Weekly Meanderings

Here’s some stuff I came across this week…

Have a great weekend!

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A Poem

A Primer of the Daily Round

by Howard Nemerov

A peels an apple, while B kneels to God,
C telephones to D, who has a hand
On E’s knee, F coughs, G turns up the sod
For H’s grave, I do not understand
But J is bringing one clay pigeon down
While K brings down a nightstick on L’s head,
And M takes mustard, N drives into town,
O goes to bed with P, and Q drops dead,
R lies to S, but happens to be heard
By T, who tells U not to fire V
For having to give W the word
That X is now deceiving Y with Z,
Who happens just now to remember A
Peeling an apple somewhere far away.

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Psalm 1,2,10,33,71,91

Psalm 10:1-3 Why do You stand afar off, O LORD? Why do You hide Yourself in times of trouble? 2 In pride the wicked hotly pursue the afflicted; Let them be caught in the plots which they have devised. 3 For the wicked boasts of his heart’s desire, And the greedy man curses and spurns the LORD.

Revelation 6:9-11 When the Lamb broke the fifth seal, I saw underneath the altar the souls of those who had been slain because of the word of God, and because of the testimony which they had maintained; 10 and they cried out with a loud voice, saying, “How long, O Lord, holy and true, will You refrain from judging and avenging our blood on those who dwell on the earth?” 11 And there was given to each of them a white robe; and they were told that they should rest for a little while longer, until the number of their fellow servants and their brethren who were to be killed even as they had been, would be completed also.

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A Prayer

God of Truth,

Reveal yourself to us today.  Be the truth that we rally around.  If anything be against your will drive it from us.  If anything be your will bend our hearts and minds to it.  Even though we all may be seeking your truth we do not come to the same truths.  Bind us together in spite of ourselves.  Make us a whole community.  Give us patience and the willingness to embrace the diversity of your perceived truth.  None of us fully know you.  All of us who dare to teach sometimes teach falsely.  Use even our errors and misunderstandings for your good.  We are your Church, we are all trying to follow you, help us as we struggle to embrace one another.  You are over any conflict whether great or small, be in this conflict.  Be the God we turn to, keep us safe.  Use us to teach, minister, love, heal, protect, guide, and embrace the world around us.  We are imperfect, but we are trying.  Turn our imperfections into your perfect will.

When upon life’s billows you are tempest tossed,
When you are discouraged, thinking all is lost,
Count your many blessings, name them one by one,
And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done.

Count your blessings, name them one by one,
Count your blessings, see what God hath done!
Count your blessings, name them one by one,
And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done.

Are you ever burdened with a load of care?
Does the cross seem heavy you are called to bear?
Count your many blessings, every doubt will fly,
And you will keep singing as the days go by.

Count your blessings, name them one by one,
Count your blessings, see what God hath done!
Count your blessings, name them one by one,
And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done.

When you look at others with their lands and gold,
Think that Christ has promised you His wealth untold;
Count your many blessings. Wealth can never buy
Your reward in heaven, nor your home on high.

Count your blessings, name them one by one,
Count your blessings, see what God hath done!
Count your blessings, name them one by one,
And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done.

So, amid the conflict whether great or small,
Do not be disheartened, God is over all;
Count your many blessings, angels will attend,
Help and comfort give you to your journey’s end.

Count your blessings, name them one by one,
Count your blessings, see what God hath done!
Count your blessings, name them one by one,
And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done.

Thank you God. Amen.

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Psalm 47-49, 84-85, 87

Psalm 49:5-15 Why should I fear in days of adversity, When the iniquity of my foes surrounds me,  6 Even those who trust in their wealth And boast in the abundance of their riches?  7 No man can by any means redeem his brother Or give to God a ransom for him–  8 For the redemption of his soul is costly, And he should cease trying forever–  9 That he should live on eternally, That he should not undergo decay.  10 For he sees that even wise men die; The stupid and the senseless alike perish And leave their wealth to others.  11 Their inner thought is that their houses are forever And their dwelling places to all generations; They have called their lands after their own names.  12 But man in his pomp will not endure; He is like the beasts that perish.  13 This is the way of those who are foolish, And of those after them who approve their words. Selah.

14 As sheep they are appointed for Sheol; Death shall be their shepherd; And the upright shall rule over them in the morning, And their form shall be for Sheol to consume So that they have no habitation.  15 But God will redeem my soul from the power of Sheol, For He will receive me. Selah.

I cannot save my soul.  There is nothing I can do to ransom my soul.  There is nothing i can do to avoid death and the grave.  I can only trust in God.  The redemption of my soul is costly and I cannot pay the price.  I can only thank Jesus for paying the price for me.  My trust must be in God and my hope is in the saving life and death of Jesus Christ.  Thank you God for reconciling my soul with you.

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Weekly Meanderings

Here’s some stuff I came across this week…

The egalitarian-complimentarian debate came up in my life this week. Here are some resources:
* A summary from the Center for Biblical Manhood and Womanhood (this is in no way an endorsement of the CBMW)
* A useful series of papers on how the Worldwide Church of God dealt with the issue (this is in no way an endorsement of the WCG)
* A summary of denominational views found at Gordon-Conwell Theological seminary (I’ll happily endorse GCTS; they’re not perfect, but who is?)

Have a great weekend!

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Psalm 42-46

Psalm 46 God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble.  2 Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change And though the mountains slip into the heart of the sea;  3 Though its waters roar and foam, Though the mountains quake at its swelling pride. Selah.

4 There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, The holy dwelling places of the Most High.  5 God is in the midst of her, she will not be moved; God will help her when morning dawns.  6 The nations made an uproar, the kingdoms tottered; He raised His voice, the earth melted.  7 The LORD of hosts is with us; The God of Jacob is our stronghold. Selah.

8 Come, behold the works of the LORD, Who has wrought desolations in the earth.  9 He makes wars to cease to the end of the earth; He breaks the bow and cuts the spear in two; He burns the chariots with fire.  10 “Cease striving and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”  11 The LORD of hosts is with us; The God of Jacob is our stronghold. Selah.

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Proverbs 30:1-31:31

The Sayings of Agur - The farming philosopher (that’s a joke; if you don’t get it it’s okay, most people don’t)

Proverbs 30:1-9 The words of Agur the son of Jakeh, the oracle. The man declares to Ithiel, to Ithiel and Ucal:  2 Surely I am more stupid than any man, And I do not have the understanding of a man.  3 Neither have I learned wisdom, Nor do I have the knowledge of the Holy One.  4 Who has ascended into heaven and descended? Who has gathered the wind in His fists? Who has wrapped the waters in His garment? Who has established all the ends of the earth? What is His name or His son’s name? Surely you know!  5 Every word of God is tested; He is a shield to those who take refuge in Him.  6 Do not add to His words Or He will reprove you, and you will be proved a liar.  7 Two things I asked of You, Do not refuse me before I die:  8 Keep deception and lies far from me, Give me neither poverty nor riches; Feed me with the food that is my portion,  9 That I not be full and deny You and say, “Who is the LORD?” Or that I not be in want and steal, And profane the name of my God.

Any of us who claim to fully understand God is a liar.

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Proverbs 25:1-29:27

25:12 - Valid criticism is as treasured by the one who heeds it as jewelry made from finest gold.

The toughest part of receiving criticism is accepting that it could be true. The toughest part of giving criticism is putting yourself in the other persons shoes. Valid criticism comes from someone who cares for you enough to consider your position and tell you the hard truths. No one has the right to offer criticism until they have invested in the life of the person they are being critical of. When this person offers criticism we need to listen carefully.

26:4-5 - When arguing with fools, don’t answer their foolish arguments, or you will become as foolish as they are. When arguing with fools, be sure to answer their foolish arguments, or they will become wise in their own estimation.

Read that one again, you may have missed the paradox the first time. Don’t you just love it when God is completely straightforward in telling you what to do. I think the overall guidance these two verses provide is DON’T GET INTO A FOOLISH ARGUMENT;

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Top 10 songs of the Twentieth Century

I was watching VH1 the other day (which I do from time to time because the target my demographic) and caught a 100 greatest songs of the ’90s marathon. I thought I’d challenge myself to come up with the top 10 songs of the twentieth century. It’s an imperfect list but it is at least thought provoking.

10…Baby One More Time - Britney Spears

I know what you’re thinking, but seriously this is a great song…just ignore the Britney Spears part.

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2 Chronicles 29:3-31:21

The very first act of King Hezekiah’s reign is to reopen the temple and purify it from defilement.  Hezekiah has realized that he needs to renew his peoples covenant with God and realign the community to God’s will.  In all it took sixteen days for the Levites to rid the temple of defilements and purify it.  Then Hezekiah rededicates the temple and announces that the nation will once again celebrate passover.  Unfortunately, Passover must be delayed for a month because not enough priests could be made pure in time.

Hezekiah then sends out priests and levities to take their rightful place among the people so that the sacrificial offerings required by God could recommence.  These offerings had not been observed for several generations.  “In all that he did…Hezekiah sought his God wholeheartedly.  As a result, he was very succesful.” (2 Chr 31:21)

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