released a smart video through the National Council on Severe Autism, laying out the irrefutable evidence that yes, autism is actually increasing. Why did she need to put this out? Because you’ll find two arguments against worrying about autism: first, that autism is a superpower, making people simply different, not any worse off. Second, that it’s not increasing at all, we’re just noticing it more. Autism and the informed, nuanced work of people like Escher are topics we’ll follow closely here.
→ Google’s new artificial intelligence demands you eat bugs: When Bloomberg reporter Joe Weisenthal asked Google’s artificial intelligence software to write something to encourage eating meat as a good protein source, the engineers had coded it to deny the request. Here’s the prompt he wrote and Google’s response:
But then when you give it that same prompt, but to make a campaign for eating bugs? Well, it comes back with great tagline ideas:
• Skip the Steak, Try a Beetle. • Insects: They’re what’s for dinner (of the future). • Get Your Protein Buzz: Crickets are the New Kale. • Protein Revolution: Insects – Nutritious, Sustainable, Delicious.
People try to deny that there’s a concerted effort to convince people to replace burgers with bugs—a conspiracy, says NPR! and also somehow racist, says NPR! Right.
→ Alcohol-related deaths are surging: Remember how during Covid lockdown, in-person Alcoholics Anonymous meetings were banned and church was banned and sports were banned, but liquor stores were declared essential and bars were allowed to stay open? Well, it turns out that when you close all community activities but allow for the steady flow of booze into a society, people drink more! Now, alcohol-related deaths are up by 29 percent, and PBS is asking questions recently like:
What could have happened between now and five years ago? What might have changed? It’s a mystery, PBS, a forever mystery.
→ Don’t let a little science fraud ruin the party: Earlier this year, leading researchers at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, including the CEO Laurie Glimcher, were found to have published research with what sure looks like fabricated data. The discovery came from the independent writer Sholto David, and it’s part of a broader movement: independent investigative journalists are diving into the research of celebrated, famous science figures—the sort who get profiled in all the best magazines—and discovering that a lot of their work is faked. (A young student at Stanford’s reporting led to the president of the university stepping down over his research, which appears to be fraudulent.) And here you see the difference between the mainstream press and the insurgent reporters, because in March, the leading science news source STAT named that Dana-Farber CEO to their STATUS List 2024 with a post: “As CEO of the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Laurie Glimcher isn’t afraid to shake things up.” STAT didn’t find the fraud—a random guy with a random blog found it.
→ Sure, try Viagra for Alzeheimer’s: Viagra might be a good drug for Alzheimer’s, according to new research in the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease. And I say great. This was discovered in part by new artificial intelligence software that’s combing through vast tracts of data for interesting nuggets like this one. AI is also starting to spot tiny breast cancers in mammograms, cancers that clinicians had missed. For all the doomerism about AI, it’s astonishing what it’s already doing for our health. Stay tuned for more on this.
→ The EPA only just banned asbestos: In a good reminder that the American government is not going to prioritize your health, the Environmental Protection Agency only just successfully banned asbestos (the EU did that in 2005). Why’d it take so long? The EPA’s effort to ban it in 1989 was overturned by a federal court of appeals that weakened the agency’s authority. In other words: you’re on your own.
→ It’s really weird that no one knows what puberty blockers do to brain development: Puberty blockers have been very commonly used for gender-dysphoric children, the idea being that it gives children the ability to stave off puberty, and a little more time to decide whether to fully medically transition. But in March they were fully banned by England’s NHS, which has been prescribing them after basically cursory visits to the clinic by uncomfortable kids. The next question is: What have these blockers done to kids’ brains? Because the reality is, we have no idea! Adolescence brings huge brain changes—do those come later when the kid eventually takes cross-sex hormones? Are they the same as they would be unmedicated? There is the horrifying potential reality here that these children’s brains will never exactly develop into what we think of as adulthood. They might! But they might not. (Read this from Quillette on the possibility.) And a couple weeks ago, at a conference for clinicians to discuss these issues among themselves, protesters disrupted the event, blocked attendees, and threw smoke bombs.
The worst advice:
→ An example of what you will not find here: One reason we started thinking about health is because of articles like this one from The Washington Post’s official food columnist (I’m being hard on the Post; it’s too easy). This article is on how very bad saturated fat is: “Don’t believe the backlash. Saturated fat actually is bad for you.” Saturated fat is the type you find in meat, dairy, and eggs. The food trend of the last thirty years has been toward carbs and sugar instead of fat. Everything is supposed to be low-fat food, and we’re told Egg Beaters are healthier than eggs, vegetable oil is better than tallow, etc.
Our WaPo food columnist acknowledges that there are all these weird studies showing that people w
As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby: 1 Peter 2:2
We come into this world as infants, helpless and dependent on milk for nourishment. The same is true of our spiritual rebirth. We do not come to faith as mature believers full of knowledge and wisdom. Rather, we need to grow, and it’s good to start small, with the milk of scripture, the basic truths and assurances that will form the foundation of our faith as we grow to full maturity.
Father, thank You for saving me and giving me new life as Your child. Lord, I am overwhelmed by the depth of Your word. Please direct me to the nourishing milk of scripture, help me to abide in the simple truths of Your love and salvation as You prepare me to grow beyond infancy and into maturity in You. In Jesus’ name, amen.
There is no Christian walk without the love of God. The love of God is the epicenter of Christianity. It is the love of God that led to salvation. Out of God’s love, He gave up his son, Jesus Christ, so that He could stand in our place and take all the consequences for the sin we were born into. It is love that compelled Jesus Christ to walk on this earth and reach out to the oppressed, the overlooked, and the maltreated. Love compelled Christ to heal those who were struck down by infirmities and lifelong ailments. Without love, we wouldn’t have a chance on this earth. Love kept Christ focused on the mission ahead of Him, even after he’d been betrayed, abandoned, beaten, and mocked.
Any other person would have retaliated or given up long in advance. Not Jesus. There were times Jesus would enter a city and he would be mocked and reduced to being seen as the “carpenter’s son”. There were times where Jesus was called demonic. People threatened to kill him on a regular basis. He was looked down upon but he never let any of it phase Him. Even on the cross, when He was in an excruciating amount of pain, He managed to plead for forgiveness on behalf of the people who supported his crucifixion. In the face of torture, Christ did not think of himself. He thought of the souls in front of him.
The love of God has the power to transform the darkest hearts in the world. It has the power to heal lifelong wounds and restore broken hearts. The love of God is break through fortified barriers, and touch the coldest hearts.
When we, the body of Christ, walk in one accord – the love of God – we become an unstoppable force. When we refuse to allow malice into our hearts, and we choose to love everyone around us, things begin to change. Lives change for the better. Families are brought back together.
Prayer
Most importantly, people see Christ in us. It is the love of Christ in us that we express to others. By expressing love we are showing Jesus love through us. Thank You Father God for Jesus Your loving Son who was willing to obey You to buy us back. He showed us love by shedding His blood. The perfect obedience and gift. Thank You very much.
This is why we need to be rooted in the Word and I believe that in each story! I love those stories. We are all babe’s who are still crawling thank You for Your patience and prayers in Jesus Christ name Amen
This month we begin a new theme on the topic of Sacrifice, which is fitting for this season as we prepare our hearts for Easter to honor and praise Jesus for His ultimate sacrifice.
The dictionary defines a sacrifice as: “the surrender or destruction of something prized or desirable for the sake of something considered as having a higher or more pressing claim.” A secondary definition also defines sacrifice as “an act of offering to a deity something precious.”
In simple terms, a sacrifice is something you desire that you choose to give up for a greater purpose or to a greater Person. And in reality, that’s what makes sacrificing so difficult! Because what is being given up is something valued, cherished, loved, and desirable.
Yet because we are supposed to model our lives after Jesus’ life, we are called to sacrifice on a daily basis. But we find that God invites us to sacrifice our wants, desires, and plans in order to experience something richer, more purposeful, and more in line with His desires for us.
However – because we are human – even when we know it’s what God wants, it doesn’t make it easier to lay down our desires and follow His plan. Thankfully, God has given us His Word to glean from. He sent others to pave the way and provide a roadmap that is both obedient and honoring to God.
Throughout this month, we’ll learn from a few people in Scripture—Abraham, David, Paul, and Jesus—to better understand what sacrifice looks like and how we can pursue and submit to it in our daily lives. It’s not easy, but God will give us the strength to surrender, sacrifice, and put His love on display.
Jesus!
Nobody likes to be insulted or belittled. Yet, Jesus tells us to expect opposition and rejection. When others talk down on us for standing up for Christ, it is evidence that Christ is in us and His Spirit is working through us. When we share in suffering for His name’s sake, we share in His glory as it is revealed in us.
From His triumphal entry into Jerusalem to His last breath on the cross, Jesus’ final days were marked with joy, fellowship, grief, betrayal, pain, and death. But this death was not the end. Jesus rose victorious from the grave, securing a place in Heaven for all who turn from sin and believe in Him.
Salvation Is Won” reveals the story of Jesus’ last days on the earth from His triumphal entry into Jerusalem, to His betrayal, death, and resurrection from the grave.
Father, please give me the perseverance to endure the mocking of those around me. Some days I want to run and hide, but You call me to stand firm. When others hurl insults at me, give me the power to respond only with Your love and truth. And as You work through me, please soften the hearts of my attackers so that they may see You and know You, too. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Nothing Is Impossible With Christ Jesus! Day 1
This has to be one of the most motivating Bible verses in the word of God. It sums up our Christian walk. In our own power, there are many things that we can consider to be impossible. But when we are with God, absolutely nothing is impossible. The Bible is filled with so many instances where God turned the impossible into the more-than-possible.
Abraham and Sarah were unable to conceive a child. They were both very old and neither of them was fertile. But when they encountered God, they received life in their loins and Abraham became the Father of many nations – starting with his own children.
When the Israelites were escaping from Egypt, they found themselves in front of the Red Sea. I’d like you to think about this for a moment. The Israelites were not in front of a pond or a river they could wade through. They weren’t even in front of a lake. The Israelites were faced with an entire sea. What did God do for them? He parted the sea in two and held it until every single one of the Israelites had crossed safely. It is very clear that that sea was not crossed in a day. Think of the great expanse. But God kept it open until they were on the other side!
Lastly, Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ was conceived through a virgin and the Spirit of God. This is a feat that still leaves many intellectuals dumbfounded in this day and age. “It’s impossible!” one would cry. Not with God, my friend. When God intervenes, all protocols are broken.
Through God and His wonder-working power the dead have been raised, barren wombs have been with child, addictions have been broken, lives have been restored, and people have received miracle provision. It is through God, the fate of our eternity was redeemed.
When you think of the numerous times that God has turned the impossible into a moment of possibility, you should become confident. There is nothing too big for God to handle. Look at who you are talking about! He is the God who created the heavens, the earth, and the universe. He knows every star by name.
1 Timothy 4:12: Day 2
When we are young, people often don’t take us seriously. It can be frustrating, especially if people are telling you to act like an adult and yet you are treated like a child. Here we see Paul encouraging Timothy to be an example. Instead of dwelling on the disadvantage of youth, focus on being worthy of being looked up to. Focus on maturing spiritually. Let your words and conversations reflect Christ. Pray that your character will reflect Christ, and above all, have faith in God.
LORD, help me to have the character that resembles You. Strengthen my faith in You, LORD. Help me to be content with my age and the stage of life I am in. Help me to do what I can do instead of focusing on what I can’t do. Conform and shape me into whom you want me to be. Above all, I want to please You. I want to do your will and live for You. Give me wisdom and insight to do so, and lead me by Your Holy Spirit. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Proverbs 31:30– Day 3
Face-value, earthly things will never hold a substantial amount of value. We live in a world that is more concerned about how people look, how much money they have, and the kinds of material goods they possess. All of these things will fade away with time. The thing that will remain in people’s minds for a very long time will be our characters and the virtues we possess. Men and women of God need to ensure that their characters and their virtues are godly.
Dear God, I pray that I never become caught up in the things of this world. I know that things like physical appearance and money are fleeting; they will not last an eternity. But the things that come out of my heart will. Lord, may my heart be a reflection of your light. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.
1 Timothy 5:1 – Day 4
There are likely older believers in your life. Here, Paul tells Timothy not to rebuke his elders, but to come to them the way he would come to his father. Then, he tells Timothy to treat younger men as his brothers. Similarly, you can treat older believers in your life as your father or mother. Don’t be harsh with them, but come with respect and humility. With younger believers, treat them as your sibling. Do not taunt or be rude to them. Do not act as though you are better than them. Rather, treat them with respect that you would want to receive from those who are older than you.
Heavenly Father, make me respectful and humble as I interact with those older and younger than me. If I see something in their life that needs correction, give me wisdom and humility to address it. Lead me by your Holy Spirit, and do not let me do it on my own strength. Let me correct others because I love them and you, not for selfish gain. Thank you God that you correct me in love and not wrath. Let me correct and treat others how you treat me and how I would want to be treated. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Psalm 103:5 – Day 5
“Youth is wasted on the young!” How true is that statement! The older we get the more we long for the days of our youth, when we were more energetic and our joints didn’t creak every time we took a step. When we look into the mirror and see a new wrinkle or gray hair, we wax nostalgic for the days of smooth skin and shiny locks. In this passage, we are told that youthful vitality is not lost to us, not through God. He will renew us as the “eagle.” Eagle. Not sparrow, or swallow, or hummingbird. But the strong and mighty eagle, who can fly up to 10,000 feet, who has over 7,000 feathers to keep it warm and dry, who has exceptional eyesight and seems to soar effortlessly. The eagle is a symbol of strength and grace. Through God, we have the ability to maintain our own strength, stamina and vitality. Through God, we are renewed. Through God, we are made young again.
Galatians 6:9 – Day 5
We should always strive to do good in every way and every place that we can. Our actions testify to the world of the God we preach is a good and loving God. Check your actions and your thoughts and ask yourself if you are truly reflecting the nature of God.
Dear God, I ask that you help me ensure that in everything I do, I reflect your goodness and I reflect your love. My desire is for more and more people to come into your light and the only way they can do this, is by believing in you. May my actions communicate who you are, just as much as my words do. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.
Isaiah 41:10 – Day 6
God has gone to the ends of the earth to make sure that you will always know that, no matter what, He has got you covered. He will keep you at rest, He will strengthen you, and He will see you through the tough times. In everything you do, every trial that you face, and in every challenge, that comes your way, you should know that you have no reason to fret or worry. God is with you.
Dear God, I thank you that I can trust in you completely, never having to worry or fret when troubling times come my way. I thank you, Lord, that I can rely on your faithfulness. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.
Romans 15:13 Day 7
Having faith in God is complicated: in happy, positive times, it is easy to forget that God carried you along the way, and in difficult times it is easy to blame Him. I have looked at my faith from a narcissistic lense too often, desiring a reward for being faithful to God. I forget that faith is the reward. Believing in the Lord is what gives me peace and joy, hope and power. In happy times or times of any trouble, we are comforted by God (2 Corinthians 1: 3-4). Let us rejoice in His holy name!
Holy, holy, holy Lord. God of power and might. Heaven and earth are full of your glory. The hope I feel for the future with you knows no bounds, my Lord, and I aim to please you with every moment of my life. Forgive me for my transgressions and doubts, but I pray to you with a resolve that I did not feel before. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory forever. Amen.
What movies or TV series have you watched more than 5 times?
Jesus of Nazareth I have watched since 1978.
Robert Powell stars in the epic 1977 drama chronicling the birth, life, crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus. With Laurence Olivier, James Earl Jones and Ian McShane. My mother would watch it every Easter season. When I can’t sleep I play the movie. Beginning before the Nativity and extending through the Crucifixion and Resurrection, this mini-series brings to life all of the sweeping drama in the life of Jesus, as told by the Gospels.
The Greatest Story Ever Told! From his birth in Bethlehem to his death and eventual resurrection, the life of Jesus Christ (Max von Sydow) is given the all-star treatment in this epic retelling. Major aspects of Christ’s life are touched upon, including the execution of all the newborn males in Egypt by King Herod (Claude Rains) ; Christ’s baptism by John the Baptist (Charlton Heston) ; and the betrayal by Judas after the Last Supper that eventually leads to Christ’s crucifixion and miraculous return.
King of Kings In this reenactment of the life of Jesus Christ, when word spreads throughout Judea that the son of God is to be born in Bethlehem, King Herod demands that all infants be killed. Mary (Siobhan McKenna) steals away with her young son, Jesus, who grows up preaching, performing miracles and acquiring devotees. One of Jesus’ (Jeffrey Hunter) followers, Judas (Rip Torn), betrays him, and he is sentenced to crucifixion. But Jesus has always known of his fate and has prepared himself for death.
The 10 Commandments Enjoying a life of ease in the court of Egypt’s pharaoh, Moses (Charlton Heston) discovers his Hebrew heritage and, later, God’s expectations of him. He dedicates himself to liberating his people from captivity and — with the aid of plagues and divine intervention — manages to lead them out of Egypt and across the Red Sea. A greater challenge comes in the form of the golden calf idol, however, and it takes an unforgettable visitation by God on Mount Sinai for Moses’ mission to prevail.
There are many more Jesus. Jesus is a 1999 Italian-American biblical historical drama television miniseries that retells the historical events of Jesus Christ. I love to watch the Bible collection from 1996,
Lord, You know my heart. You know my sins. Nothing is hidden from You. I confess with my mouth the ways that I have disobeyed You and strayed from You. Lord, I long to be clean, but I cannot do it on my own. Please wash me in Your blood, so that I can be made blameless in Your sight, pure and white as snow. In Jesus’ name, amen.
According to the Bible, Jesus Christ lived a life of perfect obedience to God. He said, “I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me” (John 6:38). Jesus’s obedience is also described as active, which includes his actions, and passive, which includes suffering and death.
According to the Bible, Jesus learned obedience through suffering. He humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. His death was the only way to save lost men and women. Jesus’s obedience fulfills the expectations of the prophets of the Old Testament, who expected God to send a Messiah to rescue his people and to provide a sacrifice for their sins. Jesus is both of these. His obedience identifies him as the divine Son. Christians believe that Jesus’s obedience was in perfect obedience to the law of God. They also believe that Jesus was perfect in moral perfection, including absolute sinlessness, perfect righteousness, unwavering faith, and perfect wisdom.
How did Jesus show perfect obedience? 1. Although Jesus was without sin, he submitted to baptism “to fulfill all righteousness” (Matthew 3:13–17; see also 2 Nephi 31:4–7; John 3:5). 2. At the age of 12, when Joseph and Mary found Jesus teaching in the temple, He “was subject unto them,” and obediently returned home with them (see Luke 2:42–51).
Was Jesus made perfect through obedience? Hebrews 5:8–9, “Although he was a son” — although Jesus was the Son of God — “he learned obedience” — catch that phrase — “he learned obedience through what he suffered. And being made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey him.”
What does the Bible say about Jesus obedience? Jesus Christ Obeyed His Father
He said, “I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me” (John 6:38). His whole life was devoted to obeying His Father; yet it was not always easy for him. He was tempted in all ways as other mortals (see Hebrews 4:15).
What does obedience to Jesus look like? Listening to what God says in the Bible. Following Jesus as His disciple. Being polite and following the rules of a good society to show our consideration and respect for others. Trusting that God’s way will be best for us, rather than our own or the world’s way.
What made Jesus perfect? Jesus learned obedience through suffering, and was made perfect by it. Then, having been made perfect, he became the Author of salvation to all who, in following him, are learning obedience through suffering. Yes, Jesus is perfect. His perfection is moral perfection: absolute sinlessness, perfect righteousness, unwavering faith and obedience to the Father, perfect wisdom, perfect understanding, perfect knowledge and more. After all, he is God.
What is Jesus passive obedience? Jesus’ passive obedience is His paying the penalty for our failure to obey God’s law. Some people stumble at this point, because they imagine that the bulk of Jesus’ life was occupied with obeying God’s law for us—active obedience—and then in dying, Jesus paid the penalty for us—passive obedience.
What did Jesus command us to obey? In 35 years of church life, I had never been asked about my basic obedience to Jesus’ final and most straightforward command: “Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teach them to obey everything I have commanded you,” (Matt. 28:19-20a).
The Lord rendered to every man his righteousness and his faithfulness; for the Lord delivered thee into my hand today, but I would not stretch forth my hand against the Lord’s anointed. 1 Samuel 26:23
Just because we can do something doesn’t mean that we should do something. When David was being pursued by Saul, he had multiple opportunities to take Saul’s life, but he refused every time. Why? Because David understood that God chose Saul for a time and a purpose, and he did not want to encroach on God’s sovereignty by taking matters into his own hands.
Lord, I confess that my ideas, plans, and agenda are not always in alignment with Yours. Sometimes I see an easy or quick solution to my problems, yet You call me to defer to Your timing and Your purpose. Help me Lord, to set aside my own will and seek Yours, so that I may work within Your plan and purpose for me. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Gracious God our Father, we come to You in Jesus name we thank You for sending Jesus to die for sinners, including myself among them.
🙏 God’s Promise 🙏
Isaiah 9:6 – in God’s promise to us was to send His Son: “His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” Promise fulfilled!
Generative AI is experimental. Learn more The Bible has many passages that mention God as a defender, including: Deuteronomy 32:4 “The LORD is your mighty defender, perfect and just in all his ways; Your God is faithful and true; he does what is right and fair”. Psalm 62:6-8 “He only is my rock and my salvation: He is my defence; I shall not be moved. In God is my salvation and my glory: The rock of my strength, and my refuge, is in God”. Psalm 62:5-7 “I depend on God alone; I put my hope in him. He alone protects and saves me; he is my defender, and I shall never be defeated. My salvation and honor depend on God; he is my strong protector; he is my shelter”. Exodus 15:2-3 “The LORD is my strength and my defense; he has become my salvation. He is my God, and I will praise him, my father’s God, and I will exalt him. The LORD is a warrior; the LORD is his name”. Zechariah 1:18-2:13 “He will defend His chosen people and punish the wicked in His time!” . Psalm 18:1-6 “I love you, O Lord, my strength. The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. I call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised, and I am saved from my enemies”.
Hear us today as we praise you – the LORD God Almighty – above Whom nothing and no one is greater – our all-powerful, all-knowing, and all-loving God.
Praise God that He is the same yesterday and today and forever (Hebrews 13:8), and that He is your solid Rock, your Fortress, your Rescuer, your Shield, your …
God, our loving Heavenly Father, wants us to find happiness and joy. He created a plan for us to grow, live by faith, and return to live with Him someday. His plan gives meaning and context to our life here on earth and answers the big questions: “Where did I come from?” “Why am I here?” and “What happens after I die?”
What does the Bible say about loyalty to your country? Righteousness exalts a nation.
Here are our sons and daughters, submit them to any test of comparison you will; regard for truth, veneration for age, reverence for God, love of man, loyalty to country, respect for law, refinement of manners, and lastly, … purity of mind and chastity of conduct.
What does God say in the Bible about us? You are children of God, heirs of God (1 John 3:2; Romans 8:16–17). You are no longer orphans. You belong to me (John 14:18; 1 Corinthians 6:19). And I love you as a perfect Father (1 John 3:1; Luke 15:20–24).Sep 24, 2015
Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, the people he chose for his inheritance.” Acts 17:26 “From one man he made all the nations, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he marked out their appointed times in history and the boundaries of their lands.”
Who was the most loyal person in the Bible? Similar to the Hebrew Bible narrative, Islamic tradition mentions that Satan heard the angels of God speak of Job as being the most faithful man of his generation.
What did the Bible say about a good woman? She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come. She speaks with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue. She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness. “Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all.”
True History or Consummate Fraud?
Hear the confident declaration of American statesman Daniel Webster (1782-1852):
The Gospel is either history, or it is a consummate fraud; it is a reality or an imposition. Christ was what He professed to be was an imposter. There is no other alternative. His spotless life in His earnest enforcement of the truth – His suffering in its defense, forbade us to suppose that He was suffering an illusion of a heated brain. Every act of His pure and holy life shows that He was the author of truth, the advocate of truth, the earnest defender of truth, and the uncompromising sufferer for truth. Now, considering the purity of His doctrines, the simplicity of His life, and the sublimity of His death, is it possible that He would have died for an illusion? In all His preaching the Savior made no popular appeals. His discourses were always directed to the individual. Christ and His apostles sought to impress upon every man the conversation that he must stand or fall alone – he must live for himself, and die for himself, and give up his account to the omniscient God as though he were the only dependent in the universe. The Gospel leaves the individual sinner alone with himself and God, Himself!
For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. 2 Corinthians 4:6
Without God, our brokenness leaves us searching in the dark, unable to see His glory. But Jesus changed all of that, bringing the light of God not only to our world through His life, but into each of our hearts through our redemption. All of us who know Jesus not only have been given the blessing of seeing God’s glory, but He also continues to shine through us so that His light may expel darkness wherever we go.
Father God, thank You for sending Jesus, and for the light that You bring into my life through him, and for opening my eyes to see Your glory revealed in him. Please shine through me so that I may reflect Your glory and others may see You and know You as well. In Jesus’ name, amen.
The third Person, Holy Spirit is the best gift from God and His, my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ in my life!
A citizen’s arrest is when a private citizen makes an arrest, as opposed to a police officer. In some situations, a citizen can make an arrest without a warrant. All states allow some form of citizen’s arrest in their criminal procedures.
Noah Webster’s An American Dictionary of the English Language, 1828:
patriotism, n. Love of one’s country; the passion which aims to serve one’s country, either defending it from invasion, or protecting its rights and maintaining its laws and institutions in vigor and purity. Patriotism is the characteristic of a good citizen, the noblest passion that animates a man in Note how the definitions have changed. With its objective actions, Noah Webster’s patriotism is very different from the vague, subjective patriotism is not just an emotional feeling; it is action.
Webster’s original definition starts with a love for the country, but moves to specific actions: service to the country, defense of the country, protection of the rights of the country, and preservation of religion and morality in public and private life. This kind of patriotism puts the needs of the country above personal or partisan desire, as well as above the favor of foreign nations.
Prayer: I love my country, Lord, and I ask You to protect us from harm. Be with those men and women in each branch of service. Guard us all in Your Name.
Promise: Hear God’s promise: “The Lord commanded us to observe all these statues, to fear the Lord our God, for our good always, that He might preserve us alive, as it is this day” (Deuteronomy 6:24).
If Christ has not risen, your faith is futile 1 Corinthians 15:17
Hear the confident declaration of American statesman Daniel Webster (1782-1852):
The Gospel is either true history, or it is a consummate fraud; it is either a reality or an imposition. Christ was what He professed to be, or He was an imposter. There is no other alternative. His spotless life in His earnest enforcement of the truth – His suffering in its defense, forbid us to suppose that He was suffering an illusion of a heated brain. Every act of His pure and holy life shows that He was the author of truth.
If you knew what really happens in the spiritual realm when you pray, you would never stop praying.
In this new message, explore mercy and grace, the protection of God, the intimacy prayer fosters with the Father, and the power that moves through your life when you pray.
Colossians 1:17 tells us that He is in everything and that He holds everything together. That is good news! There is no end to the supernatural power of God that can move through your life.
If you had the power to change one law, what would it be and why? I can’t change God’s Laws! We are to obey what He says. Generative AI is experimental. Learn more In Psalm 19, God’s Word is described as the “law of the Lord”. Verses 7-11 say, “The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple. The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes”. The “Word of God” is made up of the canonical books of the Old and New Testament. The law is one of the two main parts of the Word of God, the other being the Gospel. The law is God’s word that expresses his will. In the law, God revealed his character and righteous requirements to the nation of Israel.
The law is a part of the Word of God. The law is God’s specific commands and demands for his moral creatures. The law is also known as the “decalogue,” “God’s Law,” or “The Ten Commandments”.
A citizen’s arrest is when a private citizen makes an arrest, as opposed to a police officer. In some situations, a citizen can make an arrest without a warrant. All states allow some form of citizen’s arrest in their criminal procedures.
The Word of God is the Bible, which is considered a direct line of communication from the Lord. The phrase “the Word of God” can also refer to something that God has decreed to come to pass, or the actual spoken words of God. According to Quora, the law is the written scripture, while the word is the revealed scripture. The law condemns, while the word saves. The law is justified by requirements that are hard to fulfill, while the word is justified by faith in Jesus Christ.
Jesus says in Matthew 5:17, “Do not think that I have come to abolish Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them”. When Jesus speaks of fulfilling the law and the prophets, he is speaking of bringing to fulfillment both the prophecies of Scripture and Scripture as a whole by His coming and His ministry. In Luke 24:44, Jesus says, “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled”. Jesus and the law: an exegesis on Matthew 5:17–20 BY DAVID WENHAM The very strong statements about the continuing validity of the Old Testament law ascribed to Jesus in Matthew 5:17–20 have caused great difficulty to many Christian interpreters. Some have felt that they are in contradiction to Jesus’ more liberal attitude to the law1 attested in Mark’s Gospel (and elsewhere); others have wondered how they can possibly be reconciled with the teaching of Paul, the writer to the Hebrews and others, who suggest that the Christian is at least in some senses freed from the law.
A common solution to these problems is to ascribe the views expressed in Matthew 5:17–20 to the Jewish Christians of Matthew’s church rather than to Jesus. But this solution, however plausible it may seem, is not without objection on critical grounds,2 and it is in any case no final solution for the person who wishes to interpret Matthew 5:17–20 as part of the Word of God.
How then can we make sense of these verses? Dr Robert Banks has made some important suggestions on this, which, if accepted, would go a long way to answering our question.3 His views in general on Jesus’ view of the Old Testament law are summed up by the editor of Themelios as follows: ‘Jesus did not “expound” the law, nor did he “abrogate” it, or even “radicalize” it. The law was not, as such, any more the object of his attention than the traditions. His own new teaching moves on a plane above and beyond the law. The question is not Jesus’ attitude to the law, but the law’s relevance to him. It points forward to him, and in that sense it is fulfilled in his coming, and particularly in his teaching. “It is only in so far as it has been taken up into that teaching and completely transformed that it lives on” (p. 242). Even the decalogue does not remain in force as “eternal moral law”. Only the teaching of Jesus has that status.’4
This general position is in accord with and is supported by Banks’ detailed discussion of Matthew 5:17–20. Among the points made by Banks, the following are particularly important (and controversial): in v. 17b., ‘I have come not to abolish them but to fufil them,’ Banks argues that the Greek word translated ‘fulfil’, plerosai, should not be interpreted to mean ‘establish’; rather it means to ‘fulfil’ all that the law pointed forward to, and thus to transcend and replace the law. The law, like the prophets, pointed forward to Christ, and now that Christ has come the law is included in and superseded by him.
In the following verse (v. 18), which speaks of not an iota, not a dot, passing from the law until all is accomplished, Banks takes the phrase ‘until all is accomplished’ to mean ‘until all is fulfilled in Christ’ (in the way described already). Once Christ has come, the law is replaced by His teaching. V. 19 warns against relaxing ‘one of the least of these commandments’, and Banks takes this to refer to Jesus’ commands, not to the Old Testament law.
On the basis of such exegetical arguments Banks can conclude that Matthew 5:17–20 is not concerned to teach the abiding validity of the Old Testament law so much as superiority and authoritative character of Jesus and his teaching.
The Holy Spirit, also known as the Holy Ghost, is featured in many famous Bible stories. From the birth of Jesus to the miraculous events of Pentecost. When it comes to the Holy Spirit, there is much more than meets the eye. So, what exactly is the Holy Spirit?
What do you complain about the most? How time has gone by. Wasted time” is a phrase that means time is being spent on something that is unnecessary and doesn’t produce any benefit. For example, someone might think that talking to someone who doesn’t listen is a waste of time.
Definitions of waste of time. the devotion of time to a useless activity. “the waste of time could prove fatal” type of: dissipation, waste, wastefulness. useless or profitless activity; using or expending or consuming thoughtlessly or carelessly.
Amen
Wasted time” can also mean time, money, or other resources that are not used effectively because they do not produce the desired result. For example, someone might say that a trip was wasted if they weren’t home when someone else arrived. Some synonyms for “wasted time” include: Procrastinate, Delay, Stall, Play for time, Temporize, Kill time, Dally, Tarry, Loiter. Some slang terms for “wasted time” include: Dawdling, Hanging around, Killing time, Kicking back, Lolling around, Goofing off, Kicking around, Vegging out, Hacking around
Here are some examples of sentences using the phrase “waste time”: “You waste too much time watching television” “I wasted a lot of time waiting for you” “Spending my afternoon rearranging the furniture was a waste of time; it didn’t improve the look of the room” “The lecture was a complete waste of time” “We have half a mind to report it for wasting police time” “The average worker spends about two hours a day wasting time”
“Waste of time” is a phrase used to describe when something doesn’t produce a desired result. Here are some other phrases related to wasting time: Burning daylight: Wasting daytime hours when work can be done Waste no time: To start doing something immediately Don’t waste your time: To not make good use of available hours
What books do you want to read? The Bible is the only book I want to read! Bible, the sacred scriptures of Judaism and Christianity. The Christian Bible consists of the Old Testament and the New Testament, with the Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox versions of the Old Testament being slightly larger because of their acceptance of certain books and parts of books considered apocryphal by Protestants. The Hebrew Bible includes only books known to Christians as the Old Testament. The arrangements of the Jewish and Christian canons differ considerably. The Protestant and Roman Catholic arrangements more nearly match one another. A brief treatment of the Bible follows. For full treatment, see biblical literature.
Bible, the sacred scriptures of Judaism and Christianity. The Christian Bible consists of the Old Testament and the New Testament, with the Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox versions of the Old Testament being slightly larger because of their acceptance of certain books and parts of books considered apocryphal by Protestants. The Hebrew Bible includes only books known to Christians as the Old Testament. The arrangements of the Jewish and Christian canons differ considerably. The Protestant and Roman Catholic arrangements more nearly match one another.
I Am Who I Am Amen
Traditionally, the Jews have divided their scriptures into three parts: the Torah (the “Law,” or Pentateuch), the Neviʾim (“Prophets”), and the Ketuvim (“Writings,” or Hagiographa). The Pentateuch, together with the Book of Joshua (hence the name Hexateuch), can be seen as the account of how the Israelites became a nation and of how they possessed the Promised Land. The division designated as the “Prophets” continues the story of Israel in the Promised Land, describing the establishment and development of the monarchy and presenting the messages of the prophets to the people. The “Writings” include speculation on the place of evil and death in the scheme of things (Job and Ecclesiastes), the poetical works, and some additional historical books.
In the Apocrypha of the Old Testament, various types of literature are represented; the purpose of the Apocrypha seems to have been to fill in some of the gaps left by the indisputably canonical books and to carry the history of Israel to the 2nd century BCE.
The New Testament is by far the shorter portion of the Christian Bible, but, through its associations with the spread of Christianity, it has wielded an influence far out of proportion to its modest size. Like the Old Testament, the New Testament is a collection of books, including a variety of early Christian literature. The four Gospels deal with the life, the person, and the teachings of Jesus, as he was remembered by the Christian community. The Acts of the Apostles carries the story of Christianity from the Resurrection of Jesus to the end of the career of St. Paul. The various Letters, or Epistles, are correspondence by various leaders of the early Christian church, chief among them St. Paul, applying the message of the church to the sundry needs and problems of early Christian congregations. The Book of Revelation (the Apocalypse) is the only canonical representative of a large genre of apocalyptic literature that appeared in the early Christian movement.
S.E.K. Mqhayi (born Dec. 1, 1875, near Gqumahashe, Cape Colony [now in South Africa]—died July 29, 1945, Ntab’ozuko, S.Af.) Xhosa poet, historian, and translator who has been called the “father of Xhosa poetry.”
Mqhayi, who was born into a family of long Christian standing, spent several of his early years in rural Transkei, a circumstance that is reflected in his evident love of Xhosa history and his mastery of the praise poem. He taught school and helped to edit several Xhosa-language journals. In 1905 he was appointed to the Xhosa Bible Revision Board, and he later helped codify Xhosa grammar and standardize Xhosa orthography. After completing this work, Mqhayi devoted most of his time to writing.
His first published book, U-Samson, was a version of the biblical story of Samson. In 1914 his Ityala lamawele (“The Lawsuit of the Twins”) appeared. Inspired by another biblical story, Ityala lamawele is a defense of Xhosa law before European administration. In the 1920s Mqhayi wrote several biographies and Imihobe nemibongo (1927; “Songs of Joy and Lullabies”), the first published collection of Xhosa poems, many of which celebrate current events or important figures. A work of fiction, U-Don Jadu (1929), describes a utopian multiracial state that combines elements of Western society and Xhosa culture. Mqhayi’s autobiography, U-Mqhayi wase Ntab’ozuko (1939; “Mqhayi of the Mountain of Beauty”), gives a vivid picture of late 19th-century Xhosa life.
Mqhayi’s collected poems, Inzuzo (“Reward”), were published in 1942. A short autobiography and two works, “The Death of Hintsa” and “The Dismissal of Sir Benjamin D’Urban,” were published in Mqhayi in Translation (1976).
Methuselah, in the Hebrew Bible (Old Testament), patriarch whose life span as recorded in Genesis (5:27) was 969 years. Methuselah has survived in legend and tradition as the longest-lived human. His prodigious age has been taken as literally 969 solar years, as a possible mistranslation of 969 lunar months or tenths of years (with his age then ranging from about 78 years to almost 97 years), and as a myth intended to create an impression of a distant past between Adam and Noah, as well as any number of other interpretations.
Genesis tells nothing about Methuselah beyond sparse genealogical details: according to Genesis 5, he was the great-great-great-great-grandson of Seth, the child of Adam and Eve begotten more than a century after Cain. He was the father of Lamech and the grandfather of Noah. According to the biblical account, he came of hardy stock: all his forebears lived to an age between 895 and 962 years except his father, Enoch, who lived to be 365. (In the genealogy of Cain in Genesis 4, there is a Methushael who also fathers a Lamech. Given this and certain other similarities, some scholars have proposed that the genealogies of Seth and Cain were possibly one list that became two at some point.)
The enumeration of Methuselah in Genesis is his only appearance in the Hebrew Bible save for a mention in 1 Chronicles 1:3, where he is cited in the lineage of Saul. In the New Testament he is mentioned once in the Gospel of Luke. There, at 3:23–38, the lineage of Joseph, husband of Mary and earthly father of Jesus, is traced back 75 generations, through David and Saul, and Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to Methuselah and thence to Seth and Adam.
Charles Hodge (born Dec. 27, 1797, Philadelphia, Pa., U.S.—died June 19, 1878, Princeton, N.J.) conservative American biblical scholar and a leader of the “Princeton School” of Reformed, or Calvinist, theology.
Hodge graduated from Princeton University in 1815. He became professor of biblical literature at Princeton Theological Seminary in 1822 and professor of theology in 1840. From 1826 to 1828 he traveled in Europe, where he met the prominent theologians of the day, though he remained firmly resistant to newer trends of thought. Hodge continued to teach at the seminary until his retirement in 1877. In 1846 he served for one year as moderator of the “Old School” Presbyterian Church. This body, like the “Princeton School” of orthodox Calvinist theology, in which Hodge was a major figure, stressed the verbal infallibility of the Bible and asserted other generally conservative views.
Hodge constructed an influential Systematic Theology, 3 vol. (1871–73), and wrote numerous biblical commentaries. For 46 years he edited the Biblical Repertory and Princeton Review, a journal that he founded in 1825 and to which he contributed nearly 150 articles.
Abel, in the Old Testament, second son of Adam and Eve, who was slain by his older brother, Cain (Genesis 4:1–16). According to Genesis, Abel, a shepherd, offered the Lord the firstborn of his flock. The Lord respected Abel’s sacrifice but did not respect that offered by Cain. In a jealous rage, Cain murdered Abel. Cain then became a fugitive because his brother’s innocent blood put a curse on him.
Encyclopedia Britannica HomeGames & QuizzesHistory & SocietyScience & TechBiographiesAnimals & NatureGeography & TravelArts & CultureMoneyVideos Bible Home Philosophy & Religion Scriptures History & Society Bible sacred text Written and fact-checked by Last Updated: Dec 31, 2023 • Article History Top Questions Why is the Bible important? What language was the Bible originally written in? How is the Bible organized? When was the Bible written? What does the Bible say? Moses and the Israelites Moses and the Israelites Moses leading the children of Israel through the Red Sea, 15th century; illustration from a German Bible. Bible Bible The first printing (1663) of the Bible in the American colonies; it was translated by Christian missionary John Eliot into Massachuset (also known as Wampanoag), an Algonquian language. Philip II; Bible Philip II; Bible A Bible (1569)—written in Hebrew, Aramaic, Greek, and Latin—that was subsidized by Philip II of Spain. Bible, the sacred scriptures of Judaism and Christianity. The Christian Bible consists of the Old Testament and the New Testament, with the Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox versions of the Old Testament being slightly larger because of their acceptance of certain books and parts of books considered apocryphal by Protestants. The Hebrew Bible includes only books known to Christians as the Old Testament. The arrangements of the Jewish and Christian canons differ considerably. The Protestant and Roman Catholic arrangements more nearly match one another.
Category: History & Society On the Web: Christianity.com – “Bible” (Dec. 31, 2023) A brief treatment of the Bible follows. For full treatment, see biblical literature.
mosaic: Christianity More From Britannica Christianity: Biblical foundations Consider the Bible’s Old Testament as a literary masterpiece dramatized by paintings, music, and sculpture Consider the Bible’s Old Testament as a literary masterpiece dramatized by paintings, music, and sculpture The Bible As Literature, Part One: Saga and Story in the Old Testament. Treating the Bible as a collection of literary masterpieces, this film, produced in 1974 by Encyclopædia Britannica Educational Corporation, skillfully weaves together paintings, sculpture, music, and drama to renact the stories of the Bible. See all videos for this article Examine the Old Testament’s The Book of Proverbs and other books through a literary lens Examine the Old Testament’s The Book of Proverbs and other books through a literary lens The Bible As Literature, Part Two: History, Poetry, and Drama in the Old Testament. The second part of an examination of the Bible as literature, this film examines the books of Joshua, Samuel, and Kings as historical documents, the Book of Proverbs as lyric poetry, and the prophetical books as protest literature. It was produced in 1974 by Encyclopædia Britannica Educational Corporation. See all videos for this article Traditionally, the Jews have divided their scriptures into three parts: the Torah (the “Law,” or Pentateuch), the Neviʾim (“Prophets”), and the Ketuvim (“Writings,” or Hagiographa). The Pentateuch, together with the Book of Joshua (hence the name Hexateuch), can be seen as the account of how the Israelites became a nation and of how they possessed the Promised Land. The division designated as the “Prophets” continues the story of Israel in the Promised Land, describing the establishment and development of the monarchy and presenting the messages of the prophets to the people. The “Writings” include speculation on the place of evil and death in the scheme of things (Job and Ecclesiastes), the poetical works, and some additional historical books.
In the Apocrypha of the Old Testament, various types of literature are represented; the purpose of the Apocrypha seems to have been to fill in some of the gaps left by the indisputably canonical books and to carry the history of Israel to the 2nd century BCE.
Bible Bible St. Mark, illuminated manuscript page from the Gospel Book of the Court school of Charlemagne, c. 810; in the Stadtbibliothek, Trier, Germany. scripture scripture Le Miroir de humaine saluation (“The Mirror of Human Salvation”) by Ludolf of Saxony (supposed author), c. 1455; the French manuscript is an example of western European Christian scripture written in the vernacular. The New Testament is by far the shorter portion of the Christian Bible, but, through its associations with the spread of Christianity, it has wielded an influence far out of proportion to its modest size. Like the Old Testament, the New Testament is a collection of books, including a variety of early Christian literature. The four Gospels deal with the life, the person, and the teachings of Jesus, as he was remembered by the Christian community. The Acts of the Apostles carries the story of Christianity from the Resurrection of Jesus to the end of the career of St. Paul. The various Letters, or Epistles, are correspondence by various leaders of the early Christian church, chief among them St. Paul, applying the message of the church to the sundry needs and problems of early Christian congregations. The Book of Revelation (the Apocalypse) is the only canonical representative of a large genre of apocalyptic literature that appeared in the early Christian movement.
The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica This article was most recently revised and updated by Michael Ray. S.E.K. Mqhayi Home Literature Novels & Short Stories Novelists L-Z Arts & Culture S.E.K. Mqhayi South African poet and novelist Also known as: Samuel Edward Krune Mqhayi Written and fact-checked by Last Updated: Article History S.E.K. Mqhayi (born Dec. 1, 1875, near Gqumahashe, Cape Colony [now in South Africa]—died July 29, 1945, Ntab’ozuko, S.Af.) Xhosa poet, historian, and translator who has been called the “father of Xhosa poetry.”
Category: Arts & Culture In full: Samuel Edward Krune Mqhayi Born: Dec. 1, 1875, near Gqumahashe, Cape Colony [now in South Africa] Died: July 29, 1945, Ntab’ozuko, S.Af. (aged 69) Notable Works: “Ityala lamawele” Subjects Of Study: Xhosa language grammar orthography syntax Mqhayi, who was born into a family of long Christian standing, spent several of his early years in rural Transkei, a circumstance that is reflected in his evident love of Xhosa history and his mastery of the praise poem. He taught school and helped to edit several Xhosa-language journals. In 1905 he was appointed to the Xhosa Bible Revision Board, and he later helped codify Xhosa grammar and standardize Xhosa orthography. After completing this work, Mqhayi devoted most of his time to writing.
Emily Dickinson (1830-1886) only confirmed photograph of Emily Dickinson. 1978 scan of a Daguerreotype. ca. 1847; in the Amherst College Archives. American poet. See Notes: Britannica Quiz Poetry: First Lines His first published book, U-Samson, was a version of the biblical story of Samson. In 1914 his Ityala lamawele (“The Lawsuit of the Twins”) appeared. Inspired by another biblical story, Ityala lamawele is a defense of Xhosa law before European administration. In the 1920s Mqhayi wrote several biographies and Imihobe nemibongo (1927; “Songs of Joy and Lullabies”), the first published collection of Xhosa poems, many of which celebrate current events or important figures. A work of fiction, U-Don Jadu (1929), describes a utopian multiracial state that combines elements of Western society and Xhosa culture. Mqhayi’s autobiography, U-Mqhayi wase Ntab’ozuko (1939; “Mqhayi of the Mountain of Beauty”), gives a vivid picture of late 19th-century Xhosa life.
Mqhayi’s collected poems, Inzuzo (“Reward”), were published in 1942. A short autobiography and two works, “The Death of Hintsa” and “The Dismissal of Sir Benjamin D’Urban,” were published in Mqhayi in Translation (1976).
Methuselah Home Philosophy & Religion Religious Personages & Scholars History & Society Methuselah biblical figure Also known as: Methushael Written and fact-checked by Last Updated: Article History Methuselah Methuselah Methuselah, stained-glass window by the Methuselah Master; in Canterbury Cathedral, Canterbury, Kent, England. Methuselah, in the Hebrew Bible (Old Testament), patriarch whose life span as recorded in Genesis (5:27) was 969 years. Methuselah has survived in legend and tradition as the longest-lived human. His prodigious age has been taken as literally 969 solar years, as a possible mistranslation of 969 lunar months or tenths of years (with his age then ranging from about 78 years to almost 97 years), and as a myth intended to create an impression of a distant past between Adam and Noah, as well as any number of other interpretations.
Genesis tells nothing about Methuselah beyond sparse genealogical details: according to Genesis 5, he was the great-great-great-great-grandson of Seth, the child of Adam and Eve begotten more than a century after Cain. He was the father of Lamech and the grandfather of Noah. According to the biblical account, he came of hardy stock: all his forebears lived to an age between 895 and 962 years except his father, Enoch, who lived to be 365. (In the genealogy of Cain in Genesis 4, there is a Methushael who also fathers a Lamech. Given this and certain other similarities, some scholars have proposed that the genealogies of Seth and Cain were possibly one list that became two at some point.)
The enumeration of Methuselah in Genesis is his only appearance in the Hebrew Bible save for a mention in 1 Chronicles 1:3, where he is cited in the lineage of Saul. In the New Testament he is mentioned once in the Gospel of Luke. There, at 3:23–38, the lineage of Joseph, husband of Mary and earthly father of Jesus, is traced back 75 generations, through David and Saul, and Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to Methuselah and thence to Seth and Adam.
The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica This article was most recently revised and updated by Mindy Johnston. Charles Hodge Home Philosophy & Religion Religious Personages & Scholars History & Society Charles Hodge American scholar Written and fact-checked by Last Updated: Dec 23, 2023 • Article History Charles Hodge (born Dec. 27, 1797, Philadelphia, Pa., U.S.—died June 19, 1878, Princeton, N.J.) conservative American biblical scholar and a leader of the “Princeton School” of Reformed, or Calvinist, theology.
Hodge, Charles Hodge, Charles See all media Category: History & Society Born: Dec. 27, 1797, Philadelphia, Pa., U.S. Died: June 19, 1878, Princeton, N.J. (aged 80) Subjects Of Study: Bible Calvinism Hodge graduated from Princeton University in 1815. He became professor of biblical literature at Princeton Theological Seminary in 1822 and professor of theology in 1840. From 1826 to 1828 he traveled in Europe, where he met the prominent theologians of the day, though he remained firmly resistant to newer trends of thought. Hodge continued to teach at the seminary until his retirement in 1877. In 1846 he served for one year as moderator of the “Old School” Presbyterian Church. This body, like the “Princeton School” of orthodox Calvinist theology, in which Hodge was a major figure, stressed the verbal infallibility of the Bible and asserted other generally conservative views.
Hodge constructed an influential Systematic Theology, 3 vol. (1871–73), and wrote numerous biblical commentaries. For 46 years he edited the Biblical Repertory and Princeton Review, a journal that he founded in 1825 and to which he contributed nearly 150 articles.
This article was most recently revised and updated by Amy Tikkanen. Abel Home Philosophy & Religion Religious Personages & Scholars History & Society Abel biblical figure Written and fact-checked by Last Updated: Article History Abel, in the Old Testament, second son of Adam and Eve, who was slain by his older brother, Cain (Genesis 4:1–16). According to Genesis, Abel, a shepherd, offered the Lord the firstborn of his flock. The Lord respected Abel’s sacrifice but did not respect that offered by Cain. In a jealous rage, Cain murdered Abel. Cain then became a fugitive because his brother’s innocent blood put a curse on him.
Eyck, Jan van: Cain killing Abel, detail from the Ghent Altarpiece Eyck, Jan van: Cain killing Abel, detail from the Ghent Altarpiece See all media Category: History & Society Notable Family Members: brother Cain The storyteller in Genesis assumes a world of conflicting values, and he makes the point that divine authority backs self-control and brotherhood but punishes jealousy and violence. Cain had not mastered sin (v. 7); he had let it master him. The narrator takes a somber look at the human condition, seeing a dangerous world of Cains and Abels. Nevertheless, God is on the side of the martyrs; he avenges their deaths in the ruin of the Cains. In the New Testament the blood of Abel is cited as an example of the vengeance of violated innocence (Matthew 23:35; Luke 11:51).
Deborah, prophet and heroine in the Old Testament (Judg. 4 and 5), who inspired the Israelites to a mighty victory over their Canaanite oppressors (the people who lived in the Promised Land, later Palestine, that Moses spoke of before its conquest by the Israelites); the “Song of Deborah” (Judg. 5), putatively composed by her, is perhaps the oldest section of the Bible and is of great importance for providing a contemporary glimpse of Israelite civilization in the 12th century BC. According to rabbinic tradition, she was a keeper of tabernacle lamps.
The two narratives of her exploit, the prose account in Judg. 4 (evidently written after Judg. 5) and the martial poem comprising Judg. 5 (a lyric outburst showing a high standard of poetic skill in ancient Israel), differ in some important details. The most obvious discrepancy is in the identity of the chief foe of the Israelites. Judg. 4 makes the chief enemy Jabin, king of Hazor (present Tell el-Qedah, about three miles southwest of H̱ula Basin), though a prominent part is played by his commander in chief, Sisera of Harosheth-ha-goiim (possibly Tell el-ʿAmr, approximately 12 miles [19 kilometres] northwest of Megiddo). In the poem Jabin does not appear, and Sisera is an independent king of Canaan. Other important contradictions include the action sites (Mount Tabor in Judg. 4 is not found in Judg. 5, for example); which Israelite tribes joined Deborah and her chief commander, the Naphtalite Barak (only Zebulun and Naphtali in Judg. 4, additional tribes in Judg. 5); and the manner of Sisera’s death (in Judg. 4 he is murdered in his sleep, in Judg. 5 he is struck down from behind while drinking a bowl of milk).
Assuming that the account preserved in Judg. 5 is the older (probably written in 1125 BC), the reader can reconstruct the actual history of the events. Israel holds the wilder parts of the country, the hills and the forests, but the Israelite settlements in the central range are cut off from those in the northern hills by a chain of Canaanite (or possibly Egyptian) fortresses down the Plain of Esdraelon (between Galilee and Samaria). At the instigation of Deborah, a charismatic counselor (or judge) and prophet (she predicts that the glory of war will fall to a woman, which it does—to Jael), Barak gathers the tribes of Ephraim, Benjamin, Machir (Manasseh), Zebulun, Issachar, and his own tribe of Naphtali. Asher, Dan, Gilead (Gad), and Reuben remain aloof. Judah and Simeon are not mentioned (attesting to the antiquity of the poem). The Israelite clans fall on the enemy at Taanach; a thunderstorm, in which Israel sees the coming of God from Mount Sinai, strikes terror into the Canaanites; their fabled 900 chariots of iron are useless on the sodden ground; and the Kishon River, swollen by torrential rains, sweeps away the fugitives. Sisera escapes on foot, pursued by Barak, taking refuge in the tent of Heber the Kenite (the Kenites, a nomadic tribe, were supposedly at peace with Canaan); he is offered protection by Heber’s wife, Jael; as he drinks a bowl of milk, she pierces his head with a tent peg and kills him (thus fulfilling Deborah’s prophecy).
Write about a few of your favorite family traditions. ⛪ Going to church is my favorite family tradition!
Similarly, God did not want the Israelites to go through Philistine territory and immediately encounter a war, lest they lose heart in God’s protective care and run back to Egypt.
Likewise, God might not take you on the most direct route to fulfilling your destiny. Instead, He just might take you out of the way a bit, proving His magnificent love for you by parting a sea on the way or lighting your path during a time of darkness.
With that firsthand experience of God’s Presence, your faith will be made stronger to sustain you in the trials that will certainly come to you further down the road.
Still, as with any relationship, it takes more than one great experience with God to know who He is and to understand His character, integrity, and love. So sometimes the journey to our destiny is more than roundabout; it is the long way.
This truth is evident at the Red Sea. Even though the Israelites experienced walking out of Egypt with the spoils of the land and their firstborn sons still alive, that was not enough to calm their fears for long.
Amen
In last week’s study, after the last and most devastating of the Ten Plagues (Death of the Firstborn), Pharaoh finally relented in letting the Israelites go free.
This week, however, in Parasha Beshalach, Pharaoh changes his mind and races after them to bring them back into slavery.
Thinking they are lost in the wilderness; Pharaoh seemingly traps them against the Red Sea. There is no escape.
But God miraculously splits the waters so that His people pass through on dry land, while the Egyptians drown behind them.
In relief and thankfulness to God for this amazing victory over those who wished to enslave them, Moshe (Moses) and the Israelites sing a beautiful song called Shirat haYam (שירת הים), the Song of the Sea. Some also call it Az Yashir Moshe (then Moses sang), which are the first words of the Song of the Sea (Exodus 15:1).
This song is recited daily as part of the Shacharit (morning prayer service).
It is written in a unique wave or brick-like pattern in the Torah scroll and is recited in regular chant and traditional melodies.
In true humility, this song gives no glory to the leadership of Moses or praise to the people for the faith it took to walk between walls of water, but totally gives the glory and praise to the Lord.
“I will sing to the LORD, for He is highly exalted. Both horse and driver He has hurled into the sea.” (Exodus 15:1)
This song of Moses is, perhaps, also mentioned in the Brit Chadashah (New Testament) as a song that will be sung by those who defeat the beast in the end times. However, this time they will be singing by the sea of glass instead of the Red Sea and holding harps instead of tambourines:
“Those defeating the beast, its image and the number of its name were standing by the sea of glass, holding harps which God had given them. They were singing the song of Moshe, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb: ‘Great and wonderful are the things you have done, Adonai, God of heaven’s armies!’” (Revelation 15:2–3)
Moses’ sister, Miriam, also goes out with the maidens, and they dance for joy with tambourines.
Because of these songs, this week’s Parasha is also called Shabbat Shirah (Sabbath of Singing).
Besides reading the Song of the Sea and the Song of Miriam on Shabbat Shirah, some have the custom of feeding the birds, in honor of the beautiful melodies that they sing and, perhaps, the manna that was found on the ground by the Israelites in this reading.
This is, of course, unusual in that wild birds are generally not fed on the Shabbat; only domesticated birds such as geese and chickens may be fed.
The Talmud explains that the Shabbat should not be broken by feeding animals that can fend for themselves, although there is a responsibility to feed the pets and domesticated animals that are under your care.
Haftarah Reading: The Song of Deborah
Both the Torah portion and the Haftarah (prophetic portion) of this week’s study contain victory songs by God’s people.
In the Parasha, the Israelites sing the Song of the Sea, extolling and honoring God for delivering them from Egypt. In the Haftarah, the Song of Deborah is sung when God gives them victory over General Sisera and the Canaanites.
“Then Deborah and Barak the son of Abinoam sang on that day, saying: ‘When leaders lead in Israel, when the people willingly offer themselves, bless the LORD! Hear, O kings! Give ear, O princes! I, even I, will sing to the LORD; I will sing praise to the LORD God of Israel.’” (Judges 5:1–3)
In the Song of the Sea, only God receives praise and glory while in the Song of Deborah, the actions of valiant men and women are also praised.
we can use the gift of song to praise Adonai for His goodness and mercy.
Our response to the victories that God brings us in our lives can be freely expressed with rejoicing, with singing and with dancing, just as Moses, Miriam, and Deborah did:
“Awake, awake, Deborah! Awake, awake, sing a song! Arise, Barak, and lead your captives away, O son of Abinoam!” (Judges 5:12)
The Long Way Home
The Hebrew word Beshalach (בְּשַׁלַּח), the name of this Parasha, means when he sent.
Pharaoh didn’t simply let the people go; he sent the Israelites away.
When he did, God did not lead them on the straightest, most direct route to their Promised Land, which would have taken them through Philistine territory and into certain battle. Instead, He led them around and through the Red Sea or Yam Suf (literally, Sea of Reeds).
Why didn’t God take them on the quickest route and into battle?
The Rabbis answer this with a story of a man who purchases a cow and takes her home to produce milk for his family, not to kill her for her meat.
Because the slaughterhouse is on the path to his home, he takes her on a longer, more roundabout route so that she will not smell the blood from the slaughterhouse and try to escape his care.
On the Way to the Promised Land
“And when Pharaoh drew near, the children of Israel lifted their eyes, and behold, the Egyptians marched after them. So they were very afraid, and the children of Israel cried out to the LORD.” (Exodus 14:10)
The Israelites’ reaction when they saw Pharaoh pursuing them confirms that they were not yet ready for battle.
The frightened Israelites did the right thing with their fear: they cried out to God!
Then they did the wrong thing: they blamed Moses for bringing them out of Egypt, only to be annihilated by Pharaoh’s soldiers. They considered it better to have been left to serve the Egyptians than to die in the wilderness. (Exodus 14:11)
Sometimes, when moving on the path to greater freedom, we may encounter fearful challenges and wish we had just stayed where we were, no matter how painful or uncomfortable that old place felt.
Nevertheless, moving ahead means facing new challenges and seeing God’s power demonstrated as we overcome them.
Moses reassured the Israelites that God would fight their battles for them, and they would only need to hold their peace.
“But Moses said to the people, ‘Do not fear! Stand by and see the salvation of the LORD which He will accomplish for you today; for the Egyptians whom you have seen today, you will never see them again forever. The LORD will fight for you while you keep silent.” (Exodus 14:13–14)
Pharaoh’s Army Engulfed by the Red Sea (1900), by Frederick Arthur Bridgman
The Israelites had a dilemma: they were trapped between a big sea and an angry Egyptian army — and Moses told them to “keep silent.”
That silence involved a choice.
On one hand, they could keep silent, hear the approaching chariots, and surrender to them in overwhelming fear and helplessness.
On the other hand, they could keep silent, listen for God’s direction to move forward (kadima!), and obey Him.
“And the LORD said to Moses, ‘Why do you cry to Me? Tell the children of Israel to go forward.’” (Exodus 14:15)
Their silence was not meant to be passive. It involved action.
So often we are told to “wait upon the LORD,” and we often accept this to mean “do nothing.”
It is true that there are times when we must find the patience to simply do nothing but wait until God shows us His direction; however, there are also times when God says, “Move forward!” At those times, we are to rise up from bended knee in heroic faith and go!
A father and son place prayers written on paper into the slits of the stones at the Western (Wailing) Wall in Jerusalem.
God has wonderful blessings and victories in store for us if we would only take the first steps of faith, trusting in His leadership and wisdom. Through Yeshua we are more than conquerors. (Romans 8:37)
Let us, then, not miss our orders to go forward with boldness and confidence to possess the Land that is ours.
Moses demonstrated great faith to his people. We also need to encourage those who are fearful, reminding them of God’s great power, love, and faithfulness.
“Say to those with fearful hearts, ‘Be strong, do not fear; your God will come, He will come with vengeance; with divine retribution He will come to save you.’” (Isaiah 35:4)
Today, as the people of Israel stand surrounded by a sea of hostile enemies, bombarded by a wave of terrorism, may all Believers reach out to the Jewish People with words of faith and courage that God is not only our physical salvation but also our spiritual Salvation through Yeshua.
He will fight our battles for us. And as we go forward, we can be at peace as we trust in Him.
Today Delana, you can play an active role in the end-time salvation of the Jewish People by helping us bring the Good News of Yeshua to the Holy Land.
“You will bring them in and plant them on the mountain of your inheritance —the place, Lord, you made for your dwelling, the sanctuary, Lord, your hands established.” (Exodus 15:17)
Toward the end of his life, W.H. Auden wrote a grumpy poem that ends on the perfect note for ringing in 2024.
Welcome back to Douglas Murray’s Sunday column, Things Worth Remembering, where he presents passages from great poets he has committed to memory—and explains why you should, too. To listen to Douglas read from W.H. Auden’s “Moon Landing,” click below:
Toward the end of his life, W.H. Auden returned to the UK, where he was the main guest on the BBC’s main evening chat show. While being interviewed, Auden was asked to recite his poem “Moon Landing,” the poet’s oddly grumpy take on Apollo 11’s successful voyage.
Among other things, Auden—who, you may have noticed, is among my favorites—called the conquest of the moon a “phallic triumph, an adventure it would not have occurred to women to think worth while.” (I’m not so sure of that.) His portrayal of this magnificent milestone feels lazy, tired, what one might expect of a poet in a decidedly unpoetic age nearing the end of his life. God
Thank you for helping us end 2023 strong and gear up for what the Lord has in store in the coming year!
Dear Delana,
For a long time, I thought when the truth became apparent, people would recognize it, celebrate it, and follow it. But the scriptures show us something different. Most people resent and reject the truth AND the people who deliver it. We’re seeing this in many places today.
As deception escalates, the choice is clear: Accept the truth, and choose to follow the Lord with more focus and tenacity than we’ve ever known—or be swept away in the deception. To move forward, we will need to intentionally seek the Lord. We will need to know His Word, His Spirit, and His character enough to recognize the truth. And then we will need to have the courage to embrace the truth—no matter the consequences—until the Lord of Righteousness returns. I’m grateful we’re in this season together.
I’ve recently visited twenty different cities to speak to pastors and friends of the ministry. Our cities are increasingly unsafe. Deception continues to flourish across our nation and within the church. But God is moving. I have been ministering for a long time now, and I have never seen people more hungry for the truth. They want to learn about God, know how to follow Him, and what it looks like to seek Him more fully. It’s an exciting time to be serving the Lord!
I believe God created us “for such a time as this,” to faithfully declare His Truth across our nation and around the world. We will not stop!
God is moving in the earth. His purposes are breaking forth. This present world order is rushing toward a conclusion. You and I were sent to be salt and light—bringing the hope and peace of Jesus into this place and this season. Let’s remember the importance of our assignment as we move forward into 2024.
God’s love and forgiveness with those around us. We’re thankful for friends like you who want to tell them about the peace found through His Son, Jesus Christ.
Friend, don’t you just love how whatever you’re facing, all you have to do is tell God, “I’m going to trust you,” and then you can watch as he lights up the path in front of you?
That’s true for everyone in the world. No problem is too big and no situation too dark for him.
That’s why Daily Hope is laser-focused on strategically reaching the greatest number of people online, on television, and on the radio with the greatest message in history. . .
God gives us abundant life through Jesus Christ. There’s hope for the hopeless, and there’s nothing the light of Jesus can’t outshine!
And through your support in these final hours, you’ll help share hope and love with people around the world desperate to know God is there for them.
What relationships have a positive impact on you? Jesus relationship with me has the most positive impact in my life! He has saved me. His dying took our sins away. His rising means He defeated death.
Delana,
We JUST filed our emergency appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court in the most important election case in U.S. history.
President Trump has already been banned from the ballot in yet another state, and there’s an avalanche of similar lawsuits trying to eviscerate your right to vote for the candidate of your choice.
The Supreme Court must act quickly, or there will be utter electoral chaos. This is the most important case we’ve ever taken up because if we lose our right to vote, we lose our constitutional republic. The Supreme Court could decide to take the case at any moment – yes, even this weekend.
As this case moves into overdrive at the Supreme Court, we urgently need your support.
This case is so vitally important that a group of our donors has unlocked a TRIPLE MATCH. But our urgent deadline is MIDNIGHT tomorrow.
TODAY, as we fight at the Supreme Court, have your Tax-Deductible gift TRIPLED. You determine this monumental fight. As we told the Supreme Court: “For the first time in American history, a former President has been disqualified from the ballot, a political party has been denied the opportunity to put forward the presidential candidate of its choice, and the voters have been denied the ability to choose their Chief Executive through the electoral process.” Take action with us to defend our constitutional republic at the Supreme Court.
Sirens are sounding. Hamas has fired a new barrage of jihadist rockets into Israel. The enemy continues its unspeakable evil, as the world tries to prosecute and punish Israel.
God says, “I will bless those who bless thee,” and we’re taking vital legal action. We’ve expanded our Jerusalem office. I’ve been meeting with key leaders in D.C., and we just fired off a new demand letter to the U.N. Security Council to defend Israel. But we need you to take action with us.
We’re also preparing to file a critical amicus brief at the Supreme Court in the biggest abortion case since Dobbs – to defeat President Biden’s expansion of deadly abortion pills. Defend unborn babies at the Supreme Court.
Shahzad was just 16 when they arrested him for blasphemy. Now they will hang him for his Christian faith. We just filed in a Pakistani court to expedite his appeal. Take action with us to save his life.
Finally, as we take on the biggest cases – to defend your right to vote, Israel, the unborn, and Christians from death –
peacewithgod.net Topics START YOUR NEW LIFE WITH CHRIST You can have real, lasting peace today through a relationship with Jesus Christ. Start your four-step journey now!
Step 1 – God’s Purpose: Peace and Life God loves you and wants you to experience peace and eternal life—abundant and eternal. The Bible says:
“We have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” Romans 5:1
“For God so loved the world, that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16
“I [Jesus] came that they may have life and have it abundantly.” John 10:10
Why don’t most people have this peace and abundant life that God planned for us to have? Step 2 – The Problem: Sin Separates Us God created us in His own image to have an abundant life. He did not make us as robots to automatically love and obey Him. God gave us a will and freedom of choice. We choose to disobey God and go our own willful way. We still make this choice today. This results in separation from God. The Bible says:
“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” Romans 3:23
“For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 6:23
Our choice results in separation from God. People have tried in many ways to bridge this gap between themselves and God… The Bible says:
“There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death.” Proverbs 14:12
“But your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden His face from you so that He does not hear.” Isaiah 59:2
No bridge reaches God… except one. Step 3 – God’s Remedy: The Cross Jesus Christ died on the cross and rose from the grave. He paid the penalty for our sin and bridged the gap between God and people. The Bible says:
“For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.” 1 Timothy 2:5
“For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that He might bring us to God.” 1 Peter 3:18
“But God shows His love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8
God has provided the only way… Each person must make a choice… Step 4 – Our Response: Receive Christ We must trust Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior and receive Him by personal invitation. The Bible says:
“Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with Me.” Revelation 3:20
“But to all who did receive Him, who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God.” John 1:12
“If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.” Romans 10:9
Will you receive Jesus Christ right now?
Here is how you can receive Christ: Admit your need. (I am a sinner.) Be willing to turn from your sins (repent) and ask for God’s forgiveness. Believe that Jesus Christ died for you on the cross and rose from the grave. Through prayer, invite Jesus Christ to come in and control your life through the Holy Spirit. (Receive Jesus as Lord and Savior) We suggest a prayer like this one:
“Dear God, I know I am a sinner. I want to turn from my sins, and I ask for Your forgiveness. I believe that Jesus Christ is Your Son. I believe He died for my sins and that You raised Him to life. I want Him to come into my heart and to take control of my life. I want to trust Jesus as my Savior and follow Him as my Lord from this day forward. In Jesus’ Name, amen.”
Did you pray this prayer?
It’s our biggest Supreme Court fight ever, but we face a critical MIDNIGHT deadline to defend our constitutional republic.
A second state has banned President Trump from the ballot. This is the worst form of election interference imaginable.
We JUST filed our emergency appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court to defend your constitutional right to vote. Because if we lose our right to vote, we lose our constitutional republic.
This really is a judicial emergency, and the Supreme Court could decide any minute – even this weekend – to take our case and expedite the appeal.
I’ve been working with our legal team around the clock and through the holidays because this is the MOST IMPORTANT case we’ve ever appealed to the Supreme Court. We’ve filed our first round of briefs, but now we need YOU.
We face a daunting challenge. This is our most critical time of year, with so much on the line. Our Supreme Court fight requires immense resources, and our MIDNIGHT TRIPLE MATCH Deadline is tomorrow – NEW YEAR’S EVE.
Shemot
Exodus 1:1-6:1 This week’s Torah portion tells us of the Israelites’ slavery in Egypt, and sets the stage for their redemption over the three following portions. It recounts how Jacob’s small family grew into a mighty nation and how the Egyptians came to oppress them. It also relates Moses’s development from birth to leadership.
Descent into Slavery
This is the very first example of “anti-Semitism”. What is Pharaoh accusing the Jewish people of? How does that connect with other examples of anti-Semitism throughout history?
A Leader is Born Many movies about the life of Moses portray his shock at discovering he is a Hebrew. Is this supported by the text? Do you think others in Egypt knew his true identity? How might this affect his ability later to lead the people out of Egypt?
The Burning Bush
Based on His conversation with Moses, it appears God has more in mind for the Israelites than simply their physical freedom from slavery. He outlines His plan to take the people out of Egypt and bring them to a land flowing with with milk and honey. Along the way, they will serve Him at this very place. What, then, is the Bible’s vision of true freedom? Is this how you would define freedom? Why or why not?
Return to Egypt
God recently spoke with Moses at the Burning Bush. Why does God address Moses again? What new insight does He provide that He could not relate at the Burning Bush?
Moses and Aaron Arrive in Egypt
What does Moses tell Pharaoh the Israelites want (see 5:1 and 5:3)? Does this reflect what happens in the rest of the Exodus story? Why do you think Moses says this to Pharaoh?
What is your all time favorite automobile? There is nothing better than driving a horse and buggy!
Georgia, lying at the junction of Europe and Asia, is a country of ancient myths with a rich and turbulent history. Home to the first European hominids and the birthplace of wine, Georgia’s roots trace back to ancient civilisations. Throughout its history, the Caucasus region witnessed the influence of various empires and played a crucial role in transcontinental trade routes.
The most famous Georgian kingdom was Colchis, the mythical land of Medea and the Golden Fleece. It flourished from the 13th to the 6th century BCE, thanks to its strategic location along the Black Sea and its abundant natural resources.
THE LARGEST RIVER IN WESTERN GEORGIA, THE PHASIS, WAS CONSIDERED BY ANCIENT GREEK GEOGRAPHERS AS THE DIVIDING LINE BETWEEN EUROPE & ASIA. Georgia is between the Black Sea to the west and the Caspian Sea to the east. It is bordered by Russia to the north, Azerbaijan to the southeast, Armenia to the south, and Turkey to the southwest. The country lies mostly in the Caucasus Mountains, and its boundaries are partly defined by the Greater and Lesser Caucasus, two of the world’s great mountain ranges and the highest peaks in Europe. Georgia has a diverse, fertile geography with extensive plains and rivers, navigable marshes, deep forests, mountains, and passes. Georgia has about 25,000 rivers. The largest river in western Georgia, the Phasis (now known as the Rioni River), was considered by ancient Greek geographers such as Anaximander of Miletus (l. c. 610 to c. 546 BCE) as the dividing line between Europe and Asia.
Search… 7 Ancient Sites in Georgia Article Carole Raddatoby Carole Raddato published on 20 December 20230Save
Click to listen 0:0 Georgia, lying at the junction of Europe and Asia, is a country of ancient myths with a rich and turbulent history. Home to the first European hominids and the birthplace of wine, Georgia’s roots trace back to ancient civilisations. Throughout its history, the Caucasus region witnessed the influence of various empires and played a crucial role in transcontinental trade routes.
Colchis Fountain in Kutaisi Colchis Fountain in Kutaisi Carole Raddato (CC BY-NC-SA) The most famous Georgian kingdom was Colchis, the mythical land of Medea and the Golden Fleece. It flourished from the 13th to the 6th century BCE, thanks to its strategic location along the Black Sea and its abundant natural resources.
REMOVE ADS ADVERTISEMENT
Geography THE LARGEST RIVER IN WESTERN GEORGIA, THE PHASIS, WAS CONSIDERED BY ANCIENT GREEK GEOGRAPHERS AS THE DIVIDING LINE BETWEEN EUROPE & ASIA. Georgia is between the Black Sea to the west and the Caspian Sea to the east. It is bordered by Russia to the north, Azerbaijan to the southeast, Armenia to the south, and Turkey to the southwest. The country lies mostly in the Caucasus Mountains, and its boundaries are partly defined by the Greater and Lesser Caucasus, two of the world’s great mountain ranges and the highest peaks in Europe. Georgia has a diverse, fertile geography with extensive plains and rivers, navigable marshes, deep forests, mountains, and passes. Georgia has about 25,000 rivers. The largest river in western Georgia, the Phasis (now known as the Rioni River), was considered by ancient Greek geographers such as Anaximander of Miletus (l. c. 610 to c. 546 BCE) as the dividing line between Europe and Asia.
Anaximander World Map Anaximander World Map Bibi Saint-Pol (Public Domain) REMOVE ADS ADVERTISEMENT
Wine & Metals Georgia is one of the oldest wine-producing regions in the world. Winemaking can be traced back to the Neolithic period, over 8,000 years ago. Traditional vinification techniques involved using qvevris, large earthenware jars buried for fermentation and storage. This ancient method and the presence of 500 indigenous grape varieties contribute to the distinct character of Georgian wines.
Qvevri, Neolithic Terracotta Wine Jar Qvevri, Neolithic Terracotta Wine Jar Carole Raddato (CC BY-NC-SA) The country’s rich natural resources have also played an important role in the history of the South Caucasus. The development of metallurgy more than 5,000 years ago and some of the world’s first gold mines (dating to c. 3000 BCE) contributed to a vibrant trade network, connecting the Mediterranean with the Caucasus and beyond. Georgia had a flourishing bronze and iron industry and fluvial gold in mountainous Svaneti, where gold extraction using sheepskin originated. According to historical sources, the Kingdom of Colchis was rich in “gold sands,” and the indigenous Svans mined the rivers using special wooden vessels and sheepskins. The Svans still mine gold from rivers as they did in ancient times.
REMOVE ADS ADVERTISEMENT
View of the Caucasus Mountains in Svaneti, Georgia View of the Caucasus Mountains in Svaneti, Georgia Carole Raddato (CC BY-NC-SA) The Golden Fleece In Greek mythology, the Golden Fleece was said to be in Colchis, an ancient region located on the eastern coast of the Black Sea in present-day Georgia. The Thessalian hero Jason and the Argonauts went on a quest to retrieve the Golden Fleece. The Argonautica is the epic tale of their adventures. Medea, a sorceress and princess of Colchis, assisted Jason during this quest. Medea fell in love with Jason and used her magical abilities to help him complete various challenges set by her father to obtain the Golden Fleece.
However, their story took a tragic turn. After returning to Greece, Jason marries another woman, which leads to a series of events where Medea seeks revenge. The most infamous act attributed to Medea is the murder of her children, born to Jason, as a form of revenge against him.
Modern Statue of Medea Modern Statue of Medea Carole Raddato (CC BY-NC-SA) A Short Introduction to Ancient Georgia Different highly developed societies existed within Georgia’s territory during the Bronze Age. The emergence of advanced metallurgy, viticulture, farming, livestock-raising, and artistic craftsmanship characterised these successive cultures. From 3500 to 1600 BCE, Georgia was the heart of the Kura-Araxes and Trialeti cultures, which practised metallurgy and produced gold and silver artefacts of the highest artistic value.
REMOVE ADS ADVERTISEMENT Trialeti Chalice from Georgia Trialeti Chalice from Georgia Carole Raddato (CC BY-NC-SA) Two early Georgian states, Colchis in the west and Iberia (or Kartli) in the east, rose during the classical period. Colchis extended along the eastern coast of the Black Sea, while Iberia encompassed Georgia’s eastern and southwestern provinces. Both kingdoms stood on the peripheries of the great powers of antiquity: the Greek world to the west, the Assyrian and Persian Empires to the south, and the Scythians to the northwest. Colchis experienced influences from these neighbouring regions and thrived economically due to its strategic location along the Black Sea trade routes.
The Colchians were skilled artisans engaged in commerce, exporting valuable resources such as gold, timber, and slaves. Goldsmithing was particularly notable, and the abundance of gold in the region contributed to the wealth and reputation of Colchian craftsmanship. Colchis’s economy also rested on agriculture, cattle breeding, and fishing. Much of the kingdom was built on the banks of the Phasis River, which flows into the eastern side of the Black Sea. The Colchian lowlands enjoyed a subtropical, warm and humid climate, creating good conditions for crop cultivation.
Horse-Figured Temple Pendants from Georgia Horse-Figured Temple Pendants from Georgia Carole Raddato (CC BY-NC-SA) In the 6th century BCE, Milesian Greeks, looking for new markets, new resources, and agricultural opportunities, established trading posts (known as emporia) along the shores of the Black Sea. These Greek colonies led to a profound Hellenization of the Colchian elite, reflected in the mintage of local Graeco-Colchian coins and the influence of Hellenistic architecture on Colchian urban planning. After the 6th century BCE, Colchis was under the nominal suzerainty of the Achaemenid Empire (c. 550-330 BCE), passed into the kingdom of Mithridates VI (120-63 BCE), and then came under the rule of Rome in the 1st century BCE together with Iberia after Pompey’s victory in the Third Mithridatic War (66-65 BCE). Iberia became a vassal kingdom and Colchis the Roman province of Lazica.
REMOVE ADS ADVERTISEMENT Map of Ancient Georgian States (600-150 BCE) Map of Ancient Georgian States (600-150 BCE) Deu (CC BY-SA) Portion of a Colchian Headdress Portion of a Colchian Headdress James Blake Wiener (CC BY-NC-SA) From the 1st century CE, the Romans constructed forts along the coast at points where inland routes joined the sea. These permanent garrisons defended the Roman northeastern border (the Pontus Limes). Together with veterans, soldiers’ families, servants, and others, these forts formed settlements that could become towns and cities. Cultural exchanges occurred through trade, diplomatic relations, and the movement of people, contributing to a blend of local and Roman influences.
THE GEORGIAN KINGDOMS WERE OFTEN CAUGHT IN THE POWER STRUGGLES BETWEEN THE ROMAN & THE SASSANIAN EMPIRES. The Georgian kingdoms were often caught in the power struggles between the Roman and the Sassanian Empires, culminating in the Lazic War from 541 to 562 CE, and experienced periods of Byzantine and Persian dominance. Christianity spread in the early 4th century CE when Saint Nino (l. c. 280-332 CE) converted King Mirian III (r. 284-361 CE) and Queen Nana of Iberia (r. 292-361 CE), making Georgia one of the earliest nations to adopt Christianity as the state religion. In the later centuries of the Roman and Byzantine periods, Colchis faced challenges from various invasions, including those by nomadic tribes and the expanding Arab Caliphate. These invasions and internal strife contributed to the decline of the region’s political stability and economic prosperity.
The Caucasus after the Peace of Nisibis, c. 300 CE The Caucasus after the Peace of Nisibis, c. 300 CE Simeon Netchev (CC BY-NC-SA) UNESCO has recognised Georgia’s most significant landmarks: the ancient city and former capital Mtskheta, Gelati Monastery, and the mountainous region of Upper Svaneti, with a further fourteen on the tentative list. Other significant archaeological sites are well-preserved.
Love History? Sign up for our free weekly email newsletter!
Email address…
Here are seven ancient sites to explore while visiting Georgia.
Vani Archaeological Museum & Site Vani is one of the most famous sites in Colchis. It is located 40 kilometres (24 mi) southwest of Kutaisi, the residence of the mythical King Aeetes and today the country’s third largest city. Established in a fertile region at the Sulori and Rioni Rivers confluence, Vani was a small settlement serving as the Colchis kingdom’s religious centre between the 8th and 1st century BCE. It spread on a hill over three terraces, flanked on two sides by deep ravines that served as natural defences. The city’s ancient name is not known with certainty, but scholars have argued that Surium, mentioned by Pliny the Elder (l. 23-79 CE), could have been its original name.
Treasures from a Woman’s Burial in Vani Treasures from a Woman’s Burial in Vani Carole Raddato (CC BY-NC-SA) Vani’s size and wealth increased dramatically from the 6th century to the end of the 4th century BCE. During this period, the city became the political and administrative centre of the area. Vani was also the burial place for the local elite, who dominated an extremely hierarchical society. Archaeologists have uncovered 28 burials dating to c. 450-250 BCE, notable for the splendour of their goods. Various vessels were deposited with the dead, including Greek and Persian imports, providing evidence for banqueting in the local funerary rituals. The richest graves had impressive gold jewellery, including elaborate Colchian gold hair ornaments and appliques for clothing.
Ceremonial Twelve-Stepped Altar at Vani in Colchis Ceremonial Twelve-Stepped Altar at Vani in Colchis Carole Raddato (CC BY-NC-SA) By c. 250 BCE, Vani was a sanctuary city with temples, altars, and sacrificial platforms. Its inhabitants moved outside the city walls. Hellenistic bronze statues and sculptures adorned the city, attesting to the impact of Greek culture. Especially noteworthy is a fragmentary bronze torso found in the destruction level of the mid-1st century CE and magnificent bronze lamps adorned with elephant heads, Erotes, and Zeus and Ganymede.
Bronze Lamp from Vani with Zeus and Ganymede Bronze Lamp from Vani with Zeus and Ganymede Carole Raddato (CC BY-NC-SA) The recently renovated Vani Archaeological Museum-Reserve showcases more than 4,000 objects excavated in Vani since 1985, including silver drinking vessels, bronze and iron figurines used in religious rituals, and elaborately crafted gold jewellery.
Uplistsikhe Cave Town Uplistsikhe (meaning the castle of the Uplos, son of Mtskhetos, an epic hero in Georgian mythology) is an ancient fortified cave city in eastern Georgia rising high above the left bank of Mtkvari River (known in Greek and Latin sources as the Cyrus River). Uplistsikhe is one of the oldest urban sites in the Caucasus, with evidence suggesting continuous habitation from the first millennium BCE. It features a complex of caves, temples, and tunnels carved into the rock during classical antiquity. The town flourished as a major religious, political, and commercial centre during the Hellenistic and Roman periods, and it was a crucial hub along trade routes (the Silk Road ran along the hills to the north).
Uplistsikhe Cave Town, Georgia Uplistsikhe Cave Town, Georgia Carole Raddato (CC BY-NC-SA) The Uplistsikhe complex had a lower, middle, and upper section covering approximately 40,000 cm² (43.0 ft²), with rock-cut structures and temples dedicated to a sun goddess. It had a defensive wall, ditch, passes, tunnels, streets, and a complex irrigation system. Uplistsikhe housed 20,000 people at its peak.
Uplistsikhe became a significant Christian site in the early medieval era, witnessing the construction of a basilica and other Christian structures. The city thrived until the late Middle Ages, after which it declined in importance due to shifting political landscapes and Mongol raids in the 14th century.
Uplistsulis Eklesia in Uplistsikhe Cave Town Uplistsulis Eklesia in Uplistsikhe Cave Town Carole Raddato (CC BY-NC-SA) Only a small portion of Uplistsikhe can be visited today, but the site is still impressive. It was buried for centuries and only excavated by archaeologists in the 1950s.
Armaziskhevi Archaeological Site (Mtskheta) Armaziskhevi (“Armazi’s Castle”) is associated with the ancient town of Armazi, located 4 kilometres (2.5 mi) southwest of Mtskheta, where the Aragvi and Mtkvari rivers meet. It was a significant settlement in the early history of Georgia. Three major cultural layers have been identified, with the earliest dating back to the 4th-3rd century BCE. Armaziskhevi is linked to the worship of Armazi, the chief deity of the Iberian pantheon.
Armaziskhevi Archaeological Site, Georgia Armaziskhevi Archaeological Site, Georgia Carole Raddato (CC BY-NC-SA) Armazi was the capital of Iberia and the site of Iberian kings’ royal residences and tombs. In the 5th century, Vakhtang I of Iberia (r. c. 447/49 to 502/22 CE) moved the capital to Tbilisi. Armazi experienced various cultural influences, including Greek and Roman, and played a role in the complex geopolitical landscape of the region.
View of Armaziskhevi View of Armaziskhevi Carole Raddato (CC BY-NC-SA) Excavations revealed buildings of Hellenistic and Roman times, including the ruins of a citadel, a palace, a six-apse pagan temple, a wine cellar complete with qvevris, and a five-room bathhouse in the Roman style. Various artefacts providing insights into the region’s ancient history have been unearthed, including pottery fragments, jewellery, sculptures, and silver dishes from royal family burials, most notably two phiale bearing the busts of Antinous and Marcus Aurelius in their central medallions.
Antinous on a Silver Dish Antinous on a Silver Dish Carole Raddato (CC BY-NC-SA) Pompey captured Armazi in 65 BCE during his campaign in Iberia and Colchis. The Roman army built a bridge over the Kura River. It was restored and expanded during the reign of King Vakhtang I, and defensive towers were added on both sides of the bridge. The bridge was used until the middle of the 20th century but is now under water due to the construction of the hydroelectric power station and a rise in the river level.
Gonio Fortress (Apsarus) The Gonio Fortress, located 15 kilometres (9.3 mi) south of Batumi near the Turkish border, was the largest Roman fort along the Colchian littoral (the Pontus Limes). The site was called Apsarus in ancient times and was connected with the myth of Medea and her younger brother Absyrtus, who was involved in Jason’s escape with the golden fleece from Colchis.
The fort was established c. 77 CE to ensure control of the routes running north along the Black Sea and inland to Iberia. It was a 4.75-hectare (11.7 acres) rectangular fort with four gates, 22 towers, and solid ramparts measuring more than 900 metres (3,000 ft) in circumference. The fort experienced several stages of construction and repair up to the Ottoman period.
Aerial view of the Roman Fort of Apsarus Aerial view of the Roman Fort of Apsarus კოლხი (CC BY-SA) Excavations have uncovered various buildings, including the principia (headquarters building), praetorium (commanding officer’s residence), and barrack blocks equipped with an underfloor heating system, two thermal baths, and water supply systems, all from the Roman or early Byzantine period. Apsarus was a densely populated city. Procopius of Caesarea, a historian of the 6th century, mentions a theatre, a hippodrome, and other facilities usually found in a large city.
Remains of the Apsarus Roman Fort Remains of the Apsarus Roman Fort Carole Raddato (CC BY-NC-SA) Arrian (86 to c. 160 CE), the governor of Cappadocia who reported officially to Roman emperor Hadrian (r. 117-138 CE), inspected the fort in the early 130s during his extensive tour of the Black Sea. He recorded five cohorts in his Periplus of the Euxine Sea, approximately 1,200-1,500 men, who guaranteed safe navigation along the coast, protected traffic from pirates, and kept watch over the coastal tribes.
The Periplus of the Euxine Sea, c. 130 CE The Periplus of the Euxine Sea, c. 130 CE Simeon Netchev (CC BY-NC-SA) An interesting museum displays artefacts found at the site. A rich hoard of goldsmithery, known as the “Gonio Treasure,” was unearthed in 1974 on the outskirts of the fortress and can be seen in the Batumi Archaeological Museum.
Gold Buckle with Beasts Fighting Scene Gold Buckle with Beasts Fighting Scene Carole Raddato (CC BY-NC-SA) Dzalisa Archaeological Site Dzalisa is an archaeological site dating back to the ancient kingdom of Iberia. It is situated in the Mukhrani valley, on both banks of the River Narekvavi, some 20 kilometres (12 mi) northwest of Mtskheta, and features remnants of a fortified city. The site can be identified with Zalissa, which was mentioned by Claudius Ptolemy (c. 100 to c. 170 CE) as one of the principal towns of Iberia. This archaeological settlement bears witness to the urban development of Iberia in the first centuries CE. It is estimated that the town covered 70 hectares (172 acres).
Dzalisa Archaeological Site, Georgia Dzalisa Archaeological Site, Georgia Carole Raddato (CC BY-NC-SA) A significant settlement existed there from the 2nd century BCE and flourished during the Principate before being destroyed in the 4th century CE and later re-settled. Archaeological excavations uncovered the remains of a large architectural complex (the largest discovered in Georgia) with a swimming pool and a bathhouse, part of a villa with mosaic flooring, soldiers’ barracks, a water supply system, and burial grounds. The villa has a 48.6 m² (523 ft²) 4th-century floor mosaic depicting Dionysus and Ariadne (identified by Greek inscriptions) in a banquet scene in what was probably a private bathing suite. Their usual entourage surrounds them: Pan, a Satyr, and a Maenad. A Greek inscription is above the mosaic’s centre: “Preiskos made this.” On both sides of the inscription, two female figures wear long garments and hold musical instruments.
Roman Mosaics from Dzalisi Roman Mosaics from Dzalisi Carole Raddato (CC BY-NC-SA) Archaeopolis Archaeopolis, also known as Nokalakevi and Tsikhegoji (“Fortress of Kuji”) to The Georgian Chronicles, was a Byzantine fortified settlement on the Colchian plain’s northern edge and Lazica’s capital. It consisted of a lower town on the Tekhuri River bank and an upper citadel surrounded by three parallel defensive walls and towers. The city-fortress is a unique example of Georgian urban and fortification architecture in late antiquity. A tunnel leading down to the river was an important part of the fortification and water supply system.
Byzantine Fortress of Archaeopolis (Nokalakevi), Georgia Byzantine Fortress of Archaeopolis (Nokalakevi), Georgia Carole Raddato (CC BY-NC-SA) Archaeopolis was pivotal in the Byzantine-Persian wars in the 6th century because it guarded Lazica from a Persian attack. Thanks to its impressive defensive system and garrison of 3,000 men, Archaeopolis withstood Sassanian assaults.
Excavations in the lower town revealed substantial stone buildings from the 4th to the 6th century, including six churches, two bathhouses, and two royal palaces. Beneath these Byzantine layers is evidence of several earlier phases of occupation and abandonment through the 1st millennium BCE.
Ruins inside Archaeopolis (Nokalakevi), Georgia Ruins inside Archaeopolis (Nokalakevi), Georgia Carole Raddato (CC BY-NC-SA) Petra Justiniana Petra Justiniana is a massively fortified Byzantine fortress built on a rocky outcrop (the Greek name “Petra” means rock) overlooking the Black Sea. As the name suggests, it was constructed on the order of Byzantine emperor Justinian I (r. 527-565 CE) in 535. Petra was the main trading hub of the province owing to its strategic location at the crossroads of the route linking Lazica with Persia and Armenia.
Byzantine Fortress of Petra Justiniana, Georgia Byzantine Fortress of Petra Justiniana, Georgia Carole Raddato (CC BY-NC-SA) Petra also became a battleground between the Byzantines and the Sassanian Empire during the 6th-century Lazic War. The fortress was captured in 541 by the Sassanian army under Kosrau I (r. 531-579), who sent his troops through a secretly constructed tunnel and destroyed the towers, forcing a surrender.
The site contains the ruins of a citadel with double walls, an Early Byzantine basilica, two bathhouses, cisterns, and a Middle Byzantine single-nave church.
Did you like this article?
BIBLIOGRAPHY RELATED CONTENT BOOKS CITE THIS WORK LICENSE
EDITORIAL REVIEW This article has been reviewed by our editorial team before publication to ensure accuracy, reliability and adherence to academic standards in accordance with our editorial policy. REMOVE ADS ADVERTISEMENT
Bibliography Baumer, Christoph. History of the Caucasus. I.B. Tauris, 2021. Braund, David. Georgia in Antiquity. Clarendon Press, 1994. Kacharava, Darejan & Kvirkvelia, Guram & Chi, Jennifer Y. & Chqonia, Anna & Lordkipanidze, Nino & Vickers, Michael. Wine, Worship, and Sacrifice. Princeton University Press, 2008. Valeri Shengelia & Kakha Silogava. History of Georgia from the Ancient Times Through the “Rose revolution”. Caucasus University House, 2023. World History Encyclopedia is an Amazon Associate and earns a commission on qualifying book purchases. About the Author Carole Raddato Carole Raddato Carole maintains the popular ancient history photo-blog Following Hadrian, where she travels the world in the footsteps of emperor Hadrian.
Translations We want people all over the world to learn about history. Help us and translate this article into another language!
Related Content David IV the Builder Definition David IV the Builder David IV the Builder or the Restorer (also known as Davit IV Aghmashenebeli… Queen Tamar Definition Queen Tamar Tamar was the queen of Georgia from 1184 to 1213 CE. She is considered… Sacred Sites & Rituals in the Ancient Celtic Religion Article Sacred Sites & Rituals in the Ancient Celtic Religion In the religion of the ancient Celts who lived in Iron Age Europe… Greek World Heritage Sites Article Greek World Heritage Sites Greece, the ‘cradle of western civilization’, is home to a large… Ten Great Native American Mound Sites Article Ten Great Native American Mound Sites The Native Americans of Pre-Colonial North America built thousands… 10 Virtual Tours of Archaeological Sites & Museums in Turkey Article 10 Virtual Tours of Archaeological Sites & Museums in Turkey Thanks to the new Sanal Muze digital portal released by the Ministry… Next › Last » Free for the World, Supported by You World History Encyclopedia is a non-profit organization. For only $5 per month you can become a member and support our mission to engage people with cultural heritage and to improve history education worldwide.
BECOME A MEMBER DONATE Recommended Books Lost Towns of North Georgia Georgia History in Outline The American Revolution in Georgia, 1763–1789 (Georgia Open History Library) Oglethorpe and Colonial Georgia: A History, 1733-1783 The West Georgia Textile Heritage Trail (Images of America) Lost Towns of North Georgia Written by Russell, Lisa M. & Atkins, Foreword by Raymond, published by The History Press (2016) $17.81 World History Encyclopedia is an Amazon Associate and earns a commission on qualifying book purchases. Cite This Work APA Style Raddato, C. (2023, December 20). 7 Ancient Sites in Georgia. World History Encyclopedia. Retrieved from https://www.worldhistory.org/article/2340/7-ancient-sites-in-georgia/
MLA Style Raddato, Carole. “7 Ancient Sites in Georgia.” World History Encyclopedia. World History Encyclopedia, 20 Dec 2023. Web. 26 Dec 2023.
License & Copyright Submitted by Carole Raddato, published on 20 December 2023. The copyright holder has published this content under the following license: Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike. This license lets others remix, tweak, and build upon this content non-commercially, as long as they credit the author and license their new creations under the identical terms. When republishing on the web a hyperlink back to the original content source URL must be included. Please note that content linked from this page may have different licensing terms.
Free Newsletter Our latest articles delivered to your inbox, once a week:
Email address… Are you a…?
History Enthusiast Teacher Student Librarian Support Us We are a non-profit organization.
Our mission is to engage people with cultural heritage and to improve history education worldwide. Please support World History Encyclopedia. Thank you!
DONATE MEMBERSHIP
Membership Numerous educational institutions recommend us, including Oxford University. Our publication has been reviewed for educational use by Common Sense Education, Internet Scout (University of Wisconsin), Merlot (California State University), OER Commons and the School Library Journal. Please note that some of these recommendations are listed under our old name, Ancient History Encyclopedia.
We care about our planet! We contribute a share of our revenue to remove carbon from the atmosphere.
Parashat Vayechi
WEEKLY TORAH READING PLAN
Dear Delana,
Below are some highlights from the Torah portion being read in Israel this week. Visit our website, http://www.TheIsraelBible.com, to access the full content, post your comments and participate in our in-depth study of the Torah portion.
Happy Learning,
Shira Schechter, Editor of The Israel Bible
This week’s Portion is:
Vayechi
Genesis 47:28-50:26 In this, the final portion of the book of Genesis, we read of Jacob’s blessings to his sons and grandsons on his deathbed, and his final passing and burial. The book concludes with Joseph’s final days, as well, and his death and enbalming in Egypt.
Jacob Nears Death
What do you think is the significance of Jacob giving his grandsons the status of sons for inheritance? Jacob Blesses His Grandsons
Why do you think Jacob has to ask who Manasseh and Ephraim are when he sees them? Jacob Blesses His Sons
Why do you think Jacob chose to bless his sons by telling them “that which shall be befall you in the End of Days”? Jacob’s Burial
Why do you think the Egyptians attended Jacob’s funeral in Israel? Joseph’s Final Days
Why do you think, 17 years after being reunited, the brothers still worry that Joseph will turn on them?
Hebrew to English Bible Torah Genesis Exodus Leviticus Numbers Deuteronomy Neviim Joshua Judges Samuel Kings Isaiah Jeremiah Ezekiel Ketuvim Psalms Proverbs Job Song of Songs Ruth Lamentations Ecclesiastes Esther Daniel Ezra – Nehemiah Esther Bible Transliteration Bible Basics Weekly Readings Bible Insights Biblical Themes Hebrew Name Lookup Hebrew Birthday Calculator Guide to Hebrew Months Jewish Holidays About The Israel Bible Endorsements Statement of Beliefs Scholars In the News Subscribe
The Israel Bible The Portion of Vayechi (Genesis 47:28-50:26) May 8, 2023
Genesis 47:28 In the portion of Vayechi, the final portion of the book of Genesis, we read of Jacob’s blessings to his sons and grandsons on his deathbed, and his final passing and burial. The book concludes with Joseph’s final days, as well, and his death and embalming in Egypt.
Jacob Nears Death Genesis 47:28-48:7
After 17 years in Egypt, Jacob feels the end of his days approaching. Knowing he would die there and not return to his homeland, he makes Joseph swear to bury him in the Cave of Machpelah with his wife, parents and grandparents.
The Israel Bible emphasizes Jacob’s request. Even though his life is comfortable in Egypt, Jacob knows it is not the place where he belongs. If he cannot return to the Land of Israel in life, he at least wants to be brought there after death. Joseph learns from his father’s yearning, and likewise exacts a promise from his descendants to take his bones with them when they ultimately leave Egypt (50:25).
Some time later, Joseph hears his father is ill, and unlikely to recover. He takes his two sons to visit Jacob. Jacob tells Joseph that God appeared to him in Luz in the Holy Land and promised to give him numerous descendants and the Land of Israel as their inheritance. He claims Joseph’s children, Manasseh and Ephraim, as his own, equal in status to Joseph’s own brothers for the purpose of inheritance. Jacob also reminds Joseph that he was forced by circumstance to bury his beloved Rachel, Joseph’s own mother, on the road to Ephrath.
Points to Ponder
What do you think is the significance of Jacob giving his grandsons the status of sons for inheritance?
Jacob Blesses His Grandsons Genesis 48:8-22
Having claimed them as equal in status to his own sons, Jacob now notices his two grandsons standing with their father. Confirming their identities, he asks Joseph to bring them close that he may bless them. Jacob is overwhelmed with joy, as he had not thought he would ever see Joseph again, let alone his grandchildren.
Joseph positions his sons within his father’s reach, with the eldest, Manasseh, at Jacob’s right hand. Jacob, however, crosses his arms to place his right hand on Ephraim’s head. Joseph protests, but Jacob insists he knows what he is doing, and someday, Ephraim will outstrip Manasseh in greatness. Jacob blesses his grandsons in his own name and in the names of his fathers, saying one day the nation will bless their children in their names. He also tells Joseph that he is giving him an additional portion (shechem) over his brothers, one that he took with his own sword.
The Israel Bible asks why future generations would bless their children in the names of Ephraim and Manasseh (as is, indeed, the custom in many Jewish homes every Friday night). Ephraim and Manasseh were the first generation to be born in Egypt, yet they remained loyal to the traditions of their father despite the temptations of Egypt. Thus, they serve as a template for the survival of the Jewish people and their return to Israel in the future.
Points to Ponder
Why do you think Jacob has to ask who Manasseh and Ephraim are when he sees them?
Jacob Blesses His Sons Genesis 49:1-33
Jacob now sets out to bless his own sons. He wishes to tell them what will befall them in the End of Days.
To Reuben, Simeon and Levi, Jacob offers only chastisement for their earlier actions. Reuben, for interfering with Jacob’s marital bed (see Genesis 35:22), and Simeon and Levi for their rash attack on the people of Shechem (see Genesis 34:25-26). In fact, Jacob goes so far as to curse Simeon and Levi’s rage, scattering their future descendants among the other tribes.
With Judah, Jacob begins offering blessings in earnest. Jacob blesses him with lion’s strength, prosperity, and wise and powerful descendants. Zebulun he blesses with success on the seas. To Issachar he gives the strength to bear labor. He blesses Dan to be the avenger of his people. Gad he blesses with military might.He offers Asher richness of bread and delicacies. He notes Naphtali for his swiftness and wise sayings. To Joseph, he bequeaths blessings of the earth and the womb, greater than any Jacob himself received. Finally, Jacob likens Benjamin to a wolf, catching prey by morning and dividing spoils by evening.
Blessings complete, Jacob asks his sons again to bury him in Israel, in the Cave of Machpelah, with his wife, parents and grandparents. His final words imparted, Jacob passes.
The Israel Bible notes that the coastal inheritance bequeathed by Jacob to Zebulun enables the tribe later to enter into a special partnership with the tribe of Issachar; the former used their seafaring success to support the latter in Torah study, thus earning a share in their merit.
Points to Ponder
Why do you think Jacob chose to bless his sons by telling them “that which shall be befall you in the End of Days”?
Jacob’s Burial Genesis 50:1-14
Joseph weeps at Jacob’s passing, and orders his father’s body to be embalmed, a process which the Torah says takes forty days. He then asks Pharaoh’s leave to bury his father in Israel, as he had promised, and Pharaoh agrees.
Joseph’s brothers attended the burial, along with Pharaoh’s servants and the elders of Egypt. So impressive was the Egyptian entourage, in fact, that the local Canaanites renamed the site Avel Mitzrayim, which means ‘Egypt’s mourning’. Jacob was buried, as requested, in the Cave of Machpelah, accompanied by a great eulogy and a seven-day mourning period., a custom still practiced by Jews today.
Points to Ponder
Why do you think the Egyptians attended Jacob’s funeral in Israel?
Joseph’s Final Days Genesis 50:15-26
After Jacob’s death, the brothers worry that Joseph will at long last be moved to avenge himself upon them. They therefore claim their father asked before he died that Joseph be merciful and forgive his brothers for what they did to him. They offer to serve him as slaves.
Joseph responds that although their initial intentions were to harm him, God always meant for events to turn out for the best. Joseph assures his brothers he has no intention of punishing them for their actions. Rather, he plans to sustain them and their families in Egypt.
Joseph lives to 110 years of age, seeing his grandsons have children. On his deathbed, he tells his brothers that God will surely remember them and bring their children out of Egypt and back to the Holy Land. At that time, he asks, those descendants should bring his bones with them out of Egypt to Israel.
The Israel Bible points out that the unique phrase Joseph uses, God shall “surely visit” you, is meant not only as a promise, but a sign. When Moses arrives on the scene a century or so later using the exact same phrase, the people know their redemption is imminent. While this sojourn in Egypt would only be one of many trials the Children of Israel would suffer, the promise God made to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, repeated here by Joseph, means the Jewish people will ultimately be a great nation residing in the Land of Israel, where they belong.
Points to Ponder
Why do you think, 17 years after being reunited, the brothers still worry that Joseph will turn on them?
Related Names and Places: Weekly Readings (Weekly Torah Portions) Relate Bible Verses: Chapter 47, Chapter 48, Chapter 49, Chapter 50 Spread the love Click Here
Love the Land of Israel? You’ll love The Daily Inspiration. As a member of the Daily Inspiration, you’ll connect with people that love the Land of Israel from all over the world
The great multitude from all nations that stood before God’s throne, which John saw, cried out to ascribe salvation to God and to the Lamb of God. There has not been, nor ever will be, a human being of any nation or language or people group saved but by the blood of Jesus Christ. He alone, and the Father who sent Him, gain the glory for salvation, along with the Holy Spirit who applies that salvation to men’s hearts.
May we be among that great multitude, Lord, who will cry out eternal praises to you for the great salvation you have wrought. Let us look forward to that day, and yet, not wait till then to begin to praise you. Take away the stain of pride and self-praise, and let us joyfully give all the glory to you alone. Amen.
And cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb. Revelation 7:10
Hurricane Agnes It’s Pennsylvania
Share what you know about the year you were born. June 1972
Hurricane Agnes, a Category 1 storm, hit the Florida panhandle and caused millions of dollars in damage.
In 1972, Tropical Storm Agnes caused severe flooding in Pennsylvania, including the Susquehanna River. The storm hit Pennsylvania on June 22, 1972, and dumped 19 inches of rain from Florida to New York between June 19–24. The Susquehanna River’s flood elevations reached the highest ever recorded in June 1972, surpassing flood stage by 15 feet on June 24. The flood also caused billions of gallons of water to rush through Harrisburg.
1972 saw a number of events in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania: June 1972 Tropical storm Agnes caused severe flooding in the Wilkes-Barre area, including South Main Street. Flood elevations were about eight feet higher than those of 1865 and 1936. More than 100,000 people were evacuated due to flooding, and 122 people died. Summer 1972 The Flood Recovery Task Force, a non-profit organization, was formed to help rebuild the Wyoming Valley after the storm.
When Hurricane Agnes flooded the Wyoming Valley, Wilkes College sustained more than $10 million in damage to 58 buildings. In the immediate aftermath of the flood, however, Wilkes’ Second President Francis J. Michelini decided that the most important mission was learning; the relationship between students and faculty were more important than brightly lit classrooms.
With this in mind, the college’s first summer session reopened less than a week and a half after the flood, with a majority of classes held on the second and third floors of buildings. While some faculty and students resumed scholarly pursuits, other students gave up summer jobs and vacations to return to campus to shovel out mud-filled basements, remove and wash off dirty furniture and desks and assisted in overall clean-up efforts. Many alumni also pitched in with cleanup efforts as well as monetary support to aid Wilkes in flood recovery. “Operation Snapback,” Michelini’s action plan to fundraise after the flood, generated millions of dollars to fix building damages and provide financial aid for students affected by the flood.
Hurricane Agnes was the costliest hurricane to hit the United States at the time, causing an estimated $2.1 billion in damage. The hurricane’s death toll was 128.[1] The effects of Agnes were widespread, from the Caribbean to Canada, with much of the east coast of the United States affected. Damage was heaviest in Pennsylvania, where Agnes was the state’s wettest tropical cyclone. Due to the significant effects, the name Agnes was retired in the spring of 1973.
Hurricane Agnes
Agnes near peak intensity in the Gulf of Mexico on June 18 Meteorological history Formed June 14, 1972 Extratropical June 23, 1972 Dissipated July 6, 1972 Category 1 hurricane 1-minute sustained (SSHWS/NWS) Highest winds 85 mph (140 km/h) Lowest pressure 977 mbar (hPa); 28.85 inHg Overall effects Fatalities 128 direct Damage $2.1 billion (1972 USD) Areas affected Yucatán Peninsula, Western Cuba, East Coast of the United States, Pennsylvania, Atlantic Canada, Iceland, British Isles IBTrACSEdit this at Wikidata Part of the 1972 Atlantic hurricane season Agnes was the second tropical cyclone and first named storm of the 1972 Atlantic hurricane season. It developed as a tropical depression on June 14 from the interaction of a polar front and an upper trough over the Yucatán Peninsula. The storm emerged into the western Caribbean Sea on June 15, and strengthened into Tropical Storm Agnes the next day. Thereafter, Agnes slowly curved northward and passed just west of Cuba on June 17. Early on June 18, the storm intensified enough to be upgraded to Hurricane Agnes. Heading northward, the hurricane eventually made landfall near Panama City, Florida, late on June 19. After moving inland, Agnes rapidly weakened and was only a tropical depression when it entered Georgia. The weakening trend halted as the storm crossed over Georgia and into South Carolina. While over eastern North Carolina, Agnes re-strengthened into a tropical storm on June 21, as a result of baroclinic activity. Early the following day, the storm emerged into the Atlantic Ocean before re-curving northwestward and making landfall near New York City as a strong tropical storm. Agnes quickly became an extratropical cyclone on June 23, and tracked to the northwest of Great Britain, before being absorbed by another extratropical cyclone on July 6.
Though it moved slowly across the Yucatán Peninsula, the damage Agnes caused in Mexico is unknown. Although the storm bypassed the tip of Cuba, heavy rainfall occurred, killing seven people. In Florida, Agnes caused a significant tornado outbreak, with at least 26 confirmed twisters, two of which were spawned in Georgia. The tornadoes and two initially unconfirmed tornadoes in Florida alone resulted in over $4.5 million (1972 USD) in damage and six fatalities. At least 2,082 structures in Florida suffered either major damage or were destroyed. About 1,355 other dwellings experienced minor losses. Though Agnes made landfall as a hurricane, no hurricane-force winds were reported. Along the coast abnormally high tides resulted in extensive damage, especially between Apalachicola and Cedar Key. Light to moderate rainfall was reported in Florida, though no significant flooding occurred. In Georgia, damage was limited to two tornadoes, which caused approximately $275,000 in losses. Minimal effects were also recorded in Alabama, Connecticut, Delaware, Rhode Island, South Carolina, and Tennessee; though one fatality was reported in Delaware. The most significant effects, by far, occurred in Pennsylvania, mostly due to intense flooding. The hurricane severely flooded the Susquehanna River and the Lackawanna River causing major damage to the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton metropolitan area. In both Pennsylvania and New Jersey combined, about 43,594 structures were either destroyed or significantly damaged. In Canada, a mobile home was toppled, killing two people
Hurricane Agnes was the costliest hurricane to hit the United States at the time, causing an estimated $2.1 billion in damage. The hurricane’s death toll was 128.[1] The effects of Agnes were widespread, from the Caribbean to Canada, with much of the east coast of the United States affected. Damage was heaviest in Pennsylvania, where Agnes was the state’s wettest tropical cyclone. Due to the significant effects, the name Agnes was retired in the spring of 1973.
caused approximately $275,000 in losses. Minimal effects were also recorded in Alabama, Connecticut, Delaware, Rhode Island, South Carolina, and Tennessee; though one fatality was reported in Delaware. The most significant effects, by far, occurred in Pennsylvania, mostly due to intense flooding. The hurricane severely flooded the Susquehanna River and the Lackawanna River causing major damage to the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton metropolitan area. In both Pennsylvania and New Jersey combined, about 43,594 structures were either destroyed or significantly damaged. In Canada, a mobile home was toppled, killing two people.
We’re getting closer! I’m sure the prophecies we’ve been reading the past few days are the same ones that Jesus mentioned to the disciples on the road to Emmaus, and have been examined over the years, as those that point to the Messiah. Malachi is not one of the Major Prophets, and this book is placed last in the Old Testament. He is upset that they Israelites upon returning from exile pick up where they left off with abuses by their leaders as well as by the people. They are impatient for the Messiah to appear. So Malachi gives us this prophecy which lets the people know that the Lord, whom they seek will appear. First, John, the messenger, comes to prepare the way, and then Jesus appears in the temple. John is the last prophet of the first covenant, and Jesus brings us the new. There was a time when people thought that we didn’t need the Old Testament, the old covenant, just the New Testament. But wiser heads prevailed! How could we understand the New without the Old. Jesus himself said that he had not come to abolish the law – the first covenant – but to fulfill it. This means that we can’t just throw out the old. How else would we know of Abraham or Moses, King David and Solomon, the prophets or the times they were faithful and the times they went astray and needed God to save them. All of this is important for us, as we also are sometimes faithful and sometimes we need saving from ourselves. We learn from both the old and the new and are called to follow Jesus, as he followed the teachings of the Law.
Israel, a Middle Eastern country on the Mediterranean Sea, is regarded by Jews, Christians and Muslims as the biblical Holy Land. Its most sacred sites are in Jerusalem. Within its Old City, the Temple Mount complex includes the Dome of the Rock shrine, the historic Western Wall, Al-Aqsa Mosque and the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. Israel’s financial hub, Tel Aviv, is known for its Bauhaus architecture and beaches.
My heart is grieved by the recent violence and suffering in Israel. I hope you’ll stand with me in support of God’s people in these dark times.
As Christians, we know that what’s happening in Israel is not a human struggle; it is a spiritual struggle against the forces of darkness.
God has promised that His chosen people will endure forever.
Join me today by signing the pledge to commit to praying for Israel. -Pray that the Lord would do a mighty work and protect the innocent. -Pray that the Lord will bring strength and wisdom to those who need it greatly. -Pray that the Lord would bring comfort to hurting and fearful hearts.
Thank you for committing to praying for Israel.
Dear friend and supporter,
The ongoing war in Israel has precipitated an economic crisis of unprecedented scale, with a disturbing trend emerging in its wake: a thriving black market. As businesses struggle amidst the turmoil, many are resorting to under-the-table transactions and income underreporting, a symptom of the dire financial straits the nation finds itself in. Doron Arbely, the former director of the Tax Authority, underscores this alarming growth, revealing a shadow economy that now encompasses a staggering 20% of Israel’s GDP.
The war’s impact on the economy has led to desperate financial maneuvers across various sectors. Particularly noteworthy is the plight of divorced men, many of whom, grappling with reduced incomes, are seeking to lower their alimony payments. These individual stories paint a broader picture of the socio-economic challenges faced by countless Israelis during this crisis.
In response to these challenges, the Tax Authority is ramping up its efforts against tax evasion. However, regulatory measures alone cannot fully address the deep-seated issues stemming from this economic downturn. This is where the role of Feed Israel becomes crucial. Amidst the economic chaos and the distress of war, our mission is to provide not just sustenance but also stability and support to those most affected.
Feed Israel stands as a pillar of hope and aid in these tumultuous times. We are committed to offering a sense of normalcy and compassion to those displaced by the conflict and those struggling with the war’s economic fallout. Our efforts extend beyond meal distribution; we provide essential support that helps rebuild lives and communities shattered by the war
Israel, country in the Middle East, located at the eastern end of the Mediterranean Sea. It is bounded to the north by Lebanon, to the northeast by Syria, to the east and southeast by Jordan, to the southwest by Egypt, and to the west by the Mediterranean Sea. Jerusalem is the seat of government and the proclaimed capital, although the latter status has not received wide international recognition.
Israel is a small country with a relatively diverse topography, consisting of a lengthy coastal plain, highlands in the north and central regions, and the Negev desert in the south. Running the length of the country from north to south along its eastern border is the northern terminus of the Great Rift Valley.
Israel Home Geography & Travel Countries of the World Geography & Travel Israel Also known as: Isrāʾīl, Medinat Yisraʾel, State of Israel Written by , , See All Fact-checked by Last Updated: Dec 15, 2023 • Article History Recent News Dec. 15, 2023, 10:49 AM ET (AP) Live updates | As fighting rages in Gaza, a US envoy is set to meet with the Palestinian president Dec. 15, 2023, 9:04 AM ET (AP) US and Israel discuss when to scale back Gaza combat but agree fight will take months, envoy says Summary Read a brief summary of this topic Israel, country in the Middle East, located at the eastern end of the Mediterranean Sea. It is bounded to the north by Lebanon, to the northeast by Syria, to the east and southeast by Jordan, to the southwest by Egypt, and to the west by the Mediterranean Sea. Jerusalem is the seat of government and the proclaimed capital, although the latter status has not received wide international recognition.
Israel flag of Israel Audio File: National anthem of Israel See all media Category: Geography & Travel Arabic: Isrāʾīl Officially: State of Israel or Hebrew: Medinat Yisraʾel Head Of Government: Prime Minister: Benjamin Netanyahu Capital (Proclaimed): Jerusalem; international recognition of its capital status has largely been withheld. Population: (2023 est.) 9,153,0001 Currency Exchange Rate: 1 USD equals 3.834 Israeli shekel Head Of State: President: Isaac Herzog Israel Israel Israel is a small country with a relatively diverse topography, consisting of a lengthy coastal plain, highlands in the north and central regions, and the Negev desert in the south. Running the length of the country from north to south along its eastern border is the northern terminus of the Great Rift Valley.
The State of Israel is the only Jewish nation in the modern period, and the region that now falls within its borders has a lengthy and rich history that dates from prebiblical times. The area was a part of the Roman Empire and, later, the Byzantine Empire before falling under the control of the fledgling Islamic caliphate in the 7th century CE. Although the object of dispute during the Crusades, the region, then generally known as Palestine, remained under the sway of successive Islamic dynasties until the collapse of the Ottoman Empire at the end of World War I, when it was placed under British mandate from the League of Nations.
Even before the mandate, the desire for a Jewish homeland prompted a small number of Jews to immigrate to Palestine, a migration that grew dramatically during the second quarter of the 20th century with the increased persecution of Jews worldwide and subsequent Holocaust perpetrated by Nazi Germany. This vast influx of Jewish immigrants into the region, however, caused tension with the native Palestinian Arabs, and violence flared between the two groups leading up to the United Nations plan to partition Palestine into Jewish and Arab sectors and Israel’s ensuing declaration of statehood on May 14, 1948.
Israel fought a series of wars against neighbouring Arab states during the next 35 years, which have resulted in ongoing disputes over territory and the status of refugees. Despite continuing tensions, however, Israel concluded peace treaties with several neighbouring Arab states during the final quarter of the 20th century.
Despite its small size, about 290 miles (470 km) north-to-south and 85 miles (135 km) east-to-west at its widest point, Israel has four geographic regions—the Mediterranean coastal plain, the hill regions of northern and central Israel, the Great Rift Valley, and the Negev—and a wide range of unique physical features and microclimates.
The coastal plain is a narrow strip about 115 miles (185 km) long that widens to about 25 miles (40 km) in the south. A sandy shoreline with many beaches borders the Mediterranean coast. Inland to the east, fertile farmland is giving way to growing agricultural settlements and the cities of Tel Aviv and Haifa and their suburbs.
In the north of the country, the mountains of Galilee constitute the highest part of Israel, reaching an elevation of 3,963 feet (1,208 metres) at Mount Meron (Arabic: Jebel Jarmaq). These mountains terminate to the east in an escarpment overlooking the Great Rift Valley. The mountains of Galilee are separated from the hills of the Israeli-occupied West Bank to the south by the fertile Plain of Esdraelon (Hebrew: ʿEmeq Yizreʿel), which, running approximately northwest to southeast, connects the coastal plain with the Great Rift Valley. The Mount Carmel range, which culminates in a peak 1,791 feet (546 metres) high, forms a spur reaching northwest from the highlands of the West Bank, cutting almost to the coast of Haifa.
The Great Rift Valley, a long fissure in Earth’s crust, begins beyond the northern frontier of Israel and forms a series of valleys running generally south, the length of the country, to the Gulf of Aqaba. The Jordan River, which marks part of the frontier between Israel and Jordan, flows southward through the rift from Dan on Israel’s northern frontier, where it is 500 feet (152 metres) above sea level, first into the Ḥula Valley (Hebrew: ʿEmeq HaḤula), then into the freshwater Lake Tiberias, also known as the Sea of Galilee (Hebrew: Yam Kinneret), which lies 686 feet (209 metres) below sea level. The Jordan continues south along the eastern edge of the West Bank—now through the Jordan Valley (Hebrew: ʿEmeq HaYarden)—and finally into the highly saline Dead Sea, which, at 1,312 feet (400 metres) below sea level, is the lowest point of a natural landscape feature on the Earth’s surface. South of the Dead Sea, the Jordan continues through the rift, where it now forms the ʿArava Valley (Hebrew: “savannah”), an arid plain that extends to the Red Sea port of Eilat.
The sparsely populated Negev comprises the southern half of Israel. Arrow-shaped, this flat, sandy desert region narrows toward the south, where it becomes increasingly arid and breaks into sandstone hills cut by wadis, canyons, and cliffs before finally coming to a point where the ʿArava reaches Eilat.
The principal drainage system comprises Lake Tiberias and the Jordan River. Other rivers in Israel are the Yarqon, which empties into the Mediterranean near Tel Aviv; the Qishon, which runs through the western part of the Plain of Esdraelon to drain into the Mediterranean at Haifa; and a small section of the Yarmūk, a tributary of the Jordan that flows west along the Syria-Jordan border. Most of the country’s remaining streams are ephemeral and flow seasonally as wadis. The rivers are supplemented by a spring-fed underground water table that is tapped by wells. Israel has a chronic water shortage, and its hydraulic resources are fully utilized: about three-fourths for irrigation and the remainder for industrial and household water use.
Soils The coastal plain is covered mainly by alluvial soils. Parts of the arid northern Negev, where soil development would not be expected, have windblown loess soils because of proximity to the coastal plain. The soils of Galilee change from calcareous rock in the coastal plain, to Cenomanian and Turonian limestone (deposited from about 99 to 89 million years ago) in Upper Galilee, and to Eocene formations (those dating from about 55 to 35 million years ago) in the lower part of the region. Rock salt and gypsum are abundant in the Great Rift Valley. The southern Negev is mainly sandstone rock with veins of granite.
Encyclopedia Britannica HomeGames & QuizzesHistory & SocietyScience & TechBiographiesAnimals & NatureGeography & TravelArts & CultureMoneyVideos Israel Home Geography & Travel Countries of the World Geography & Travel Israel Also known as: Isrāʾīl, Medinat Yisraʾel, State of Israel Written by , , See All Fact-checked by Last Updated: Dec 15, 2023 • Article History Recent News Dec. 15, 2023, 10:49 AM ET (AP) Live updates | As fighting rages in Gaza, a US envoy is set to meet with the Palestinian president Dec. 15, 2023, 9:04 AM ET (AP) US and Israel discuss when to scale back Gaza combat but agree fight will take months, envoy says Summary Read a brief summary of this topic Israel, country in the Middle East, located at the eastern end of the Mediterranean Sea. It is bounded to the north by Lebanon, to the northeast by Syria, to the east and southeast by Jordan, to the southwest by Egypt, and to the west by the Mediterranean Sea. Jerusalem is the seat of government and the proclaimed capital, although the latter status has not received wide international recognition.
Israel flag of Israel Audio File: National anthem of Israel See all media Category: Geography & Travel Arabic: Isrāʾīl Officially: State of Israel or Hebrew: Medinat Yisraʾel Head Of Government: Prime Minister: Benjamin Netanyahu Capital (Proclaimed): Jerusalem; international recognition of its capital status has largely been withheld. Population: (2023 est.) 9,153,0001 Currency Exchange Rate: 1 USD equals 3.834 Israeli shekel Head Of State: President: Isaac Herzog Israel Israel Israel is a small country with a relatively diverse topography, consisting of a lengthy coastal plain, highlands in the north and central regions, and the Negev desert in the south. Running the length of the country from north to south along its eastern border is the northern terminus of the Great Rift Valley.
The State of Israel is the only Jewish nation in the modern period, and the region that now falls within its borders has a lengthy and rich history that dates from prebiblical times. The area was a part of the Roman Empire and, later, the Byzantine Empire before falling under the control of the fledgling Islamic caliphate in the 7th century CE. Although the object of dispute during the Crusades, the region, then generally known as Palestine, remained under the sway of successive Islamic dynasties until the collapse of the Ottoman Empire at the end of World War I, when it was placed under British mandate from the League of Nations.
Even before the mandate, the desire for a Jewish homeland prompted a small number of Jews to immigrate to Palestine, a migration that grew dramatically during the second quarter of the 20th century with the increased persecution of Jews worldwide and subsequent Holocaust perpetrated by Nazi Germany. This vast influx of Jewish immigrants into the region, however, caused tension with the native Palestinian Arabs, and violence flared between the two groups leading up to the United Nations plan to partition Palestine into Jewish and Arab sectors and Israel’s ensuing declaration of statehood on May 14, 1948.
Flags of all countries of the world. Flags of the world. National flags. Country flags. Hompepage blog 2009, history and society, geography and travel, explore discovery Britannica Quiz The Country Quiz Israel fought a series of wars against neighbouring Arab states during the next 35 years, which have resulted in ongoing disputes over territory and the status of refugees. Despite continuing tensions, however, Israel concluded peace treaties with several neighbouring Arab states during the final quarter of the 20th century.
Land Relief Physical features of Israel Physical features of Israel Israel: Ḥula Valley Israel: Ḥula Valley Crops and fish farms in the Ḥula Valley, Israel.
Despite its small size, about 290 miles (470 km) north-to-south and 85 miles (135 km) east-to-west at its widest point, Israel has four geographic regions—the Mediterranean coastal plain, the hill regions of northern and central Israel, the Great Rift Valley, and the Negev—and a wide range of unique physical features and microclimates.
Are you a student? Get Britannica Premium for only $24.95 – a 67% discount!
The coastal plain is a narrow strip about 115 miles (185 km) long that widens to about 25 miles (40 km) in the south. A sandy shoreline with many beaches borders the Mediterranean coast. Inland to the east, fertile farmland is giving way to growing agricultural settlements and the cities of Tel Aviv and Haifa and their suburbs.
In the north of the country, the mountains of Galilee constitute the highest part of Israel, reaching an elevation of 3,963 feet (1,208 metres) at Mount Meron (Arabic: Jebel Jarmaq). These mountains terminate to the east in an escarpment overlooking the Great Rift Valley. The mountains of Galilee are separated from the hills of the Israeli-occupied West Bank to the south by the fertile Plain of Esdraelon (Hebrew: ʿEmeq Yizreʿel), which, running approximately northwest to southeast, connects the coastal plain with the Great Rift Valley. The Mount Carmel range, which culminates in a peak 1,791 feet (546 metres) high, forms a spur reaching northwest from the highlands of the West Bank, cutting almost to the coast of Haifa.
Dead Sea Dead Sea Columns of salt rising from the extremely saline waters of the Dead Sea.
The Great Rift Valley, a long fissure in Earth’s crust, begins beyond the northern frontier of Israel and forms a series of valleys running generally south, the length of the country, to the Gulf of Aqaba. The Jordan River, which marks part of the frontier between Israel and Jordan, flows southward through the rift from Dan on Israel’s northern frontier, where it is 500 feet (152 metres) above sea level, first into the Ḥula Valley (Hebrew: ʿEmeq HaḤula), then into the freshwater Lake Tiberias, also known as the Sea of Galilee (Hebrew: Yam Kinneret), which lies 686 feet (209 metres) below sea level. The Jordan continues south along the eastern edge of the West Bank—now through the Jordan Valley (Hebrew: ʿEmeq HaYarden)—and finally into the highly saline Dead Sea, which, at 1,312 feet (400 metres) below sea level, is the lowest point of a natural landscape feature on the Earth’s surface. South of the Dead Sea, the Jordan continues through the rift, where it now forms the ʿArava Valley (Hebrew: “savannah”), an arid plain that extends to the Red Sea port of Eilat.
The sparsely populated Negev comprises the southern half of Israel. Arrow-shaped, this flat, sandy desert region narrows toward the south, where it becomes increasingly arid and breaks into sandstone hills cut by wadis, canyons, and cliffs before finally coming to a point where the ʿArava reaches Eilat.
Drainage The principal drainage system comprises Lake Tiberias and the Jordan River. Other rivers in Israel are the Yarqon, which empties into the Mediterranean near Tel Aviv; the Qishon, which runs through the western part of the Plain of Esdraelon to drain into the Mediterranean at Haifa; and a small section of the Yarmūk, a tributary of the Jordan that flows west along the Syria-Jordan border. Most of the country’s remaining streams are ephemeral and flow seasonally as wadis. The rivers are supplemented by a spring-fed underground water table that is tapped by wells. Israel has a chronic water shortage, and its hydraulic resources are fully utilized: about three-fourths for irrigation and the remainder for industrial and household water use.
Soils The coastal plain is covered mainly by alluvial soils. Parts of the arid northern Negev, where soil development would not be expected, have windblown loess soils because of proximity to the coastal plain. The soils of Galilee change from calcareous rock in the coastal plain, to Cenomanian and Turonian limestone (deposited from about 99 to 89 million years ago) in Upper Galilee, and to Eocene formations (those dating from about 55 to 35 million years ago) in the lower part of the region. Rock salt and gypsum are abundant in the Great Rift Valley. The southern Negev is mainly sandstone rock with veins of granite.
Climate of Israel Israel has a wide variety of climatic conditions, caused mainly by the country’s diverse topography. There are two distinct seasons: a cool, rainy winter (October–April) and a dry, hot summer (May–September). Along the coast, sea breezes have a moderating influence in summer, and the Mediterranean beaches are popular. Precipitation is light in the south, amounting to about 1 inch (25 mm) per year in the ʿArava Valley south of the Dead Sea, while in the north it is relatively heavy, up to 44 inches (1,120 mm) a year in the Upper Galilee region. In the large cities, along the coastal plain, annual rainfall averages about 20 inches (508 mm) per year. Precipitation occurs on about 60 days during the year, spread over the rainy season. Severe summer water shortages ensue in years when the rains come late or rainfall totals are less than normal.
Average annual temperatures vary throughout Israel based on elevation and location, with the coastal areas adjacent to the Mediterranean Sea having milder temperatures—ranging from about 84 °F (29 °C) in August to about 61 °F (16 °C) in January—and higher rates of humidity than areas inland, especially during the winter. Likewise, higher elevations, such as Upper Galilee, have cool nights, even in summer, and occasional snows in the winter. However, the coastal city of Eilat, in the south, despite its proximity to the Red Sea, is closer to the climate of the Jordan and ʿArava valleys and the Negev, which are hotter and drier than the northern coast; there, daytime temperatures reach about 70 °F (21 °C) in January and may rise as high as 114 °F (46 °C) in August, when the average high is 104 °F (40 °C).
Encyclopedia Britannica HomeGames & QuizzesHistory & SocietyScience & TechBiographiesAnimals & NatureGeography & TravelArts & CultureMoneyVideos Israel Home Geography & Travel Countries of the World Geography & Travel Israel Also known as: Isrāʾīl, Medinat Yisraʾel, State of Israel Written by , , See All Fact-checked by Last Updated: Dec 15, 2023 • Article History Recent News Dec. 15, 2023, 10:49 AM ET (AP) Live updates | As fighting rages in Gaza, a US envoy is set to meet with the Palestinian president Dec. 15, 2023, 9:04 AM ET (AP) US and Israel discuss when to scale back Gaza combat but agree fight will take months, envoy says Summary Read a brief summary of this topic Israel, country in the Middle East, located at the eastern end of the Mediterranean Sea. It is bounded to the north by Lebanon, to the northeast by Syria, to the east and southeast by Jordan, to the southwest by Egypt, and to the west by the Mediterranean Sea. Jerusalem is the seat of government and the proclaimed capital, although the latter status has not received wide international recognition.
Israel flag of Israel Audio File: National anthem of Israel See all media Category: Geography & Travel Arabic: Isrāʾīl Officially: State of Israel or Hebrew: Medinat Yisraʾel Head Of Government: Prime Minister: Benjamin Netanyahu Capital (Proclaimed): Jerusalem; international recognition of its capital status has largely been withheld. Population: (2023 est.) 9,153,0001 Currency Exchange Rate: 1 USD equals 3.834 Israeli shekel Head Of State: President: Isaac Herzog Israel Israel Israel is a small country with a relatively diverse topography, consisting of a lengthy coastal plain, highlands in the north and central regions, and the Negev desert in the south. Running the length of the country from north to south along its eastern border is the northern terminus of the Great Rift Valley.
The State of Israel is the only Jewish nation in the modern period, and the region that now falls within its borders has a lengthy and rich history that dates from prebiblical times. The area was a part of the Roman Empire and, later, the Byzantine Empire before falling under the control of the fledgling Islamic caliphate in the 7th century CE. Although the object of dispute during the Crusades, the region, then generally known as Palestine, remained under the sway of successive Islamic dynasties until the collapse of the Ottoman Empire at the end of World War I, when it was placed under British mandate from the League of Nations.
Even before the mandate, the desire for a Jewish homeland prompted a small number of Jews to immigrate to Palestine, a migration that grew dramatically during the second quarter of the 20th century with the increased persecution of Jews worldwide and subsequent Holocaust perpetrated by Nazi Germany. This vast influx of Jewish immigrants into the region, however, caused tension with the native Palestinian Arabs, and violence flared between the two groups leading up to the United Nations plan to partition Palestine into Jewish and Arab sectors and Israel’s ensuing declaration of statehood on May 14, 1948.
Flags of all countries of the world. Flags of the world. National flags. Country flags. Hompepage blog 2009, history and society, geography and travel, explore discovery Britannica Quiz The Country Quiz Israel fought a series of wars against neighbouring Arab states during the next 35 years, which have resulted in ongoing disputes over territory and the status of refugees. Despite continuing tensions, however, Israel concluded peace treaties with several neighbouring Arab states during the final quarter of the 20th century.
Land Relief Physical features of Israel Physical features of Israel Israel: Ḥula Valley Israel: Ḥula Valley Crops and fish farms in the Ḥula Valley, Israel.
Despite its small size, about 290 miles (470 km) north-to-south and 85 miles (135 km) east-to-west at its widest point, Israel has four geographic regions—the Mediterranean coastal plain, the hill regions of northern and central Israel, the Great Rift Valley, and the Negev—and a wide range of unique physical features and microclimates.
Are you a student? Get Britannica Premium for only $24.95 – a 67% discount!
The coastal plain is a narrow strip about 115 miles (185 km) long that widens to about 25 miles (40 km) in the south. A sandy shoreline with many beaches borders the Mediterranean coast. Inland to the east, fertile farmland is giving way to growing agricultural settlements and the cities of Tel Aviv and Haifa and their suburbs.
In the north of the country, the mountains of Galilee constitute the highest part of Israel, reaching an elevation of 3,963 feet (1,208 metres) at Mount Meron (Arabic: Jebel Jarmaq). These mountains terminate to the east in an escarpment overlooking the Great Rift Valley. The mountains of Galilee are separated from the hills of the Israeli-occupied West Bank to the south by the fertile Plain of Esdraelon (Hebrew: ʿEmeq Yizreʿel), which, running approximately northwest to southeast, connects the coastal plain with the Great Rift Valley. The Mount Carmel range, which culminates in a peak 1,791 feet (546 metres) high, forms a spur reaching northwest from the highlands of the West Bank, cutting almost to the coast of Haifa.
Dead Sea Dead Sea Columns of salt rising from the extremely saline waters of the Dead Sea.
The Great Rift Valley, a long fissure in Earth’s crust, begins beyond the northern frontier of Israel and forms a series of valleys running generally south, the length of the country, to the Gulf of Aqaba. The Jordan River, which marks part of the frontier between Israel and Jordan, flows southward through the rift from Dan on Israel’s northern frontier, where it is 500 feet (152 metres) above sea level, first into the Ḥula Valley (Hebrew: ʿEmeq HaḤula), then into the freshwater Lake Tiberias, also known as the Sea of Galilee (Hebrew: Yam Kinneret), which lies 686 feet (209 metres) below sea level. The Jordan continues south along the eastern edge of the West Bank—now through the Jordan Valley (Hebrew: ʿEmeq HaYarden)—and finally into the highly saline Dead Sea, which, at 1,312 feet (400 metres) below sea level, is the lowest point of a natural landscape feature on the Earth’s surface. South of the Dead Sea, the Jordan continues through the rift, where it now forms the ʿArava Valley (Hebrew: “savannah”), an arid plain that extends to the Red Sea port of Eilat.
The sparsely populated Negev comprises the southern half of Israel. Arrow-shaped, this flat, sandy desert region narrows toward the south, where it becomes increasingly arid and breaks into sandstone hills cut by wadis, canyons, and cliffs before finally coming to a point where the ʿArava reaches Eilat.
Drainage The principal drainage system comprises Lake Tiberias and the Jordan River. Other rivers in Israel are the Yarqon, which empties into the Mediterranean near Tel Aviv; the Qishon, which runs through the western part of the Plain of Esdraelon to drain into the Mediterranean at Haifa; and a small section of the Yarmūk, a tributary of the Jordan that flows west along the Syria-Jordan border. Most of the country’s remaining streams are ephemeral and flow seasonally as wadis. The rivers are supplemented by a spring-fed underground water table that is tapped by wells. Israel has a chronic water shortage, and its hydraulic resources are fully utilized: about three-fourths for irrigation and the remainder for industrial and household water use.
Soils The coastal plain is covered mainly by alluvial soils. Parts of the arid northern Negev, where soil development would not be expected, have windblown loess soils because of proximity to the coastal plain. The soils of Galilee change from calcareous rock in the coastal plain, to Cenomanian and Turonian limestone (deposited from about 99 to 89 million years ago) in Upper Galilee, and to Eocene formations (those dating from about 55 to 35 million years ago) in the lower part of the region. Rock salt and gypsum are abundant in the Great Rift Valley. The southern Negev is mainly sandstone rock with veins of granite.
Climate of Israel Israel has a wide variety of climatic conditions, caused mainly by the country’s diverse topography. There are two distinct seasons: a cool, rainy winter (October–April) and a dry, hot summer (May–September). Along the coast, sea breezes have a moderating influence in summer, and the Mediterranean beaches are popular. Precipitation is light in the south, amounting to about 1 inch (25 mm) per year in the ʿArava Valley south of the Dead Sea, while in the north it is relatively heavy, up to 44 inches (1,120 mm) a year in the Upper Galilee region. In the large cities, along the coastal plain, annual rainfall averages about 20 inches (508 mm) per year. Precipitation occurs on about 60 days during the year, spread over the rainy season. Severe summer water shortages ensue in years when the rains come late or rainfall totals are less than normal.
Average annual temperatures vary throughout Israel based on elevation and location, with the coastal areas adjacent to the Mediterranean Sea having milder temperatures—ranging from about 84 °F (29 °C) in August to about 61 °F (16 °C) in January—and higher rates of humidity than areas inland, especially during the winter. Likewise, higher elevations, such as Upper Galilee, have cool nights, even in summer, and occasional snows in the winter. However, the coastal city of Eilat, in the south, despite its proximity to the Red Sea, is closer to the climate of the Jordan and ʿArava valleys and the Negev, which are hotter and drier than the northern coast; there, daytime temperatures reach about 70 °F (21 °C) in January and may rise as high as 114 °F (46 °C) in August, when the average high is 104 °F (40 °C).
Plant and animal life
Natural vegetation is highly varied, and more than 2,800 plant species have been identified. The original evergreen forests, the legendary “cedars of Lebanon,” have largely disappeared after many centuries of timber cutting for shipbuilding and to clear land for cultivation and goat herding; they have been replaced by second-growth oak and smaller evergreen conifers. The hills are mostly covered by maquis, and wildflowers bloom profusely in the rainy season. Only wild desert scrub grows in the Negev and on the sand dunes of the coastal plain. North of Beersheba, most of the country is under cultivation or is used for hill grazing. Where irrigation is available, citrus groves, orchards of subtropical fruit, and food crops flourish. Millions of trees have been planted through a government reforestation program.
Animal life is also diverse. Mammals include wildcats, wild boars, gazelles, ibex, jackals, hyenas, hares, coneys, badgers, and tiger weasels. Notable among the reptiles are geckos and lizards of the genus Agama and vipers such as the carpet, or saw-scaled, viper (Echis carinatus). More than 400 species of birds have been identified in the region, including the partridge, tropical cuckoo, bustard, sand grouse, and desert lark. There are many kinds of fish and insects, and locusts from the desert sometimes invade settled areas. Several regions have been set aside as nature reserves, notably parts of the ʿArava in the south and Mount Carmel, Mount Meron, and the remains of the Ḥula Lake and marshes in the north. The Mediterranean coast and the Jordan and ʿArava valleys are important routes for migratory birds.
Jewish immigration in the 20th century greatly altered the settlement pattern of the country. The first modern-day Jewish settlers established themselves on the coastal plain in the 1880s. Later they also moved into the valleys of the interior and into parts of the hill districts, as well as into the Negev. Small cities such as Haifa and Jerusalem grew in size, and the port of Jaffa (Yafo) sprouted a suburb, Tel Aviv, which grew into one of the largest cities in Israel. Jewish immigrants also settled those areas of the coastal plain, the Judaean foothills, and the Jordan and ʿArava valleys evacuated by Palestinians during the war of 1948, thereby becoming the majority in many areas previously inhabited by Arabs. Although the majority of the Bedouin of the Negev left the region when Israel incorporated the territory, the desert has continued to be largely the domain of the Arab nomads who remained or returned following the end of fighting.
Is it loving to condone sin or participate in it? It’s amazing how often people say that we need to be like Jesus in accepting the behavior of sinners, even though Jesus himself called everyone to repent and to accept the Kingdom. Jesus clearly did not come to leave people in sin, although we hear […]
If i could talk to the animals – just imagine it, speaking with a Chimp in chimpanzee! Imagine talking to a Tiger, or chatting with a Cheetah – what a neat achievement that would be! If i could talk to the animals, learn their languages – maybe take an animal degree… I’d study Elephant and […]
Why don’t most people have this peace and abundant life that God planned for us to have?
God loves you and wants you to experience peace and eternal life—abundant and eternal. The Bible says:
“We have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” Romans 5:1
“For God so loved the world, that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16
“I [Jesus] came that they may have life and have it abundantly.” John 10:10
God created us in His own image to have an abundant life. He did not make us as robots to automatically love and obey Him. God gave us a will and freedom of choice. We choose to disobey God and go our own willful way. We still make this choice today. This results in separation from God. The Bible says:
“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” Romans 3:23
“For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 6:23
Our choice results in separation from God. People have tried in many ways to bridge this gap between themselves and God… The Bible says:
“There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death.” Proverbs 14:12
“But your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden His face from you so that He does not hear.” Isaiah 59:2
No bridge reaches God… except one
Jesus Christ died on the cross and rose from the grave. He paid the penalty for our sin and bridged the gap between God and people. The Bible says:
“For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.” 1 Timothy 2:5
“For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that He might bring us to God.” 1 Peter 3:18
“But God shows His love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8
God has provided the only way… Each person must make a choice… Step 4 – Our Response: Receive Christ We must trust Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior and receive Him by personal invitation. The Bible says:
“Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with Me.” Revelation 3:20
“But to all who did receive Him, who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God.” John 1:12
“If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.” Romans 10:9
Will you receive Jesus Christ right now?
Here is how you can receive Christ: Admit your need. (I am a sinner.) Be willing to turn from your sins (repent) and ask for God’s forgiveness. Believe that Jesus Christ died for you on the cross and rose from the grave. Through prayer, invite Jesus Christ to come in and control your life through the Holy Spirit. (Receive Jesus as Lord and Savior) We suggest a prayer like this one:
“Dear God, I know I am a sinner. I want to turn from my sins, and I ask for Your forgiveness. I believe that Jesus Christ is Your Son. I believe He died for my sins and that You raised Him to life. I want Him to come into my heart and to take control of my life. I want to trust Jesus as my Savior and follow Him as my Lord from this day forward. In Jesus’ Name, amen.”
Did you pray this prayer?DailyVerses.netTopicsSubscribe DailyVerses.net › Topics Bible Verses about the Word of God For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any… Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Hebrews 4:12 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. 2 Timothy 3:16-17 Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path. Psalm 119:105 Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. James 1:22 How can a young person stay on the path of purity? By living according to your word. Psalm 119:9 He replied, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it.” Luke 11:28 The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God endures forever. Isaiah 40:8 As for God, his way is perfect: The Lord’s word is flawless; he shields all who take refuge in him. Psalm 18:30 Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. Matthew 7:24 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away. Matthew 24:35 Do everything without grumbling or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, “children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.” Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky as you hold firmly to the word of life. Philippians 2:14-16a The unfolding of your words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple. Psalm 119:130 Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” Matthew 4:4 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. John 1:1 For the word of the Lord is right and true; he is faithful in all he does. Psalm 33:4 Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them. John 7:38 In God, whose word I praise— in God I trust and am not afraid. What can mere mortals do to me? Psalm 56:4 Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation. 1 Peter 2:2 For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding. Proverbs 2:6 To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” John 8:31-32 You are my refuge and my shield; I have put my hope in your word. Psalm 119:114 Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you. James 1:21 So is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it. Isaiah 55:11 He humbled you, causing you to hunger and then feeding you with manna, which neither you nor your ancestors had known, to teach you that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord. Deuteronomy 8:3 You make your saving help my shield, and your right hand sustains me; your help has made me great. You provide a broad path for my feet, so that my ankles do not give way. Psalm 18:35-36 The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.
Let your eyes look straight ahead; fix your gaze directly before you. Proverbs 4:25 Receive the Daily Bible Verse: Random Bible Verse Do everything in love. 1 Corinthians 16:14
Do you see yourself as a leader? Yes! QUOTE OF THE DAY “Seek to learn on earth those truths which will remain ever valid in Heaven.” St. Jerome
The Left is engaged in a plot to ban President Trump from the ballot nationwide. Now we face a vital MIDNIGHT deadline as we fight in court to stop it.
It’s the most dangerous subversion of our constitutional right to vote I’ve ever seen. Far-Left organizations are filing lawsuits to prevent Americans from voting for the candidate of their choice – declaring President Trump “disqualified” from office for insurrection under the 14th Amendment. The implications go far beyond his candidacy.
There are now lawsuits in 13 states, and we were just in court yesterday in Colorado to intervene on behalf of the Colorado Republican Committee. We’re already in talks with potential clients to intervene in other cases.
These lawsuits are a direct violation of the voting rights of millions of Americans. It’s election interference and blatantly unconstitutional.
These cases are headed to the U.S. Supreme Court.
I’ve argued and helped win election integrity cases at the Supreme Court before, and we can do it again.
But to have the resources we need for this massive legal undertaking – the biggest fight to defend the Constitution and your right to vote we’ve ever engaged in – we are going to need each and every one of you.
Our Matching Moment Deadline is MIDNIGHT tonight. Have your gift DOUBLED as we go to court to defend our constitutional republic.
Read Time: 5 min 32 sec | View in Browser | Listen to Podcast
–––––– September 15, 2023 ––––––
QUOTE OF THE DAY “Seek to learn on earth those truths which will remain ever valid in Heaven.” St. Jerome
Hunter Biden Indicted
The indictments keep coming.
This time, it’s President Biden’s son Hunter who was indicted yesterday on three federal charges, a first for a child of a sitting president. Hunter is accused of lying about his drug use when buying a firearm in 2018 — he’s since said he was addicted to crack cocaine at the time.
The indictment makes no mention of any of the tax violations that were part of a previous plea deal. That deal, which would have allowed Hunter to avoid jail time, unexpectedly fell apart in July after a judge raised concerns.
Hunter’s lawyer criticized the indictment, saying it’s the result of “MAGA Republicans’ improper and partisan interference.” Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA) called the indictment a “starting point” for “justice.” Everyone agrees that courtrooms will play a big role in the 2024 presidential race.
__
ABOVE ALL, LOVE While you likely have no control over the politically contentious investigations into Hunter Biden or anyone else, you can control how you speak about them. Leave others with no doubt of your love for everyone involved.
“No foul language should come from your mouth, but only what is good for building up someone in need, so that it gives grace to those who hear.” Ephesians 4:29
Fox News Login Watch TV Menu FOX NEWS FLASH JESSE WATTERS: Democrats are setting Trump up for the greatest comeback in political history The Colorado Supreme Court ruling is stayed until Jan. 4 By Fox News Staff Fox News Published December 20, 2023 9:32pm EST Facebook Twitter Flipboard Comments Print Email Watters: You can’t save democracy by denying Americans the ability to voteVideo Watters: You can’t save democracy by denying Americans the ability to vote Fox News host Jesse Watters reacts to the Colorado Supreme Court disqualify former President Donald Trump from the state’s primary ballot on ‘Jesse Watters Primetime.’
Fox News host Jesse Watters says former President Trump is becoming “more powerful in the eyes of the voters” on “Jesse Watters Primetime.”
COLORADO SUPREME COURT DISQUALIFIES TRUMP FROM 2024 BALLOT
JESSE WATTERS: You can’t save democracy by denying Americans the right to vote. You can’t find somebody guilty of a crime that they haven’t been charged with. In a 4-3 ruling, the Colorado Supreme Court said Trump engaged in an insurrection and, under the 14th Amendment, insurrectionists are constitutionally prohibited from holding office. Northern interests wrote this into the Constitution, so Southern Confederates, who took up arms against the Union and fought in the Civil War, couldn’t hold federal office. Donald Trump telling people to march peacefully and patriotically and then telling them to go home isn’t an insurrection. Unelected state judges without a trial, a hearing, or any due process, convicted a former president of a federal crime 2,000 miles outside of their jurisdiction and disenfranchised 6 million Americans in Colorado.
–
— COLORADO SUPREME COURT DISQUALIFIES TRUMP FROM 2024 BALLOT
JESSE WATTERS: You can’t save democracy by denying Americans the right to vote. You can’t find somebody guilty of a crime that they haven’t been charged with. In a 4-3 ruling, the Colorado Supreme Court said Trump engaged in an insurrection and, under the 14th Amendment, insurrectionists are constitutionally prohibited from holding office. Northern interests wrote this into the Constitution, so Southern Confederates, who took up arms against the Union and fought in the Civil War, couldn’t hold federal office. Donald Trump telling people to march peacefully and patriotically and then telling them to go home isn’t an insurrection. Unelected state judges without a trial, a hearing, or any due process, convicted a former president of a federal crime 2,000 miles outside of their jurisdiction and disenfranchised 6 million Americans in Colorado.
Every time Trump’s arrested, he becomes more powerful in the eyes of the voters. What’s going to happen when they take him off the ballot? They’re turning Trump into the greatest political underdog America has ever witnessed. They’re setting up the greatest comeback story in American political history. They say they’re protecting us from danger, but Trump’s not a danger to us. He’s a danger to them. And Americans are starting to ask themselves why? It feels like the left wants violence because that’s where this is going. We’re being baited so their actions are justified. That’s how it feels. The more the left overplays their hand, the scarier this gets
In the Common Lectionary, today is dedicated to the Triumph of the Cross. We don’t necessarily think of this as a triumph, but Jesus’ death on the cross was our salvation. For us, this was a triumph. This passage from Philippians is an old Christian hymn and seems to be based on an Old Testament hymn showing the belief of the early Christians that Jesus is the promised and long awaited Messiah. From the beginning of creation and the entrance of sin into the world, the world was waiting for that moment on the cross when Jesus joined his will to the will of the Father in full confidence that his Father would not desert him. His death opened the gates of heaven to all of us. As Paul says, through one man sin entered the world and through the actions of one man, all are redeemed. Only Jesus, true man and true God could accomplish this. Crucifixion was a terrible way to die; so terrible that only non-Romans were crucified. This is why Paul was beheaded since he was a Roman citizen. The actual cause of death was suffocation. The weight of the body hanging on the cross eventually made it almost impossible to breathe and the lungs filled with fluid. In Jesus’ case, the beatings he had sustained earlier had weakened him considerably and he died sooner than was normal. This is why the soldiers broke the legs of the two thieves hanging with him, but they didn’t break Jesus’ legs seeing that he was dead. However, just in case they were wrong, they pierced his chest with a sword. He was willing to die for us; what are we willing to do to say thank you?
Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: Philippines 2:5-6
Christ was already equal with God, possessing all of the same Divine attributes possessed by God the Father. It would be no “robbery, ” therefore, if He came into the world and demanded all men immediately serve Him and worship Him as God. But in fact He came more “quietly” into this world. He made Himself of no reputation and became as it were a servant (verse 7). He left us an example of humility that we ought to emulate.
Lord Jesus, you didn’t come into the world to be served but to serve and to give your life a ransom for many. Help us to learn true humility from your example left to us in Scripture. You always submitted to the Father, even to the point of enduring the pain and agony of the cross. Help us to endure all things with joy that God has made our lot to bear, knowing that it will turn to our benefit in the end. Amen.
“Laughter helps you put everything into perspective.”
Who is God? Images of God in the Old Testament. God as Shepherd: Part 1 Wednesday, September 13 | Ezekiel 34:1–31 On the Go? Listen Now!
What animal is mentioned most often in the Bible? If you guessed “sheep,” you are right! Sheep were an important part of the economy of ancient Israel. It is no surprise that many biblical characters spent at least some of their life as shepherds, including Abraham, Isaac, Rebekah, Moses, David, and Amos.
Shepherding in Israel was different than it is today. There were no fenced-in fields. Instead, shepherds had to be with their sheep to protect them from predators, lead them to good pasture, shelter them from the weather, and tend to their injuries. Shepherds became symbols of good leadership. Like shepherds, good leaders are compassionate, caring, and protective of those under their care.
In today’s reading, God denounces the so-called shepherds of Israel. The priests and leaders of Israel had failed. They had extorted their people and did not care for them (vv. 2–4). They have not tended the sick and weak or sought the lost. They did not lead with compassion but with harsh brutality (v. 4).
God declares that He will personally shepherd His people (v. 11). He will seek the lost, heal the sick, provide, and protect His people (vv. 11–14). This type of leadership is personal, sacrificial, and loving. He protects the weak from the oppression of the strong (vv. 20–21).
In verses 23–24, God says He will shepherd His people through “my servant David.” Ezekiel is writing during the exile, long after David. The promise is that there will be a coming Davidic ruler who will be the ultimate Good Shepherd. This promise is fulfilled by the Lord Jesus. Jesus declared, “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep” (John 10:11).
As followers of Jesus, we have a Shepherd who cares for us, guides us, protects us, and loves us. What a gift this is! Perhaps it is time to return to your image journal and paint an image of a Shepherd caring for the sheep.
Pray with Us You truly are the good shepherd. The longer we follow You, the more we are amazed by Your careful guidance and discipline. We look back and see the ways You directed our steps, even when we didn’t know it. Thank You, Father!
In fact, the Bible says he rejoices over you, just as you are…
“The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing” (Zephaniah 3:17).
This verse reveals insight into the heart of our loving, present heavenly Father, and every phrase is like a fresh drink of encouraging truth.
I’d love to look at one phrase together — and then share how you can share this same encouraging truth with others.
“He will rejoice over you with gladness.”
Today, you can have joy, not because of what you have or don’t have, but because your God rejoices over you.
You are not a failure in his eyes. He loves who you are. He is wholeheartedly glad you are his.
Not only that, God longs to fill you with the knowledge of his gladness. He longs to give you a revelation of how deeply in love with you he is.
The Creator and Sustainer of all rejoices over you as his creation. You are not a mistake. You were made intentionally because your God longed to have a relationship with you!
I pray that this helps remind you of this truth daily as you experience him through our devotionals.
Now about sharing this encouraging truth with others…if our content has blessed your life, then you can help bring that same spiritual uplift to more believers daily.
We often encourage you to “go deeper” in your Bible study. But what does that really mean?
Reading, journaling, and doing devotions are all valuable ways to engage with the Bible.
If you have done all of that and you are craving to know more, then it’s time to go deeper.
Isaiah 62:6: “I have posted watchmen on your walls, Jerusalem; they will never be silent day or night.”
And since we have the same spirit of faith, according to what is written, “I believed and therefore I spoke,” we also believe and therefore speak. 2 Corinthians 4:13
SPEAKING OUT IN FAITH Do you know that as God’s child, you can speak positively into your negative situation and see it change for the better?
Let me show you some scriptures about faith and speaking that will help you. Romans 10:9 tells us that “if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved”. Our Lord Jesus also said, “Whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says” (Mark 11:23).
Now, reread what the apostle Paul wrote in today’s verse. Do you notice a pattern here? Faith involves believing in your heart as well as speaking with your mouth. You and I, we are made in God’s image. When God first saw darkness, He didn’t say, “Gosh, it’s so dark.” What did God do? He called forth light by speaking. He said, “Let there be light” (Gen. 1:3).
In the New Testament, our Lord Jesus spoke to the storm and it subsided. He spoke to the fig tree and it withered. He spoke to the demons and they fled. He spoke to the sick and they were healed. He spoke to the dead and they lived.
Similarly, when we are faced with darkness in any area of our lives today, or trapped in a storm of challenges, let’s not be mired in looking at the problems and despairing. We should also call forth what we want to see! If we find ourselves caught in a dangerous situation, we should declare, “The Lord is my refuge and my fortress.” If there is a sickness in our body, we can call forth our healing by saying, “Thank You, Jesus, by Your stripes I am healed!” Start speaking forth your protection, your health, and your victory today!
Shalom Friends,
Messianic Israelis and International Believers call for 1,000,000 to Pray One Hour for Israel on Yom Kippur.
A coalition of ministries will broadcast the online prayer meeting on Yom Kippur/The Day of Atonement between Jerusalem and Kansas City.
As Jewish people fast (Lev. 23:27), and believers will pray for the salvation of Israel.
GOD TV will host the feed at 10AM EST/5PM Israel on September 25th.
Over 5,000,000 believers came together this spring from May 7th to May 28th to pray at least one hour a day for Israel. This initiative was the brainchild of Mike Bickle and the International House of Prayer in Kansas City. Their initial goal was to see 1,000,000 believers take their stand on the walls of Jerusalem, drawing inspiration from Isaiah 62:6: “I have posted watchmen on your walls, Jerusalem; they will never be silent day or night.”
Bickle was overwhelmed when 5,000,000 believers and 12,000 different ministries pledged to pray. They opened Isaiah62fast.com to be a hub to promote prayer for Israel. These 12,000 ministries, “put their information on the Isaiah 62 website,” shared Mike Bickle. “That website is only a mobilizing website for Israel prayer. It is not a conference website, it’s not a book website, [and] it’s not a ‘come and hear us’ website. It is a ‘here’s the people that will mobilize people in their geographic area prayer for Israel.”
Yom Kippur Hour of Prayer
Last Yom Kippur, Ron Cantor, president of Shelanu TV in Tel Aviv, organized a one-hour prayer event on GOD TV during Yom Kippur. “The idea was to see believers praying for Israel at the very time that Jewish people worldwide are praying and fasting.” Ron, who moved to Israel in 2003, says the goal was always to get to one million people, but he was willing to wait. “I felt it would take at least five years to build that kind of momentum.”
But when he saw the success of the Isaiah 62 fast campaign, he contacted Bickle. “I was on the rooftop of a hotel in Jerusalem praying the morning after the final event for the Isaiah 62 fast. It was as clear as day to me that I needed to recruit Mike. “I said ‘Mike, if I call people to pray on Yom Kippur, we might get a few hundred people, maybe 1,000. But people trust you as an international prayer leader. Would you put your voice behind this effort?’ I knew if he did, we could see more than 1,000,000 people praying for Israel on September 25th, Yom Kippur. He didn’t hesitate; he immediately said yes.”
Bickle says the goal is to “[Mobilize] believers around the world to stand together on Yom Kippur, to cry out to the Lord for a visitation of power upon the Jewish people across the world.” During Yom Kippur, “Millions of Jewish people are posturing themselves in a place to hear God; they are making themselves vulnerable to the Holy Spirit—whether they know it or not. And then, we’ve got a million believers around the world crying out for a visitation upon these hearts.”
Cantor, who also serves as GOD TV’s Israel director, explains, “The ultimate world- wide, end-time revival is contingent on the Jewish people accepting Yeshua (Jesus). If you look at Romans 11:12, Paul says that Jewish rejection caused the book of Acts revival—what Paul call ‘riches.’ Then he says, if Israel’s rejection caused an unprecedented, worldwide, spiritual earthquake, imagine how much of a greater revival—or in his word—’greater riches’—will come on the world when the Jewish people accept the gospel!”
The plan to is to gather at 10am EST/5pm Israel to pray for one hour for Israel. You can tune in to a special simulcast between Jerusalem and Kansas City. This will air on God TV’s Facebook page here.
“We are asking 1,000,000 of you for one hour” says Bickle, “on Yom Kippur.” During the May event, “twos and threes met in homes. Twos and threes even met in cars with their cell phones; they met in dorm rooms. Some of them met in the church foyer….”
“Isaiah 62 speaks of God placing watchmen on the walls of Jerusalem,” says Cantor. “If the prophet is speaking to the people of Jerusalem, then the watchmen are obviously not Jewish—they are from outside of Israel. I believe that Isaiah is looking ahead to a time when more than a billion non-Jews will have embraced the Jewish Messiah, Jesus. They will recognize that the gospel came to them through the Jewish people and will commit themselves to be Watchmen for Israel, contending for her salvation.
“God tells these watchmen to give themselves no rest and to give God no rest, till he establishes Jerusalem and makes her the praise of the earth.’”
Beloved, you’re so precious and loved by the Lord. If you’re trusting the Lord for healing for yourself or your loved ones, can I encourage you to keep looking to Jesus and see His finished work that has paid for your healing? His heart is to see you happy, healthy, and whole! To help build your faith during this season
The Gospel of Mark was written by John Mark whose life was shaped by three men. First, his cousin Barnabas invited him to join him and Paul on their first missionary trip. Sadly, Mark deserted Paul and Barnabas along the way. That upset Paul, who was the second great influence on Mark’s life. Paul refused to take the young man on their next trip, and Paul’s rebuke must have stung like a rod.
That’s when Peter stepped in. We know from trustworthy traditions that Peter took Mark under his wing, traveled with him, and used him as an interpreter. Mark listened to Peter’s stories of Christ over and over, and Mark put it all down on paper, writing his Gospel based largely on Peter’s accounts.
God sends various people into our life. Some encourage us. Some rebuke us. Some help us recover. They all play a part in shaping us to be the person God wants us to be, and we should be thankful for them. What people have left a mark on your life?
The kindly tutelage of Barnabas…. The stern discipline of Paul…. The influence of Peter…. The Holy Spirit may well have used all three factors…to perform his marvelous work [in Mark’s life].
Ezekiel 28:1 – 32:32 (nkjv) PROCLAMATION AGAINST THE KING OF TYRE 28 The word of the Lord came to me again, saying, 2 “Son of man, say to the prince of Tyre, ‘Thus says the Lord God:
“Because your heart is lifted up, And you say, ‘I am a god, I sit in the seat of gods, In the midst of the seas,’ Yet you are a man, and not a god, Though you set your heart as the heart of a god 3 (Behold, you are wiser than Daniel! There is no secret that can be hidden from you! 4 With your wisdom and your understanding You have gained riches for yourself, And gathered gold and silver into your treasuries; 5 By your great wisdom in trade you have increased your riches, And your heart is lifted up because of your riches),”
6 ‘Therefore thus says the Lord God:
“Because you have set your heart as the heart of a god, 7 Behold, therefore, I will bring strangers against you, The most terrible of the nations; And they shall draw their swords against the beauty of your wisdom, And defile your splendor. 8 They shall throw you down into the Pit, And you shall die the death of the slain In the midst of the seas.
9 “Will you still say before him who slays you, ‘I am a god’? But you shall be a man, and not a god, In the hand of him who slays you. 10 You shall die the death of the uncircumcised By the hand of aliens; For I have spoken,” says the Lord God.’”
trading; Therefore I brought fire from your midst; It devoured you, And I turned you to ashes upon the earth In the sight of all who saw you. 19 All who knew you among the peoples are astonished at you; You have become a horror, And shall be no more forever.”’”
PROCLAMATION AGAINST SIDON 20 Then the word of the Lord came to me, saying,
O Pharaoh king of Egypt, O great monster who lies in the midst of his rivers, Who has said, ‘My River is my own; I have made it for myself.’ 4 But I will put hooks in your jaws, And cause the fish of your rivers to stick to your scales; I will bring you up out of the midst of your rivers, And all the fish in your rivers will stick to your scales.
Ezekiel 28:1 – 32:32 (nkjv) 5 I will leave you in the wilderness,You and all the fish of your rivers;You shall fall on the open field;You shall not be picked up or gathered.I have given you as foodTo the beasts of the fieldAnd to the birds of the heavens. 6 “Then all the inhabitants of Egypt Shall know that I am the Lord, Because they have been a staff of reed to the house of Israel. 7 When they took hold of you with the hand, You broke and tore all their shoulders; When they leaned on you, You broke and made all their backs quiver.”
8 ‘Therefore thus says the Lord God: “Surely I will bring a sword upon you and cut off from you man and beast. 9 And the land of Egypt shall become desolate and waste; then they will know that I am the Lord, because he said, ‘The River is mine, and I have made it.’ 10 Indeed, therefore, I am against you and against your rivers, and I will make the land of Egypt utterly waste and desolate, from Migdol to Syene, as far as the border of Ethiopia. 11 Neither foot of man shall pass through it nor foot of beast pass through it, and it shall be uninhabited forty years. 12 I will make the land of Egypt desolate in the midst of the countries that are desolate; and among the cities that are laid waste, her cities shall be desolate forty years; and I will scatter the Egyptians among the nations and disperse them throughout the countries.”
13 ‘Yet, thus says the Lord God: “At the end of forty years I will gather the Egyptians from the peoples among whom they were scattered. 14 I will bring back the captives of Egypt and cause them to return to the land of Pathros, to the land of their origin, and there they shall be a lowly kingdom.
15 It shall be the lowliest of kingdoms; it shall never again exalt itself above the nations, for I will diminish them so that they will not rule over the nations anymore. 16 No longer shall it be the confidence of the house of Israel, but will remind them of their iniquity when they turned to follow them. Then they shall know that I am the Lord God.”’” BABYLONIA WILL PLUNDER EGYPT 17 And it came to pass in the twenty-seventh year, in the first month, on the first day of the month, that the word of the Lord came to me, saying, 18 “Son of man, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon caused his army to labor strenuously against Tyre; every head was made bald, and every shoulder rubbed raw; yet neither he nor his army received wages from Tyre, for the labor which they expended on it. 19 Therefore thus says the Lord God: ‘Surely I will give the land of Egypt to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon; he shall take away her wealth, carry off her spoil, and remove her pillage; and that will be the wages for his army. 20 I have given him the land of Egypt for his labor, because they worked for Me,’ says the Lord God.
21 ‘In that day I will cause the horn of the house of Israel to spring forth, and I will open your mouth to speak in their midst. Then they shall know that I am the Lord.’”
EGYPT AND HER ALLIES WILL FALL 30 The word of the Lord came to me again, saying, 2 “Son of man, prophesy and say, ‘Thus says the Lord God:
“Wail, ‘Woe to the day!’ 3 For the day is near, Even the day of the Lord is near; It will be a day of clouds, the time of the Gentiles.
4 The sword shall come upon Egypt,And great anguish shall be in Ethiopia,When the slain fall in Egypt,And they take away her wealth,And her foundations are broken down. 5 “Ethiopia, Libya, Lydia, all the mingled people, Chub, and the men of the lands who are allied, shall fall with them by the sword.”
6 ‘Thus says the Lord:
“Those who uphold Egypt shall fall, And the pride of her power shall come down. From Migdol to Syene Those within her shall fall by the sword,” Says the Lord God. 7 “They shall be desolate in the midst of the desolate countries, And her cities shall be in the midst of the cities that are laid waste. 8 Then they will know that I am the Lord, When I have set a fire in Egypt And all her helpers are destroyed. 9 On that day messengers shall go forth from Me in ships To make the careless Ethiopians afraid, And great anguish shall come upon them, As on the day of Egypt; For indeed it is coming!”
10 ‘Thus says the Lord God:
“I will also make a multitude of Egypt to cease By the hand of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon. 11 He and his people with him, the most terrible of the nations, Shall be brought to destroy the land; They shall draw their swords against Egypt, And fill the land with the slain. 12 I will make the rivers dry, And sell the land into the hand of the wicked; I will make the land waste, and all that is in it, By the hand of aliens. I, the Lord, have spoken.”
13 ‘Thus says the Lord God:
“I will also destroy the idols, And cause the images to cease from Noph; There shall no longer be princes from the land of Egypt; I will put fear in the land of Egypt.
14 I will make Pathros desolate,Set fire to Zoan,And execute judgments in No.15 I will pour My fury on Sin, the strength of Egypt;I will cut off the multitude of No,16 And set a fire in Egypt;Sin shall have great pain,No shall be split open,And Noph shall be in distress daily.17 The young men of Aven and Pi Beseth shall fall by the sword,And these cities shall go into captivity.18 At Tehaphnehes the day shall also be darkened,When I break the yokes of Egypt there.And her arrogant strength shall cease in her;As for her, a cloud shall cover her,And her daughters shall go into captivity.19 Thus I will execute judgments on Egypt,Then they shall know that I am the Lord.”’” PROCLAMATION AGAINST PHARAOH 20 And it came to pass in the eleventh year, in the first month, on the seventh day of the month, that the word of the Lord came to me, saying, 21 “Son of man, I have broken the arm of Pharaoh king of Egypt; and see, it has not been bandaged for healing, nor a splint put on to bind it, to make it strong enough to hold a sword. 22 Therefore thus says the Lord God: ‘Surely I am against Pharaoh king of Egypt, and will break his arms, both the strong one and the one that was broken; and I will make the sword fall out of his hand. 23 I will scatter the Egyptians among the nations, and disperse them throughout the countries.
24 I will strengthen the arms of the king of Babylon and put My sword in his hand; but I will break Pharaoh’s arms, and he will groan before him with the groanings of a mortally wounded man. 25 Thus I will strengthen the arms of the king of Babylon, but the arms of Pharaoh shall fall down; they shall know that I am the Lord, when I put My sword into the hand of the king of Babylon and he stretches it out against the land of Egypt. 26 I will scatter the Egyptians among the nations and disperse them throughout the countries. Then they shall know that I am the Lord.’” EGYPT CUT DOWN LIKE A GREAT TREE 31 Now it came to pass in the eleventh year, in the third month, on the first day of the month, that the word of the Lord came to me, saying, 2 “Son of man, say to Pharaoh king of Egypt and to his multitude:
‘Whom are you like in your greatness? 3 Indeed Assyria was a cedar in Lebanon, With fine branches that shaded the forest, And of high stature; And its top was among the thick boughs. 4 The waters made it grow; Underground waters gave it height, With their rivers running around the place where it was planted, And sent out rivulets to all the trees of the field.
5 ‘Therefore its height was exalted above all the trees of the field; Its boughs were multiplied, And its branches became long because of the abundance of water, As it sent them out. 6 All the birds of the heavens made their nests in its boughs; Under its branches all the beasts of the field brought forth their young; And in its shadow all great nations made their home.
7 ‘Thus it was beautiful in greatness and in the length of its branches, Because its roots reached to abundant waters.
8 The cedars in the garden of God could not hide it;The fir trees were not like its boughs,And the chestnut trees were not like its branches;No tree in the garden of God was like it in beauty.9 I made it beautiful with a multitude of branches,So that all the trees of Eden envied it,That were in the garden of God.’ 10 “Therefore thus says the Lord God: ‘Because you have increased in height, and it set its top among the thick boughs, and its heart was lifted up in its height, 11 therefore I will deliver it into the hand of the mighty one of the nations, and he shall surely deal with it; I have driven it out for its wickedness. 12 And aliens, the most terrible of the nations, have cut it down and left it; its branches have fallen on the mountains and in all the valleys; its boughs lie broken by all the rivers of the land; and all the peoples of the earth have gone from under its shadow and left it.
13 ‘On its ruin will remain all the birds of the heavens, And all the beasts of the field will come to its branches—
14 ‘So that no trees by the waters may ever again exalt themselves for their height, nor set their tops among the thick boughs, that no tree which drinks water may ever be high enough to reach up to them.
‘For they have all been delivered to death, To the depths of the earth, Among the children of men who go down to the Pit.’
15 “Thus says the Lord God: ‘In the day when it went down to hell, I caused mourning. I covered the deep because of it. I restrained its rivers, and the great waters were held back. I caused Lebanon to mourn for it, and all the trees of the field wilted because of it. 16 I made the nations shake at the sound of its fall, when I cast it down to hell together with those who descend into the Pit; and all the trees of Eden, the choice and best of Lebanon, all that drink water, were comforted in the depths of the earth. 17 They also went down to hell with it, with those slain by the sword; and those who were its strong arm dwelt in its shadows among the nations.
10 Yes, I will make many peoples astonished at you, and their kings shall be horribly afraid of you when I brandish My sword before them; and they shall tremble every moment, every man for his own life, in the day of your fall. 11 ‘For thus says the Lord God: “The sword of the king of Babylon shall come upon you. 12 By the swords of the mighty warriors, all of them the most terrible of the nations, I will cause your multitude to fall.
“They shall plunder the pomp of Egypt, And all its multitude shall be destroyed. 13 Also I will destroy all its animals From beside its great waters; The foot of man shall muddy them no more, Nor shall the hooves of animals muddy them. 14 Then I will make their waters clear, And make their rivers run like oil,” Says the Lord God.
15 “When I make the land of Egypt desolate, And the country is destitute of all that once filled it, When I strike all who dwell in it, Then they shall know that I am the Lord.
16 “This is the lamentation With which they shall lament her; The daughters of the nations shall lament her; They shall lament for her, for Egypt, And for all her multitude,” Says the Lord God.’”
EGYPT AND OTHERS CONSIGNED TO THE PIT 17 It came to pass also in the twelfth year, on the fifteenth day of the month, that the word of the Lord came to me, saying:
18 “Son of man, wail over the multitude of Egypt, And cast them down to the depths of the earth, Her and the daughters of the famous nations, With those who go down to the Pit: 19 ‘Whom do you surpass in beauty? Go down, be placed with the uncircumcised.’
around it, All of them uncircumcised, slain by the sword, Though they caused their terror in the land of the living. 27 They do not lie with the mighty Who are fallen of the uncircumcised, Who have gone down to hell with their weapons of war; They have laid their swords under their heads, But their iniquities will be on their bones, Because of the terror of the mighty in the land of the living. 28 Yes, you shall be broken in the midst of the uncircumcised, And lie with those slain by the sword.
29 “There is Edom, Her kings and all her princes, Who despite their might Are laid beside those slain by the sword; They shall lie with the uncircumcised, And with those who go down to the Pit.
30 There are the princes of the north,All of them, and all the Sidonians,Who have gone down with the slainIn shame at the terror which they caused by their might;They lie uncircumcised with those slain by the sword,And bear their shame with those who go down to the Pit. 31 “Pharaoh will see them And be comforted over all his multitude, Pharaoh and all his army, Slain by the sword,” Says the Lord God.
32 “For I have caused My terror in the land of the living; And he shall be placed in the midst of the uncircumcised With those slain by the sword, Pharaoh and all his multitude,” Says the Lord God.
Interview someone — a friend, another blogger, your mother, the mailman — and write a post based on their responses. Dear God, I pray that when I am faced with situations that need to be resolved, may I never turn to my emotions or external influences. May your voice be the first one I hear and may I listen to it too. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.
I’m inviting you to join me for amazing Bible-centered teaching on Turning Point Radio and Television in September—and I have included the schedule below so you won’t miss a single broadcast.
As you dive into these biblical teachings this month…I also want to pause and say thank you. Your compassion, prayers, and partnership with Turning Point greatly impact people who look to us to learn more about life in Christ.
These are troubling times. Many people are confused, fearful, and looking for hope…and you are there for them with Turning Point, showing them the truth and wisdom of God’s Word and revealing the hope they have in Jesus. Thank you!
And please enjoy the September teachings, created with you and all our Turning Point family in mind.
The Importance of the Bible and The Book that Will Change Your Life are exciting teachings on why we read the Bible, the wisdom it imparts to us, the power of Bible study and committing Scripture to memory, and much more!
Discover how the great men and women of the Old Testament were able to overcome setbacks—and put their example to use in your own life. Learn from Job how to overcome overwhelming tragedy, from Elijah how to overcome the culture’s intimidation, from Ruth how to overcome bad decisions, and from Noah how to overcome a corrupt world.
Proverbs 23:7 declares, “For as he thinks in his heart, so is he.” I think it is clear: You are not necessarily what you think…but what you think, you are! Discover how cultivating a mind that is devoted, dedicated, diligent, and disciplined can lead you to a spiritual walk and a lifetime,of joy and fulfillment.
God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us,” says Romans 5:8. There really is no greater illustration of God’s love for us than the gift of the Cross…but these messages are designed to show you that there’s much, much more to God’s love for you than simply salvation. God’s love means He will never let you go; He loves you even when you don’t love Him; His love for you is carved in stone and never quits…Discover all this and more through this exciting series!
Where can we place our trust? Trust is an interesting thing. We learn trust from our parents and those who are first entrusted with us. When I was a young mother with four children and pregnant with the fifth, we needed to move to another state because of my husband’s job. A family moved into the neighborhood who had a son the same age as my oldest daughter and she was pregnant with her second child. We became friends. After her child was born I had reason to question her parenting judgment. While she did nothing that was technically neglectful or abusive, from the first night home, she would double diaper her baby and not get up in the night to care for him regardless of how much he cried. He spent most of his time in an infant seat. By the time he was a month old, he stiffened any time he was held and couldn’t seem to relax and be cuddled. As I had my own newborn, I thought that this was unusual. I moved from the area and never had an opportunity to watch him grow up, but I always wondered about whether or not he ever learned to trust those who said they loved him. We build trust by taking care of the needs of our children as soon as possible. We feed them when they are hungry, change them when they are wet and hold them when they are frightened or just because we love them. We have trust in God because we trust those who told us about him. We have come to know Jesus because we trust the evangelists who gave their lives to bring us the Good News. We trust in the promise, and have hope that we will spend eternity with the Father whose love we have come to know.
He that handleth a matter wisely shall find good: and whoso trusteth in the LORD, happy is he. Proverbs 16:20
It is good and profitable to use God’s wisdom to solve situations. When we try and solve situations using our emotions, mistakes will always be made. You will find joy and happiness when you rely on the wisdom of God, because it always ensures that situations turn out for the best.
Then had the churches rest throughout all Judaea and Galilee and Samaria, and were edified; and walking in the fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost, were multiplied. 9:31
The early church was at peace, comforted by the Holy Spirit, and growing steadily. They could not use modern technology to spread the Word. Instead, the Holy Spirit consistently provided opportunities to witness; people arrived in multitudes to hear the apostles speak and pass along precious information. Today we have multiple options available to spread the Word efficiently and quickly. We will allow the Holy Spirit to guide us, using technology to spread the Word.
Dear Lord, we are blessed with multiple ways to continue Your ministry. Please keep us prepared for new opportunities every day. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
It features stirring photography of nature’s wonders plus wonderful promises recorded in God’s unchanging and enduring Word! Throughout the year, you will be encouraged by the promises of God’s faithfulness, wisdom, blessings, grace, mercy, and—best of all—love.
What TV shows did you watch as a kid? Tom and Jerry!
For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. Act 20:29
Dear Lord, help us study daily to gain wisdom needed to expose imposters who seek to destroy Your Word. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
We must make Bible Study a priority in order to remain well versed in the Word. The devil is always on the prowl and places false prophets in our paths to throw us off course. They tell us sinful lifestyles aren’t really all that bad and they twist Scripture to fit their own agenda. Some despise Christianity and seek ways to tear it apart. Bible Study strengthens our knowledge and wisdom, exposing these imposters.
One day, I decided to take this as a model of prayer and to write my own. I am sharing mine with you and I hope you will take to time to write your own “Our Father.”
Our Father – my Father – my prayer is that all creation would one day acknowledge you as Father; that your name, Abba, Father, would be respected, honored and prayed by your children. Yes, one and all, we are your children, and I thank and praise you that I love you and give you my life and unending love. Your kingdom is here present in each of us. I pray that we may grow stronger in your will and less in ours, that all may come to know you, adore your, and reverence you as they do in heaven. Lord, you have given me so much. What have I given back? Am I like the Pharisee who says, “Look at me Lord, see what I do for you. I am not like the tax collector.” Help me to be more responsive to the needs of others, to help them meet their needs for daily bread. Oh, Lord, you do have a sense of humor. You want me to forgive two different people who lied about me and cost me my jobs. But I know that there have been times when I have needed to ask you your forgiveness and if I withhold it from those who have hurt me, how can I come to you. Help me to be a more forgiving person so that I am not asking for that which I am unwilling to give. Lord, there are so many temptations in this world today. Our society is rife with Things. We could and often do, forget you, Lord. Help us to remember that it is you that is all we truly need, not things.
Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood. Acts 20:28
Paul instructs early church leaders to sustain themselves and their flock. Our teachers have been called by the Holy Spirit to educate us about our commitment to God. They are commissioned to nurture our spiritual growth. We must encourage our teachers to also take time for themselves so they may be renewed and strengthened by the Spirit as well. Our leaders are special gifts, and we will lift them up with prayer and reassuring conversation.
Dear Lord, we are thankful for our teachers and will continue to lift them up in prayer and encouragement. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
He’s in his junior year as a computer science major at the University of Maine. He made the dean’s list last spring. He’s a prodigy who also plays tennis, loves his pooch, and stands up for his family.
So when his mother, a respected pediatric intensive care doctor, was fired from Northern Light Health’s Eastern Maine Medical Center after raising concerns about patient safety, Samson took action. He researched the topic, finding news articles and watchdog reports that backed up his mother’s concerns. He started a Change.org petition addressed to his congressman. He published a letter to the editor in the University of Maine campus newspaper. Northern Light didn’t appreciate Samson exercising his First Amendment rights. So it threatened to sue — his mother, for defamation — by claiming with zero evidence that she wrote Samson’s petition and letter to the editor.
“Young people have free speech rights just like everyone else,” said Samson. “I have the right to stand up and speak my mind without being bullied into silence.”
When those with deep pockets want to shut someone up, they can threaten a strategic lawsuit against public participation. Lawyers call them SLAPP suits, and they threaten free speech with litigation that could bankrupt an ordinary citizen. “It’s nothing more than censorship by lawsuit,” explains FIRE senior attorney Jay Diaz.
Are you turning healthy fruits into highly unhealthy fruits, without even realizing it?
Fruit can be one of the healthiest things you can put into your body, but the majority of Americans are guilty of making this single mistake that can counteract all of the health benefits of fruit.
Some fruits can help with occasional constipation, reduce bloating, and even help burn calories.
Others can wreak havoc on your digestive system and energy levels.
In this viral presentation, world-renowned heart surgeon Dr. Steven Gundry showcases the three fruits to stop eating today.
could forever change the way we help increase energy levels, decrease brain fog, support digestion, and even lose weight.
You are receiving this sponsored promotion as a way to help keep Prophecy News Watch free of charge. Sponsored promotions are made available through our partners and not Prophecy News Watch directly. Please contact the sponsor with any inquiries you may have.
I would not listen to anything this doctor has to say. We have been eating blueberries since the beginning of time.
If you had to change your name, what would your new name be? God already has a name for us so, whatever He wants it to be!
Will God will find me godly, and answer my prayers? This is the prayer of the psalmist who finds himself surrounded by those who mock him. It probably has been the prayer of many of us who try and follow Jesus. It seems that people love those who champion a cause as long as they don’t interfere with their ability to do what they want. In the past few years in the United States, we have seen an increase in gun violence and much of it has been directed at young people. Now the young are banding together to urge those eligible to vote to register in the hopes that they will be able to make a change in the government that they feel has not done enough to limit the availability to those weapons that have caused the most damage. Those who in previous years had hoped that young people would get more involved are now concerned that their rights might be at stake. I’m sure that some of the good that David would do as king probably had many afraid that their corrupt ways and lack of fidelity to God would be affected. We can turn to the psalms and ask God to protect us. We can turn to this early prayer book for everything we need. We can turn to the psalms when we feel far from God and need forgiveness. In times of sorrow, the psalms give us hope. This psalm, said to be of David, expresses his trust that God will bless him and is a warning to those who sin. This is our prayer as well. The closing verse seems to say that when we search our hearts at night we can sleep peacefully when we remember God’s goodness to us.
What motivates you? It’s not what motivates me, it’s Who motivates me! God’s loving Words motivates me!
What has any one of us done for God, or given to God that he should have sent his Son, Jesus, to save us? We have done nothing to deserve salvation. We have done nothing to deserve any of the blessings we have been given. It is only through the unconditional love of God that any of this has been done. True, we can look around and see that others may be better looking or smarter, or healthier or wealthier than others. There will be those who seem to have more and we might feel cheated. But just as they did nothing to deserve what they have, we have done nothing to deserve what we have. God’s gifts are not based on whether or not we deserve what we have but the gifts we have been given fit into his plan for our benefit and the benefit of others. Many years ago there was a movie called “It’s A Wonderful Life.” In the movie the main character feels like he is a failure and that it would have been better if he had never been born. In the course of the movie, he learns about how his life has touched others in both major and minor ways. But each person he touched also influenced the lives of others. We don’t always see the effect our lives have on others, but God does. If we never existed, someone’s life would have been less for our not being there. The most important thing we have received is the gift of eternal life and none of us have done anything to deserve that. And so we pray as Paul did:
Jesus of Nazareth, the Greatest Story Ever Told. All movies about Jesus and the Bible.
On this day in 1893, writer and humorist Dorothy Parker was born in Long Branch, New Jersey. She gained national recognition for her wit and cutting voice as a critic, poet and screenwriter.
We Are Simply a Staff
Yael Eckstein | August 22, 2023Engraving by Gustave Dore (1832 – 1883)
“When Pharaoh says to you, ‘Perform a miracle,’ then say to Aaron, ‘Take your staff and throw it down before Pharaoh,’ and it will become a snake.” — Exodus 7:9
Miracles are central to both the Jewish and Christian faiths, and both biblical narratives are replete with miracles. Enjoy this collection of devotional teachings on the nature of God’s awe-inspiring signs and wonders.
Today, human beings can accomplish things previously unimaginable through science, technology, and medicine. We can cure deadly diseases, send man to the moon, turn the sun into energy, and print 3D objects.
On a more basic level, we buy our food from supermarkets, turn on lights with a flick of a switch, and get from one side of the world to another in a matter of hours. If man can make such miracles, what do we need God for?
While our abilities have certainly increased throughout history, this dangerous thought pattern has existed for thousands of years.
We Are Simply a Staff
The story of the Exodus from Egypt is full of God’s miracles. In God’s first show of power, He commanded Moses to tell Aaron to turn a staff into a snake. However, when Aaron carried out this act, Pharaoh called upon his magicians to do the exact same thing. In fact, according to Jewish tradition, any child in Egypt could perform the old “stick to snake trick.” With His infinite abilities, why didn’t God start with something more impressive?
The Jewish sages explain that this miracle was meant to send a poignant message about the power of man and God. In ancient Egypt, snakes were the main symbol of royalty and deity. After Pharaoh’s magicians replicated this miracle, Aaron’s snake swallowed up Pharaoh’s snakes, showing that while Pharaoh’s tricks may seem impressive, only the acts of God will last forever.
At the end of the story, Aaron’s snake turns back into a staff, this time sending a message to the children of Israel. Man is not God; we are simply a staff—a tool in His hand. No matter how impressive today’s achievements may appear, we cannot be fooled by modern magic. We have only been able to create such incredible miracles because God endowed us with wisdom and enabled our success.
Your Turn:
The next time you enjoy a modern miracle or experience success, remember to thank God, the One True Miracle-Maker.
revolutions felled and founded new cultures and governments, while world wars raged, and even now into the present age, Christianity has stood strong, lovingly maintaining the doctrines laid out 2,000 years ago by a Carpenter from Nazareth, Who was also told, “Delete it,” in the parlance of the day, and lost far more than just His job.
Just as American patriots once agreed on what liberty is while sitting around their drinks in pubs, just as they once proclaimed what they knew to be true in the pages of their newspapers and gazettes, just as they once shouted their common beliefs in the streets, so too have today’s American patriots, speaking in today’s town square, agreed that conservatives must not condemn or denigrate Christianity but embrace it.
Hopefully, today’s patriots will continue following in the footsteps of their forefathers and will not be content with pub-table conversations, printed words, and marching in the streets, but will speak at the ballot box too and elect representatives who respect and even share their beliefs, the beliefs that this nation was built upon.
Can you have both fear and love? 1 John 4:18 observes, “There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.” Yet in Philippians 2, Paul urges his readers to work out their salvation “in fear and trembling.” What is the difference between these two kinds of fear?The difference is the fear of punishment. Paul does not urge the Philippians to work out their salvation for fear of losing it if they fail to perform well. Neither was Paul urging them to work for their salvation. He assures them, in verse 13, that God was already working in them “to will and to act.” Instead, he is talking about a salvation they have already begun to experience. New Testament scholar H. C. G. Moule describes this sort of fear as “a reverent and wakeful conscience in his holy presence.”To help them with this, Paul hoped to send his protégé Timothy soon to take stock of the situation and bring back a report (vv. 19 23). For now, he was sending them Epaphroditus who had been their connection to Paul. Epaphroditus was probably sent by the church with funds to help Paul’s ministry and to assist in other ways. In verse 25, the apostle calls him a messenger or minister sent to care for Paul’s needs. Paul also calls him a brother, co- worker, and fellow soldier.Working out our salvation is the process God uses to help us fully grasp the reality of a salvation that Jesus Christ has already accomplished for us. God works from within and sends His servants to help us as they work from the outside.>> The wrong kind of fear can be as crippling to spiritual growth as complacency. Don’t freeze up in fear. Instead, draw near to God with a reverent awareness of His presence.
Intend to Grow Today
James 4:13-14 (NLT®) Look here, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we are going to a certain town and will stay there a year. We will do business there and make a profit.” How do you know what your life will be like tomorrow? Your life is like the morning fog—it’s here a little while, then it’s gone.
How many times have you thought about what you will do for God when the next season of life comes along? Less time at the lake, more time at church. Less money on fun, more on Kingdom endeavors. It’s easy to assume we will have a tomorrow when we can do better than we intend to do today, but none of us has been promised that tomorrow. I don’t want to sound grim, but I do think it’s a good idea to live as if tomorrow is not guaranteed. I’m not saying you should live like you’re in a movie where you must finish your to-do list in one day, but I do want you to think about the state of your relationship with Jesus. If you need to make any changes, don’t wait—make them today.
THINK ABOUT IT Every day you are alive is another chance to become a more fully devoted follower of Jesus of Nazareth. Do not procrastinate. Following Jesus is the greatest and most rewarding path you can take in life.
PRAYER Heavenly Father, thank You that “tomorrow” rests in Your watchful care as You are preparing me for an eternity in Your presence. Holy Spirit, help me cooperate with You now to invest every moment I have in God’s Kingdom purposes, laying aside anything that hinders that assignment. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Fight for Hope Psalm 137:3-6 (NIV®) Our tormentors demanded songs of joy; they said, “Sing us one of the songs of Zion!” How can we sing the songs of the LORD while in a foreign land? If I forget you, Jerusalem, may my right hand forget its skill. May my tongue cling to the roof of my mouth if I do not remember you, if I do not consider Jerusalem my highest joy.
This was written after the Babylonians had destroyed Jerusalem and taken the Hebrews captive. God’s people had watched as the invaders tore down the walls, slaughtered people in the streets, and destroyed the Temple. All they had known was gone, and now, they were living in Babylon—in the first Jewish ghetto. Can you imagine their despair? But I hear something beautiful in the psalm. I hear them fighting for hope. It seemed like their circumstances were about to overwhelm them and wash them away. Yet, they pleaded with the Lord to help them remember. When you feel like you have been taken captive by your circumstances, do as they did, and fight for hope. Remember what God has done for you in the past, and then, trust Him with your future.
THINK ABOUT IT Your problems may be physical, financial, emotional, or spiritual—but remember, God sees you and cares. Put your faith, trust, and hope in Him.
PRAYER Heavenly Father, thank You for all You have done for me. Your grace and mercy, through the cross, have delivered me from all my sins and given me a living hope. No matter my circumstance, I rejoice in the kindness and love You have poured upon my life. In Jesus’ name, amen.
How do you plan your goals? O Lord my God, I cried out to You, and You healed me. Psalm 30:2
I ask God everyday to guide my steps!
God revealed Himself to His people Israel by a series of covenant names, one of which was Jehovah Rophe—“the Lord who heals.” Having redeemed His people from Egypt, God told them if they would walk in His statutes they would be spared from the diseases He brought on the Egyptians—“For I am the Lord who heals you” (Exodus 15:26).
Psalm 41:1-3 (nkjv) THE BLESSING AND SUFFERING OF THE GODLY To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David. 41 Blessed is he who considers the poor; The Lord will deliver him in time of trouble. 2 The Lord will preserve him and keep him alive, And he will be blessed on the earth; You will not deliver him to the will of his enemies. 3 The Lord will strengthen him on his bed of illness; You will sustain him on his sickbed.
Conversely, if Israel failed to walk in obedience to God, they would suffer the diseases of Egypt and more (Deuteronomy 28:60-61). Part of the covenant expectations that Israel had of God was that He would forgive all their sins and heal all their diseases (Psalm 103:2-3). The coming Messiah would be “bruised for our iniquities” and we would be “healed” by His “stripes” (Isaiah 53:5; 1 Peter 2:24). Healing, or salvation, was considered to be inclusive of both body and soul. So it is no surprise that we find the psalmist David praying for healing in Psalm 30. And it should likewise be no surprise that God answered his prayer (verse 2).
From your head to your toes, if you are in need of wholeness and good health, ask the Lord who heals you.
Any sinner may be healed if he will only come to Christ.
Jeremiah 44:1 – 46:28 (nkjv) ISRAELITES WILL BE PUNISHED IN EGYPT 44 The word that came to Jeremiah concerning all the Jews who dwell in the land of Egypt, who dwell at Migdol, at Tahpanhes, at Noph, and in the country of Pathros, saying, 2 “Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: ‘You have seen all the calamity that I have brought on Jerusalem and on all the cities of Judah; and behold, this day they are a desolation, and no one dwells in them, 3 because of their wickedness which they have committed to provoke Me to anger, in that they went to burn incense and to serve other gods whom they did not know, they nor you nor your fathers. 4 However I have sent to you all My servants the prophets, rising early and sending them, saying, “Oh, do not do this abominable thing that I hate!” 5 But they did not listen or incline their ear to turn from their wickedness, to burn no incense to other gods. 6 So My fury and My anger were poured out and kindled in the cities of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem; and they are wasted and desolate, as it is this day.’
7 “Now therefore, thus says the Lord, the God of hosts, the God of Israel: ‘Why do you commit this great evil against yourselves, to cut off from you man and woman, child and infant, out of Judah, leaving none to remain, 8 in that you provoke Me to wrath with the works of your hands, burning incense to other gods in the land of Egypt where you have gone to dwell, that you may cut yourselves off and be a curse and a reproach among all the nations of the earth? 9 Have you forgotten the wickedness of your fathers, the wickedness of the kings of Judah, the wickedness of their wives, your own wickedness, and the wickedness of your wives, which they committed in the land of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem? 10 They have not been humbled, to this day, nor have they feared; they have not walked in My law or in My statutes that I set before you and your fathers.’
Jeremiah 44:1 – 46:28 (nkjv) 11 “Therefore thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: ‘Behold, I will set My face against you for catastrophe and for cutting off all Judah. 12 And I will take the remnant of Judah who have set their faces to go into the land of Egypt to dwell there, and they shall all be consumed and fall in the land of Egypt. They shall be consumed by the sword and by famine. They shall die, from the least to the greatest, by the sword and by famine; and they shall be an oath, an astonishment, a curse and a reproach! 13 For I will punish those who dwell in the land of Egypt, as I have punished Jerusalem, by the sword, by famine, and by pestilence, 14 so that none of the remnant of Judah who have gone into the land of Egypt to dwell there shall escape or survive, lest they return to the land of Judah, to which they desire to return and dwell. For none shall return except those who escape.’”
15 Then all the men who knew that their wives had burned incense to other gods, with all the women who stood by, a great multitude, and all the people who dwelt in the land of Egypt, in Pathros, answered Jeremiah, saying: 16 “As for the word that you have spoken to us in the name of the Lord, we will not listen to you! 17 But we will certainly do whatever has gone out of our own mouth, to burn incense to the queen of heaven and pour out drink offerings to her, as we have done, we and our fathers, our kings and our princes, in the cities of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem. For then we had plenty of food, were well-off, and saw no trouble. 18 But since we stopped burning incense to the queen of heaven and pouring out drink offerings to her, we have lacked everything and have been consumed by the sword and by famine.”
19 The women also said, “And when we burned incense to the queen of heaven and poured out drink offerings to her, did we make cakes for her, to worship her, and pour out drink offerings to her without our husbands’ permission?”
20 Then Jeremiah spoke to all the people—the men, the women, and all the people who had given him that answer—saying:
21 “The incense that you burned in the cities of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem, you and your fathers, your kings and your princes, and the people of the land, did not the Lord remember them, and did it not come into His mind? 22 So the Lord could no longer bear it, because of the evil of your doings and because of the abominations which you committed. Therefore your land is a desolation, an astonishment, a curse, and without an inhabitant, as it is this day. 23 Because you have burned incense and because you have sinned against the Lord, and have not obeyed the voice of the Lord or walked in His law, in His statutes or in His testimonies, therefore this calamity has happened to you, as at this day.” 24 Moreover Jeremiah said to all the people and to all the women, “Hear the word of the Lord, all Judah who are in the land of Egypt! 25 Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, saying: ‘You and your wives have spoken with your mouths and fulfilled with your hands, saying, “We will surely keep our vows that we have made, to burn incense to the queen of heaven and pour out drink offerings to her.” You will surely keep your vows and perform your vows!’ 26 Therefore hear the word of the Lord, all Judah who dwell in the land of Egypt: ‘Behold, I have sworn by My great name,’ says the Lord, ‘that My name shall no more be named in the mouth of any man of Judah in all the land of Egypt, saying, “The Lord God lives.” 27 Behold, I will watch over them for adversity and not for good. And all the men of Judah who are in the land of Egypt shall be consumed by the sword and by famine, until there is an end to them. 28 Yet a small number who escape the sword shall return from the land of Egypt to the land of Judah; and all the remnant of Judah, who have gone to the land of Egypt to dwell there, shall know whose words will stand, Mine or theirs. 29 And this shall be a sign to you,’ says the Lord, ‘that I will punish you in this place, that you may know that My words will surely stand against you for adversity.’
30 “Thus says the Lord: ‘Behold, I will give Pharaoh Hophra king of Egypt into the hand of his enemies and into the hand of those who seek his life, as I gave Zedekiah king of Judah into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, his enemy who sought his life.’”
ASSURANCE TO BARUCH 45 The word that Jeremiah the prophet spoke to Baruch the son of Neriah, when he had written these words in a book at the instruction of Jeremiah, in the fourth year of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah, saying, 2 “Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, to you, O Baruch: 3 ‘You said, “Woe is me now! For the Lord has added grief to my sorrow. I fainted in my sighing, and I find no rest.”’
4 “Thus you shall say to him, ‘Thus says the Lord: “Behold, what I have built I will break down, and what I have planted I will pluck up, that is, this whole land.
5 And do you seek great things for yourself? Do not seek them; for behold, I will bring adversity on all flesh,” says the Lord. “But I will give your life to you as a prize in all places, wherever you go.”’” JUDGMENT ON EGYPT 46 The word of the Lord which came to Jeremiah the prophet against the nations. 2 Against Egypt.
Concerning the army of Pharaoh Necho, king of Egypt, which was by the River Euphrates in Carchemish, and which Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon defeated in the fourth year of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah:
3 “Order the buckler and shield, And draw near to battle! 4 Harness the horses, And mount up, you horsemen! Stand forth with your helmets, Polish the spears, Put on the armor! 5 Why have I seen them dismayed and turned back? Their mighty ones are beaten down; They have speedily fled, And did not look back, For fear was all around,” says the Lord.
6 “Do not let the swift flee away,Nor the mighty man escape;They will stumble and fallToward the north, by the River Euphrates. 7 “Who is this coming up like a flood, Whose waters move like the rivers? 8 Egypt rises up like a flood, And its waters move like the rivers; And he says, ‘I will go up and cover the earth, I will destroy the city and its inhabitants.’ 9 Come up, O horses, and rage, O chariots! And let the mighty men come forth: The Ethiopians and the Libyans who handle the shield, And the Lydians who handle and bend the bow. 10 For this is the day of the Lord God of hosts, A day of vengeance, That He may avenge Himself on His adversaries. The sword shall devour; It shall be satiated and made drunk with their blood; For the Lord God of hosts has a sacrifice In the north country by the River Euphrates.
11 “Go up to Gilead and take balm, O virgin, the daughter of Egypt; In vain you will use many medicines; You shall not be cured. 12 The nations have heard of your shame, And your cry has filled the land; For the mighty man has stumbled against the mighty; They both have fallen together.”
BABYLONIA WILL STRIKE EGYPT 13 The word that the Lord spoke to Jeremiah the prophet, how Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon would come and strike the land of Egypt.
14 “Declare in Egypt, and proclaim in Migdol; Proclaim in Noph and in Tahpanhes; Say, ‘Stand fast and prepare yourselves, For the sword devours all around you.’ 15 Why are your valiant men swept away? They did not stand Because the Lord drove them away.
Several recent decisions by the Supreme Court have helped restore the foundational freedoms that made the United States, though far from perfect, the greatest nation on earth. Yet we must realize that there is no real freedom apart from God and the acceptance of personal responsibility. There can be no effective government without responsible citizens living under moral order. If we do not live under control with the freedom Jesus offered to all captives, we can never hope for our society to support and maintain the principles that enable freedom.
With an understanding of the importance of personal freedom, we may rightly ask the question, “What about national freedom?” It is my firm opinion we are in danger of losing it, along with the opportunity it offers. It is my prayer that all believers will learn that we must live to protect what others died to provide.
We are in the process of forfeiting the freedom our founders established – a freedom built on moral absolutes and a strong, but limited, government. Enemies of faith and true freedom don’t even want to acknowledge the supernatural power that influenced America’s birth or the importance of God, faith, family, and the principles necessary for freedom. They stand hell-bent in opposition to undeniable, absolute, transforming truth.
It’s time for people who understand the value of faith and freedom and its foundation to stand together like a mighty army – an undeniable spiritual force. We must reclaim the land of promise birthed through faith, prayer, and personal sacrifice to bless the American people and the nations of the world. Our freedom can only be preserved with the same determination, diligence, and supernatural unity Jesus prayed for and freedom’s champions understand.
The framers of the Constitution knew that the true liberty they offered demanded responsible citizens. Benjamin Franklin was asked if the meeting in Philadelphia had created a monarchy or a republic. Franklin answered, “A republic – if you can keep it.” Franklin, along with the other founders, knew that in order for liberty to be maintained, it would have to be supported by principled statesmen who were actively engaged in the task of governing themselves, encouraging all citizens to hold fast to truths espoused in the Declaration of Independence.
John Adams, our second president, said, “Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.”
We are on the verge of losing freedom’s blessings as morality is under assault. Sadly, the church has not fully understood the importance of living under the control of God with the powerful spirit of God providing the strength for us to not only enjoy the privileges and possibilities of freedom, but also to protect them.
Jesus commissioned His followers to share the truth that sets people free and keeps them free. He said, “When the Son sets you free, you are free indeed.”
Ronald Reagan observed, “Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We don’t pass it on to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected and handed on to them to do the same or one day we will spend our sunset years telling our children and our children’s children what it was once like in the United States when men were free.”
I do not want to be found among those who will be asked what we were doing when freedom died. By the grace of God, with His help and the help of those who share common concerns and with Christians of conviction, I will not be indifferent and allow freedom to die on my watch. I will continue to pray, preach, and openly call for a return to God-given principles.
America’s founders believed they were on a journey similar to that of Israel’s exodus from Egypt to God’s Promised Land. Moses was their hero. His farewell address delivered on Mount Nebo references the choices God offers those desiring true freedom. Martin Luther King, Jr. invoked these words the night before he was assassinated in 1968, and Ronald Reagan repeated them while standing at the base of the Statue of Liberty celebrating our nation’s birthday in 1986:
“See, I have set before you this day life and good, death and adversity. For I command you this day to love the Lord your God to walk in His ways and to keep his commandments. But if you turn away, you will certainly perish. You shall not long endure on the soil that you are crossing the Jordan to enter. I have put before you life and death, blessing and curse, choose life that you and your offspring shall live.” (Deuteronomy 30:15-19)
The life being offered was a life of freedom, fullness and fruitfulness. God has granted us both the privilege and responsibility of being overseers, good stewards of all that He had entrusted to our care. You can be the guardians, the gate keepers, the restorers of the foundation and the wall builders maintaining our precious liberty. Let not your hearts be troubled. Keep the faith. Fight the fight as a good soldier of the Lord Jesus Christ with the whole armor of God and the sword of the Spirit, don’t bend and don’t bow before the godless influences of this world and you will not be crushed and enslaved by the powers in this present world!
When God rules in individual lives, sound principles will prevail in our land. Leaders will no longer be chosen because of personality, party affiliation, or skillful communication. They will be chosen because of their commitment to God-given principles necessary for the survival of true freedom.
I am praying to God and appealing to caring people to help restore America and freedom. It will not be easy, but together, and with God’s help, it can be done. This is the greatest hour for people of faith to become a guiding light.
Several recent decisions by the Supreme Court have helped restore the foundational freedoms that made the United States, though far from perfect, the greatest nation on earth. Yet we must realize that there is no real freedom apart from God and the acceptance of personal responsibility. There can be no effective government without responsible citizens living under moral order. If we do not live under control with the freedom Jesus offered to all captives, we can never hope for our society to support and maintain the principles that enable freedom.
With an understanding of the importance of personal freedom, we may rightly ask the question, “What about national freedom?” It is my firm opinion we are in danger of losing it, along with the opportunity it offers. It is my prayer that all believers will learn that we must live to protect what others died to provide.
We are in the process of forfeiting the freedom our founders established – a freedom built on moral absolutes and a strong, but limited, government. Enemies of faith and true freedom don’t even want to acknowledge the supernatural power that influenced America’s birth or the importance of God, faith, family, and the principles necessary for freedom. They stand hell-bent in opposition to undeniable, absolute, transforming truth.
It’s time for people who understand the value of faith and freedom and its foundation to stand together like a mighty army – an undeniable spiritual force. We must reclaim the land of promise birthed through faith, prayer, and personal sacrifice to bless the American people and the nations of the world. Our freedom can only be preserved with the same determination, diligence, and supernatural unity Jesus prayed for and freedom’s champions understand.
The framers of the Constitution knew that the true liberty they offered demanded responsible citizens. Benjamin Franklin was asked if the meeting in Philadelphia had created a monarchy or a republic. Franklin answered, “A republic – if you can keep it.” Franklin, along with the other founders, knew that in order for liberty to be maintained, it would have to be supported by principled statesmen who were actively engaged in the task of governing themselves, encouraging all citizens to hold fast to truths espoused in the Declaration of Independence.
John Adams, our second president, said, “Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.”
We are on the verge of losing freedom’s blessings as morality is under assault. Sadly, the church has not fully understood the importance of living under the control of God with the powerful spirit of God providing the strength for us to not only enjoy the privileges and possibilities of freedom, but also to protect them.
Jesus commissioned His followers to share the truth that sets people free and keeps them free. He said, “When the Son sets you free, you are free indeed.”
Ronald Reagan observed, “Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We don’t pass it on to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected and handed on to them to do the same or one day we will spend our sunset years telling our children and our children’s children what it was once like in the United States when men were free.”
I do not want to be found among those who will be asked what we were doing when freedom died. By the grace of God, with His help and the help of those who share common concerns and with Christians of conviction, I will not be indifferent and allow freedom to die on my watch. I will continue to pray, preach, and openly call for a return to God-given principles.
America’s founders believed they were on a journey similar to that of Israel’s exodus from Egypt to God’s Promised Land. Moses was their hero. His farewell address delivered on Mount Nebo references the choices God offers those desiring true freedom. Martin Luther King, Jr. invoked these words the night before he was assassinated in 1968, and Ronald Reagan repeated them while standing at the base of the Statue of Liberty celebrating our nation’s birthday in 1986:
“See, I have set before you this day life and good, death and adversity. For I command you this day to love the Lord your God to walk in His ways and to keep his commandments. But if you turn away, you will certainly perish. You shall not long endure on the soil that you are crossing the Jordan to enter. I have put before you life and death, blessing and curse, choose life that you and your offspring shall live.” (Deuteronomy 30:15-19)
The life being offered was a life of freedom, fullness and fruitfulness. God has granted us both the privilege and responsibility of being overseers, good stewards of all that He had entrusted to our care. You can be the guardians, the gate keepers, the restorers of the foundation and the wall builders maintaining our precious liberty. Let not your hearts be troubled. Keep the faith. Fight the fight as a good soldier of the Lord Jesus Christ with the whole armor of God and the sword of the Spirit, don’t bend and don’t bow before the godless influences of this world and you will not be crushed and enslaved by the powers in this present world!
When God rules in individual lives, sound principles will prevail in our land. Leaders will no longer be chosen because of personality, party affiliation, or skillful communication. They will be chosen because of their commitment to God-given principles necessary for the survival of true freedom.
I am praying to God and appealing to caring people to help restore America and freedom. It will not be easy, but together, and with God’s help, it can be done. This is the greatest hour for people of faith to become a guiding light.
In this passage, God gives us several examples of how he protects us: both in fire and flood. These are two of the most destructive elements on earth, yet God promises to keep us safe from the harm of both the “sweeping waters” and the “flame.” He promises that we will not be overcome, even in the midst of danger. What a mighty God we serve! What a Savior is this!
When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.For I am the LORD thy God, the Holy One of Israel, thy Saviour: I gave Egypt for thy ransom, Ethiopia and Seba for thee.
This is one of my favorite Gospel Passages. It’s a question that I have often used for meditation both for myself and for classes I have taught to both teens and adults. It’s a question that I think we need to reflect upon often as we can lose sight of the importance of Jesus in our lives. And the answer can change. He might be friend, brother, Lord, Savior, shepherd, leader, companion – or just someone we have heard about. One teen answered the question by saying that Jesus was a nice man. Is that all he is? What about the Son of God – Divine? Does it make a difference in my life if I believe that Jesus is God, the Second Person of the Blessed Trinity who came to save me from eternal death by his dying on a cross? Does it make a difference in how I live if I believe that this is not the end? This is a time for getting to know him better so that I can also live eternally in heaven with the Father. I know this because of the resurrection. Yes, Jesus can be my friend and companion, but he is so much more than that. By his life, I know how to live. By his dying and rising, I can face my own death and the death of those I love because he has shown me that this is not the end. In this today’s gospel, Jesus tell us that we must pick up our cross and follow him. Are we willing to deny ourselves in order to follow Jesus? What am I being asked to change in my life, right now? I am so glad that we are reminded each we read this question that Jesus asks – not just the disciples – but us as well. Who do I say that Jesus is for me, today?
This is my favorite Proverb. It talks about two things that are so important to following God’s will. Honesty is so necessary in life. The person who lies has two things going against him. The first is kind of obvious. Once you know a person lies or is dishonest in business, how can you trust him or her? Even when the person is telling the truth, you don’t believe it. You wonder if you’re being cheated in business dealings. But there’s another problem for the person himself. The dishonest person can’t trust anyone else either because he or she figures everyone else lies or has an agenda that is out to get him or her. The second half of the proverb concerns balance. How much does any person need? I’m not asking how much a person might want, but need. It’s hard for the rich to realize their dependence on God. This is why Jesus said it was easier for a camel to walk through the eye of the needle than a rich man to enter the Kingdom of God. And the very poor can be tempted to steal in order to take care of their families, and thereby break the commandments and offend the God they love. When we think of the early Christian church, they seemed to understand this and they made sure that their goods were distributed so that all had enough, and no one had an excess.
Ecclesiastes is a fun book to read. About the only thing people recognize is in chapter three where we read about a season for everything – a time to live, a time to die, etc. – but we have much to learn from this book. I’m sure you have heard the phrase, “Those who don’t learn from history are doomed to repeat it.” This brief passage expresses the same idea. Just like the Israelites made the same mistakes over and over again, so do we. Yes, there are inventions today that we take for granted today that would never have entered into the imagination of peoples of earlier times, but they repeated the cycle of obeying God, enjoying prosperity, forgetting about God, doing their own thing, falling into the hands of the enemy, begging God for forgiveness, promising to do better, being forgiven by God and obeying – for a while, and so it went. How many times do we promise God that we will do better, we will treat people better, we will be more honest in our dealings with others, work better with our communities for justice – if God will just give us what we need now. How long did the promise last once our prayers were answered? We fall into the same cycle as the Israelites, we do the right thing or say the promised prayers, or whatever we promised for a while and then fall into bad habits and wonder what went wrong. Ecclesiastes is a short book, take some time and read it through. There’s a lot to learn here.
Many people do good things. The question here is, why? One summer I worked in the office of a major university where I recorded the donations that came in on cards with the name of the donor on them. I came across many names of prominent people who were quite familiar to me, but there was a notation on the top of many of those cards that said “anonymous.” Many of these people actually had two cards, one for the public and the other not. The public one was for far less money. They wanted to support the college, but didn’t want credit for their generosity. Obviously, people will be rewarded here for a generosity of spirit, they will be known for performing acts of heroism. We know the names of people who have worked to spread the gospel message and those who work tirelessly for justice. This does not take away from their sacrifice. But, there also are people who want to be known for their good acts and it is these that Jesus warns about. It is one thing for people to come to know the goodness of others; it is another for that person to call attention to what they are doing for their own glory. Do we act because as followers of Christ we are called to do what we do? Or, do we want attention?
Position of the Parties Zechariah 3:6 > The Angel of the Lord gave this charge to Joshua: 7 – “This is what the Lord Almighty says: “If you (I) will walk in my ways and keep My requirements then you will govern My House and have change of My Courts, and I will give you a place among these standing here.
Psalm 33:12 – “Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD.”
America was founded on godly principles rooted in God’s eternal Word. Freedom is God’s idea, and implanted within every human heart by the Creator who made them is the yearning to be free. Leviticus 25:10, inscribed on our Liberty Bell says, “Proclaim liberty throughout all the land unto all inhabitants thereof.”
The golden, majestic appearance of our Declaration of Independence – the parchment papaer, the resolute signatures of those who represented the voice of a new nation, and the rich content of this anointed document, bear testimony to the powerful faith which underscored the conviction on which our independence is based: “… the Laws of Nature and Nature’s of God that all men are created equal, and they are endowed by thier Creator with vertain unalienable Rights… appealing to the Supreme Court of the world. …”
faith of our earliset leaders can be seen in the content of their state constitutions, penned by some of these men who wrote the Declaration of Independence. The Delaware document, for example, written by Thomas McKean, a signer of the Declaration of Independence and the Articles of Confederation, and George Read, also a signer of the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution ofthe United States, says, “Every person who shall be chosen a memeber either house, or appointed to any office or place of trust, before taking his seat, or entering upon the execution of his office, shall take the following oath: “I…do profess faith in God the Father, and in Jesus Christ His only Son, and in the Holy Spirit, one God, blessed for ever more; and I do acknowledge the holy scriptures of the Old and New Testament to be given by divine inspiration.” 1
Authors of the State Constitution of Pennsylvania, Benjamin Rush and James Wilson, shared a like conviction. They wrote: “Each memeber of the Legislature, before he takes his set, shall make and subscribe the following declaration: I do believe in one God, the Creator and Governor of the good and the Punisher of the wicked. And I doacknowledge the Scriptures of the Old and New Testament to be given by divine inspiration.”
The North Carolina Constitution bears witness to a desire that believers shape the governing process: “No person who sahll deny the being of God or the truth of the Christian religion, or the divine authority, either of the Old and New Testaments, or who shall hold religious principles incompatible with the freedoms and safety of the State, shall be capable of holding any office or palce of trust or profit in the civil department within this State.”In 1892, the Supreme Court noted that each of the 44 states then in the Union had some kind of God-cnetered declaration in its constitution. Indeed, the writings and governing documents of our Founding Fathers attest to their belief that a central faith in the Almighty was essential, and that ths new America could only move forward as “One Nation Under God.”
God raised up America for His own special purpose: to be a witness to His great goodness, to carry out the Great Commission and to be a light to the world. His drea from the beginning was to build a nation through whom all the nations of the earth would be blessed. It is being accomplished everywhere born-again, Spirit-filled believers are standing in faith, boldly releasing His covenant promises for the fullfillment of His purpose. As you read this post, get to know and appreciate these God-anointed, founding documents of America that are based on Hos eternal Word, and the other historical documents included in this post. Set your hearts to pray for the great experiment in freedom, dedicated to the Lord Jesus Christ. Allow God’s Word to flow from your mouth in faith as we partner with Him in intercession for the manifestation of His plans, purpose and pursuits for One Nation Under God – the United States of America in Jesus name Amen.
Here is a prayer that Kenneth Copeland wrote for the United States Government: James 5:16 – “The earnest (heartfelt, continue) prayer of a righteous man makes tremendous pwoer available [dynamic in its working].”
Following are Scripture-based prayers that will help connect your heart with the heart of the Father for our nation. 1st Timothy 2:1-3 says we are to pray, intercede and give thanks for kings and all who are in authority. This is God’s command to every believer. Praying for godly leaders is productive toward God’s plan and purpose for our nation.
Proverbs 21:1 tells us, “THe king’s heart is in the hand of the Lord, as the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will.” God will turn the hearts of our leaders as we heed His instructions to pray for them.J
Jeremiah 1:12 – Pray this paryer in faith, believing you receive, and remember God watches over His Word to perfrom it!
Father, I pray according to 1 Timothy 2:1-3 > which says, “I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; for kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of god our Saviour.”
First, I ask for righteousness to prevail in our nation. I ask for godly counsel and wisdom for our cheif justice of the Supreme court, associate justice and all judges across this land. Isaiah 1:26 says, “And I will restore thy judges as at the first, and thy counsellors as at the beginning: afterward thou shalt be called, the city of righteousness, the faithful city.” Thank You, Lord, for restoring to our nation righteous judges who hear Your voice and adhere to Your Word.
I pray for our president, his cabinet, the vice president, the secretary of state, and the State Department; secretary of the treasury and the Department of Defense; intelligence agencies, law enforcement and the Department of Justice; secretarty of education and the Department of Education; governors and state governments; mayors, city councils and all others in authority at every level government. I pray they receive the wisdom of God, act in obedience to that wisdom, and for the power of God to flow in ther lives. Show them Your plan for the reversal for every evil way, and give them the courage to execute it. I declare that they hear and obey Your voice, Lord, and sho9w honor and respect for Your Word and your people.
Heavenly Father, and Lord God Almighty, I pray forthe members of Congress: our Senate and House of Representatives. I pray they find Your peace and direction, and they act and lead according to Your Word A house divided against itself cannot stand. Therefore, Father, I ask that You unify them in righteousness be manifest in the hearts of all in authority, and that they seek after You with all their hearts, souls, minds and strength.
In Jesus name I speak a hedge of protection over all men and women in law enforcement and the military. According to Romans 13:4, they are minsters of God, Your servants, for our good. Thank You, Lord, that Your angels surround them and keep them, that no evil befalls them, neither does any playue or calamity come near them. I declare that your hand is on them, and that yor deliver them from who lie in wait to harm them. Thank You for helping them discharge their duties with great wisdom and anointing, and walk in truth, integrity and honor. Wherever they go, they carry the anointing and light of freedom as representatives of a covenant nation.
According to Matthew 18:19 and @Now Father, you Corinthians 10:4, I bind the principalities and powers and rulers of the darkness of hte world ranged against this nation and pull them down. In the Name of Jesus, I bind every evil spirit of strife and division, and I break your power to divide this nation. I speak unity, harmony and peace over America. I declare that Jesus is Lord over the United States of America!
Now Father, Your Word says to pray for the peace of Jerusalem because those who love Jerusalem shall prosper. Because You love Jerusalem and all of Israel receives th Shalom of God, which brings wholeness – nothing missing, nothing broken. I pray no leader of our nation will make any decision that will harm Israel in any way, and that Yo make Youraself known and reveal Your perfect will to Israel and its leaders.
Thank You, Father God for hearing my prayers, in Jesus name, thank You for answering John and my prayers in Your Son Jesus name, I love You Father God in Jesus name, I love John very much. Forgive me for douhting You. Thank You Father God for lovong me in Jesus name, I thank You for softening the District Attorney in Jesus name. I am asking You for bring John back to us, To You first Father God in Jesus name Amen.
Genesis 6:11-12 > Now the earth was corrupt in God’s sight and full of violence God saw how corrupt the earth had become, for all the people on earth had corrupted their way.
Local government are encourging arrests to line their pockets. While Lackawanna County holds innocent people
There is big money in county jails in America, and Lackawanna County in Scranton Pennsylvania is no different. I believe the county should be charged with Capital Kidnapping. I know their corruption all to well. I was held three weeks longer then I should of been.
The first signal of the new wave of possible wrongdoing happened in September 2017, when agents from the state police and attorney general’s office raided the county’s Administration Building, jail and work release center. Five months later, in February 2018, the attorney general’s office charged seven current and former prison guards with sexually abusing female inmates or having inappropriate contact with them.
InfoThis is archived material from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) website. It may contain outdated information and links may no longer function.
Former Lackawanna County Commissioners Robert C. Cordaro and Anthony J. Munchak Sentenced Today on Corruption Charges in Federal Court
U.S. Attorney’s OfficeJanuary 30, 2012
Middle District of Pennsylvania(717) 221-4482
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that former Lackawanna County Commissioners Robert C. Cordaro and Anthony J. Munchak were sentenced in federal court in Scranton today by United States District Court Judge A. Richard Caputo.
Cordaro and Munchak were sentenced today to serve 132 months (11 years) and 84 months (seven years), respectively, in federal prison following their convictions after a jury trial in June 2011 on multiple felony counts to corruption during their tenure as County Commissioners. In addition, Cordaro was ordered to pay restitution to the IRS in the amount of $98,856, a $1,800 special assessment and serve a three-year term of supervised release. Cordaro had previously agreed to forfeit $355,000 to the United States which represents proceeds from the criminal offenses. Munchak was ordered to pay a $5,000 fine, a $800 special assessment and also serve a three-year term of supervised release.
Cordaro was ordered to surrender immediately, Munchak will report on April 3, 2012 to commence service.
Judge Caputo said in imposing the sentences today that the defendants violated the public trust and the oath they took as public officials. He noted that these are the fundamental foundations of our system and that the defendants turned that system “upside down.”
At the sentencing hearing today the government contended that Cordaro and Munchak’s criminal activities were “serious, extended and extremely damaging.” The Government stated that Cordaro and Munchak used their positions as majority County Commissioners to “engage in a pay-for-play scheme by accepting money in exchange for their official actions,” and violated the trust placed in them by the citizens of Lackawanna County.
“People have the right to expect that their elected leaders will honor the oath they swore to. The federal justice system must and will stand up to protect that expectation,” said Peter J. Smith, United States Attorney.
The Government was represented in the Cordaro and Munchak case by Assistant United States Attorneys Lorna N. Graham, Bruce Brandler and William S. Houser. The investigation was conducted jointly by the FBI and the Criminal Investigations Office of the IRS.
History of This Case
Cordaro and Munchak were originally charged in a 40-count indictment in March 2010 with racketeering and related charges in connection with alleged improper actions of the former Majority Commissioners in accepting payments and other benefits from individuals and entities doing business with Lackawanna County.
In October 2010 a superseding indictment was filed on substantially the same charges. The superseding indictment was presented due to changes in the application of the Federal Honest Services mail fraud statute resulting from a Supreme Court ruling.
In June 2011, following the 12-day trial, a federal jury in Scranton returned guilty verdicts against Cordaro and Munchak on charges of racketeering, bribery, conspiracy and tax fraud charges as described below.
Robert Cordaro
Conspiracy to Commit Theft or Bribery Concerning Programs Receiving Federal Funds (1 count);
Bribery Concerning Programs Receiving Federal Funds (2 counts);
Conspiracy to Commit Extortion Under Color of Official Right (1 count);
Extortion Under Color of Official Right (2 counts);
Money Laundering Conspiracy (1 count);
Money Laundering (3 counts);
Racketeering (1 count);
-Racketeering Conspiracy (1 count);
Conspiracy to Defraud the United States(1 count);
Subscribing and Filing a Materially False Tax Return (3 counts); and
Income Tax Evasion (2 counts)
Anthony Munchak
Conspiracy to Commit Theft or Bribery Concerning Programs Receiving Federal Funds (1 count);
Bribery Concerning Programs Receiving Federal Funds (2 counts);
Conspiracy to Commit Extortion Under Color of Official Right (1 count);
Extortion Under Color of Official Right (2 counts);
Subscribing and Filing a Materially False Tax Return (1 count); and
Income Tax Evasion (1 count)
SCRANTON — Seven current and former Lackawanna County Prison guards arrested this afternoon on charges of sexual abuse at the jail are free on bail. Troopers arrested former prison guard John J. Shnipes Jr., 42, of 115 Simpson St., Archbald, at his home. Shnipes is a former Archbald councilman who lost his seat in 2017. He didn’t say anything as troopers led him by his arms to their vehicle and declined comment later when he was escorted out of the state police barracks in Dunmore. Charges against Shnipes, 16 in total, include involuntary deviate sexual intercourse and institutional sexual assault. State police arrested George T. McHale, 50, of 513 Florin St., Scranton, and Jeff Staff, 42, address unknown, at the jail. Both were taken away in handcuffs and escorted to marked state police vehicles. Correctional officers James J. Walsh, 51, Paul J. Voglino, 45,Mark Johnson, 53, and George R. Efthimiou, 50, also were arrested. Walsh has been on paid administrative leave. He is charged with involuntary deviate sexual intercourse by forcible compulsion and by threat of forcible compulsion, according to a court docket made public late this afternoon. Voglino is charged with involuntary deviate sexual intercourse by forcible compulsion and threat of forcible compulsion. McHale is charged with institutional sexual assault, indecent assault without consent and indecent assault by threat of forcible compulsion. Johnson is charged with involuntary deviate sexual intercourse by forcible compulsion and threat of forcible compulsion, institutional sexual assault, indecent assault and harassment. Efthimiou and Staff are both charged only with institutional sexual assault. The dates the offenses are alleged to have occurred range from January 1999 through 2011, according to publicly available dockets. State police arrived at the jail after 2 p.m., not long before shift change, and acted with silent efficiency. Both McHale and Staff were visibly surprised. McHale’s eyes stared forward. His face was a pale mask of shock. Staff wanted a Times-Tribune photographer to stop taking pictures. The state police didn’t react. The camera kept clicking. Warden Tim Betti said no warning of the arrests was given but he could “surmise” what the arrests were about. He stood in the parking lot of the jail as the state troopers put the two under arrest. He planned to address his staff after and was sure that morale would be low. “It affects my morale,” Betti said. “It’s a little dour…it matches the sky right now.” The arrests come six months after agents from the state Attorney General’s Office and state police raided the jail, the county work release center, 911 center and county administration building related to a grand jury investigation into alleged sexual abuse of inmates. County Judge James Gibbons, who is chairman of the county prison board, said Wednesday afternoon he did not know any details of the arrests. He said he was not notified in advance that the arrests would happen. Bernie Brown, a lawyer representing Staff, Voglino and Johnson called the charges “trumped up” and claim the guards’ accusers went to the attorney general and are telling stories to increase their chances for settlements in their lawsuits. The investigation arose from a civil lawsuit filed by a woman who alleged she was sexually abused by six guards from 2007 to 2016. Three additional women later joined the lawsuit and implicated other officers going back to 1998. The lawsuit, which is pending in federal court, contained allegations against prison guards the women said committed the abuse, as well as fellow guards who witnessed it but did nothing to stop it. It also alleges prison and county officials knew about the abuse and tried to cover it up. The accused guards coerced the incarcerated women into the sex acts by giving them extra privileges or threatening to take away privileges or place them restricted housing, the suit said. When they were free, the guards manipulated them into having sex by threatening to have their probation revoked. Two of the women alleged they tried to report the abuse to other guards and prison officials. Rather than help them, the guards harassed and berated them and actively helped the abusive guards conceal the assaults, the complaint said. The suit alleged most of the abuse happened between 1998 and 2013, but some as recently as last year. All seven arrested were taken to the state police barracks in Dunmore for interviews and then were arraigned by Magisterial District Judge Paul J. Ware at his office on West Pine Street. Their preliminary hearings are scheduled for 11:15 a.m. on Feb. 23. A press conference is slated for some time tomorrow, Trooper Mark Keyes, a spokesman at the Dunmore barracks, said. Walsh and McHale are free on $50,000 unsecured bail and Voglino, Efthimiou and Staff walked on $25,000 unsecured bail. Johnson posted a bail bond for $25,000. Shnipes posted a bond for $100,000. An attorney representing Shnipes said he is looking forward to his day in court. JEFF HORVATH, STAFF WRITER, CONTRIBUTED TO THE REPORT Check back for updates.
The day after the guards’ arrests, Attorney General Josh Shapiro called it “the opening chapter” in trying to end abusive prison culture. The grand jury presentment charging the guards mentions others who knew about abuse but may have done nothing about it, though Shapiro declined to speculate then about charging them.
None of the cases of the guards arrested — John Shnipes, George T. McHale, Jeffrey T. Staff, James J. Walsh, Paul J. Voglino, Mark A. Johnson and George R. Efthimiou — have reached the trial stage. I just wander if these men are requiered to regieser with the State police as Sex Offenders. I just heard that the county government paid $700,000 to these C.O.’s who raped the women in jail. I seen male C.O.’s go into female inmates cells. We were told of we said anything we would never see our kids agasin. Because the C.O.’s could pin charges on us for telling on them.
Ultimate Reality is immovable, but is the cause of movement. Only through great insight will one comprehend this such-ness. A manual on Zen Buddhism, Maroon Mandala
C.S. Lewis – I pray because I can’t help myself. I pray because I’m helpless. I pray because the need flows out of me all the time, waking and sleeping. It’s doesn’t change God. It changes me.
Thanking God for everything shows your respect for the gifts GOd has given you. The moment we open your eyes, we need to be in thanksgiving of God’s blessing to live for another day. If you are a live God has a purpose for your life. We are here to serve God not people. We are here to love and help each other. With God’s faith in our hearts we are able to love one another even our eneimes. Thank God for everything no matter how small the gift is. Breathing His Spirit in our lungs praise needs to be on our lips daily.
Prayer before a meals, is showing faith in God’s love for you. Thanking God for the food He provided for you is blessing to your body and the Word of God is a blessing to the soul for the humans; I am able to receive the blessing God is willing to give us. Your Word blesses our soul when we joyfully thank You for everything. I thank You, Lord for this day and I thank You for watching over me when I sleep. Make me the Christ like woman Yo want me to be to glorify You. I want less of me and more of You In Jesus name, Amen
Jesus, gentle Shepherd, hear me. Bless they little lamb tonight. Through the darkness be thou near me. Kepp me safe ’til morning light.
I like to say I was a great prayer warrior, but that was not true. I often struggled to know how to pray and what to pray. If God had already decided what was going to happen, what difference did my prayers really make? My own thoughts had gotten in the way for my prayers. There are times I found praying to be boring, and repetitive. I been distracted and had other things on my mind. My mind would wander. We know how important prayer is and there are times we struggle with prayer; at times I would feel guilty and wondered what was wrong with me. Well, what was wrong I didn’t read the God’s Word when I was struggling or asked the Holy Spirit for guidance. I thank God I know the Model Pray for us all. The Lord’s Prayer is the prayer I pray when I feel like can’t pray. Jesus tell’s us to go into our private prayer room and pray
Ruth had every reason, humanly speaking, to leave her mother in law Naomi as her sister Orpah had just done, but she would not do it. Why? It was because of more than mere social and emotional attachment, and it certainly was not for any financial gain. In fact, she faced the possibility of being a social outcast in Israel and of remaining unmarried for life, wheras she could easily find a new husband in Moab. But Ruth would not go back to the old gods and old ways of her past. She steadfastly clung to the Lord Jehovah, having been converted to Him in her heart.
And Ruth said, 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: Ruth
Human Trafficking Survivor; God and Country, Without God There is No Country/ Judeo-Christian / America Belongs to God 