From pastordavid at bibleseven.com Mon Nov 1 21:52:00 2010 From: pastordavid at bibleseven.com (pastordavid at bibleseven.com) Date: Mon, 01 Nov 2010 21:52:00 -0400 Subject: [Linux4christians] Tuesday - Deuteronomy 29 Message-ID: <4CCF6EC0.8060809@bibleseven.com> Tuesday Deuteronomy 29 Narrative Interlude 29:1 (28:69) These are the words of the covenant that the Lord commanded Moses to make with the people of Israel in the land of Moab, in addition to the covenant he had made with them at Horeb. The Exodus, Wandering, and Conquest Reviewed 29:2 Moses proclaimed to all Israel as follows: "You have seen all that the Lord did in the land of Egypt to Pharaoh, all his servants, and his land. 29:3 Your eyes have seen the great judgments, those signs and mighty wonders. 29:4 But to this very day the Lord has not given you an understanding mind, perceptive eyes, or discerning ears! 29:5 I have led you through the desert for forty years. Your clothing has not worn out nor have your sandals deteriorated. 29:6 You have eaten no bread and drunk no wine or beer -- all so that you might know that I am the Lord your God! 29:7 When you came to this place King Sihon of Heshbon and King Og of Bashan came out to make war and we defeated them. 29:8 Then we took their land and gave it as an inheritance to Reuben, Gad, and half the tribe of Manasseh. The Present Covenant Setting 29:9 "Therefore, keep the terms of this covenant and obey them so that you may be successful in everything you do. 29:10 You are standing today, all of you, before the Lord your God -- the heads of your tribes, your elders, your officials, every Israelite man, 29:11 your infants, your wives, and the foreigners living in your encampment, those who chop wood and those who carry water -- 29:12 so that you may enter by oath into the covenant the Lord your God is making with you today. 29:13 Today he will affirm that you are his people and that he is your God, just as he promised you and as he swore by oath to your ancestors Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. 29:14 It is not with you alone that I am making this covenant by oath, 29:15 but with whoever stands with us here today before the Lord our God as well as those not with us here today. The Results of Disobedience 29:16 "(For you know how we lived in the land of Egypt and how we crossed through the nations as we traveled. 29:17 You have seen their detestable things and idols of wood, stone, silver, and gold.) 29:18 Beware that the heart of no man, woman, clan, or tribe among you turns away from the Lord our God today to pursue and serve the gods of those nations; beware that there is among you no root producing poisonous and bitter fruit. 29:19 When such a person hears the words of this oath he secretly blesses himself and says, "I will have peace though I continue to walk with a stubborn spirit." This will destroy the watered ground with the parched. 29:20 The Lord will be unwilling to forgive him, and his intense anger will rage against that man; all the curses written in this scroll will fall upon him and the Lord will obliterate his name from memory. 29:21 The Lord will single him out for judgment from all the tribes of Israel according to all the curses of the covenant written in this scroll of the law. 29:22 The generation to come -- your descendants who will rise up after you, as well as the foreigner who will come from distant places -- will see the afflictions of that land and the illnesses that the Lord has brought on it. 29:23 The whole land will be covered with brimstone, salt, and burning debris; it will not be planted nor will it sprout or produce grass. It will resemble the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, Admah and Zeboiim, which the Lord destroyed in his intense anger. 29:24 Then all the nations will ask, "Why has the Lord done all this to this land? What is this fierce, heated display of anger all about?" 29:25 Then people will say, "Because they abandoned the covenant of the Lord, the God of their ancestors, which he made with them when he brought them out of the land of Egypt. 29:26 They went and served other gods and worshiped them, gods they did not know and that he did not permit them to worship. 29:27 That is why the Lord's anger erupted against this land, bringing on it all the curses written in this scroll. 29:28 So the Lord has uprooted them from their land in anger, wrath, and great rage and has deported them to another land, as is clear today." 29:29 Secret things belong to the Lord our God, but those that are revealed belong to us and our descendants forever, so that we might obey all the words of this law. Prayer Lord, You bless us as much as we damaged vessels may hold, and You hold us accountable for our choices. May I seek Your healing from my imperfect faith that this vessel may be useful to You in pouring Yourself in and through me to others. Commentary Moses, at the Lord God's prompting, reminded the Israelites of what He had done for them. He then reminded them that God had not yet given them "... an understanding mind, perceptive eyes, or discerning ears", not because He did not want that for them, their rebellious natures made them unsuitable vessels. God had caused Moses to assemble the entire nation of Israel because He wanted to make it clear that the covenant was not only with Moses or even the elders but with every Israelite no matter his or her age, gender, or social status. The Lord God warned than no one among His covenant people must rebel and worship false Gods or else trouble would come to all. Interaction Consider The choices of each member of the nation of Israel had an impact upon the others. Discuss What may have been reaction to the sudden and profound sense of accountability and conviction when everyone was informed that God's covenant, for blessing or curse, was made directly with each of them? (Prior to this time the people had rationalized that Moses was their intermediary and therefore they could make poor choices and he would intervene on their behalf.) Reflect There are some things that are secrets that belong to God alone, we don't need to know all the answers to submit to His perfect Lordship. Share When have you been in a fellowship where the impact of the unrighteous choice(s) of one of your fellow members had a profound impact? Faith in Action Prayer: Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you a place in your life where your poor choices are having a negative effect on your family, your friends, and/or your fellowship. Action: Today I will repent of my unrighteous choice(s) and partner with the Holy Spirit to purge them from my life. I will share this challenge with one other believer, or as-appropriate with a small group, and ask them to pray in-agreement for my faithfulness and to help hold me accountable. Be Specific ______________________________________________________ Wednesday's text will be: Deuteronomy 30 -- Have an http://Ultrafidian.com Day! Pastor David ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Personal Site: http://bibleseven.com Bible Resources: http://bible.org ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From pastordavid at bibleseven.com Tue Nov 2 20:21:12 2010 From: pastordavid at bibleseven.com (pastordavid at bibleseven.com) Date: Tue, 02 Nov 2010 20:21:12 -0400 Subject: [Linux4christians] Wednesday - Deuteronomy 30 Message-ID: <4CD0AAF8.6060201@bibleseven.com> Wednesday Deuteronomy 30 The Results of Covenant Reaffirmation 30:1 "When you have experienced all these things, both the blessings and the curses I have set before you, you will reflect upon them in all the nations where the Lord your God has banished you. 30:2 Then if you and your descendants turn to the Lord your God and obey him with your whole mind and being just as I am commanding you today, 30:3 the Lord your God will reverse your captivity and have pity on you. He will turn and gather you from all the peoples among whom he has scattered you. 30:4 Even if your exiles are in the most distant land, from there the Lord your God will gather you and bring you back. 30:5 Then he will bring you to the land your ancestors possessed and you also will possess it; he will do better for you and multiply you more than he did your ancestors. 30:6 The Lord your God will also cleanse your heart and the hearts of your descendants so that you may love him with all your mind and being and so that you may live. 30:7 Then the Lord your God will put all these curses on your enemies, on those who hate you and persecute you. 30:8 You will return and obey the Lord, keeping all his commandments I am giving you today. 30:9 The Lord your God will make the labor of your hands abundantly successful and multiply your children, the offspring of your cattle, and the produce of your soil. For the Lord your God will once more rejoice over you to make you prosperous just as he rejoiced over your ancestors, 30:10 if you obey the Lord your God and keep his commandments and statutes that are written in this scroll of the law. But you must turn to him with your whole mind and being. Exhortation to Covenant Obedience 30:11 "This commandment I am giving you today is not too difficult for you, nor is it too remote. 30:12 It is not in heaven, as though one must say, "Who will go up to heaven to get it for us and proclaim it to us so we may obey it?" 30:13 And it is not across the sea, as though one must say, "Who will cross over to the other side of the sea and get it for us and proclaim it to us so we may obey it?" 30:14 For the thing is very near you -- it is in your mouth and in your mind so that you can do it. 30:15 "Look! I have set before you today life and prosperity on the one hand, and death and disaster on the other. 30:16 What I am commanding you today is to love the Lord your God, to walk in his ways, and to obey his commandments, his statutes, and his ordinances. Then you will live and become numerous and the Lord your God will bless you in the land which you are about to possess. 30:17 However, if you turn aside and do not obey, but are lured away to worship and serve other gods, 30:18 I declare to you this very day that you will certainly perish! You will not extend your time in the land you are crossing the Jordan to possess. 30:19 Today I invoke heaven and earth as a witness against you that I have set life and death, blessing and curse, before you. Therefore choose life so that you and your descendants may live! 30:20 I also call on you to love the Lord your God, to obey him and be loyal to him, for he gives you life and enables you to live continually in the land the Lord promised to give to your ancestors Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob." Prayer Lord, You know that we are often foolish and chronically-rebellious. May Your Holy Spirit find me teachable that I may learn to live by Your wisdom and follow Your path for my life. Commentary Moses describes for the Israelites God's willingness to restore them if, due to their disobedient rebellion they find themselves scattered and in captivity, and reminds them that God's condition; they must then "... turn to him with your whole mind and being." The Lord God communicated to the Israelites that they were without excuse; not able to claim that the expectations of them were hidden in Heaven or across the sea, but that they had full knowledge of His expectations "What I am commanding you today is to love the Lord your God, to walk in his ways, and to obey his commandments, his statutes, and his ordinances." He reminded them of His desired blessings and His certain punishment and then a remind as to Who He was to them "... he gives you life and enables you to live continually in the land the Lord promised to give to your ancestors Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob." Interaction Consider The Lord God warned them that their future depended upon their future choices. Discuss With all that God had done, and this very clear warning, how could any Israelite not obey -- if not in loving gratefulness then in abject terror? Reflect How different are we, knowing that God sees all, we still rebel and make ourselves poor vessels for blessing? Share When have you known the right thing to do and the probable consequences of the wrong choice yet you persisted in doing what was wrong? What happened? Faith in Action Prayer: Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you a place where you have made the wrong choice. Action: Today I will confess and repent of my wrong choice and allow the Holy Spirit to restore me to a more-whole relationship with Him. Be Specific ______________________________________________________ Thursday's text will be: Deuteronomy 31 -- Have an http://Ultrafidian.com Day! Pastor David ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Personal Site: http://bibleseven.com Bible Resources: http://bible.org ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From pastordavid at bibleseven.com Wed Nov 3 20:45:13 2010 From: pastordavid at bibleseven.com (pastordavid at bibleseven.com) Date: Wed, 03 Nov 2010 20:45:13 -0400 Subject: [Linux4christians] Thursday - Deuteronomy 31 Message-ID: <4CD20219.1030708@bibleseven.com> Thursday Deuteronomy 31 Succession of Moses by Joshua 31:1 Then Moses went and spoke these words to all Israel. 31:2 He said to them, "Today I am a hundred and twenty years old. I am no longer able to get about, and the Lord has said to me, 'You will not cross the Jordan.' 31:3 As for the Lord your God, he is about to cross over before you; he will destroy these nations before you and dispossess them. As for Joshua, he is about to cross before you just as the Lord has said. 31:4 The Lord will do to them just what he did to Sihon and Og, the Amorite kings, and to their land, which he destroyed. 31:5 The Lord will deliver them over to you and you will do to them according to the whole commandment I have given you. 31:6 Be strong and courageous! Do not fear or tremble before them, for the Lord your God is the one who is going with you. He will not fail you or abandon you!" 31:7 Then Moses called out to Joshua in the presence of all Israel, "Be strong and courageous, for you will accompany these people to the land that the Lord promised to give their ancestors, and you will enable them to inherit it. 31:8 The Lord is indeed going before you -- he will be with you; he will not fail you or abandon you. Do not be afraid or discouraged!" The Deposit of the Covenant Text 31:9 Then Moses wrote down this law and gave it to the Levitical priests, who carry the ark of the Lord's covenant, and to all Israel's elders. 31:10 He commanded them: "At the end of seven years, at the appointed time of the cancellation of debts, at the Feast of Temporary Shelters, 31:11 when all Israel comes to appear before the Lord your God in the place he chooses, you must read this law before them within their hearing. 31:12 Gather the people -- men, women, and children, as well as the resident foreigners in your villages -- so they may hear and thus learn about and fear the Lord your God and carefully obey all the words of this law. 31:13 Then their children, who have not known this law, will also hear about and learn to fear the Lord your God for as long as you live in the land you are crossing the Jordan to possess." The Commissioning of Joshua 31:14 Then the Lord said to Moses, "The day of your death is near. Summon Joshua and present yourselves in the tent of meeting so that I can commission him." So Moses and Joshua presented themselves in the tent of meeting. 31:15 The Lord appeared in the tent in a pillar of cloud that stood above the door of the tent. 31:16 Then the Lord said to Moses, "You are about to die, and then these people will begin to prostitute themselves with the foreign gods of the land into which they are going. They will reject me and break my covenant that I have made with them. 31:17 At that time my anger will erupt against them and I will abandon them and hide my face from them until they are devoured. Many disasters and distresses will overcome them so that they will say at that time, 'Have not these disasters overcome us because our God is not among us?' 31:18 But I will certainly hide myself at that time because of all the wickedness they will have done by turning to other gods. 31:19 Now write down for yourselves the following song and teach it to the Israelites. Put it into their very mouths so that this song may serve as my witness against the Israelites! 31:20 For after I have brought them to the land I promised to their ancestors -- one flowing with milk and honey -- and they eat their fill and become fat, then they will turn to other gods and worship them; they will reject me and break my covenant. 31:21 Then when many disasters and distresses overcome them this song will testify against them, for their descendants will not forget it. I know the intentions they have in mind today, even before I bring them to the land I have promised." 31:22 So on that day Moses wrote down this song and taught it to the Israelites, 31:23 and the Lord commissioned Joshua son of Nun, "Be strong and courageous, for you will take the Israelites to the land I have promised them, and I will be with you." Anticipation of Disobedience 31:24 When Moses finished writing on a scroll the words of this law in their entirety, 31:25 he commanded the Levites who carried the ark of the Lord's covenant, 31:26 "Take this scroll of the law and place it beside the ark of the covenant of the Lord your God. It will remain there as a witness against you, 31:27 for I know about your rebellion and stubbornness. Indeed, even while I have been living among you to this very day, you have rebelled against the Lord; you will be even more rebellious after my death! 31:28 Gather to me all your tribal elders and officials so I can speak to them directly about these things and call the heavens and the earth to witness against them. 31:29 For I know that after I die you will totally corrupt yourselves and turn away from the path I have commanded you to walk. Disaster will confront you in the days to come because you will act wickedly before the Lord, inciting him to anger because of your actions." 31:30 Then Moses recited the words of this song from start to finish in the hearing of the whole assembly of Israel. Prayer Lord, You know our hearts, and so You know the foolish rebellion that resides within. May I not be so foolish as to imagine that I can hide anything from You but to instead live in Your truth. Commentary Moses informed the Israelites that he would not be traveling into the promised land with them but that Joshua would lead them in that next phase of their national history. He reminded them of what God had done to remove enemies from their path in the path as he encouraged them to not fear any who stood in their way. Moses wrote down the covenant that he had been communicating to them from the Lord God and placed next to the Ark of the Covenant and instructed them to read it in seven years when God summoned them to a gathering place. The Lord God called Moses and Joshua together at the Tent of Meeting where He commissioned Joshua and informed them both that once the Israelites had successfully conquered the promised land they would become careless and drift into the ways of the pagans and He would withdraw from their presence -- resulting in all of the curses falling upon them. He gave to Moses a song of encouragement for the people to share when they were scattered and in captivity. Moses recorded it and then he gathered the elders and warned them that God knew the hearts of the people contained the seeds of rebellion, that their rebellion would result in disaster, and then he taught them the song God had given him. Interaction Consider God did not simply ask the Israelites to trust Him but to remember His past faithfulness and then to trust in His future promises. Discuss What kind of love already provides a path to forgiveness and mercy, reconciliation and restoration even though it already knows the rebellion is coming? Reflect Even knowing that the Israelites would rebel God intended to keep His promise, His part of the covenant, and bring them into the promised land. Share When have you told someone that even if they make wrong choices you would still love them and that you would still come to the line of reconciliation? Faith in Action Prayer: Ask the Holy Spirit to show you where there is a seed of rebellion against God in you. Action: Today I will recognize and confess that weak place in my life that the Holy Spirit has revealed. I will partner in prayer and repentance with the Holy Spirit, and one who is Biblically qualified as an elder, to walk through the process of purging my heart and mind of one dark place in me. I will share the testimony of God's cleansing-healing of me with a new or stuck believer as an encouragement to them. Be Specific ______________________________________________________ Friday's text will be: Deuteronomy 32 -- Have an http://Ultrafidian.com Day! Pastor David ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Personal Site: http://bibleseven.com Bible Resources: http://bible.org ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From pastordavid at bibleseven.com Thu Nov 4 22:31:06 2010 From: pastordavid at bibleseven.com (pastordavid at bibleseven.com) Date: Thu, 04 Nov 2010 22:31:06 -0400 Subject: [Linux4christians] Friday - Deuteronomy 32 Message-ID: <4CD36C6A.2070203@bibleseven.com> Friday Deuteronomy 32 Invocation of Witnesses 32:1 Listen, O heavens, and I will speak; hear, O earth, the words of my mouth. 32:2 My teaching will drop like the rain, my sayings will drip like the dew, as rain drops upon the grass, and showers upon new growth. 32:3 For I will proclaim the name of the Lord; you must acknowledge the greatness of our God. 32:4 As for the Rock, his work is perfect, for all his ways are just. He is a reliable God who is never unjust, he is fair and upright. 32:5 His people have been unfaithful to him; they have not acted like his children -- this is their sin. They are a perverse and deceitful generation. 32:6 Is this how you repay the Lord, you foolish, unwise people? Is he not your father, your creator? He has made you and established you. 32:7 Remember the ancient days; bear in mind the years of past generations. Ask your father and he will inform you, your elders, and they will tell you. 32:8 When the Most High gave the nations their inheritance, when he divided up humankind, he set the boundaries of the peoples, according to the number of the heavenly assembly. 32:9 For the Lord's allotment is his people, Jacob is his special possession. 32:10 The Lord found him in a desolate land, in an empty wasteland where animals howl. He continually guarded him and taught him; he continually protected him like the pupil of his eye. 32:11 Like an eagle that stirs up its nest, that hovers over its young, so the Lord spread out his wings and took him, he lifted him up on his pinions. 32:12 The Lord alone was guiding him, no foreign god was with him. 32:13 He enabled him to travel over the high terrain of the land, and he ate of the produce of the fields. He provided honey for him from the cliffs, and olive oil from the hardest of rocks, 32:14 butter from the herd and milk from the flock, along with the fat of lambs, rams and goats of Bashan, along with the best of the kernels of wheat; and from the juice of grapes you drank wine. Israel's Rebellion 32:15 But Jeshurun became fat and kicked, you got fat, thick, and stuffed! Then he deserted the God who made him, and treated the Rock who saved him with contempt. 32:16 They made him jealous with other gods, they enraged him with abhorrent idols. 32:17 They sacrificed to demons, not God, to gods they had not known; to new gods who had recently come along, gods your ancestors had not known about. 32:18 You have forgotten the Rock who fathered you, and put out of mind the God who gave you birth. A Word of Judgment 32:19 But the Lord took note and despised them because his sons and daughters enraged him. 32:20 He said, "I will reject them, I will see what will happen to them; for they are a perverse generation, children who show no loyalty. 32:21 They have made me jealous with false gods, enraging me with their worthless gods; so I will make them jealous with a people they do not recognize, with a nation slow to learn I will enrage them. 32:22 For a fire has been kindled by my anger, and it burns to lowest Sheol; it consumes the earth and its produce, and ignites the foundations of the mountains. 32:23 I will increase their disasters, I will use up my arrows on them. 32:24 They will be starved by famine, eaten by plague, and bitterly stung; I will send the teeth of wild animals against them, along with the poison of creatures that crawl in the dust. 32:25 The sword will make people childless outside, and terror will do so inside; they will destroy both the young man and the virgin, the infant and the gray-haired man. The Weakness of Other Gods 32:26 "I said, 'I want to cut them in pieces. I want to make people forget they ever existed. 32:27 But I fear the reaction of their enemies, for their adversaries would misunderstand and say, "Our power is great, and the Lord has not done all this!"' 32:28 They are a nation devoid of wisdom, and there is no understanding among them. 32:29 I wish that they were wise and could understand this, and that they could comprehend what will happen to them." 32:30 How can one man chase a thousand of them, and two pursue ten thousand; unless their Rock had delivered them up, and the Lord had handed them over? 32:31 For our enemies' rock is not like our Rock, as even our enemies concede. 32:32 For their vine is from the stock of Sodom, and from the fields of Gomorrah. Their grapes contain venom, their clusters of grapes are bitter. 32:33 Their wine is snakes' poison, the deadly venom of cobras. 32:34 "Is this not stored up with me?" says the Lord, "Is it not sealed up in my storehouses? 32:35 I will get revenge and pay them back at the time their foot slips; for the day of their disaster is near, and the impending judgment is rushing upon them!" 32:36 The Lord will judge his people, and will change his plans concerning his servants; when he sees that their power has disappeared, and that no one is left, whether confined or set free. 32:37 He will say, "Where are their gods, the rock in whom they sought security, 32:38 who ate the best of their sacrifices, and drank the wine of their drink offerings? Let them rise and help you; let them be your refuge! The Vindication of the Lord 32:39 "See now that I, indeed I, am he!" says the Lord, "and there is no other god besides me. I kill and give life, I smash and I heal, and none can resist my power. 32:40 For I raise up my hand to heaven, and say, 'As surely as I live forever, 32:41 I will sharpen my lightning-like sword, and my hand will grasp hold of the weapon of judgment; I will execute vengeance on my foes, and repay those who hate me! 32:42 I will make my arrows drunk with blood, and my sword will devour flesh -- the blood of the slaughtered and captured, the chief of the enemy's leaders!'" 32:43 Cry out, O nations, with his people, for he will avenge his servants' blood; he will take vengeance against his enemies, and make atonement for his land and people. Narrative Interlude 32:44 Then Moses went with Joshua son of Nun and recited all the words of this song to the people. 32:45 When Moses finished reciting all these words to all Israel 32:46 he said to them, "Keep in mind all the words I am solemnly proclaiming to you today; you must command your children to observe carefully all the words of this law. 32:47 For this is no idle word for you -- it is your life! By this word you will live a long time in the land you are about to cross the Jordan to possess." Instructions about Moses' Death 32:48 Then the Lord said to Moses that same day, 32:49 "Go up to this Abarim hill country, to Mount Nebo (which is in the land of Moab opposite Jericho) and look at the land of Canaan that I am giving to the Israelites as a possession. 32:50 You will die on the mountain that you ascend and join your deceased ancestors, just as Aaron your brother died on Mount Hor and joined his deceased ancestors, 32:51 for both of you rebelled against me among the Israelites at the waters of Meribah Kadesh in the desert of Zin when you did not show me proper respect among the Israelites. 32:52 You will see the land before you, but you will not enter the land that I am giving to the Israelites." Prayer Lord, You have been so patient with Your people, then and now. You forgive and reconcile and restore, but that does not remove the scars of our rebellion. May I not stray far from You. Commentary Moses recited, in a poetic/song form, a history of God's faithfulness in contrast to the unfaithfulness of the people. He told them of God's great power, exercised to bless and protect them, and the consequences of their rebellion which caused Him to withdraw from them. He told them of God's forgiveness and grace and mercy, His desire to reconcile and restore, and His intent to punish those who attack and abuse His people. Moses reminded the people to teach the story to the children so that none would forget. The Lord then called Moses to the mountain where he could view the promised land but could not enter as he has disrespected God before the people in the desert when angrily and pridefully taking credit for bringing the water from the stone on the second such occasion. Interaction Consider The Lord God reminds the people that when they draw near to Him they are blessed and when they move away from Him they suffer. Discuss Why was the disrespect shown God by Moses significant enough to block him from entering the promised land? Reflect At the same time God warned the people that their rebellious hearts would lead them away from His blessings He also promised them hope -- if they turned back to Him He would rescue them. Share When have you observed the consequences of a leader abusing authority for their own benefit? Faith in Action Prayer: Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you a place in your life where you have drifted from the Lord and are suffering ill-consequences. Action: Today I will confess, request and receive forgiveness, and repent (turn away) from my rebellion, however small it may seem to me. I will ask a fellow believer to partner with me, and the Holy Spirit, in accountability and prayer as I more-fully surrender to the Lordship of Christ through the Holy Spirit in this troubled area of my life. Be Specific ______________________________________________________ Saturday's text will be: Deuteronomy 33-34 -- Have an http://Ultrafidian.com Day! Pastor David ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Personal Site: http://bibleseven.com Bible Resources: http://bible.org ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From pastordavid at bibleseven.com Fri Nov 5 14:55:25 2010 From: pastordavid at bibleseven.com (pastordavid at bibleseven.com) Date: Fri, 05 Nov 2010 14:55:25 -0400 Subject: [Linux4christians] Saturday - Deuteronomy 33-34 Message-ID: <4CD4531D.3010109@bibleseven.com> Saturday Deuteronomy 33-34 Introduction to the Blessing of Moses 33:1 This is the blessing Moses the man of God pronounced upon the Israelites before his death. 33:2 He said: A Historical Review The Lord came from Sinai and revealed himself to Israel from Seir. He appeared in splendor from Mount Paran, and came forth with ten thousand holy ones. With his right hand he gave a fiery law to them. 33:3 Surely he loves the people; all your holy ones are in your power. And they sit at your feet, each receiving your words. 33:4 Moses delivered to us a law, an inheritance for the assembly of Jacob. 33:5 The Lord was king over Jeshurun, when the leaders of the people assembled, the tribes of Israel together. Blessing on Reuben 33:6 May Reuben live and not die, and may his people multiply. Blessing on Judah 33:7 And this is the blessing to Judah. He said, Listen, O Lord, to Judah's voice, and bring him to his people. May his power be great, and may you help him against his foes. Blessing on Levi 33:8 Of Levi he said: Your Thummim and Urim belong to your godly one, whose authority you challenged at Massah, and with whom you argued at the waters of Meribah. 33:9 He said to his father and mother, "I have not seen him," and he did not acknowledge his own brothers or know his own children, for they kept your word, and guarded your covenant. 33:10 They will teach Jacob your ordinances and Israel your law; they will offer incense as a pleasant odor, and a whole offering on your altar. 33:11 Bless, O Lord, his goods, and be pleased with his efforts; undercut the legs of any who attack him, and of those who hate him, so that they cannot stand. Blessing on Benjamin 33:12 Of Benjamin he said: The beloved of the Lord will live safely by him; he protects him all the time, and the Lord places him on his chest. Blessing on Joseph 33:13 Of Joseph he said: May the Lord bless his land with the harvest produced by the sky, by the dew, and by the depths crouching beneath; 33:14 with the harvest produced by the daylight and by the moonlight; 33:15 with the best of the ancient mountains and the harvest produced by the age-old hills; 33:16 with the harvest of the earth and its fullness and the pleasure of him who resided in the burning bush. May blessing rest on Joseph's head, and on the top of the head of the one set apart from his brothers. 33:17 May the firstborn of his bull bring him honor, and may his horns be those of a wild ox; with them may he gore all peoples, all the far reaches of the earth. They are the ten thousands of Ephraim, and they are the thousands of Manasseh. Blessing on Zebulun and Issachar 33:18 Of Zebulun he said: Rejoice, Zebulun, when you go outside, and Issachar, when you are in your tents. 33:19 They will summon peoples to the mountain, there they will sacrifice proper sacrifices; for they will enjoy the abundance of the seas, and the hidden treasures of the shores. Blessing on Gad 33:20 Of Gad he said: Blessed be the one who enlarges Gad. Like a lioness he will dwell; he will tear at an arm -- indeed, a scalp. 33:21 He has selected the best part for himself, for the portion of the ruler is set aside there; he came with the leaders of the people, he obeyed the righteous laws of the Lord and his ordinances with Israel. Blessing on Dan 33:22 Of Dan he said: Dan is a lion's cub; he will leap forth from Bashan. Blessing on Naphtali 33:23 Of Naphtali he said: O Naphtali, overflowing with favor, and full of the Lord's blessing, possess the west and south. Blessing on Asher 33:24 Of Asher he said: Asher is blessed with children, may he be favored by his brothers and may he dip his foot in olive oil. 33:25 The bars of your gates will be made of iron and bronze, and may you have lifelong strength. General Praise and Blessing 33:26 There is no one like God, O Jeshurun, who rides through the sky to help you, on the clouds in majesty. 33:27 The everlasting God is a refuge, and underneath you are his eternal arms; he has driven out enemies before you, and has said, "Destroy!" 33:28 Israel lives in safety, the fountain of Jacob is quite secure, in a land of grain and new wine; indeed, its heavens rain down dew. 33:29 You have joy, Israel! Who is like you? You are a people delivered by the Lord, your protective shield and your exalted sword. May your enemies cringe before you; may you trample on their backs. The Death of Moses 34:1 Then Moses ascended from the deserts of Moab to Mount Nebo, to the summit of Pisgah, which is opposite Jericho. The Lord showed him the whole land -- Gilead to Dan, 34:2 and all of Naphtali, the land of Ephraim and Manasseh, all the land of Judah as far as the distant sea, 34:3 the Negev, and the plain of the valley of Jericho, the city of the date palm trees, as far as Zoar. 34:4 Then the Lord said to him, "This is the land I promised to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob when I said, 'I will give it to your descendants.' I have let you see it, but you will not cross over there." 34:5 So Moses, the servant of the Lord, died there in the land of Moab as the Lord had said. 34:6 He buried him in the land of Moab near Beth Peor, but no one knows his exact burial place to this very day. 34:7 Moses was 120 years old when he died, but his eye was not dull nor had his vitality departed. 34:8 The Israelites mourned for Moses in the deserts of Moab for thirty days; then the days of mourning for Moses ended. The Epitaph of Moses 34:9 Now Joshua son of Nun was full of the spirit of wisdom, for Moses had placed his hands on him; and the Israelites listened to him and did just what the Lord had commanded Moses. 34:10 No prophet ever again arose in Israel like Moses, who knew the Lord face to face. 34:11 He did all the signs and wonders the Lord had sent him to do in the land of Egypt, to Pharaoh, all his servants, and the whole land, 34:12 and he displayed great power and awesome might in view of all Israel. Prayer Lord, You are a faithful and loving God across the generations. May I praise You name and trust You always. Commentary Moses, just prior to his death, reviewed for the Israelites the blessings that the Lord God had promised and delivered to the Israelites, specifically to each of the tribes. In his summary of general blessings upon the Israelites he intentionally used the title " Jeshurun", which the NET translators define as meaning "be upright" - so that there was a clear understanding that God's blessings were for an obedient people. The Lord God showed Moses the promised land, from the mountaintop across the Jordan River, and then Moses died at 120 years of age and was buried in Moab. Moses was the last prophet to have the level of face to face contact with God. Joshua assumed leadership and the people generally followed him along the path Moses had announced from God. Interaction Consider Moses made certain that before he died and Joshua led the people into the promised land they remembered what God had promised and had done for their tribes and their nation as a whole. Discuss Imagine being a member of a tribe of Israel and hearing Moses recite the blessing of God that was specifically promised to your tribe -- can you imagine the sense of purpose and value that would create? Reflect Joshua's credibility with the people would flow from God's anointing, Moses's affirmation, and from his role as God's tool in fulfilling His plan to bring them into the promised land. Share When have you been commissioned to lead others in the fulfillment of a mission to which they had agreed and in which they had a lot of value? Was your task made easier, in contrast to leading people without a clear vested self-interest in the project, as a result? Faith in Action Prayer: Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you some way that you may be useful in His great plan. Action: Today I will joyfully receive the call of the Lord and prayerfully seek wisdom as to how I may serve Him. I will consult one who meets the Biblical definition of an elder for prayer and Biblical perspective to be certain that I have heard rightly from the Holy Spirit. Be Specific ______________________________________________________ Sunday's text will be: Joshua 1 -- Have an http://Ultrafidian.com Day! Pastor David ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Personal Site: http://bibleseven.com Bible Resources: http://bible.org ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From pastordavid at bibleseven.com Sat Nov 6 20:29:09 2010 From: pastordavid at bibleseven.com (pastordavid at bibleseven.com) Date: Sat, 06 Nov 2010 20:29:09 -0400 Subject: [Linux4christians] Sunday - Joshua 1 Message-ID: <4CD5F2D5.1010207@bibleseven.com> These weekly sets of daily studies are in _first-draft_ form. Your input is welcomed and saved to improve them for the next stage of edits which will be posted as updates to _/http://bibleseven.com/b7/b7studies.html/_/ and, following / further editing, to _http://bible.org _ *A Study with Daily Application* *Joshua* *By: David M. Colburn* *Joshua 1-12* Sunday Joshua 1 The Lord Commissions Joshua 1:1 After Moses the Lord's servant died, the Lord said to Joshua son of Nun, Moses' assistant: 1:2 "Moses my servant is dead. Get ready! Cross the Jordan River! Lead these people into the land which I am ready to hand over to them. 1:3 I am handing over to you every place you set foot, as I promised Moses. 1:4 Your territory will extend from the wilderness in the south to Lebanon in the north. It will extend all the way to the great River Euphrates in the east (including all of Syria) and all the way to the Mediterranean Sea in the west. 1:5 No one will be able to resist you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not abandon you or leave you alone. 1:6 Be strong and brave! You must lead these people in the conquest of this land that I solemnly promised their ancestors I would hand over to them. 1:7 Make sure you are very strong and brave! Carefully obey all the law my servant Moses charged you to keep! Do not swerve from it to the right or to the left, so that you may be successful in all you do. 1:8 This law scroll must not leave your lips! You must memorize it day and night so you can carefully obey all that is written in it. Then you will prosper and be successful. 1:9 I repeat, be strong and brave! Don't be afraid and don't panic, for I, the Lord your God, am with you in all you do." Joshua Prepares for the Invasion 1:10 Joshua instructed the leaders of the people: 1:11 "Go through the camp and command the people, 'Prepare your supplies, for within three days you will cross the Jordan River and begin the conquest of the land the Lord your God is ready to hand over to you.'" 1:12 Joshua told the Reubenites, Gadites, and the half tribe of Manasseh: 1:13 "Remember what Moses the Lord's servant commanded you. The Lord your God is giving you a place to settle and is handing this land over to you. 1:14 Your wives, children and cattle may stay in the land that Moses assigned to you east of the Jordan River. But all you warriors must cross over armed for battle ahead of your brothers. You must help them 1:15 until the Lord gives your brothers a place like yours to settle and they conquer the land the Lord your God is ready to hand over to them. Then you may go back to your allotted land and occupy the land Moses the Lord's servant assigned you east of the Jordan." 1:16 They told Joshua, "We will do everything you say. We will go wherever you send us. 1:17 Just as we obeyed Moses, so we will obey you. But may the Lord your God be with you as he was with Moses! 1:18 Any man who rebels against what you say and does not obey all your commands will be executed. But be strong and brave!" Prayer Lord, You are our strength, You are our truth, You are our power, and You are our wisdom. May I dwell upon Your glory and love, learn, remember and share Your Word, and follow you all of my days. Commentary The Lord God instructed Joshua to get about the business of taking the promised land as He desired to complete His promise of that land to their ancestors. While God instructed Joshua to be bold and fearless, because He would vanquish their enemies before them, He also reminded Joshua that everything was conditioned upon their faithfulness "/Carefully obey all the law my servant Moses charged you to keep! Do not swerve from it to the right or to the left, so that you may be successful in all you do./" Joshua gave the people three days notice to prepare to enter the promised land. The Reubenites, Gadites, and the half tribe of Manasseh were reminded of their promise to accompany their fellow tribes before they returned to their homes on the other side of the Jordan -- and in so doing they acknowledged that their loyalty to Joshua as leader was the same as that given to Moses. Interaction Consider Joshua inherited the same stiff-necked people as had troubled Moses for so long, he inherited a small modern city-sized population of nearly a million, and he inherited leadership of a military campaign and population settlement project never before seen on earth. Discuss What might have been the feelings that flowed across the people and the tribes of Israel when the message of Joshua, that they would enter the promised land in three days, passed in waves across the great mass of people. Reflect The Reubenites, Gadites, and the half tribe of Manasseh already had their land, their families and livestock were there, and they had built some fortifications. Now they would be gone for months or years alongside the other tribes. Share When have you been faced with a major change -- how did the sudden reality of it wash over you emotionally? Faith in Action Prayer: Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you what He has planned for you to do in His service in the near future. Action: Today I will prepare myself in prayer and be certain that I have good stewardship of my resources so that I may serve the Lord wherever and however He calls. Be Specific ______________________________________________________ Monday's text will be: Joshua 2 -- Have an http://Ultrafidian.com Day! Pastor David ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Personal Site: http://bibleseven.com Bible Resources: http://bible.org ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From pastordavid at bibleseven.com Sun Nov 7 22:34:46 2010 From: pastordavid at bibleseven.com (pastordavid at bibleseven.com) Date: Sun, 07 Nov 2010 22:34:46 -0500 Subject: [Linux4christians] Monday - Joshua 2 Message-ID: <4CD76FD6.8090004@bibleseven.com> Monday Joshua 2 Joshua Sends Spies into the Land 2:1 Joshua son of Nun sent two spies out from Shittim secretly and instructed them: "Find out what you can about the land, especially Jericho." They stopped at the house of a prostitute named Rahab and spent the night there. 2:2 The king of Jericho received this report: "Note well! Israelite men have come here tonight to spy on the land." 2:3 So the king of Jericho sent this order to Rahab: "Turn over the men who came to you -- the ones who came to your house -- for they have come to spy on the whole land!" 2:4 But the woman hid the two men and replied, "Yes, these men were clients of mine, but I didn't know where they came from. 2:5 When it was time to shut the city gate for the night, the men left. I don't know where they were heading. Chase after them quickly, for you have time to catch them!" 2:6 (Now she had taken them up to the roof and had hidden them in the stalks of flax she had spread out on the roof.) 2:7 Meanwhile the king's men tried to find them on the road to the Jordan River near the fords. The city gate was shut as soon as they set out in pursuit of them. 2:8 Now before the spies went to sleep, Rahab went up to the roof. 2:9 She said to the men, "I know the Lord is handing this land over to you. We are absolutely terrified of you, and all who live in the land are cringing before you. 2:10 For we heard how the Lord dried up the water of the Red Sea before you when you left Egypt and how you annihilated the two Amorite kings, Sihon and Og, on the other side of the Jordan. 2:11 When we heard the news we lost our courage and no one could even breathe for fear of you. For the Lord your God is God in heaven above and on earth below! 2:12 So now, promise me this with an oath sworn in the Lord's name. Because I have shown allegiance to you, show allegiance to my family. Give me a solemn pledge 2:13 that you will spare the lives of my father, mother, brothers, sisters, and all who belong to them, and rescue us from death." 2:14 The men said to her, "If you die, may we die too! If you do not report what we've been up to, then, when the Lord hands the land over to us, we will show unswerving allegiance to you." 2:15 Then Rahab let them down by a rope through the window. (Her house was built as part of the city wall; she lived in the wall.) 2:16 She told them, "Head to the hill country, so the ones chasing you don't find you. Hide from them there for three days, long enough for those chasing you to return. Then you can be on your way." 2:17 The men said to her, "We are not bound by this oath you made us swear unless the following conditions are met: 2:18 When we invade the land, tie this red rope in the window through which you let us down, and gather together in your house your father, mother, brothers, and all who live in your father's house. 2:19 Anyone who leaves your house will be responsible for his own death -- we are innocent in that case! But if anyone with you in the house is harmed, we will be responsible. 2:20 If you should report what we've been up to, we are not bound by this oath you made us swear." 2:21 She said, "I agree to these conditions." She sent them on their way and then tied the red rope in the window. 2:22 They went to the hill country and stayed there for three days, long enough for those chasing them to return. Their pursuers looked all along the way but did not find them. 2:23 Then the two men returned -- they came down from the hills, crossed the river, came to Joshua son of Nun, and reported to him all they had discovered. 2:24 They told Joshua, "Surely the Lord is handing over all the land to us! All who live in the land are cringing before us!" Prayer Lord, You go on ahead and prepare the way, may I obey You with confidence. Commentary Joshua sent spies into Jericho, as would any good general, and the Lord God guided them to the home of Rahab. Rahab lived along the fortified walls of Jericho as she was a prostitute. Rahab reported to them that everyone was terrified because of the news they had heard of God's great power exercised for Israel. Word came to the king that the spies had visited Rahab so soldiers demanded that she surrender them. She had hidden them on the roof but told the soldiers that she didn't know they were enemy spies and that they had just left the city before the gates were closed -- then encouraged them to chase after them. Rahab challenged the spies to promise to protect her extended family because she had given them information and hidden them from the soldiers and they agreed. They did require her to mark her home with a red rope and to have her family gathered in her home so they would know whom to protect. She let them down by a rope and instructed them to flee to the hills and hide for 3days until the soldiers gave up their search. They did so and then reported to Joshua who was thus assured that the Lord had given them the city. Interaction Consider The Lord God works in mysterious ways and He uses whomsoever He will to accomplish His ends. Discuss Would the first spies, 40 years prior, have had the courage and trust in God to take the risks that these men did? Reflect As frightened of the Israelites as were the people of Jericho, Rahab recognized God as supreme and that her self-interest in serving those who served Him, so she chose to side with God. Share When have you been faced with an awkward and unexpected circumstance where God is clearly working and you had to act in faith despite great risk? How did things work out? Faith in Action Prayer: Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal an opportunity for you to serve someone who is serving Him. Action: Today I will prayerfully agree to partner with the Holy Spirit in support of someone to whom He has assigned a ministry, I will do so with full confidence and trust in God, and I will do so to the best of my ability. Be Specific ______________________________________________________ Tuesday's text will be: Joshua 3-4 -- Have an http://Ultrafidian.com Day! Pastor David ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Personal Site: http://bibleseven.com Bible Resources: http://bible.org ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From pastordavid at bibleseven.com Mon Nov 8 20:07:20 2010 From: pastordavid at bibleseven.com (pastordavid at bibleseven.com) Date: Mon, 08 Nov 2010 20:07:20 -0500 Subject: [Linux4christians] Tuesday - Joshua 3-4 Message-ID: <4CD89EC8.30202@bibleseven.com> Tuesday Joshua 3-4 Israel Crosses the Jordan 3:1 Bright and early the next morning Joshua and the Israelites left Shittim and came to the Jordan. They camped there before crossing the river. 3:2 After three days the leaders went through the camp 3:3 and commanded the people: "When you see the ark of the covenant of the Lord your God being carried by the Levitical priests, you must leave here and walk behind it. 3:4 But stay about three thousand feet behind it. Keep your distance so you can see which way you should go, for you have not traveled this way before." 3:5 Joshua told the people, "Ritually consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will perform miraculous deeds among you." 3:6 Joshua told the priests, "Pick up the ark of the covenant and pass on ahead of the people." So they picked up the ark of the covenant and went ahead of the people. 3:7 The Lord told Joshua, "This very day I will begin to honor you before all Israel so they will know that I am with you just as I was with Moses. 3:8 Instruct the priests carrying the ark of the covenant, 'When you reach the bank of the Jordan River, wade into the water.'" 3:9 Joshua told the Israelites, "Come here and listen to the words of the Lord your God!" 3:10 Joshua continued, "This is how you will know the living God is among you and that he will truly drive out before you the Canaanites, Hittites, Hivites, Perizzites, Girgashites, Amorites, and Jebusites. 3:11 Look! The ark of the covenant of the Ruler of the whole earth is ready to enter the Jordan ahead of you. 3:12 Now select for yourselves twelve men from the tribes of Israel, one per tribe. 3:13 When the feet of the priests carrying the ark of the Lord, the Ruler of the whole earth, touch the water of the Jordan, the water coming downstream toward you will stop flowing and pile up." 3:14 So when the people left their tents to cross the Jordan, the priests carrying the ark of the covenant went ahead of them. 3:15 When the ones carrying the ark reached the Jordan and the feet of the priests carrying the ark touched the surface of the water -- (the Jordan is at flood stage all during harvest time) -- 3:16 the water coming downstream toward them stopped flowing. It piled up far upstream at Adam (the city near Zarethan); there was no water at all flowing to the sea of the Arabah (the Salt Sea). The people crossed the river opposite Jericho. 3:17 The priests carrying the ark of the covenant of the Lord stood firmly on dry ground in the middle of the Jordan. All Israel crossed over on dry ground until the entire nation was on the other side. Israel Commemorates the Crossing 4:1 When the entire nation was on the other side, the Lord told Joshua, 4:2 "Select for yourselves twelve men from the people, one per tribe. 4:3 Instruct them, 'Pick up twelve stones from the middle of the Jordan, from the very place where the priests stand firmly, and carry them over with you and put them in the place where you camp tonight.'" 4:4 Joshua summoned the twelve men he had appointed from the Israelites, one per tribe. 4:5 Joshua told them, "Go in front of the ark of the Lord your God to the middle of the Jordan. Each of you is to put a stone on his shoulder, according to the number of the Israelite tribes. 4:6 The stones will be a reminder to you. When your children ask someday, 'Why are these stones important to you?' 4:7 tell them how the water of the Jordan stopped flowing before the ark of the covenant of the Lord. When it crossed the Jordan, the water of the Jordan stopped flowing. These stones will be a lasting memorial for the Israelites." 4:8 The Israelites did just as Joshua commanded. They picked up twelve stones, according to the number of the Israelite tribes, from the middle of the Jordan as the Lord had instructed Joshua. They carried them over with them to the camp and put them there. 4:9 Joshua also set up twelve stones in the middle of the Jordan in the very place where the priests carrying the ark of the covenant stood. They remain there to this very day. 4:10 Now the priests carrying the ark of the covenant were standing in the middle of the Jordan until everything the Lord had commanded Joshua to tell the people was accomplished, in accordance with all that Moses had commanded Joshua. The people went across quickly, 4:11 and when all the people had finished crossing, the ark of the Lord and the priests crossed as the people looked on. 4:12 The Reubenites, Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh crossed over armed for battle ahead of the Israelites, just as Moses had instructed them. 4:13 About forty thousand battle-ready troops marched past the Lord to fight on the plains of Jericho. 4:14 That day the Lord brought honor to Joshua before all Israel. They respected him all his life, just as they had respected Moses. 4:15 The Lord told Joshua, 4:16 "Instruct the priests carrying the ark of the covenantial laws to come up from the Jordan." 4:17 So Joshua instructed the priests, "Come up from the Jordan!" 4:18 The priests carrying the ark of the covenant of the Lord came up from the middle of the Jordan, and as soon as they set foot on dry land, the water of the Jordan flowed again and returned to flood stage. 4:19 The people went up from the Jordan on the tenth day of the first month and camped in Gilgal on the eastern border of Jericho. 4:20 Now Joshua set up in Gilgal the twelve stones they had taken from the Jordan. 4:21 He told the Israelites, "When your children someday ask their fathers, 'What do these stones represent?' 4:22 explain to your children, 'Israel crossed the Jordan River on dry ground.' 4:23 For the Lord your God dried up the water of the Jordan before you while you crossed over. It was just like when the Lord your God dried up the Red Sea before us while we crossed it. 4:24 He has done this so all the nations of the earth might recognize the Lord's power and so you might always obey the Lord your God." Prayer Lord, You make a way for us where there seems no way. May I trust You always. Commentary Joshua, as instructed by the Lord God, instructed the people to follow the Ark that the priests carried, so the huge populace could see where to go, but to do so at a distance of 3,000 feet. The people were to told to "ritually consecrate" themselves, meaning both a literal religious ritual described in Deuteronomy and Leviticus, and an attitude of obedience and trust. The Lord God informed Joshua that He would show the people that he, Joshua, was God's chosen the same as Moses. He instructed Joshua to go ahead of the people and to wade into the water. From there Joshua informed the people that they would know that God was going on ahead because when the priests entered the water it would part and create dry land for them to cross -- even though the Jordan was at flood-level that time of year. The priests did so and the whole nation crossed, then Joshua instructed that one elder from each of the 12 tribes select a stone from where the priests stood and bring them to Gilgal where the people rested on the other side. The piled stones were a remembrance of what God had done that day. Joshua also piled 12 stones in the Jordan where the priests stood. When the priests left the Jordan it returned to it normal flood-stage flow. Interaction Consider The Jordan was a huge river that would have been enormously dangerous and powerful at flood- stage. Stopping it was a major demonstration of God's power from the people's perspective. Discuss How could anyone who doubted the calling of Joshua still doubt when God stopped the Jordan when he stepped into the water and then directed the priests with the ark to do the same? Reflect Almost a million people crossed the Jordan on dry land in the middle of flood-stage season - no man (other than Caleb and Joshua) who was of military age or older was alive when the people crossed the Red Sea. Share When have you observed God making His presence known in an unmistakable way? Faith in Action Prayer: Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you how He has gone-ahead to clear the way for the ministry He has chosen for you. Action: Today I will praise the Lord for His power and provision so that I may be well-used in His service. As He directs I will expand my existing ministry and/or engage a new one. I will do so prayerfully and in consultation with one who is Biblically qualified as an elder. Be Specific ______________________________________________________ Wednesday's text will be: Joshua 5-6 -- Have an http://Ultrafidian.com Day! Pastor David ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Personal Site: http://bibleseven.com Bible Resources: http://bible.org ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From pastordavid at bibleseven.com Tue Nov 9 22:39:40 2010 From: pastordavid at bibleseven.com (pastordavid at bibleseven.com) Date: Tue, 09 Nov 2010 22:39:40 -0500 Subject: [Linux4christians] Wednesday - Joshua 5-6 Message-ID: <4CDA13FC.5010909@bibleseven.com> Wednesday Joshua 5-6 5:1 When all the Amorite kings on the west side of the Jordan and all the Canaanite kings along the seacoast heard how the Lord had dried up the water of the Jordan before the Israelites while they crossed, they lost their courage and could not even breathe for fear of the Israelites. A New Generation is Circumcised 5:2 At that time the Lord told Joshua, "Make flint knives and circumcise the Israelites once again." 5:3 So Joshua made flint knives and circumcised the Israelites on the Hill of the Foreskins. 5:4 This is why Joshua had to circumcise them: All the men old enough to fight when they left Egypt died on the journey through the desert after they left Egypt. 5:5 Now all the men who left were circumcised, but all the sons born on the journey through the desert after they left Egypt were uncircumcised. 5:6 Indeed, for forty years the Israelites traveled through the desert until all the men old enough to fight when they left Egypt, the ones who had disobeyed the Lord, died off. For the Lord had sworn a solemn oath to them that he would not let them see the land he had sworn on oath to give them, a land rich in milk and honey. 5:7 He replaced them with their sons, whom Joshua circumcised. They were uncircumcised; their fathers had not circumcised them along the way. 5:8 When all the men had been circumcised, they stayed there in the camp until they had healed. 5:9 The Lord said to Joshua, "Today I have taken away the disgrace of Egypt from you." So that place is called Gilgal even to this day. 5:10 So the Israelites camped in Gilgal and celebrated the Passover in the evening of the fourteenth day of the month on the plains of Jericho. 5:11 They ate some of the produce of the land the day after the Passover, including unleavened bread and roasted grain. 5:12 The manna stopped appearing the day they ate some of the produce of the land; the Israelites never ate manna again. Israel Conquers Jericho 5:13 When Joshua was near Jericho, he looked up and saw a man standing in front of him holding a drawn sword. Joshua approached him and asked him, "Are you on our side or allied with our enemies?" 5:14 He answered, "Truly I am the commander of the Lord's army. Now I have arrived!" Joshua bowed down with his face to the ground and asked, "What does my master want to say to his servant?" 5:15 The commander of the Lord's army answered Joshua, "Remove your sandals from your feet, because the place where you stand is holy." Joshua did so. 6:1 Now Jericho was shut tightly because of the Israelites. No one was allowed to leave or enter. 6:2 The Lord told Joshua, "See, I am about to defeat Jericho for you, along with its king and its warriors. 6:3 Have all the warriors march around the city one time; do this for six days. 6:4 Have seven priests carry seven rams' horns in front of the ark. On the seventh day march around the city seven times, while the priests blow the horns. 6:5 When you hear the signal from the ram's horn, have the whole army give a loud battle cry. Then the city wall will collapse and the warriors should charge straight ahead." 6:6 So Joshua son of Nun summoned the priests and instructed them, "Pick up the ark of the covenant, and seven priests must carry seven rams' horns in front of the ark of the Lord." 6:7 And he told the army, "Move ahead and march around the city, with armed troops going ahead of the ark of the Lord." 6:8 When Joshua gave the army its orders, the seven priests carrying the seven rams' horns before the Lord moved ahead and blew the horns as the ark of the covenant of the Lord followed behind. 6:9 Armed troops marched ahead of the priests blowing the horns, while the rear guard followed along behind the ark blowing rams' horns. 6:10 Now Joshua had instructed the army, "Do not give a battle cry or raise your voices; say nothing until the day I tell you, 'Give the battle cry.' Then give the battle cry!" 6:11 So Joshua made sure they marched the ark of the Lord around the city one time. Then they went back to the camp and spent the night there. 6:12 Bright and early the next morning Joshua had the priests pick up the ark of the Lord. 6:13 The seven priests carrying the seven rams' horns before the ark of the Lord marched along blowing their horns. Armed troops marched ahead of them, while the rear guard followed along behind the ark of the Lord blowing rams' horns. 6:14 They marched around the city one time on the second day, then returned to the camp. They did this six days in all. 6:15 On the seventh day they were up at the crack of dawn and marched around the city as before -- only this time they marched around it seven times. 6:16 The seventh time around, the priests blew the rams' horns and Joshua told the army, "Give the battle cry, for the Lord is handing the city over to you! 6:17 The city and all that is in it must be set apart for the Lord, except for Rahab the prostitute and all who are with her in her house, because she hid the spies we sent. 6:18 But be careful when you are setting apart the riches for the Lord. If you take any of it, you will make the Israelite camp subject to annihilation and cause a disaster. 6:19 All the silver and gold, as well as bronze and iron items, belong to the Lord. They must go into the Lord's treasury." 6:20 The rams' horns sounded and when the army heard the signal, they gave a loud battle cry. The wall collapsed and the warriors charged straight ahead into the city and captured it. 6:21 They annihilated with the sword everything that breathed in the city, including men and women, young and old, as well as cattle, sheep, and donkeys. 6:22 Joshua told the two men who had spied on the land, "Enter the prostitute's house and bring out the woman and all who belong to her as you promised her." 6:23 So the young spies went and brought out Rahab, her father, mother, brothers, and all who belonged to her. They brought out her whole family and took them to a place outside the Israelite camp. 6:24 But they burned the city and all that was in it, except for the silver, gold, and bronze and iron items they put in the treasury of the Lord's house. 6:25 Yet Joshua spared Rahab the prostitute, her father's family, and all who belonged to her. She lives in Israel to this very day because she hid the messengers Joshua sent to spy on Jericho. 6:26 At that time Joshua made this solemn declaration: "The man who attempts to rebuild this city of Jericho will stand condemned before the Lord. He will lose his firstborn son when he lays its foundations and his youngest son when he erects its gates!" 6:27 The Lord was with Joshua and he became famous throughout the land. Prayer Lord, You are the power and we are Your tools, what You say will be will be. May Joshua be one of my Biblical role models for faithful service to You. Commentary While all of the men of age to serve in the military at the time of the exodus had been circumcised, they and the elderly men died in the 40 years of wandering, but the younger men had never been circumcised. The Lord God instructed Joshua to have them circumcised as they were ritually unclean. After a time of healing the people then celebrated Passover and ate of the local food -- at which time the Manna ceased to fall and never was seen again. What appeared to the eyes of Joshua to be a man appeared before him with a sword, so Joshua issued the common challenge, are you friend or foe. The bring answered that He was the commander of the armies of God. The implied message was that He was on the side of God, and therefore on the side of whoever was faithful to Him. [Note: Joshua bowed to the "man" and referred to Him as "my Lord". The being responded that he must remove his sandals because he was on "holy ground". The two keys here are that the only other references to "holy ground" was Moses in the presence of God on the mountain and the other cases of a person bowing to an angel triggered an immediate instruction to not stand as one only bows to God. Therefore, this suggests that Joshua was in the presence of Jesus or the Holy Spirit.] The Lord God then instructed Joshua to have the priests with the ark lead a silent procession around Jericho for six days, then on the seventh to make the circle seven times immediately concluded with a battle cry from the soldiers -- at which moment He would cause the walls to collapse and the soldiers could charge directly into the city. Joshua gave that instruction and included a reminder to protect Rahab's family and to dedicate all of the silver, gold, bronze, and iron to "the Lord's service" [the priests]. It happened as the Lord God had said, everything in the city was destroyed except for the metals given to the priests, Rahab's family was rescued and moved to a place outside of the Israelite camp, and a curse was pronounced on anyone who attempted to rebuild Jericho. And as the Lord God had planned, his chosen leader for the Israelites -- Joshua -- became well-known as a symbol of the people of God who were blessed by God with victory that day. Interaction Consider The Lord God made clear that the victory was His and His chosen instruments were Joshua and the priests and not the might of an army or special weapons. Discuss As the priests and army marched around Jericho what may have been the emotions and thoughts of the already-terrified residents of Jericho, the priests and soldiers for whom this was an unusual exercise, and of the watching Israelites? Reflect While the Lord God protected Rahab's family from the annihilation of her people it is notable that they were not relocated within the Israelite camp but outside of it. Only later, presumably once appropriate boundaries were established, were they allowed to take up residence among the Israelites. Share When have you observed the Lord God performing a miracle in which He used unlikely methods and/or persons? Faith in Action Prayer: Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you a place in your life where He intends to do a miracle and where it will be clear that no man was responsible. Action: Today I will prayerfully seek an opportunity to be the Lord's instrument as He reveals Himself through a miracle, however great or small, and I agree to testify of Him to anyone who asks about it. It may be Him leading me victory over a sin, Him using me to walk alongside another in such a victory, the salvation of one or more, the restoration of a prodigal, healing, or whatever He chooses. Be Specific ______________________________________________________ Thursday's text will be: Joshua 7-8 -- Have an http://Ultrafidian.com Day! Pastor David ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Personal Site: http://bibleseven.com Bible Resources: http://bible.org ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From shengchieh at linuxmail.org Tue Nov 9 22:44:28 2010 From: shengchieh at linuxmail.org (shengchieh at linuxmail.org) Date: Tue, 09 Nov 2010 22:44:28 -0500 Subject: [Linux4christians] free christian webmails that has some disk storage Message-ID: <8CD4EA0B6214F57-1F14-AA1B@web-mmc-d04.sysops.aol.com> Hi Do you people know of free Christian webmail that has some disk space? Many of the free one has 2MB-4MB. I'm would be interested in those with 10+MB. I know there are non-Christian webmail like yahoo, gmail, etc that have alot of space, but I prefer Christian webmail for privacy reason. It doesn't need to have over 1GB, but it should be larger than a few MB (in case someone sends a larger picture email and I want some time before downloading that giant email). Sheng-Chieh -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jm at allensonthe.net Wed Nov 10 09:51:29 2010 From: jm at allensonthe.net (Jon Mark Allen) Date: Wed, 10 Nov 2010 08:51:29 -0600 Subject: [Linux4christians] free christian webmails that has some disk storage In-Reply-To: <8CD4EA0B6214F57-1F14-AA1B@web-mmc-d04.sysops.aol.com> References: <8CD4EA0B6214F57-1F14-AA1B@web-mmc-d04.sysops.aol.com> Message-ID: On Tue, Nov 9, 2010 at 21:44, wrote: > > Hi > > Do you people know of free Christian webmail that has some disk space? > Many of the free one has 2MB-4MB.? I'm would be interested in those with > 10+MB. > > I know there are non-Christian webmail like yahoo, gmail, etc that have alot > of space, but > I prefer Christian webmail for privacy reason.? It doesn't need to have over > 1GB, > but it should be larger than a few MB (in case someone sends a larger > picture > email and I want some time before downloading that giant email). > > Sheng-Chieh > May I ask what sort of "privacy reasons"? I have not found "Christian" services to be any more or less secure or private than non-"Christian" services - especially in the technical fields. That said, if we have a better idea of your real concerns, we also have a better idea of valid options. Respectfully, JM /* If you haven't found something strange during the day, it hasn't been much of a day. -- John A. Wheeler */ From hpp3 at lavabit.com Wed Nov 10 12:27:19 2010 From: hpp3 at lavabit.com (Eddy Martin) Date: Wed, 10 Nov 2010 09:27:19 -0800 Subject: [Linux4christians] free christian webmails that has some disk storage In-Reply-To: References: <8CD4EA0B6214F57-1F14-AA1B@web-mmc-d04.sysops.aol.com> Message-ID: <4CDAD5F7.6030409@lavabit.com> On 11/10/2010 06:51 AM, Jon Mark Allen wrote: > On Tue, Nov 9, 2010 at 21:44, wrote: >> Hi >> >> Do you people know of free Christian webmail that has some disk space? >> Many of the free one has 2MB-4MB. I'm would be interested in those with >> 10+MB. >> >> I know there are non-Christian webmail like yahoo, gmail, etc that have alot >> of space, but >> I prefer Christian webmail for privacy reason. It doesn't need to have over >> 1GB, >> but it should be larger than a few MB (in case someone sends a larger >> picture >> email and I want some time before downloading that giant email). >> >> Sheng-Chieh >> > May I ask what sort of "privacy reasons"? > > I have not found "Christian" services to be any more or less secure or > private than non-"Christian" services - especially in the technical > fields. > > That said, if we have a better idea of your real concerns, we also > have a better idea of valid options. > > Respectfully, > > JM > > /* If you haven't found something strange during the day, it hasn't > been much of a day. > -- John A. Wheeler */ > _______________________________________________ > I'm kinda scratching my head too. The last time I saw any specific "Christian" email service was KJVmail.com. Last I saw, they said they weren't taking anymore signups, and they are gone now, the web address parked. The features they offered were no better than any other basic POP3 service. A quick search pulled up just a couple of addresses: http://mail.jesusanswers.com/email/scripts/serviceMenu.pl?user=new http://christian.net/email.php No hard information on either of their services, but jesusanswers sure has lots of flashing gifs >_< If your church has a domain, it might be worth a shot talking to your pastor or the IT staff about letting you have an email address with them. Lastly, If I may be so bold, I'd like to recommend Lavabit for email service: http://lavabit.com I've had nary a glitch from them, except for one time in the four years I've been using them they were down for a few extra hours after a planned outage didn't come back up as expected. All information about their services and features are clearly and plainly laid out and explained on pages readily accessible from the front page. Their servers run Linux (CentOS 4.4), they have extensive options in their paid service and the basic service is none too shabby either. The free account with no advertising lets you receive 32 MB messages with a 128MB storage limit, virus protection, a bunch of different spam protections, a webmail interface, IMAP, SSL, etc. etc., and a VERY strict privacy policy. From the "Philosophy" page: "Privacy. Lavabit adamantly protects the privacy of its users. Lavabit will only release private information if legally compelled by the courts in accordance with the United States Constitution." They also use something called "Asynchronous Encryption" for storage, which means once a message hits their server, nobody (even the admins) can read it without your password. This isn't an advertisement, just friendly advice based on personal experience from one Brother to another. -Eddy From pastordavid at bibleseven.com Wed Nov 10 22:14:45 2010 From: pastordavid at bibleseven.com (pastordavid at bibleseven.com) Date: Wed, 10 Nov 2010 22:14:45 -0500 Subject: [Linux4christians] Thursday - Joshua 7-8 Message-ID: <4CDB5FA5.1000809@bibleseven.com> Thursday Joshua 7-8 Achan Sins and is Punished 7:1 But the Israelites disobeyed the command about the city's riches. Achan son of Carmi, son of Zabdi, son of Zerah, from the tribe of Judah, stole some of the riches. The Lord was furious with the Israelites. 7:2 Joshua sent men from Jericho to Ai (which is located near Beth Aven, east of Bethel) and instructed them, "Go up and spy on the land." So the men went up and spied on Ai. 7:3 They returned and reported to Joshua, "Don't send the whole army. About two or three thousand men are adequate to defeat Ai. Don't tire out the whole army, for Ai is small." 7:4 So about three thousand men went up, but they fled from the men of Ai. 7:5 The men of Ai killed about thirty-six of them and chased them from in front of the city gate all the way to the fissures and defeated them on the steep slope. The people's courage melted away like water. 7:6 Joshua tore his clothes; he and the leaders of Israel lay face down on the ground before the ark of the Lord until evening and threw dirt on their heads. 7:7 Joshua prayed, "O, Master, Lord! Why did you bring these people across the Jordan to hand us over to the Amorites so they could destroy us? 7:8 If only we had been satisfied to live on the other side of the Jordan! O Lord, what can I say now that Israel has retreated before its enemies? 7:9 When the Canaanites and all who live in the land hear about this, they will turn against us and destroy the very memory of us from the earth. What will you do to protect your great reputation?" 7:10 The Lord responded to Joshua, "Get up! Why are you lying there face down? 7:11 Israel has sinned; they have violated my covenental commandment! They have taken some of the riches; they have stolen them and deceitfully put them among their own possessions. 7:12 The Israelites are unable to stand before their enemies; they retreat because they have become subject to annihilation. I will no longer be with you, unless you destroy what has contaminated you. 7:13 Get up! Ritually consecrate the people and tell them this: 'Ritually consecrate yourselves for tomorrow, because the Lord God of Israel says, "You are contaminated, O Israel! You will not be able to stand before your enemies until you remove what is contaminating you." 7:14 In the morning you must approach in tribal order. The tribe the Lord selects must approach by clans. The clan the Lord selects must approach by families. The family the Lord selects must approach man by man. 7:15 The one caught with the riches must be burned up along with all who belong to him, because he violated the Lord's covenant and did such a disgraceful thing in Israel.'" 7:16 Bright and early the next morning Joshua made Israel approach in tribal order and the tribe of Judah was selected. 7:17 He then made the clans of Judah approach and the clan of the Zerahites was selected. He made the clan of the Zerahites approach and Zabdi was selected. 7:18 He then made Zabdi's family approach man by man and Achan son of Carmi, son of Zabdi, son of Zerah, from the tribe of Judah, was selected. 7:19 So Joshua said to Achan, "My son, honor the Lord God of Israel and give him praise! Tell me what you did; don't hide anything from me!" 7:20 Achan told Joshua, "It is true. I have sinned against the Lord God of Israel in this way: 7:21 I saw among the goods we seized a nice robe from Babylon, two hundred silver pieces, and a bar of gold weighing fifty shekels. I wanted them, so I took them. They are hidden in the ground right in the middle of my tent with the silver underneath." 7:22 Joshua sent messengers who ran to the tent. The things were hidden right in his tent, with the silver underneath. 7:23 They took it all from the middle of the tent, brought it to Joshua and all the Israelites, and placed it before the Lord. 7:24 Then Joshua and all Israel took Achan, son of Zerah, along with the silver, the robe, the bar of gold, his sons, daughters, ox, donkey, sheep, tent, and all that belonged to him and brought them up to the Valley of Disaster. 7:25 Joshua said, "Why have you brought disaster on us? The Lord will bring disaster on you today!" All Israel stoned him to death. (They also stoned and burned the others.) 7:26 Then they erected over him a large pile of stones (it remains to this very day) and the Lord's anger subsided. So that place is called the Valley of Disaster to this very day. Israel Conquers Ai 8:1 The Lord told Joshua, "Don't be afraid and don't panic! Take the whole army with you and march against Ai! See, I am handing over to you the king of Ai, along with his people, city, and land. 8:2 Do to Ai and its king what you did to Jericho and its king, except you may plunder its goods and cattle. Set an ambush behind the city!" 8:3 Joshua and the whole army marched against Ai. Joshua selected thirty thousand brave warriors and sent them out at night. 8:4 He told them, "Look, set an ambush behind the city. Don't go very far from the city; all of you be ready! 8:5 I and all the troops who are with me will approach the city. When they come out to fight us like before, we will retreat from them. 8:6 They will attack us until we have lured them from the city, for they will say, 'They are retreating from us like before.' We will retreat from them. 8:7 Then you rise up from your hiding place and seize the city. The Lord your God will hand it over to you. 8:8 When you capture the city, set it on fire. Do as the Lord says! See, I have given you orders." 8:9 Joshua sent them away and they went to their hiding place west of Ai, between Bethel and Ai. Joshua spent that night with the army. 8:10 Bright and early the next morning Joshua gathered the army, and he and the leaders of Israel marched at the head of it to Ai. 8:11 All the troops that were with him marched up and drew near the city. They camped north of Ai on the other side of the valley. 8:12 He took five thousand men and set an ambush west of the city between Bethel and Ai. 8:13 The army was in position -- the main army north of the city and the rear guard west of the city. That night Joshua went into the middle of the valley. 8:14 When the king of Ai saw Israel, he and his whole army quickly got up the next day and went out to fight Israel at the meeting place near the Arabah. But he did not realize men were hiding behind the city. 8:15 Joshua and all Israel pretended to be defeated by them and they retreated along the way to the desert. 8:16 All the reinforcements in Ai were ordered to chase them; they chased Joshua and were lured away from the city. 8:17 No men were left in Ai or Bethel; they all went out after Israel. They left the city wide open and chased Israel. 8:18 The Lord told Joshua, "Hold out toward Ai the curved sword in your hand, for I am handing the city over to you." So Joshua held out toward Ai the curved sword in his hand. 8:19 When he held out his hand, the men waiting in ambush rose up quickly from their place and attacked. They entered the city, captured it, and immediately set it on fire. 8:20 When the men of Ai turned around, they saw the smoke from the city ascending into the sky and were so shocked they were unable to flee in any direction. In the meantime the men who were retreating to the desert turned against their pursuers. 8:21 When Joshua and all Israel saw that the men in ambush had captured the city and that the city was going up in smoke, they turned around and struck down the men of Ai. 8:22 At the same time the men who had taken the city came out to fight, and the men of Ai were trapped in the middle. The Israelites struck them down, leaving no survivors or refugees. 8:23 But they captured the king of Ai alive and brought him to Joshua. 8:24 When Israel had finished killing all the men of Ai who had chased them toward the desert (they all fell by the sword), all Israel returned to Ai and put the sword to it. 8:25 Twelve thousand men and women died that day, including all the men of Ai. 8:26 Joshua kept holding out his curved sword until Israel had annihilated all who lived in Ai. 8:27 But Israel did plunder the cattle and the goods of the city, in accordance with the Lord's orders to Joshua. 8:28 Joshua burned Ai and made it a permanently uninhabited mound (it remains that way to this very day). 8:29 He hung the king of Ai on a tree, leaving him exposed until evening. At sunset Joshua ordered that his corpse be taken down from the tree. They threw it down at the entrance of the city gate and erected over it a large pile of stones (it remains to this very day). Covenant Renewal 8:30 Then Joshua built an altar for the Lord God of Israel on Mount Ebal, 8:31 just as Moses the Lord's servant had commanded the Israelites. As described in the law scroll of Moses, it was made with uncut stones untouched by an iron tool. They offered burnt sacrifices on it and sacrificed tokens of peace. 8:32 There, in the presence of the Israelites, Joshua inscribed on the stones a duplicate of the law written by Moses. 8:33 All the people, rulers, leaders, and judges were standing on either side of the ark, in front of the Levitical priests who carried the ark of the covenant of the Lord. Both resident foreigners and native Israelites were there. Half the people stood in front of Mount Gerizim and the other half in front of Mount Ebal, as Moses the Lord's servant had previously instructed to them to do for the formal blessing ceremony. 8:34 Then Joshua read aloud all the words of the law, including the blessings and the curses, just as they are written in the law scroll. 8:35 Joshua read aloud every commandment Moses had given before the whole assembly of Israel, including the women, children, and resident foreigners who lived among them. Prayer Lord, You are holy and Your commands are to always be obeyed to the intent and letter if mankind wishes to receive the blessing from obedience to which they are associated. May I be intentional in following Your instructions carefully, turning neither to the left or to the right. Commentary All seemed well with the taking of Jericho until the Israelites turned their sites on Ai. The spies reported a small military which could be easily overrun by a subset of the Israeli forces -- but when their tried they were repelled and chased away. The leaders were prostrate on the ground before the ark of the covenant and Joshua feared that the other nations would see them as weak and destroy them. The Lord God explained that someone had stolen what He said to destroy or give only to the priests from Jericho and therefore the entire nation had lost His protection, as He had warned. God explained to Joshua how to find the perpetrator(s) and he did so, "Achan son of Carmi, son of Zabdi, son of Zerah, from the tribe of Judah" was found to be guilty, and as God instructed he and his children and animals and tent and other property were brought to the "Valley of Disaster" where they were stoned to death by the people and then everything burned. Thus the ceremonial purity of the people before the holy and pure God was restored. [Note: The text does not specifically mention Achan's wife. Culturally, she would have been considered part of the "all that belonged to him", so unless he was a widower she was likely killed along with the rest of the family.] God gave to Joshua His plan to take and destroy the city and the people of Ai. This time they were allowed to plunder that city. Joshua's standing as God's instrument was evidenced by the curved sword he held toward the city until the mission was complete. Joshua built an altar to the Lord on Mount Ebal as previously instructed by the Lord via Moses, he inscribed the ten commandments again on the stones he used, then he read the law to the people. They made sacrifices to the Lord God there. Interaction Consider The Lord God had warned that all of Israel was accountable for the actions of anyone in Israel, He had instructed that nothing but the metals survive Jericho and those were to go only to the priests, so there was no surprise to be had when Achan disobeyed -- his punishment was both swift and terrible. Discuss After God's clear instruction that He would go before them in battle and His choreography of the taking of Jericho, placing the priests in the lead with the Ark of the Covenant -- bearing His presence -- why would the Israelites think that they could then attack Ai without God's leadership? Reflect The Lord God's expectations were clearly stated and set high, but He also provided a path for restoration for His people. Share When have you stumbled because you disobeyed God but then repented and He led you to a victory in your life? Faith in Action Prayer: Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you a place in your life where He wants to lead you to healing and wholeness so that He may use you in His ministry? Action: Today I will surrender to and partner with the Holy Spirit in the healing and restorative work He desires for my life. I will ask a fellow believer to pray in-agreement for courage and wisdom. Be Specific ______________________________________________________ Friday's text will be: Joshua 9 -- Have an http://Ultrafidian.com Day! Pastor David ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Personal Site: http://bibleseven.com Bible Resources: http://bible.org ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From pastordavid at bibleseven.com Thu Nov 11 21:37:24 2010 From: pastordavid at bibleseven.com (pastordavid at bibleseven.com) Date: Thu, 11 Nov 2010 21:37:24 -0500 Subject: [Linux4christians] Friday - Joshua 9 Message-ID: <4CDCA864.9090703@bibleseven.com> Friday Joshua 9 The Gibeonites Deceive Israel 9:1 When the news reached all the kings on the west side of the Jordan -- in the hill country, the lowlands, and all along the Mediterranean coast as far as Lebanon (including the Hittites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites) -- 9:2 they formed an alliance to fight against Joshua and Israel. 9:3 When the residents of Gibeon heard what Joshua did to Jericho and Ai, 9:4 they did something clever. They collected some provisions and put worn-out sacks on their donkeys, along with worn-out wineskins that were ripped and patched. 9:5 They had worn-out, patched sandals on their feet and dressed in worn-out clothes. All their bread was dry and hard. 9:6 They came to Joshua at the camp in Gilgal and said to him and the men of Israel, "We have come from a distant land. Make a treaty with us." 9:7 The men of Israel said to the Hivites, "Perhaps you live near us. So how can we make a treaty with you?" 9:8 But they said to Joshua, "We are willing to be your subjects." So Joshua said to them, "Who are you and where do you come from?" 9:9 They told him, "Your subjects have come from a very distant land because of the reputation of the Lord your God, for we have heard the news about all he did in Egypt 9:10 and all he did to the two Amorite kings on the other side of the Jordan -- King Sihon of Heshbon and King Og of Bashan in Ashtaroth. 9:11 Our leaders and all who live in our land told us, 'Take provisions for your journey and go meet them. Tell them, "We are willing to be your subjects. Make a treaty with us."' 9:12 This bread of ours was warm when we packed it in our homes the day we started out to meet you, but now it is dry and hard. 9:13 These wineskins we filled were brand new, but look how they have ripped. Our clothes and sandals have worn out because it has been a very long journey." 9:14 The men examined some of their provisions, but they failed to ask the Lord's advice. 9:15 Joshua made a peace treaty with them and agreed to let them live. The leaders of the community sealed it with an oath. 9:16 Three days after they made the treaty with them, the Israelites found out they were from the local area and lived nearby. 9:17 So the Israelites set out and on the third day arrived at their cities -- Gibeon, Kephirah, Beeroth, and Kiriath Jearim. 9:18 The Israelites did not attack them because the leaders of the community had sworn an oath to them in the name of the Lord God of Israel. The whole community criticized the leaders, 9:19 but all the leaders told the whole community, "We swore an oath to them in the name of the Lord God of Israel. So now we can't hurt them! 9:20 We must let them live so we can escape the curse attached to the oath we swore to them." 9:21 The leaders then added, "Let them live." So they became woodcutters and water carriers for the whole community, as the leaders had decided. 9:22 Joshua summoned the Gibeonites and said to them, "Why did you trick us by saying, 'We live far away from you,' when you really live nearby? 9:23 Now you are condemned to perpetual servitude as woodcutters and water carriers for the house of my God." 9:24 They said to Joshua, "It was carefully reported to your subjects how the Lord your God commanded Moses his servant to assign you the whole land and to destroy all who live in the land from before you. Because of you we were terrified we would lose our lives, so we did this thing. 9:25 So now we are in your power. Do to us what you think is good and appropriate. 9:26 Joshua did as they said; he kept the Israelites from killing them 9:27 and that day made them woodcutters and water carriers for the community and for the altar of the Lord at the divinely chosen site. (They continue in that capacity to this very day.) Prayer Lord, You are always there for us, may I always remember to pray without ceasing so that I may have the inestimable value of Your perfect wisdom in all decisions. Commentary People in the region in the path of the advancing Israelites created an alliance against them and the Gibeonites hatched a scheme to trick them. They used old clothes and bread and wineskins to appear to have traveled a distance, lied and said they from a distance, and pleaded for a treaty. The Gibeonites were actually people from a nearby region which included the cities of Gibeon, Kephirah, Beeroth, and Kiriath Jearim, they were sometimes referred to as Hivites. Joshua and the elders and other leaders failed to consult the Lord but trusted instead in the word of their enemies and the evidence of their human eyes and made a treaty, but 3 days later they discovered the truth. Joshua challenged the leaders of the Gibeonites for deceiving them to which they replied that they expected to be annihilated so the ruse was their only hope of survival. Joshua kept his oath-bound word and made them water and wood carriers for the people and the priests. Interaction Consider The Gibeonites were in a no-win situation, had they not acted deceitfully they faced annihilation, they instead became servants to a people with the blessings of the almighty God. Discuss What foolish pride motivated Joshua to not pause to consult God, especially considering all that he had heard and seen? Reflect Their oath-bound word given could not be withdrawn, so the Israelites now had to live with a pagan nation dwelling among them -- choices have consequences. Share When have you been deceived by someone who misled you were without God's perspective because you failed to seek Him directly in prayer, and indirectly through His people around you? Faith in Action Prayer: Ask the Holy Spirit to show you where you need to slow down and consult Him before making a commitment. Action: Today I will pause from a rush to decision and prayerfully seek God's wisdom in His Word, in my time alone with Him, and through those whom He has equipped to Biblically counsel me. I will consult one who is Biblically-qualified as an elder to prayerfully reflect with me on the decision before me. Be Specific ______________________________________________________ Saturday's text will be: Joshua 10-12 -- Have an http://Ultrafidian.com Day! Pastor David ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Personal Site: http://bibleseven.com Bible Resources: http://bible.org ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From fmiller at lightlink.com Fri Nov 12 00:39:09 2010 From: fmiller at lightlink.com (Fred A. Miller) Date: Fri, 12 Nov 2010 00:39:09 -0500 Subject: [Linux4christians] Unleash the BlackSheep Message-ID: <4CDCD2FD.3070400@lightlink.com> Researchers from security firm Zscaler have published free software that detects when users' web connections are being monitored by a controversial tool that steals log-in credentials from Facebook, Google and dozens of other websites. Dubbed BlackSheep, the Firefox extension alerts users when computers on a local area network are using FireSheep to steal unencrypted cookies the websites use to grant users access to their account pages. When BlackSheep detects the snoop software in a hotspot or other open Wi-Fi network, it displays a message that reads "Somebody is using FireSheep on this network." It then displays the LAN IP address of the offending party. http://www.theregister.co.uk/2010/11/08/firesheep_detection_tool/ -- "Those who hammer their guns into plows will plow for those who do not." Thomas Jefferson -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From pastordavid at bibleseven.com Fri Nov 12 19:57:42 2010 From: pastordavid at bibleseven.com (pastordavid at bibleseven.com) Date: Fri, 12 Nov 2010 19:57:42 -0500 Subject: [Linux4christians] Saturday - Joshua 10-12 Message-ID: <4CDDE286.90000@bibleseven.com> Saturday Joshua 10-12 Israel Defeats an Amorite Coalition 10:1 Adoni-Zedek, king of Jerusalem, heard how Joshua captured Ai and annihilated it and its king as he did Jericho and its king. He also heard how the people of Gibeon made peace with Israel and lived among them. 10:2 All Jerusalem was terrified because Gibeon was a large city, like one of the royal cities. It was larger than Ai and all its men were warriors. 10:3 So King Adoni-Zedek of Jerusalem sent this message to King Hoham of Hebron, King Piram of Jarmuth, King Japhia of Lachish, and King Debir of Eglon: 10:4 "Come to my aid so we can attack Gibeon, for it has made peace with Joshua and the Israelites." 10:5 So the five Amorite kings (the kings of Jerusalem, Hebron, Jarmuth, Lachish, and Eglon) and all their troops gathered together and advanced. They deployed their troops and fought against Gibeon. 10:6 The men of Gibeon sent this message to Joshua at the camp in Gilgal, "Do not abandon your subjects! Rescue us! Help us! For all the Amorite kings living in the hill country are attacking us." 10:7 So Joshua and his whole army, including the bravest warriors, marched up from Gilgal. 10:8 The Lord told Joshua, "Don't be afraid of them, for I am handing them over to you. Not one of them can resist you." 10:9 Joshua attacked them by surprise after marching all night from Gilgal. 10:10 The Lord routed them before Israel. Israel thoroughly defeated them at Gibeon. They chased them up the road to the pass of Beth Horon and struck them down all the way to Azekah and Makkedah. 10:11 As they fled from Israel on the slope leading down from Beth Horon, the Lord threw down on them large hailstones from the sky, all the way to Azekah. They died -- in fact, more died from the hailstones than the Israelites killed with the sword. 10:12 The day the Lord delivered the Amorites over to the Israelites, Joshua prayed to the Lord before Israel: "O sun, stand still over Gibeon! O moon, over the Valley of Aijalon!" 10:13 The sun stood still and the moon stood motionless while the nation took vengeance on its enemies. The event is recorded in the Scroll of the Upright One. The sun stood motionless in the middle of the sky and did not set for about a full day. 10:14 There has not been a day like it before or since. The Lord obeyed a man, for the Lord fought for Israel! 10:15 Then Joshua and all Israel returned to the camp at Gilgal. 10:16 The five Amorite kings ran away and hid in the cave at Makkedah. 10:17 Joshua was told, "The five kings have been found hiding in the cave at Makkedah." 10:18 Joshua said, "Roll large stones over the mouth of the cave and post guards in front of it. 10:19 But don't you delay! Chase your enemies and catch them! Don't allow them to retreat to their cities, for the Lord your God is handing them over to you." 10:20 Joshua and the Israelites almost totally wiped them out, but some survivors did escape to the fortified cities. 10:21 Then the whole army safely returned to Joshua at the camp in Makkedah. No one dared threaten the Israelites. 10:22 Joshua said, "Open the cave's mouth and bring the five kings out of the cave to me." 10:23 They did as ordered; they brought the five kings out of the cave to him -- the kings of Jerusalem, Hebron, Jarmuth, Lachish, and Eglon. 10:24 When they brought the kings out to Joshua, he summoned all the men of Israel and said to the commanders of the troops who accompanied him, "Come here and put your feet on the necks of these kings." So they came up and put their feet on their necks. 10:25 Then Joshua said to them, "Don't be afraid and don't panic! Be strong and brave, for the Lord will do the same thing to all your enemies you fight. 10:26 Then Joshua executed them and hung them on five trees. They were left hanging on the trees until evening. 10:27 At sunset Joshua ordered his men to take them down from the trees. They threw them into the cave where they had hidden and piled large stones over the mouth of the cave. (They remain to this very day.) Joshua Launches a Southern Campaign 10:28 That day Joshua captured Makkedah and put the sword to it and its king. He annihilated everyone who lived in it; he left no survivors. He did to its king what he had done to the king of Jericho. 10:29 Joshua and all Israel marched from Makkedah to Libnah and fought against it. 10:30 The Lord handed it and its king over to Israel, and Israel put the sword to all who lived there; they left no survivors. They did to its king what they had done to the king of Jericho. 10:31 Joshua and all Israel marched from Libnah to Lachish. He deployed his troops and fought against it. 10:32 The Lord handed Lachish over to Israel and they captured it on the second day. They put the sword to all who lived there, just as they had done to Libnah. 10:33 Then King Horam of Gezer came up to help Lachish, but Joshua struck down him and his army until no survivors remained. 10:34 Joshua and all Israel marched from Lachish to Eglon. They deployed troops and fought against it. 10:35 That day they captured it and put the sword to all who lived there. That day they annihilated it just as they had done to Lachish. 10:36 Joshua and all Israel marched up from Eglon to Hebron and fought against it. 10:37 They captured it and put the sword to its king, all its surrounding cities, and all who lived in it; they left no survivors. As they had done at Eglon, they annihilated it and all who lived there. 10:38 Joshua and all Israel turned to Debir and fought against it. 10:39 They captured it, its king, and all its surrounding cities and put the sword to them. They annihilated everyone who lived there; they left no survivors. They did to Debir and its king what they had done to Libnah and its king and to Hebron. 10:40 Joshua defeated the whole land, including the hill country, the Negev, the lowlands, the slopes, and all their kings. He left no survivors. He annihilated everything that breathed, just as the Lord God of Israel had commanded. 10:41 Joshua conquered the area between Kadesh Barnea and Gaza and the whole region of Goshen, all the way to Gibeon. 10:42 Joshua captured in one campaign all these kings and their lands, for the Lord God of Israel fought for Israel. 10:43 Then Joshua and all Israel returned to the camp at Gilgal. Israel Defeats a Northern Coalition 11:1 When King Jabin of Hazor heard the news, he organized a coalition, including King Jobab of Madon, the king of Shimron, the king of Acshaph, 11:2 and the northern kings who ruled in the hill country, the Arabah south of Kinnereth, the lowlands, and the heights of Dor to the west. 11:3 Canaanites came from the east and west; Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites, and Jebusites from the hill country; and Hivites from below Hermon in the area of Mizpah. 11:4 These kings came out with their armies; they were as numerous as the sand on the seashore and had a large number of horses and chariots. 11:5 All these kings gathered and joined forces at the Waters of Merom to fight Israel. 11:6 The Lord told Joshua, "Don't be afraid of them, for about this time tomorrow I will cause all of them to lie dead before Israel. You must hamstring their horses and burn their chariots." 11:7 Joshua and his whole army caught them by surprise at the Waters of Merom and attacked them. 11:8 The Lord handed them over to Israel and they struck them down and chased them all the way to Greater Sidon, Misrephoth Maim, and the Mizpah Valley to the east. They struck them down until no survivors remained. 11:9 Joshua did to them as the Lord had commanded him; he hamstrung their horses and burned their chariots. 11:10 At that time Joshua turned, captured Hazor, and struck down its king with the sword, for Hazor was at that time the leader of all these kingdoms. 11:11 They annihilated everyone who lived there with the sword -- no one who breathed remained -- and burned Hazor. 11:12 Joshua captured all these royal cities and all their kings and annihilated them with the sword, as Moses the Lord's servant had commanded. 11:13 But Israel did not burn any of the cities located on mounds, except for Hazor; it was the only one Joshua burned. 11:14 The Israelites plundered all the goods of these cities and the cattle, but they totally destroyed all the people and allowed no one who breathed to live. 11:15 Moses the Lord's servant passed on the Lord's commands to Joshua, and Joshua did as he was told. He did not ignore any of the commands the Lord had given Moses. A Summary of Israel's Victories 11:16 Joshua conquered the whole land, including the hill country, all the Negev, all the land of Goshen, the lowlands, the Arabah, the hill country of Israel and its lowlands, 11:17 from Mount Halak on up to Seir, as far as Baal Gad in the Lebanon Valley below Mount Hermon. He captured all their kings and executed them. 11:18 Joshua campaigned against these kings for quite some time. 11:19 No city made peace with the Israelites (except the Hivites living in Gibeon); they had to conquer all of them, 11:20 for the Lord determined to make them obstinate so they would attack Israel. He wanted Israel to annihilate them without mercy, as he had instructed Moses. 11:21 At that time Joshua attacked and eliminated the Anakites from the hill country -- from Hebron, Debir, Anab, and all the hill country of Judah and Israel. Joshua annihilated them and their cities. 11:22 No Anakites were left in Israelite territory, though some remained in Gaza, Gath, and Ashdod. 11:23 Joshua conquered the whole land, just as the Lord had promised Moses, and he assigned Israel their tribal portions. Then the land was free of war. The text of Joshua 12 may be found here: http://net.bible.org/bible.php?book=Jos&chapter=12 Prayer Lord, no person or nation or every nation on earth can stand against You, or those whom You send. When I feel powerless may I remember that You are my power when I stand with You. Commentary The five kings of those remaining in the alliance of nation-state/cities, whom the Gibeonites had abandoned to make a truce with Israel, attacked then in vengeance so the Gibeonites asked Israel for help. The Lord God told Joshua that he would deliver those nations to him so they defeated and chased them, then God killed more with hailstones than had died in battle, and finally - at Joshua's request - God caused the sun to stand still as Israel continued to put their enemies to the sword. The five kings escaped to some caves and Joshua had large stones placed to trap them while the soldiers continue to destroy their remaining forces. Despite his encouragement to allow none to escape a few survivors of the alliance managed to return alive to their fortified cities. Joshua then had the stones rolled back and the kings brought to him. He instructed soldiers to put their feet on their necks and challenged them to not be afraid of mere human kings because the Lord God was allied with them. He then executed the kings, hung them on trees, and at sunset had their bodies thrown into the caves and the stones rolled back to seal them. Joshua then turned south and defeated and obliterated the nations and kings there. The kings to the north then created an alliance, but even with the help of fighters left over from those who had attacked the Gibeonites, they were overwhelmed and defeated by Joshua's men. Their leader was the king of Hazor, he was killed as well as the other kings and their men, but of those cities on the mounds only his city was burned. Israel plundered all of the nations that they defeated. Interaction Consider Despite the evidence of overwhelming power only the Gibeonites were clever enough to survive, the rest were obliterated as God used their pride against them so that Joshua could eliminate them from the land. Discuss Given all of the evidence of the irresistible power of God that was allied with Joshua's army why would the kings not have sued for peace or fled to another land? Reflect All of the things that those who hated God had labored to gather now became the possession of Israel. Share When have you found yourself arguing with God, or acting in ways in opposition of His clear will? How did that work out for you? Faith in Action Prayer: Ask the Holy Spirit to remind you of the irresistible power of God. Action: Today I will take some time to celebrate our awesome God with one or more fellow believers. Be Specific ______________________________________________________ Sunday's text will be: Joshua 13-14 -- Have an http://Ultrafidian.com Day! Pastor David ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Personal Site: http://bibleseven.com Bible Resources: http://bible.org ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From shengchieh at linuxmail.org Fri Nov 12 23:59:07 2010 From: shengchieh at linuxmail.org (shengchieh at linuxmail.org) Date: Fri, 12 Nov 2010 23:59:07 -0500 Subject: [Linux4christians] free christian webmails that has some disk storage In-Reply-To: References: <8CD4EA0B6214F57-1F14-AA1B@web-mmc-d04.sysops.aol.com> Message-ID: <8CD5106A2C9A239-C9C-F9D@web-mmc-d06.sysops.aol.com> -----Original Message----- From: Jon Mark Allen To: Linux for Christians Sent: Wed, Nov 10, 2010 6:51 am Subject: Re: [Linux4christians] free christian webmails that has some disk storage On Tue, Nov 9, 2010 at 21:44, wrote: > > Hi > > Do you people know of free Christian webmail that has some disk space? > Many of the free one has 2MB-4MB. I'm would be interested in those with > 10+MB. > > I know there are non-Christian webmail like yahoo, gmail, etc that have alot > of space, but > I prefer Christian webmail for privacy reason. It doesn't need to have over > 1GB, > but it should be larger than a few MB (in case someone sends a larger > picture > email and I want some time before downloading that giant email). > > Sheng-Chieh > May I ask what sort of "privacy reasons"? I have not found "Christian" services to be any more or less secure or private than non-"Christian" services - especially in the technical fields. That said, if we have a better idea of your real concerns, we also have a better idea of valid options. Respectfully, JM /* If you haven't found something strange during the day, it hasn't been much of a day. -- John A. Wheeler */ Thank you for replying. Sorry for the delay - my cellphone acted up Wed. I ended up researching and buying another cellphone. Let say the email server goes down and the system administrator ends up viewing some of the emails. Suppose he/she is anti-christian (e.g.. atheist or satanist). And you are discussing an evangelism plan and how to reach the world for Christ. It's better than for a Christian to read it than to have someone creating spiritual attacks against you. Mt 7:6 says Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast all of you your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and return and rend you. I usually do not let non-christians especially anti-christians know what I am doing to further the gospel. I speak by experience - living with a non-christian family. This strategy keeps the spiritual attacks down. Sheng-Chieh _______________________________________________ Linux4christians mailing list Linux4christians at thelinuxlink.net http://www.thelinuxlink.net/mailman/listinfo/linux4christians -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From pastordavid at bibleseven.com Sat Nov 13 19:54:46 2010 From: pastordavid at bibleseven.com (pastordavid at bibleseven.com) Date: Sat, 13 Nov 2010 19:54:46 -0500 Subject: [Linux4christians] Sunday - Joshua 13-14 Message-ID: <4CDF3356.9090007@bibleseven.com> Sunday Joshua 13-14 The Lord Speaks to Joshua 13:1 When Joshua was very old, the Lord told him, "You are very old, and a great deal of land remains to be conquered. 13:2 This is the land that remains: all the territory of the Philistines and all the Geshurites, 13:3 from the Shihor River east of Egypt northward to the territory of Ekron (it is regarded as Canaanite territory), including the area belonging to the five Philistine lords who ruled in Gaza, Ashdod, Ashkelon, Gath, and Ekron, as well as Avvite land 13:4 to the south; all the Canaanite territory, from Arah in the region of Sidon to Aphek, as far as Amorite territory; 13:5 the territory of Byblos and all Lebanon to the east, from Baal Gad below Mount Hermon to Lebo Hamath. 13:6 I will drive out before the Israelites all who live in the hill country from Lebanon to Misrephoth Maim, all the Sidonians; you be sure to parcel it out to Israel as I instructed you." 13:7 Now, divide up this land among the nine tribes and the half-tribe of Manasseh." Tribal Lands East of the Jordan 13:8 The other half of Manasseh, Reuben, and Gad received their allotted tribal lands beyond the Jordan, just as Moses, the Lord's servant, had assigned them. 13:9 Their territory started from Aroer (on the edge of the Arnon Valley), included the city in the middle of the valley, the whole plain of Medeba as far as Dibon, 13:10 and all the cities of King Sihon of the Amorites who ruled in Heshbon, and ended at the Ammonite border. 13:11 Their territory also included Gilead, Geshurite and Maacathite territory, all Mount Hermon, and all Bashan to Salecah -- 13:12 the whole kingdom of Og in Bashan, who ruled in Ashtaroth and Edrei. (He was one of the few remaining Rephaites.) Moses defeated them and took their lands. 13:13 But the Israelites did not conquer the Geshurites and Maacathites; Geshur and Maacah live among Israel to this very day. 13:14 However, Moses did not assign land as an inheritance to the Levites; their inheritance is the sacrificial offerings made to the Lord God of Israel, as he instructed them. 13:15 Moses assigned land to the tribe of Reuben by its clans. 13:16 Their territory started at Aroer (on the edge of the Arnon Valley) and included the city in the middle of the valley, the whole plain of Medeba, 13:17 Heshbon and all its surrounding cities on the plain, including Dibon, Bamoth Baal, Beth Baal Meon, 13:18 Jahaz, Kedemoth, Mephaath, 13:19 Kiriathaim, Sibmah, Zereth Shahar on the hill in the valley, 13:20 Beth Peor, the slopes of Pisgah, and Beth Jeshimoth. 13:21 It encompassed all the cities of the plain and the whole realm of King Sihon of the Amorites who ruled in Heshbon. Moses defeated him and the Midianite leaders Evi, Rekem, Zur, Hur, and Reba (they were subjects of Sihon and lived in his territory). 13:22 The Israelites killed Balaam son of Beor, the omen reader, along with the others. 13:23 The border of the tribe of Reuben was the Jordan. The land allotted to the tribe of Reuben by its clans included these cities and their towns. 13:24 Moses assigned land to the tribe of Gad by its clans. 13:25 Their territory included Jazer, all the cities of Gilead, and half of Ammonite territory as far as Aroer near Rabbah. 13:26 Their territory ran from Heshbon to Ramath Mizpah and Betonim, and from Mahanaim to the territory of Debir. 13:27 It included the valley of Beth Haram, Beth Nimrah, Succoth, and Zaphon, and the rest of the realm of King Sihon of Heshbon, the area east of the Jordan to the end of the Sea of Kinnereth. 13:28 The land allotted to the tribe of Gad by its clans included these cities and their towns. 13:29 Moses assigned land to the half-tribe of Manasseh by its clans. 13:30 Their territory started at Mahanaim and encompassed all Bashan, the whole realm of King Og of Bashan, including all sixty cities in Havvoth Jair in Bashan. 13:31 Half of Gilead, Ashtaroth, and Edrei, cities in the kingdom of Og in Bashan, were assigned to the descendants of Makir son of Manasseh, to half the descendants of Makir by their clans. 13:32 These are the land assignments made by Moses on the plains of Moab east of the Jordan River opposite Jericho. 13:33 However, Moses did not assign land as an inheritance to the Levites; their inheritance is the Lord God of Israel, as he instructed them. Judah's Tribal Lands 14:1 The following is a record of the territory assigned to the Israelites in the land of Canaan by Eleazar the priest, Joshua son of Nun, and the Israelite tribal leaders. 14:2 The land assignments to the nine-and-a-half tribes were made by drawing lots, as the Lord had instructed Moses. 14:3 Now Moses had assigned land to the two-and-a-half tribes east of the Jordan, but he assigned no land to the Levites. 14:4 The descendants of Joseph were considered as two tribes, Manasseh and Ephraim. The Levites were allotted no territory, though they were assigned cities in which to live, along with the grazing areas for their cattle and possessions. 14:5 The Israelites followed the Lord's instructions to Moses and divided up the land. 14:6 The men of Judah approached Joshua in Gilgal, and Caleb son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite said to him, "You know what the Lord said about you and me to Moses, the man of God, at Kadesh Barnea. 14:7 I was forty years old when Moses, the Lord's servant, sent me from Kadesh Barnea to spy on the land and I brought back to him an honest report. 14:8 My countrymen who accompanied me frightened the people, but I remained loyal to the Lord my God. 14:9 That day Moses made this solemn promise: 'Surely the land on which you walked will belong to you and your descendants permanently, for you remained loyal to the Lord your God.' 14:10 So now, look, the Lord has preserved my life, just as he promised, these past forty-five years since the Lord spoke these words to Moses, during which Israel traveled through the wilderness. Now look, I am today eighty-five years old. 14:11 Today I am still as strong as when Moses sent me out. I can fight and go about my daily activities with the same energy I had then. 14:12 Now, assign me this hill country which the Lord promised me at that time! No doubt you heard at that time that the Anakites live there in large, fortified cities. But, assuming the Lord is with me, I will conquer them, as the Lord promised." 14:13 Joshua asked God to empower Caleb son of Jephunneh and assigned him Hebron. 14:14 So Hebron remains the assigned land of Caleb son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite to this very day because he remained loyal to the Lord God of Israel. 14:15 (Hebron used to be called Kiriath Arba. Arba was a famous Anakite.) Then the land was free of war. Prayer Lord, You brought Your people into the promised land just as you said You would. May I trust in Your every promise to me. Commentary The Lord God spoke to Joshua, reminding him that the entirety of the promised land had not yet been conquered. The text then describes all of the tribal assignments of land made by Moses prior to his death. The text then describes all of the tribal assignments made by Joshua, Eleazar the priest, and the tribal elders, in order to complete the work of Moses. The text does not explicitly say so but the implication is that as the assignments were made the lands were conquered. [Look at 14:11-15 and ahead to Joshua 15:63] Caleb requested and was granted the assignment of the hill country of the Anakites. He observed that although he was in his 80's he could still march and fight with the best of his men, but he of course qualified that it would be the Lord who would make victory possible. The text of Joshua 14 concludes "Then the land was free of war." Interaction Consider The promised land was divided by the Lord God, first using Moses and then Joshua and others. God had a detailed plan, and excellent reasons for every part of it. Discuss Does it make you smile to read that Caleb, at 85 years old was not only still healthy and strong but still fearless-in-the-Lord? Reflect Caleb, fearless the first time he and Joshua pleaded with the people to enter the promised land, and still fearless as they -- 40 years later -- actually did so, was not in the least deterred by the challenge of dispossessing the Anakites who boasted of famous warriors and strong forts in the hill country. Share When have you interacted with an older believer whose energy and faith in the Lord was both surprising and encouraging? Faith in Action Prayer: Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you a tough challenge that He has set before you and which He intends you to undertake with confidence in Him. Action: Today I will prayerfully prepare and begin the journey that God has set before me. The journey may be to overcome a sin in my life, to confront unrighteousness in my fellowship, to reach out with God's truth to those who are considering-Christ (as the Holy Spirit leads), or some other challenge. I will ask a fellow believer to pray in-agreement for courage and wisdom. Be Specific ______________________________________________________ Monday's text will be: Joshua 15-17 -- Have an http://Ultrafidian.com Day! Pastor David ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Personal Site: http://bibleseven.com Bible Resources: http://bible.org ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From shengchieh at linuxmail.org Sun Nov 14 17:57:58 2010 From: shengchieh at linuxmail.org (shengchieh at linuxmail.org) Date: Sun, 14 Nov 2010 17:57:58 -0500 Subject: [Linux4christians] difference between go bilbe and non-go bible? Message-ID: <8CD526684475082-EA0-23F4@web-mmc-d05.sysops.aol.com> As noted earlier, my cellphone acted up and I brought a new cellphone, LG enV VX9900 - a keyboard non-smartphone. I'm already looking at bibles even though the phone should arrive later this week. I'm looking at http://www.mobiles24.com/search?keywords=bible&c=free-mobile-software&search=GO (2nd row - middle 2) What is the difference between KJV Go bible and The Bible (King James Version)? Is Go just some sort of java code? Or what? Sheng-Chieh -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From pastordavid at bibleseven.com Sun Nov 14 21:02:46 2010 From: pastordavid at bibleseven.com (pastordavid at bibleseven.com) Date: Sun, 14 Nov 2010 21:02:46 -0500 Subject: [Linux4christians] Monday - Joshua 15-17 Message-ID: <4CE094C6.5030005@bibleseven.com> Monday Joshua 15-17 15:1 The land allotted to the tribe of Judah by its clans reached to the border of Edom, to the Wilderness of Zin in the Negev far to the south. 15:2 Their southern border started at the southern tip of the Salt Sea, 15:3 extended south of the Scorpion Ascent, crossed to Zin, went up from the south to Kadesh Barnea, crossed to Hezron, went up to Addar, and turned toward Karka. 15:4 It then crossed to Azmon, extended to the Stream of Egypt, and ended at the sea. This was their southern border. 15:5 The eastern border was the Salt Sea to the mouth of the Jordan River. The northern border started north of the Salt Sea at the mouth of the Jordan, 15:6 went up to Beth Hoglah, crossed north of Beth Arabah, and went up to the Stone of Bohan son of Reuben. 15:7 It then went up to Debir from the Valley of Achor, turning northward to Gilgal (which is opposite the Pass of Adummim south of the valley), crossed to the waters of En Shemesh and extended to En Rogel. 15:8 It then went up the Valley of Ben Hinnom to the slope of the Jebusites on the south (that is, Jerusalem), going up to the top of the hill opposite the Valley of Ben Hinnom to the west, which is at the end of the Valley of the Rephaites to the north. 15:9 It then went from the top of the hill to the spring of the waters of Nephtoah, extended to the cities of Mount Ephron, and went to Baalah (that is, Kiriath Jearim). 15:10 It then turned from Baalah westward to Mount Seir, crossed to the slope of Mount Jearim on the north (that is Kesalon), descended to Beth Shemesh, and crossed to Timnah. 15:11 It then extended to the slope of Ekron to the north, went toward Shikkeron, crossed to Mount Baalah, extended to Jabneel, and ended at the sea. 15:12 The western border was the Mediterranean Sea. These were the borders of the tribe of Judah and its clans. 15:13 Caleb son of Jephunneh was assigned Kiriath Arba (that is Hebron) within the tribe of Judah, according to the Lord's instructions to Joshua. (Arba was the father of Anak.) 15:14 Caleb drove out from there three Anakites -- Sheshai, Ahiman, and Talmai, descendants of Anak. 15:15 From there he attacked the people of Debir. (Debir used to be called Kiriath Sepher.) 15:16 Caleb said, "To the man who attacks and captures Kiriath Sepher I will give my daughter Acsah as a wife." 15:17 When Othniel son of Kenaz, Caleb's brother, captured it, Caleb gave Acsah his daughter to him as a wife. 15:18 One time Acsah came and charmed her father so that she could ask him for some land. When she got down from her donkey, Caleb said to her, "What would you like?" 15:19 She answered, "Please give me a special present. Since you have given me land in the Negev, now give me springs of water. So he gave her both upper and lower springs. 15:20 This is the land assigned to the tribe of Judah by its clans: 15:21 These cities were located at the southern extremity of Judah's tribal land near the border of Edom: Kabzeel, Eder, Jagur, 15:22 Kinah, Dimonah, Adadah, 15:23 Kedesh, Hazor, Ithnan, 15:24 Ziph, Telem, Bealoth, 15:25 Hazor Hadattah, Kerioth Hezron (that is, Hazor), 15:26 Amam, Shema, Moladah, 15:27 Hazar Gaddah, Heshbon, Beth Pelet, 15:28 Hazar Shual, Beer Sheba, Biziothiah, 15:29 Baalah, Iim, Ezem, 15:30 Eltolad, Kesil, Hormah, 15:31 Ziklag, Madmannah, Sansannah, 15:32 Lebaoth, Shilhim, Ain, and Rimmon -- a total of twenty-nine cities and their towns. 15:33 These cities were in the lowlands: Eshtaol, Zorah, Ashnah, 15:34 Zanoah, En Gannim, Tappuah, Enam, 15:35 Jarmuth, Adullam, Socoh, Azekah, 15:36 Shaaraim, Adithaim, and Gederah (or Gederothaim) -- a total of fourteen cities and their towns. 15:37 Zenan, Hadashah, Migdal Gad, 15:38 Dilean, Mizpah, Joktheel, 15:39 Lachish, Bozkath, Eglon, 15:40 Cabbon, Lahmas, Kitlish, 15:41 Gederoth, Beth Dagon, Naamah, and Makkedah -- a total of sixteen cities and their towns. 15:42 Libnah, Ether, Ashan, 15:43 Iphtah, Ashnah, Nezib, 15:44 Keilah, Aczib, and Mareshah -- a total of nine cities and their towns. 15:45 Ekron and its surrounding towns and settlements; 15:46 from Ekron westward, all those in the vicinity of Ashdod and their towns; 15:47 Ashdod with its surrounding towns and settlements, and Gaza with its surrounding towns and settlements, as far as the Stream of Egypt and the border at the Mediterranean Sea. 15:48 These cities were in the hill country: Shamir, Jattir, Socoh, 15:49 Dannah, Kiriath Sannah (that is, Debir), 15:50 Anab, Eshtemoh, Anim, 15:51 Goshen, Holon, and Giloh -- a total of eleven cities and their towns. 15:52 Arab, Dumah, Eshan, 15:53 Janim, Beth Tappuah, Aphekah, 15:54 Humtah, Kiriath Arba (that is, Hebron), and Zior -- a total of nine cities and their towns. 15:55 Maon, Carmel, Ziph, Juttah, 15:56 Jezreel, Jokdeam, Zanoah, 15:57 Kain, Gibeah, and Timnah -- a total of ten cities and their towns. 15:58 Halhul, Beth Zur, Gedor, 15:59 Maarath, Beth Anoth, and Eltekon -- a total of six cities and their towns. 15:60 Kiriath Baal (that is, Kiriath Jearim) and Rabbah -- a total of two cities and their towns. 15:61 These cities were in the desert: Beth Arabah, Middin, Secacah, 15:62 Nibshan, the city of Salt, and En Gedi -- a total of six cities and their towns. 15:63 The men of Judah were unable to conquer the Jebusites living in Jerusalem. The Jebusites live with the people of Judah in Jerusalem to this very day. Joseph's Tribal Lands 16:1 The land allotted to Joseph's descendants extended from the Jordan at Jericho to the waters of Jericho to the east, through the desert and on up from Jericho into the hill country of Bethel. 16:2 The southern border extended from Bethel to Luz, and crossed to Arkite territory at Ataroth. 16:3 It then descended westward to Japhletite territory, as far as the territory of lower Beth Horon and Gezer, and ended at the sea. 16:4 Joseph's descendants, Manasseh and Ephraim, were assigned their land. 16:5 The territory of the tribe of Ephraim by its clans included the following: The border of their assigned land to the east was Ataroth Addar as far as upper Beth Horon. 16:6 It then extended on to the sea, with Micmethath on the north. It turned eastward to Taanath Shiloh and crossed it on the east to Janoah. 16:7 It then descended from Janoah to Ataroth and Naarah, touched Jericho, and extended to the Jordan River. 16:8 From Tappuah it went westward to the Valley of Kanah and ended at the sea. This is the land assigned to the tribe of Ephraim by its clans. 16:9 Also included were the cities set apart for the tribe of Ephraim within Manasseh's territory, along with their towns. 16:10 The Ephraimites did not conquer the Canaanites living in Gezer. The Canaanites live among the Ephraimites to this very day and do hard labor as their servants. 17:1 The tribe of Manasseh, Joseph's firstborn son, was also allotted land. The descendants of Makir, Manasseh's firstborn and the father of Gilead, received land, for they were warriors. They were assigned Gilead and Bashan. 17:2 The rest of Manasseh's descendants were also assigned land by their clans, including the descendants of Abiezer, Helek, Asriel, Shechem, Hepher, and Shemida. These are the male descendants of Manasseh son of Joseph by their clans. 17:3 Now Zelophehad son of Hepher, son of Gilead, son of Makir, son of Manasseh, had no sons, only daughters. These are the names of his daughters: Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah. 17:4 They went before Eleazar the priest, Joshua son of Nun, and the leaders and said, "The Lord told Moses to assign us land among our relatives." So Joshua assigned them land among their uncles, as the Lord had commanded. 17:5 Manasseh was allotted ten shares of land, in addition to the land of Gilead and Bashan east of the Jordan, 17:6 for the daughters of Manasseh were assigned land among his sons. The land of Gilead belonged to the rest of the descendants of Manasseh. 17:7 The border of Manasseh went from Asher to Micmethath which is near Shechem. It then went south toward those who live in Tappuah. 17:8 (The land of Tappuah belonged to Manasseh, but Tappuah, located on the border of Manasseh, belonged to the tribe of Ephraim.) 17:9 The border then descended southward to the Valley of Kanah. Ephraim was assigned cities there among the cities of Manasseh, but the border of Manasseh was north of the valley and ended at the sea. 17:10 Ephraim's territory was to the south, and Manasseh's to the north. The sea was Manasseh's western border and their territory touched Asher on the north and Issachar on the east. 17:11 Within Issachar's and Asher's territory Manasseh was assigned Beth Shean, Ibleam, the residents of Dor, En Dor, the residents of Taanach, the residents of Megiddo, the three of Napheth, and the towns surrounding all these cities. 17:12 But the men of Manasseh were unable to conquer these cities; the Canaanites managed to remain in those areas. 17:13 Whenever the Israelites were strong militarily, they forced the Canaanites to do hard labor, but they never totally conquered them. 17:14 The descendants of Joseph said to Joshua, "Why have you assigned us only one tribal allotment? After all, we have many people, for until now the Lord has enabled us to increase in number." 17:15 Joshua replied to them, "Since you have so many people, go up into the forest and clear out a place to live in the land of the Perizzites and Rephaites, for the hill country of Ephraim is too small for you." 17:16 The descendants of Joseph said, "The whole hill country is inadequate for us, and the Canaanites living down in the valley in Beth Shean and its surrounding towns and in the Valley of Jezreel have chariots with iron-rimmed wheels." 17:17 Joshua said to the family of Joseph -- to both Ephraim and Manasseh: "You have many people and great military strength. You will not have just one tribal allotment. 17:18 The whole hill country will be yours; though it is a forest, you can clear it and it will be entirely yours. You can conquer the Canaanites, though they have chariots with iron-rimmed wheels and are strong." Prayer Lord, Your preference was that the Israelites completely purge the promised land of the pagan people and influences, but some of the Israelites fell-short -- but the victories far outnumbered the occasional incomplete occupation -- and every victory came from You. May I remember that You provide but I am responsible to do all I am instructed to do -- completely -- or live with the consequences. Commentary While the Israelites occupied the entire promised land they failed to completely remove the prior residents from it, those residents continued to dwell among them. Caleb gave his wife in marriage to his nephew for taking a city in the hill country of the Anakites and later gave her two springs in response to her request of him. The descendants of Joseph had grown in number and asked for more land, they protested when Caleb offered them land occupied by the Canaanites, but Caleb assured them that they could overcome the Canaanites. Interaction Consider The taking of the promised land was an incredible event in history yet for a variety of reasons some of the Israelite tribes failed to remove all of the prior occupants; the text hints at fatigue, fear, and laziness as possible explanations. Discuss After all that they had seen the Lord God do why would the descendants of Joseph doubt their capacity to take the land still occupied by the Canaanites? Reflect What may have been the negative influence of pagan people dwelling among the Israelites? Share When have you been on your way to victory with God yet were dissuaded or distracted and failed to complete the task? What were the negative consequences? Faith in Action Prayer: Ask the Holy Spirit to show you where you need to finish a work once-begun with Him. Action: Today I will prayerfully assess what it is that I have left uncompleted and I will ask a fellow believer to pray in-agreement and to hold me accountable to see it through. Be Specific ______________________________________________________ Tuesday's text will be: Joshua 18-19 -- Have an http://Ultrafidian.com Day! Pastor David ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Personal Site: http://bibleseven.com Bible Resources: http://bible.org ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From fmiller at lightlink.com Sun Nov 14 22:10:59 2010 From: fmiller at lightlink.com (Fred A. Miller) Date: Sun, 14 Nov 2010 22:10:59 -0500 Subject: [Linux4christians] Planned Parenthood Aborts 324, 008 Babies on Your Tax $$ Message-ID: <4CE0A4C3.3050309@lightlink.com> Planned Parenthood Aborts 324,008 Babies on Your Tax $$ November 13, 2010, 08:18 PM Bet you did not know that Planned Parenthood received $359.6 million dollars from government--that is your money. Bet you did not know that Planned Parenthood killed 324,008 babies in 2009--using your money. This is why elections matter. You must urge your representatives in your city to stop giving money to the killing fields of Planned Parenthood. You must urge your representatives in your county to stop giving tax dollars to the killing fields of Planned Parenthood You must urge your representatives in Sacramento and Washington to stop giving your money to the killing fields of Planned Parenthood. Abortion is legal, but that does not mean that your tax dollars should be used to kill babies. If the supporters of abortion really believe in this, then let them donate their money to the deaths of hundreds of thousands of babies every year. The population of Stockton, California is 322,462 people . That is how many people, babies ARE people, that Planned Parenthood killed last year--the population of Stockton! Don't you believe that government has better ways to spend your hard earned money? Pass this along to your friends; let them know what government is doing in your name and with your money. Read More... --- If you enjoy my newsletter, please help my readership grow by passing it around. If some one sent this to you, and you would like your own subscription, you can sign up on my web page at www.capoliticalnews.com -- "Those who hammer their guns into plows will plow for those who do not." Thomas Jefferson -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From fmiller at lightlink.com Mon Nov 15 23:46:58 2010 From: fmiller at lightlink.com (Fred A. Miller) Date: Mon, 15 Nov 2010 23:46:58 -0500 Subject: [Linux4christians] Atheists Don't Have No Songs Message-ID: <4CE20CC2.2090701@lightlink.com> Atheists Don't Have No Songs You'll get a kick out of this. There's some truth here! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ADNesm6F27U Enjoy! -- "Those who hammer their guns into plows will plow for those who do not." Thomas Jefferson -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From pastordavid at bibleseven.com Tue Nov 16 15:48:23 2010 From: pastordavid at bibleseven.com (pastordavid at bibleseven.com) Date: Tue, 16 Nov 2010 15:48:23 -0500 Subject: [Linux4christians] Tuesday - Joshua 18-19 Message-ID: <4CE2EE17.3000400@bibleseven.com> Tuesday Joshua 18-19 The Tribes Meet at Shiloh 18:1 The entire Israelite community assembled at Shiloh and there they set up the tent of meeting. Though they had subdued the land, 18:2 seven Israelite tribes had not been assigned their allotted land. 18:3 So Joshua said to the Israelites: "How long do you intend to put off occupying the land the Lord God of your ancestors has given you? 18:4 Pick three men from each tribe. I will send them out to walk through the land and make a map of it for me. 18:5 Divide it into seven regions. Judah will stay in its territory in the south, and the family of Joseph in its territory in the north. 18:6 But as for you, map out the land into seven regions and bring it to me. I will draw lots for you here before the Lord our God. 18:7 But the Levites will not have an allotted portion among you, for their inheritance is to serve the Lord. Gad, Reuben, and the half-tribe of Manasseh have already received their allotted land east of the Jordan which Moses the Lord's servant assigned them." 18:8 When the men started out, Joshua told those going to map out the land, "Go, walk through the land, map it out, and return to me. Then I will draw lots for you before the Lord here in Shiloh." 18:9 The men journeyed through the land and mapped it and its cities out into seven regions on a scroll. Then they came to Joshua at the camp in Shiloh. 18:10 Joshua drew lots for them in Shiloh before the Lord and divided the land among the Israelites according to their allotted portions. Benjamin's Tribal Lands 18:11 The first lot belonged to the tribe of Benjamin by its clans. Their allotted territory was between Judah and Joseph. 18:12 Their northern border started at the Jordan, went up to the slope of Jericho on the north, ascended westward to the hill country, and extended to the desert of Beth Aven. 18:13 It then crossed from there to Luz, to the slope of Luz to the south (that is, Bethel), and descended to Ataroth Addar located on the hill that is south of lower Beth Horon. 18:14 It then turned on the west side southward from the hill near Beth Horon on the south and extended to Kiriath Baal (that is, Kiriath Jearim), a city belonging to the tribe of Judah. This is the western border. 18:15 The southern side started on the edge of Kiriath Jearim and extended westward to the spring of the waters of Nephtoah. 18:16 The border then descended to the edge of the hill country near the Valley of Ben Hinnom located in the Valley of the Rephaites to the north. It descended through the Valley of Hinnom to the slope of the Jebusites to the south and then down to En Rogel. 18:17 It went northward, extending to En Shemesh and Geliloth opposite the Pass of Adummim, and descended to the Stone of Bohan son of Reuben. 18:18 It crossed to the slope in front of the Arabah to the north and descended into the Arabah. 18:19 It then crossed to the slope of Beth Hoglah to the north and ended at the northern tip of the Salt Sea at the mouth of the Jordan River. This was the southern border. 18:20 The Jordan River borders it on the east. These were the borders of the land assigned to the tribe of Benjamin by its clans. 18:21 These cities belonged to the tribe of Benjamin by its clans: Jericho, Beth Hoglah, Emek Keziz, 18:22 Beth Arabah, Zemaraim, Bethel, 18:23 Avvim, Parah, Ophrah, 18:24 Kephar Ammoni, Ophni, and Geba -- a total of twelve cities and their towns. 18:25 Gibeon, Ramah, Beeroth, 18:26 Mizpah, Kephirah, Mozah, 18:27 Rekem, Irpeel, Taralah, 18:28 Zelah, Haeleph, the Jebusite city (that is, Jerusalem), Gibeah, and Kiriath -- a total of fourteen cities and their towns. This was the land assigned to the tribe of Benjamin by its clans. Simeon's Tribal Lands 19:1 The second lot belonged to the tribe of Simeon by its clans. 19:2 Their assigned land included Beer Sheba, Moladah, 19:3 Hazar Shual, Balah, Ezem, 19:4 Eltolad, Bethul, Hormah, 19:5 Ziklag, Beth Marcaboth, Hazar Susah, 19:6 Beth Lebaoth, and Sharuhen -- a total of thirteen cities and their towns, 19:7 Ain, Rimmon, Ether, and Ashan -- a total of four cities and their towns, 19:8 as well as all the towns around these cities as far as Baalath Beer (Ramah of the Negev). This was the land assigned to the tribe of Simeon by its clans. 19:9 Simeon's assigned land was taken from Judah's allotted portion, for Judah's territory was too large for them; so Simeon was assigned land within Judah. Zebulun's Tribal Lands 19:10 The third lot belonged to the tribe of Zebulun by its clans. The border of their territory extended to Sarid. 19:11 Their border went up westward to Maralah and touched Dabbesheth and the valley near Jokneam. 19:12 From Sarid it turned eastward to the territory of Kisloth Tabor, extended to Daberath, and went up to Japhia. 19:13 From there it crossed eastward to Gath Hepher and Eth Kazin and extended to Rimmon, turning toward Neah. 19:14 It then turned on the north to Hannathon and ended at the Valley of Iphtah El. 19:15 Their territory included Kattah, Nahalal, Shimron, Idalah, and Bethlehem; in all they had twelve cities and their towns. 19:16 This was the land assigned to the tribe of Zebulun by its clans, including these cities and their towns. Issachar's Tribal Lands 19:17 The fourth lot belonged to the tribe of Issachar by its clans. 19:18 Their assigned land included Jezreel, Kesulloth, Shunem, 19:19 Hapharaim, Shion, Anaharath, 19:20 Rabbith, Kishion, Ebez, 19:21 Remeth, En Gannim, En Haddah and Beth Pazzez. 19:22 Their border touched Tabor, Shahazumah, and Beth Shemesh, and ended at the Jordan. They had sixteen cities and their towns. 19:23 This was the land assigned to the tribe of Issachar by its clans, including the cities and their towns. Asher's Tribal Lands 19:24 The fifth lot belonged to the tribe of Asher by its clans. 19:25 Their territory included Helkath, Hali, Beten, Acshaph, 19:26 Alammelech, Amad, and Mishal. Their border touched Carmel to the west and Shihor Libnath. 19:27 It turned eastward toward Beth Dagon, touched Zebulun and the Valley of Iphtah El to the north, as well as the Valley of Emek and Neiel, and extended to Cabul on the north 19:28 and on to Ebron, Rehob, Hammon, and Kanah, as far as Greater Sidon. 19:29 It then turned toward Ramah as far as the fortified city of Tyre, turned to Hosah, and ended at the sea near Hebel, Aczib, 19:30 Umah, Aphek, and Rehob. In all they had twenty-two cities and their towns. 19:31 This was the land assigned to the tribe of Asher by its clans, including these cities and their towns. Naphtali's Tribal Lands 19:32 The sixth lot belonged to the tribe of Naphtali by its clans. 19:33 Their border started at Heleph and the oak of Zaanannim, went to Adami Nekeb, Jabneel and on to Lakkum, and ended at the Jordan River. 19:34 It turned westward to Aznoth Tabor, extended from there to Hukok, touched Zebulun on the south, Asher on the west, and the Jordan on the east. 19:35 The fortified cities included Ziddim, Zer, Hammath, Rakkath, Kinnereth, 19:36 Adamah, Ramah, Hazor, 19:37 Kedesh, Edrei, En Hazor, 19:38 Yiron, Migdal El, Horem, Beth Anath, and Beth Shemesh. In all they had nineteen cities and their towns. 19:39 This was the land assigned to the tribe of Naphtali by its clans, including the cities and their towns. Dan's Tribal Lands 19:40 The seventh lot belonged to the tribe of Dan by its clans. 19:41 Their assigned land included Zorah, Eshtaol, Ir Shemesh, 19:42 Shaalabbin, Aijalon, Ithlah, 19:43 Elon, Timnah, Ekron, 19:44 Eltekeh, Gibbethon, Baalath, 19:45 Jehud, Bene Berak, Gath Rimmon, 19:46 the waters of Jarkon, and Rakkon, including the territory in front of Joppa. 19:47 (The Danites failed to conquer their territory, so they went up and fought with Leshem and captured it. They put the sword to it, took possession of it, and lived in it. They renamed it Dan after their ancestor.) 19:48 This was the land assigned to the tribe of Dan by its clans, including these cities and their towns. Joshua Receives Land 19:49 When they finished dividing the land into its regions, the Israelites gave Joshua son of Nun some land. 19:50 As the Lord had instructed, they gave him the city he requested -- Timnath Serah in the Ephraimite hill country. He built up the city and lived in it. 19:51 These are the land assignments which Eleazar the priest, Joshua son of Nun, and the Israelite tribal leaders made by drawing lots in Shiloh before the Lord at the entrance of the tent of meeting. So they finished dividing up the land. Prayer Lord, when You assign a task to Your people You expect it to be done thoroughly and not incompletely. May You find me faithful in completing what You assign to me. Commentary Joshua, at the prompting of the Lord God, challenged the people of Israel. He drew a distinction between "subduing" and "occupying" the promised land. Joshua directed them to assign men to survey all of the land. Joshua then reported the completion of the documented assignments and occupation of the promised land. Interaction Consider While the Israelites had defeated all of the significant enemies within the promised land they had not completed the task of distributing the tribes into the areas assigned to them -- this placed them at-odds with fulfilling the instructions of God. Discuss Is it any surprise that the history of the Israelites carelessness about full obedience led God to prompt Joshua to challenge them? Reflect Even though the Israelites could have spread out and settled they had not yet bothered to do so -- despite God's promise and provision and all of the effort they invested to subdue the land. Share When have you had the opportunity to benefit from an opportunity and not followed through? Faith in Action Prayer: Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you an unfinished work in your life. Action: Today I will thank the Holy Spirit for the opportunity to complete a work in my life in partnership with Him. I will either ask a fellow believer to pray in-agreement and to hold me accountable, or one who is Biblically qualified as an elder, as is most appropriate to the level of accountability and access to wisdom. Be Specific ______________________________________________________ Wednesday's text will be: Joshua 20-21 -- Have an http://Ultrafidian.com Day! Pastor David ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Personal Site: http://bibleseven.com Bible Resources: http://bible.org ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From pastordavid at bibleseven.com Tue Nov 16 16:21:50 2010 From: pastordavid at bibleseven.com (pastordavid at bibleseven.com) Date: Tue, 16 Nov 2010 16:21:50 -0500 Subject: [Linux4christians] Wednesday - Joshua 20-21 Message-ID: <4CE2F5EE.7000904@bibleseven.com> Wednesday Joshua 20-21 Israel Designates Cities of Refuge 20:1 The Lord instructed Joshua: 20:2 "Have the Israelites select the cities of refuge that I told you about through Moses. 20:3 Anyone who accidentally kills someone can escape there; these cities will be a place of asylum from the avenger of blood. 20:4 The one who committed manslaughter should escape to one of these cities, stand at the entrance of the city gate, and present his case to the leaders of that city. They should then bring him into the city, give him a place to stay, and let him live there. 20:5 When the avenger of blood comes after him, they must not hand over to him the one who committed manslaughter, for he accidentally killed his fellow man without premeditation. 20:6 He must remain in that city until his case is decided by the assembly and the high priest dies. Then the one who committed manslaughter may return home to the city from which he escaped." 20:7 So they selected Kedesh in Galilee in the hill country of Naphtali, Shechem in the hill country of Ephraim, and Kiriath Arba (that is, Hebron) in the hill country of Judah. 20:8 Beyond the Jordan east of Jericho they selected Bezer in the desert on the plain belonging to the tribe of Reuben, Ramoth in Gilead belonging to the tribe of Gad, and Golan in Bashan belonging to the tribe of Manasseh. 20:9 These were the cities of refuge appointed for all the Israelites and for resident foreigners living among them. Anyone who accidentally killed someone could escape there and not be executed by the avenger of blood, at least until his case was reviewed by the assembly. Levitical Cities 21:1 The tribal leaders of the Levites went before Eleazar the priest and Joshua son of Nun and the Israelite tribal leaders 21:2 in Shiloh in the land of Canaan and said, "The Lord told Moses to assign us cities in which to live along with the grazing areas for our cattle." 21:3 So the Israelites assigned these cities and their grazing areas to the Levites from their own holdings, as the Lord had instructed. 21:4 The first lot belonged to the Kohathite clans. The Levites who were descendants of Aaron the priest were allotted thirteen cities from the tribes of Judah, Simeon, and Benjamin. 21:5 The rest of Kohath's descendants were allotted ten cities from the clans of the tribe of Ephraim, and from the tribe of Dan and the half-tribe of Manasseh. 21:6 Gershon's descendants were allotted thirteen cities from the clans of the tribe of Issachar, and from the tribes of Asher and Naphtali and the half-tribe of Manasseh in Bashan. 21:7 Merari's descendants by their clans were allotted twelve cities from the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and Zebulun. 21:8 So the Israelites assigned to the Levites by lot these cities and their grazing areas, as the Lord had instructed Moses. 21:9 They assigned from the tribes of Judah and Simeon the cities listed below. 21:10 They were assigned to the Kohathite clans of the Levites who were descendants of Aaron, for the first lot belonged to them. 21:11 They assigned them Kiriath Arba (Arba was the father of Anak), that is, Hebron, in the hill country of Judah, along with its surrounding grazing areas. 21:12 (Now the city's fields and surrounding towns they had assigned to Caleb son of Jephunneh as his property.) 21:13 So to the descendants of Aaron the priest they assigned Hebron (a city of refuge for one who committed manslaughter), Libnah, 21:14 Jattir, Eshtemoa, 21:15 Holon, Debir, 21:16 Ain, Juttah, and Beth Shemesh, along with the grazing areas of each -- a total of nine cities taken from these two tribes. 21:17 From the tribe of Benjamin they assigned Gibeon, Geba, 21:18 Anathoth, and Almon, along with the grazing areas of each -- a total of four cities. 21:19 The priests descended from Aaron received thirteen cities and their grazing areas. 21:20 The rest of the Kohathite clans of the Levites were allotted cities from the tribe of Ephraim. 21:21 They assigned them Shechem (a city of refuge for one who committed manslaughter) in the hill country of Ephraim, Gezer, 21:22 Kibzaim, and Beth Horon, along with the grazing areas of each -- a total of four cities. 21:23 From the tribe of Dan they assigned Eltekeh, Gibbethon, 21:24 Aijalon, and Gath Rimmon, along with the grazing areas of each -- a total of four cities. 21:25 From the half-tribe of Manasseh they assigned Taanach and Gath Rimmon, along with the grazing areas of each -- a total of two cities. 21:26 The rest of the Kohathite clans received ten cities and their grazing areas. 21:27 They assigned to the Gershonite clans of the Levites the following cities: from the half-tribe of Manasseh: Golan in Bashan (a city of refuge for one who committed manslaughter) and Beeshtarah, along with the grazing areas of each -- a total of two cities; 21:28 from the tribe of Issachar: Kishon, Daberath, 21:29 Jarmuth, and En Gannim, along with the grazing areas of each -- a total of four cities; 21:30 from the tribe of Asher: Mishal, Abdon, 21:31 Helkath, and Rehob, along with the grazing areas of each -- a total of four cities; 21:32 from the tribe of Naphtali: Kedesh in Galilee (a city of refuge for one who committed manslaughter), Hammoth Dor, and Kartan, along with the grazing areas of each -- a total of three cities. 21:33 The Gershonite clans received thirteen cities and their grazing areas. 21:34 They assigned to the Merarite clans (the remaining Levites) the following cities: from the tribe of Zebulun: Jokneam, Kartah, 21:35 Dimnah, and Nahalal, along with the grazing areas of each -- a total of four cities; 21:36 from the tribe of Reuben: Bezer, Jahaz, 21:37 Kedemoth, and Mephaath, along with the grazing areas of each -- a total of four cities; 21:38 from the tribe of Gad: Ramoth in Gilead (a city of refuge for one who committed manslaughter), Mahanaim, 21:39 Heshbon, and Jazer, along with the grazing areas of each -- a total of four cities. 21:40 The Merarite clans (the remaining Levites) were allotted twelve cities. 21:41 The Levites received within the land owned by the Israelites forty-eight cities in all and their grazing areas. 21:42 Each of these cities had grazing areas around it; they were alike in this regard. 21:43 So the Lord gave Israel all the land he had solemnly promised to their ancestors, and they conquered it and lived in it. 21:44 The Lord made them secure, in fulfillment of all he had solemnly promised their ancestors. None of their enemies could resist them. 21:45 Not one of the Lord's faithful promises to the family of Israel was left unfulfilled; every one was realized. Prayer Lord, You told Moses what You expected of the Israelites, in Your New Testament -- New Covenant You have also told us what You expect of us. May I study and strive to be obedient to Your expectations of me as a Christian. Commentary The Lord God challenges the Israelites to fulfill His mandate of cities of refuge and reiterates their purpose, distribution, and design. The Lord God also challenges the Israelites to establish the Levitical cities. The book of Joshua records that once these tasks had been completed that all that God had promised about the promised land had been fulfilled. Interaction Consider The cities of refuge were designed to promote a civilized manner of dealing with the violent death of people; rather than rage-driven revenge, reason and justice prevailed. Discuss How important was it to the Israelites, and to everyone who has believed in and followed God since, to know that God always keeps His promises? Reflect The Levites invested themselves in the sacrificial system and the system of justice in service of their fellow Israelites and God made sure that they were well-provided for. Share When have you trusted a promised of God because you had read so many times in the Bible of the promises He had kept to others? Faith in Action Prayer: Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you a moment in your life where God has fulfilled a promise. Perhaps one where you had some doubts, perhaps in a moment of crisis, or from something another person had said. Action: Today I will share the story of God's faithfulness in my life with a fellow believer, as a celebration and encouragement to them, and as-appropriate with someone who is considering-Christ as a testimony to His trustworthiness. Be Specific ______________________________________________________ Thursday's text will be: Joshua 22 -- Have an http://Ultrafidian.com Day! Pastor David ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Personal Site: http://bibleseven.com Bible Resources: http://bible.org ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From pastordavid at bibleseven.com Wed Nov 17 20:16:49 2010 From: pastordavid at bibleseven.com (pastordavid at bibleseven.com) Date: Wed, 17 Nov 2010 20:16:49 -0500 Subject: [Linux4christians] Thursday - Joshua 22 Message-ID: <4CE47E81.1020606@bibleseven.com> Thursday Joshua 22 Joshua Sends Home the Eastern Tribes 22:1 Then Joshua summoned the Reubenites, Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh 22:2 and told them: "You have carried out all the instructions of Moses the Lord's servant, and you have obeyed all I have told you. 22:3 You have not abandoned your fellow Israelites this entire time, right up to this very day. You have completed the task given you by the Lord your God. 22:4 Now the Lord your God has made your fellow Israelites secure, just as he promised them. So now you may turn around and go to your homes in your own land which Moses the Lord's servant assigned to you east of the Jordan. 22:5 But carefully obey the commands and instructions Moses the Lord's servant gave you. Love the Lord your God, follow all his instructions, obey his commands, be loyal to him, and serve him with all your heart and being!" 22:6 Joshua rewarded them and sent them on their way; they returned to their homes. 22:7 (Now to one half-tribe of Manasseh, Moses had assigned land in Bashan; and to the other half Joshua had assigned land on the west side of the Jordan with their fellow Israelites.) When Joshua sent them home, he rewarded them, 22:8 saying, "Take home great wealth, a lot of cattle, silver, gold, bronze, iron, and a lot of clothing. Divide up the goods captured from your enemies with your brothers." 22:9 So the Reubenites, Gadites, and half-tribe of Manasseh left the Israelites in Shiloh in the land of Canaan and headed home to their own land in Gilead, which they acquired by the Lord's command through Moses. Civil War is Averted 22:10 The Reubenites, Gadites, and half-tribe of Manasseh came to Geliloth near the Jordan in the land of Canaan and built there, near the Jordan, an impressive altar. 22:11 The Israelites received this report: "Look, the Reubenites, Gadites, and half-tribe of Manasseh have built an altar at the entrance to the land of Canaan, at Geliloth near the Jordan on the Israelite side." 22:12 When the Israelites heard this, the entire Israelite community assembled at Shiloh to launch an attack against them. 22:13 The Israelites sent Phinehas, son of Eleazar, the priest, to the land of Gilead to the Reubenites, Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh. 22:14 He was accompanied by ten leaders, one from each of the Israelite tribes, each one a family leader among the Israelite clans. 22:15 They went to the land of Gilead to the Reubenites, Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh, and said to them: 22:16 "The entire community of the Lord says, 'Why have you disobeyed the God of Israel by turning back today from following the Lord? You built an altar for yourselves and have rebelled today against the Lord. 22:17 The sin we committed at Peor was bad enough. To this very day we have not purified ourselves; it even brought a plague on the community of the Lord. 22:18 Now today you dare to turn back from following the Lord! You are rebelling today against the Lord; tomorrow he may break out in anger against the entire community of Israel. 22:19 But if your own land is impure, cross over to the Lord's own land, where the Lord himself lives, and settle down among us. But don't rebel against the Lord or us by building for yourselves an altar aside from the altar of the Lord our God. 22:20 When Achan son of Zerah disobeyed the command about the city's riches, the entire Israelite community was judged, though only one man had sinned. He most certainly died for his sin!'" 22:21 The Reubenites, Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh answered the leaders of the Israelite clans: 22:22 "El, God, the Lord! El, God, the Lord! He knows the truth! Israel must also know! If we have rebelled or disobeyed the Lord, don't spare us today! 22:23 If we have built an altar for ourselves to turn back from following the Lord by making burnt sacrifices and grain offerings on it, or by offering tokens of peace on it, the Lord himself will punish us. 22:24 We swear we have done this because we were worried that in the future your descendants would say to our descendants, 'What relationship do you have with the Lord God of Israel? 22:25 The Lord made the Jordan a boundary between us and you Reubenites and Gadites. You have no right to worship the Lord.' In this way your descendants might cause our descendants to stop obeying the Lord. 22:26 So we decided to build this altar, not for burnt offerings and sacrifices, 22:27 but as a reminder to us and you, and to our descendants who follow us, that we will honor the Lord in his very presence with burnt offerings, sacrifices, and tokens of peace. Then in the future your descendants will not be able to say to our descendants, 'You have no right to worship the Lord.' 22:28 We said, 'If in the future they say such a thing to us or to our descendants, we will reply, "See the model of the Lord's altar that our ancestors made, not for burnt offerings or sacrifices, but as a reminder to us and you."' 22:29 Far be it from us to rebel against the Lord by turning back today from following after the Lord by building an altar for burnt offerings, sacrifices, and tokens of peace aside from the altar of the Lord our God located in front of his dwelling place!" 22:30 When Phinehas the priest and the community leaders and clan leaders who accompanied him heard the defense of the Reubenites, Gadites, and the Manassehites, they were satisfied. 22:31 Phinehas, son of Eleazar, the priest, said to the Reubenites, Gadites, and the Manassehites, "Today we know that the Lord is among us, because you have not disobeyed the Lord in this. Now you have rescued the Israelites from the Lord's judgment." 22:32 Phinehas, son of Eleazar, the priest, and the leaders left the Reubenites and Gadites in the land of Gilead and reported back to the Israelites in the land of Canaan. 22:33 The Israelites were satisfied with their report and gave thanks to God. They said nothing more about launching an attack to destroy the land in which the Reubenites and Gadites lived. 22:34 The Reubenites and Gadites named the altar, "Surely it is a Reminder to us that the Lord is God." Prayer Lord, You taught Your people to be careful for their own choices and those of their brothers. May I be found attentive in my choices -- that they honor You. Commentary Joshua thanks the Reubenites, Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh for keeping their word to stand with their brothers through the subduing and occupying of the promised land. He rewarded them with a large quantity of what had been gathered from sacking the land and sent them home. The Reubenites, Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh build a large altar and the other tribes presumed it was to make sacrifices apart from the one location established by the Lord. They sent a delegation to challenge them because they feared that the Lord God would punish them all for the actions of the Reubenites, Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh. The Reubenites, Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh explained that they had no intention of making sacrifices but that it was only intended as a symbolic reminder to both sides that they all shared a common standing with God and a right to access to the common place of sacrifice and worship. The delegates were satisfied and returned with a good report. Interaction Consider The Reubenites, Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh had served alongside their brothers for a very long time -- sacrificing time at home with their families -- keeping their word to Moses and Joshua and to the Lord God. Discuss Given God's past discipline of the Israelites was it any surprise that they were fearful when they heard that the Reubenites, Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh had acted in rebellion by building what appeared to be a second sacrificial altar? Reflect The tribes of Israel had finally learned that they had an enlightened self-interest in keeping their brothers in right-standing before the Lord God. Share When have you done something with good intention, but not thought it necessary to explain yourself, only to be confronted and challenged to explain yourself to others who had misunderstood your intentions? Faith in Action Prayer: Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you a place where you may need to clarify your intentions. Action: Today I will ask a mature fellow believer, perhaps one fully qualified according to Biblical standards as an elder, to prayerfully reflect with me as to anywhere that my actions may be misunderstood by fellow believers. I agree to communicate a clarification so that potential conflict is avoided. Be Specific ______________________________________________________ Friday's text will be: Joshua 23 -- Have an http://Ultrafidian.com Day! Pastor David ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Personal Site: http://bibleseven.com Bible Resources: http://bible.org ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From fmiller at lightlink.com Thu Nov 18 00:43:13 2010 From: fmiller at lightlink.com (Fred A. Miller) Date: Thu, 18 Nov 2010 00:43:13 -0500 Subject: [Linux4christians] The Linux desktop is about to get a LOT faster Message-ID: <4CE4BCF1.4070803@lightlink.com> http://www.zdnet.com/blog/hardware/the-linux-desktop-is-about-to-get-a-lot-faster/10372?tag=nl.e589 -- "Those who hammer their guns into plows will plow for those who do not." Thomas Jefferson -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From pastordavid at bibleseven.com Thu Nov 18 21:24:40 2010 From: pastordavid at bibleseven.com (pastordavid at bibleseven.com) Date: Thu, 18 Nov 2010 21:24:40 -0500 Subject: [Linux4christians] Friday - Joshua 23 Message-ID: <4CE5DFE8.4080902@bibleseven.com> Friday Joshua 23 Joshua Challenges Israel to be Faithful 23:1 A long time passed after the Lord made Israel secure from all their enemies, and Joshua was very old. 23:2 So Joshua summoned all Israel, including the elders, rulers, judges, and leaders, and told them: "I am very old. 23:3 You saw everything the Lord your God did to all these nations on your behalf, for the Lord your God fights for you. 23:4 See, I have parceled out to your tribes these remaining nations, from the Jordan to the Mediterranean Sea in the west, including all the nations I defeated. 23:5 The Lord your God will drive them out from before you and remove them, so you can occupy their land as the Lord your God promised you. 23:6 Be very strong! Carefully obey all that is written in the law scroll of Moses so you won't swerve from it to the right or the left, 23:7 or associate with these nations that remain near you. You must not invoke or make solemn declarations by the names of their gods! You must not worship or bow down to them! 23:8 But you must be loyal to the Lord your God, as you have been to this very day. 23:9 "The Lord drove out from before you great and mighty nations; no one has been able to resist you to this very day. 23:10 One of you makes a thousand run away, for the Lord your God fights for you as he promised you he would. 23:11 Watch yourselves carefully! Love the Lord your God! 23:12 But if you ever turn away and make alliances with these nations that remain near you, and intermarry with them and establish friendly relations with them, 23:13 know for certain that the Lord our God will no longer drive out these nations from before you. They will trap and ensnare you; they will be a whip that tears your sides and thorns that blind your eyes until you disappear from this good land the Lord your God gave you. 23:14 "Look, today I am about to die. You know with all your heart and being that not even one of all the faithful promises the Lord your God made to you is left unfulfilled; every one was realized -- not one promise is unfulfilled! 23:15 But in the same way every faithful promise the Lord your God made to you has been realized, it is just as certain, if you disobey, that the Lord will bring on you every judgment until he destroys you from this good land which the Lord your God gave you. 23:16 If you violate the covenential laws of the Lord your God which he commanded you to keep, and follow, worship, and bow down to other gods, the Lord will be very angry with you and you will disappear quickly from the good land which he gave to you." Prayer Lord, You provide for us and ask that we demonstrate our gratefulness by not selling-out to the enemies of truth. May I be found faithful to God and God alone. Commentary Joshua reminded the people of what God had done and that He was still ready to fight for them. He warned them to not compromise with the pagan people around them. Joshua described in some detail the consequences of compromising with the pagans as disastrous. Joshua observed that he was about to die and was very concerned that the people understand that their adherence to the covenant of the Lord God was necessary to their blessing. Interaction Consider Joshua had walked with his people from the Exodus to the promised land and had a huge personal investment in their long-term well-being. Discuss Why would Joshua worry that the Israelites might compromise with the pagan people around them? Reflect There was a profound contrast between the blessing of God and the curse of God and the people owned the consequences based on the choices they would make. Share When have you observed a fellowship that compromised with the world and suffered negative consequences? Faith in Action Prayer: Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you a place where a choice ahead of you will result in the receipt of a blessing or not. Action: Today I will ask a fellow believer to pray in-agreement for sensitivity to the Holy Spirit and clarity in consulting the Word as He guides me to the correct decision. Be Specific ______________________________________________________ Saturday's text will be: Joshua 24 -- Have an http://Ultrafidian.com Day! Pastor David ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Personal Site: http://bibleseven.com Bible Resources: http://bible.org ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From pastordavid at bibleseven.com Fri Nov 19 20:46:08 2010 From: pastordavid at bibleseven.com (pastordavid at bibleseven.com) Date: Fri, 19 Nov 2010 20:46:08 -0500 Subject: [Linux4christians] Saturday - Joshua 24 Message-ID: <4CE72860.5000700@bibleseven.com> Saturday Joshua 24 Israel Renews its Commitment to the Lord 24:1 Joshua assembled all the Israelite tribes at Shechem. He summoned Israel's elders, rulers, judges, and leaders, and they appeared before God. 24:2 Joshua told all the people, "Here is what the Lord God of Israel says: 'In the distant past your ancestors lived beyond the Euphrates River, including Terah the father of Abraham and Nahor. They worshiped other gods, 24:3 but I took your father Abraham from beyond the Euphrates and brought him into the entire land of Canaan. I made his descendants numerous; I gave him Isaac, 24:4 and to Isaac I gave Jacob and Esau. To Esau I assigned Mount Seir, while Jacob and his sons went down to Egypt. 24:5 I sent Moses and Aaron, and I struck Egypt down when I intervened in their land. Then I brought you out. 24:6 When I brought your fathers out of Egypt, you arrived at the sea. The Egyptians chased your fathers with chariots and horsemen to the Red Sea. 24:7 Your fathers cried out for help to the Lord; he made the area between you and the Egyptians dark, and then drowned them in the sea. You witnessed with your very own eyes what I did in Egypt. You lived in the wilderness for a long time. 24:8 Then I brought you to the land of the Amorites who lived east of the Jordan. They fought with you, but I handed them over to you; you conquered their land and I destroyed them from before you. 24:9 Balak son of Zippor, king of Moab, launched an attack against Israel. He summoned Balaam son of Beor to call down judgment on you. 24:10 I refused to respond to Balaam; he kept prophesying good things about you, and I rescued you from his power. 24:11 You crossed the Jordan and came to Jericho. The leaders of Jericho, as well as the Amorites, Perizzites, Canaanites, Hittites, Girgashites, Hivites, and Jebusites, fought with you, but I handed them over to you. 24:12 I sent terror ahead of you to drive out before you the two Amorite kings. I gave you the victory; it was not by your swords or bows. 24:13 I gave you a land in which you had not worked hard; you took up residence in cities you did not build and you are eating the produce of vineyards and olive groves you did not plant.' 24:14 Now obey the Lord and worship him with integrity and loyalty. Put aside the gods your ancestors worshiped beyond the Euphrates and in Egypt and worship the Lord. 24:15 If you have no desire to worship the Lord, choose today whom you will worship, whether it be the gods whom your ancestors worshiped beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living. But I and my family will worship the Lord!" 24:16 The people responded, "Far be it from us to abandon the Lord so we can worship other gods! 24:17 For the Lord our God took us and our fathers out of slavery in the land of Egypt and performed these awesome miracles before our very eyes. He continually protected us as we traveled and when we passed through nations. 24:18 The Lord drove out from before us all the nations, including the Amorites who lived in the land. So we too will worship the Lord, for he is our God!" 24:19 Joshua warned the people, "You will not keep worshiping the Lord, for he is a holy God. He is a jealous God who will not forgive your rebellion or your sins. 24:20 If you abandon the Lord and worship foreign gods, he will turn against you; he will bring disaster on you and destroy you, though he once treated you well." 24:21 The people said to Joshua, "No! We really will worship the Lord!" 24:22 Joshua said to the people, "Do you agree to be witnesses against yourselves that you have chosen to worship the Lord?" They replied, "We are witnesses!" 24:23 Joshua said, "Now put aside the foreign gods that are among you and submit to the Lord God of Israel." 24:24 The people said to Joshua, "We will worship the Lord our God and obey him." 24:25 That day Joshua drew up an agreement for the people, and he established rules and regulations for them in Shechem. 24:26 Joshua wrote these words in the Law Scroll of God. He then took a large stone and set it up there under the oak tree near the Lord's shrine. 24:27 Joshua said to all the people, "Look, this stone will be a witness against you, for it has heard everything the Lord said to us. It will be a witness against you if you deny your God." 24:28 When Joshua dismissed the people, they went to their allotted portions of land. An Era Ends 24:29 After all this Joshua son of Nun, the Lord's servant, died at the age of one hundred ten. 24:30 They buried him in his allotted territory in Timnath Serah in the hill country of Ephraim, north of Mount Gaash. 24:31 Israel worshiped the Lord throughout Joshua's lifetime and as long as the elderly men who outlived him remained alive. These men had experienced firsthand everything the Lord had done for Israel. 24:32 The bones of Joseph, which the Israelites had brought up from Egypt, were buried at Shechem in the part of the field that Jacob bought from the sons of Hamor, the father of Shechem, for one hundred pieces of money. So it became the inheritance of the tribe of Joseph. 24:33 Eleazar son of Aaron died, and they buried him in Gibeah in the hill country of Ephraim, where his son Phinehas had been assigned land. Prayer Lord, You raised up a role model for faithfulness in Joshua. May I learn from him and choose to emulate him in my own life. Commentary Joshua presented the Lord God's review of His provision for the people from Abraham to the present, then he challenges them to make a decision; would they worship the pagan gods of their past, or follow only the Lord God, then he declared that no matter what they decided -- his family would serve to the Lord.. The people declared that they would follow the Lord but Joshua challenged them on the truth of that -- followed by a reminder of the consequence that offending the Lord God though rebellion would trigger His jealous response. Joshua wrote for them on The Scroll of Law their agreement to follow the Lord God and the rules and regulations of their civilization, set up a large stone as a symbolic witness of their agreement, then sent them home. Joshua died and the obedience of the people continued as long as there were still elders in the land who remembered the great things that God had done. Interaction Consider The history of God's provision and protection from Abraham to the promised land was an incredible legacy for the Israelites. Discuss The Israelites had apparently continued to drift back into their old pagan ways but given their promised to God, His faithfulness to them, and the prophesied consequences for rebellion -- why would Joshua be so concerned that they would still drift backwards into paganism? Reflect As long as there were elders present among the people to remind them of God's powerful provision and protection they kept their eyes on Him. Share When have you experienced or heard of the power of retelling God's faithfulness to keep a fellowship moving forward in faithfulness to Him? Faith in Action Prayer: Ask the Holy Spirit to remind you again of God's faithfulness in your life, and/or that of your fellowship. Action: Today I will gather together with one or more fellow believers and we will share our stories of God's faithfulness. We will celebrate together and pray earnestly that we will never forget and never drift backward from the place of grateful faithfulness to Him where we now find ourselves. Be Specific ______________________________________________________ Sunday's text will be: Judges 1 and 2 -- Have an http://Ultrafidian.com Day! Pastor David ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Personal Site: http://bibleseven.com Bible Resources: http://bible.org ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From fmiller at lightlink.com Sat Nov 20 20:51:25 2010 From: fmiller at lightlink.com (Fred A. Miller) Date: Sat, 20 Nov 2010 20:51:25 -0500 Subject: [Linux4christians] The story of Jonah on Vimeo Message-ID: <4CE87B1D.7050606@lightlink.com> */Please, please listen to this little girl until the end. It is so priceless and you will never read the story from the Bible again with out smiling after hearing this. I LOVE it and that little girl./* http://vimeo.com/16404771 -- "Those who hammer their guns into plows will plow for those who do not." Thomas Jefferson -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From pastordavid at bibleseven.com Sat Nov 20 22:31:12 2010 From: pastordavid at bibleseven.com (pastordavid at bibleseven.com) Date: Sat, 20 Nov 2010 22:31:12 -0500 Subject: [Linux4christians] Sunday - Judges 1-2 Message-ID: <4CE89280.2070607@bibleseven.com> Sunday Judges 1-2 Judah Takes the Lead 1:1 After Joshua died, the Israelites asked the Lord, "Who should lead the invasion against the Canaanites and launch the attack?" 1:2 The Lord said, "The men of Judah should take the lead. Be sure of this! I am handing the land over to them." 1:3 The men of Judah said to their relatives, the men of Simeon, "Invade our allotted land with us and help us attack the Canaanites. Then we will go with you into your allotted land." So the men of Simeon went with them. 1:4 The men of Judah attacked, and the Lord handed the Canaanites and Perizzites over to them. They killed ten thousand men at Bezek. 1:5 They met Adoni-Bezek at Bezek and fought him. They defeated the Canaanites and Perizzites. 1:6 When Adoni-Bezek ran away, they chased him and captured him. Then they cut off his thumbs and big toes. 1:7 Adoni-Bezek said, "Seventy kings, with thumbs and big toes cut off, used to lick up food scraps under my table. God has repaid me for what I did to them." They brought him to Jerusalem, where he died. 1:8 The men of Judah attacked Jerusalem and captured it. They put the sword to it and set the city on fire. 1:9 Later the men of Judah went down to attack the Canaanites living in the hill country, the Negev, and the lowlands. 1:10 The men of Judah attacked the Canaanites living in Hebron. (Hebron used to be called Kiriath Arba.) They killed Sheshai, Ahiman, and Talmai. 1:11 From there they attacked the people of Debir. (Debir used to be called Kiriath Sepher.) 1:12 Caleb said, "To the man who attacks and captures Kiriath Sepher I will give my daughter Acsah as a wife." 1:13 When Othniel son of Kenaz, Caleb's younger brother, captured it, Caleb gave him his daughter Acsah as a wife. 1:14 One time Acsah came and charmed her father so she could ask him for some land. When she got down from her donkey, Caleb said to her, "What would you like?" 1:15 She answered, "Please give me a special present. Since you have given me land in the Negev, now give me springs of water." So Caleb gave her both the upper and lower springs. 1:16 Now the descendants of the Kenite, Moses' father-in-law, went up with the people of Judah from the City of Date Palm Trees to Arad in the desert of Judah, located in the Negev. They went and lived with the people of Judah. 1:17 The men of Judah went with their brothers the men of Simeon and defeated the Canaanites living in Zephath. They wiped out Zephath. So people now call the city Hormah. 1:18 The men of Judah captured Gaza, Ashkelon, Ekron, and the territory surrounding each of these cities. 1:19 The Lord was with the men of Judah. They conquered the hill country, but they could not conquer the people living in the coastal plain, because they had chariots with iron-rimmed wheels. 1:20 Caleb received Hebron, just as Moses had promised. He drove out the three Anakites. 1:21 The men of Benjamin, however, did not conquer the Jebusites living in Jerusalem. The Jebusites live with the people of Benjamin in Jerusalem to this very day. Partial Success 1:22 When the men of Joseph attacked Bethel, the Lord was with them. 1:23 When the men of Joseph spied out Bethel (it used to be called Luz), 1:24 the spies spotted a man leaving the city. They said to him, "If you show us a secret entrance into the city, we will reward you." 1:25 He showed them a secret entrance into the city, and they put the city to the sword. But they let the man and his extended family leave safely. 1:26 He moved to Hittite country and built a city. He named it Luz, and it has kept that name to this very day. 1:27 The men of Manasseh did not conquer Beth Shan, Taanach, or their surrounding towns. Nor did they conquer the people living in Dor, Ibleam, Megiddo or their surrounding towns. The Canaanites managed to remain in those areas. 1:28 Whenever Israel was strong militarily, they forced the Canaanites to do hard labor, but they never totally conquered them. 1:29 The men of Ephraim did not conquer the Canaanites living in Gezer. The Canaanites lived among them in Gezer. 1:30 The men of Zebulun did not conquer the people living in Kitron and Nahalol. The Canaanites lived among them and were forced to do hard labor. 1:31 The men of Asher did not conquer the people living in Acco or Sidon, nor did they conquer Ahlab, Aczib, Helbah, Aphek, or Rehob. 1:32 The people of Asher live among the Canaanites residing in the land because they did not conquer them. 1:33 The men of Naphtali did not conquer the people living in Beth Shemesh or Beth Anath. They live among the Canaanites residing in the land. The Canaanites living in Beth Shemesh and Beth Anath were forced to do hard labor for them. 1:34 The Amorites forced the people of Dan to live in the hill country. They did not allow them to live in the coastal plain. 1:35 The Amorites managed to remain in Har Heres, Aijalon, and Shaalbim. Whenever the tribe of Joseph was strong militarily, the Amorites were forced to do hard labor. 1:36 The border of Amorite territory ran from the Scorpion Ascent to Sela and on up. Confrontation and Repentance at Bokim 2:1 The Lord's angelic messenger went up from Gilgal to Bokim. He said, "I brought you up from Egypt and led you into the land I had solemnly promised to give to your ancestors. I said, 'I will never break my agreement with you, 2:2 but you must not make an agreement with the people who live in this land. You should tear down the altars where they worship.' But you have disobeyed me. Why would you do such a thing? 2:3 At that time I also warned you, 'If you disobey, I will not drive out the Canaanites before you. They will ensnare you and their gods will lure you away.'" 2:4 When the Lord's messenger finished speaking these words to all the Israelites, the people wept loudly. 2:5 They named that place Bokim and offered sacrifices to the Lord there. The End of an Era 2:6 When Joshua dismissed the people, the Israelites went to their allotted portions of territory, intending to take possession of the land. 2:7 The people worshiped the Lord throughout Joshua's lifetime and as long as the elderly men who outlived him remained alive. These men had witnessed all the great things the Lord had done for Israel. 2:8 Joshua son of Nun, the Lord's servant, died at the age of one hundred ten. 2:9 The people buried him in his allotted land in Timnath Heres in the hill country of Ephraim, north of Mount Gaash. 2:10 That entire generation passed away; a new generation grew up that had not personally experienced the Lord's presence or seen what he had done for Israel. A Monotonous Cycle 2:11 The Israelites did evil before the Lord by worshiping the Baals. 2:12 They abandoned the Lord God of their ancestors who brought them out of the land of Egypt. They followed other gods -- the gods of the nations who lived around them. They worshiped them and made the Lord angry. 2:13 They abandoned the Lord and worshiped Baal and the Ashtars. 2:14 The Lord was furious with Israel and handed them over to robbers who plundered them. He turned them over to their enemies who lived around them. They could not withstand their enemies' attacks. 2:15 Whenever they went out to fight, the Lord did them harm, just as he had warned and solemnly vowed he would do. They suffered greatly. 2:16 The Lord raised up leaders who delivered them from these robbers. 2:17 But they did not obey their leaders. Instead they prostituted themselves to other gods and worshiped them. They quickly turned aside from the path their ancestors had walked. Their ancestors had obeyed the Lord's commands, but they did not. 2:18 When the Lord raised up leaders for them, the Lord was with each leader and delivered the people from their enemies while the leader remained alive. The Lord felt sorry for them when they cried out in agony because of what their harsh oppressors did to them. 2:19 When a leader died, the next generation would again act more wickedly than the previous one. They would follow after other gods, worshiping them and bowing down to them. They did not give up their practices or their stubborn ways. A Divine Decision 2:20 The Lord was furious with Israel. He said, "This nation has violated the terms of the agreement I made with their ancestors by disobeying me. 2:21 So I will no longer remove before them any of the nations that Joshua left unconquered when he died. 2:22 Joshua left those nations to test Israel. I wanted to see whether or not the people would carefully walk in the path marked out by the Lord, as their ancestors were careful to do." 2:23 This is why the Lord permitted these nations to remain and did not conquer them immediately; he did not hand them over to Joshua. Prayer Lord, You give us the freedom to choose to follow You closely or to wander, You also allow us to experience the consequences. May I choose to follow You closely. Commentary The text begins after the death of Joshua, returns to describe events just prior to the death of Joshua, then continues after Joshua. In the absence of Joshua the Lord God instructed the tribe of Judah to lead the Israelites against the Canaanites. The text then describes the many locations where the Israelites failed to completely clear the promised land of the pagan peoples there. The text described the pattern of rebellion and suffering, rescue and peace, rebellion and suffering that was to follow the death of Joshua and all of those who had experienced the powerful works of God in the exodus and taking of the promised land. Because the Lord God knew of the seeds of rebellion in the hearts of the people He did not give every one of the pagan peoples and their cities in the promised land over to Joshua, He fulfilled His promise to give them the expanse of the promised land, but allowed the consequence of the people's unfaithfulness to remain among them as a test. Interaction Consider God wanted the Israelites to choose to follow Him, not to create an artificial environment where there were no alternatives. Discuss Is a relationship genuine if people do not have meaningful alternatives? Reflect Despite the history of God's faithfulness the Israelites would still choose to worship false gods. Share When have you been faced with two options and chosen the one that you knew would not please the Lord God? Faith in Action Prayer: Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you a place where you may be drifting away from keeping your eyes on the Lord. Action: Today I will accept the chastising of the Holy Spirit and renew my commitment to keep my eyes on the Lord in all things and at all times. I will ask a fellow believer to pray in-agreement. Be Specific ______________________________________________________ Monday's text will be: Judges 3 -- Have an http://Ultrafidian.com Day! Pastor David ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Personal Site: http://bibleseven.com Bible Resources: http://bible.org ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From fmiller at lightlink.com Sun Nov 21 20:56:43 2010 From: fmiller at lightlink.com (Fred A. Miller) Date: Sun, 21 Nov 2010 20:56:43 -0500 Subject: [Linux4christians] OT: World's Catholics Debate Pope's Condom Remarks Message-ID: <4CE9CDDB.3090303@lightlink.com> http://www.newsmax.com/InsideCover/Pope-Condoms-Reaction/2010/11/21/id/377691?s=al&promo_code=B28D-1 -- "Those who hammer their guns into plows will plow for those who do not." Thomas Jefferson -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From pastordavid at bibleseven.com Sun Nov 21 23:15:23 2010 From: pastordavid at bibleseven.com (pastordavid at bibleseven.com) Date: Sun, 21 Nov 2010 23:15:23 -0500 Subject: [Linux4christians] Monday - Judges 3 Message-ID: <4CE9EE5B.9070105@bibleseven.com> Monday Judges 3 3:1 These were the nations the Lord permitted to remain so he could use them to test Israel -- he wanted to test all those who had not experienced battle against the Canaanites. 3:2 He left those nations simply because he wanted to teach the subsequent generations of Israelites, who had not experienced the earlier battles, how to conduct holy war. 3:3 These were the nations: the five lords of the Philistines, all the Canaanites, the Sidonians, and the Hivites living in Mount Lebanon, from Mount Baal Hermon to Lebo-Hamath. 3:4 They were left to test Israel, so the Lord would know if his people would obey the commands he gave their ancestors through Moses. 3:5 The Israelites lived among the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites. 3:6 They took the Canaanites' daughters as wives and gave their daughters to the Canaanites; they worshiped their gods as well. Othniel: A Model Leader 3:7 The Israelites did evil in the Lord's sight. They forgot the Lord their God and worshiped the Baals and the Asherahs. 3:8 The Lord was furious with Israel and turned them over to King Cushan-Rishathaim of Aram-Naharaim. They were Cushan-Rishathaim's subjects for eight years. 3:9 When the Israelites cried out for help to the Lord, he raised up a deliverer for the Israelites who rescued them. His name was Othniel son of Kenaz, Caleb's younger brother. 3:10 The Lord's spirit empowered him and he led Israel. When he went to do battle, the Lord handed over to him King Cushan-Rishathaim of Aram and he overpowered him. 3:11 The land had rest for forty years; then Othniel son of Kenaz died. Deceit, Assassination, and Deliverance 3:12 The Israelites again did evil in the Lord's sight. The Lord gave King Eglon of Moab control over Israel because they had done evil in the Lord's sight. 3:13 Eglon formed alliances with the Ammonites and Amalekites. He came and defeated Israel, and they seized the City of Date Palm Trees. 3:14 The Israelites were subject to King Eglon of Moab for eighteen years. 3:15 When the Israelites cried out for help to the Lord, he raised up a deliverer for them. His name was Ehud son of Gera the Benjaminite, a left-handed man. The Israelites sent him to King Eglon of Moab with their tribute payment. 3:16 Ehud made himself a sword -- it had two edges and was eighteen inches long. He strapped it under his coat on his right thigh. 3:17 He brought the tribute payment to King Eglon of Moab. (Now Eglon was a very fat man.) 3:18 After Ehud brought the tribute payment, he dismissed the people who had carried it. 3:19 But he went back once he reached the carved images at Gilgal. He said to Eglon, "I have a secret message for you, O king." Eglon said, "Be quiet!" All his attendants left. 3:20 When Ehud approached him, he was sitting in his well-ventilated upper room all by himself. Ehud said, "I have a message from God for you." When Eglon rose up from his seat, 3:21 Ehud reached with his left hand, pulled the sword from his right thigh, and drove it into Eglon's belly. 3:22 The handle went in after the blade, and the fat closed around the blade, for Ehud did not pull the sword out of his belly. 3:23 As Ehud went out into the vestibule, he closed the doors of the upper room behind him and locked them. 3:24 When Ehud had left, Eglon's servants came and saw the locked doors of the upper room. They said, "He must be relieving himself in the well-ventilated inner room." 3:25 They waited so long they were embarrassed, but he still did not open the doors of the upper room. Finally they took the key and opened the doors. Right before their eyes was their master, sprawled out dead on the floor! 3:26 Now Ehud had escaped while they were delaying. When he passed the carved images, he escaped to Seirah. 3:27 When he reached Seirah, he blew a trumpet in the Ephraimite hill country. The Israelites went down with him from the hill country, with Ehud in the lead. 3:28 He said to them, "Follow me, for the Lord is about to defeat your enemies, the Moabites!" They followed him, captured the fords of the Jordan River opposite Moab, and did not let anyone cross. 3:29 That day they killed about ten thousand Moabites -- all strong, capable warriors; not one escaped. 3:30 Israel humiliated Moab that day, and the land had rest for eighty years. 3:31 After Ehud came Shamgar son of Anath; he killed six hundred Philistines with an oxgoad and, like Ehud, delivered Israel. Prayer Lord, when we come to an end to our pride and rebellion and cry out to You then You rescue us. May I come to You first whenever I am uncertain that my choices may in any way be offensive to You. Commentary The Israelites lived among the pagan people because God wanted to test both their loyalty and their willingness to fight for their nation when He so instructed. The Israelites did as the Lord God feared and both intermarried with the pagan people and drifted into the worship of their false gods. God allowed them to be overtaken by the pagan nations for eight years but when they cried out to Him He sent Caleb's son to set them free. The Israelites had peace again for forty years. The Israelites drifted into unfaithfulness to God again and were allowed to be taken by pagan rulers for eighteen years. They again cried out to God and He sent Ehud to free them. The Israelites had eighty years of peace. Some time after the death of Ehud The Lord God sent Shamgar to intervene against the Philistines. Interaction Consider The people deliberately disobeyed the Lord God when they intermarried with the pagan people and rebelled to the extreme when they turned away from the worship of Him to the worship of false pagan gods. Discuss After the first experience of eight years of captivity why would the Israelites have risked the wrath of God by again rebelling after forty years? Short memories? Reflect After eight years of captivity the people cried out and were rescued and had peace for forty years, but it took eighteen years of captivity the next time for them to cry out and once liberated they were loyal to the Lord God for eighty years. Share When have you forgotten the negative consequences of a bad choice over time and repeated it, only to suffer an even more negative impact the second time? Faith in Action Prayer: Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you a place where you are drifting away from the Lord and into things that harm you and offend Him. Action: Today I agree to confess and repent of (turn away from) that which the Holy Spirit has revealed. I will consult one who is Biblically-qualified as an elder for guidance and accountability as I build an intentional plan to return to a God-honoring path and prevent a drift backwards. Be Specific ______________________________________________________ Tuesday's text will be: Judges 4-5 -- Have anhttp://Ultrafidian.com Day! Pastor David ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Personal Site:http://bibleseven.com Bible Resources:http://bible.org ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From pastordavid at bibleseven.com Mon Nov 22 16:55:50 2010 From: pastordavid at bibleseven.com (pastordavid at bibleseven.com) Date: Mon, 22 Nov 2010 16:55:50 -0500 Subject: [Linux4christians] Tuesday - Judges 4-5 Message-ID: <4CEAE6E6.2020502@bibleseven.com> Tuesday Judges 4-5 Judges 5 Deborah Summons Barak 4:1 The Israelites again did evil in the Lord's sight after Ehud's death. 4:2 The Lord turned them over to King Jabin of Canaan, who ruled in Hazor. The general of his army was Sisera, who lived in Harosheth Haggoyim. 4:3 The Israelites cried out for help to the Lord, because Sisera had nine hundred chariots with iron-rimmed wheels, and he cruelly oppressed the Israelites for twenty years. 4:4 Now Deborah, a prophetess, wife of Lappidoth, was leading Israel at that time. 4:5 She would sit under the Date Palm Tree of Deborah between Ramah and Bethel in the Ephraimite hill country. The Israelites would come up to her to have their disputes settled. 4:6 She summoned Barak son of Abinoam from Kedesh in Naphtali. She said to him, "Is it not true that the Lord God of Israel is commanding you? Go, march to Mount Tabor! Take with you ten thousand men from Naphtali and Zebulun! 4:7 I will bring Sisera, the general of Jabin's army, to you at the Kishon River, along with his chariots and huge army. I will hand him over to you." 4:8 Barak said to her, "If you go with me, I will go. But if you do not go with me, I will not go." 4:9 She said, "I will indeed go with you. But you will not gain fame on the expedition you are undertaking, for the Lord will turn Sisera over to a woman." Deborah got up and went with Barak to Kedesh. 4:10 Barak summoned men from Zebulun and Naphtali to Kedesh. Ten thousand men followed him; Deborah went up with him as well. 4:11 Now Heber the Kenite had moved away from the Kenites, the descendants of Hobab, Moses' father-in-law. He lived near the great tree in Zaanannim near Kedesh. 4:12 When Sisera heard that Barak son of Abinoam had gone up to Mount Tabor, 4:13 he ordered all his chariotry -- nine hundred chariots with iron-rimmed wheels -- and all the troops he had with him to go from Harosheth-Haggoyim to the River Kishon. 4:14 Deborah said to Barak, "Spring into action, for this is the day the Lord is handing Sisera over to you! Has the Lord not taken the lead?" Barak quickly went down from Mount Tabor with ten thousand men following him. 4:15 The Lord routed Sisera, all his chariotry, and all his army with the edge of the sword. Sisera jumped out of his chariot and ran away on foot. 4:16 Now Barak chased the chariots and the army all the way to Harosheth Haggoyim. Sisera's whole army died by the edge of the sword; not even one survived! 4:17 Now Sisera ran away on foot to the tent of Jael, wife of Heber the Kenite, for King Jabin of Hazor and the family of Heber the Kenite had made a peace treaty. 4:18 Jael came out to welcome Sisera. She said to him, "Stop and rest, my lord. Stop and rest with me. Don't be afraid." So Sisera stopped to rest in her tent, and she put a blanket over him. 4:19 He said to her, "Give me a little water to drink, because I'm thirsty." She opened a goatskin container of milk and gave him some milk to drink. Then she covered him up again. 4:20 He said to her, "Stand watch at the entrance to the tent. If anyone comes along and asks you, 'Is there a man here?' say 'No.'" 4:21 Then Jael wife of Heber took a tent peg in one hand and a hammer in the other. She crept up on him, drove the tent peg through his temple into the ground while he was asleep from exhaustion, and he died. 4:22 Now Barak was chasing Sisera. Jael went out to welcome him. She said to him, "Come here and I will show you the man you are searching for." He went with her into the tent, and there he saw Sisera sprawled out dead with the tent peg in his temple. 4:23 That day God humiliated King Jabin of Canaan before the Israelites. 4:24 Israel's power continued to overwhelm King Jabin of Canaan until they did away with him. Judges 5 http://net.bible.org/bible.php?book=Jdg&chapter=5&mode=text Prayer Lord, when You have a task to be completed and the one You first choose refuses to step-out in faith You choose another. May I faithful do all that You ask so that I may not miss the blessing of serving as Your instrument in the world. Commentary Remaining in the cycle of rebellion and redemption the Israelites once-again rebelled against the Lord God and He turned them over to their enemies. After 20 years of harsh treatment they cried out to the Lord. Deborah was a married woman and a prophetess who, like Moses, was God's chosen conduit for judging disputes and guiding the decision-making of the nation's leaders. Deborah directed the military leader, Barak, to assemble his troops and to attack their captors. Barak, rather than obeying the Word of the Lord as delivered to him through Deborah, insisted upon her physical presence -- so she informed him that he would not be the instrument of victory but that a woman would be given that honor by the Lord God. Barak brought his troops to battle, with Deborah alongside and God delivered their enemies to them, but the leader of the enemy He brought to another married woman, Jael. General Sisera was exhausted from battle and his flight from the battle and asked her to hide him in her tent. Jael won his trust with a warm blanket and some milk and while he dozed she killed him. Interaction Consider God was apparently more interested in faithful obedience and trust than gender. Discuss Is there a Biblical message in this text, and that of Rahab in Joshua, for those who might declare a strict ban on the role of women in certain areas of ministry and service? Reflect In what were traditionally male-dominated societies here was a double-challenge; a woman judge-prophet and another woman who killed the opposition's general. Share When have you observed the Lord God choosing to use unexpected persons as His tools of ministry? Faith in Action Prayer: Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you a place where you are either not responding to His call (e.g. Barak) or where you are being called despite your role appearing to be significantly non-traditional. Action: Today I will acknowledge the prompting of the Holy Spirit. I will ask a fellow believer, perhaps even one who is Biblically-qualified as an elder, to ask the Holy Spirit for confirmation. Once assured of the Lord's calling I agree to step-out in faith to be His chosen instrument. Be Specific ______________________________________________________ Wednesday's text will be: Judges 6-8 -- Have an http://Ultrafidian.com Day! Pastor David ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Personal Site: http://bibleseven.com Bible Resources: http://bible.org ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From fmiller at lightlink.com Mon Nov 22 19:52:13 2010 From: fmiller at lightlink.com (Fred A. Miller) Date: Mon, 22 Nov 2010 19:52:13 -0500 Subject: [Linux4christians] Novell sold for $2.2 billion - Software - Technology - News - iTnews.com.au Message-ID: <4CEB103D.8020201@lightlink.com> http://www.itnews.com.au/News/239447,novell-sold-for-22-billion.aspx -- "Those who hammer their guns into plows will plow for those who do not." Thomas Jefferson -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From fmiller at lightlink.com Mon Nov 22 21:04:02 2010 From: fmiller at lightlink.com (Fred A. Miller) Date: Mon, 22 Nov 2010 21:04:02 -0500 Subject: [Linux4christians] What's Microsoft's role in the Novell-Attachmate deal? | ZDNet Message-ID: <4CEB2112.4030302@lightlink.com> http://www.zdnet.com/blog/microsoft/whats-microsofts-role-in-the-novell-attachmate-deal/8041 -- "Those who hammer their guns into plows will plow for those who do not." Thomas Jefferson -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From fmiller at lightlink.com Mon Nov 22 21:04:25 2010 From: fmiller at lightlink.com (Fred A. Miller) Date: Mon, 22 Nov 2010 21:04:25 -0500 Subject: [Linux4christians] What's Microsoft's role in the Novell-Attachmate deal? | ZDNet Message-ID: <4CEB2129.9060007@lightlink.com> http://www.zdnet.com/blog/microsoft/whats-microsofts-role-in-the-novell-attachmate-deal/8041 -- "Those who hammer their guns into plows will plow for those who do not." Thomas Jefferson -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From fmiller at lightlink.com Tue Nov 23 11:41:09 2010 From: fmiller at lightlink.com (Fred A. Miller) Date: Tue, 23 Nov 2010 11:41:09 -0500 Subject: [Linux4christians] Microsoft refuses to specify what it bought from Novell | ZDNet Message-ID: <4CEBEEA5.8000908@lightlink.com> http://www.zdnet.com/blog/open-source/microsoft-refuses-to-specify-what-it-bought-from-novell/7850?tag=nl.e539 -- "Those who hammer their guns into plows will plow for those who do not." Thomas Jefferson -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From pastordavid at bibleseven.com Tue Nov 23 16:56:36 2010 From: pastordavid at bibleseven.com (pastordavid at bibleseven.com) Date: Tue, 23 Nov 2010 16:56:36 -0500 Subject: [Linux4christians] Wednesday - Judges 6-8 Message-ID: <4CEC3894.1010808@bibleseven.com> Wednesday Judges 6-8 Oppression and Confrontation 6:1 The Israelites did evil in the Lord's sight, so the Lord turned them over to Midian for seven years. 6:2 The Midianites overwhelmed Israel. Because of Midian the Israelites made shelters for themselves in the hills, as well as caves and strongholds. 6:3 Whenever the Israelites planted their crops, the Midianites, Amalekites, and the people from the east would attack them. 6:4 They invaded the land and devoured its crops all the way to Gaza. They left nothing for the Israelites to eat, and they took away the sheep, oxen, and donkeys. 6:5 When they invaded with their cattle and tents, they were as thick as locusts. Neither they nor their camels could be counted. They came to devour the land. 6:6 Israel was so severely weakened by Midian that the Israelites cried out to the Lord for help. 6:7 When the Israelites cried out to the Lord for help because of Midian, 6:8 he sent a prophet to the Israelites. He said to them, "This is what the Lord God of Israel says: 'I brought you up from Egypt and took you out of that place of slavery. 6:9 I rescued you from Egypt's power and from the power of all who oppressed you. I drove them out before you and gave their land to you. 6:10 I said to you, "I am the Lord your God! Do not worship the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are now living!" But you have disobeyed me.'" Gideon Meets Some Visitors 6:11 The Lord's angelic messenger came and sat down under the oak tree in Ophrah owned by Joash the Abiezrite. He arrived while Joash's son Gideon was threshing wheat in a winepress so he could hide it from the Midianites. 6:12 The Lord's messenger appeared and said to him, "The Lord is with you, courageous warrior!" 6:13 Gideon said to him, "Pardon me, but if the Lord is with us, why has such disaster overtaken us? Where are all his miraculous deeds our ancestors told us about? They said, 'Did the Lord not bring us up from Egypt?' But now the Lord has abandoned us and handed us over to Midian." 6:14 Then the Lord himself turned to him and said, "You have the strength. Deliver Israel from the power of the Midianites! Have I not sent you?" 6:15 Gideon said to him, "But Lord, how can I deliver Israel? Just look! My clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the youngest in my family." 6:16 The Lord said to him, "Ah, but I will be with you! You will strike down the whole Midianite army." 6:17 Gideon said to him, "If you really are pleased with me, then give me a sign as proof that it is really you speaking with me. 6:18 Do not leave this place until I come back with a gift and present it to you." The Lord said, "I will stay here until you come back." 6:19 Gideon went and prepared a young goat, along with unleavened bread made from an ephah of flour. He put the meat in a basket and the broth in a pot. He brought the food to him under the oak tree and presented it to him. 6:20 God's messenger said to him, "Put the meat and unleavened bread on this rock, and pour out the broth." Gideon did as instructed. 6:21 The Lord's messenger touched the meat and the unleavened bread with the tip of his staff. Fire flared up from the rock and consumed the meat and unleavened bread. The Lord's messenger then disappeared. 6:22 When Gideon realized that it was the Lord's messenger, he said, "Oh no! Master, Lord! I have seen the Lord's messenger face to face!" 6:23 The Lord said to him, "You are safe! Do not be afraid! You are not going to die!" 6:24 Gideon built an altar for the Lord there, and named it "The Lord is on friendly terms with me." To this day it is still there in Ophrah of the Abiezrites. Gideon Destroys the Altar 6:25 That night the Lord said to him, "Take the bull from your father's herd, as well as a second bull, one that is seven years old. Pull down your father's Baal altar and cut down the nearby Asherah pole. 6:26 Then build an altar for the Lord your God on the top of this stronghold according to the proper pattern. Take the second bull and offer it as a burnt sacrifice on the wood from the Asherah pole that you cut down." 6:27 So Gideon took ten of his servants and did just as the Lord had told him. He was too afraid of his father's family and the men of the city to do it in broad daylight, so he waited until nighttime. 6:28 When the men of the city got up the next morning, they saw the Baal altar pulled down, the nearby Asherah pole cut down, and the second bull sacrificed on the newly built altar. 6:29 They said to one another, "Who did this?" They investigated the matter thoroughly and concluded that Gideon son of Joash had done it. 6:30 The men of the city said to Joash, "Bring out your son, so we can execute him! He pulled down the Baal altar and cut down the nearby Asherah pole." 6:31 But Joash said to all those who confronted him, "Must you fight Baal's battles? Must you rescue him? Whoever takes up his cause will die by morning! If he really is a god, let him fight his own battles! After all, it was his altar that was pulled down." 6:32 That very day Gideon's father named him Jerub-Baal, because he had said, "Let Baal fight with him, for it was his altar that was pulled down." Gideon Summons an Army and Seeks Confirmation 6:33 All the Midianites, Amalekites, and the people from the east assembled. They crossed the Jordan River and camped in the Jezreel Valley. 6:34 The Lord's spirit took control of Gideon. He blew a trumpet, summoning the Abiezrites to follow him. 6:35 He sent messengers throughout Manasseh and summoned them to follow him as well. He also sent messengers throughout Asher, Zebulun, and Naphtali, and they came up to meet him. 6:36 Gideon said to God, "If you really intend to use me to deliver Israel, as you promised, then give me a sign as proof. 6:37 Look, I am putting a wool fleece on the threshing floor. If there is dew only on the fleece, and the ground around it is dry, then I will be sure that you will use me to deliver Israel, as you promised." 6:38 The Lord did as he asked. When he got up the next morning, he squeezed the fleece, and enough dew dripped from it to fill a bowl. 6:39 Gideon said to God, "Please do not get angry at me, when I ask for just one more sign. Please allow me one more test with the fleece. This time make only the fleece dry, while the ground around it is covered with dew." 6:40 That night God did as he asked. Only the fleece was dry and the ground around it was covered with dew. Gideon Reduces the Ranks 7:1 Jerub-Baal (that is, Gideon) and his men got up the next morning and camped near the spring of Harod. The Midianites were camped north of them near the hill of Moreh in the valley. 7:2 The Lord said to Gideon, "You have too many men for me to hand Midian over to you. Israel might brag, 'Our own strength has delivered us.' 7:3 Now, announce to the men, 'Whoever is shaking with fear may turn around and leave Mount Gilead.'" Twenty-two thousand men went home; ten thousand remained. 7:4 The Lord spoke to Gideon again, "There are still too many men. Bring them down to the water and I will thin the ranks some more. When I say, 'This one should go with you,' pick him to go; when I say, 'This one should not go with you,' do not take him." 7:5 So he brought the men down to the water. Then the Lord said to Gideon, "Separate those who lap the water as a dog laps from those who kneel to drink." 7:6 Three hundred men lapped; the rest of the men kneeled to drink water. 7:7 The Lord said to Gideon, "With the three hundred men who lapped I will deliver the whole army and I will hand Midian over to you. The rest of the men should go home." 7:8 The men who were chosen took supplies and their trumpets. Gideon sent all the men of Israel back to their homes; he kept only three hundred men. Now the Midianites were camped down below in the valley. Gideon Reassured of Victory 7:9 That night the Lord said to Gideon, "Get up! Attack the camp, for I am handing it over to you. 7:10 But if you are afraid to attack, go down to the camp with Purah your servant 7:11 and listen to what they are saying. Then you will be brave and attack the camp." So he went down with Purah his servant to where the sentries were guarding the camp. 7:12 Now the Midianites, Amalekites, and the people from the east covered the valley like a swarm of locusts. Their camels could not be counted; they were as innumerable as the sand on the seashore. 7:13 When Gideon arrived, he heard a man telling another man about a dream he had. The man said, "Look! I had a dream. I saw a stale cake of barley bread rolling into the Midianite camp. It hit a tent so hard it knocked it over and turned it upside down. The tent just collapsed." 7:14 The other man said, "Without a doubt this symbolizes the sword of Gideon son of Joash, the Israelite. God is handing Midian and all the army over to him." Gideon Routs the Enemy 7:15 When Gideon heard the report of the dream and its interpretation, he praised God. Then he went back to the Israelite camp and said, "Get up, for the Lord is handing the Midianite army over to you!" 7:16 He divided the three hundred men into three units. He gave them all trumpets and empty jars with torches inside them. 7:17 He said to them, "Watch me and do as I do. Watch closely! I am going to the edge of the camp. Do as I do! 7:18 When I and all who are with me blow our trumpets, you also blow your trumpets all around the camp. Then say, 'For the Lord and for Gideon!'" 7:19 Gideon took a hundred men to the edge of the camp at the beginning of the middle watch, just after they had changed the guards. They blew their trumpets and broke the jars they were carrying. 7:20 All three units blew their trumpets and broke their jars. They held the torches in their left hand and the trumpets in their right. Then they yelled, "A sword for the Lord and for Gideon!" 7:21 They stood in order all around the camp. The whole army ran away; they shouted as they scrambled away. 7:22 When the three hundred men blew their trumpets, the Lord caused the Midianites to attack one another with their swords throughout the camp. The army fled to Beth Shittah on the way to Zererah. They went to the border of Abel Meholah near Tabbath. 7:23 Israelites from Naphtali, Asher, and Manasseh answered the call and chased the Midianites. Gideon Appeases the Ephraimites 7:24 Now Gideon sent messengers throughout the Ephraimite hill country who announced, "Go down and head off the Midianites. Take control of the fords of the streams all the way to Beth Barah and the Jordan River." When all the Ephraimites had assembled, they took control of the fords all the way to Beth Barah and the Jordan River. 7:25 They captured the two Midianite generals, Oreb and Zeeb. They executed Oreb on the rock of Oreb and Zeeb in the winepress of Zeeb. They chased the Midianites and brought the heads of Oreb and Zeeb to Gideon, who was now on the other side of the Jordan River. 8:1 The Ephraimites said to him, "Why have you done such a thing to us? You did not summon us when you went to fight the Midianites!" They argued vehemently with him. 8:2 He said to them, "Now what have I accomplished compared to you? Even Ephraim's leftover grapes are better quality than Abiezer's harvest! 8:3 It was to you that God handed over the Midianite generals, Oreb and Zeeb! What did I accomplish to rival that?" When he said this, they calmed down. Gideon Tracks Down the Midianite Kings 8:4 Now Gideon and his three hundred men had crossed over the Jordan River, and even though they were exhausted, they were still chasing the Midianites. 8:5 He said to the men of Succoth, "Give some loaves of bread to the men who are following me, because they are exhausted. I am chasing Zebah and Zalmunna, the kings of Midian." 8:6 The officials of Succoth said, "You have not yet overpowered Zebah and Zalmunna. So why should we give bread to your army?" 8:7 Gideon said, "Since you will not help, after the Lord hands Zebah and Zalmunna over to me, I will thresh your skin with desert thorns and briers." 8:8 He went up from there to Penuel and made the same request. The men of Penuel responded the same way the men of Succoth had. 8:9 He also threatened the men of Penuel, warning, "When I return victoriously, I will tear down this tower." 8:10 Now Zebah and Zalmunna were in Karkor with their armies. There were about fifteen thousand survivors from the army of the eastern peoples; a hundred and twenty thousand sword-wielding soldiers had been killed. 8:11 Gideon went up the road of the nomads east of Nobah and Jogbehah and ambushed the surprised army. 8:12 When Zebah and Zalmunna ran away, Gideon chased them and captured the two Midianite kings, Zebah and Zalmunna. He had surprised their entire army. 8:13 Gideon son of Joash returned from the battle by the pass of Heres. 8:14 He captured a young man from Succoth and interrogated him. The young man wrote down for him the names of Succoth's officials and city leaders -- seventy-seven men in all. 8:15 He approached the men of Succoth and said, "Look what I have! Zebah and Zalmunna! You insulted me, saying, 'You have not yet overpowered Zebah and Zalmunna. So why should we give bread to your exhausted men?'" 8:16 He seized the leaders of the city, along with some desert thorns and briers; he then "threshed" the men of Succoth with them. 8:17 He also tore down the tower of Penuel and executed the city's men. 8:18 He said to Zebah and Zalmunna, "Describe for me the men you killed at Tabor." They said, "They were like you. Each one looked like a king's son." 8:19 He said, "They were my brothers, the sons of my mother. I swear, as surely as the Lord is alive, if you had let them live, I would not kill you." 8:20 He ordered Jether his firstborn son, "Come on! Kill them!" But Jether was too afraid to draw his sword, because he was still young. 8:21 Zebah and Zalmunna said to Gideon, "Come on, you strike us, for a man is judged by his strength." So Gideon killed Zebah and Zalmunna, and he took the crescent-shaped ornaments which were on the necks of their camels. Gideon Rejects a Crown but Makes an Ephod 8:22 The men of Israel said to Gideon, "Rule over us -- you, your son, and your grandson. For you have delivered us from Midian's power." 8:23 Gideon said to them, "I will not rule over you, nor will my son rule over you. The Lord will rule over you." 8:24 Gideon continued, "I would like to make one request. Each of you give me an earring from the plunder you have taken." (The Midianites had gold earrings because they were Ishmaelites.) 8:25 They said, "We are happy to give you earrings." So they spread out a garment, and each one threw an earring from his plunder onto it. 8:26 The total weight of the gold earrings he requested came to seventeen hundred gold shekels. This was in addition to the crescent-shaped ornaments, jewelry, purple clothing worn by the Midianite kings, and the necklaces on the camels. 8:27 Gideon used all this to make an ephod, which he put in his hometown of Ophrah. All the Israelites prostituted themselves to it by worshiping it there. It became a snare to Gideon and his family. Gideon's Story Ends 8:28 The Israelites humiliated Midian; the Midianites' fighting spirit was broken. The land had rest for forty years during Gideon's time. 8:29 Then Jerub-Baal son of Joash went home and settled down. 8:30 Gideon fathered seventy sons through his many wives. 8:31 His concubine, who lived in Shechem, also gave him a son, whom he named Abimelech. 8:32 Gideon son of Joash died at a very old age and was buried in the tomb of his father Joash located in Ophrah of the Abiezrites. Israel Returns to Baal-Worship 8:33 After Gideon died, the Israelites again prostituted themselves to the Baals. They made Baal-Berith their god. 8:34 The Israelites did not remain true to the Lord their God, who had delivered them from all the enemies who lived around them. 8:35 They did not treat the family of Jerub-Baal (that is, Gideon) fairly in return for all the good he had done for Israel. Prayer Lord, You are so patient and forgiving, even as we sin against You again and again. May I not test Your patience but be ever-vigilant to resist the temptations of the enemy to turn away from You. Commentary The Israelites again drifted into rebellion and were overrun by the Midianites. The Lord God called Gideon, the youngest son in the weakest family, to deliver them. Gideon, surrounded by pagan influences twice asks the Lord God to verify that it was indeed Him who was calling. His first assignment was to destroy the pagan altars and to use the wood to burn an offering to God. Gideon gathered the soldiers of Israel to do battle but God reduced their numbers to only 300 versus tens of thousands of the enemy so that it would be impossible for Israel to boast of victory apart from God. Gideon's small band of warriors were victorious, yet while exhausted and hungry they pursued the enemy, but two large families along the way refused them food out of fear that the enemy might still be victorious and return to punish them for helping Gideon. Gideon warned that their failure to share food would result in trouble when he returned. When Gideon prevailed he returned and punished those families. Gideon gathered some of the plunder and from the gold made an "ephod" which later became one of his family's idols. Gideon took multiple wives and one concubine. He had seventy sons by his wives and one by his concubine. While he lived the people remained generally-faithful to the Lord God but after his death they once-again rebelled. Interaction Consider Gideon was rightfully skeptical of any spiritual apparition since the pagan worship of false gods all around him would surely have welcomed demonic activity. Discuss Can you imagine the courage and faithfulness of Gideon to attack a massive camp of enemy soldiers with only 300 men? Reflect After his great military victories, as an instrument of God, Gideon's poor choices became part of the process of his people drifting back into rebellion. Share When have you, or someone you know of, been asked by the Lord God to do something that seemed impossible for you (them)? How did it work out? Faith in Action Prayer: Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you a ministry in which you may serve that can only succeed if He blesses and empowers it. Action: Today I will step-out with the courage and faith of Gideon to be an instrument of God in a ministry whose successful conclusion may only be of His doing. Like Gideon I will prayerfully discern with certainty that the calling is of Him, and like Gideon I will allow Him to direct so that there will be no question that the successful conclusion is not of the works of man but of God-alone through man. Be Specific ______________________________________________________ Thursday's text will be: Judges 9 -- Have an http://Ultrafidian.com Day! Pastor David ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Personal Site: http://bibleseven.com Bible Resources: http://bible.org ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From hpp3 at lavabit.com Tue Nov 23 23:53:48 2010 From: hpp3 at lavabit.com (Eddy Martin) Date: Tue, 23 Nov 2010 20:53:48 -0800 Subject: [Linux4christians] The Linux desktop is about to get a LOT faster In-Reply-To: <4CE4BCF1.4070803@lightlink.com> References: <4CE4BCF1.4070803@lightlink.com> Message-ID: <4CEC9A5C.4030609@lavabit.com> On 11/17/2010 09:43 PM, Fred A. Miller wrote: > http://www.zdnet.com/blog/hardware/the-linux-desktop-is-about-to-get-a-lot-faster/10372?tag=nl.e589 > -- > "Those who hammer their guns into plows will plow for those who do not." > Thomas Jefferson > > > _______________________________________________ > Linux4christians mailing list > Linux4christians at thelinuxlink.net > http://www.thelinuxlink.net/mailman/listinfo/linux4christians Seems a user has figured out a way to do the same trick with a few bashrc lines, and some say it works better: http://www.webupd8.org/2010/11/alternative-to-200-lines-kernel-patch.html#more Either way, it's nice progress. -Eddy -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From webservant at trinitybclaramie.org Wed Nov 24 09:36:14 2010 From: webservant at trinitybclaramie.org (Peter B. Steiger) Date: Wed, 24 Nov 2010 07:36:14 -0700 Subject: [Linux4christians] The Linux desktop is about to get a LOT faster In-Reply-To: <4CEC9A5C.4030609@lavabit.com> References: <4CE4BCF1.4070803@lightlink.com> <4CEC9A5C.4030609@lavabit.com> Message-ID: Hmmmm. I don't use a mainstream distro; I use Arch Linux which has neither /dev/cgroup nor /sys/fs/cgroup so that didn't work for me. I don't understand what the bash script is supposed to do, or the inner workings of sysfs, enough to know how I need to modify it for my system but I posted on the arch forum to see how we can apply it. Thanks for sharing that information! On Tue, Nov 23, 2010 at 9:53 PM, Eddy Martin wrote: > Seems a user has figured out a way to do the same trick with a few .bashrc > lines, and some say it works better: > > http://www.webupd8.org/2010/11/alternative-to-200-lines-kernel-patch.html#more > > Either way, it's nice progress. > > -Eddy > > -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From hpp3 at lavabit.com Wed Nov 24 10:41:27 2010 From: hpp3 at lavabit.com (Eddy Martin) Date: Wed, 24 Nov 2010 07:41:27 -0800 Subject: [Linux4christians] The Linux desktop is about to get a LOT faster In-Reply-To: References: <4CE4BCF1.4070803@lightlink.com> <4CEC9A5C.4030609@lavabit.com> Message-ID: <4CED3227.4010101@lavabit.com> On 11/24/2010 06:36 AM, Peter B. Steiger wrote: > Hmmmm. I don't use a mainstream distro; I use Arch Linux which has > neither /dev/cgroup nor /sys/fs/cgroup so that didn't work for me. I > don't understand what the bash script is supposed to do, or the inner > workings of sysfs, enough to know how I need to modify it for my > system but I posted on the arch forum to see how we can apply it. > Thanks for sharing that information! As far as I can see, Ubuntu doesn't have a /dev/cgroup either, the script creates it. Digging through the LKML thread, it looks like /sys/fs/ is a Red Hat thing. Lennart Poettering, the author, is from Red Hat so that makes sense. There was also mention that it depends on systemd, does Arch Linux use that? Either way, I think this whole situation will allow older computers to run faster (always a bonus). I always feel a little guilty giving away an older computer with Linux on it, knowing the speed is less than optimal, and might not inspire good feelings about Linux for the recipient. This patch will definitely help my conscience as well as the Linux community in general. -Eddy -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From gorkon at gmail.com Wed Nov 24 10:50:46 2010 From: gorkon at gmail.com (Joel Mclaughlin) Date: Wed, 24 Nov 2010 10:50:46 -0500 Subject: [Linux4christians] The Linux desktop is about to get a LOT faster In-Reply-To: <4CED3227.4010101@lavabit.com> References: <4CE4BCF1.4070803@lightlink.com> <4CEC9A5C.4030609@lavabit.com> <4CED3227.4010101@lavabit.com> Message-ID: Ghey do but on a different path (Ubuntu). I tried it....noticeably faster. On Nov 24, 2010 10:41 AM, "Eddy Martin" wrote: > On 11/24/2010 06:36 AM, Peter B. Steiger wrote: >> Hmmmm. I don't use a mainstream distro; I use Arch Linux which has >> neither /dev/cgroup nor /sys/fs/cgroup so that didn't work for me. I >> don't understand what the bash script is supposed to do, or the inner >> workings of sysfs, enough to know how I need to modify it for my >> system but I posted on the arch forum to see how we can apply it. >> Thanks for sharing that information! > As far as I can see, Ubuntu doesn't have a /dev/cgroup either, the > script creates it. > Digging through the LKML thread, it looks like /sys/fs/ is a Red Hat thing. > Lennart Poettering, the author, is from Red Hat so that makes sense. > There was also mention that it depends on systemd, does Arch Linux use that? > > Either way, I think this whole situation will allow older computers to > run faster (always a bonus). > I always feel a little guilty giving away an older computer with Linux > on it, knowing the speed is less than optimal, and might not inspire > good feelings about Linux for the recipient. > This patch will definitely help my conscience as well as the Linux > community in general. > > -Eddy > -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From hpp3 at lavabit.com Wed Nov 24 17:23:43 2010 From: hpp3 at lavabit.com (Eddy Martin) Date: Wed, 24 Nov 2010 14:23:43 -0800 Subject: [Linux4christians] The Linux desktop is about to get a LOT faster In-Reply-To: References: <4CE4BCF1.4070803@lightlink.com> <4CEC9A5C.4030609@lavabit.com> <4CED3227.4010101@lavabit.com> Message-ID: <4CED906F.2060802@lavabit.com> On 11/24/2010 07:50 AM, Joel Mclaughlin wrote: > > Ghey do but on a different path (Ubuntu). I tried it....noticeably > faster. > > Great! It's always good to hear real-world reports. I just did all the rc-fu and not noticing a huge difference, but I just rebooted a few minutes ago. Might take a little playing to see anything huge. -Eddy From pastordavid at bibleseven.com Wed Nov 24 18:44:12 2010 From: pastordavid at bibleseven.com (pastordavid at bibleseven.com) Date: Wed, 24 Nov 2010 18:44:12 -0500 Subject: [Linux4christians] Thursday - Judges 9 Message-ID: <4CEDA34C.9090805@bibleseven.com> Thursday Judges 9 Abimelech Murders His Brothers 9:1 Now Abimelech son of Jerub-Baal went to Shechem to see his mother's relatives. He said to them and to his mother's entire extended family, 9:2 "Tell all the leaders of Shechem this: 'Why would you want to have seventy men, all Jerub-Baal's sons, ruling over you, when you can have just one ruler? Recall that I am your own flesh and blood.'" 9:3 His mother's relatives spoke on his behalf to all the leaders of Shechem and reported his proposal. The leaders were drawn to Abimelech; they said, "He is our close relative." 9:4 They paid him seventy silver shekels out of the temple of Baal-Berith. Abimelech then used the silver to hire some lawless, dangerous men as his followers. 9:5 He went to his father's home in Ophrah and murdered his half-brothers, the seventy legitimate sons of Jerub-Baal, on one stone. Only Jotham, Jerub-Baal's youngest son, escaped, because he hid. 9:6 All the leaders of Shechem and Beth Millo assembled and then went and made Abimelech king by the oak near the pillar in Shechem. Jotham's Parable 9:7 When Jotham heard the news, he went and stood on the top of Mount Gerizim. He spoke loudly to the people below, "Listen to me, leaders of Shechem, so that God may listen to you! 9:8 "The trees were determined to go out and choose a king for themselves. They said to the olive tree, 'Be our king!' 9:9 But the olive tree said to them, 'I am not going to stop producing my oil, which is used to honor gods and men, just to sway above the other trees!' 9:10 "So the trees said to the fig tree, 'You come and be our king!' 9:11 But the fig tree said to them, 'I am not going to stop producing my sweet figs, my excellent fruit, just to sway above the other trees!' 9:12 "So the trees said to the grapevine, 'You come and be our king!' 9:13 But the grapevine said to them, 'I am not going to stop producing my wine, which makes gods and men so happy, just to sway above the other trees!' 9:14 "So all the trees said to the thornbush, 'You come and be our king!' 9:15 The thornbush said to the trees, 'If you really want to choose me as your king, then come along, find safety under my branches! Otherwise may fire blaze from the thornbush and consume the cedars of Lebanon!' 9:16 "Now, if you have shown loyalty and integrity when you made Abimelech king, if you have done right to Jerub-Baal and his family, if you have properly repaid him -- 9:17 my father fought for you; he risked his life and delivered you from Midian's power. 9:18 But you have attacked my father's family today. You murdered his seventy legitimate sons on one stone and made Abimelech, the son of his female slave, king over the leaders of Shechem, just because he is your close relative. 9:19 So if you have shown loyalty and integrity to Jerub-Baal and his family today, then may Abimelech bring you happiness and may you bring him happiness! 9:20 But if not, may fire blaze from Abimelech and consume the leaders of Shechem and Beth Millo! May fire also blaze from the leaders of Shechem and Beth Millo and consume Abimelech!" 9:21 Then Jotham ran away to Beer and lived there to escape from Abimelech his half-brother. God Fulfills Jotham's Curse 9:22 Abimelech commanded Israel for three years. 9:23 God sent a spirit to stir up hostility between Abimelech and the leaders of Shechem. He made the leaders of Shechem disloyal to Abimelech. 9:24 He did this so the violent deaths of Jerub-Baal's seventy sons might be avenged and Abimelech, their half-brother who murdered them, might have to pay for their spilled blood, along with the leaders of Shechem who helped him murder them. 9:25 The leaders of Shechem rebelled against Abimelech by putting bandits in the hills, who robbed everyone who traveled by on the road. But Abimelech found out about it. 9:26 Gaal son of Ebed came through Shechem with his brothers. The leaders of Shechem transferred their loyalty to him. 9:27 They went out to the field, harvested their grapes, squeezed out the juice, and celebrated. They came to the temple of their god and ate, drank, and cursed Abimelech. 9:28 Gaal son of Ebed said, "Who is Abimelech and who is Shechem, that we should serve him? Is he not the son of Jerub-Baal, and is not Zebul the deputy he appointed? Serve the sons of Hamor, the father of Shechem! But why should we serve Abimelech? 9:29 If only these men were under my command, I would get rid of Abimelech!" He challenged Abimelech, "Muster your army and come out for battle!" 9:30 When Zebul, the city commissioner, heard the words of Gaal son of Ebed, he was furious. 9:31 He sent messengers to Abimelech, who was in Arumah, reporting, "Beware! Gaal son of Ebed and his brothers are coming to Shechem and inciting the city to rebel against you. 9:32 Now, come up at night with your men and set an ambush in the field outside the city. 9:33 In the morning at sunrise quickly attack the city. When he and his men come out to fight you, do what you can to him." 9:34 So Abimelech and all his men came up at night and set an ambush outside Shechem -- they divided into four units. 9:35 When Gaal son of Ebed came out and stood at the entrance to the city's gate, Abimelech and his men got up from their hiding places. 9:36 Gaal saw the men and said to Zebul, "Look, men are coming down from the tops of the hills." But Zebul said to him, "You are seeing the shadows on the hills -- it just looks like men." 9:37 Gaal again said, "Look, men are coming down from the very center of the land. A unit is coming by way of the Oak Tree of the Diviners." 9:38 Zebul said to him, "Where now are your bragging words, 'Who is Abimelech that we should serve him?' Are these not the men you insulted? Go out now and fight them!" 9:39 So Gaal led the leaders of Shechem out and fought Abimelech. 9:40 Abimelech chased him, and Gaal ran from him. Many Shechemites fell wounded at the entrance of the gate. 9:41 Abimelech went back to Arumah; Zebul drove Gaal and his brothers out of Shechem. 9:42 The next day the Shechemites came out to the field. When Abimelech heard about it, 9:43 he took his men and divided them into three units and set an ambush in the field. When he saw the people coming out of the city, he attacked and struck them down. 9:44 Abimelech and his units attacked and blocked the entrance to the city's gate. Two units then attacked all the people in the field and struck them down. 9:45 Abimelech fought against the city all that day. He captured the city and killed all the people in it. Then he leveled the city and spread salt over it. 9:46 When all the leaders of the Tower of Shechem heard the news, they went to the stronghold of the temple of El-Berith. 9:47 Abimelech heard that all the leaders of the Tower of Shechem were in one place. 9:48 He and all his men went up on Mount Zalmon. He took an ax in his hand and cut off a tree branch. He put it on his shoulder and said to his men, "Quickly, do what you have just seen me do!" 9:49 So each of his men also cut off a branch and followed Abimelech. They put the branches against the stronghold and set fire to it. All the people of the Tower of Shechem died -- about a thousand men and women. 9:50 Abimelech moved on to Thebez; he besieged and captured it. 9:51 There was a fortified tower in the center of the city, so all the men and women, as well as the city's leaders, ran into it and locked the entrance. Then they went up to the roof of the tower. 9:52 Abimelech came and attacked the tower. When he approached the entrance of the tower to set it on fire, 9:53 a woman threw an upper millstone down on his head and shattered his skull. 9:54 He quickly called to the young man who carried his weapons, "Draw your sword and kill me, so they will not say, 'A woman killed him.'" So the young man stabbed him and he died. 9:55 When the Israelites saw that Abimelech was dead, they went home. 9:56 God repaid Abimelech for the evil he did to his father by murdering his seventy half-brothers. 9:57 God also repaid the men of Shechem for their evil deeds. The curse spoken by Jotham son of Jerub-Baal fell on them. Prayer Lord, Your revenge is perfect and holy upon those who stand against You. May I be careful to never ally myself with those who oppose the Lord God. Commentary Abimelech, the only son of Gideon by his concubine, schemed to seize power. Using seventy silver coins from his mother's relatives he hired mercenaries to murder the seventy children of Gideon by his wives. Abimelech's scheme almost worked. He tricked all seventy of his half-brothers into gathering together and his henchmen successfully murdered sixty-nine of them, the youngest escaping notice by hiding. After Abimelech assumed power Jotham, the remaining legitimate successor to Gideon, announced a curse upon Abimelech and then escaped to hide from his revenge. Several years later the Lord God caused those who had allied themselves with Abimelech to quarrel among themselves resulting in their deaths and the death of Abimelech. Interaction Consider Gideon made a bad choice to take a concubine, and then to have a son by her, in so doing he created an opportunity for the enemy to make mischief later on. Discuss Isn't it frightening how easily the people were manipulated by Abimelech merely based upon an appeal to familial relationship? Do you see a pattern in history to this very day where appeals to age, gender, national origin, race, and/or human-tradition are used to overwhelm more substantive values? Reflect When the Lord God fulfilled Jotham's curse He used the murderers to kill each other. Share When have you observed an appeal to age, gender, national origin, race, and/or human-tradition being used to manipulate people into an ill-conceived choice? Faith in Action Prayer: Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you where you may either be misusing an appeal to age, gender, national origin, race, or human-tradition or may be making decisions based upon such a false appeal. Action: Today I will acknowledge the flawed reasoning and results that come from a false appeal to age, gender, national origin, race, or human-tradition. I will repent of such manipulation if I am using it and will recognize and reject it if I am its victim. I will share my experience with a fellow believer as an instrument of peer-discipleship. Be Specific ______________________________________________________ Friday's text will be: Judges 10-12 -- Have an http://Ultrafidian.com Day! Pastor David ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Personal Site: http://bibleseven.com Bible Resources: http://bible.org Teacher's Verse: John 7:16 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From fmiller at lightlink.com Wed Nov 24 23:43:34 2010 From: fmiller at lightlink.com (Fred A. Miller) Date: Wed, 24 Nov 2010 23:43:34 -0500 Subject: [Linux4christians] Novell sale shows its control by Microsoft Message-ID: <4CEDE976.5000609@lightlink.com> http://www.zdnet.com/blog/open-source/novell-sale-shows-its-control-by-microsoft/7843?tag=nl.e589 -- "Those who hammer their guns into plows will plow for those who do not." Thomas Jefferson -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From mwmcmlln at mnsi.net Thu Nov 25 01:07:59 2010 From: mwmcmlln at mnsi.net (Mike McMullin) Date: Thu, 25 Nov 2010 01:07:59 -0500 Subject: [Linux4christians] The Linux desktop is about to get a LOT faster In-Reply-To: <4CED906F.2060802@lavabit.com> References: <4CE4BCF1.4070803@lightlink.com> <4CEC9A5C.4030609@lavabit.com> <4CED3227.4010101@lavabit.com> <4CED906F.2060802@lavabit.com> Message-ID: <1290665279.7997.12.camel@P-733-Lin> On Wed, 2010-11-24 at 14:23 -0800, Eddy Martin wrote: > On 11/24/2010 07:50 AM, Joel Mclaughlin wrote: > > > > Ghey do but on a different path (Ubuntu). I tried it....noticeably > > faster. > > > > > Great! It's always good to hear real-world reports. > I just did all the rc-fu and not noticing a huge difference, but I just > rebooted a few minutes ago. > Might take a little playing to see anything huge. > > -Eddy I find the idea tempting, I have an under-memoried lappy that might benefit, but I'm kinda sorta hoping that Lucid will get the kernel patch at some point. From pastordavid at bibleseven.com Thu Nov 25 12:12:37 2010 From: pastordavid at bibleseven.com (pastordavid at bibleseven.com) Date: Thu, 25 Nov 2010 12:12:37 -0500 Subject: [Linux4christians] Thanks-filled Thanksgiving Sharing Message-ID: <4CEE9905.3010502@bibleseven.com> Make a list of *at least* 7 items to share at dinner. Try to have the same number in each category as have been numbered (God's priorities), but feel free to add more to each. Be blessed ... 7 Things for which I am THANKS-filled ------------------------------------------------------ Thanks for opportunities to serve others 1. 2. Thanks for blessings that others have received 3. 4. Thanks for improvements in my relationship with God 5. Other blessings I have received 6. 7. -- Have an http://Ultrafidian.com Day! Pastor David ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Personal Site: http://bibleseven.com Bible Resources: http://bible.org Teacher's Verse: John 7:16 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ From pastordavid at bibleseven.com Thu Nov 25 18:09:12 2010 From: pastordavid at bibleseven.com (pastordavid at bibleseven.com) Date: Thu, 25 Nov 2010 18:09:12 -0500 Subject: [Linux4christians] Friday - Judges 10-12 Message-ID: <4CEEEC98.5010407@bibleseven.com> Friday Judges 10-12 Stability Restored 10:1 After Abimelech's death, Tola son of Puah, grandson of Dodo, from the tribe of Issachar, rose up to deliver Israel. He lived in Shamir in the Ephraimite hill country. 10:2 He led Israel for twenty-three years, then died and was buried in Shamir. 10:3 Jair the Gileadite rose up after him; he led Israel for twenty-two years. 10:4 He had thirty sons who rode on thirty donkeys and possessed thirty cities. To this day these towns are called Havvoth Jair -- they are in the land of Gilead. 10:5 Jair died and was buried in Kamon. The Lord's Patience Runs Short 10:6 The Israelites again did evil in the Lord's sight. They worshiped the Baals and the Ashtars, as well as the gods of Syria, Sidon, Moab, the Ammonites, and the Philistines. They abandoned the Lord and did not worship him. 10:7 The Lord was furious with Israel and turned them over to the Philistines and Ammonites. 10:8 They ruthlessly oppressed the Israelites that eighteenth year -- that is, all the Israelites living east of the Jordan in Amorite country in Gilead. 10:9 The Ammonites crossed the Jordan to fight with Judah, Benjamin, and Ephraim. Israel suffered greatly. 10:10 The Israelites cried out for help to the Lord: "We have sinned against you. We abandoned our God and worshiped the Baals." 10:11 The Lord said to the Israelites, "Did I not deliver you from Egypt, the Amorites, the Ammonites, the Philistines, 10:12 the Sidonians, Amalek, and Midian when they oppressed you? You cried out for help to me, and I delivered you from their power. 10:13 But since you abandoned me and worshiped other gods, I will not deliver you again. 10:14 Go and cry for help to the gods you have chosen! Let them deliver you from trouble!" 10:15 But the Israelites said to the Lord, "We have sinned. You do to us as you see fit, but deliver us today!" 10:16 They threw away the foreign gods they owned and worshiped the Lord. Finally the Lord grew tired of seeing Israel suffer so much. An Outcast Becomes a General 10:17 The Ammonites assembled and camped in Gilead; the Israelites gathered together and camped in Mizpah. 10:18 The leaders of Gilead said to one another, "Who is willing to lead the charge against the Ammonites? He will become the leader of all who live in Gilead!" 11:1 Now Jephthah the Gileadite was a brave warrior. His mother was a prostitute, but Gilead was his father. 11:2 Gilead's wife also gave him sons. When his wife's sons grew up, they made Jephthah leave and said to him, "You are not going to inherit any of our father's wealth, because you are another woman's son." 11:3 So Jephthah left his half-brothers and lived in the land of Tob. Lawless men joined Jephthah's gang and traveled with him. 11:4 It was some time after this when the Ammonites fought with Israel. 11:5 When the Ammonites attacked, the leaders of Gilead asked Jephthah to come back from the land of Tob. 11:6 They said, "Come, be our commander, so we can fight with the Ammonites." 11:7 Jephthah said to the leaders of Gilead, "But you hated me and made me leave my father's house. Why do you come to me now, when you are in trouble?" 11:8 The leaders of Gilead said to Jephthah, "That may be true, but now we pledge to you our loyalty. Come with us and fight with the Ammonites. Then you will become the leader of all who live in Gilead." 11:9 Jephthah said to the leaders of Gilead, "All right! If you take me back to fight with the Ammonites and the Lord gives them to me, I will be your leader." 11:10 The leaders of Gilead said to Jephthah, "The Lord will judge any grievance you have against us, if we do not do as you say." 11:11 So Jephthah went with the leaders of Gilead. The people made him their leader and commander. Jephthah repeated the terms of the agreement before the Lord in Mizpah. Jephthah Gives a History Lesson 11:12 Jephthah sent messengers to the Ammonite king, saying, "Why have you come against me to attack my land?" 11:13 The Ammonite king said to Jephthah's messengers, "Because Israel stole my land when they came up from Egypt -- from the Arnon River in the south to the Jabbok River in the north, and as far west as the Jordan. Now return it peaceably!" 11:14 Jephthah sent messengers back to the Ammonite king 11:15 and said to him, "This is what Jephthah says, 'Israel did not steal the land of Moab and the land of the Ammonites. 11:16 When they left Egypt, Israel traveled through the desert as far as the Red Sea and then came to Kadesh. 11:17 Israel sent messengers to the king of Edom, saying, "Please allow us to pass through your land." But the king of Edom rejected the request. Israel sent the same request to the king of Moab, but he was unwilling to cooperate. So Israel stayed at Kadesh. 11:18 Then Israel went through the desert and bypassed the land of Edom and the land of Moab. They traveled east of the land of Moab and camped on the other side of the Arnon River; they did not go through Moabite territory (the Arnon was Moab's border). 11:19 Israel sent messengers to King Sihon, the Amorite king who ruled in Heshbon, and said to him, "Please allow us to pass through your land to our land." 11:20 But Sihon did not trust Israel to pass through his territory. He assembled his whole army, camped in Jahaz, and fought with Israel. 11:21 The Lord God of Israel handed Sihon and his whole army over to Israel and they defeated them. Israel took all the land of the Amorites who lived in that land. 11:22 They took all the Amorite territory from the Arnon River on the south to the Jabbok River on the north, from the desert in the east to the Jordan in the west. 11:23 Since the Lord God of Israel has driven out the Amorites before his people Israel, do you think you can just take it from them? 11:24 You have the right to take what Chemosh your god gives you, but we will take the land of all whom the Lord our God has driven out before us. 11:25 Are you really better than Balak son of Zippor, king of Moab? Did he dare to quarrel with Israel? Did he dare to fight with them? 11:26 Israel has been living in Heshbon and its nearby towns, in Aroer and its nearby towns, and in all the cities along the Arnon for three hundred years! Why did you not reclaim them during that time? 11:27 I have not done you wrong, but you are doing wrong by attacking me. May the Lord, the Judge, judge this day between the Israelites and the Ammonites!'" 11:28 But the Ammonite king disregarded the message sent by Jephthah. A Foolish Vow Spells Death for a Daughter 11:29 The Lord's spirit empowered Jephthah. He passed through Gilead and Manasseh and went to Mizpah in Gilead. From there he approached the Ammonites. 11:30 Jephthah made a vow to the Lord, saying, "If you really do hand the Ammonites over to me, 11:31 then whoever is the first to come through the doors of my house to meet me when I return safely from fighting the Ammonites -- he will belong to the Lord and I will offer him up as a burnt sacrifice." 11:32 Jephthah approached the Ammonites to fight with them, and the Lord handed them over to him. 11:33 He defeated them from Aroer all the way to Minnith -- twenty cities in all, even as far as Abel Keramim! He wiped them out! The Israelites humiliated the Ammonites. 11:34 When Jephthah came home to Mizpah, there was his daughter hurrying out to meet him, dancing to the rhythm of tambourines. She was his only child; except for her he had no son or daughter. 11:35 When he saw her, he ripped his clothes and said, "Oh no! My daughter! You have completely ruined me! You have brought me disaster! I made an oath to the Lord, and I cannot break it." 11:36 She said to him, "My father, since you made an oath to the Lord, do to me as you promised. After all, the Lord vindicated you before your enemies, the Ammonites." 11:37 She then said to her father, "Please grant me this one wish. For two months allow me to walk through the hills with my friends and mourn my virginity." 11:38 He said, "You may go." He permitted her to leave for two months. She went with her friends and mourned her virginity as she walked through the hills. 11:39 After two months she returned to her father, and he did to her as he had vowed. She died a virgin. Her tragic death gave rise to a custom in Israel. 11:40 Every year Israelite women commemorate the daughter of Jephthah the Gileadite for four days. Civil Strife Mars the Victory 12:1 The Ephraimites assembled and crossed over to Zaphon. They said to Jephthah, "Why did you go and fight with the Ammonites without asking us to go with you? We will burn your house down right over you!" 12:2 Jephthah said to them, "My people and I were entangled in controversy with the Ammonites. I asked for your help, but you did not deliver me from their power. 12:3 When I saw that you were not going to help, I risked my life and advanced against the Ammonites, and the Lord handed them over to me. Why have you come up to fight with me today?" 12:4 Jephthah assembled all the men of Gilead and they fought with Ephraim. The men of Gilead defeated Ephraim, because the Ephraimites insulted them, saying, "You Gileadites are refugees in Ephraim, living within Ephraim's and Manasseh's territory." 12:5 The Gileadites captured the fords of the Jordan River opposite Ephraim. Whenever an Ephraimite fugitive said, "Let me cross over," the men of Gilead asked him, "Are you an Ephraimite?" If he said, "No," 12:6 then they said to him, "Say 'Shibboleth!'" If he said, "Sibboleth" (and could not pronounce the word correctly), they grabbed him and executed him right there at the fords of the Jordan. On that day forty-two thousand Ephraimites fell dead. 12:7 Jephthah led Israel for six years; then he died and was buried in his city in Gilead. Order Restored 12:8 After him Ibzan of Bethlehem led Israel. 12:9 He had thirty sons. He arranged for thirty of his daughters to be married outside his extended family, and he arranged for thirty young women to be brought from outside as wives for his sons. Ibzan led Israel for seven years; 12:10 then he died and was buried in Bethlehem. 12:11 After him Elon the Zebulunite led Israel for ten years. 12:12 Then Elon the Zebulunite died and was buried in Aijalon in the land of Zebulun. 12:13 After him Abdon son of Hillel the Pirathonite led Israel. 12:14 He had forty sons and thirty grandsons who rode on seventy donkeys. He led Israel for eight years. 12:15 Then Abdon son of Hillel the Pirathonite died and was buried in Pirathon in the land of Ephraim, in the hill country of the Amalekites. Prayer Lord,when we refuse to learn and to obey You allow us to suffer the consequences of our rebellion as an means of education. May I be a wise student, listening intently and obeying closely, so that You do not need to allow trouble into my life to get my attention. Commentary The Lord God raised up two good mean as leaders of Israel over the course of forty-five years, but once the second of them died the people again rebelled against the Lord God. He allowed the people to suffer under those whose false gods they had chosen to worship but in the eighteenth year He responded to their cries for help. He challenged them for their rebellion and they responded that He might punish them as He chose but pleaded with Him to set them free of the pagans. They discarded their pagan idols and God raised up another liberator. Just as He had done before, the Lord God chose a very unlikely leader in Jephthah; he was the son of a prostitute and his father Gilead and his half brothers by Gilead and his wife expelled him from their community. When troubles came they knew Jephthah was a hardened fighter with strong men around him so they asked that he be their leader. They promised to make things right and to keep him as their leader after they were free. Jephthah tried to reason with their enemies but they were unwilling to recognize the truth of his words. Jephthah made a foolish vow to the Lord God that if he was granted victory he would give whoever first approached him upon his return home to the Lord as a burnt offering. Upon his return it was his only child, a daughter, who greeted him. The Lord God would not have taken Jephthah's foolish vow literally as human sacrifice was not permitted, the actual vow resulted in no descendants for Jephthah as his daughter was condemned to remain a virgin for life. The Ephraimites foolishly insulted and challenged the Gileadites, Jephthah's people, and the resulting civil war between the two Israelite groups resulted in the death of forty-two thousand Ephraimites. A series of leaders, including Jephthah, led Israel for thirty-one years. Interaction Consider God's intervention was conditioned upon the active repentance of the Israelites, in this case the destruction of their false idols. Discuss Why did the Lord God keep choosing the seemingly most-unlikely people to lead Israel to freedom from their self-inflicted bondage? Reflect Among the Israelites the foolishness of pride resulted in severe conflict. Share When have you observed a leader attempt to reason with an enemy only to have the enemy refuse to be reasonable and the result was conflict? Faith in Action Prayer: Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you a place where you are headed for conflict, either because you have refused to humbly acknowledge reason or where another has refused to do so. Action: Today I will prayerfully repent of my pride or prayerfully ask that another repent of theirs. If conflict is unavoidable I will ask others to pray in-agreement for my protection and that I will conduct myself in a manner that honors the Lord God. Be Specific ______________________________________________________ Saturday's text will be: Judges 13 -- Have an http://Ultrafidian.com Day! Pastor David ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Personal Site: http://bibleseven.com Bible Resources: http://bible.org Teacher's Verse: John 7:16 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From hpp3 at lavabit.com Fri Nov 26 11:40:48 2010 From: hpp3 at lavabit.com (hpp3 at lavabit.com) Date: Fri, 26 Nov 2010 08:40:48 -0800 (PST) Subject: [Linux4christians] The Linux desktop is about to get a LOT faster In-Reply-To: <1290665279.7997.12.camel@P-733-Lin> References: <4CE4BCF1.4070803@lightlink.com> <4CEC9A5C.4030609@lavabit.com> <4CED3227.4010101@lavabit.com> <4CED906F.2060802@lavabit.com> <1290665279.7997.12.camel@P-733-Lin> Message-ID: <56950.67.183.117.252.1290789648.squirrel@lavabit.com> > On Wed, 2010-11-24 at 14:23 -0800, Eddy Martin wrote: >> On 11/24/2010 07:50 AM, Joel Mclaughlin wrote: >> > >> > Ghey do but on a different path (Ubuntu). I tried it....noticeably >> > faster. >> > >> > >> Great! It's always good to hear real-world reports. >> I just did all the rc-fu and not noticing a huge difference, but I just >> rebooted a few minutes ago. >> Might take a little playing to see anything huge. >> >> -Eddy > > I find the idea tempting, I have an under-memoried lappy that might > benefit, but I'm kinda sorta hoping that Lucid will get the kernel patch > at some point. >From what I could gather from reading Lennart Poettering's posts, the second trick may actually work better for userspace. Go ahead and try it, you can always roll back your changes later and use the kernel patch instead (if/when it hits Lucid) if you like. -Eddy From pastordavid at bibleseven.com Fri Nov 26 18:57:21 2010 From: pastordavid at bibleseven.com (pastordavid at bibleseven.com) Date: Fri, 26 Nov 2010 18:57:21 -0500 Subject: [Linux4christians] Saturday - Judges 13 Message-ID: <4CF04961.5050109@bibleseven.com> Saturday Judges 13 Samson's Birth 13:1 The Israelites again did evil in the Lord's sight, so the Lord handed them over to the Philistines for forty years. 13:2 There was a man named Manoah from Zorah, from the Danite tribe. His wife was infertile and childless. 13:3 The Lord's angelic messenger appeared to the woman and said to her, "You are infertile and childless, but you will conceive and have a son. 13:4 Now be careful! Do not drink wine or beer, and do not eat any food that will make you ritually unclean. 13:5 Look, you will conceive and have a son. You must never cut his hair, for the child will be dedicated to God from birth. He will begin to deliver Israel from the power of the Philistines." 13:6 The woman went and said to her husband, "A man sent from God came to me! He looked like God's angelic messenger -- he was very awesome. I did not ask him where he came from, and he did not tell me his name. 13:7 He said to me, 'Look, you will conceive and have a son. So now, do not drink wine or beer and do not eat any food that will make you ritually unclean. For the child will be dedicated to God from birth till the day he dies.'" 13:8 Manoah prayed to the Lord, "Please, Lord, allow the man sent from God to visit us again, so he can teach us how we should raise the child who will be born." 13:9 God answered Manoah's prayer. God's angelic messenger visited the woman again while she was sitting in the field. But her husband Manoah was not with her. 13:10 The woman ran at once and told her husband, "Come quickly, the man who visited me the other day has appeared to me!" 13:11 So Manoah got up and followed his wife. When he met the man, he said to him, "Are you the man who spoke to my wife?" He said, "Yes." 13:12 Manoah said, "Now, when your announcement comes true, how should the child be raised and what should he do?" 13:13 The Lord's messenger told Manoah, "Your wife should pay attention to everything I told her. 13:14 She should not drink anything that the grapevine produces. She must not drink wine or beer, and she must not eat any food that will make her ritually unclean. She should obey everything I commanded her to do." 13:15 Manoah said to the Lord's messenger, "Please stay here awhile, so we can prepare a young goat for you to eat." 13:16 The Lord's messenger said to Manoah, "If I stay, I will not eat your food. But if you want to make a burnt sacrifice to the Lord, you should offer it." (He said this because Manoah did not know that he was the Lord's messenger.) 13:17 Manoah said to the Lord's messenger, "Tell us your name, so we can honor you when your announcement comes true." 13:18 The Lord's messenger said to him, "You should not ask me my name, because you cannot comprehend it." 13:19 Manoah took a young goat and a grain offering and offered them on a rock to the Lord. The Lord's messenger did an amazing thing as Manoah and his wife watched. 13:20 As the flame went up from the altar toward the sky, the Lord's messenger went up in it while Manoah and his wife watched. They fell facedown to the ground. 13:21 The Lord's messenger did not appear again to Manoah and his wife. After all this happened Manoah realized that the visitor had been the Lord's messenger. 13:22 Manoah said to his wife, "We will certainly die, because we have seen a supernatural being!" 13:23 But his wife said to him, "If the Lord wanted to kill us, he would not have accepted the burnt offering and the grain offering from us. He would not have shown us all these things, or have spoken to us like this just now." 13:24 Manoah's wife gave birth to a son and named him Samson. The child grew and the Lord empowered him. 13:25 The Lord's spirit began to control him in Mahaneh Dan between Zorah and Eshtaol. Prayer Lord, You showed the Israelites long before the coming of the Christ-child how You would bring The Deliverer into the world. May I be watchful for Your guiding hand in the world and live as You have taught me to live. Commentary The Israelites return to rebellion resulted in forty years of bondage to the Philistines. The Lord God heard their cries and sent his angelic messenger to guide Manoah's previously-infertile wife in properly carrying and raising her son, whom they named Samson. She was to avoid alcoholic beverages and foods forbidden to Israelites as ritually-unclean. They asked the angelic messenger his name which he refused, saying that they could not comprehend it, and he then ascended back to Heaven along with the smoke of the goat-offering they made to the Lord God. Interaction Consider Samson was to only begin the liberation of Israel. Discuss How many parallels are there between the prophesied birth of Samson and that of Jesus? Reflect The angelic messenger had to keep refocusing Manoah and his wife from their obsession with him and on to his purpose, the coming partial-delivered of Israel from bondage. Share When have you become so focused on the messenger, or observed that in others, that you had trouble even remembering the message? Faith in Action Prayer: Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you a place where you have become too interested in the message or the mode of the message-delivery system that you are missing some of the essence of the message. Action: Today I will repent of taking my eyes off of the Lord God and have not been fastidious in checking all teaching with His Word. I will ask a fellow believer to pray in-agreement that I will accept the guidance of the Holy Spirit and focus my attention on His message. Be Specific ______________________________________________________ Sunday's text will be: Judges 14 -- Have an http://Ultrafidian.com Day! Pastor David ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Personal Site: http://bibleseven.com Bible Resources: http://bible.org Teacher's Verse: John 7:16 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From d.kuntadi at gmail.com Fri Nov 26 20:45:04 2010 From: d.kuntadi at gmail.com (David Kuntadi) Date: Sat, 27 Nov 2010 08:45:04 +0700 Subject: [Linux4christians] The Linux desktop is about to get a LOT faster In-Reply-To: <4CE4BCF1.4070803@lightlink.com> References: <4CE4BCF1.4070803@lightlink.com> Message-ID: On Thu, Nov 18, 2010 at 12:43 PM, Fred A. Miller wrote: > http://www.zdnet.com/blog/hardware/the-linux-desktop-is-about-to-get-a-lot-faster/10372?tag=nl.e589 > To make it easy, there is a script to do just that: http://www.webupd8.org/2010/11/script-to-automatically-apply-200-lines.html wget http://launchpadlibrarian.net/59511828/cgroup_patch chmod +x cgroup_patch sudo ./cgroup_patch sudo /etc/rc.local DK From hpp3 at lavabit.com Fri Nov 26 23:01:46 2010 From: hpp3 at lavabit.com (Eddy Martin) Date: Fri, 26 Nov 2010 20:01:46 -0800 Subject: [Linux4christians] The Linux desktop is about to get a LOT faster In-Reply-To: References: <4CE4BCF1.4070803@lightlink.com> Message-ID: <4CF082AA.5090807@lavabit.com> On 11/26/2010 05:45 PM, David Kuntadi wrote: > On Thu, Nov 18, 2010 at 12:43 PM, Fred A. Miller wrote: >> http://www.zdnet.com/blog/hardware/the-linux-desktop-is-about-to-get-a-lot-faster/10372?tag=nl.e589 >> > To make it easy, there is a script to do just that: > > http://www.webupd8.org/2010/11/script-to-automatically-apply-200-lines.html > > wget http://launchpadlibrarian.net/59511828/cgroup_patch > chmod +x cgroup_patch > sudo ./cgroup_patch > sudo /etc/rc.local > > DK > _______________________________________________ > Linux4christians mailing list > Linux4christians at thelinuxlink.net > http://www.thelinuxlink.net/mailman/listinfo/linux4christians David, did you try it? If so, did you see any speed improvements? I'm noticing a few things are faster, especially noticing no slow-downs when I have a lot of windows open. -Eddy From fmiller at lightlink.com Sat Nov 27 00:10:02 2010 From: fmiller at lightlink.com (Fred A. Miller) Date: Sat, 27 Nov 2010 00:10:02 -0500 Subject: [Linux4christians] OT: Visit to Taco Bell Message-ID: <4CF092AA.6010702@lightlink.com> Visit to Taco Bell It could happen to any of us... :-[ Subject: $5.37! $5.37! That's what the kid behind the counter at Taco Bell said to me. I dug into my pocket and pulled out some lint and two dimes and something that used to be a Jolly Rancher. Having already handed the kid a five-spot, I started to head back out to the truck to grab some change when the kid with the Elmo hairdo said the hardest thing anyone has ever said to me. He said, "It's OK. I'll just give you the senior citizen discount." I turned to see who he was talking to and then heard the sound of change hitting the counter in front of me. "Only $4.68" he said cheerfully. I stood there stupefied. I am 56, not even 60 yet? A mere child! Senior citizen? I took my burrito and walked out to the truck wondering what was wrong with Elmo. Was he blind? As I sat in the truck, my blood began to boil. Old? Me? I'll show him, I thought. I opened the door and headed back inside. I strode to the counter, and there he was waiting with a smile. Before I could say a word, he held up something and jingled it in front of me, like I could be that easily distracted! What am I now? A toddler? "Dude! Can't get too far without your car keys, eh?" I stared with utter disdain at the keys. I began to rationalize in my mind. "Leaving keys behind hardly makes a man elderly! It could happen to anyone!" I turned and headed back to the truck. I slipped the key into the ignition, but it wouldn't turn. What now? I checked my keys and tried another. Still nothing. That's when I noticed the purple beads hanging from my rear view mirror. I had no purple beads hanging from my rear view mirror. Then, a few other objects came into focus. The car seat in the back seat. Happy Meal toys spread all over the floorboard. A partially eaten doughnut on the dashboard. Faster than you can say ginkgo biloba, I flew out of the alien vehicle. Moments later I was speeding out of the parking lot, relieved to finally be leaving this nightmarish stop in my life. That is when I felt it, deep in the bowels of my stomach: hunger! My stomach growled and churned, and I reached to grab my burrito, only it was nowhere to be found. I swung the truck around, gathered my courage, and strode back into the restaurant one final time. There Elmo stood, draped in youth and black nail polish. All I could think was, "What is the world coming to?" All I could say was, "Did I leave my food and drink in here"? At this point I was ready to ask a Boy Scout to help me back to my vehicle, and then go straight home and apply for Social Security benefits. Elmo had no clue. I walked back out to the truck, and suddenly a young lad came up and tugged on my jeans to get my attention. He was holding up a drink and a bag. His mother explained, "I think you left this in my truck by mistake." I took the food and drink from the little boy and sheepishly apologized. She offered these kind words: "It's OK. My grandfather does stuff like this all the time." All of this is to explain how I got a ticket doing 85 in a 40. Yes, I was racing some punk kid in a Toyota Prius. And no, I told the officer, I'm not too old to be driving this fast. As I walked in the front door, my wife met me halfway down the hall. I handed her a bag of cold food and a $300 speeding ticket. I promptly sat in my rocking chair and covered up my legs with a blankey. The good news was I had successfully found my way home. Pass this on to the other old fogies on your list. Notice the larger type? That's for those of us who have trouble reading. P.S. Save the earth...... It's the only planet with chocolate!!!!! -- "Those who hammer their guns into plows will plow for those who do not." Thomas Jefferson -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From mwmcmlln at mnsi.net Sat Nov 27 01:08:41 2010 From: mwmcmlln at mnsi.net (Mike McMullin) Date: Sat, 27 Nov 2010 01:08:41 -0500 Subject: [Linux4christians] The Linux desktop is about to get a LOT faster In-Reply-To: <56950.67.183.117.252.1290789648.squirrel@lavabit.com> References: <4CE4BCF1.4070803@lightlink.com> <4CEC9A5C.4030609@lavabit.com> <4CED3227.4010101@lavabit.com> <4CED906F.2060802@lavabit.com> <1290665279.7997.12.camel@P-733-Lin> <56950.67.183.117.252.1290789648.squirrel@lavabit.com> Message-ID: <1290838121.8055.7.camel@P-733-Lin> On Fri, 2010-11-26 at 08:40 -0800, hpp3 at lavabit.com wrote: > > On Wed, 2010-11-24 at 14:23 -0800, Eddy Martin wrote: > >> On 11/24/2010 07:50 AM, Joel Mclaughlin wrote: > >> > > >> > Ghey do but on a different path (Ubuntu). I tried it....noticeably > >> > faster. > >> > > >> > > >> Great! It's always good to hear real-world reports. > >> I just did all the rc-fu and not noticing a huge difference, but I just > >> rebooted a few minutes ago. > >> Might take a little playing to see anything huge. > >> > >> -Eddy > > > > I find the idea tempting, I have an under-memoried lappy that might > > benefit, but I'm kinda sorta hoping that Lucid will get the kernel patch > > at some point. > > >From what I could gather from reading Lennart Poettering's posts, the > second trick may actually work better for userspace. > > Go ahead and try it, you can always roll back your changes later and use > the kernel patch instead (if/when it hits Lucid) if you like. I noticed a kernel update for Lucid last night, but I did not think to see if it included the patch. I'm expecting that since 10.04 is lTS, stuff will get backdated for it, or the kernel will keep rolling up during it's life cycle. From pastordavid at bibleseven.com Sat Nov 27 23:46:59 2010 From: pastordavid at bibleseven.com (pastordavid at bibleseven.com) Date: Sat, 27 Nov 2010 23:46:59 -0500 Subject: [Linux4christians] Sunday - Judges 14 Message-ID: <4CF1DEC3.4000805@bibleseven.com> Sunday Judges 14 Samson's Unconsummated Marriage 14:1 Samson went down to Timnah, where a Philistine girl caught his eye. 14:2 When he got home, he told his father and mother, "A Philistine girl in Timnah has caught my eye. Now get her for my wife." 14:3 But his father and mother said to him, "Certainly you can find a wife among your relatives or among all our people! You should not have to go and get a wife from the uncircumcised Philistines." But Samson said to his father, "Get her for me, because she is the right one for me." 14:4 Now his father and mother did not realize this was the Lord's doing, because he was looking for an opportunity to stir up trouble with the Philistines (for at that time the Philistines were ruling Israel). 14:5 Samson went down to Timnah. When he approached the vineyards of Timnah, he saw a roaring young lion attacking him. 14:6 The Lord's spirit empowered him and he tore the lion in two with his bare hands as easily as one would tear a young goat. But he did not tell his father or mother what he had done. 14:7 Samson continued on down to Timnah and spoke to the girl. In his opinion, she was just the right one. 14:8 Some time later, when he went back to marry her, he turned aside to see the lion's remains. He saw a swarm of bees in the lion's carcass, as well as some honey. 14:9 He scooped it up with his hands and ate it as he walked along. When he returned to his father and mother, he offered them some and they ate it. But he did not tell them he had scooped the honey out of the lion's carcass. 14:10 Then Samson's father accompanied him to Timnah for the marriage. Samson hosted a party there, for this was customary for bridegrooms to do. 14:11 When the Philistines saw he had no attendants, they gave him thirty groomsmen who kept him company. 14:12 Samson said to them, "I will give you a riddle. If you really can solve it during the seven days the party lasts, I will give you thirty linen robes and thirty sets of clothes. 14:13 But if you cannot solve it, you will give me thirty linen robes and thirty sets of clothes." They said to him, "Let us hear your riddle." 14:14 He said to them, "Out of the one who eats came something to eat; out of the strong one came something sweet." They could not solve the riddle for three days. 14:15 On the fourth day they said to Samson's bride, "Trick your husband into giving the solution to the riddle. If you refuse, we will burn up you and your father's family. Did you invite us here to make us poor?" 14:16 So Samson's bride cried on his shoulder and said, "You must hate me; you do not love me! You told the young men a riddle, but you have not told me the solution." He said to her, "Look, I have not even told my father or mother. Do you really expect me to tell you?" 14:17 She cried on his shoulder until the party was almost over. Finally, on the seventh day, he told her because she had nagged him so much. Then she told the young men the solution to the riddle. 14:18 On the seventh day, before the sun set, the men of the city said to him, "What is sweeter than honey? What is stronger than a lion?" He said to them, "If you had not plowed with my heifer, you would not have solved my riddle!" 14:19 The Lord's spirit empowered him. He went down to Ashkelon and murdered thirty men. He took their clothes and gave them to the men who had solved the riddle. He was furious as he went back home. 14:20 Samson's bride was then given to his best man. Prayer Lord, Your plan and timing was to begin the liberation of Israel from the Philistines, and Samson was the instrument you selected. May I not forget that merely because you select a person as Your instrument it does not mean that You endorse all that they are or all that they do. Commentary The Lord God had said that it was His timing to begin the liberation of Israel from the Philistines. He chose the impulsive and immature Samson much as Moses was impulsive and the Pharaoh was immature; their character defects created circumstances that God could use. Samson went into the town and decided at first-sight he wanted to marry a Philistine woman he happened upon and returned home to inform his parents that they needed to get her for him. This was wrong on several levels; he was under a Nazirite vow and for him to marry a pagan risked spiritual pollution, he was acting impulsively which was immature and careless, the text implies a rude and disrespectful demandingness toward his parents. Samson and Timnah the Philistine were engaged, which according to the custom of the time meant that they were all-but-married except for the ceremony and consummation. During his travels to and from the vineyard of Timnah's family Samson encountered a lion and the Holy Spirit came upon him, giving him superhuman strength, so that he tore the lion in half. Later on in his travels he discovered that a swarm of honeybees had nested in the carcass of the same lion and he scooped honey from it to eat himself and to share with his family. As a Nazarite Samson was made ritually unclean by touching the carcass but he deceived others by not disclosing what he had done When he arrived for the arranged wedding some of her male relatives gathered around so he decided to taunt them with a riddle. They threatened Timnah's family and she nagged Samson for days until he told her and they used it against him. He stormed out in anger, killed thirty of their kin in Ashkelon and then brought the men their clothes, then stormed off again. Timnah was quickly given to his bridegroom to deny her to Samson. Interaction Consider The Lord God uses who He will in the way He will, He is not like us nor does He answer to our man-invented expectations. Discuss What other men in the history since the Garden of Eden can you recall being as impetuous and immature as Samson? Reflect Samson's impetuous nature and immaturity led him into several actions that were ultimately rebellious against God; e.g. touching the dead lion and rushing to marry a Philistine. Share When have you rushed into a choice only to realize at some point you should have consulted God first, or paused long enough to remember what you already knew of God that should have guided your choice? Faith in Action Prayer: Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you a place in your life where you have a pattern of impetuous and/or immature choices. Action: Today I will confess and repent of my immaturity my impetuous actions. I will ask a fellow believer to pray in-agreement that I will discipline myself to pause and to pray before I act in a way or say something that I know -- or I should know -- will not bring glory to God. Be Specific ______________________________________________________ Monday's text will be: Judges 15 -- Have an http://Ultrafidian.com Day! Pastor David ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Personal Site: http://bibleseven.com Bible Resources: http://bible.org Teacher's Verse: John 7:16 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From d.kuntadi at gmail.com Sun Nov 28 03:37:48 2010 From: d.kuntadi at gmail.com (David Kuntadi) Date: Sun, 28 Nov 2010 15:37:48 +0700 Subject: [Linux4christians] The Linux desktop is about to get a LOT faster In-Reply-To: <4CF082AA.5090807@lavabit.com> References: <4CE4BCF1.4070803@lightlink.com> <4CF082AA.5090807@lavabit.com> Message-ID: On Sat, Nov 27, 2010 at 11:01 AM, Eddy Martin wrote: > David, did you try it? > If so, did you see any speed improvements? > > I'm noticing a few things are faster, especially noticing no slow-downs when > I have a lot of windows open. Unfortunately I did not see any as my desktop always very fast so far, I have Quad core processor. DK From fredbiggs_9 at msn.com Sun Nov 28 13:38:24 2010 From: fredbiggs_9 at msn.com (Fred Biggs) Date: Sun, 28 Nov 2010 13:38:24 -0500 Subject: [Linux4christians] Hey; Message-ID: Speical offers for Christmas ! Come and have a look at this web! Amazing for you ,for all of us ,low price ,high quality indeed! Haven't you found anything special gift for your friend for the coming Christams ,if not, go ahead with a nice shoping!Have a look at this web www.heartytrading.com ?Thanks? -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From webservant at trinitybclaramie.org Sun Nov 28 14:43:27 2010 From: webservant at trinitybclaramie.org (Peter B. Steiger) Date: Sun, 28 Nov 2010 12:43:27 -0700 Subject: [Linux4christians] Hey; In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: Fred, it looks like your email account has been hacked by spammers! Better change your password jiffy-quick. 2010/11/28 Fred Biggs > Speical offers for Christmas ! > -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From pastordavid at bibleseven.com Sun Nov 28 19:35:24 2010 From: pastordavid at bibleseven.com (pastordavid at bibleseven.com) Date: Sun, 28 Nov 2010 19:35:24 -0500 Subject: [Linux4christians] Monday - Judges 15 Message-ID: <4CF2F54C.6080600@bibleseven.com> Monday Judges 15 Samson Versus the Philistines 15:1 Sometime later, during the wheat harvest, Samson took a young goat as a gift and went to visit his bride. He said to her father, "I want to have sex with my bride in her bedroom!" But her father would not let him enter. 15:2 Her father said, "I really thought you absolutely despised her, so I gave her to your best man. Her younger sister is more attractive than she is. Take her instead!" 15:3 Samson said to them, "This time I am justified in doing the Philistines harm!" 15:4 Samson went and captured three hundred jackals and got some torches. He tied the jackals in pairs by their tails and then tied a torch to each pair. 15:5 He lit the torches and set the jackals loose in the Philistines' standing grain. He burned up the grain heaps and the standing grain, as well as the vineyards and olive groves. 15:6 The Philistines asked, "Who did this?" They were told, "Samson, the Timnite's son-in-law, because the Timnite took Samson's bride and gave her to his best man." So the Philistines went up and burned her and her father. 15:7 Samson said to them, "Because you did this, I will get revenge against you before I quit fighting." 15:8 He struck them down and defeated them. Then he went down and lived for a time in the cave in the cliff of Etam. 15:9 The Philistines went up and invaded Judah. They arrayed themselves for battle in Lehi. 15:10 The men of Judah said, "Why are you attacking us?" The Philistines said, "We have come up to take Samson prisoner so we can do to him what he has done to us." 15:11 Three thousand men of Judah went down to the cave in the cliff of Etam and said to Samson, "Do you not know that the Philistines rule over us? Why have you done this to us?" He said to them, "I have only done to them what they have done to me." 15:12 They said to him, "We have come down to take you prisoner so we can hand you over to the Philistines." Samson said to them, "Promise me you will not kill me." 15:13 They said to him, "We promise! We will only take you prisoner and hand you over to them. We promise not to kill you." They tied him up with two brand new ropes and led him up from the cliff. 15:14 When he arrived in Lehi, the Philistines shouted as they approached him. But the Lord's spirit empowered him. The ropes around his arms were like flax dissolving in fire, and they melted away from his hands. 15:15 He happened to see a solid jawbone of a donkey. He grabbed it and struck down a thousand men. 15:16 Samson then said, "With the jawbone of a donkey I have left them in heaps; with the jawbone of a donkey I have struck down a thousand men!" 15:17 When he finished speaking, he threw the jawbone down and named that place Ramath Lehi. 15:18 He was very thirsty, so he cried out to the Lord and said, "You have given your servant this great victory. But now must I die of thirst and fall into hands of the Philistines?" 15:19 So God split open the basin at Lehi and water flowed out from it. When he took a drink, his strength was restored and he revived. For this reason he named the spring En Hakkore. It remains in Lehi to this very day. 15:20 Samson led Israel for twenty years during the days of Philistine prominence. Prayer Lord, You say that revenge is Yours, and this story of Samson illustrates what happens when mere men take it upon themselves to deliver revenge. May I be wise enough to resist the fleshy temptation to attack another, verbally, physically, other otherwise in a fit of unrighteous rage. Commentary Samson, not yet aware that his bride (his wife, less the ceremony and consummation) had been given to another man, arrived with a gift and discovered what had been done. While their excuse was that they thought he despised her, that they acted so quickly and did not consult him suggested that their motive was to deny her to him. They offered Samson Timnah's younger sister but in a fit of rage he instead caused the fields and orchards of the Philistines to burn by tying torches to 300 jackals tied in pairs by their tails. In revenge the Philistines killed Timnah and her father, with fire, which triggered Samson to kill many Philistines and then hide in a cave. The Israelites, faced with an angry Philistine army invading their land to take revenge took 1,000 men to capture Samson in order to give him to the Philistines but God caused the ropes to dissolve off of Samson and with the jawbone of a donkey he killed 1,000 Philistines. Samson bragged of his victory and served as the leader of Israel for twenty years. Interaction Consider Samson's initial rebellious and selfish choices led to the death of Timnah and over a thousand others. Discuss How much power must God have given to Samson that he could round-up and use three hundred jackals, not friendly or pleasant creatures, in such a manner? Reflect The Philistines, not comprehending the source of Samson's moments of strength repeatedly underestimated him. Share When have you experienced or observed the back and flow of revenge? What was the result? Faith in Action Prayer: Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you a place in your life where you may be tested and where you are weak enough to act from rage in revenge. Action: Today I will ask a fellow believer to be my accountability partner and to pray in-agreement as I prayerfully partner with the Holy Spirit to learn to discipline my reaction to circumstances that may lead me into rage and revenge. Be Specific ______________________________________________________ Tuesday's text will be: Judges 16 -- Have an http://Ultrafidian.com Day! Pastor David ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Personal Site: http://bibleseven.com Bible Resources: http://bible.org Teacher's Verse: John 7:16 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From fmiller at lightlink.com Mon Nov 29 12:47:52 2010 From: fmiller at lightlink.com (Fred A. Miller) Date: Mon, 29 Nov 2010 12:47:52 -0500 Subject: [Linux4christians] Reasons to Be Thankful in Linux Land Message-ID: <4CF3E748.2070104@lightlink.com> Reasons to Be Thankful in Linux Land ------------------------------------------------------------ Well, it's that time of year again here in the land of stars and stripes -- the time when all good geeks turn their thoughts toward all they have to be thankful for. Yes, it's been a time of gratitude and reflection here in the Linux blogosphere, even as countless outside forces have conspired to distract us. See the Full Story: http://www.technewsworld.com/story/71288.html -- "Those who hammer their guns into plows will plow for those who do not." Thomas Jefferson -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From pastordavid at bibleseven.com Mon Nov 29 15:17:35 2010 From: pastordavid at bibleseven.com (pastordavid at bibleseven.com) Date: Mon, 29 Nov 2010 15:17:35 -0500 Subject: [Linux4christians] Tuesday - Judges 16 Message-ID: <4CF40A5F.8060504@bibleseven.com> Tuesday Judges 16 Samson's Downfall 16:1 Samson went to Gaza. There he saw a prostitute and went in to have sex with her. 16:2 The Gazites were told, "Samson has come here!" So they surrounded the town and hid all night at the city gate, waiting for him to leave. They relaxed all night, thinking, "He will not leave until morning comes; then we will kill him!" 16:3 Samson spent half the night with the prostitute; then he got up in the middle of the night and left. He grabbed the doors of the city gate, as well as the two posts, and pulled them right off, bar and all. He put them on his shoulders and carried them up to the top of a hill east of Hebron. 16:4 After this Samson fell in love with a woman named Delilah, who lived in the Sorek Valley. 16:5 The rulers of the Philistines went up to visit her and said to her, "Trick him! Find out what makes him so strong and how we can subdue him and humiliate him. Each one of us will give you eleven hundred silver pieces." 16:6 So Delilah said to Samson, "Tell me what makes you so strong and how you can be subdued and humiliated." 16:7 Samson said to her, "If they tie me up with seven fresh bowstrings that have not been dried, I will become weak and be just like any other man." 16:8 So the rulers of the Philistines brought her seven fresh bowstrings which had not been dried and they tied him up with them. 16:9 They hid in the bedroom and then she said to him, "The Philistines are here, Samson!" He snapped the bowstrings as easily as a thread of yarn snaps when it is put close to fire. The secret of his strength was not discovered. 16:10 Delilah said to Samson, "Look, you deceived me and told me lies! Now tell me how you can be subdued." 16:11 He said to her, "If they tie me tightly with brand new ropes that have never been used, I will become weak and be just like any other man." 16:12 So Delilah took new ropes and tied him with them and said to him, "The Philistines are here, Samson!" (The Philistines were hiding in the bedroom.) But he tore the ropes from his arms as if they were a piece of thread. 16:13 Delilah said to Samson, "Up to now you have deceived me and told me lies. Tell me how you can be subdued." He said to her, "If you weave the seven braids of my hair into the fabric on the loom and secure it with the pin, I will become weak and be like any other man." 16:14 So she made him go to sleep, wove the seven braids of his hair into the fabric on the loom, fastened it with the pin, and said to him, "The Philistines are here, Samson!" He woke up and tore away the pin of the loom and the fabric. 16:15 She said to him, "How can you say, 'I love you,' when you will not share your secret with me? Three times you have deceived me and have not told me what makes you so strong." 16:16 She nagged him every day and pressured him until he was sick to death of it. 16:17 Finally he told her his secret. He said to her, "My hair has never been cut, for I have been dedicated to God from the time I was conceived. If my head were shaved, my strength would leave me; I would become weak, and be just like all other men." 16:18 When Delilah saw that he had told her his secret, she sent for the rulers of the Philistines, saying, "Come up here again, for he has told me his secret." So the rulers of the Philistines went up to visit her, bringing the silver in their hands. 16:19 She made him go to sleep on her lap and then called a man in to shave off the seven braids of his hair. She made him vulnerable and his strength left him. 16:20 She said, "The Philistines are here, Samson!" He woke up and thought, "I will do as I did before and shake myself free." But he did not realize that the Lord had left him. 16:21 The Philistines captured him and gouged out his eyes. They brought him down to Gaza and bound him in bronze chains. He became a grinder in the prison. 16:22 His hair began to grow back after it had been shaved off. Samson's Death and Burial 16:23 The rulers of the Philistines gathered to offer a great sacrifice to Dagon their god and to celebrate. They said, "Our god has handed Samson, our enemy, over to us." 16:24 When the people saw him, they praised their god, saying, "Our god has handed our enemy over to us, the one who ruined our land and killed so many of us!" 16:25 When they really started celebrating, they said, "Call for Samson so he can entertain us!" So they summoned Samson from the prison and he entertained them. They made him stand between two pillars. 16:26 Samson said to the young man who held his hand, "Position me so I can touch the pillars that support the temple. Then I can lean on them." 16:27 Now the temple was filled with men and women, and all the rulers of the Philistines were there. There were three thousand men and women on the roof watching Samson entertain. 16:28 Samson called to the Lord, "O Master, Lord, remember me! Strengthen me just one more time, O God, so I can get swift revenge against the Philistines for my two eyes!" 16:29 Samson took hold of the two middle pillars that supported the temple and he leaned against them, with his right hand on one and his left hand on the other. 16:30 Samson said, "Let me die with the Philistines!" He pushed hard and the temple collapsed on the rulers and all the people in it. He killed many more people in his death than he had killed during his life. 16:31 His brothers and all his family went down and brought him back. They buried him between Zorah and Eshtaol in the tomb of Manoah his father. He had led Israel for twenty years. Prayer Lord, in our rebellion we do many foolish things, which lead to our worldly destruction, but You can even use our foolishness in your great plan. May I be less foolish so that I am useful to You as an constructive instrument. Commentary Samson continued in his foolish ways, this time visiting a prostitute. The Philistines planned to capture him in the morning but he left early and tore the city gates -- carrying them to the top of a hill. Then Samson became infatuated with another non-Israelite woman Delilah. The text does not state that he married her but it does describe his overnight stays in her home. The Philistines leaders promised her a lot of money to trick him into disclosing the source of his extraordinary strength. She nagged him for many days and after teasing her with false explanations he finally gave in, as he had with the riddle to Timnah, and she told the Philistines. Delilah cut Samson's hair, which was symbolic of his Nazarite vow, and his power-link to God was broken. The Philistines captured Samson, gouged-out his eyes, and made him work like a beast of burden in their prison. The Philistine's had a great celebration and brought Samson as a source of entertainment -- he appealed to God to give him strength one more time (his hair had grown back) -- and he brought the building down on the 3,000+ Philistine leaders and wealthy citizens. This served as a major loss to the strength of the Philistines. Interaction Consider Samson seemed unable to learn from his mistakes, generally resulting from his lust for non-Israelite women. Discuss With the blessing of the gift of strength from God, and his responsibility as the leader of Israel, why would Samson have been so foolish in his dealings with Philistine women? Reflect The Philistines feared Samson, though they should have feared the God from whom he received his strength, and in the end God used the foolishness of both Samson and the Philistines to further His goal of loosening the grip of the Philistines on Israelites. Share When have you made a bad decision then later observed that God used it for good? Faith in Action Prayer: Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you a place in your life where you are vulnerable to allow a test to be faithful to the Lord God to become a temptation and a place of sin. Action: Today I will prayerfully submit to the Lordship of Christ through the Holy Spirit in order to mature to where I am no longer vulnerable to temptation in the area He has revealed to me. It may be a place where I react to circumstances with rage, where I engage in crude and foolish talk, dishonest dealings with others, gossip, laziness, pornography or other sexual sin, substance abuse, etc. I will ask another believer to assist me with accountability and prayer in-agreement. Be Specific ______________________________________________________ Wednesday's text will be: Judges 17 -- Have an http://Ultrafidian.com Day! Pastor David ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Personal Site: http://bibleseven.com Bible Resources: http://bible.org Teacher's Verse: John 7:16 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From fmiller at lightlink.com Mon Nov 29 22:17:56 2010 From: fmiller at lightlink.com (Fred A. Miller) Date: Mon, 29 Nov 2010 22:17:56 -0500 Subject: [Linux4christians] Getting It Wrong Again- Or Getting It Right? The TNIV, admits they got it wrong. Message-ID: <4CF46CE4.2070705@lightlink.com> Today, the Committee on Bible Translation, which translated the NIV, admits Today's New International Version, the revision released in 2002, was a mistake. They substituted "brothers and sisters" where the New Testament writers used "brothers." http://www.clarionledger.com/article/20101119/NEWS03/101119010/New-International-Version-Bible-drops-gender-neutral-translation -- "Those who hammer their guns into plows will plow for those who do not." Thomas Jefferson -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From karl at kleinpaste.org Mon Nov 29 22:54:44 2010 From: karl at kleinpaste.org (Karl Kleinpaste) Date: Mon, 29 Nov 2010 22:54:44 -0500 Subject: [Linux4christians] Getting It Wrong Again- Or Getting It Right? The TNIV, admits they got it wrong. In-Reply-To: <4CF46CF4.7050007@lightlink.com> (Fred A. Miller's message of "Mon, 29 Nov 2010 22:18:12 -0500") References: <4CF46CF4.7050007@lightlink.com> Message-ID: "Fred A. Miller" quotes: > Today, the Committee on Bible Translation, which translated the NIV, > admits Today's New International Version, the revision released in 2002, > was a mistake. They substituted "brothers and sisters" where the New > Testament writers used "brothers." Then they'd better think again about the new NIV2011. It looks to be a (partially?) repackaged TNIV. http://theologica.ning.com/profiles/blogs/niv-niv2011-tniv-comparison | Some statistics: | NIV/NIV2011 Agreement: 91.3% | NIV/TNIV Agreement: 91.8% | NIV2011/TNIV Agreement: 99.4% And the compared chapter opens with exactly such a "brothers and sisters" instance. NIV 2 To the holy and faithful brothers in Christ at Colosse: NIV2011 2 To God?s holy people in Colossae, the faithful brothers and sisters in Christ: TNIV 2 To God?s holy people in Colossae, the faithful brothers and sisters in Christ: From pastordavid at bibleseven.com Tue Nov 30 20:45:32 2010 From: pastordavid at bibleseven.com (pastordavid at bibleseven.com) Date: Tue, 30 Nov 2010 20:45:32 -0500 Subject: [Linux4christians] Wednesday - Judges 17 Message-ID: <4CF5A8BC.8030706@bibleseven.com> Wednesday Judges 17 Micah Makes His Own Religion 17:1 There was a man named Micah from the Ephraimite hill country. 17:2 He said to his mother, "You know the eleven hundred pieces of silver which were stolen from you, about which I heard you pronounce a curse? Look here, I have the silver. I stole it, but now I am giving it back to you." His mother said, "May the Lord reward you, my son!" 17:3 When he gave back to his mother the eleven hundred pieces of silver, his mother said, "I solemnly dedicate this silver to the Lord. It will be for my son's benefit. We will use it to make a carved image and a metal image." 17:4 When he gave the silver back to his mother, she took two hundred pieces of silver to a silversmith, who made them into a carved image and a metal image. She then put them in Micah's house. 17:5 Now this man Micah owned a shrine. He made an ephod and some personal idols and hired one of his sons to serve as a priest. 17:6 In those days Israel had no king. Each man did what he considered to be right. Micah Hires a Professional 17:7 There was a young man from Bethlehem in Judah. He was a Levite who had been temporarily residing among the tribe of Judah. 17:8 This man left the town of Bethlehem in Judah to find another place to live. He came to the Ephraimite hill country and made his way to Micah's house. 17:9 Micah said to him, "Where do you come from?" He replied, "I am a Levite from Bethlehem in Judah. I am looking for a new place to live." 17:10 Micah said to him, "Stay with me. Become my adviser and priest. I will give you ten pieces of silver per year, plus clothes and food." 17:11 So the Levite agreed to stay with the man; the young man was like a son to Micah. 17:12 Micah paid the Levite; the young man became his priest and lived in Micah's house. 17:13 Micah said, "Now I know God will make me rich, because I have this Levite as my priest." Prayer Lord, You warn us that everything we worship -- directly or indirectly (when we divert our attention from You) will bring harm to us. May I be careful every day to be certain that You are first in all things. Commentary Micah stole from his mother and then received compliments from her for returning what he had stolen. Micah's mother made idols from some of the returned money and gave them to Micah, perhaps initiating the fulfillment of the curse she had spoken against the one who has stolen from her. Micah added more pagan religious articles in the form of personal idols and an ephod and then hired his son to serve as his private priest -- all without consulting the Lord God. A wandering Levite found his way to Micah's home and Micah hired him as his priest, imaging that the mere association with a Levite would bring him blessings. Interaction Consider Micah knew the role of the Levites and therefore he knew of God's law, yet he behaved in a pagan manner in direct rebellion against God's law. Discuss Why would Micah disobey God and still expect that hiring a Levite who was untroubled by the presence of false idols would bring him blessings from God? Reflect Mere association with a religious order or association says nothing about the character, nor standing before the Lord God, only fealty to His Word can serve as evidence of Biblical integrity as a leader. Share When have you experienced or observed a religious leader who was entrusted with responsibility but who was clearly functioning in opposition to God's Word? Faith in Action Prayer: Ask the Holy Spirit to you a person or an organization in whom you have placed some trust but who may be unworthy of that trust. Action: Today I will prayerfully review those whom I am trusting for accountability, discipleship, Christian fellowship and/or teaching to discern the prompting of the Holy Spirit that they are not worthy of my trust. I will be a good Berean and consult the Word and I will also solicit the prayers of a fellow believer and the counsel of an organizationally-independent person who is Biblically-qualified to be an elder. As is practically-possible and appropriate I will communicate my concerns to the person and I agree to separate myself from the untrustworthy influence. To the degree that I have contributed to the problem I will remove from my possession any materials or objects that contain or reinforce bad teaching. Be Specific ______________________________________________________ Thursday's text will be: Judges 18 -- Have an http://Ultrafidian.com Day! Pastor David ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Personal Site: http://bibleseven.com Bible Resources: http://bible.org Teacher's Verse: John 7:16 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: