From karl at kleinpaste.org  Mon Jan  3 11:10:28 2011
From: karl at kleinpaste.org (Karl Kleinpaste)
Date: Mon, 03 Jan 2011 11:10:28 -0500
Subject: [Linux4christians] kodak printer problem
Message-ID: <vxkfwtaj7d7.fsf@awol.kleinpaste.org>

One of those level-zero kinds of questions that I just don't think I
should have to ask in this day and age.

Last evening, I picked up a Kodak ESP 5210 printer because our old HP
device is dying.  Setup of the device itself was no problem, the head
and cartridges are in, it calibrated itself, and it's using WiFi with a
valid network config (I can ping it).

But how do I make it known to my F13 box?

When I "Add" a printer in the printer config tool, it discovers the
device on its own:

Eastman Kodak CompanyKODAK ESP 5200 Series AiO2

When I click this entry, I get a prompt on the right side of the tool,
"Enter device URI", and it pre-fills just "Printer" in the text entry box.

Well, gee, that's just EVER so informative and helpful.

For giggles, I also tried to set it up [a] as a Samba printer, whereupon
it finds the device via "browse" but then gets stuck asking me for login
credentials ("guest" does not work); [b] as an IPP printer, in which
case I fill in a hostname and get a pre-fill of "/printers"/ in "Queue"
but I have no idea what to put after that, and the Verify and Forward
buttons are greyed-out until I do so; [c] as an LPD/LPR printer, same
general problem, no queue, though I can swat the Probe button...which
does precisely nothing that I can see.

I could use a clue.  Googling about this printer is wondrously
uninformative.

From ken at wa3fkg.com  Mon Jan  3 11:41:40 2011
From: ken at wa3fkg.com (Ken Sprouse / WA3FKG)
Date: Mon, 3 Jan 2011 11:41:40 -0500
Subject: [Linux4christians] kodak printer problem
In-Reply-To: <vxkfwtaj7d7.fsf@awol.kleinpaste.org>
References: <vxkfwtaj7d7.fsf@awol.kleinpaste.org>
Message-ID: <AANLkTimznc8E6p4nhLwG84R=+PDSuZr+97A+tbZay5Gb@mail.gmail.com>

On Mon, Jan 3, 2011 at 11:10 AM, Karl Kleinpaste <karl at kleinpaste.org>wrote:

> One of those level-zero kinds of questions that I just don't think I
> should have to ask in this day and age.
>
> Last evening, I picked up a Kodak ESP 5210 printer because our old HP
> device is dying.  Setup of the device itself was no problem, the head
> and cartridges are in, it calibrated itself, and it's using WiFi with a
> valid network config (I can ping it).
>
> But how do I make it known to my F13 box?
>

I have three boys and they all have become active Linux users.  The middle
boy, Dan, bought a Kodak printer last year and spend many many hours trying
to get it too print with his Ubuntu system.  After a lot of searching on
Google and asking in some forms the answer he got was that there were no
drivers for Linux for the Kodak printer.  He confirmed this by calling
engineering support at Kodak who said that not only do they not produce a
Linux driver but they have no intension's of releasing the information that
would allow a third party to write an open source driver.

He still has one laptop that has Windows on it which his wife uses most of
the time and he has relegated the Kodak to that function.


-- 
Ken Sprouse / WA3FKG      John 3:16  http://wa3fkg.blogspot.com
You meet the nicest people at a TEA Party.
The box said "Win98/2000/XP or better" so I installed Linux!
Smith & Wesson - The ultimate point and click user interface.
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From gorkon at gmail.com  Mon Jan  3 12:07:13 2011
From: gorkon at gmail.com (Joel Mclaughlin)
Date: Mon, 3 Jan 2011 12:07:13 -0500
Subject: [Linux4christians] kodak printer problem
In-Reply-To: <AANLkTimznc8E6p4nhLwG84R=+PDSuZr+97A+tbZay5Gb@mail.gmail.com>
References: <vxkfwtaj7d7.fsf@awol.kleinpaste.org>
	<AANLkTimznc8E6p4nhLwG84R=+PDSuZr+97A+tbZay5Gb@mail.gmail.com>
Message-ID: <AANLkTim-+47D9s6=Ew74xie4Sb0CpvH5M9b_-5DL3TRf@mail.gmail.com>

This is why I ALWAYS suggest HP Printers.  They sure aren't as good as
they were in the past, but they are still the best we can get for
Linux.  They are WELL supported for cheaper printers and usually work
pretty well.

If you have the bucks, however, I highly suggest getting a nice laser
printer that supports Postscript.  Even used ones are good here.
Those are brain dead simple to setup usually and just plain work with
a cartridge lasting for YEARS.

My next printer I want to buy is a Wifi/networked HP printer.  I'd
stick it in a central location and have everyone use it.  I'd still
have a MFD like my wife's current printer as you can make copies as
well as scan things.  Oh and the HP MFD's work WONDERFULLY with Linux.

As with anything, I would check Linux support before you go to the store though.





On Mon, Jan 3, 2011 at 11:41 AM, Ken Sprouse / WA3FKG <ken at wa3fkg.com> wrote:
> On Mon, Jan 3, 2011 at 11:10 AM, Karl Kleinpaste <karl at kleinpaste.org>
> wrote:
>>
>> One of those level-zero kinds of questions that I just don't think I
>> should have to ask in this day and age.
>>
>> Last evening, I picked up a Kodak ESP 5210 printer because our old HP
>> device is dying. ?Setup of the device itself was no problem, the head
>> and cartridges are in, it calibrated itself, and it's using WiFi with a
>> valid network config (I can ping it).
>>
>> But how do I make it known to my F13 box?
>
> I have three boys and they all have become active Linux users. ?The middle
> boy, Dan, bought a Kodak printer last year and spend many many hours trying
> to get it too print with his Ubuntu system. ?After a lot of searching on
> Google and asking in some forms the answer he got was that there were no
> drivers for Linux for the Kodak printer. ?He confirmed this by calling
> engineering support at Kodak who said that not only do they not produce a
> Linux driver but they have no?intension's of releasing the information that
> would allow a third party to write an open source driver.
> He still has one laptop that has Windows on it which his wife uses most of
> the time and he has?relegated the Kodak to that function.
>
> --
> Ken Sprouse / WA3FKG? ? ? John 3:16? http://wa3fkg.blogspot.com
> You meet the nicest people at a TEA Party.
> The box said "Win98/2000/XP or better" so I installed Linux!
> Smith & Wesson - The ultimate point and click user interface.
>
> _______________________________________________
> Linux4christians mailing list
> Linux4christians at thelinuxlink.net
> http://www.thelinuxlink.net/mailman/listinfo/linux4christians
>
>



-- 
Joel McLaughlin
Life in Ohio Podcast
life.in.ohio.pod at gmail.com
gorkon at gmail.com
http://lifeinohio.libsyn.com
joel at geardiary.com
geardiary.com

From karl at kleinpaste.org  Mon Jan  3 12:13:23 2011
From: karl at kleinpaste.org (Karl Kleinpaste)
Date: Mon, 03 Jan 2011 12:13:23 -0500
Subject: [Linux4christians] kodak printer problem
In-Reply-To: <AANLkTimznc8E6p4nhLwG84R=+PDSuZr+97A+tbZay5Gb@mail.gmail.com>
	(Ken Sprouse's message of "Mon, 3 Jan 2011 11:41:40 -0500")
References: <vxkfwtaj7d7.fsf@awol.kleinpaste.org>
	<AANLkTimznc8E6p4nhLwG84R=+PDSuZr+97A+tbZay5Gb@mail.gmail.com>
Message-ID: <vxk8vz1kj0s.fsf@awol.kleinpaste.org>

"Ken Sprouse / WA3FKG" <ken at wa3fkg.com> writes:
> After a lot of searching on
> Google and asking in some forms the answer he got was that there were no
> drivers for Linux for the Kodak printer.  He confirmed this by calling
> engineering support at Kodak who said that not only do they not produce a
> Linux driver but they have no intension's of releasing the information that
> would allow a third party to write an open source driver.

That's a very odd result, considering that, when trying to add it via
some of those mechanisms I described, a selection of drivers for Kodak
printers is offered.  There are in fact 3 such drivers:

http://karl.kleinpaste.org/.../kodak-drivers.png

"Easyshare" is Kodak's marketing name for its lower-end printers and
other devices (cf. wikipedia), including the ESP52xx.  In theory, such
support already exists.

A 2008 Kodak blog, claiming that Linux support would be coming.
http://pluggedin.kodak.com/post/?id=2191668

Kodak press release in March'09, about scan capability for Linux as well.
http://graphics.kodak.com/docimaging/GB/en/About_Us/News/2009/090310d.htm

Other examples exist.  I just googled "kodak printer drivers linux".

From gorkon at gmail.com  Mon Jan  3 12:15:07 2011
From: gorkon at gmail.com (Joel Mclaughlin)
Date: Mon, 3 Jan 2011 12:15:07 -0500
Subject: [Linux4christians] kodak printer problem
In-Reply-To: <vxk8vz1kj0s.fsf@awol.kleinpaste.org>
References: <vxkfwtaj7d7.fsf@awol.kleinpaste.org>
	<AANLkTimznc8E6p4nhLwG84R=+PDSuZr+97A+tbZay5Gb@mail.gmail.com>
	<vxk8vz1kj0s.fsf@awol.kleinpaste.org>
Message-ID: <AANLkTinjDoFSpnots0r=-BUiAdVQH50qexmi0fagvh8L@mail.gmail.com>

Hmm....wondering if you just tried it as a generic text printer as well?


On Mon, Jan 3, 2011 at 12:13 PM, Karl Kleinpaste <karl at kleinpaste.org> wrote:
> "Ken Sprouse / WA3FKG" <ken at wa3fkg.com> writes:
>> After a lot of searching on
>> Google and asking in some forms the answer he got was that there were no
>> drivers for Linux for the Kodak printer. ?He confirmed this by calling
>> engineering support at Kodak who said that not only do they not produce a
>> Linux driver but they have no intension's of releasing the information that
>> would allow a third party to write an open source driver.
>
> That's a very odd result, considering that, when trying to add it via
> some of those mechanisms I described, a selection of drivers for Kodak
> printers is offered. ?There are in fact 3 such drivers:
>
> http://karl.kleinpaste.org/.../kodak-drivers.png
>
> "Easyshare" is Kodak's marketing name for its lower-end printers and
> other devices (cf. wikipedia), including the ESP52xx. ?In theory, such
> support already exists.
>
> A 2008 Kodak blog, claiming that Linux support would be coming.
> http://pluggedin.kodak.com/post/?id=2191668
>
> Kodak press release in March'09, about scan capability for Linux as well.
> http://graphics.kodak.com/docimaging/GB/en/About_Us/News/2009/090310d.htm
>
> Other examples exist. ?I just googled "kodak printer drivers linux".
> _______________________________________________
> Linux4christians mailing list
> Linux4christians at thelinuxlink.net
> http://www.thelinuxlink.net/mailman/listinfo/linux4christians
>



-- 
Joel McLaughlin
Life in Ohio Podcast
life.in.ohio.pod at gmail.com
gorkon at gmail.com
http://lifeinohio.libsyn.com
joel at geardiary.com
geardiary.com

From pastordavid at bibleseven.com  Sat Jan  1 20:01:02 2011
From: pastordavid at bibleseven.com (pastordavid at bibleseven.com)
Date: Sat, 01 Jan 2011 20:01:02 -0500
Subject: [Linux4christians] =?windows-1252?q?Sunday_-_1_Samuel_23=3A16_=96?=
	=?windows-1252?q?_24=3A22?=
Message-ID: <4D1FCE4E.5050604@bibleseven.com>


    Sunday


      1 Samuel 23:16 ? 24:22



23:16 Then Jonathan son of Saul left and went to David at Horesh. He 
encouraged him through God. 23:17 He said to him, ?Don?t be afraid! For 
the hand of my father Saul cannot find you. You will rule over Israel, 
and I will be your second in command. Even my father Saul realizes 
this.? 23:18 When the two of them had made a covenant before the Lord, 
David stayed on at Horesh, but Jonathan went to his house.

23:19 Then the Ziphites went up to Saul at Gibeah and said, ?Isn?t David 
hiding among us in the strongholds at Horesh on the hill of Hakilah, 
south of Jeshimon? 23:20 Now at your own discretion, O king, come down. 
Delivering him into the king?s hand will be our responsibility.?

23:21 Saul replied, ?May you be blessed by the Lord, for you have had 
compassion on me. 23:22 Go and make further arrangements. Determine 
precisely where he is and who has seen him there, for I am told that he 
is extremely cunning. 23:23 Locate precisely all the places where he 
hides and return to me with dependable information. Then I will go with 
you. If he is in the land, I will find him among all the thousands of 
Judah.?

23:24 So they left and went to Ziph ahead of Saul. Now David and his men 
were in the desert of Maon, in the Arabah to the south of Jeshimon. 
23:25 Saul and his men went to look for him. But David was informed and 
went down to the rock and stayed in the desert of Maon. When Saul heard 
about it, he pursued David in the desert of Maon. 23:26 Saul went on one 
side of the mountain, while David and his men went on the other side of 
the mountain. David was hurrying to get away from Saul, but Saul and his 
men were surrounding David and his men so they could capture them. 23:27 
But a messenger came to Saul saying, ?Come quickly, for the Philistines 
have raided the land!?

23:28 So Saul stopped pursuing David and went to confront the 
Philistines. Therefore that place is called Sela Hammahlekoth. 23:29 
(24:1) Then David went up from there and stayed in the strongholds of En 
Gedi.

David Spares Saul?s Life

24:1 (24:2) When Saul returned from pursuing the Philistines, they told 
him, ?Look, David is in the desert of En Gedi.? 24:2 So Saul took three 
thousand select men from all Israel and went to find David and his men 
in the region of the rocks of the mountain goats. 24:3 He came to the 
sheepfolds by the road, where there was a cave. Saul went into it to 
relieve himself.

Now David and his men were sitting in the recesses of the cave. 24:4 
David?s men said to him, ?This is the day about which the Lord said to 
you, ?I will give your enemy into your hand, and you can do to him 
whatever seems appropriate to you.?? So David got up and quietly cut off 
an edge of Saul?s robe. 24:5 Afterward David?s conscience bothered him 
because he had cut off an edge of Saul?s robe. 24:6 He said to his men, 
?May the Lord keep me far away from doing such a thing to my lord, who 
is the Lord?s chosen one, by extending my hand against him. After all, 
he is the Lord?s chosen one.? 24:7 David restrained his men with these 
words and did not allow them to rise up against Saul. Then Saul left the 
cave and started down the road.

24:8 Afterward David got up and went out of the cave. He called out 
after Saul, ?My lord, O king!? When Saul looked behind him, David 
kneeled down and bowed with his face to the ground. 24:9 David said to 
Saul, ?Why do you pay attention when men say, ?David is seeking to do 
you harm?? 24:10 Today your own eyes see how the Lord delivered you ? 
this very day ? into my hands in the cave. Some told me to kill you, but 
I had pity on you and said, ?I will not extend my hand against my lord, 
for he is the Lord?s chosen one.? 24:11 Look, my father, and see the 
edge of your robe in my hand! When I cut off the edge of your robe, I 
didn?t kill you. So realize and understand that I am not planning evil 
or rebellion. Even though I have not sinned against you, you are waiting 
in ambush to take my life. 24:12 May the Lord judge between the two of 
us, and may the Lord vindicate me over you, but my hand will not be 
against you. 24:13 It?s like the old proverb says: ?From evil people 
evil proceeds.? But my hand will not be against you. 24:14 Who has the 
king of Israel come out after? Who is it that you are pursuing? A dead 
dog? A single flea? 24:15 May the Lord be our judge and arbiter. May he 
see and arbitrate my case and deliver me from your hands!?

24:16 When David finished speaking these words to Saul, Saul said, ?Is 
that your voice, my son David?? Then Saul wept loudly. 24:17 He said to 
David, ?You are more innocent than I, for you have treated me well, even 
though I have tried to harm you! 24:18 You have explained today how you 
have treated me well. The Lord delivered me into your hand, but you did 
not kill me. 24:19 Now if a man finds his enemy, does he send him on his 
way in good shape? May the Lord repay you with good this day for what 
you have done to me. 24:20 Now look, I realize that you will in fact be 
king and that the kingdom of Israel will be established in your hand. 
24:21 So now swear to me in the Lord?s name that you will not kill my 
descendants after me or destroy my name from the house of my father.?

24:22 David promised Saul this on oath. Then Saul went to his house, and 
David and his men went up to the stronghold.



      Prayer


Lord, You protect those whom You call and You send, yet You allow them 
the opportunity to make choices along the way. May I listen closely to 
Your Holy Spirit so that I will be wise.


      Commentary


Jonathan went to David. He reminded David that both he and Saul knew 
that David was to be king ? Jonathan believed that he was to serve David 
as he had Saul.

Saul heard from some Ziphites of David's whereabouts. They promised to 
deliver David to him but Saul boasted that if they got him to the right 
area he would find David though hidden among thousands in Judah.

Just as Saul thought he had David and his men cornered there came word 
of a Philistine attack and he had to leave to respond to that.

Saul returned to pursue David but God had made Saul easy prey for him 
yet David only cut off a piece of his cloak and otherwise left Saul 
unharmed. David still felt bad as Saul had been the Lord's anointed 
leader so he went to Saul, while Saul was alone, and confessed what he 
had done.

David reminded Saul that he had not wronged him and that Saul's pursuit 
of him was to be judged by the Lord God. David also reminded Saul that 
he was believing false voices when he was convinced to think of him as 
an enemy.

Saul acknowledged that David was to succeed him, confessed his sin in 
pursuing David, and asked David to pledge not to kill his (Saul's) 
offspring ? and David agreed.



      Interaction


        Consider

David could have killed Saul as he was no longer the chosen leader of 
the Lord God, but he decided to allow God to choose and to directly 
cause the circumstances and time of transition.


        Discuss

Was it the presence of the Holy Spirit with David that brought Saul to 
his senses, albeit only temporarily?



        Reflect

Because Saul was deceived and manipulated by ?evil spirits? he wasted 
huge amounts of Israel's resources trying to kill Israel's next king, 
one who was chosen by the Lord God.


        Share

When have you had the opportunity to do harm to someone who had made 
themselves your enemy, and you chose to not do so?



      Faith in Action


        Prayer:

Ask the Holy Spirit give you an opportunity to be His instrument of 
grace to an enemy.


        Action:

Today I will humble myself to be an instrument of the Lord God's grace 
toward someone who has been hateful toward me. It may be to compliment 
them for something good they have done, offer to pray for them in some 
planned good-endeavor, to show them where I could have done them harm 
but did not (because of God), or to otherwise be a witness to God's love 
in me.


        Be Specific ______________________________________________________



    Monday's text will be:


      1 Samuel 25



-- 

A blessed new year drawing nearer to the Lord,
Have an http://Ultrafidian.com Day!  Pastor David
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Personal Site: http://bibleseven.com
Bible Resources: http://bible.org
Teacher's Verse: John 7:16
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

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From pastordavid at bibleseven.com  Sun Jan  2 19:56:56 2011
From: pastordavid at bibleseven.com (pastordavid at bibleseven.com)
Date: Sun, 02 Jan 2011 19:56:56 -0500
Subject: [Linux4christians] Monday -  Samuel 25
Message-ID: <4D211ED8.9080407@bibleseven.com>


    Monday


      1 Samuel 25



The Death of Samuel

25:1 Samuel died, and all Israel assembled and mourned him. They buried 
him at his home in Ramah. Then David left and went down to the desert of 
Paran.

David Marries Abigail the Widow of Nabal

25:2 There was a man in Maon whose business was in Carmel. This man was 
very wealthy; he owned three thousand sheep and a thousand goats. At 
that time he was shearing his sheep in Carmel. 25:3 The man's name was 
Nabal, and his wife's name was Abigail. She was both wise and beautiful, 
but the man was harsh and his deeds were evil. He was a Calebite.

25:4 When David heard in the desert that Nabal was shearing his sheep, 
25:5 he sent ten servants, saying to them, "Go up to Carmel to see Nabal 
and give him greetings in my name. 25:6 Then you will say to my brother, 
"Peace to you and your house! Peace to all that is yours! 25:7 Now I 
hear that they are shearing sheep for you. When your shepherds were with 
us, we neither insulted them nor harmed them the whole time they were in 
Carmel. 25:8 Ask your own servants; they can tell you! May my servants 
find favor in your sight, for we have come at the time of a holiday. 
Please provide us -- your servants and your son David -- with whatever 
you can spare."

25:9 So David's servants went and spoke all these words to Nabal in 
David's name. Then they paused. 25:10 But Nabal responded to David's 
servants, "Who is David, and who is this son of Jesse? This is a time 
when many servants are breaking away from their masters! 25:11 Should I 
take my bread and my water and my meat that I have slaughtered for my 
shearers and give them to these men? I don't even know where they came 
from!"

25:12 So David's servants went on their way. When they had returned, 
they came and told David all these things. 25:13 Then David instructed 
his men, "Each of you strap on your sword!" So each one strapped on his 
sword, and David also strapped on his sword. About four hundred men 
followed David up, while two hundred stayed behind with the equipment.

25:14 But one of the servants told Nabal's wife Abigail, "David sent 
messengers from the desert to greet our lord, but he screamed at them. 
25:15 These men were very good to us. They did not insult us, nor did we 
sustain any loss during the entire time we were together in the field. 
25:16 Both night and day they were a protective wall for us the entire 
time we were with them, while we were tending our flocks. 25:17 Now be 
aware of this, and see what you can do. For disaster has been planned 
for our lord and his entire household. He is such a wicked person that 
no one tells him anything!"

25:18 So Abigail quickly took two hundred loaves of bread, two 
containers of wine, five prepared sheep, five seahs of roasted grain, a 
hundred bunches of raisins, and two hundred lumps of pressed figs. She 
loaded them on donkeys 25:19 and said to her servants, "Go on ahead of 
me. I will come after you." But she did not tell her husband Nabal.

25:20 Riding on her donkey, she went down under cover of the mountain. 
David and his men were coming down to meet her, and she encountered 
them. 25:21 Now David had been thinking, "In vain I guarded everything 
that belonged to this man in the desert. I didn't take anything from 
him. But he has repaid my good with evil. 25:22 God will severely punish 
David, if I leave alive until morning even one male from all those who 
belong to him!"

25:23 When Abigail saw David, she got down quickly from the donkey, 
threw herself down before David, and bowed to the ground. 25:24 Falling 
at his feet, she said, "My lord, I accept all the guilt! But please let 
your female servant speak with my lord! Please listen to the words of 
your servant! 25:25 My lord should not pay attention to this wicked man 
Nabal. He simply lives up to his name! His name means 'fool,' and he is 
indeed foolish! But I, your servant, did not see the servants my lord sent.

25:26 "Now, my lord, as surely as the Lord lives and as surely as you 
live, it is the Lord who has kept you from shedding blood and taking 
matters into your own hands. Now may your enemies and those who seek to 
harm my lord be like Nabal. 25:27 Now let this present that your servant 
has brought to my lord be given to the servants who follow my lord. 
25:28 Please forgive the sin of your servant, for the Lord will 
certainly establish the house of my lord, because my lord fights the 
battles of the Lord. May no evil be found in you all your days! 25:29 
When someone sets out to chase you and to take your life, the life of my 
lord will be wrapped securely in the bag of the living by the Lord your 
God. But he will sling away the lives of your enemies from the sling's 
pocket! 25:30 The Lord will do for my lord everything that he promised 
you, and he will make you a leader over Israel. 25:31 Your conscience 
will not be overwhelmed with guilt for having poured out innocent blood 
and for having taken matters into your own hands. When the Lord has 
granted my lord success, please remember your servant."

25:32 Then David said to Abigail, "Praised be the Lord, the God of 
Israel, who has sent you this day to meet me! 25:33 Praised be your good 
judgment! May you yourself be rewarded for having prevented me this day 
from shedding blood and taking matters into my own hands! 25:34 
Otherwise, as surely as the Lord, the God of Israel, lives -- he who has 
prevented me from harming you -- if you had not come so quickly to meet 
me, by morning's light not even one male belonging to Nabal would have 
remained alive!" 25:35 Then David took from her hand what she had 
brought to him. He said to her, "Go back to your home in peace. Be 
assured that I have listened to you and responded favorably."

25:36 When Abigail went back to Nabal, he was holding a banquet in his 
house like that of the king. Nabal was having a good time and was very 
intoxicated. She told him absolutely nothing until morning's light. 
25:37 In the morning, when Nabal was sober, his wife told him about 
these matters. He had a stroke and was paralyzed. 25:38 After about ten 
days the Lord struck Nabal down and he died.

25:39 When David heard that Nabal had died, he said, "Praised be the 
Lord who has vindicated me and avenged the insult that I suffered from 
Nabal! The Lord has kept his servant from doing evil, and he has repaid 
Nabal for his evil deeds." Then David sent word to Abigail and asked her 
to become his wife.

25:40 So the servants of David went to Abigail at Carmel and said to 
her, "David has sent us to you to bring you back to be his wife." 25:41 
She arose, bowed her face toward the ground, and said, "Your female 
servant, like a lowly servant, will wash the feet of the servants of my 
lord." 25:42 Then Abigail quickly went and mounted her donkey, with five 
of her female servants accompanying her. She followed David's messengers 
and became his wife.

25:43 David had also married Ahinoam from Jezreel; the two of them 
became his wives. 25:44 (Now Saul had given his daughter Michal, David's 
wife, to Paltiel son of Laish, who was from Gallim.)


      Prayer


Lord, vengeance is Yours, not ours. May I be found obedient enough to 
resist the trap of the enemy that is rage-driven revenge and instead 
leave that to You.


      Commentary


Samuel died and was buried and mourned.

David traveled to the desert of Paran near Carmel. There he and his men 
provided protection for some shepherds whose flocks belong to a man 
named Nabal.

When the time of an OT holiday had come when those who had much were to 
give to those who had little David sent messengers to Nabal requesting 
some resources for his men.

Nabal yelled at them and refused to honor their request despite the 
testimony of his own people that David and his men had respected their 
property and provided protection without any prior compensation.

David became angry at the news and set out to kill Nabal and all of his 
men for the disrespect both for his men and for the requirements of the 
holiday.

Nabal's wife, more noble and wise than he, heard of David's intentions 
and intercepted him. She apologized for her husbands foolishness and 
offered a large amount of food -- without Nabal's knowledge. She stated 
that the Lord God had sent her to keep David from taking upon himself 
the blood of a fool -- and that the Lord God would deal with Nabal.

Later, Nabal was drunk and she told him what had happened, and had a 
stroke and 10 days later he died. David married his widow, making her 
his second wife-in-exile. Michal had been given to another man by Saul.



      Interaction


        Consider

David could be very impetuous and did not always consult the Lord God 
before he acted, his decision to kill Nabal displaced God's role as the 
exacter of vengeance; Nabal's wife led David to turn away from trying to 
control Nabal's fate and to let God do it instead.


        Discuss

If not by the prompting of the Lord God why would Nabal's wife care if 
David killed him and his men, surely their household was somewhat 
wealthy and given the description that Abigail was beautiful and wise 
she would have had little difficulty finding another husband (probably 
not as foolish and harsh as Nabal) and workers?



        Reflect

Saul continued his rebellious abuse of power, parting those whom the 
Lord God had brought together in marriage (David and Michal), and giving 
Michal to another man.


        Share

When have you been rescued from an impetuous decision by a more mature 
person?


      Faith in Action


        Prayer:

Ask the Holy Spirit to show you where you need to either turn-away or be 
His instrument in leading another to turn-away from a poor decision.



        Action:

Today I will pause, pray, and listen to the Holy Spirit, and to the one 
who He may have sent. I will carefully consider if the path I am on is 
His will, or mine. I will also make myself available "Here I am Lord" 
should He choose me to confront a brother on the wrong path.


        Be Specific ______________________________________________________



    Tuesday's text will be:


      1 Samuel 26



-- 

A blessed new year drawing nearer to the Lord,
Have an http://Ultrafidian.com Day!  Pastor David
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Personal Site: http://bibleseven.com
Bible Resources: http://bible.org
Teacher's Verse: John 7:16
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

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From l4c at thelinuxlink.net  Mon Jan  3 20:30:15 2011
From: l4c at thelinuxlink.net (Lincoln Fessenden)
Date: Mon, 03 Jan 2011 20:30:15 -0500
Subject: [Linux4christians] A little delay
Message-ID: <4D227827.80003@thelinuxlink.net>

I am sure you all noticed the lack of traffic fro the L4C list for the 
past few days.  Sorry about that.  The server that hosts the list was 
temporarily down. Everything is working fine now though!

-- 
-Linc Fessenden

In the Beginning there was nothing, which exploded - Yeah right...


From pastordavid at bibleseven.com  Mon Jan  3 20:49:55 2011
From: pastordavid at bibleseven.com (pastordavid at bibleseven.com)
Date: Mon, 03 Jan 2011 20:49:55 -0500
Subject: [Linux4christians] Tuesday - 1 Samuel 26
Message-ID: <4D227CC3.9030607@bibleseven.com>


    Tuesday


      1 Samuel 26



David Spares Saul's Life Again

26:1 The Ziphites came to Saul at Gibeah and said, "Isn't David hiding 
on the hill of Hakilah near Jeshimon?" 26:2 So Saul arose and went down 
to the desert of Ziph, accompanied by three thousand select men of 
Israel, to look for David in the desert of Ziph. 26:3 Saul camped by the 
road on the hill of Hakilah near Jeshimon, but David was staying in the 
desert. When he realized that Saul had come to the desert to find him, 
26:4 David sent scouts and verified that Saul had indeed arrived.

26:5 So David set out and went to the place where Saul was camped. David 
saw the place where Saul and Abner son of Ner, the general in command of 
his army, were sleeping. Now Saul was lying in the entrenchment, and the 
army was camped all around him. 26:6 David said to Ahimelech the Hittite 
and Abishai son of Zeruiah, Joab's brother, "Who will go down with me to 
Saul in the camp?" Abishai replied, "I will go down with you."

26:7 So David and Abishai approached the army at night and found Saul 
lying asleep in the entrenchment with his spear stuck in the ground by 
his head. Abner and the army were lying all around him. 26:8 Abishai 
said to David, "Today God has delivered your enemy into your hands. Now 
let me drive the spear right through him into the ground with one swift 
jab! A second jab won't be necessary!"

26:9 But David said to Abishai, "Don't kill him! Who can extend his hand 
against the Lord's chosen one and remain guiltless?" 26:10 David went on 
to say, "As the Lord lives, the Lord himself will strike him down. 
Either his day will come and he will die, or he will go down into battle 
and be swept away. 26:11 But may the Lord prevent me from extending my 
hand against the Lord's chosen one! Now take the spear by Saul's head 
and the jug of water, and let's get out of here!" 26:12 So David took 
the spear and the jug of water by Saul's head, and they got out of 
there. No one saw them or was aware of their presence or woke up. All of 
them were asleep, for the Lord had caused a deep sleep to fall on them.

26:13 Then David crossed to the other side and stood on the top of the 
hill some distance away; there was a considerable distance between them. 
26:14 David called to the army and to Abner son of Ner, "Won't you 
answer, Abner?" Abner replied, "Who are you, that you have called to the 
king?" 26:15 David said to Abner, "Aren't you a man? After all, who is 
like you in Israel? Why then haven't you protected your lord the king? 
One of the soldiers came to kill your lord the king. 26:16 This failure 
on your part isn't good! As surely as the Lord lives, you people who 
have not protected your lord, the Lord's chosen one, are as good as 
dead! Now look where the king's spear and the jug of water that was by 
his head are!"

26:17 When Saul recognized David's voice, he said, "Is that your voice, 
my son David?" David replied, "Yes, it's my voice, my lord the king." 
26:18 He went on to say, "Why is my lord chasing his servant? What have 
I done? What wrong have I done? 26:19 So let my lord the king now listen 
to the words of his servant. If the Lord has incited you against me, may 
he take delight in an offering. But if men have instigated this, may 
they be cursed before the Lord! For they have driven me away this day 
from being united with the Lord's inheritance, saying, 'Go on, serve 
other gods!' 26:20 Now don't let my blood fall to the ground away from 
the Lord's presence, for the king of Israel has gone out to look for a 
flea the way one looks for a partridge in the hill country."

26:21 Saul replied, "I have sinned. Come back, my son David. I won't 
harm you, for you treated my life with value this day. I have behaved 
foolishly and have made a very terrible mistake!" 26:22 David replied, 
"Here is the king's spear! Let one of your servants cross over and get 
it. 26:23 The Lord rewards each man for his integrity and loyalty. Even 
though today the Lord delivered you into my hand, I was not willing to 
extend my hand against the Lord's chosen one. 26:24 In the same way that 
I valued your life this day, may the Lord value my life and deliver me 
from all danger." 26:25 Saul replied to David, "May you be rewarded, my 
son David! You will without question be successful!" So David went on 
his way, and Saul returned to his place.



      Prayer


Lord, You empower us to choose to give to You what is Yours, including 
our obedience and Your sole right to vengeance. May I have the wisdom to 
refrain from usurping you in my life, especially when I am angry, 
fearful, or hurt.


      Commentary


Once again the foolish Saul marched 3,000 men out to attack David. David 
heard of his coming and had his men locate his camp.

David took one volunteer and snuck into Saul's camp at night -- the Lord 
God had caused all of the men to sleep unusually deeply. While they 
could have killed Saul with his own spear, David again decided to let 
the Lord God deal with him, so they instead took his spear and his water 
container and left.

David then called our to Abner, Saul's closest General, to taunt him for 
not protecting Saul. When Saul heard David's voice he called to him. 
David again explained that he could have killed Saul but that he felt 
that would be wrong -- because Saul was the Lord God's anointed.

David challenged Saul to justify his effort to kill him, and Saul 
confessed once-again that he was wrong in doing so and that David would 
be blessed in all that he did, so Saul returned home and David to his 
stronghold.



      Interaction


        Consider

David had every right to kill Saul and the Lord God gave him the 
opportunity. David had to make a choice, one that was designed to test 
and to build his character.


        Discuss

David did not take Saul up on his request to come to where he was, could 
it have been because David knew that because of the influence of "evil 
spirits" that Saul's temperament was too erratic to trust?



        Reflect

The text does not mention David feeling bad about taking Saul's things, 
as he had felt badly about clipping Saul's robe and taunting him 
previously; indeed, this time he taunted Abner and without remorse.


        Share

When have you been tempted to "get even" for some perceived slight or 
wrongful treatment?



      Faith in Action


        Prayer:

Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you a place where you may need to turn 
away from trying to "get even" for some perceived slight or wrongful 
treatment.



        Action:

Today I will confess my wrong heart-condition. I will instead forgive 
the one who has offended me and pray for a blessing upon that person.



        Be Specific ______________________________________________________



    Wednesday's text will be:


      1 Samuel 27



-- 

A blessed new year drawing nearer to the Lord,
Have an http://Ultrafidian.com Day!  Pastor David
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Personal Site: http://bibleseven.com
Bible Resources: http://bible.org
Teacher's Verse: John 7:16
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

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From fmiller at lightlink.com  Mon Jan  3 22:32:22 2011
From: fmiller at lightlink.com (Fred A. Miller)
Date: Mon, 03 Jan 2011 22:32:22 -0500
Subject: [Linux4christians] OT: What do military heroes think of sex
	experiments?
Message-ID: <4D2294C6.4050003@lightlink.com>

http://www.wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=245425

-- 
"Those who hammer their guns into plows will plow for those who do not."
Thomas Jefferson

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From shengchieh at linuxmail.org  Mon Jan  3 22:58:54 2011
From: shengchieh at linuxmail.org (shengchieh at linuxmail.org)
Date: Mon, 03 Jan 2011 22:58:54 -0500
Subject: [Linux4christians] kodak printer problem
In-Reply-To: <AANLkTim-+47D9s6=Ew74xie4Sb0CpvH5M9b_-5DL3TRf@mail.gmail.com>
References: <vxkfwtaj7d7.fsf@awol.kleinpaste.org><AANLkTimznc8E6p4nhLwG84R=+PDSuZr+97A+tbZay5Gb@mail.gmail.com>
	<AANLkTim-+47D9s6=Ew74xie4Sb0CpvH5M9b_-5DL3TRf@mail.gmail.com>
Message-ID: <8CD79DAD733BC9F-17BC-CD35@web-mmc-d06.sysops.aol.com>


 Amen!

Lexmark is another one to avoid.  Canon and Epson often
are linux-compatible, but I've seen some that don't.  Always
check openprinting database before trying a new a printer.

http://www.linuxfoundation.org/collaborate/workgroups/openprinting

 


 

 

-----Original Message-----
From: Joel Mclaughlin <gorkon at gmail.com>
To: Linux for Christians <linux4christians at thelinuxlink.net>
Sent: Mon, Jan 3, 2011 9:07 am
Subject: Re: [Linux4christians] kodak printer problem


This is why I ALWAYS suggest HP Printers.  They sure aren't as good as
they were in the past, but they are still the best we can get for
Linux.  They are WELL supported for cheaper printers and usually work
pretty well.

If you have the bucks, however, I highly suggest getting a nice laser
printer that supports Postscript.  Even used ones are good here.
Those are brain dead simple to setup usually and just plain work with
a cartridge lasting for YEARS.

My next printer I want to buy is a Wifi/networked HP printer.  I'd
stick it in a central location and have everyone use it.  I'd still
have a MFD like my wife's current printer as you can make copies as
well as scan things.  Oh and the HP MFD's work WONDERFULLY with Linux.

As with anything, I would check Linux support before you go to the store though.





On Mon, Jan 3, 2011 at 11:41 AM, Ken Sprouse / WA3FKG <ken at wa3fkg.com> wrote:
> On Mon, Jan 3, 2011 at 11:10 AM, Karl Kleinpaste <karl at kleinpaste.org>
> wrote:
>>
>> One of those level-zero kinds of questions that I just don't think I
>> should have to ask in this day and age.
>>
>> Last evening, I picked up a Kodak ESP 5210 printer because our old HP
>> device is dying.  Setup of the device itself was no problem, the head
>> and cartridges are in, it calibrated itself, and it's using WiFi with a
>> valid network config (I can ping it).
>>
>> But how do I make it known to my F13 box?
>
> I have three boys and they all have become active Linux users.  The middle
> boy, Dan, bought a Kodak printer last year and spend many many hours trying
> to get it too print with his Ubuntu system.  After a lot of searching on
> Google and asking in some forms the answer he got was that there were no
> drivers for Linux for the Kodak printer.  He confirmed this by calling
> engineering support at Kodak who said that not only do they not produce a
> Linux driver but they have no intension's of releasing the information that
> would allow a third party to write an open source driver.
> He still has one laptop that has Windows on it which his wife uses most of
> the time and he has relegated the Kodak to that function.
>
> --
> Ken Sprouse / WA3FKG      John 3:16  http://wa3fkg.blogspot.com
> You meet the nicest people at a TEA Party.
> The box said "Win98/2000/XP or better" so I installed Linux!
> Smith & Wesson - The ultimate point and click user interface.
>
> _______________________________________________
> Linux4christians mailing list
> Linux4christians at thelinuxlink.net
> http://www.thelinuxlink.net/mailman/listinfo/linux4christians
>
>



-- 
Joel McLaughlin
Life in Ohio Podcast
life.in.ohio.pod at gmail.com
gorkon at gmail.com
http://lifeinohio.libsyn.com
joel at geardiary.com
geardiary.com
_______________________________________________
Linux4christians mailing list
Linux4christians at thelinuxlink.net
http://www.thelinuxlink.net/mailman/listinfo/linux4christians

 
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From pastordavid at bibleseven.com  Mon Jan  3 23:04:09 2011
From: pastordavid at bibleseven.com (pastordavid at bibleseven.com)
Date: Mon, 03 Jan 2011 23:04:09 -0500
Subject: [Linux4christians] kodak printer problem
In-Reply-To: <8CD79DAD733BC9F-17BC-CD35@web-mmc-d06.sysops.aol.com>
References: <vxkfwtaj7d7.fsf@awol.kleinpaste.org><AANLkTimznc8E6p4nhLwG84R=+PDSuZr+97A+tbZay5Gb@mail.gmail.com>	<AANLkTim-+47D9s6=Ew74xie4Sb0CpvH5M9b_-5DL3TRf@mail.gmail.com>
	<8CD79DAD733BC9F-17BC-CD35@web-mmc-d06.sysops.aol.com>
Message-ID: <4D229C39.4040105@bibleseven.com>

I have a HP LaserJet P1006 that works well.  It will print tons of
B&W documents cheap and quick - unlike ink cartridge printers
that are costly.

I have owned other HP's that have not worked well at all, one had
a firmware failure - experienced widely - and HP refuses to make
it right. (There's a long thread about it on HP's own support forum!)

I'd like to find a reliable color printer for Linux that does not use
expensive little proprietary cartridges - but that is often where their
real profit is.  Maybe a discontinued, refurbished, or used color
laser printer that is still supported with parts and reasonably priced
drums/toner?

>  Lexmark is another one to avoid.  Canon and Epson often are
>  linux-compatible, but I've seen some that don't.  Always check
>  openprinting database before trying a new a printer.
>
>  http://www.linuxfoundation.org/collaborate/workgroups/openprinting


-- 

A blessed new year drawing nearer to the Lord,
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 ken at wa3fkg.com  Tue Jan  4 00:57:11 2011
From: ken at wa3fkg.com (Ken Sprouse / WA3FKG)
Date: Tue, 4 Jan 2011 00:57:11 -0500
Subject: [Linux4christians] kodak printer problem
In-Reply-To: <vxk8vz1kj0s.fsf@awol.kleinpaste.org>
References: <vxkfwtaj7d7.fsf@awol.kleinpaste.org>
	<AANLkTimznc8E6p4nhLwG84R=+PDSuZr+97A+tbZay5Gb@mail.gmail.com>
	<vxk8vz1kj0s.fsf@awol.kleinpaste.org>
Message-ID: <AANLkTinAM1fLgzFQAqp=vR+dS2RnqKXcCTiB2CdCTvgh@mail.gmail.com>

Thanks much for the pointer.  I have forwarded your message to Dan and if he
gets is working I may also consider a Kodak for here at home. So far I have
only purchased HP and Epson printers and I have an HP flat bed scanner that
I have had no luck with so far.  I am considering a multi function device in
order to get a working scanner.  Thanks again.

On Mon, Jan 3, 2011 at 12:13 PM, Karl Kleinpaste <karl at kleinpaste.org>wrote:

> "Ken Sprouse / WA3FKG" <ken at wa3fkg.com> writes:
> > After a lot of searching on
> > Google and asking in some forms the answer he got was that there were no
> > drivers for Linux for the Kodak printer.  He confirmed this by calling
> > engineering support at Kodak who said that not only do they not produce a
> > Linux driver but they have no intension's of releasing the information
> that
> > would allow a third party to write an open source driver.
>
> That's a very odd result, considering that, when trying to add it via
> some of those mechanisms I described, a selection of drivers for Kodak
> printers is offered.  There are in fact 3 such drivers:
>
> http://karl.kleinpaste.org/.../kodak-drivers.png
>
> "Easyshare" is Kodak's marketing name for its lower-end printers and
> other devices (cf. wikipedia), including the ESP52xx.  In theory, such
> support already exists.
>
> A 2008 Kodak blog, claiming that Linux support would be coming.
> http://pluggedin.kodak.com/post/?id=2191668
>
> Kodak press release in March'09, about scan capability for Linux as well.
> http://graphics.kodak.com/docimaging/GB/en/About_Us/News/2009/090310d.htm
>
> Other examples exist.  I just googled "kodak printer drivers linux".
> _______________________________________________
> Linux4christians mailing list
> Linux4christians at thelinuxlink.net
> http://www.thelinuxlink.net/mailman/listinfo/linux4christians
>



-- 
Ken Sprouse / WA3FKG      John 3:16  http://wa3fkg.blogspot.com
You meet the nicest people at a TEA Party.
The box said "Win98/2000/XP or better" so I installed Linux!
Smith & Wesson - The ultimate point and click user interface.
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From webservant at trinitybclaramie.org  Tue Jan  4 01:17:30 2011
From: webservant at trinitybclaramie.org (Peter B. Steiger)
Date: Mon, 3 Jan 2011 23:17:30 -0700
Subject: [Linux4christians] kodak printer problem
In-Reply-To: <AANLkTinAM1fLgzFQAqp=vR+dS2RnqKXcCTiB2CdCTvgh@mail.gmail.com>
References: <vxkfwtaj7d7.fsf@awol.kleinpaste.org>
	<AANLkTimznc8E6p4nhLwG84R=+PDSuZr+97A+tbZay5Gb@mail.gmail.com>
	<vxk8vz1kj0s.fsf@awol.kleinpaste.org>
	<AANLkTinAM1fLgzFQAqp=vR+dS2RnqKXcCTiB2CdCTvgh@mail.gmail.com>
Message-ID: <AANLkTinnDs5nfdn=F-7yRmchZ46SDHHi+__CVgoQEsYC@mail.gmail.com>

I missed the first part of this discussion, but let me direct your attention
to openprinting.org, *the* best source for printer compatibility data.
Here's their list for all Kodak printers:
http://www.openprinting.org/printers/manufacturer/Kodak

The list is so thorough, I used to refer customers to this site to find
printers that would work with their old 16-bit DOS applications by
eliminating any printer that indicated it relied on Windows "host-based"
drivers.  More to our purposes, though, it will also specifically tell you
which drivers to install to make your printer work with Linux.  See what it
says about HP and maybe you can get that scanner working too!

*PBS*

On Mon, Jan 3, 2011 at 10:57 PM, Ken Sprouse / WA3FKG <ken at wa3fkg.com>wrote:

> Thanks much for the pointer.  I have forwarded your message to Dan and if
> he gets is working I may also consider a Kodak for here at home. So far I
> have only purchased HP and Epson printers and I have an HP flat bed scanner
> that I have had no luck with so far.  I am considering a multi function
> device in order to get a working scanner.  Thanks again.
>
>
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From pastordavid at bibleseven.com  Tue Jan  4 10:13:59 2011
From: pastordavid at bibleseven.com (pastordavid at bibleseven.com)
Date: Tue, 04 Jan 2011 10:13:59 -0500
Subject: [Linux4christians] Speaking of Kodak ...
In-Reply-To: <AANLkTinAM1fLgzFQAqp=vR+dS2RnqKXcCTiB2CdCTvgh@mail.gmail.com>
References: <vxkfwtaj7d7.fsf@awol.kleinpaste.org>	<AANLkTimznc8E6p4nhLwG84R=+PDSuZr+97A+tbZay5Gb@mail.gmail.com>	<vxk8vz1kj0s.fsf@awol.kleinpaste.org>
	<AANLkTinAM1fLgzFQAqp=vR+dS2RnqKXcCTiB2CdCTvgh@mail.gmail.com>
Message-ID: <4D233937.7090906@bibleseven.com>

We have an old Kodak EasyShare DX6490 camera and it has
been very reliable.  We had to remove the SD card to get at
the pictures.  After a while it showed up in Linux so that we
could just connect the cable and use Gtkam.

We bought a new Kodak EasyShare Z981 for Christ-mas.
Terrific zoom features and much higher resolution.  It is not
yet recognized in Linux, so we are back to pulling the SD card.

I don't know if that is Kodak not providing data or Linux not
yet catching up to the newer equipment.

-- 

Draw nearer to the Lord and He will bless you,
Have an http://Ultrafidian.com Day!
David M. Colburn, DMin. MaCo
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Personal Site: http://bibleseven.com
Bible Resources: http://bible.org
Teacher's Verse: John 7:16
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


From webservant at trinitybclaramie.org  Tue Jan  4 12:22:45 2011
From: webservant at trinitybclaramie.org (Peter B. Steiger)
Date: Tue, 4 Jan 2011 10:22:45 -0700
Subject: [Linux4christians] Speaking of Kodak ...
In-Reply-To: <4D233937.7090906@bibleseven.com>
References: <vxkfwtaj7d7.fsf@awol.kleinpaste.org>
	<AANLkTimznc8E6p4nhLwG84R=+PDSuZr+97A+tbZay5Gb@mail.gmail.com>
	<vxk8vz1kj0s.fsf@awol.kleinpaste.org>
	<AANLkTinAM1fLgzFQAqp=vR+dS2RnqKXcCTiB2CdCTvgh@mail.gmail.com>
	<4D233937.7090906@bibleseven.com>
Message-ID: <AANLkTimEGPfSadYnEayabTJ7pYuAWMM0GixQuUwhsW6V@mail.gmail.com>

I got the EasyShare CD82 a couple of years ago at one of those Black Friday
sales, and I have the same problem.  If I just want to copy the photos
directly off the memory card, I have to put it in an SD-to-USB adapter (no
SD reader on my box) and mount it.  Otherwise I have to use Gtkam to browse
pictures with the camera plugged into USB.

*PBS*

On Tue, Jan 4, 2011 at 8:13 AM, pastordavid at bibleseven.com <
pastordavid at bibleseven.com> wrote:

> We have an old Kodak EasyShare DX6490 camera and it has
> been very reliable.  We had to remove the SD card to get at
> the pictures.  After a while it showed up in Linux so that we
> could just connect the cable and use Gtkam.
>
> We bought a new Kodak EasyShare Z981 for Christ-mas.
> Terrific zoom features and much higher resolution.  It is not
> yet recognized in Linux, so we are back to pulling the SD card.
>
> I don't know if that is Kodak not providing data or Linux not
> yet catching up to the newer equipment.
>
>
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From gorkon at gmail.com  Tue Jan  4 12:32:19 2011
From: gorkon at gmail.com (Joel Mclaughlin)
Date: Tue, 4 Jan 2011 12:32:19 -0500
Subject: [Linux4christians] Speaking of Kodak ...
In-Reply-To: <4D233937.7090906@bibleseven.com>
References: <vxkfwtaj7d7.fsf@awol.kleinpaste.org>
	<AANLkTimznc8E6p4nhLwG84R=+PDSuZr+97A+tbZay5Gb@mail.gmail.com>
	<vxk8vz1kj0s.fsf@awol.kleinpaste.org>
	<AANLkTinAM1fLgzFQAqp=vR+dS2RnqKXcCTiB2CdCTvgh@mail.gmail.com>
	<4D233937.7090906@bibleseven.com>
Message-ID: <AANLkTinHr2ONqUN0OvhyUQ=EuSx7ceWMUJbqOXXKWxpQ@mail.gmail.com>

Likely not providing data...

With cameras, I could care LESS if they work on USB.  in fact, don't
even put a port on them and I'd be fine with it.  It's just easier to
pull the card and plug it into the built in SD slot in my netbook or a
USB sd reader I have.  I think that is the way even Windows and Mac
people do it the most of the time.



On Tue, Jan 4, 2011 at 10:13 AM, pastordavid at bibleseven.com
<pastordavid at bibleseven.com> wrote:
> We have an old Kodak EasyShare DX6490 camera and it has
> been very reliable. ?We had to remove the SD card to get at
> the pictures. ?After a while it showed up in Linux so that we
> could just connect the cable and use Gtkam.
>
> We bought a new Kodak EasyShare Z981 for Christ-mas.
> Terrific zoom features and much higher resolution. ?It is not
> yet recognized in Linux, so we are back to pulling the SD card.
>
> I don't know if that is Kodak not providing data or Linux not
> yet catching up to the newer equipment.
>
> --
>
> Draw nearer to the Lord and He will bless you,
> Have an http://Ultrafidian.com Day!
> David M. Colburn, DMin. MaCo
> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
> Personal Site: http://bibleseven.com
> Bible Resources: http://bible.org
> Teacher's Verse: John 7:16
> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
>
> _______________________________________________
> Linux4christians mailing list
> Linux4christians at thelinuxlink.net
> http://www.thelinuxlink.net/mailman/listinfo/linux4christians
>



-- 
Joel McLaughlin
Life in Ohio Podcast
life.in.ohio.pod at gmail.com
gorkon at gmail.com
http://lifeinohio.libsyn.com
joel at geardiary.com
geardiary.com

From pastordavid at bibleseven.com  Tue Jan  4 19:49:59 2011
From: pastordavid at bibleseven.com (pastordavid at bibleseven.com)
Date: Tue, 04 Jan 2011 19:49:59 -0500
Subject: [Linux4christians] Wednesday - 1 Samuel 27
Message-ID: <4D23C037.5010502@bibleseven.com>


    Wednesday


      1 Samuel 27



David Aligns Himself with the Philistines

27:1 David thought to himself, "One of these days I'm going to be swept 
away by the hand of Saul! There is nothing better for me than to escape 
to the land of the Philistines. Then Saul will despair of searching for 
me through all the territory of Israel and I will escape from his hand."

27:2 So David left and crossed over to King Achish son of Maoch of Gath 
accompanied by his six hundred men. 27:3 David settled with Achish in 
Gath, along with his men and their families. David had with him his two 
wives, Ahinoam the Jezreelite and Abigail the Carmelite, Nabal's widow. 
27:4 When Saul learned that David had fled to Gath, he did not mount a 
new search for him.

27:5 David said to Achish, "If I have found favor with you, let me be 
given a place in one of the country towns so that I can live there. Why 
should your servant settle in the royal city with you?" 27:6 So Achish 
gave him Ziklag on that day. (For that reason Ziklag has belonged to the 
kings of Judah until this very day.) 27:7 The length of time that David 
lived in the Philistine countryside was a year and four months.

27:8 Then David and his men went up and raided the Geshurites, the 
Girzites, and the Amalekites. (They had been living in that land for a 
long time, from the approach to Shur as far as the land of Egypt.) 27:9 
When David would attack a district, he would leave neither man nor woman 
alive. He would take sheep, cattle, donkeys, camels, and clothing and 
would then go back to Achish. 27:10 When Achish would ask, "Where did 
you raid today?" David would say, "The Negev of Judah" or "The Negev of 
Jeharmeel" or "The Negev of the Kenites." 27:11 Neither man nor woman 
would David leave alive so as to bring them back to Gath. He was 
thinking, "This way they can't tell on us, saying, 'This is what David 
did.'" Such was his practice the entire time that he lived in the 
country of the Philistines. 27:12 So Achish trusted David, thinking to 
himself, "He is really hated among his own people in Israel! From now on 
he will be my servant."



      Prayer


Lord, You provide a safe haven for those whom You have called to serve 
You, and You may even use the foolishness of unbelievers as Your tools. 
May I trust You to always meet my real needs.



      Commentary


The Philistines were the mortal enemies of Israel and had they been 
faithful when they took the Promised Land the tribes with whom they had 
striven for generations would have been obliterated.

David tired of being chased in Israel by Saul so he migrated to 
Philistine territory for a while with the permission of King Achish son 
of Maoch of Gath. They knew that he was at-odds with Saul, and that 
David had re-married outside of the royal family, therefore they trusted 
him.

David took advantage of their trust and from the small city they gave to 
him ran raiding parties against Philistine villages, killing everyone to 
cover his tracks, and bring back the spoils as if they came from battles 
with supporters of Saul.



      Interaction


        Consider

Since the Israelites were in a continuous state of war with the 
Philistines David was under no obligation to assist them in any way, and 
he was free to deceive and to destroy, as an act of war.


        Discuss

How isolated must David's town of Ziklag in Palestinian territory have 
been that he could travel with his small army, obliterate an entire 
village, and return with pillage and not be observed and reported to 
King Achish?



        Reflect

Just as God had done during the taking of the Promised Land, He again 
provides for those whom He called to His service by taking away from 
pagan enemies of truth.


        Share

When have you been blessed by the Lord God's provision and discovered 
that it was via an unexpected non-believer source?



      Faith in Action


        Prayer:

Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you an opportunity to tell His story in 
a context that is usually-blocked to evangelism, or to assist/support 
someone who has such an opportunity.



        Action:

Today I will step out in faith to "raid the enemy camp", the enemy being 
satan and those who are his until they surrender to the lordship of 
Christ, and share the truth that is the good news of salvation. Or, I 
will assist and/or support someone who has such an opportunity; perhaps 
a missionary in an atheist, communist, or Muslim, or other 
anti-Christian area.


        Be Specific ______________________________________________________



    Thursday's text will be:


      1 Samuel 28



-- 

Draw nearer to the Lord and He will bless you,
Have an http://Ultrafidian.com Day!
David M. Colburn, DMin. MaCo
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Personal Site: http://bibleseven.com
Bible Resources: http://bible.org
Teacher's Verse: John 7:16
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

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From pastordavid at bibleseven.com  Wed Jan  5 20:49:05 2011
From: pastordavid at bibleseven.com (pastordavid at bibleseven.com)
Date: Wed, 05 Jan 2011 20:49:05 -0500
Subject: [Linux4christians] Thursday - 1 Samuel 28
Message-ID: <4D251F91.3060102@bibleseven.com>


    Thursday


      1 Samuel 28



The Witch of Endor

28:1 In those days the Philistines gathered their troops for war in 
order to fight Israel. Achish said to David, "You should fully 
understand that you and your men must go with me into the battle." 28:2 
David replied to Achish, "That being the case, you will come to know 
what your servant can do!" Achish said to David, "Then I will make you 
my bodyguard from now on."

28:3 Now Samuel had died, and all Israel had lamented over him and had 
buried him in Ramah, his hometown. In the meantime Saul had removed the 
mediums and magicians from the land. 28:4 The Philistines assembled; 
they came and camped at Shunem. Saul mustered all Israel and camped at 
Gilboa. 28:5 When Saul saw the camp of the Philistines, he was 
absolutely terrified. 28:6 So Saul inquired of the Lord, but the Lord 
did not answer him -- not by dreams nor by Urim nor by the prophets. 
28:7 So Saul instructed his servants, "Find me a woman who is a medium, 
so that I may go to her and inquire of her." His servants replied to 
him, "There is a woman who is a medium in Endor."

28:8 So Saul disguised himself and put on other clothing and left, 
accompanied by two of his men. They came to the woman at night and said, 
"Use your ritual pit to conjure up for me the one I tell you."

28:9 But the woman said to him, "Look, you are aware of what Saul has 
done; he has removed the mediums and magicians from the land! Why are 
you trapping me so you can put me to death?" 28:10 But Saul swore an 
oath to her by the Lord, "As surely as the Lord lives, you will not 
incur guilt in this matter!" 28:11 The woman replied, "Who is it that I 
should bring up for you?" He said, "Bring up for me Samuel."

28:12 When the woman saw Samuel, she cried out loudly. The woman said to 
Saul, "Why have you deceived me? You are Saul!" 28:13 The king said to 
her, "Don't be afraid! What have you seen?" The woman replied to Saul, 
"I have seen one like a god coming up from the ground!" 28:14 He said to 
her, "What about his appearance?" She said, "An old man is coming up! He 
is wrapped in a robe!"

Then Saul realized it was Samuel, and he bowed his face toward the 
ground and kneeled down. 28:15 Samuel said to Saul, "Why have you 
disturbed me by bringing me up?" Saul replied, "I am terribly troubled! 
The Philistines are fighting against me and God has turned away from me. 
He does not answer me -- not by the prophets nor by dreams. So I have 
called on you to tell me what I should do."

28:16 Samuel said, "Why are you asking me, now that the Lord has turned 
away from you and has become your enemy? 28:17 The Lord has done exactly 
as I prophesied! The Lord has torn the kingdom from your hand and has 
given it to your neighbor David! 28:18 Since you did not obey the Lord 
and did not carry out his fierce anger against the Amalekites, the Lord 
has done this thing to you today. 28:19 The Lord will hand you and 
Israel over to the Philistines! Tomorrow both you and your sons will be 
with me. The Lord will also hand the army of Israel over to the 
Philistines!"

28:20 Saul quickly fell full length on the ground and was very afraid 
because of Samuel's words. He was completely drained of energy, not 
having eaten anything all that day and night. 28:21 When the woman came 
to Saul and saw how terrified he was, she said to him, "Your servant has 
done what you asked. I took my life into my own hands and did what you 
told me. 28:22 Now it's your turn to listen to your servant! Let me set 
before you a bit of bread so that you can eat. When you regain your 
strength, you can go on your way."

28:23 But he refused, saying, "I won't eat!" Both his servants and the 
woman urged him to eat, so he gave in. He got up from the ground and sat 
down on the bed. 28:24 Now the woman had a well-fed calf at her home 
that she quickly slaughtered. Taking some flour, she kneaded bread and 
baked it without leaven. 28:25 She brought it to Saul and his servants, 
and they ate. Then they arose and left that same night.



      Prayer


Lord, You have warned us against witchcraft in any and all forms. May I 
be faithful in living and teaching Your truth which protects us against 
the deceptions of the evil one via cleverly promoted and popularized 
versions of witchcraft.



      Commentary


The Philistines gathered to make full-scale war against Israel. Saul was 
terrified at the sight of them and tried to consult the Lord God but 
"... the Lord did not answer him -- not by dreams nor by Urim nor by the 
prophets" -- Saul's prior rebellion had created a rift in his 
relationship with God.

The term "Urim" is often paired with the word "Thummin" and refer to 
stones used in a loosely described means to discern God's will via lot; 
the stones are rolled and how they come up provides a simple answer or 
non-answer. There are multiple references to them in the OT.

Saul, desperate for some insight then calls for his advisers to locate a 
witch, despite his edit that they be driven out of Israel following the 
death of Samuel. The text provides no explanation as to why Saul would 
take such an action but one may speculate that it may have been an act 
of respect toward the deceased Samuel.

Saul disguised himself and asked a suspicious and fearful witch to 
conjure-up Samuel. The witch was terrified when she saw a vision of 
Samuel and then realized that the man was Saul -- but he reassured her 
that she was safe.

There are several difficult questions raised in this text; Can a witch 
really raise the spirit of a dead person and cause them to appear as a 
vision and communicate? If so, what of the Biblical teaching that none 
may communicate with the dead, and that when one sees a being claiming 
to be a dead person it is a deceiving demon? If it was not Samuel 
what/who was it? The vision claimed to be Samuel and did give a correct 
rendering of Samuel's past prophesy and of the events to come. What does 
this mean to those who assert that the dead in Christ are immediately in 
Heaven? Does it mean that in linear time they are not, they must await 
the Great Judgment, but in the timeless reality of the Lord God (time 
itself was created by God for us, He is not controlled or limited by it) 
they are?

It is not the purpose of these survey-type studies to fully address and 
resolve such matters but it is important that we be aware of them and 
trust the Lord God to reveal to us what we know when we truly need to 
know -- and to be content with that.



      Interaction



        Consider

Saul continued to make impulsive and wrong decisions. First he bans 
witches then when in need he consults one.


        Discuss

How confused must Saul's advisers have been with his constantly changing 
priorities?



        Reflect

Samuel had previously warned Saul that the next time he saw him he would 
die.


        Share

When have you had to deal with someone in authority who frequently 
changed directions and sometimes in very contradictory ways?



      Faith in Action


        Prayer:

Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you where you may be selling-out a 
righteous walk with the Lord for the sake of what appears to be an 
easier road or a quick fix to a problem.



        Action:

Today I will confess and accept the Lord God's forgiveness for my wrong 
choice(s). I will repent, turn-away, and walk the more difficult path -- 
but one in agreement with the Lord's teaching and not that of the world. 
The bad choice may be self-medicating with adrenaline-risks, alcohol, 
drugs, gambling, sex, spending, or violence as a way to cope with 
difficulties, or it may be selling-out to the various forms of 
witchcraft that have invaded modern Western society at a level not 
experienced since the Dark Ages.


        Be Specific ______________________________________________________



    Friday's text will be:


      1 Samuel 29-30



-- 

Draw nearer to the Lord and He will bless you,
Have an http://Ultrafidian.com Day!
David M. Colburn, DMin. MaCo
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Personal Site: http://bibleseven.com
Bible Resources: http://bible.org
Teacher's Verse: John 7:16
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

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From mITw at shaw.ca  Wed Jan  5 22:41:16 2011
From: mITw at shaw.ca (Georges)
Date: Wed, 05 Jan 2011 19:41:16 -0800
Subject: [Linux4christians] Speaking of Kodak L4C Vol 81, Issue 6
In-Reply-To: <mailman.7.1294278428.3381.linux4christians@thelinuxlink.net>
References: <mailman.7.1294278428.3381.linux4christians@thelinuxlink.net>
Message-ID: <1294285276.2862.93.camel@leysin.pleinsoleil>

Le mercredi 05 janvier 2011 ? 20:47 -0500,
linux4christians-request at thelinuxlink.net a ?crit :
[snip] 
> 
> Message: 1
> Date: Tue, 04 Jan 2011 10:13:59 -0500
> From: "pastordavid at bibleseven.com" <pastordavid at bibleseven.com>
> To: Linux for Christians <linux4christians at thelinuxlink.net>
> Subject: [Linux4christians] Speaking of Kodak ...
> Message-ID: <4D233937.7090906 at bibleseven.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed
> 
> We have an old Kodak EasyShare DX6490 camera and it has
> been very reliable.  We had to remove the SD card to get at
> the pictures.  After a while it showed up in Linux so that we
> could just connect the cable and use Gtkam.
> 
> We bought a new Kodak EasyShare Z981 for Christ-mas.
> Terrific zoom features and much higher resolution.  It is not
> yet recognized in Linux, so we are back to pulling the SD card.
> 
> I don't know if that is Kodak not providing data or Linux not
> yet catching up to the newer equipment.
> 
> -- 
[snip]

I'm still enjoying using our somewhat aging Kodak EasyShare DX7440. With
Ubuntu (currently at 10.04 LTS) I am able to mount the SD card as a
drive via a USB cable to the camera. I move image files using Nautilus.

However having gained a strong preference for FOSS, I will certainly
include a check for Linux friendliness prior to any and every future
purchase of a camera or other PC peripheral.

Regarding Kodak, I do not see them as cooperating - but rather as living
in their own bubble.

Georges




From pastordavid at bibleseven.com  Thu Jan  6 21:20:59 2011
From: pastordavid at bibleseven.com (pastordavid at bibleseven.com)
Date: Thu, 06 Jan 2011 21:20:59 -0500
Subject: [Linux4christians] Friday - 1 Samuel 29-30
Message-ID: <4D26788B.1060903@bibleseven.com>


    Friday


      1 Samuel 29-30



David Is Rejected by the Philistine Leaders

29:1 The Philistines assembled all their troops at Aphek, while Israel 
camped at the spring that is in Jezreel. 29:2 When the leaders of the 
Philistines were passing in review at the head of their units of 
hundreds and thousands, David and his men were passing in review in the 
rear with Achish.

29:3 The leaders of the Philistines asked, "What about these Hebrews?" 
Achish said to the leaders of the Philistines, "Isn't this David, the 
servant of King Saul of Israel, who has been with me for quite some 
time? I have found no fault with him from the day of his defection until 
the present time!"

29:4 But the leaders of the Philistines became angry with him and said 
to him, "Send the man back! Let him return to the place that you 
assigned him! Don't let him go down with us into the battle, for he 
might become our adversary in the battle. What better way to please his 
lord than with the heads of these men? 29:5 Isn't this David, of whom 
they sang as they danced,

'Saul has struck down his thousands,

but David his tens of thousands'?"

29:6 So Achish summoned David and said to him, "As surely as the Lord 
lives, you are an honest man, and I am glad to have you serving with me 
in the army. I have found no fault with you from the day that you first 
came to me until the present time. But in the opinion of the leaders, 
you are not reliable. 29:7 So turn and leave in peace. You must not do 
anything that the leaders of the Philistines consider improper!"

29:8 But David said to Achish, "What have I done? What have you found in 
your servant from the day that I first came into your presence until the 
present time, that I shouldn't go and fight the enemies of my lord the 
king?" 29:9 Achish replied to David, "I am convinced that you are as 
reliable as the angel of God! However, the leaders of the Philistines 
have said, 'He must not go up with us in the battle.' 29:10 So get up 
early in the morning along with the servants of your lord who have come 
with you. When you get up early in the morning, as soon as it is light 
enough to see, leave."

29:11 So David and his men got up early in the morning to return to the 
land of the Philistines, but the Philistines went up to Jezreel.

David Defeats the Amalekites

30:1 On the third day David and his men came to Ziklag. Now the 
Amalekites had raided the Negev and Ziklag. They attacked Ziklag and 
burned it. 30:2 They took captive the women who were in it, from the 
youngest to the oldest, but they did not kill anyone. They simply 
carried them off and went on their way.

30:3 When David and his men came to the city, they found it burned. 
Their wives, sons, and daughters had been taken captive. 30:4 Then David 
and the men who were with him wept loudly until they could weep no more. 
30:5 David's two wives had been taken captive -- Ahinoam the Jezreelite 
and Abigail the Carmelite, Nabal's widow. 30:6 David was very upset, for 
the men were thinking of stoning him; each man grieved bitterly over his 
sons and daughters. But David drew strength from the Lord his God.

30:7 Then David said to the priest Abiathar son of Ahimelech, "Bring me 
the ephod." So Abiathar brought the ephod to David. 30:8 David inquired 
of the Lord, saying, "Should I pursue this raiding band? Will I overtake 
them?" He said to him, "Pursue, for you will certainly overtake them and 
carry out a rescue!"

30:9 So David went, accompanied by his six hundred men. When he came to 
the Wadi Besor, those who were in the rear stayed there. 30:10 David and 
four hundred men continued the pursuit, but two hundred men who were too 
exhausted to cross the Wadi Besor stayed there.

30:11 Then they found an Egyptian in the field and brought him to David. 
They gave him bread to eat and water to drink. 30:12 They gave him a 
slice of pressed figs and two bunches of raisins to eat. This greatly 
refreshed him, for he had not eaten food or drunk water for three days 
and three nights. 30:13 David said to him, "To whom do you belong, and 
where are you from?" The young man said, "I am an Egyptian, the servant 
of an Amalekite man. My master abandoned me when I was ill for three 
days. 30:14 We conducted a raid on the Negev of the Kerethites, on the 
area of Judah, and on the Negev of Caleb. We burned Ziklag." 30:15 David 
said to him, "Can you take us down to this raiding party?" He said, 
"Swear to me by God that you will not kill me or hand me over to my 
master, and I will take you down to this raiding party."

30:16 So he took David down, and they found them spread out over the 
land. They were eating and drinking and enjoying themselves because of 
all the loot they had taken from the land of the Philistines and from 
the land of Judah. 30:17 But David struck them down from twilight until 
the following evening. None of them escaped, with the exception of four 
hundred young men who got away on camels. 30:18 David retrieved 
everything the Amalekites had taken; he also rescued his two wives. 
30:19 There was nothing missing, whether small or great. He retrieved 
sons and daughters, the plunder, and everything else they had taken. 
David brought everything back. 30:20 David took all the flocks and herds 
and drove them in front of the rest of the animals. People were saying, 
"This is David's plunder!"

30:21 Then David approached the two hundred men who had been too 
exhausted to go with him, those whom they had left at the Wadi Besor. 
They went out to meet David and the people who were with him. When David 
approached the people, he asked how they were doing. 30:22 But all the 
evil and worthless men among those who had gone with David said, "Since 
they didn't go with us, we won't give them any of the loot we retrieved! 
They may take only their wives and children. Let them lead them away and 
be gone!"

30:23 But David said, "No! You shouldn't do this, my brothers. Look at 
what the Lord has given us! He has protected us and has delivered into 
our hands the raiding party that came against us. 30:24 Who will listen 
to you in this matter? The portion of the one who went down into the 
battle will be the same as the portion of the one who remained with the 
equipment! Let their portions be the same!"

30:25 From that time onward it was a binding ordinance for Israel, right 
up to the present time.

30:26 When David came to Ziklag, he sent some of the plunder to the 
elders of Judah who were his friends, saying, "Here's a gift for you 
from the looting of the Lord's enemies!" 30:27 The gift was for those in 
the following locations: for those in Bethel, Ramoth Negev, and Jattir; 
30:28 for those in Aroer, Siphmoth, Eshtemoa, 30:29 and Racal; for those 
in the cities of the Jerahmeelites and Kenites; 30:30 for those in 
Hormah, Bor Ashan, Athach, 30:31 and Hebron; and for those in whatever 
other places David and his men had traveled.



      Prayer


Lord, when those who are obediently Yours are harmed, You restore them 
beyond what they first possessed. May I be faithful that You might keep 
and increase me despite my enemies so that I may have more resources 
with which to serve You.


      Commentary


As the Philistines gathered to do war with Saul they decided to not 
allow David to join them. He protested but even though his host, King 
Achich, thought him faithful (since he did not know of David's raiding 
parties) the other Philistine leaders did not trust him.

While they were away from their temporary home in Philistine country the 
Amalekites raided, burning everything and taking the people, women and 
children and elderly. David's band of men were angry and upset but he 
consulted the Lord God Who said to go after them.

They caught up with the Amalekites and destroyed all but 400 young 
fighters who escaped on camels. They not only recovered everything that 
was taken from them but much more plunder that the Amalekites had gathered.

Two hundred of David's six hundred had been too exhausted to finish the 
chase but David insisted that the plunder be evenly divided. He also 
have some of the plunder to those who were friendly to him in Israel.



      Interaction



        Consider

David had done such a good job of covering his tracks from secret raids 
that King Achich was willing to vouch for him to his fellow Philistines.


        Discuss

Isn't it encouraging that while the Lord God allowed the temporary homes 
of David and his men to be destroyed and their families and possessions 
taken He prevented the Amalekites from killing any of them and then 
blessed David by returning everything and a lot more?



        Reflect

The Philistine leaders understood the depth of tribal loyalty among the 
Israelites and therefore distrusted David.


        Share

When have you suffered an unexpected loss but had it restored and even more?



      Faith in Action


        Prayer:

Ask the Holy Spirit to encourage you in a circumstance of loss.



        Action:

Today I will trust the Lord God in prayer with whatever loss I have 
suffered. I will wait on Him to discover how He will make something good 
from the bad. It may be a testimony during the sadness of a death, 
maturity gained in a troubled period in relationships, a new (and 
perhaps different) start where prior employment or other activity has 
ended, or an actual restoration and improvement in possessions. In 
everything I will give God all of the glory.


        Be Specific ______________________________________________________



    Saturday's text will be:


      1 Samuel 31



-- 

Draw nearer to the Lord and He will bless you,
Have an http://Ultrafidian.com Day!
David M. Colburn, DMin. MaCo
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Personal Site: http://bibleseven.com
Bible Resources: http://bible.org
Teacher's Verse: John 7:16
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

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From fmiller at lightlink.com  Fri Jan  7 18:12:59 2011
From: fmiller at lightlink.com (Fred A. Miller)
Date: Fri, 07 Jan 2011 18:12:59 -0500
Subject: [Linux4christians] One man v Microsoft: a day in the Dickmobile,
 another day in court for Aussie inventor
Message-ID: <4D279DFB.6000309@lightlink.com>

Ric Richardson, the "man in a van" battling Microsoft in a patent suit

worth hundreds of millions of dollars, has something to be excited about
after an appeals court ruled in his favour.

The Australian inventor whose company, Uniloc, was *awarded*
<http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2009/04/15/1239474914416.html>  in April
2009 $US388 million in a patent infringement case against Microsoft,
only to have the jury decision *overturned*
<http://www.smh.com.au/technology/biz-tech/aussie-inventors-445m-microsoft-windfall-wiped-out-20090930-gc77.html>

by a judge, has this week had success in having the ruling against
Microsoft reinstated by an appeals court.

Richardson, 48, patented the technology designed to deter software
piracy in the early 90s. He is a serial inventor with over 40 patents to
his name and does much of his thinking in his van, which he dubs the
"DickMobile", near his leafy property in Byron Bay.


http://www.smh.com.au/technology/biz-tech/one-man-v-microsoft-a-day-in-the-dickmobile-another-day-in-court-for-aussie-inventor-20110106-19h25.html


-- 
"Those who hammer their guns into plows will plow for those who do not."
Thomas Jefferson

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From webservant at trinitybclaramie.org  Fri Jan  7 19:07:17 2011
From: webservant at trinitybclaramie.org (Peter B. Steiger)
Date: Fri, 7 Jan 2011 17:07:17 -0700
Subject: [Linux4christians] One man v Microsoft: a day in the Dickmobile,
 another day in court for Aussie inventor
In-Reply-To: <4D279DFB.6000309@lightlink.com>
References: <4D279DFB.6000309@lightlink.com>
Message-ID: <AANLkTim=6g7uwTQ0AoWp2AraPOffEwV1ftaJcLrkSXw2@mail.gmail.com>

That's a tough call, whether I'm more inclined to support the Evil Empire or
patent litigation, which I find nearly as offensive. Software patents do NOT
protect inventors; they stifle innovation by burying it in a sea of costly
litigation that favors the wealthy. In fact the more I think about it, the
more I have to regretfully favor the Evil Empire in this one just for the
sake of setting a precedent that can hopefully be used to defeat patent
trolls.  Remember, if this guy succeeds then it's equally valid for
Microsoft to sue other developers over patents infringement.

On Fri, Jan 7, 2011 at 4:12 PM, Fred A. Miller <fmiller at lightlink.com>wrote:

>  Ric Richardson, the "man in a van" battling Microsoft in a patent suit
>
> worth hundreds of millions of dollars, has something to be excited about
> after an appeals court ruled in his favour.
>
> The Australian inventor whose company, Uniloc, was **awarded**
> <http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2009/04/15/1239474914416.html><http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2009/04/15/1239474914416.html>  in April
>
> 2009 $US388 million in a patent infringement case against Microsoft,
> only to have the jury decision **overturned**
>
> <http://www.smh.com.au/technology/biz-tech/aussie-inventors-445m-microsoft-windfall-wiped-out-20090930-gc77.html><http://www.smh.com.au/technology/biz-tech/aussie-inventors-445m-microsoft-windfall-wiped-out-20090930-gc77.html>
> by a judge, has this week had success in having the ruling against
> Microsoft reinstated by an appeals court.
>
> Richardson, 48, patented the technology designed to deter software
> piracy in the early 90s. He is a serial inventor with over 40 patents to
> his name and does much of his thinking in his van, which he dubs the
> "DickMobile", near his leafy property in Byron Bay.
>
>
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From daustin at bible.org  Fri Jan  7 19:53:31 2011
From: daustin at bible.org (David Austin)
Date: Fri, 07 Jan 2011 18:53:31 -0600
Subject: [Linux4christians] web developer Job available
In-Reply-To: <mailman.9.1294441799.3366.linux4christians@thelinuxlink.net>
References: <mailman.9.1294441799.3366.linux4christians@thelinuxlink.net>
Message-ID: <4D27B58B.6020304@bible.org>

The Biblical Studies Foundation http://bible.org is looking for a 
programmer / software developer with a strong focus on web technologies. 
An Ideal candidate would exemplify most of the following characteristics:

|* A knowledge and command of PHP and drupal
* Experience with MYSQL - database design&  optimization
* A knowledge and command of Javascript, including jQuery
* Experience and a facility with CSS
* A command of Regular Expressions and experience with text processing
* Ability to manage time well and be productive when working independently
* A heart for serving others and Helping them study the Bible with a Humility and the ability to work well with others
|


David Austin (Executive Director www.Bible.org ) 1 Cor 15:58
  214-580 1999 ext 152(v); skype daustin100 ; DAustin at Bible.org
     ~Home of the NETBible and over 5500 free studies
     ~All donations http://bible.org/donate and sales from http://store.bible.org support the production and distribution of free trustworthy studies from www.bible.org
     ~ Check out our free Bible Study tool at http://www.netbible.org
-----

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From pastordavid at bibleseven.com  Fri Jan  7 20:11:48 2011
From: pastordavid at bibleseven.com (pastordavid at bibleseven.com)
Date: Fri, 07 Jan 2011 20:11:48 -0500
Subject: [Linux4christians] Saturday - 1 Samuel 31
Message-ID: <4D27B9D4.7000008@bibleseven.com>


    Saturday


      1 Samuel 31



The Death of Saul

31:1 Now the Philistines were fighting against Israel. The men of Israel 
fled from the Philistines and many of them fell dead on Mount Gilboa. 
31:2 The Philistines stayed right on the heels of Saul and his sons. 
They struck down Saul's sons Jonathan, Abinadab, and Malki-Shua. 31:3 
Saul himself was in the thick of the battle; the archers spotted him and 
wounded him severely.

31:4 Saul said to his armor bearer, "Draw your sword and stab me with 
it! Otherwise these uncircumcised people will come, stab me, and torture 
me." But his armor bearer refused to do it, because he was very afraid. 
So Saul took his sword and fell on it. 31:5 When his armor bearer saw 
that Saul was dead, he also fell on his own sword and died with him. 
31:6 So Saul, his three sons, his armor bearer, and all his men died 
together that day.

31:7 When the men of Israel who were in the valley and across the Jordan 
saw that the men of Israel had fled and that Saul and his sons were 
dead, they abandoned the cities and fled. The Philistines came and 
occupied them.

31:8 The next day, when the Philistines came to strip loot from the 
corpses, they discovered Saul and his three sons lying dead on Mount 
Gilboa. 31:9 They cut off Saul's head and stripped him of his armor. 
They sent messengers to announce the news in the temple of their idols 
and among their people throughout the surrounding land of the 
Philistines. 31:10 They placed Saul's armor in the temple of the 
Ashtoreths and hung his corpse on the city wall of Beth Shan.

31:11 When the residents of Jabesh Gilead heard what the Philistines had 
done to Saul, 31:12 all their warriors set out and traveled throughout 
the night. They took Saul's corpse and the corpses of his sons from the 
city wall of Beth Shan and went to Jabesh, where they burned them. 31:13 
They took the bones and buried them under the tamarisk tree at Jabesh; 
then they fasted for seven days.



      Prayer


Lord, sometimes You express Your permissive will, allowing humankind to 
make choices and deal with the consequences, and sometimes You declare a 
certain path and it is always done. May I pray and study, gaining 
knowledge and understanding so that Your Holy Spirit will grant me the 
wisdom to recognize the difference.



      Commentary


Saul went to war with the Philistines without the blessing and 
protection of the Lord God, indeed God had prophesied through a vision 
of Samuel that he and his sons would be killed and his army fall to the 
enemy.

As prophesied Saul's sons were killed, as was Saul, and Saul was 
decapitated. His body (head and torso) and that of his sons were hung on 
the city wall of Beth Shan.

Israelites in Jabesh Gilead, apparently not involved in the battle, 
heard what had been done with the bodies and traveled by night to 
recover and burn the bodies, then they fasted for seven days.



      Interaction


        Consider

Saul was doomed from the moment the battle began because the Lord God 
had decided that his time as king had ended.


        Discuss

Do you think it was wise for the warriors from Jabesh Gilead to risk 
their lives to recover the bodies of Saul and his sons?



        Reflect

The Lord God allowed the pagan Philistines to serve as His instruments 
to remove Saul from leadership.


        Share

When have you experienced or observed the Lord God working His will in 
the lives of Hid people through the instrument of non-believers?



      Faith in Action


        Prayer:

Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you a place where a non-believer either 
has been or is being used as an instrument of the Lord God in your life.



        Action:

Today I will raise a prayer of thanks or a prayer for protection and 
wisdom for the non-believer whom the Lord God has chosen as His 
instrument in my life.


        Be Specific ______________________________________________________


             Sunday's text will be: 2 Samuel 1



-- 

Draw nearer to the Lord and He will bless you,
Have an http://Ultrafidian.com Day!
David M. Colburn, DMin. MaCo
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Personal Site: http://bibleseven.com
Bible Resources: http://bible.org
Teacher's Verse: John 7:16
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

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From fmiller at lightlink.com  Fri Jan  7 21:24:46 2011
From: fmiller at lightlink.com (Fred A. Miller)
Date: Fri, 07 Jan 2011 21:24:46 -0500
Subject: [Linux4christians] Broadcom joins the Linux Foundation
Message-ID: <4D27CAEE.8040104@lightlink.com>


    Citing the 'growing base of customers using Linux,' Broadcom makes
    historic move to deepen support for the open source OS

It was exciting news back in September when Broadcom unveiled brcm80211
<http://www.pcworld.com/businesscenter/article/205258/linux_wifi_gets_easier_with_new_broadcom_driver.html>,
the fully open and Linux-compatible driver for several of its 802.11n
wireless chipsets. Now, however, it looks like the company will soon
make what promises to be an even bigger announcement.

Specifically, in a move that will be officially announced on Monday, the
company has taken its Linux
<http://www.pcworld.com/businesscenter/article/214929/how_you_know_when_its_time_to_switch_to_linux.html>
support to the next level by joining the Linux Foundation, with plans to
extend its open development and collaboration with the Linux community.


http://www.infoworld.com/d/open-source/broadcom-joins-the-linux-foundation-910

-- 
"Those who hammer their guns into plows will plow for those who do not."
Thomas Jefferson

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From pastordavid at bibleseven.com  Fri Jan  7 22:28:02 2011
From: pastordavid at bibleseven.com (pastordavid at bibleseven.com)
Date: Fri, 07 Jan 2011 22:28:02 -0500
Subject: [Linux4christians] One man v Microsoft: a day in the Dickmobile,
 another day in court for Aussie inventor
In-Reply-To: <AANLkTim=6g7uwTQ0AoWp2AraPOffEwV1ftaJcLrkSXw2@mail.gmail.com>
References: <4D279DFB.6000309@lightlink.com>
	<AANLkTim=6g7uwTQ0AoWp2AraPOffEwV1ftaJcLrkSXw2@mail.gmail.com>
Message-ID: <4D27D9C2.9060403@bibleseven.com>

Patents are not inherently bad, the concept is wise.

It's the lawyers, politicians, and shysters who have
corrupted it - which has created the problem - for which
there is no good solution other than to "sunset" them all
and reconsider them via a better designed system.

 > Peter B. Steiger wrote:
>  That's a tough call, whether I'm more inclined to support the Evil
>  Empire or patent litigation, which I find nearly as offensive.
>  Software patents do NOT protect inventors; they stifle innovation by
>  burying it in a sea of costly litigation that favors the wealthy. In
>  fact the more I think about it, the more I have to regretfully favor
>  the Evil Empire in this one just for the sake of setting a precedent
>  that can hopefully be used to defeat patent trolls.  Remember, if
>  this guy succeeds then it's equally valid for Microsoft to sue other
>  developers over patents infringement.


-- 

Draw nearer to the Lord and He will bless you,
Have an http://Ultrafidian.com Day!
David M. Colburn, DMin. MaCo
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Personal Site: http://bibleseven.com
Bible Resources: http://bible.org
Teacher's Verse: John 7:16
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


From pastordavid at bibleseven.com  Sat Jan  8 21:38:13 2011
From: pastordavid at bibleseven.com (pastordavid at bibleseven.com)
Date: Sat, 08 Jan 2011 21:38:13 -0500
Subject: [Linux4christians] Sunday - 2 Samuel 1
Message-ID: <4D291F95.7050500@bibleseven.com>


    Sunday


      2 Samuel 1



David Learns of the Deaths of Saul and Jonathan

1:1 After the death of Saul, when David had returned from defeating the 
Amalekites, he stayed at Ziklag for two days. 1:2 On the third day a man 
arrived from the camp of Saul with his clothes torn and dirt on his 
head. When he approached David, the man threw himself to the ground.

1:3 David asked him, "Where are you coming from?" He replied, "I have 
escaped from the camp of Israel." 1:4 David inquired, "How were things 
going? Tell me!" He replied, "The people fled from the battle and many 
of them fell dead. Even Saul and his son Jonathan are dead!" 1:5 David 
said to the young man who was telling him this, "How do you know that 
Saul and his son Jonathan are dead?" 1:6 The young man who was telling 
him this said, "I just happened to be on Mount Gilboa and came across 
Saul leaning on his spear for support. The chariots and leaders of the 
horsemen were in hot pursuit of him. 1:7 When he turned around and saw 
me, he called out to me. I answered, 'Here I am!' 1:8 He asked me, 'Who 
are you?' I told him, 'I'm an Amalekite.' 1:9 He said to me, 'Stand over 
me and finish me off! I'm very dizzy, even though I'm still alive.' 1:10 
So I stood over him and put him to death, since I knew that he couldn't 
live in such a condition. Then I took the crown which was on his head 
and the bracelet which was on his arm. I have brought them here to my lord."

1:11 David then grabbed his own clothes and tore them, as did all the 
men who were with him. 1:12 They lamented and wept and fasted until 
evening because Saul, his son Jonathan, the Lord's people, and the house 
of Israel had fallen by the sword.

1:13 David said to the young man who told this to him, "Where are you 
from?" He replied, "I am an Amalekite, the son of a resident foreigner." 
1:14 David replied to him, "How is it that you were not afraid to reach 
out your hand to destroy the Lord's anointed?" 1:15 Then David called 
one of the soldiers and said, "Come here and strike him down!" So he 
struck him down, and he died. 1:16 David said to him, "Your blood be on 
your own head! Your own mouth has testified against you, saying 'I have 
put the Lord's anointed to death.'"

David's Tribute to Saul and Jonathan

1:17 Then David chanted this lament over Saul and his son Jonathan. 1:18 
(He gave instructions that the people of Judah should be taught "The 
Bow." Indeed, it is written down in the Book of Yashar.)

1:19 The beauty of Israel lies slain on your high places!

How the mighty have fallen!

1:20 Don't report it in Gath,

don't spread the news in the streets of Ashkelon,

or the daughters of the Philistines will rejoice,

the daughters of the uncircumcised will celebrate!

1:21 O mountains of Gilboa,

may there be no dew or rain on you, nor fields of grain offerings!

For it was there that the shield of warriors was defiled;

the shield of Saul lies neglected without oil.

1:22 From the blood of the slain, from the fat of warriors,

the bow of Jonathan was not turned away.

The sword of Saul never returned empty.

1:23 Saul and Jonathan were greatly loved during their lives,

and not even in their deaths were they separated.

They were swifter than eagles, stronger than lions.

1:24 O daughters of Israel, weep over Saul,

who clothed you in scarlet as well as jewelry,

who put gold jewelry on your clothes.

1:25 How the warriors have fallen

in the midst of battle!

Jonathan lies slain on your high places!

1:26 I grieve over you, my brother Jonathan!

You were very dear to me.

Your love was more special to me than the love of women.

1:27 How the warriors have fallen!

The weapons of war are destroyed!



      Prayer



Lord, we mourn with You those who might have served You well but who 
foolishly chose another direction. May I be found faithful so that it 
may be said at my passing that my life was lived imperfectly(of course), 
but on-whole, for You.



      Commentary



As recorded in 1 Samuel 29-30 David was engaged in a rescue mission of 
his family and those of his 600 men against the Amalekites and was 
therefore unaware of the circumstances of the battle between Saul and 
the Philistines. He had returned to Ziklag, although largely destroyed, 
it remained the temporary home of David and his followers.

A young Amalekite, apparently seeking favor with David, whom many 
thought to be an enemy of Saul arrived with news of Saul's death and 
with a story that he had delivered the final fatal blow to the 
mortally-wounded Saul. He brought with him Saul's crown and arm bracelet 
as trophies, which he presented to David.

As recorded in 1 Samuel 31, Saul had asked his Israelite armor bearer to 
kill him but he was fearful of killing the Lord's anointed, so Saul had 
therefore fallen on his own sword. It appears that the Amalekite was 
either lying and had merely removed the crown and bracelet from Saul's 
corpse, or had found Saul wounded by the arrows and his own sword and 
finished things. David ordered a soldier to execute the non-Israelite 
man for killing the Lord's anointed.

David then wrote one of his somewhat hyperbolic poetic-songs of lament 
and remembrance for Saul and Jonathan.



      Interaction



        Consider

Because Saul had driven David away his best warrior, and the one 
most-blessed by the Lord God, was not with him in the great battle with 
the Philistines.


        Discuss

Why would the Amalekite soldier have gone to David rather than the 
Philistines with Saul's crown and bracelet?



        Reflect

Despite all of his flaws David still respected Saul for his title from 
God, and like Samuel, longed for the Saul who could and should have been 
a faithful and blessed servant of the Lord God. He also even more-so 
lamented his faithful and dear friend Jonathan, a man whose future had 
been sacrificed on the altar of his father's ego, foolish jealousy, and 
impetuous carelessness in his relationship with God.


        Share

When have you lamented the death of someone whose life was more promise 
than results?



      Faith in Action



        Prayer:

Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you someone who needs your 
encouragement and prayer to draw nearer to the Lord.



        Action:

Today I will encourage and pray in-earnest for the one whom the Holy 
Spirit has identified. I will pray in-agreement that they will draw 
nearer to the Lord so that they may be instruments of His blessing to 
others and thus be themselves blessed.


        Be Specific ______________________________________________________



    Monday's text will be:


      2 Samuel 2:1-3:1

-- 

Draw nearer to the Lord and He will bless you,
Have an http://Ultrafidian.com Day!
David M. Colburn, DMin. MaCo
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Personal Site: http://bibleseven.com
Bible Resources: http://bible.org
Teacher's Verse: John 7:16
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

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From pastordavid at bibleseven.com  Sun Jan  9 22:17:54 2011
From: pastordavid at bibleseven.com (pastordavid at bibleseven.com)
Date: Sun, 09 Jan 2011 22:17:54 -0500
Subject: [Linux4christians] Monday - 2 Samuel 2:1-3:1
Message-ID: <4D2A7A62.1040508@bibleseven.com>


    Monday


      2 Samuel 2:1-3:1



David is Anointed King

2:1 Afterward David inquired of the Lord, "Should I go up to one of the 
cities of Judah?" The Lord told him, "Go up." David asked, "Where should 
I go?" The Lord replied, "To Hebron." 2:2 So David went up, along with 
his two wives, Ahinoam the Jezreelite and Abigail, formerly the wife of 
Nabal the Carmelite. 2:3 David also brought along the men who were with 
him, each with his family. They settled in the cities of Hebron. 2:4 The 
men of Judah came and there they anointed David as king over the people 
of Judah.

David was told, "The people of Jabesh Gilead are the ones who buried 
Saul." 2:5 So David sent messengers to the people of Jabesh Gilead and 
told them, "May you be blessed by the Lord because you have shown this 
kindness to your lord Saul by burying him. 2:6 Now may the Lord show you 
true kindness! I also will reward you, because you have done this deed. 
2:7 Now be courageous and prove to be valiant warriors, for your lord 
Saul is dead. The people of Judah have anointed me as king over them."

David's Army Clashes with the Army of Saul

2:8 Now Abner son of Ner, the general in command of Saul's army, had 
taken Saul's son Ish-bosheth and had brought him to Mahanaim. 2:9 He 
appointed him king over Gilead, the Geshurites, Jezreel, Ephraim, 
Benjamin, and all Israel. 2:10 Ish-bosheth son of Saul was forty years 
old when he began to rule over Israel. He ruled two years. However, the 
people of Judah followed David. 2:11 David was king in Hebron over the 
people of Judah for seven and a half years.

2:12 Then Abner son of Ner and the servants of Ish-bosheth son of Saul 
went out from Mahanaim to Gibeon. 2:13 Joab son of Zeruiah and the 
servants of David also went out and confronted them at the pool of 
Gibeon. One group stationed themselves on one side of the pool, and the 
other group on the other side of the pool. 2:14 Abner said to Joab, "Let 
the soldiers get up and fight before us." Joab said, "So be it!"

2:15 So they got up and crossed over by number: twelve belonging to 
Benjamin and to Ish-bosheth son of Saul, and twelve from the servants of 
David. 2:16 As they grappled with one another, each one stabbed his 
opponent with his sword and they fell dead together. So that place is 
called the Field of Flints; it is in Gibeon.

2:17 Now the battle was very severe that day; Abner and the men of 
Israel were overcome by David's soldiers. 2:18 The three sons of Zeruiah 
were there -- Joab, Abishai, and Asahel. (Now Asahel was as quick on his 
feet as one of the gazelles in the field.) 2:19 Asahel chased Abner, 
without turning to the right or to the left as he followed Abner.

2:20 Then Abner turned and asked, "Is that you, Asahel?" He replied, 
"Yes it is!" 2:21 Abner said to him, "Turn aside to your right or to 
your left. Capture one of the soldiers and take his equipment for 
yourself!" But Asahel was not willing to turn aside from following him. 
2:22 So Abner spoke again to Asahel, "Turn aside from following me! I do 
not want to strike you to the ground. How then could I show my face in 
the presence of Joab your brother?" 2:23 But Asahel refused to turn 
aside. So Abner struck him in the abdomen with the back end of his 
spear. The spear came out his back; Asahel collapsed on the spot and 
died there right before Abner. Everyone who now comes to the place where 
Asahel fell dead pauses in respect.

2:24 So Joab and Abishai chased Abner. At sunset they came to the hill 
of Ammah near Giah on the way to the wilderness of Gibeon. 2:25 The 
Benjaminites formed their ranks behind Abner and were like a single 
army, standing at the top of a certain hill.

2:26 Then Abner called out to Joab, "Must the sword devour forever? 
Don't you realize that this will turn bitter in the end? When will you 
tell the people to turn aside from pursuing their brothers?" 2:27 Joab 
replied, "As surely as God lives, if you had not said this, it would 
have been morning before the people would have abandoned pursuit of 
their brothers!" 2:28 Then Joab blew the ram's horn and all the people 
stopped in their tracks. They stopped chasing Israel and ceased 
fighting. 2:29 Abner and his men went through the Arabah all that night. 
They crossed the Jordan River and went through the whole region of 
Bitron and came to Mahanaim.

2:30 Now Joab returned from chasing Abner and assembled all the people. 
Nineteen of David's soldiers were missing, in addition to Asahel. 2:31 
But David's soldiers had slaughtered the Benjaminites and Abner's men -- 
in all, 360 men had died! 2:32 They took Asahel's body and buried him in 
his father's tomb at Bethlehem. Joab and his men then traveled all that 
night and reached Hebron by dawn.

3:1 However, the war was prolonged between the house of Saul and the 
house of David. David was becoming steadily stronger, while the house of 
Saul was becoming increasingly weaker.



      Prayer


Lord, it is clear that there is no future in resisting Your will. May I 
be careful to pray and listen so that I am acting in accordance with 
Your will.


      Commentary


David is anointed King but those still loyal to Saul's family take 
advantage of his established kingdom and anoint one of his remaining 
sons as king. A running-battle ensues between the competing kingdoms.

As the civil war continues the Lord God gives success to David's forces 
while those aligned with Saul's son Ish-bosheth not only lost numbers in 
battle but in loyalty from Israelites as well.



      Interaction


        Consider

Abner, who had been serving the apostate Saul, didn't bother to consult 
the Lord God but went ahead and anointed Saul's son Ish-bosheth as king. 
The destructive impact of Saul's failures continued even after his death.


        Discuss

Since Saul had once acknowledged, in Abner's hearing, that David was 
God's anointed to be the next king, was Abner just protecting his 
position or getting even with David for teasing him for not protecting Saul?



        Reflect

Abner should have known, from what happened to Saul and his other sons, 
what would inevitably happen when he opposed God's anointed -- David.


        Share

When have you observed someone resisting legitimate Biblical authority 
despite clear evidence that they were in the wrong?



      Faith in Action


        Prayer:

Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you someone in Biblical leadership whom 
you should encourage, for whom you should pray, and for whom you should 
provide other support as is appropriate.



        Action:

Today I will step out in faith to support a Biblical leader, be it in 
the role of a parent, teacher, pastor, counselor, or other role. I will 
pray for them, send them a note of encouragement, and as-appropriate 
support them in other ways.


        Be Specific ______________________________________________________



    Tuesday's text will be:


      2 Samuel 3:2 -- 3:39

-- 

Draw nearer to the Lord and He will bless you,
Have an http://Ultrafidian.com Day!
David M. Colburn, DMin. MaCo
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Personal Site: http://bibleseven.com
Bible Resources: http://bible.org
Teacher's Verse: John 7:16
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

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From pastordavid at bibleseven.com  Mon Jan 10 22:30:24 2011
From: pastordavid at bibleseven.com (pastordavid at bibleseven.com)
Date: Mon, 10 Jan 2011 22:30:24 -0500
Subject: [Linux4christians] =?windows-1252?q?Tuesday_-_2_Samuel_3=3A2_=96_?=
	=?windows-1252?q?3=3A39?=
Message-ID: <4D2BCED0.6060605@bibleseven.com>


    Tuesday


      2 Samuel 3:2 ? 3:39



3:2 Now sons were born to David in Hebron. His firstborn was Amnon, born 
to Ahinoam the Jezreelite. 3:3 His second son was Kileab, born to 
Abigail the widow of Nabal the Carmelite. His third son was Absalom, the 
son of Maacah daughter of King Talmai of Geshur. 3:4 His fourth son was 
Adonijah, the son of Haggith. His fifth son was Shephatiah, the son of 
Abitail. 3:5 His sixth son was Ithream, born to David?s wife Eglah. 
These sons were all born to David in Hebron.

Abner Defects to David?s Camp

3:6 As the war continued between the house of Saul and the house of 
David, Abner was becoming more influential in the house of Saul. 3:7 Now 
Saul had a concubine named Rizpah daughter of Aiah. Ish-bosheth said to 
Abner, ?Why did you have sexual relations with my father?s concubine??

3:8 These words of Ish-bosheth really angered Abner and he said, ?Am I 
the head of a dog that belongs to Judah? This very day I am 
demonstrating loyalty to the house of Saul your father and to his 
relatives and his friends! I have not betrayed you into the hand of 
David. Yet you have accused me of sinning with this woman today! 3:9 God 
will severely judge Abner if I do not do for David exactly what the Lord 
has promised him, 3:10 namely, to transfer the kingdom from the house of 
Saul and to establish the throne of David over Israel and over Judah all 
the way from Dan to Beer Sheba!? 3:11 Ish-bosheth was unable to answer 
Abner with even a single word because he was afraid of him.

3:12 Then Abner sent messengers to David saying, ?To whom does the land 
belong? Make an agreement with me, and I will do whatever I can to cause 
all Israel to turn to you.? 3:13 So David said, ?Good! I will make an 
agreement with you. I ask only one thing from you. You will not see my 
face unless you bring Saul?s daughter Michal when you come to visit me.?

3:14 David sent messengers to Ish-bosheth son of Saul with this demand: 
?Give me my wife Michal whom I acquired for a hundred Philistine 
foreskins.? 3:15 So Ish-bosheth took her from her husband Paltiel son of 
Laish. 3:16 Her husband went along behind her, weeping all the way to 
Bahurim. Finally Abner said to him, ?Go back!? So he returned home.

3:17 Abner advised the elders of Israel, ?Previously you were wanting 
David to be your king. 3:18 Act now! For the Lord has said to David, ?By 
the hand of my servant David I will save my people Israel from the 
Philistines and from all their enemies.??

3:19 Then Abner spoke privately with the Benjaminites. Abner also went 
to Hebron to inform David privately of all that Israel and the entire 
house of Benjamin had agreed to. 3:20 When Abner, accompanied by twenty 
men, came to David in Hebron, David prepared a banquet for Abner and the 
men who were with him. 3:21 Abner said to David, ?Let me leave so that I 
may go and gather all Israel to my lord the king so that they may make 
an agreement with you. Then you will rule over all that you desire.? So 
David sent Abner away, and he left in peace.

Abner Is Killed

3:22 Now David?s soldiers and Joab were coming back from a raid, 
bringing a great deal of plunder with them. Abner was no longer with 
David in Hebron, for David had sent him away and he had left in peace. 
3:23 When Joab and all the army that was with him arrived, Joab was 
told: ?Abner the son of Ner came to the king; he sent him away, and he 
left in peace!?

3:24 So Joab went to the king and said, ?What have you done? Abner has 
come to you! Why would you send him away? Now he?s gone on his way! 3:25 
You know Abner the son of Ner! Surely he came here to spy on you and to 
determine when you leave and when you return and to discover everything 
that you are doing!?

3:26 Then Joab left David and sent messengers after Abner. They brought 
him back from the well of Sirah. (But David was not aware of it.) 3:27 
When Abner returned to Hebron, Joab took him aside at the gate as if to 
speak privately with him. Joab then stabbed him in the abdomen and 
killed him, avenging the shed blood of his brother Asahel.

3:28 When David later heard about this, he said, ?I and my kingdom are 
forever innocent before the Lord of the shed blood of Abner son of Ner! 
3:29 May his blood whirl over the head of Joab and the entire house of 
his father! May the males of Joab?s house never cease to have someone 
with a running sore or a skin disease or one who works at the spindle or 
one who falls by the sword or one who lacks food!?

3:30 So Joab and his brother Abishai killed Abner, because he had killed 
their brother Asahel in Gibeon during the battle.

3:31 David instructed Joab and all the people who were with him, ?Tear 
your clothes! Put on sackcloth! Lament before Abner!? Now King David 
followed behind the funeral bier. 3:32 So they buried Abner in Hebron. 
The king cried loudly over Abner?s grave and all the people wept too. 
3:33 The king chanted the following lament for Abner:

?Should Abner have died like a fool?

3:34 Your hands were not bound,

and your feet were not put into irons.

You fell the way one falls before criminals.?

All the people wept over him again. 3:35 Then all the people came and 
encouraged David to eat food while it was still day. But David took an 
oath saying, ?God will punish me severely if I taste bread or anything 
whatsoever before the sun sets!?

3:36 All the people noticed this and it pleased them. In fact, 
everything the king did pleased all the people. 3:37 All the people and 
all Israel realized on that day that the killing of Abner son of Ner was 
not done at the king?s instigation.

3:38 Then the king said to his servants, ?Do you not realize that a 
great leader has fallen this day in Israel? 3:39 Today I am weak, even 
though I am anointed as king. These men, the sons of Zeruiah, are too 
much for me to bear! May the Lord punish appropriately the one who has 
done this evil thing!?



      Prayer


Lord, You anointed David King and caused events to fulfill Your 
prophesy, even as You allowed foolish men to make the process more messy 
than it needed to be. May I be patient and prayerful so that my actions 
reflect Your will more closely.



      Commentary


Abner, who had foolishly anointed Saul's son as king despite knowing 
that God has anointed David, is insulted by Saul's son and decides to 
transfer his loyalty to David.

David makes the return of his wife, Michal, a condition of a meeting 
with Abner to discuss the terms of peace and the reunification of 
Israel. Abner makes it happen despite the protests of her second 
husband. [Saul had wrongly taken her from David and given her to another 
in a fit of anger.]

David and Abner agreed to terms but Joab, seeking revenge for Abner's 
killing of his brother in battle, murdered Abner without David's knowledge.

David mourned Abner and the people recognized that his murder was not 
David's doing, the people found David agreeable for other reasons as 
well, and David spoke a curse upon Joab and his family for the murder.



      Interaction


        Consider

Abner knew the right thing to do but it took a personal insult to 
motivate him to do so.


        Discuss

Why would David want Michal back since he knew that Deuteronomy taught 
that one must not take back a former wife who had been married to another?



        Reflect

Joab joined everyone else with his own personal act of rebellion, his 
was to exact vengeance when the Lord God had said we must leave 
vengeance to Him.


        Share

When have you been so upset that you acted against what you knew to be 
God's will?



      Faith in Action


        Prayer:

Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you a place where you are acting 
against His will.



        Action:

Today I will confess, ask and receive God's forgiveness, and repent 
(turn away from) whatever it is that the Holy Spirit showed me was wrong 
before the Lord God. It may be laziness because I am selfishly avoiding 
carrying my fair share of work, gossip because I dislike or am jealous 
of someone, lying to avoid consequences for something I should not have 
done, flirting when I am married or flirting with someone elses spouse 
or otherwise acting inappropriately toward another in a sexual manner, 
etc. I will ask another believer to praying-agreement for my continued 
surrender of this part of my life to the Lordship of Christ through the 
Holy Spirit.


        Be Specific ______________________________________________________



    Wednesday's text will be:


      2 Samuel 4 ? 5:16



-- 

Draw nearer to the Lord and He will bless you,
Have an http://Ultrafidian.com Day!
David M. Colburn, DMin. MaCo
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Personal Site: http://bibleseven.com
Bible Resources: http://bible.org
Teacher's Verse: John 7:16
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

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From pastordavid at bibleseven.com  Tue Jan 11 18:57:05 2011
From: pastordavid at bibleseven.com (pastordavid at bibleseven.com)
Date: Tue, 11 Jan 2011 18:57:05 -0500
Subject: [Linux4christians] =?windows-1252?q?Wednesday_-_2_Samuel_4_=96_5?=
	=?windows-1252?q?=3A16?=
Message-ID: <4D2CEE51.7070504@bibleseven.com>


    Wednesday


      2 Samuel 4 ? 5:16



Ish-bosheth is killed

4:1 When Ish-bosheth the son of Saul heard that Abner had died in 
Hebron, he was very disheartened, and all Israel was afraid. 4:2 Now 
Saul?s son had two men who were in charge of raiding units; one was 
named Baanah and the other Recab. They were sons of Rimmon the 
Beerothite, who was a Benjaminite. (Beeroth is regarded as belonging to 
Benjamin, 4:3 for the Beerothites fled to Gittaim and have remained 
there as resident foreigners until the present time.)

4:4 Now Saul?s son Jonathan had a son who was crippled in both feet. He 
was five years old when the news about Saul and Jonathan arrived from 
Jezreel. His nurse picked him up and fled, but in her haste to get away, 
he fell and was injured. Mephibosheth was his name.

4:5 Now the sons of Rimmon the Beerothite ? Recab and Baanah ? went at 
the hottest part of the day to the home of Ish-bosheth, as he was 
enjoying his midday rest. 4:6 They entered the house under the pretense 
of getting wheat and mortally wounded him in the stomach. Then Recab and 
his brother Baanah escaped.

4:7 They had entered the house while Ish-bosheth was resting on his bed 
in his bedroom. They mortally wounded him and then cut off his head. 
Taking his head, they traveled on the way of the Arabah all that night. 
4:8 They brought the head of Ish-bosheth to David in Hebron, saying to 
the king, ?Look! The head of Ish-bosheth son of Saul, your enemy who 
sought your life! The Lord has granted vengeance to my lord the king 
this day against Saul and his descendants!?

4:9 David replied to Recab and his brother Baanah, the sons of Rimmon 
the Beerothite, ?As surely as the Lord lives, who has delivered my life 
from all adversity, 4:10 when someone told me that Saul was dead ? even 
though he thought he was bringing good news ? I seized him and killed 
him in Ziklag. That was the good news I gave to him! 4:11 Surely when 
wicked men have killed an innocent man as he slept in his own house, 
should I not now require his blood from your hands and remove you from 
the earth??

4:12 So David issued orders to the soldiers and they put them to death. 
Then they cut off their hands and feet and hung them near the pool in 
Hebron. But they took the head of Ish-bosheth and buried it in the tomb 
of Abner in Hebron.

David Is Anointed King Over Israel

5:1 All the tribes of Israel came to David at Hebron saying, ?Look, we 
are your very flesh and blood! 5:2 In the past, when Saul was our king, 
you were the real leader in Israel. The Lord said to you, ?You will 
shepherd my people Israel; you will rule over Israel.??

5:3 When all the leaders of Israel came to the king at Hebron, King 
David made an agreement with them in Hebron before the Lord. They 
designated David as king over Israel. 5:4 David was thirty years old 
when he began to reign and he reigned for forty years. 5:5 In Hebron he 
reigned over Judah for seven years and six months, and in Jerusalem he 
reigned for thirty-three years over all Israel and Judah.

David Occupies Jerusalem

5:6 Then the king and his men advanced to Jerusalem against the 
Jebusites who lived in the land. The Jebusites said to David, ?You 
cannot invade this place! Even the blind and the lame will turn you 
back, saying, ?David cannot invade this place!??

5:7 But David captured the fortress of Zion (that is, the city of 
David). 5:8 David said on that day, ?Whoever attacks the Jebusites must 
approach the ?lame? and the ?blind? who are David?s enemies by going 
through the water tunnel.? For this reason it is said, ?The blind and 
the lame cannot enter the palace.?

5:9 So David lived in the fortress and called it the City of David. 
David built all around it, from the terrace inwards. 5:10 David?s power 
grew steadily, for the Lord God who commands armies was with him.

5:11 King Hiram of Tyre sent messengers to David, along with cedar logs, 
carpenters, and stonemasons. They built a palace for David. 5:12 David 
realized that the Lord had established him as king over Israel and that 
he had elevated his kingdom for the sake of his people Israel. 5:13 
David married more concubines and wives from Jerusalem after he arrived 
from Hebron. Even more sons and daughters were born to David. 5:14 These 
are the names of children born to him in Jerusalem: Shammua, Shobab, 
Nathan, Solomon, 5:15 Ibhar, Elishua, Nepheg, Japhia, 5:16 Elishama, 
Eliada, and Eliphelet.



      Prayer


Lord, King David was far from perfect, only You are perfect. May I never 
have unrealistic expectations of myself or others in leadership and look 
instead to You to be my one true King.



      Commentary


Saul's son Ish-bosheth, the illegitimate king installed by Abner, was 
murdered and his killers presented his head to King David. David 
responded to them the same as the Amalekite who claimed to have killed 
Saul ? he had them executed.


The leaders of the tribes of Israel then swore allegiance to David.


David marched into Jerusalem, despite the dire warnings of the Jebusites 
who insisted that even the blind and lame there would resist him, and he 
established the center of his kingdom there.


King Hiram of Tyre, a wealthy Phoenician city, sent many resources to 
assist David in building a palace. David gave God the glory for 
establishing him as King and for blessing the kingdom.


David married several other concubines and wives and fathered many more 
children.



      Interaction


        Consider

The adoptive Benjamites, Recab and Baanah, repeated the error of the 
Amalekite by imagining that murder was a good way to curry favor with 
King David.


        Discuss

Why would the King of Tyre make such a great effort to assist King David?



        Reflect

David was very imperfect, adding concubines and wives as he consolidated 
political power, and in many cases including non-Israelites among them.


        Share

When have you experienced or observed blessings coming to believers from 
unexpected non-believer sources?



      Faith in Action

Prayer:

Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you a place where, despite the 
blessings of the Lord God, you are indulging in behaviors which do not 
bring glory to him but only pleasure to you.



        Action:

Today I will confess, seek and receive forgiveness, and repent of my 
sin. I will instead focus my attention of serving the Lord God with all 
of my resources and ignore the temptation to misuse my blessings in 
selfish indulgence.


        Be Specific ______________________________________________________



    Thursday's text will be:


      2 Samuel 5:17 ? 6:11



-- 

Draw nearer to the Lord and He will bless you,
Have an http://Ultrafidian.com Day!
David M. Colburn, DMin. MaCo
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Personal Site: http://bibleseven.com
Bible Resources: http://bible.org
Teacher's Verse: John 7:16
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

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From pastordavid at bibleseven.com  Wed Jan 12 18:49:30 2011
From: pastordavid at bibleseven.com (pastordavid at bibleseven.com)
Date: Wed, 12 Jan 2011 18:49:30 -0500
Subject: [Linux4christians] =?windows-1252?q?Thursday_-_2_Samuel_5=3A17_?=
	=?windows-1252?q?=96_6=3A11?=
Message-ID: <4D2E3E0A.9010405@bibleseven.com>


    Thursday


      2 Samuel 5:17 ? 6:11



Conflict with the Philistines

5:17 When the Philistines heard that David had been designated king over 
Israel, they all went up to search for David. When David heard about it, 
he went down to the fortress. 5:18 Now the Philistines had arrived and 
spread out in the valley of Rephaim. 5:19 So David asked the Lord, 
?Should I march up against the Philistines? Will you hand them over to 
me?? The Lord said to David, ?March up, for I will indeed hand the 
Philistines over to you.?

5:20 So David marched against Baal Perazim and defeated them there. Then 
he said, ?The Lord has burst out against my enemies like water bursts 
out.? So he called the name of that place Baal Perazim. 5:21 The 
Philistines abandoned their idols there, and David and his men picked 
them up.

5:22 The Philistines again came up and spread out in the valley of 
Rephaim. 5:23 So David asked the Lord what he should do. This time the 
Lord said to him, ?Don?t march straight up. Instead, circle around 
behind them and come against them opposite the trees. 5:24 When you hear 
the sound of marching in the tops of the trees, act decisively. For at 
that moment the Lord is going before you to strike down the army of the 
Philistines.? 5:25 David did just as the Lord commanded him, and he 
struck down the Philistines from Gibeon all the way to Gezer.

David Brings the Ark to Jerusalem

6:1 David again assembled all the best men in Israel, thirty thousand in 
number. 6:2 David and all the men who were with him traveled to Baalah 
in Judah to bring up from there the ark of God which is called by the 
name of the Lord of hosts, who sits enthroned between the cherubim that 
are on it. 6:3 They loaded the ark of God on a new cart and carried it 
from the house of Abinadab, which was on the hill. Uzzah and Ahio, the 
sons of Abinadab, were guiding the new cart. 6:4 They brought it with 
the ark of God up from the house of Abinadab on the hill. Ahio was 
walking in front of the ark, 6:5 while David and all Israel were 
energetically celebrating before the Lord, singing and playing various 
stringed instruments, tambourines, rattles, and cymbals.

6:6 When they arrived at the threshing floor of Nacon, Uzzah reached out 
and grabbed hold of the ark of God, because the oxen stumbled. 6:7 The 
Lord was so furious with Uzzah, he killed him on the spot for his 
negligence. He died right there beside the ark of God.

6:8 David was angry because the Lord attacked Uzzah; so he called that 
place Perez Uzzah, which remains its name to this very day. 6:9 David 
was afraid of the Lord that day and said, ?How will the ark of the Lord 
ever come to me?? 6:10 So David was no longer willing to bring the ark 
of the Lord to be with him in the City of David. David left it in the 
house of Obed-Edom the Gittite. 6:11 The ark of the Lord remained in the 
house of Obed-Edom the Gittite for three months. The Lord blessed 
Obed-Edom and all his family.



      Prayer


Lord, before we step out in Your name we must always consult You first, 
if we want to be certain we are doing the right thing at the right time 
in the right way. May I be patient and wise and always consult You in 
prayer before every decision as all that I am and all that I do belongs 
to You.


      Commentary


The Philistines heard that David had united Israel as King so they 
gathered to attack. David consulted the Lord God Who told him to attack 
them. He did so and God gave him success against them.

The Philistines regrouped and gathered again to attack. David again 
consulted God Who told him to come around to the side and that He would 
attack the Philistines for him. David did so and God caused the 
Philistines to fall from Gibeon to Gezer, a distance of 25 miles, about 
halfway from Jerusalem roughly west to Joppa on the Mediterranean Sea.


David gathered 30,000 men and traveled to Judah to retrieve the ark of 
God for relocation to Jerusalem. As they traveled he and others played 
instruments and danced in celebration.

Uzzah was among those responsible for transporting the ark of God and 
when the oxen stumbled and the ark was shaken instead of having control 
via the proper carrying bars he grabbed the actual ark. This was 
forbidden to anyone other than the High Priest, and even then under very 
rare circumstances, and thus Uzzah was struck dead.

David was upset because Uzzah was his nephew, so he left the ark of God 
in Nacon (or Kidon) in the house of Obed-Edom the Gittite. The Lord God 
blessed house of Obed-Edom the Gittite for three months.



      Interaction


        Consider

David was blessed in battle, where Saul was not, because he consulted 
the Lord God from a pre-existing relationship ? not merely on those 
occasions when he wanted something from Him.


        Discuss

David should have know the regulations of the Lord God relative to 
contact with the ark of God, why then would he have abandoned the ark 
for three months, rather than mourning the death of his nephew?


        Reflect

The Philistines must have sensed a major change in the balance of power 
with the arrival of David as king.


        Share

When have you realized that you were treating the Lord God like an 
occasional helper, ignoring Him on a daily basis, then expecting Him to 
bless you when you call? How was that not working for you?



      Faith in Action


        Prayer:

Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you some ways that you may improve your 
relationship with the Lord God.



        Action:

Today I will prayerfully cooperate with the Holy Spirit as He transforms 
my careless relationship with the Lord God to a rich daily relationship 
so that He may use me as an instrument of blessings for others. This may 
include more time in His Word, more time in prayer, more time listening 
to music where He is glorified, more time in fellowship with others 
engaged in shared worship and discipleship, more time in 
evangelistic-missions, and/or more time serving others in His name.


        Be Specific ______________________________________________________



    Friday's text will be:


      2 Samuel 6:12 ? 7:17



-- 

Draw nearer to the Lord and He will bless you,
Have an http://Ultrafidian.com Day!
David M. Colburn, DMin. MaCo
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Personal Site: http://bibleseven.com
Bible Resources: http://bible.org
Teacher's Verse: John 7:16
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

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From pastordavid at bibleseven.com  Thu Jan 13 22:08:23 2011
From: pastordavid at bibleseven.com (pastordavid at bibleseven.com)
Date: Thu, 13 Jan 2011 22:08:23 -0500
Subject: [Linux4christians] =?windows-1252?q?Friday_-_2_Samuel_6=3A12_=96_?=
	=?windows-1252?q?7=3A17?=
Message-ID: <4D2FBE27.1040007@bibleseven.com>


    Friday


      2 Samuel 6:12 ? 7:17



6:12 David was told, ?The Lord has blessed the family of Obed-Edom and 
everything he owns because of the ark of God.? So David went and 
joyfully brought the ark of God from the house of Obed-Edom to the City 
of David. 6:13 Those who carried the ark of the Lord took six steps and 
then David sacrificed an ox and a fatling calf. 6:14 Now David, wearing 
a linen ephod, was dancing with all his strength before the Lord. 6:15 
David and all Israel were bringing up the ark of the Lord, shouting and 
blowing trumpets.

6:16 As the ark of the Lord entered the City of David, Saul?s daughter 
Michal looked out the window. When she saw King David leaping and 
dancing before the Lord, she despised him. 6:17 They brought the ark of 
the Lord and put it in its place in the middle of the tent that David 
had pitched for it. Then David offered burnt sacrifices and peace 
offerings before the Lord. 6:18 When David finished offering the burnt 
sacrifices and peace offerings, he pronounced a blessing over the people 
in the name of the Lord of hosts. 6:19 He then handed out to each member 
of the entire assembly of Israel, both men and women, a portion of 
bread, a date cake, and a raisin cake. Then all the people went home. 
6:20 When David went home to pronounce a blessing on his own house, 
Michal, Saul?s daughter, came out to meet him. She said, ?How the king 
of Israel has distinguished himself this day! He has exposed himself 
today before his servants? slave girls the way a vulgar fool might do!?

6:21 David replied to Michal, ?It was before the Lord! I was celebrating 
before the Lord, who chose me over your father and his entire family and 
appointed me as leader over the Lord?s people Israel. 6:22 I am willing 
to shame and humiliate myself even more than this! But with the slave 
girls whom you mentioned let me be distinguished!? 6:23 Now Michal, 
Saul?s daughter, had no children to the day of her death.

The Lord Establishes a Covenant with David

7:1 The king settled into his palace, for the Lord gave him relief from 
all his enemies on all sides. 7:2 The king said to Nathan the prophet, 
?Look! I am living in a palace made from cedar, while the ark of God 
sits in the middle of a tent.? 7:3 Nathan replied to the king, ?You 
should go and do whatever you have in mind, for the Lord is with you.? 
7:4 That night the Lord told Nathan, 7:5 ?Go, tell my servant David: 
?This is what the Lord says: Do you really intend to build a house for 
me to live in? 7:6 I have not lived in a house from the time I brought 
the Israelites up from Egypt to the present day. Instead, I was 
traveling with them and living in a tent. 7:7 Wherever I moved among all 
the Israelites, I did not say to any of the leaders whom I appointed to 
care for my people Israel, ?Why have you not built me a house made from 
cedar???

7:8 ?So now, say this to my servant David: ?This is what the Lord of 
hosts says: I took you from the pasture and from your work as a shepherd 
to make you leader of my people Israel. 7:9 I was with you wherever you 
went, and I defeated all your enemies before you. Now I will make you as 
famous as the great men of the earth. 7:10 I will establish a place for 
my people Israel and settle them there; they will live there and not be 
disturbed any more. Violent men will not oppress them again, as they did 
in the beginning 7:11 and during the time when I appointed judges to 
lead my people Israel. Instead, I will give you relief from all your 
enemies. The Lord declares to you that he himself will build a dynastic 
house for you. 7:12 When the time comes for you to die, I will raise up 
your descendant, one of your own sons, to succeed you, and I will 
establish his kingdom. 7:13 He will build a house for my name, and I 
will make his dynasty permanent. 7:14 I will become his father and he 
will become my son. When he sins, I will correct him with the rod of men 
and with wounds inflicted by human beings. 7:15 But my loyal love will 
not be removed from him as I removed it from Saul, whom I removed from 
before you. 7:16 Your house and your kingdom will stand before me 
permanently; your dynasty will be permanent.?? 7:17 Nathan told David 
all these words that were revealed to him.



      Prayer


Lord, You have consistently asked us to come before You as children, 
innocent or presumption or pride. The world does not understand that and 
never will. May I leave my concerns for worldly approval behind, and 
only think of You, when I enter into praise and worship of You.



      Commentary



After three months David went to bring the ark of God to Jerusalem. 
After the first six steps they offered a sacrifice and following that 
they brought it triumphantly into the city and placed it in a tent 
prepared there for it.

Michal, daughter of Saul and one of the wives of David, saw him dancing 
with joy dressed only in skirt-like and was embarrassed. [Michal had 
been raised in the household of the arrogant, proud, and rebellious King 
Saul; she would have developed a pompous sense of the conduct of members 
of royalty and little of placing the Lord God first. Michal had also 
suffered the indignity of marriage to David, was taken from him by her 
father and given to another man in marriage, then taken back by force by 
David. Seeing David in the streets would have made for an easy 
temptation by the enemy.]

When David had completed the ceremonies and prayers associated with the 
ark's arrival in Jerusalem he went home to bless his household and was 
greeted by an angry and offended Michal. She disrespected him for his 
childlike joy before the God and was made permanently barren by the Lord 
God as a punishment.

David shared with Nathan the prophet his concern that the ark of God was 
in a tent while he lived in a palace. Nathan's first response was that 
since the Lord God was with him then he should do as he desired.

The Lord God corrected Nathan and instead had him tell David that He had 
never asked for a building but had traveled with and blessed His people. 
He promised to bless David and build for him a dynasty, to give a time 
of peace to Israel, and to make him great among the greatest kings. He 
also promised to give David a son who would be an even greater king and 
who would build a house for His name. David's son would be the first 
among a permanent dynasty to never be broken, unlike that of Saul's family.


      Interaction



        Consider

Michal, like her father Saul, appears to have placed the Lord God in a 
small box that suited her needs and preferences and had no room for 
variation from that. She sacrificed many potential blessings as a result.


        Discuss

Given David's history as a shepherd boy who both sang songs to the Lord 
and battled lions with power from Him, then was called to be King but 
hunted like an animal, and was finally at peace in Jerusalem and blessed 
by the presence of the Lord God through the ark of God ? is it any 
surprise that he would burst out in exuberant praise?



        Reflect

God's blessings were always conditioned on obedience, no less so for 
David and Solomon, but for the moment David's eyes and heart were on Him 
and so the pathway of blessing through David to the kingdom was clear.


        Share

When have you experienced a moment of joy and peace which prompted you 
to break out in uncommon praise and worship for the Lord God?



      Faith in Action


        Prayer:

Ask the Holy Spirit to touch your heart in such a way that you will make 
the God-honoring choices that will lead you to a nearer walk with the 
Lord God.



        Action:

Today I will prayerfully search my life for those places where the Holy 
Spirit directs me to seek the Lord's perspectives and His priorities and 
turn away from those of the world. I will flood my environment with 
music of praise and of worship and with His Word. I will give to Him 
more of my creativity, energy, more of my gifts and talents, and more of 
my time. I will recognize His work in my life and thank Him for that. 
And I will make more time for praise and worship, alone and with others.


        Be Specific ______________________________________________________



    Saturday's text will be:


      2 Samuel 7:18 ? 8:18



-- 

Draw nearer to the Lord and He will bless you,
Have an http://Ultrafidian.com Day!
David M. Colburn, DMin. MaCo
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Personal Site: http://bibleseven.com
Bible Resources: http://bible.org
Teacher's Verse: John 7:16
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

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From pastordavid at bibleseven.com  Fri Jan 14 20:27:51 2011
From: pastordavid at bibleseven.com (pastordavid at bibleseven.com)
Date: Fri, 14 Jan 2011 20:27:51 -0500
Subject: [Linux4christians] =?windows-1252?q?Saturday_-_2_Samuel_7=3A18_?=
	=?windows-1252?q?=96_8=3A18?=
Message-ID: <4D30F817.3060608@bibleseven.com>


    Saturday


      2 Samuel 7:18 ? 8:18



David Offers a Prayer to God

7:18 King David went in, sat before the Lord, and said, ?Who am I, O 
Lord God, and what is my family, that you should have brought me to this 
point? 7:19 And you didn?t stop there, O Lord God! You have also spoken 
about the future of your servant?s family. Is this your usual way of 
dealing with men, O Lord God? 7:20 What more can David say to you? You 
have given your servant special recognition, O Lord God! 7:21 For the 
sake of your promise and according to your purpose you have done this 
great thing in order to reveal it to your servant. 7:22 Therefore you 
are great, O Lord God, for there is none like you! There is no God 
besides you! What we have heard is true! 7:23 Who is like your people, 
Israel, a unique nation on the earth? Their God went to claim a nation 
for himself and to make a name for himself! You did great and awesome 
acts for your land, before your people whom you delivered for yourself 
from the Egyptian empire and its gods. 7:24 You made Israel your very 
own people for all time. You, O Lord, became their God. 7:25 So now, O 
Lord God, make this promise you have made about your servant and his 
family a permanent reality. Do as you promised, 7:26 so you may gain 
lasting fame, as people say, ?The Lord of hosts is God over Israel!? The 
dynasty of your servant David will be established before you, 7:27 for 
you, O Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, have told your servant, ?I will 
build you a dynastic house.? That is why your servant has had the 
courage to pray this prayer to you. 7:28 Now, O sovereign Lord, you are 
the true God! May your words prove to be true! You have made this good 
promise to your servant! 7:29 Now be willing to bless your servant?s 
dynasty so that it may stand permanently before you, for you, O 
sovereign Lord, have spoken. By your blessing may your servant?s dynasty 
be blessed on into the future!?

David Subjugates Nearby Nations

8:1 Later David defeated the Philistines and subdued them. David took 
Metheg Ammah from the Philistines. 8:2 He defeated the Moabites. He made 
them lie on the ground and then used a rope to measure them off. He put 
two-thirds of them to death and spared the other third. The Moabites 
became David?s subjects and brought tribute. 8:3 David defeated King 
Hadadezer son of Rehob of Zobah when he came to reestablish his 
authority over the Euphrates River. 8:4 David seized from him 1,700 
charioteers and 20,000 infantrymen. David cut the hamstrings of all but 
a hundred of the chariot horses. 8:5 The Arameans of Damascus came to 
help King Hadadezer of Zobah, but David killed 22,000 of the Arameans. 
8:6 David placed garrisons in the territory of the Arameans of Damascus; 
the Arameans became David?s subjects and brought tribute. The Lord 
protected David wherever he campaigned. 8:7 David took the golden 
shields that belonged to Hadadezer?s servants and brought them to 
Jerusalem. 8:8 From Tebah and Berothai, Hadadezer?s cities, King David 
took a great deal of bronze.

8:9 When King Toi of Hamath heard that David had defeated the entire 
army of Hadadezer, 8:10 he sent his son Joram to King David to extend 
his best wishes and to pronounce a blessing on him for his victory over 
Hadadezer, for Toi had been at war with Hadadezer. He brought with him 
various items made of silver, gold, and bronze. 8:11 King David 
dedicated these things to the Lord, along with the dedicated silver and 
gold that he had taken from all the nations that he had subdued, 8:12 
including Aram, Moab, the Ammonites, the Philistines, and Amelek. This 
also included some of the plunder taken from King Hadadezer son of Rehob 
of Zobah.

8:13 David became famous when he returned from defeating the Arameans in 
the Valley of Salt, he defeated 18,000 in all. 8:14 He placed garrisons 
throughout Edom, and all the Edomites became David?s subjects. The Lord 
protected David wherever he campaigned. 8:15 David reigned over all 
Israel; he guaranteed justice for all his people.

David?s Cabinet

8:16 Joab son of Zeruiah was general in command of the army; Jehoshaphat 
son of Ahilud was secretary; 8:17 Zadok son of Ahitub and Ahimelech son 
of Abiathar were priests; Seraiah was scribe; 8:18 Benaiah son of 
Jehoida supervised the Kerithites and Pelethites; and David?s sons were 
priests.



      Prayer


Lord, none may stand before Your power, and all must eventually kneel 
before You. May I be useful in Your service and always humble in submission.


      Commentary


David prays to the Lord God from a heart overwhelmed with gratefulness 
and surprise. He recites God's blessing of and faithfulness to the 
nation of Israel.

David's prayer is a little odd as he asks the Lord God to keep his 
promise of blessing as though God needed his permission or his request ? 
it may have been that David was so emotional that he thought he needed 
to agree and to ask.

With the power of the Lord God David defeated the enemies of Israel in 
every direction, he took from them plunder which he dedicated to God, 
and he made them subjects who paid tribute.

Among the priests were some of David's own sons.



      Interaction


        Consider

David was wise as he stopped to give praise to the Lord God and also 
gave to Him the first fruits of successful warfare.


        Discuss

Might David have been looking at the example of Saul when he asked God 
to fulfill His promise to bless his descendants?



        Reflect

An ancient Chinese military general quipped ?The enemy of my enemy is my 
friend.? King Toi of Hamath apparently viewed David as such since he had 
been at war with Hadadezer and David had defeated Hadadezer.


        Share

When have you been so emotional in your worship of the Lord God that you 
found yourself asking Him to do things that He had already said He would do?


      Faith in Action


        Prayer:

Ask the Holy Spirit to show you a place in your life where the promises 
of the Lord God have been blessedly fulfilled.



        Action:

Today I will gratefully praise and worship the Lord God for all that He 
has done to fulfill His promises in my life.


        Be Specific ______________________________________________________


             Sunday's text will be: 2 Samuel 9:1-10



-- 

Draw nearer to the Lord and He will bless you,
Have an http://Ultrafidian.com Day!
David M. Colburn, DMin. MaCo
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Personal Site: http://bibleseven.com
Bible Resources: http://bible.org
Teacher's Verse: John 7:16
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

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From dcolburn at bibleseven.com  Mon Jan 17 20:57:59 2011
From: dcolburn at bibleseven.com (dcolburn at bibleseven.com)
Date: Mon, 17 Jan 2011 20:57:59 -0500
Subject: [Linux4christians] =?windows-1252?q?Tuesday_-_2_Samuel_12=3A26_?=
	=?windows-1252?q?=96_13=3A22?=
Message-ID: <4D34F3A7.2030808@bibleseven.com>


    Tuesday


      2 Samuel 12:26 ? 13:22



David?s Forces Defeat the Ammonites

12:26 So Joab fought against Rabbah of the Ammonites and captured the 
royal city. 12:27 Joab then sent messengers to David, saying, ?I have 
fought against Rabbah and have captured the water supply of the city. 
12:28 So now assemble the rest of the army and besiege the city and 
capture it. Otherwise I will capture the city and it will be named for me.?

12:29 So David assembled all the army and went to Rabbah and fought 
against it and captured it. 12:30 He took the crown of their king from 
his head ? it was gold, weighed about seventy-five pounds, and held a 
precious stone ? and it was placed on David?s head. He also took from 
the city a great deal of plunder. 12:31 He removed the people who were 
in it and made them do hard labor with saws, iron picks, and iron axes, 
putting them to work at the brick kiln. This was his policy with all the 
Ammonite cities. Then David and all the army returned to Jerusalem.

The Rape of Tamar

13:1 Now David?s son Absalom had a beautiful sister named Tamar. In the 
course of time David?s son Amnon fell madly in love with her. 13:2 But 
Amnon became frustrated because he was so lovesick over his sister 
Tamar. For she was a virgin, and to Amnon it seemed out of the question 
to do anything to her.

13:3 Now Amnon had a friend named Jonadab, the son of David?s brother 
Shimeah. Jonadab was a very crafty man. 13:4 He asked Amnon, ?Why are 
you, the king?s son, so depressed every morning? Can?t you tell me?? So 
Amnon said to him, ?I?m in love with Tamar the sister of my brother 
Absalom.? 13:5 Jonadab replied to him, ?Lie down on your bed and pretend 
to be sick. When your father comes in to see you, say to him, ?Please 
let my sister Tamar come in so she can fix some food for me. Let her 
prepare the food in my sight so I can watch. Then I will eat from her 
hand.??

13:6 So Amnon lay down and pretended to be sick. When the king came in 
to see him, Amnon said to the king, ?Please let my sister Tamar come in 
so she can make a couple of cakes in my sight. Then I will eat from her 
hand.?

13:7 So David sent Tamar to the house saying, ?Please go to the house of 
Amnon your brother and prepare some food for him.? 13:8 So Tamar went to 
the house of Amnon her brother, who was lying down. She took the dough, 
kneaded it, made some cakes while he watched, and baked them. 13:9 But 
when she took the pan and set it before him, he refused to eat. Instead 
Amnon said, ?Get everyone out of here!? So everyone left.

13:10 Then Amnon said to Tamar, ?Bring the cakes into the bedroom; then 
I will eat from your hand.? So Tamar took the cakes that she had 
prepared and brought them to her brother Amnon in the bedroom. 13:11 As 
she brought them to him to eat, he grabbed her and said to her, ?Come 
on! Get in bed with me, my sister!?

13:12 But she said to him, ?No, my brother! Don?t humiliate me! This 
just isn?t done in Israel! Don?t do this foolish thing! 13:13 How could 
I ever be rid of my humiliation? And you would be considered one of the 
fools in Israel! Just speak to the king, for he will not withhold me 
from you.? 13:14 But he refused to listen to her. He overpowered her and 
humiliated her by raping her. 13:15 Then Amnon greatly despised her. His 
disdain toward her surpassed the love he had previously felt toward her. 
Amnon said to her, ?Get up and leave!?

13:16 But she said to him, ?No I won?t, for sending me away now would be 
worse than what you did to me earlier!? But he refused to listen to her. 
13:17 He called his personal attendant and said to him, ?Take this woman 
out of my sight and lock the door behind her!? 13:18 (Now she was 
wearing a long robe, for this is what the king?s virgin daughters used 
to wear.) So Amnon?s attendant removed her and bolted the door behind 
her. 13:19 Then Tamar put ashes on her head and tore the long robe she 
was wearing. She put her hands on her head and went on her way, wailing 
as she went.

13:20 Her brother Absalom said to her, ?Was Amnon your brother with you? 
Now be quiet, my sister. He is your brother. Don?t take it so 
seriously!? Tamar, devastated, lived in the house of her brother Absalom.

13:21 Now King David heard about all these things and was very angry. 
13:22 But Absalom said nothing to Amnon, either bad or good, yet Absalom 
hated Amnon because he had humiliated his sister Tamar.



      Prayer


Lord, You instruct us to gather within social constructs, because 
without them we quickly regress to very primitive ways of thinking and 
acting. May I pray for our leaders that they might listen to and obey 
You and enforce the law righteously that justice might insure freedom 
and peace.



      Commentary


Joab had finally about overcome the resistance at the Ammonite fortress 
so he sent word for David to lead the final assault so he, not Joab, 
would receive the credit. David did so, the plunder was great, and the 
Ammonites were forced to do heavy labor for Israel.

Meanwhile, one of David's sons was lusting after his half-sister 
(Absolom's sister) and was encouraged to consummate his lust through 
trickery. David believed the lie that Amnon was ill and so he instructed 
Tamar to bring him food. Amnon asked her to feed him and when she came 
near he grabbed and raped her, then sent her away like a cheap whore, 
shaming her.

Absolom took Tamar into his home and was furious with Amnon, but said 
nothing as he nursed his anger. David was angry but did nothing to 
punish Amnon, even though the law required that Amnon be put to death.



      Interaction


        Consider

Joab was careful that David receive credit for the military victory, 
perhaps to avoid the appearance of competing with him as was the 
appearance under Saul when David received credit for major victories, or 
perhaps simply out of respect for him.


        Discuss

Why would David do nothing to Amnon after he raped his half-sister when 
the law required action?



        Reflect

David had already created a problem through his illicit relationship 
with Bathsheba and the murder of Uriah and now he makes it worse by 
failing to enforce the law.


        Share

When have you watched an organization be harmed because a leader failed 
to enforce the law (boundaries, guidelines, laws, rules) with 
consistency and justice?


      Faith in Action


        Prayer:

Ask the Holy Spirit to make you aware of a leader for whom you are to pray.



        Action:

Today I will pray for the leader whom the Holy Spirit brings to my 
attention. I will do so at least once per day for at least a week. I 
will pray for them to listen to the Lord God and to obey Him. I will 
pray that they be convicted by the Holy Spirit of any area where they 
have been careless or venal. And I will pray for my own commitment to 
obey legitimate authority.


        Be Specific ______________________________________________________



    Wednesday's text will be:


      2 Samuel 13:23 - 38



-- 

Draw nearer to the Lord and He will bless you,
Have an http://Ultrafidian.com Day!
David M. Colburn, DMin. MaCo
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Personal Site: http://bibleseven.com
Bible Resources: http://bible.org
Teacher's Verse: John 7:16
Defend free speech or lose your freedom.
I don't google I SEARCH! http://ixquick.com
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

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From dcolburn at bibleseven.com  Tue Jan 18 22:29:07 2011
From: dcolburn at bibleseven.com (dcolburn at bibleseven.com)
Date: Tue, 18 Jan 2011 22:29:07 -0500
Subject: [Linux4christians] Wednesday - 2 Samuel 13:23 - 38
Message-ID: <4D365A83.6070200@bibleseven.com>


    Wednesday


      2 Samuel 13:23 - 38



Absalom Has Amnon Put to Death

13:23 Two years later Absalom's sheepshearers were in Baal Hazor, near 
Ephraim. Absalom invited all the king's sons. 13:24 Then Absalom went to 
the king and said, "My shearers have begun their work. Let the king and 
his servants go with me."

13:25 But the king said to Absalom, "No, my son. We shouldn't all go. We 
shouldn't burden you in that way." Though Absalom pressed him, the king 
was not willing to go. Instead, David blessed him.

13:26 Then Absalom said, "If you will not go, then let my brother Amnon 
go with us." The king replied to him, "Why should he go with you?" 13:27 
But when Absalom pressed him, he sent Amnon and all the king's sons 
along with him.

13:28 Absalom instructed his servants, "Look! When Amnon is drunk and I 
say to you, 'Strike Amnon down,' kill him then and there. Don't fear! Is 
it not I who have given you these instructions? Be strong and 
courageous!" 13:29 So Absalom's servants did to Amnon exactly what 
Absalom had instructed. Then all the king's sons got up; each one rode 
away on his mule and fled.

13:30 While they were still on their way, the following report reached 
David: "Absalom has killed all the king's sons; not one of them is 
left!" 13:31 Then the king stood up and tore his garments and lay down 
on the ground. All his servants were standing there with torn garments 
as well.

13:32 Jonadab, the son of David's brother Shimeah, said, "My lord should 
not say, 'They have killed all the young men who are the king's sons.' 
For only Amnon is dead. This is what Absalom has talked about from the 
day that Amnon humiliated his sister Tamar. 13:33 Now don't let my lord 
the king be concerned about the report that has come saying, 'All the 
king's sons are dead.' It is only Amnon who is dead."

13:34 In the meantime Absalom fled. When the servant who was the 
watchman looked up, he saw many people coming from the west on a road 
beside the hill. 13:35 Jonadab said to the king, "Look! The king's sons 
have come! It's just as I said!"

13:36 Just as he finished speaking, the king's sons arrived, wailing and 
weeping. The king and all his servants wept loudly as well. 13:37 But 
Absalom fled and went to King Talmai son of Ammihud of Geshur. And David 
grieved over his son every day.

13:38 After Absalom fled and went to Geshur, he remained there for three 
years. 13:39 The king longed to go to Absalom, for he had since been 
consoled over the death of Amnon.



      Prayer


Lord, when evil goes unpunished the disease of injustice spreads like 
cancer, which is why in Your perfect wisdom You established a system of 
justice. May I be as willing to submit to justice as I am to seek it for 
others.



      Commentary


Two years after Amnon raped his half-sister Tamor, her brother Absalom 
still seethed in anger, as no justice had been brought to bear upon him 
for the crime by King David.

Amnon was the eldest son of King David, his mother was Ahinoam (from the 
Jezreelites; 2 Sam 3:2).

Absalom schemed to get Amnon out of the palace to the shearing fields 
where he instructed his servants to kill him. The rest of David's sons 
fled in fear.

David first received word that all of his sons had been killed by 
Absalom but then learned that it was only Amnon.

Meanwhile Absalom fled to Geshur, the home of his mother Maacah (one of 
David's wives and an Aramean) and he remained there for three years. 
David mourned Amnon and, after the time had passed, he desired to see 
Absalom to reconcile.



      Interaction


        Consider

When a crime has been committed, and the perpetrator is known, if there 
is no justice it is probable that the victim (or those close to them) 
will seek vigilante justice.


        Discuss

Could David's reluctance to bring justice to bear upon Amnon have been 
because he was his first born son?



        Reflect

David's irresponsible favoritism toward Amnon, a incestuous-rapist, 
created an environment where the enemy poisoned the heart of Absalom 
against both Amnon and King David.


        Share

When have you experience or observed an unpunished offense leading to 
further offenses, actual crimes or perhaps unresolved offenses?



      Faith in Action



        Prayer:

Ask the Holy Spirit to make you aware of an injustice you are 
responsible to make right, or one for which you need to grant 
forgiveness and release to Him.



        Action:

Today I will use my appropriate authority to mediate justice where a 
wrong has been done and has not been properly addressed, it may be in 
the role as parent, coach, educator, ministry leader, judge, or some 
other role. If the injustice has been against me I will walk through the 
process of forgiveness so that the enemy can no longer use it to poison 
my life and perhaps manipulate me into stealing from the Lord God His 
sovereign right to vengeance against those who sin.


        Be Specific ______________________________________________________



    Thursday's text will be:


      2 Samuel 14



-- 

Draw nearer to the Lord and He will bless you,
Have an http://Ultrafidian.com Day!
David M. Colburn, DMin. MaCo
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Personal Site: http://bibleseven.com
Bible Resources: http://bible.org
Teacher's Verse: John 7:16
Defend free speech or lose your freedom.
I don't google I SEARCH! http://ixquick.com
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

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From dcolburn at bibleseven.com  Wed Jan 19 21:20:43 2011
From: dcolburn at bibleseven.com (dcolburn at bibleseven.com)
Date: Wed, 19 Jan 2011 21:20:43 -0500
Subject: [Linux4christians] Thursday - 2 Samuel 14
Message-ID: <4D379BFB.6030202@bibleseven.com>


    Thursday


      2 Samuel 14



David Permits Absalom to Return to Jerusalem

14:1 Now Joab son of Zeruiah realized that the king longed to see 
Absalom. 14:2 So Joab sent to Tekoa and brought from there a wise woman. 
He told her, "Pretend to be in mourning and put on garments for 
mourning. Don't anoint yourself with oil. Instead, act like a woman who 
has been mourning for the dead for some time. 14:3 Go to the king and 
speak to him in the following fashion." Then Joab told her what to say.

14:4 So the Tekoan woman went to the king. She bowed down with her face 
to the ground in deference to him and said, "Please help me, O king!" 
14:5 The king replied to her, "What do you want?" She answered, "I am a 
widow; my husband is dead. 14:6 Your servant has two sons. When the two 
of them got into a fight in the field, there was no one present who 
could intervene. One of them struck the other and killed him. 14:7 Now 
the entire family has risen up against your servant, saying, 'Turn over 
the one who struck down his brother, so that we can execute him and 
avenge the death of his brother whom he killed. In so doing we will also 
destroy the heir.' They want to extinguish my remaining coal, leaving no 
one on the face of the earth to carry on the name of my husband."

14:8 Then the king told the woman, "Go to your home. I will give 
instructions concerning your situation." 14:9 The Tekoan woman said to 
the king, "My lord the king, let any blame fall on me and on the house 
of my father. But let the king and his throne be innocent!"

14:10 The king said, "Bring to me whoever speaks to you, and he won't 
bother you again!" 14:11 She replied, "In that case, let the king invoke 
the name of the Lord your God so that the avenger of blood may not kill! 
Then they will not destroy my son!" He replied, "As surely as the Lord 
lives, not a single hair of your son's head will fall to the ground."

14:12 Then the woman said, "Please permit your servant to speak to my 
lord the king about another matter." He replied, "Tell me." 14:13 The 
woman said, "Why have you devised something like this against God's 
people? When the king speaks in this fashion, he makes himself guilty, 
for the king has not brought back the one he has banished. 14:14 
Certainly we must die, and are like water spilled on the ground that 
cannot be gathered up again. But God does not take away life; instead he 
devises ways for the banished to be restored. 14:15 I have now come to 
speak with my lord the king about this matter, because the people have 
made me fearful. But your servant said, 'I will speak to the king! 
Perhaps the king will do what his female servant asks. 14:16 Yes! The 
king may listen and deliver his female servant from the hand of the man 
who seeks to remove both me and my son from the inheritance God has 
given us!' 14:17 So your servant said, 'May the word of my lord the king 
be my security, for my lord the king is like the angel of God when it 
comes to deciding between right and wrong! May the Lord your God be with 
you!'"

14:18 Then the king replied to the woman, "Don't hide any information 
from me when I question you." The woman said, "Let my lord the king 
speak!" 14:19 The king said, "Did Joab put you up to all of this?" The 
woman answered, "As surely as you live, my lord the king, there is no 
deviation to the right or to the left from all that my lord the king has 
said. For your servant Joab gave me instructions. He has put all these 
words in your servant's mouth. 14:20 Your servant Joab did this so as to 
change this situation. But my lord has wisdom like that of the angel of 
God, and knows everything that is happening in the land."

14:21 Then the king said to Joab, "All right! I will do this thing! Go 
and bring back the young man Absalom! 14:22 Then Joab bowed down with 
his face toward the ground and thanked the king. Joab said, "Today your 
servant knows that I have found favor in your sight, my lord the king, 
because the king has granted the request of your servant!"

14:23 So Joab got up and went to Geshur and brought Absalom back to 
Jerusalem. 14:24 But the king said, "Let him go over to his own house. 
He may not see my face." So Absalom went over to his own house; he did 
not see the king's face.

14:25 Now in all Israel everyone acknowledged that there was no man as 
handsome as Absalom. From the sole of his feet to the top of his head he 
was perfect in appearance. 14:26 When he would shave his head -- at the 
end of every year he used to shave his head, for it grew too long and he 
would shave it -- he used to weigh the hair of his head at three pounds 
according to the king's weight. 14:27 Absalom had three sons and one 
daughter, whose name was Tamar. She was a very attractive woman.

14:28 Absalom lived in Jerusalem for two years without seeing the king's 
face. 14:29 Then Absalom sent a message to Joab asking him to send him 
to the king, but Joab was not willing to come to him. So he sent a 
second message to him, but he still was not willing to come. 14:30 So he 
said to his servants, "Look, Joab has a portion of field adjacent to 
mine and he has some barley there. Go and set it on fire." So Absalom's 
servants set Joab's portion of the field on fire.

14:31 Then Joab got up and came to Absalom's house. He said to him, "Why 
did your servants set my portion of field on fire?" 14:32 Absalom said 
to Joab, "Look, I sent a message to you saying, 'Come here so that I can 
send you to the king with this message: "Why have I come from Geshur? It 
would be better for me if I were still there."' Let me now see the face 
of the king. If I am at fault, let him put me to death!"

14:33 So Joab went to the king and informed him. The king summoned 
Absalom, and he came to the king. Absalom bowed down before the king 
with his face toward the ground and the king kissed him.




      Prayer


Lord, when leaders and people talk all 'religious' but make things up as 
they go and fail to consult You then only confusion results. May I be 
humble and wise enough to always consult You before I make decisions, 
and obedient enough to do things Your way even when I'm not sure I will 
like the results.


      Commentary


David make it known that he wanted to see Absalom but did nothing about 
it so Joab took it upon himself, as he had done in the past, to invent a 
scheme to get Absalom back to Jerusalem.

In a manner somewhat similar to that of Nathan in the matter of 
Bathsheba, Joab instructs a woman to tell a story to David and when he 
agrees, to let him know that the person she wanted returned and 
protected from harm was really Absalom.

David challenges her to admit that Joab put her up to it, and she 
confesses, at which point David calls Joab and instructs him to go and 
bring home Absalom.

Absalom arrives but David refuses to see him. Absalom makes two requests 
to see Joab but is ignored so he has servants set a part of Joab's 
fields on fire, which brings Joab to him angrily demanding to know why.

Absalom explains that he was being ignored by Joab when he needed to get 
a message to King David and that he would rather have remained in Geshur 
than to have traveled to Jerusalem only to be ignored by David. He 
insisted that if he was to be judged then so be it.

Joab delivered his message and the King relented and invited Absalom to 
visit. Absalom arrived and bowed before David.



      Interaction


        Consider

David has created confusion and frustration and has disrespected Absalom 
again.


        Discuss

Could David have been reluctant to see Absalom because he felt guilty 
for not punishing Amnon for the rape of his sister? Or is it that he is 
afraid of being told by the Lord God, or pressured by the people, to 
punish Absalom for vigilante 'justice'?



        Reflect

Joab seems to be the lynch-pin who makes things happen on the 
battlefield, and at home. This it the wrong role for him, it should be 
King David and Nathan the prophet, but David's indecision had created a 
vacuum.


        Share

When have you observed a leader's indecision leading to others filling 
the vacuum and a resulting confusion of authority and of vision?



      Faith in Action


        Prayer:

Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you a place in your life where you may 
not be acting decisively, in consultation with Him, or where a leader 
needs your prayers for the same failure.



        Action:

Today I will prayerfully review my responsibilities as a leader, 
whatever that looks like, be it as a parent, coach, counselor, teacher, 
ministry leader, business leader, political leader, etc. If the Holy 
Spirit shows me a place that I am making decisions without consultation 
with Him, or am avoiding decisions for fear of consequences, I will 
repent and set my path right. If a leader needs my prayers, and 
as-appropriate some words of counsel and encouragement, I will request 
courage and wisdom from the Holy Spirit and do so.


        Be Specific ______________________________________________________



    Friday's text will be:


      2 Samuel 15



-- 

Draw nearer to the Lord and He will bless you,
Have an http://Ultrafidian.com Day!
David M. Colburn, DMin. MaCo
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Personal Site: http://bibleseven.com
Bible Resources: http://bible.org
Teacher's Verse: John 7:16
Defend free speech or lose your freedom.
I don't google I SEARCH! http://ixquick.com
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

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From dcolburn at bibleseven.com  Thu Jan 20 21:07:15 2011
From: dcolburn at bibleseven.com (dcolburn at bibleseven.com)
Date: Thu, 20 Jan 2011 21:07:15 -0500
Subject: [Linux4christians] Friday -  Samuel 15
Message-ID: <4D38EA53.3010704@bibleseven.com>


    Friday


      2 Samuel 15



Absalom Leads an Insurrection against David

15:1 Some time later Absalom managed to acquire a chariot and horses, as 
well as fifty men to serve as his royal guard. 15:2 Now Absalom used to 
get up early and stand beside the road that led to the city gate. 
Whenever anyone came by who had a complaint to bring to the king for 
arbitration, Absalom would call out to him, "What city are you from?" 
The person would answer, "I, your servant, am from one of the tribes of 
Israel." 15:3 Absalom would then say to him, "Look, your claims are 
legitimate and appropriate. But there is no representative of the king 
who will listen to you." 15:4 Absalom would then say, "If only they 
would make me a judge in the land! Then everyone who had a judicial 
complaint could come to me and I would make sure he receives a just 
settlement."

15:5 When someone approached to bow before him, Absalom would extend his 
hand and embrace him and kiss him. 15:6 Absalom acted this way toward 
everyone in Israel who came to the king for justice. In this way Absalom 
won the loyalty of the citizens of Israel.

15:7 After four years Absalom said to the king, "Let me go and repay my 
vow that I made to the Lord while I was in Hebron. 15:8 For I made this 
vow when I was living in Geshur in Aram: 'If the Lord really does allow 
me to return to Jerusalem, I will serve the Lord.'" 15:9 The king 
replied to him, "Go in peace." So Absalom got up and went to Hebron.

15:10 Then Absalom sent spies through all the tribes of Israel who said, 
"When you hear the sound of the horn, you may assume that Absalom rules 
in Hebron." 15:11 Now two hundred men had gone with Absalom from 
Jerusalem. Since they were invited, they went naively and were unaware 
of what Absalom was planning. 15:12 While he was offering sacrifices, 
Absalom sent for Ahithophel the Gilonite, David's adviser, to come from 
his city, Giloh. The conspiracy was gaining momentum, and the people 
were starting to side with Absalom.

David Flees from Jerusalem

15:13 Then a messenger came to David and reported, "The men of Israel 
are loyal to Absalom!" 15:14 So David said to all his servants who were 
with him in Jerusalem, "Come on! Let's escape! Otherwise no one will be 
delivered from Absalom! Go immediately, or else he will quickly overtake 
us and bring disaster on us and kill the city's residents with the 
sword." 15:15 The king's servants replied to the king, "We will do 
whatever our lord the king decides."

15:16 So the king and all the members of his royal court set out on 
foot, though the king left behind ten concubines to attend to the 
palace. 15:17 The king and all the people set out on foot, pausing at a 
spot some distance away. 15:18 All his servants were leaving with him, 
along with all the Kerethites, all the Pelethites, and all the Gittites 
-- some six hundred men who had come on foot from Gath. They were 
leaving with the king.

15:19 Then the king said to Ittai the Gittite, "Why should you come with 
us? Go back and stay with the new king, for you are a foreigner and an 
exile from your own country. 15:20 It seems like you arrived just 
yesterday. Today should I make you wander around by going with us? I go 
where I must go. But as for you, go back and take your men with you. May 
genuine loyal love protect you!"

15:21 But Ittai replied to the king, "As surely as the Lord lives and as 
my lord the king lives, wherever my lord the king is, whether dead or 
alive, there I will be as well!" 15:22 So David said to Ittai, "Come 
along then." So Ittai the Gittite went along, accompanied by all his men 
and all the dependents who were with him.

15:23 All the land was weeping loudly as all these people were leaving. 
As the king was crossing over the Kidron Valley, all the people were 
leaving on the road that leads to the desert. 15:24 Zadok and all the 
Levites who were with him were carrying the ark of the covenant of God. 
When they positioned the ark of God, Abiathar offered sacrifices until 
all the people had finished leaving the city.

15:25 Then the king said to Zadok, "Take the ark of God back to the 
city. If I find favor in the Lord's sight he will bring me back and 
enable me to see both it and his dwelling place again. 15:26 However, if 
he should say, 'I do not take pleasure in you,' then he will deal with 
me in a way that he considers appropriate."

15:27 The king said to Zadok the priest, "Are you a seer? Go back to the 
city in peace! Your son Ahimaaz and Abiathar's son Jonathan may go with 
you and Abiathar. 15:28 Look, I will be waiting at the fords of the 
desert until word from you reaches me." 15:29 So Zadok and Abiathar took 
the ark of God back to Jerusalem and remained there.

15:30 As David was going up the Mount of Olives, he was weeping as he 
went; his head was covered and his feet were bare. All the people who 
were with him also had their heads covered and were weeping as they went 
up. 15:31 Now David had been told, "Ahithophel has sided with the 
conspirators who are with Absalom. So David prayed, "Make the advice of 
Ahithophel foolish, O Lord!"

15:32 When David reached the summit, where he used to worship God, 
Hushai the Arkite met him with his clothes torn and dirt on his head. 
15:33 David said to him, "If you leave with me you will be a burden to 
me. 15:34 But you will be able to counter the advice of Ahithophel if 
you go back to the city and say to Absalom, 'I will be your servant, O 
king! Previously I was your father's servant, and now I will be your 
servant.' 15:35 Zadok and Abiathar the priests will be there with you. 
Everything you hear in the king's palace you must tell Zadok and 
Abiathar the priests. 15:36 Furthermore, their two sons are there with 
them, Zadok's son Ahimaaz and Abiathar's son Jonathan. You must send 
them to me with any information you hear."

15:37 So David's friend Hushai arrived in the city, just as Absalom was 
entering Jerusalem.



      Prayer


Lord, when unresolved bitterness enters the heart of a person it poisons 
them to rebel against all authority, even You. May I be careful to avoid 
bitterness but rather to forgive, reconcile, and restore relationships.



      Commentary


Absalom conspired against his father, King David, and in secret began a 
campaign to replace in him in the hearts of the people. After a while he 
asked for and received David's permission to travel to Hebron.


Absalom took with him his closest associates and 200 others who followed 
David's orders to assist him but who were unaware of his scheme. In 
Hebron Absalom accelerated his plan and when David heard that he was 
planning a coup he gathered 600 men and his closest associates and 
family and fled -- leaving behind 20 concubines to care for the palace.

David instructed the high priest and a few others to remain in Jerusalem 
with the ark of God, requesting that they keep him informed of Absalom's 
activities, and waiting on the Lord God's decision as to who He would 
allow to rule.

David heard that Ahithophel, his former royal adviser, had sided with 
Absalom -- so he asked the Lord God to curse him with bad advice for 
Absalom. David also sent Hushai, his friend and confidant, to make 
himself available to Absalom and to balance the counsel of Ahithophel.


      Interaction


        Consider

Between the poison of bitterness in his heart, and his divided loyalties 
between his mother's original nationality and Israel, Absalom was a 
highly conflicted and confused man.


        Discuss

Why would David flee from Absalom rather than stand and fight, 
especially knowing as he did that he was the Lord's chosen king?



        Reflect

David was confident enough to ask for a curse on Absalom's adviser but 
not to stand his ground and fight Absalom's illegitimate attempted coup.


        Share

When have you observed someone in business, ministry, politics, or a 
relationship allow another person to illegitimately invade their space 
and do nothing, indeed to retreat even though they did not need to do so?



      Faith in Action


        Prayer:

Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal a place where you either need to pray for 
a leader or need to reassess your confidence in God and your willingness 
to stand for the right in His strength.


        Action:

Today I will pray for a leader who needs new courage and wisdom from the 
Lord God. I will also ask a fellow believer to pray in-agreement that I 
will be faithful in standing for truth.


        Be Specific ______________________________________________________



    Saturday's text will be:


      2 Samuel 16



-- 

Draw nearer to the Lord and He will bless you,
Have an http://Ultrafidian.com Day!
David M. Colburn, DMin. MaCo
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Personal Site: http://bibleseven.com
Bible Resources: http://bible.org
Teacher's Verse: John 7:16
Defend free speech or lose your freedom.
I don't google I SEARCH! http://ixquick.com
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

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From dcolburn at bibleseven.com  Fri Jan 21 21:25:16 2011
From: dcolburn at bibleseven.com (dcolburn at bibleseven.com)
Date: Fri, 21 Jan 2011 21:25:16 -0500
Subject: [Linux4christians] Saturday - 2 Samuel 16
Message-ID: <4D3A400C.8020407@bibleseven.com>


    Saturday


      2 Samuel 16



David Receives Gifts from Ziba

16:1 When David had gone a short way beyond the summit, Ziba the servant 
of Mephibosheth was there to meet him. He had a couple of donkeys that 
were saddled, and on them were two hundred loaves of bread, a hundred 
raisin cakes, a hundred baskets of summer fruit, and a container of wine.

16:2 The king asked Ziba, "Why did you bring these things?" Ziba 
replied, "The donkeys are for the king's family to ride on, the loaves 
of bread and the summer fruit are for the attendants to eat, and the 
wine is for those who get exhausted in the desert." 16:3 The king asked, 
"Where is your master's grandson?" Ziba replied to the king, "He remains 
in Jerusalem, for he said, 'Today the house of Israel will give back to 
me my grandfather's kingdom.'" 16:4 The king said to Ziba, "Everything 
that was Mephibosheth's now belongs to you." Ziba replied, "I bow before 
you. May I find favor in your sight, my lord the king."

Shimei Curses David and His Men

16:5 Then King David reached Bahurim. There a man from Saul's extended 
family named Shimei son of Gera came out, yelling curses as he 
approached. 16:6 He threw stones at David and all of King David's 
servants, as well as all the people and the soldiers who were on his 
right and on his left. 16:7 As he yelled curses, Shimei said, "Leave! 
Leave! You man of bloodshed, you wicked man! 16:8 The Lord has punished 
you for all the spilled blood of the house of Saul, in whose place you 
rule. Now the Lord has given the kingdom into the hand of your son 
Absalom. Disaster has overtaken you, for you are a man of bloodshed!"

16:9 Then Abishai son of Zeruiah said to the king, "Why should this dead 
dog curse my lord the king? Let me go over and cut off his head!" 16:10 
But the king said, "What do we have in common, you sons of Zeruiah? If 
he curses because the Lord has said to him, 'Curse David!', who can say 
to him, 'Why have you done this?'" 16:11 Then David said to Abishai and 
to all his servants, "My own son, my very own flesh and blood, is trying 
to take my life. So also now this Benjaminite! Leave him alone so that 
he can curse, for the Lord has spoken to him. 16:12 Perhaps the Lord 
will notice my affliction and this day grant me good in place of his curse."

16:13 So David and his men went on their way. But Shimei kept going 
along the side of the hill opposite him, yelling curses as he threw 
stones and dirt at them. 16:14 The king and all the people who were with 
him arrived exhausted at their destination, where David refreshed himself.

The Advice of Ahithophel

16:15 Now when Absalom and all the men of Israel arrived in Jerusalem, 
Ahithophel was with him. 16:16 When David's friend Hushai the Arkite 
came to Absalom, Hushai said to him, "Long live the king! Long live the 
king!"

16:17 Absalom said to Hushai, "Do you call this loyalty to your friend? 
Why didn't you go with your friend?" 16:18 Hushai replied to Absalom, 
"No, I will be loyal to the one whom the Lord, these people, and all the 
men of Israel have chosen. 16:19 Moreover, whom should I serve? Should 
it not be his son? Just as I served your father, so I will serve you."

16:20 Then Absalom said to Ahithophel, "Give us your advice. What should 
we do?" 16:21 Ahithophel replied to Absalom, "Have sex with your 
father's concubines whom he left to care for the palace. All Israel will 
hear that you have made yourself repulsive to your father. Then your 
followers will be motivated to support you." 16:22 So they pitched a 
tent for Absalom on the roof, and Absalom had sex with his father's 
concubines in the sight of all Israel.

16:23 In those days Ahithophel's advice was considered as valuable as a 
prophetic revelation. Both David and Absalom highly regarded the advice 
of Ahithophel.



      Prayer


Lord, You have warned us that the heart of humankind is deceitful and 
selfish, but that we still share Your blessings and trust You to care 
for us. May I be as generous with what I have received from You as You 
have been with Your loving provision for me.



      Commentary


The handicapped son of Jonathan, Mephibosheth, whom David had treated as 
family and blessed with the gift of all of his father and grandfather 
(Saul's) personal possessions had remained in Jerusalem. Ungrateful and 
greedy, Mephibosheth lusted for the throne and hoped that David's 
departure would result in the return of Saul's family to royal standing 
over Israel.

Ziba, whom David had assigned to care for Mephibosheth's property and 
other resources, had decided that Mephibosheth's actions forfeited them 
to David. Ziba brought food and wine and donkeys to David, and his 
fellow refugees, from those resources.

Along the way a distant relative of Saul cursed David and threw dirt and 
rocks at he and his entourage. One of David's assistants offered to kill 
him, but David chose to ignore him and hope that God would answer his 
curses with blessings.

Meanwhile Absalom arrived in Jerusalem and was greeted by Hushai. 
Although initially suspicious he trusted Ahithophel's counsel to accept 
Hushai.

Absalom also asked Ahithophel how to solidify his power and was told by 
Ahithophel to publicly rape David's twenty concubines, which he did, as 
he valued Ahithophel's counsel as David did -- as if Ahithophel was a 
prophet (which he was not).



      Interaction


        Consider

The text does not say so explicitly, but Ahithophel may have been the 
instigator of some of David's poor choices in the matter of Absalom, 
Amnon, and Tamar.


        Discuss

How powerful must the evil influences in Saul's life that even after 
David was so kind to Mephibosheth he still turned against David at the 
first opportunity?



        Reflect

The Lord God blessed David with the fruits of Saul's grandson 
Mephibosheth, through Ziba, because David had so generously supplied 
them to Mephibosheth.


        Share

When have you experienced or observed blessings coming from an 
unexpected source at just the right moment?



      Faith in Action


        Prayer:

Ask the Holy Spirit to be a blessing to someone in need as the resources 
He has given you are not yours alone but are intended to bless brothers 
and sisters in Christ as well.



        Action:

Today I will generously share from the bounty, great or small, which the 
Lord has given me. I will do so quietly, without need for public 
recognition, and will pray that the brother or sister in Christ will 
bless others in the same way when given the opportunity.


        Be Specific ______________________________________________________



             Sunday's text will be: 2 Samuel 17


-- 

Draw nearer to the Lord and He will bless you,
Have an http://Ultrafidian.com Day!
David M. Colburn, DMin. MaCo
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Personal Site: http://bibleseven.com
Bible Resources: http://bible.org
Teacher's Verse: John 7:16
Defend free speech or lose your freedom.
I don't google I SEARCH! http://ixquick.com
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

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From dcolburn at bibleseven.com  Sat Jan 22 20:41:11 2011
From: dcolburn at bibleseven.com (dcolburn at bibleseven.com)
Date: Sat, 22 Jan 2011 20:41:11 -0500
Subject: [Linux4christians] Sunday - 2 Samuel 17
Message-ID: <4D3B8737.6010407@bibleseven.com>


    Sunday


      2 Samuel 17



The Death of Ahithophel

17:1 Ahithophel said to Absalom, "Let me pick out twelve thousand men. 
Then I will go and pursue David this very night. 17:2 When I catch up 
with him he will be exhausted and worn out. I will rout him, and the 
entire army that is with him will flee. I will kill only the king 17:3 
and will bring the entire army back to you. In exchange for the life of 
the man you are seeking, you will get back everyone. The entire army 
will return unharmed."

17:4 This seemed like a good idea to Absalom and to all the leaders of 
Israel. 17:5 But Absalom said, "Call for Hushai the Arkite, and let's 
hear what he has to say." 17:6 So Hushai came to Absalom. Absalom said 
to him, "Here is what Ahithophel has advised. Should we follow his 
advice? If not, what would you recommend?"

17:7 Hushai replied to Absalom, "Ahithophel's advice is not sound this 
time." 17:8 Hushai went on to say, "You know your father and his men -- 
they are soldiers and are as dangerous as a bear out in the wild that 
has been robbed of her cubs. Your father is an experienced soldier; he 
will not stay overnight with the army. 17:9 At this very moment he is 
hiding out in one of the caves or in some other similar place. If it 
should turn out that he attacks our troops first, whoever hears about it 
will say, 'Absalom's army has been slaughtered!' 17:10 If that happens 
even the bravest soldier -- one who is lion-hearted -- will virtually 
melt away. For all Israel knows that your father is a warrior and that 
those who are with him are brave. 17:11 My advice therefore is this: Let 
all Israel from Dan to Beer Sheba -- in number like the sand by the sea! 
-- be mustered to you, and you lead them personally into battle. 17:12 
We will come against him wherever he happens to be found. We will 
descend on him like the dew falls on the ground. Neither he nor any of 
the men who are with him will be spared alive -- not one of them! 17:13 
If he regroups in a city, all Israel will take up ropes to that city and 
drag it down to the valley, so that not a single pebble will be left there!"

17:14 Then Absalom and all the men of Israel said, "The advice of Hushai 
the Arkite sounds better than the advice of Ahithophel." Now the Lord 
had decided to frustrate the sound advice of Ahithophel, so that the 
Lord could bring disaster on Absalom.

17:15 Then Hushai reported to Zadok and Abiathar the priests, "Here is 
what Ahithophel has advised Absalom and the leaders of Israel to do, and 
here is what I have advised. 17:16 Now send word quickly to David and 
warn him, "Don't spend the night at the fords of the desert tonight. 
Instead, be sure you cross over, or else the king and everyone who is 
with him may be overwhelmed."

17:17 Now Jonathan and Ahimaaz were staying in En Rogel. A female 
servant would go and inform them, and they would then go and inform King 
David. It was not advisable for them to be seen going into the city. 
17:18 But a young man saw them on one occasion and informed Absalom. So 
the two of them quickly departed and went to the house of a man in 
Bahurim. There was a well in his courtyard, and they got down in it. 
17:19 His wife then took the covering and spread it over the top of the 
well and scattered some grain over it. No one was aware of what she had 
done.

17:20 When the servants of Absalom approached the woman at her home, 
they asked, "Where are Ahimaaz and Jonathan?" The woman replied to them, 
"They crossed over the stream." Absalom's men searched but did not find 
them, so they returned to Jerusalem.

17:21 After the men had left, Ahimaaz and Jonathan climbed out of the 
well. Then they left and informed King David. They advised David, "Get 
up and cross the stream quickly, for Ahithophel has devised a plan to 
catch you." 17:22 So David and all the people who were with him got up 
and crossed the Jordan River. By dawn there was not one person left who 
had not crossed the Jordan.

17:23 When Ahithophel realized that his advice had not been followed, he 
saddled his donkey and returned to his house in his hometown. After 
setting his household in order, he hanged himself. So he died and was 
buried in the grave of his father.

17:24 Meanwhile David had gone to Mahanaim, while Absalom and all the 
men of Israel had crossed the Jordan River. 17:25 Absalom had made Amasa 
general in command of the army in place of Joab. (Now Amasa was the son 
of an Israelite man named Jether, who had married Abigail the daughter 
of Nahash and sister of Zeruiah, Joab's mother.) 17:26 The army of 
Israel and Absalom camped in the land of Gilead.

17:27 When David came to Mahanaim, Shobi the son of Nahash from Rabbah 
of the Ammonites, Makir the son of Ammiel from Lo Debar, and Barzillai 
the Gileadite from Rogelim 17:28 brought bedding, basins, and pottery 
utensils. They also brought food for David and all who were with him, 
including wheat, barley, flour, roasted grain, beans, lentils, 17:29 
honey, curds, flocks, and cheese. For they said, "The people are no 
doubt hungry, tired, and thirsty there in the desert."



      Prayer


Lord, Absalom was attacking Your chosen King, the outcome was certain to 
be bad for him. May I take care to prayerfully consult the Holy Spirit 
so that I do not find myself in hopeless contradiction to Your will, my 
Lord God.



      Commentary



Ahithophel offered to pursue David and his men into the desert while 
they were still exhausted from their flight from Jerusalem. He said he 
would kill David and that David's men would return to Jerusalem and 
serve Absalom.

Ahithophel then challenged Absalom to ask Hushai what he would do. 
Hushai persuaded Absalom to distrust Ahithophel's advice and to instead 
undertake a much more grand scheme that would feature him as the leader 
of military victory rather than Ahithophel.

Absalom, predictably, chose Hushai's scheme and when Ahithophel heard he 
was so devastated that he traveled home. "/After setting his household 
in order, he hanged himself./"

Meanwhile Hushai sent word to David of Absalom's plans and so David 
relocated, first across the Jordan, and when Absalom and the army of 
Israel followed and camped in Gilead David relocated again, this time to 
Mahanaim.

Absalom and his army would have traveled a great distance North and East 
to Gilead, David's relocation to Mahanaim would have placed him further 
South and nearer to Jerusalem than Absalom.



      Interaction


        Consider

David's plan to frustrate the counsel of Ahithophel to Absalom via 
Hushai worked as planned and the proud Ahithophel could not bear the 
shame of being ignored.


        Discuss

Why would Absalom, after acknowledging the truth in Ahithophel's advice 
that David and his men would be tired and therefore more vulnerable, not 
notice that Hushai's advice would cause he and his men to be equally so 
after chasing him such a distance?



        Reflect

Hushai was apparently a better student of Absalom's character than 
Ahithophel as he quickly discerned that Absalom could easily be 
manipulated through his ego and lust for power. Ahithophel was 
apparently focused only on giving practical advice, without regard to 
the person whom he was advising, and he presumed that his advice would 
automatically be accepted due to his reputation.


        Share

When have you experienced or observed an appeal to ego causing a leader 
to choose poor advice over good?



      Faith in Action


        Prayer:

Ask the Holy Spirit to direct you in prayers of frustration for leaders 
who are working in rebellion against You, and for wisdom and protection 
for those who honor and seek after Your will. Ask Him also to reveal a 
place in your life where you are not being fully obedient.



        Action:

Today I will prayerfully open my heart and mind to the Holy Spirit so 
that He may show me where I have drifted from the Lord's plan, in great 
or small ways, and I will partner with Him to return to the right 
course. I will also pray for leaders as He directs.


        Be Specific ______________________________________________________



    Monday's text will be:


      2 Samuel 18-19:8



-- 

Draw nearer to the Lord and He will bless you,
Have an http://Ultrafidian.com Day!
David M. Colburn, DMin. MaCo
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Personal Site: http://bibleseven.com
Bible Resources: http://bible.org
Teacher's Verse: John 7:16
Defend free speech or lose your freedom.
I don't google I SEARCH! http://ixquick.com
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

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From dcolburn at bibleseven.com  Sun Jan 23 19:51:52 2011
From: dcolburn at bibleseven.com (dcolburn at bibleseven.com)
Date: Sun, 23 Jan 2011 19:51:52 -0500
Subject: [Linux4christians] Monday - 2 Samuel 18-19:8
Message-ID: <4D3CCD28.8000507@bibleseven.com>


    Monday


      2 Samuel 18-19:8



The Death of Absalom

18:1 David assembled the army that was with him. He appointed leaders of 
thousands and leaders of hundreds. 18:2 David then sent out the army -- 
a third under the leadership of Joab, a third under the leadership of 
Joab's brother Abishai son of Zeruiah, and a third under the leadership 
of Ittai the Gittite. The king said to the troops, "I too will indeed 
march out with you."

18:3 But the soldiers replied, "You should not do this! For if we should 
have to make a rapid retreat, they won't be too concerned about us. Even 
if half of us should die, they won't be too concerned about us. But you 
are like ten thousand of us! So it is better if you remain in the city 
for support." 18:4 Then the king said to them, "I will do whatever seems 
best to you."

So the king stayed beside the city gate, while all the army marched out 
by hundreds and by thousands. 18:5 The king gave this order to Joab, 
Abishai, and Ittai: "For my sake deal gently with the young man 
Absalom." Now the entire army was listening when the king gave all the 
leaders this order concerning Absalom.

18:6 Then the army marched out to the field to fight against Israel. The 
battle took place in the forest of Ephraim. 18:7 The army of Israel was 
defeated there by David's men. The slaughter there was great that day -- 
20,000 soldiers were killed. 18:8 The battle there was spread out over 
the whole area, and the forest consumed more soldiers than the sword 
devoured that day.

18:9 Then Absalom happened to come across David's men. Now as Absalom 
was riding on his mule, it went under the branches of a large oak tree. 
His head got caught in the oak and he was suspended in midair, while the 
mule he had been riding kept going.

18:10 When one of the men saw this, he reported it to Joab saying, "I 
saw Absalom hanging in an oak tree. 18:11 Joab replied to the man who 
was telling him this, "What! You saw this? Why didn't you strike him 
down right on the spot? I would have given you ten pieces of silver and 
a commemorative belt!"

18:12 The man replied to Joab, "Even if I were receiving a thousand 
pieces of silver, I would not strike the king's son! In our very 
presence the king gave this order to you and Abishai and Ittai, 'Protect 
the young man Absalom for my sake.' 18:13 If I had acted at risk of my 
own life -- and nothing is hidden from the king! -- you would have 
abandoned me."

18:14 Joab replied, "I will not wait around like this for you!" He took 
three spears in his hand and thrust them into the middle of Absalom 
while he was still alive in the middle of the oak tree. 18:15 Then ten 
soldiers who were Joab's armor bearers struck Absalom and finished him off.

18:16 Then Joab blew the trumpet and the army turned back from chasing 
Israel, for Joab had called for the army to halt. 18:17 They took 
Absalom, threw him into a large pit in the forest, and stacked a huge 
pile of stones over him. In the meantime all the Israelite soldiers fled 
to their homes.

18:18 Prior to this Absalom had set up a monument and dedicated it to 
himself in the King's Valley, reasoning "I have no son who will carry on 
my name." He named the monument after himself, and to this day it is 
known as Absalom's Memorial.

David Learns of Absalom's Death

18:19 Then Ahimaaz the son of Zadok said, "Let me run and give the king 
the good news that the Lord has vindicated him before his enemies." 
18:20 But Joab said to him, "You will not be a bearer of good news 
today. You will bear good news some other day, but not today, for the 
king's son is dead."

18:21 Then Joab said to the Cushite, "Go and tell the king what you have 
seen." After bowing to Joab, the Cushite ran off. 18:22 Ahimaaz the son 
of Zadok again spoke to Joab, "Whatever happens, let me go after the 
Cushite." But Joab said, "Why is it that you want to go, my son? You 
have no good news that will bring you a reward." 18:23 But he said, 
"Whatever happens, I want to go!" So Joab said to him, "Then go!" So 
Ahimaaz ran by the way of the Jordan plain, and he passed the Cushite.

18:24 Now David was sitting between the inner and outer gates, and the 
watchman went up to the roof over the gate at the wall. When he looked, 
he saw a man running by himself. 18:25 So the watchman called out and 
informed the king. The king said, "If he is by himself, he brings good 
news." The runner came ever closer.

18:26 Then the watchman saw another man running. The watchman called out 
to the gatekeeper, "There is another man running by himself." The king 
said, "This one also is bringing good news." 18:27 The watchman said, 
"It appears to me that the first runner is Ahimaaz son of Zadok." The 
king said, "He is a good man, and he comes with good news."

18:28 Then Ahimaaz called out and said to the king, "Greetings!" He 
bowed down before the king with his face toward the ground and said, 
"May the Lord your God be praised because he has defeated the men who 
opposed my lord the king!"

18:29 The king replied, "How is the young man Absalom?" Ahimaaz replied, 
"I saw a great deal of confusion when Joab was sending the king's 
servant and me, your servant, but I don't know what it was all about." 
18:30 The king said, "Turn aside and take your place here." So he turned 
aside and waited.

18:31 Then the Cushite arrived and said, "May my lord the king now 
receive the good news! The Lord has vindicated you today and delivered 
you from the hand of all who have rebelled against you!" 18:32 The king 
asked the Cushite, "How is the young man Absalom?" The Cushite replied, 
"May the enemies of my lord the king and all who have plotted against 
you be like that young man!"

18:33 (19:1) The king then became very upset. He went up to the upper 
room over the gate and wept. As he went he said, "My son, Absalom! My 
son, my son, Absalom! If only I could have died in your place! Absalom, 
my son, my son!"

19:1 (19:2) Joab was told, "The king is weeping and mourning over 
Absalom." 19:2 So the victory of that day was turned to mourning as far 
as all the people were concerned. For the people heard on that day, "The 
king is grieved over his son." 19:3 That day the people stole away to go 
to the city the way people who are embarrassed steal away in fleeing 
from battle. 19:4 The king covered his face and cried out loudly, "My 
son, Absalom! Absalom, my son, my son!"

19:5 So Joab visited the king at his home. He said, "Today you have 
embarrassed all your servants who have saved your life this day, as well 
as the lives of your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your 
concubines. 19:6 You seem to love your enemies and hate your friends! 
For you have as much as declared today that leaders and servants don't 
matter to you. I realize now that if Absalom were alive and all of us 
were dead today, it would be all right with you. 19:7 So get up now and 
go out and give some encouragement to your servants. For I swear by the 
Lord that if you don't go out there, not a single man will stay here 
with you tonight! This disaster will be worse for you than any disaster 
that has overtaken you from your youth right to the present time!"

19:8 So the king got up and sat at the city gate. When all the people 
were informed that the king was sitting at the city gate, they all came 
before him.



      Prayer


Lord, while great harm may be done by those who oppose You, in the end 
they will fail. May I be watchful that I am not drawn into alliance with 
those who oppose You, in major or in minor ways.



      Commentary


David sent out three commanders, each of one-third of the huge army that 
had gathered around him. He instructed them to do their best but to 
avoid harm to Absalom.

The Lord God gave David the victory, using the forest as a weapon to 
kill more of Absalom's army than did the swords of David's army.

Absalom was also caught-up in the branches of a tree and swept off his 
donkey. Soldiers saw him and told Joab who was angry they had not killed 
him -- but they reminded him that David had asked that Absalom be 
protected -- and that they believed Joab would not have defended them 
had they killed Absalom.

Joab stuck three spears into Absalom's stomach and then his ten armor 
bearers killed him with their swords, then buried him under rocks.

When David heard the news he went into mourning and Absalom's army fled 
to their homes. Joab challenged David for creating a new crisis as he 
appeared to value Absalom his enemy more than the faithful soldiers, 
merely because he was one of his sons.

David understood the threat to his credibility and went to the city gate 
where people came to see him.



      Interaction


        Consider

David continued to be protected by the Lord God despite his self-focused 
foolishness. His series of irresponsible choices led to the death of his 
son Absalom and 20,000 soldiers as well as a fracturing of the loyalties 
within the nation of Israel.


        Discuss

Why did it take the hard-bitten military man, Joab, to get David to see 
what was obvious about his pouting over Absalom?



        Reflect

David did bear significant responsibility for creating the circumstances 
of Absalom's resentment, and an opportunity for the enemy to manipulate 
that into a civil war, but in the end Absalom was a man who chose to 
attack the Lord's anointed -- David -- and therefore was doomed by his 
own decision. The kingdom was not about David but God's chosen people, 
Israel.


        Share

When have you observed a leader who was so self-absorbed with their own 
"stuff" that they followed one poor decision with another and sometimes 
dishonored or disrespected those who served alongside of them?



      Faith in Action



        Prayer:

Ask the Holy Spirit to show you a decision that you have made that may 
have sparked resentment in another.



        Action:

Today I will prayerfully consult the Holy Spirit and receive direction 
as to a wrong I have done that needs to be made right. It may be a harsh 
word said in anger, an unfairness to an employee, an insensitivity to a 
child or spouse, a financial dealing that was improper in some way, or 
some other place where the love of self was more in evidence than that 
of the Lord being poured out through me into the life of another. I will 
confess, repent, ask forgiveness, make restitution (as may be 
appropriate), and invest in the ministry of reconciliation.


        Be Specific ______________________________________________________



    Tuesday's text will be:


      2 Samuel 19:9-43



-- 

Draw nearer to the Lord and He will bless you,
Have an http://Ultrafidian.com Day!
David M. Colburn, DMin. MaCo
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Personal Site: http://bibleseven.com
Bible Resources: http://bible.org
Teacher's Verse: John 7:16
Defend free speech or lose your freedom.
I don't google I SEARCH! http://ixquick.com
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

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From fmiller at lightlink.com  Mon Jan 24 00:49:34 2011
From: fmiller at lightlink.com (Fred A. Miller)
Date: Mon, 24 Jan 2011 00:49:34 -0500
Subject: [Linux4christians] Ubuntu opts for LibreOffice over Oracle's
	OpenOffice
Message-ID: <4D3D12EE.1050809@lightlink.com>

The Ubuntu <http://www.ubuntu.com> developers met last week in Dallas to
make final design decisions about the popular Linux distribution's
features and decided to use LibreOffice <http://www.libreoffice.org> for
its office suite.

This comes as no surprise to Ubuntu watchers. Canonical
<http://www.canonical.com> founder Mark Shuttleworth told me back when
LibreOffice developers were forking away from Oracle's OpenOffice
<http://practical-tech.com/development/the-openoffice-fork-is-officially-here/>
had told me that, "The Ubuntu Project will be pleased to ship
LibreOffice
<http://practical-tech.com/development/openoffice-goes-its-own-way/>
from The Document Foundation <http://www.documentfoundation.org/> in
future releases of Ubuntu." It wasn't a sure thing though that Ubuntu
11.04, aka Natty Narwhal, due out on April 28th, would have LibreOffice.
It is now.


http://www.zdnet.com/blog/open-source/ubuntu-opts-for-libreoffice-over-oracles-openoffice/8122


-- 
"Those who hammer their guns into plows will plow for those who do not."
Thomas Jefferson

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From reece.sherman at gmail.com  Mon Jan 24 05:08:03 2011
From: reece.sherman at gmail.com (Reece Sherman)
Date: Mon, 24 Jan 2011 04:08:03 -0600
Subject: [Linux4christians] (no subject)
Message-ID: <AANLkTin4v4R7oCqb7rfZhCTYjdZ3tqwMWRVGePiRUajR@mail.gmail.com>

http%3A%2F%2Ftaylorfhlouisville%2Ecom%2Fimages%2Fasa%2Ephp

From reece.sherman at gmail.com  Mon Jan 24 14:01:28 2011
From: reece.sherman at gmail.com (Reece Sherman)
Date: Mon, 24 Jan 2011 13:01:28 -0600
Subject: [Linux4christians] (no subject)
In-Reply-To: <2CCEDA84-4CA1-445D-8A8C-324FE66490A9@aol.com>
References: <AANLkTin4v4R7oCqb7rfZhCTYjdZ3tqwMWRVGePiRUajR@mail.gmail.com>
	<2CCEDA84-4CA1-445D-8A8C-324FE66490A9@aol.com>
Message-ID: <AANLkTinrzQttpUDHO6myfCS7g6vB2trGsy=wYLajjJ_4@mail.gmail.com>

I didn't send must be virus


On Mon, Jan 24, 2011 at 11:17 AM, Dewey <jbjboa325 at aol.com> wrote:

> ???
>
> Sent from my iPhone
>
> On Jan 24, 2011, at 3:08 AM, Reece Sherman <reece.sherman at gmail.com>
> wrote:
>
> > http%3A%2F%2Ftaylorfhlouisville%2Ecom%2Fimages%2Fasa%2Ephp
>
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From preston.lists at gmail.com  Mon Jan 24 14:13:54 2011
From: preston.lists at gmail.com (Preston Boyington)
Date: Mon, 24 Jan 2011 13:13:54 -0600
Subject: [Linux4christians] (no subject)
In-Reply-To: <AANLkTinrzQttpUDHO6myfCS7g6vB2trGsy=wYLajjJ_4@mail.gmail.com>
References: <AANLkTin4v4R7oCqb7rfZhCTYjdZ3tqwMWRVGePiRUajR@mail.gmail.com>	<2CCEDA84-4CA1-445D-8A8C-324FE66490A9@aol.com>
	<AANLkTinrzQttpUDHO6myfCS7g6vB2trGsy=wYLajjJ_4@mail.gmail.com>
Message-ID: <4D3DCF72.5070107@gmail.com>

I've seen this from several gmail people.  although gmail is very 
popular so I'm not pointing fingers.

Reece Sherman wrote:
> I didn't send must be virus
> 
> 
> On Mon, Jan 24, 2011 at 11:17 AM, Dewey <jbjboa325 at aol.com 
> <mailto:jbjboa325 at aol.com>> wrote:
> 
>     ???
> 
>     Sent from my iPhone
> 
>     On Jan 24, 2011, at 3:08 AM, Reece Sherman <reece.sherman at gmail.com
>     <mailto:reece.sherman at gmail.com>> wrote:
> 
>      > http%3A%2F%2Ftaylorfhlouisville%2Ecom%2Fimages%2Fasa%2Ephp
> 
> 
> 
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
> 
> _______________________________________________
> Linux4christians mailing list
> Linux4christians at thelinuxlink.net
> http://www.thelinuxlink.net/mailman/listinfo/linux4christians


-- 

Arrant Drivel - really, it's just trash...
http://www.arrantdrivel.com/

Where the road takes me - a highwayman's perspective
http://www.prestonboyington.com/

From dcolburn at bibleseven.com  Mon Jan 24 22:56:34 2011
From: dcolburn at bibleseven.com (dcolburn at bibleseven.com)
Date: Mon, 24 Jan 2011 22:56:34 -0500
Subject: [Linux4christians] Tuesday - 2 Samuel 19:9-43
Message-ID: <4D3E49F2.6020403@bibleseven.com>


    Tuesday


      2 Samuel 19:9-43



David Goes Back to Jerusalem

But the Israelite soldiers had all fled to their own homes. 19:9 All the 
people throughout all the tribes of Israel were arguing among themselves 
saying, "The king delivered us from the hand of our enemies. He rescued 
us from the hand of the Philistines, but now he has fled from the land 
because of Absalom. 19:10 But Absalom, whom we anointed as our king, has 
died in battle. So now why do you hesitate to bring the king back?"

19:11 Then King David sent a message to Zadok and Abiathar the priests 
saying, "Tell the elders of Judah, 'Why should you delay any further in 
bringing the king back to his palace, when everything Israel is saying 
has come to the king's attention. 19:12 You are my brothers -- my very 
own flesh and blood! Why should you delay any further in bringing the 
king back?' 19:13 Say to Amasa, 'Are you not my flesh and blood? God 
will punish me severely, if from this time on you are not the commander 
of my army in place of Joab!'"

19:14 He won over the hearts of all the men of Judah as though they were 
one man. Then they sent word to the king saying, "Return, you and all 
your servants as well." 19:15 So the king returned and came to the 
Jordan River.

Now the people of Judah had come to Gilgal to meet the king and to help 
him cross the Jordan. 19:16 Shimei son of Gera the Benjaminite from 
Bahurim came down quickly with the men of Judah to meet King David. 
19:17 There were a thousand men from Benjamin with him, along with Ziba 
the servant of Saul's household, and with him his fifteen sons and 
twenty servants. They hurriedly crossed the Jordan within sight of the 
king. 19:18 They crossed at the ford in order to help the king's 
household cross and to do whatever he thought appropriate.

Now after he had crossed the Jordan, Shimei son of Gera threw himself 
down before the king. 19:19 He said to the king, "Don't think badly of 
me, my lord, and don't recall the sin of your servant on the day when 
you, my lord the king, left Jerusalem! Please don't call it to mind! 
19:20 For I, your servant, know that I sinned, and I have come today as 
the first of all the house of Joseph to come down to meet my lord the king."

19:21 Abishai son of Zeruiah replied, "For this should not Shimei be put 
to death? After all, he cursed the Lord's anointed!" 19:22 But David 
said, "What do we have in common, you sons of Zeruiah? You are like my 
enemy today! Should anyone be put to death in Israel today? Don't you 
realize that today I am king over Israel?" 19:23 The king said to 
Shimei, "You won't die." The king vowed an oath concerning this.

19:24 Now Mephibosheth, Saul's grandson, came down to meet the king. 
 From the day the king had left until the day he safely returned, 
Mephibosheth had not cared for his feet nor trimmed his mustache nor 
washed his clothes.

19:25 When he came from Jerusalem to meet the king, the king asked him, 
"Why didn't you go with me, Mephibosheth?" 19:26 He replied, "My lord 
the king, my servant deceived me! I said, 'Let me get my donkey saddled 
so that I can ride on it and go with the king,' for I am lame. 19:27 But 
my servant has slandered me to my lord the king. But my lord the king is 
like an angel of God. Do whatever seems appropriate to you. 19:28 After 
all, there was no one in the entire house of my grandfather who did not 
deserve death from my lord the king. But instead you allowed me to eat 
at your own table! What further claim do I have to ask the king for 
anything?"

19:29 Then the king replied to him, "Why should you continue speaking 
like this? You and Ziba will inherit the field together." 19:30 
Mephibosheth said to the king, "Let him have the whole thing! My lord 
the king has returned safely to his house!"

19:31 Now when Barzillai the Gileadite had come down from Rogelim, he 
crossed the Jordan with the king so he could send him on his way from 
there. 19:32 But Barzillai was very old -- eighty years old, in fact -- 
and he had taken care of the king when he stayed in Mahanaim, for he was 
a very rich man. 19:33 So the king said to Barzillai, "Cross over with 
me, and I will take care of you while you are with me in Jerusalem."

19:34 Barzillai replied to the king, "How many days do I have left to my 
life, that I should go up with the king to Jerusalem? 19:35 I am 
presently eighty years old. Am I able to discern good and bad? Can I 
taste what I eat and drink? Am I still able to hear the voices of male 
and female singers? Why should I continue to be a burden to my lord the 
king? 19:36 I will cross the Jordan with the king and go a short 
distance. Why should the king reward me in this way? 19:37 Let me return 
so that I may die in my own city near the grave of my father and my 
mother. But look, here is your servant Kimham. Let him cross over with 
my lord the king. Do for him whatever seems appropriate to you."

19:38 The king replied, "Kimham will cross over with me, and I will do 
for him whatever I deem appropriate. And whatever you choose, I will do 
for you."

19:39 So all the people crossed the Jordan, as did the king. After the 
king had kissed him and blessed him, Barzillai returned to his home. 
19:40 When the king crossed over to Gilgal, Kimham crossed over with 
him. Now all the soldiers of Judah along with half of the soldiers of 
Israel had helped the king cross over.

19:41 Then all the men of Israel began coming to the king. They asked 
the king, "Why did our brothers, the men of Judah, sneak the king away 
and help the king and his household cross the Jordan -- and not only him 
but all of David's men as well?"

19:42 All the men of Judah replied to the men of Israel, "Because the 
king is our close relative! Why are you so upset about this? Have we 
eaten at the king's expense? Or have we misappropriated anything for our 
own use?" 19:43 The men of Israel replied to the men of Judah, "We have 
ten shares in the king, and we have a greater claim on David than you 
do! Why do you want to curse us? Weren't we the first to suggest 
bringing back our king?" But the comments of the men of Judah were more 
severe than those of the men of Israel.



      Prayer


Lord, You bring good from what the enemy has used to bring evil, but sin 
always has negative consequences. May I be careful that I not presume 
that carelessness on my part, though forgiven and redeemed by You, will 
have no bad consequences for me and for others.



      Commentary


David sent word to the leaders of the tribes who represented the 
somewhat divided original Israel, still bearing the name Israel, as he 
had fled Jerusalem primarily in the company of those who had become 
identified and Judah -- he asked them to make clear his way to Jerusalem.

The leaders of the Israelite tribes welcomed him home and greeted him.

Among those who greeted him were Shimei, the distant relative of Saul 
who had thrown stones and curse him as he fled, but David rebuked those 
who wished to kill him and instead accepted his confession and 
repentance and observed that it was time for healing.

Also among those who greeted David was an equally repentant 
Mephibosheth, grandson of Saul, who blamed bad counsel for turning him 
against David.

On the dark side was an escalation of the tribal conflict between the 
communities of Israel and Judah.



      Interaction



        Consider

David's refusal to escalate the violence earlier against Shimei and 
Mephibosheth made this moment of repentance and reconciliation possible, 
a role model for others, and part of the healing of the nation.


        Discuss

Why would David prefer Amassa over Joab as leader of his army, and was 
that a wise priority?



        Reflect

The leaders of Israel ask David a fair question, which he did not 
answer, and that was why he fled with those of Judah rather than remain 
with Israel and Judah and stand his ground.


        Share

When have you observed that despite overcoming a past conflict in an 
organization or relationship there remained some difficulties?



      Faith in Action


        Prayer:

Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you a situation where He wants you to 
deal gently with someone who stands in opposition to you because He 
intends to lead that person to repentance and to make of them an ally in 
the Lord's service.



        Action:

Today I will pray for the one whom the Holy Spirit has identified, I 
will find a way to deal with them more gently than my flesh desires, and 
I will continue to pray and I patiently await the Lord's work in their 
heart -- and in mine.


        Be Specific ______________________________________________________



    Wednesday's text will be:


      2 Samuel 20



-- 

Draw nearer to the Lord and He will bless you,
Have an http://Ultrafidian.com Day!
David M. Colburn, DMin. MaCo
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Personal Site: http://bibleseven.com
Bible Resources: http://bible.org
Teacher's Verse: John 7:16
Defend free speech or lose your freedom.
I don't google I SEARCH! http://ixquick.com
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

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From mITw at shaw.ca  Tue Jan 25 00:35:59 2011
From: mITw at shaw.ca (Georges)
Date: Mon, 24 Jan 2011 21:35:59 -0800
Subject: [Linux4christians] Ubuntu opts for LibreOffice LDigest, Vol 81,
	Issue 16
In-Reply-To: <mailman.170.1295927306.3412.linux4christians@thelinuxlink.net>
References: <mailman.170.1295927306.3412.linux4christians@thelinuxlink.net>
Message-ID: <1295933759.2744.85.camel@leysin.pleinsoleil>

Le lundi 24 janvier 2011 ? 22:48 -0500,
linux4christians-request at thelinuxlink.net a ?crit :
[snip] 
> 
> Today's Topics:
> 
>    1. Ubuntu opts for LibreOffice over Oracle's	OpenOffice
>       (Fred A. Miller)
[snip] 
> 
> The Ubuntu <http://www.ubuntu.com> developers met last week in Dallas to
> make final design decisions about the popular Linux distribution's
> features and decided to use LibreOffice <http://www.libreoffice.org> for
> its office suite.
[snip] 
> 
> 
> 
It was only a question of whether or not LibreOffice would be ready in
time for the Ubuntu 11.04 release.

For the past several releases the version of OpenOffice within Ubuntu
has been their version of Go-oo, i.e., the Novell supported edition of
OpenOffice.org . I just clicked on the little [i] icon on the welcome
page of OpenOffice within my Ubuntu 10.04 LTS and it led me to
http://www.go-oo.org/ where the last line is "Going forward, the Go-oo
project will be discontinued in favor of LibreOffice."

I suspect it is also only a matter of time before IBM morphs its
Symphony suite to be based on LibreOffice rather than OpenOffice. My
hope is that IBM will release the features of Lotus WordPro that I still
miss in Open/LibreOffice. At least I can open most of my older WordPro
documents in Ubuntu's OpenOffice and fully expect to be able to do so in
Libre/Office.

Georges



From webservant at trinitybclaramie.org  Tue Jan 25 10:05:19 2011
From: webservant at trinitybclaramie.org (Peter B. Steiger)
Date: Tue, 25 Jan 2011 08:05:19 -0700
Subject: [Linux4christians] Ubuntu opts for LibreOffice LDigest, Vol 81,
 Issue 16
In-Reply-To: <1295933759.2744.85.camel@leysin.pleinsoleil>
References: <mailman.170.1295927306.3412.linux4christians@thelinuxlink.net>
	<1295933759.2744.85.camel@leysin.pleinsoleil>
Message-ID: <AANLkTimahJrggCnN1Sa8vuqjqU2Nb8MOzdvZ5vxs5ppp@mail.gmail.com>

What are the philosophical reasons for the change?  I stopped using OO and
switched to Libre for technical reasons -- OO kept crashing whenever I tried
to save a spreadsheet, but Libre works just fine.

On Mon, Jan 24, 2011 at 10:35 PM, Georges <mITw at shaw.ca> wrote:

> I suspect it is also only a matter of time before IBM morphs its
> Symphony suite to be based on LibreOffice rather than OpenOffice. My
> hope is that IBM will release the features of Lotus WordPro that I still
> miss in Open/LibreOffice. At least I can open most of my older WordPro
> documents in Ubuntu's OpenOffice and fully expect to be able to do so in
> Libre/Office.
>
>
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From dcolburn at bibleseven.com  Tue Jan 25 20:39:58 2011
From: dcolburn at bibleseven.com (dcolburn at bibleseven.com)
Date: Tue, 25 Jan 2011 20:39:58 -0500
Subject: [Linux4christians] Wednesday - 2 Samuel 20
Message-ID: <4D3F7B6E.3000607@bibleseven.com>


    Wednesday


      2 Samuel 20



Sheba's Rebellion

20:1 Now a wicked man named Sheba son of Bicri, a Benjaminite, happened 
to be there. He blew the trumpet and said, "We have no share in David; 
we have no inheritance in this son of Jesse! Every man go home, O Israel!"

20:2 So all the men of Israel deserted David and followed Sheba son of 
Bicri. But the men of Judah stuck by their king all the way from the 
Jordan River to Jerusalem.

20:3 Then David went to his palace in Jerusalem. The king took the ten 
concubines he had left to care for the palace and placed them under 
confinement. Though he provided for their needs, he did not have sexual 
relations with them. They remained in confinement until the day they 
died, living out the rest of their lives as widows.

20:4 Then the king said to Amasa, "Call the men of Judah together for me 
in three days, and you be present here with them too." 20:5 So Amasa 
went out to call Judah together. But in doing so he took longer than the 
time that the king had allotted him.

20:6 Then David said to Abishai, "Now Sheba son of Bicri will cause 
greater disaster for us than Absalom did! Take your lord's servants and 
pursue him. Otherwise he will secure fortified cities for himself and 
get away from us." 20:7 So Joab's men, accompanied by the Kerethites, 
the Pelethites, and all the warriors, left Jerusalem to pursue Sheba son 
of Bicri.

20:8 When they were near the big rock that is in Gibeon, Amasa came to 
them. Now Joab was dressed in military attire and had a dagger in its 
sheath belted to his waist. When he advanced, it fell out.

20:9 Joab said to Amasa, "How are you, my brother?" With his right hand 
Joab took hold of Amasa's beard as if to greet him with a kiss. 20:10 
Amasa did not protect himself from the knife in Joab's other hand, and 
Joab stabbed him in the abdomen, causing Amasa's intestines to spill out 
on the ground. There was no need to stab him again; the first blow was 
fatal. Then Joab and his brother Abishai pursued Sheba son of Bicri.

20:11 One of Joab's soldiers who stood over Amasa said, "Whoever is for 
Joab and whoever is for David, follow Joab!" 20:12 Amasa was squirming 
in his own blood in the middle of the path, and this man had noticed 
that all the soldiers stopped. Having noticed that everyone who came 
across Amasa stopped, the man pulled him away from the path and into the 
field and threw a garment over him. 20:13 Once he had removed Amasa from 
the path, everyone followed Joab to pursue Sheba son of Bicri.

20:14 Sheba traveled through all the tribes of Israel to Abel of Beth 
Maacah and all the Berite region. When they had assembled, they too 
joined him. 20:15 So Joab's men came and laid siege against him in Abel 
of Beth Maacah. They prepared a siege ramp outside the city which stood 
against its outer rampart. As all of Joab's soldiers were trying to 
break through the wall so that it would collapse, 20:16 a wise woman 
called out from the city, "Listen up! Listen up! Tell Joab, 'Come near 
so that I may speak to you.'"

20:17 When he approached her, the woman asked, "Are you Joab?" He 
replied, "I am." She said to him, "Listen to the words of your servant." 
He said, "Go ahead. I'm listening." 20:18 She said, "In the past they 
would always say, 'Let them inquire in Abel,' and that is how they 
settled things. 20:19 I represent the peaceful and the faithful in 
Israel. You are attempting to destroy an important city in Israel. Why 
should you swallow up the Lord's inheritance?"

20:20 Joab answered, "Get serious! I don't want to swallow up or destroy 
anything! 20:21 That's not the way things are. There is a man from the 
hill country of Ephraim named Sheba son of Bicri. He has rebelled 
against King David. Give me just this one man, and I will leave the 
city." The woman said to Joab, "This very minute his head will be thrown 
over the wall to you!"

20:22 Then the woman went to all the people with her wise advice and 
they cut off Sheba's head and threw it out to Joab. Joab blew the 
trumpet, and his men dispersed from the city, each going to his own 
home. Joab returned to the king in Jerusalem.

20:23 Now Joab was the general in command of all the army of Israel. 
Benaiah the son of Jehoida was over the Kerethites and the Perethites. 
20:24 Adoniram was supervisor of the work crews. Jehoshaphat son of 
Ahilud was the secretary. 20:25 Sheva was the scribe, and Zadok and 
Abiathar were the priests. 20:26 Ira the Jairite was David's personal 
priest.



      Prayer


Lord, once again a foolish man attacked Your chosen leader and once 
again he paid with his life. May I be wise and seek after You that I may 
be a valued servant in Your great plan and not an impediment to be 
removed from the way.


      Commentary


Sheba son of Bicri, a Benjaminite, took advantage of the squabbling 
between those of Israel and those of Judah and sparked another 
rebellion. He took some men with him and set out to rally others to his 
cause.

David sent Amassa to gather those of Judah but he was gone longer than 
David gave him to complete the task which made Joab suspicious.

Joab met him and killed him and then Joab and his brother Abishai 
pursued Sheba.

At the fortified city they prepared to breach the gate or the walls when 
a woman convinced Joab to negotiate. He agreed to spare the city if they 
surrendered Sheba, so they killed him and tossed his head over the wall, 
then Joab returned to Jerusalem.


      Interaction



        Consider

The Benjaminites had a troubled history, they were very proud of Saul, 
and with his loss there was some considerable angst as to their standing 
among the tribes


        Discuss

Why did Joab kill Amassa?



        Reflect

This is the second time that a woman saved David, this time indirectly, 
from a big hassle through reason and strategy.


        Share

When have you received good advice and/or assistance from an unexpected 
person?



      Faith in Action


        Prayer:

Ask the Holy Spirit to open your heart to wise counsel.



        Action:

Today I will listen closely to wise counsel, even though I believe that 
I am set upon the right course; I will prayerfully evaluate what is said 
before I decide to continue.


        Be Specific ______________________________________________________



    Thursday's text will be:


      2 Samuel 21



-- 

Draw nearer to the Lord and He will bless you,
Have an http://Ultrafidian.com Day!
David M. Colburn, DMin. MaCo
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Personal Site: http://bibleseven.com
Bible Resources: http://bible.org
Teacher's Verse: John 7:16
Defend free speech or lose your freedom.
I don't google I SEARCH! http://ixquick.com
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

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From dcolburn at bibleseven.com  Wed Jan 26 19:31:24 2011
From: dcolburn at bibleseven.com (dcolburn at bibleseven.com)
Date: Wed, 26 Jan 2011 19:31:24 -0500
Subject: [Linux4christians] 2 Samuel 21
Message-ID: <4D40BCDC.7080203@bibleseven.com>


    Thursday


      2 Samuel 21



The Gibeonites Demand Revenge

21:1 During David's reign there was a famine for three consecutive 
years. So David inquired of the Lord. The Lord said, "It is because of 
Saul and his bloodstained family, because he murdered the Gibeonites."

21:2 So the king summoned the Gibeonites and spoke with them. (Now the 
Gibeonites were not descendants of Israel; they were a remnant of the 
Amorites. The Israelites had made a promise to them, but Saul tried to 
kill them because of his zeal for the people of Israel and Judah.) 21:3 
David said to the Gibeonites, "What can I do for you, and how can I make 
amends so that you will bless the Lord's inheritance?"

21:4 The Gibeonites said to him, "We have no claim to silver or gold 
from Saul or from his family, nor would we be justified in putting to 
death anyone in Israel." David asked, "What then are you asking me to do 
for you?" 21:5 They replied to the king, "As for this man who 
exterminated us and who schemed against us so that we were destroyed and 
left without status throughout all the borders of Israel -- 21:6 let 
seven of his male descendants be turned over to us, and we will execute 
them before the Lord in Gibeah of Saul, who was the Lord's chosen one." 
The king replied, "I will turn them over."

21:7 The king had mercy on Mephibosheth son of Jonathan, the son of 
Saul, in light of the Lord's oath that had been taken between David and 
Jonathan son of Saul. 21:8 So the king took Armoni and Mephibosheth, the 
two sons of Aiah's daughter Rizpah whom she had born to Saul, and the 
five sons of Saul's daughter Merab whom she had born to Adriel the son 
of Barzillai the Meholathite. 21:9 He turned them over to the 
Gibeonites, and they executed them on a hill before the Lord. The seven 
of them died together; they were put to death during harvest time -- 
during the first days of the beginning of the barley harvest.

21:10 Rizpah the daughter of Aiah took sackcloth and spread it out for 
herself on a rock. From the beginning of the harvest until the rain fell 
on them, she did not allow the birds of the air to feed on them by day, 
nor the wild animals by night. 21:11 When David was told what Rizpah 
daughter of Aiah, Saul's concubine, had done, 21:12 he went and took the 
bones of Saul and of his son Jonathan from the leaders of Jabesh Gilead. 
(They had secretly taken them from the plaza at Beth Shan. It was there 
that Philistines publicly exposed their corpses after they had killed 
Saul at Gilboa.) 21:13 David brought the bones of Saul and of Jonathan 
his son from there; they also gathered up the bones of those who had 
been executed.

21:14 They buried the bones of Saul and his son Jonathan in the land of 
Benjamin at Zela in the grave of his father Kish. After they had done 
everything that the king had commanded, God responded to their prayers 
for the land.

Israel Engages in Various Battles with the Philistines

21:15 Another battle was fought between the Philistines and Israel. So 
David went down with his soldiers and fought the Philistines. David 
became exhausted. 21:16 Now Ishbi-Benob, one of the descendants of 
Rapha, had a spear that weighed three hundred bronze shekels, and he was 
armed with a new weapon. He had said that he would kill David. 21:17 But 
Abishai the son of Zeruiah came to David's aid, striking the Philistine 
down and killing him. Then David's men took an oath saying, "You will 
not go out to battle with us again! You must not extinguish the lamp of 
Israel!"

21:18 Later there was another battle with the Philistines, this time in 
Gob. On that occasion Sibbekai the Hushathite killed Saph, who was one 
of the descendants of Rapha. 21:19 Yet another battle occurred with the 
Philistines in Gob. On that occasion Elhanan the son of Jair the 
Bethlehemite killed the brother of Goliath the Gittite, the shaft of 
whose spear was like a weaver's beam. 21:20 Yet another battle occurred 
in Gath. On that occasion there was a large man who had six fingers on 
each hand and six toes on each foot, twenty-four in all! He too was a 
descendant of Rapha. 21:21 When he taunted Israel, Jonathan, the son of 
David's brother Shimeah, killed him. 21:22 These four were the 
descendants of Rapha who lived in Gath; they were killed by David and 
his soldiers.



      Prayer


Lord, after David killed Goliath the Israelites were no longer terrified 
of giant soldiers among the Philistines. May I remember that You are 
greater than an giant in my world and therefore I will stand with You 
for truth.


      Commentary


There were three year of famine and when David inquired of the Lord God 
he learned that it was because of Saul's unjust slaughter of the Gibeonites.

The Gibeonites asked for sever descendants of Saul to execute for the 
sake of justice, then their bones and those of Saul and Jonathan were 
brought to the land of the Benjaminites and the famine was lifted.

David was now an old man and when he joined his troops in battle against 
the Philistines he became tired and vulnerable and had to be rescued 
from one of the giant relatives of Goliath. The soldiers then declared 
that it was no longer necessary for David to battle with them as he 
represented Israel and their blessings.

Other giant relatives of Goliath came against the Israelites and they 
were also killed.



      Interaction


        Consider

The Lord God had warned Israel against a mere human king and had told 
them all of the difficult things one would bring upon them. Saul went 
beyond even the troubles God prophesied and long after his death 
negative consequences of his poor choices were visited upon the people.


        Discuss

Why would David had thought it necessary to be on the battlefront?


        Reflect

There will be giant challenges in our lives, but because Jesus has 
overcome death we are not afraid.


        Share

When have you experienced or heard of a past sin coming to light much 
later on -- and creating troubles for people?



      Faith in Action



        Prayer:

Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you a giant in your life that needs to 
be dealt with.


        Action:

Today I will ask a fellow believe to pray-in agreement as I accept the 
courage and wisdom of the Lord to face and to overcome the giant(s) in 
my life. It may be depression, which flows from unresolved anger or 
fear, substance abuse, financial or relationship troubles, challenges in 
school or the workplace, health problems, or other events which are 
stealing your joy and blocking your blessings. I stand in the power of 
the Lord and walk one step at a time to victory and freedom.



        Be Specific ______________________________________________________



    Friday's text will be:


      2 Samuel 22-23



-- 

Draw nearer to the Lord and He will bless you,
Have an http://Ultrafidian.com Day!
David M. Colburn, DMin. MaCo
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Personal Site: http://bibleseven.com
Bible Resources: http://bible.org
Teacher's Verse: John 7:16
Defend free speech or lose your freedom.
I don't google I SEARCH! http://ixquick.com
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

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From mITw at shaw.ca  Thu Jan 27 03:00:42 2011
From: mITw at shaw.ca (Georges)
Date: Thu, 27 Jan 2011 00:00:42 -0800
Subject: [Linux4christians] Ubuntu opts for LibreOffice LDigest, Vol 81,
 Issue 16
In-Reply-To: <mailman.193.1296087722.3412.linux4christians@thelinuxlink.net>
References: <mailman.193.1296087722.3412.linux4christians@thelinuxlink.net>
Message-ID: <1296115242.2249.19.camel@leysin.pleinsoleil>

Le mercredi 26 janvier 2011 ? 19:22 -0500,
linux4christians-request at thelinuxlink.net a ?crit :
> Date: Tue, 25 Jan 2011 08:05:19 -0700
> From: "Peter B. Steiger" <webservant at trinitybclaramie.org>
> To: Linux for Christians <linux4christians at thelinuxlink.net>
> Subject: Re: [Linux4christians] Ubuntu opts for LibreOffice LDigest,
[snip]
> What are the philosophical reasons for the change?  I stopped using OO
> and
> switched to Libre for technical reasons -- OO kept crashing whenever I
> tried
> to save a spreadsheet, but Libre works just fine. 
[snip]

Personally, I am much in agreement with the reasons set forth by the
Document Foundation, basically an independent foundation controlling
OpenOffice development rather than the stranglehold that Oracle seemed
to be exercising. 

I suppose it was to be expected but it is sad to see that Oracle could
not see the value of an independent foundation for the OpenOffice
community. I guess their schoolyard logic was "We bought Sun
Microsystems so we bought OpenOffice.org so it's ours!"

As I indicated in my earlier post, Ubuntu users have for some time,
perhaps without their knowledge, actually used a flavour of Go-oo rather
than pure OOo.

I am not, at least not yet, a FLOSS purist but I would prefer to see
several large companies underwriting an independent foundation rather
than a single company in possession as under Oracle or even Sun before
them.

Georges



From dcolburn at bibleseven.com  Thu Jan 27 15:34:34 2011
From: dcolburn at bibleseven.com (dcolburn at bibleseven.com)
Date: Thu, 27 Jan 2011 15:34:34 -0500
Subject: [Linux4christians] Friday - 2 Samuel 22-23
Message-ID: <4D41D6DA.3030609@bibleseven.com>


    Friday


      2 Samuel 22-23



David Sings to the Lord

22:1 David sang to the Lord the words of this song when the Lord rescued 
him from the power of all his enemies, including Saul. 22:2 He said: 
"The Lord is my high ridge, my stronghold, my deliverer.

22:3 My God is my rocky summit where I take shelter, my shield, the horn 
that saves me, my stronghold,my refuge, my savior. You save me from 
violence!

22:4 I called to the Lord, who is worthy of praise, and I was delivered 
from my enemies.

22:5 The waves of death engulfed me; the currents of chaos overwhelmed me.

22:6 The ropes of Sheol tightened around me; the snares of death trapped me.

22:7 In my distress I called to the Lord; I called to my God.

 From his heavenly temple he heard my voice; he listened to my cry for help.

22:8 The earth heaved and shook; the foundations of the sky trembled. 
They heaved because he was angry.

22:9 Smoke ascended from his nose; fire devoured as it came from his 
mouth; he hurled down fiery coals.

22:10 He made the sky sink as he descended; a thick cloud was under his 
feet.

22:11 He mounted a winged angel and flew; he glided on the wings of the 
wind.

22:12 He shrouded himself in darkness, in thick rain clouds.

22:13 From the brightness in front of him came coals of fire.

22:14 The Lord thundered from the sky; the sovereign One shouted loudly.

22:15 He shot arrows and scattered them, lightning and routed them.

22:16 The depths of the sea were exposed; the inner regions of the world 
were uncovered by the Lord's battle cry, by the powerful breath from his 
nose.

22:17 He reached down from above and grabbed me; he pulled me from the 
surging water.

22:18 He rescued me from my strong enemy, from those who hate me, for 
they were too strong for me.

22:19 They confronted me in my day of calamity, but the Lord helped me.

22:20 He brought me out into a wide open place; he delivered me because 
he was pleased with me.

22:21 The Lord repaid me for my godly deeds; he rewarded my blameless 
behavior.

22:22 For I have obeyed the Lord's commands; I have not rebelled against 
my God.

22:23 For I am aware of all his regulations, and I do not reject his rules.

22:24 I was blameless before him; I kept myself from sinning.

22:25 The Lord rewarded me for my godly deeds; he took notice of my 
blameless behavior.

22:26 You prove to be loyal to one who is faithful; you prove to be 
trustworthy to one who is innocent.

22:27 You prove to be reliable to one who is blameless, but you prove to 
be deceptive to one who is perverse.

22:28 You deliver oppressed people, but you watch the proud and bring 
them down.

22:29 Indeed, you are my lamp, Lord. The Lord illumines the darkness 
around me.

22:30 Indeed,with your help I can charge against an army; by my God's 
power I can jump over a wall.

22:31 The one true God acts in a faithful manner; the Lord's promise is 
reliable; he is a shield to all who take shelter in him.

22:32 Indeed, who is God besides the Lord?

Who is a protector besides our God?

22:33 The one true God is my mighty refuge; he removes the obstacles in 
my way.

22:34 He gives me the agility of a deer; he enables me to negotiate the 
rugged terrain.

22:35 He trains my hands for battle; my arms can bend even the strongest 
bow.

22:36 You give me your protective shield; your willingness to help 
enables me to prevail.

22:37 You widen my path; my feet do not slip.

22:38 I chase my enemies and destroy them; I do not turn back until I 
wipe them out.

22:39 I wipe them out and beat them to death; they cannot get up; they 
fall at my feet.

22:40 You give me strength for battle; you make my foes kneel before me.

22:41 You make my enemies retreat; I destroy those who hate me.

22:42 They cry out, but there is no one to help them; they cry out to 
the Lord, but he does not answer them.

22:43 I grind them as fine as the dust of the ground; I crush them and 
stomp on them like clay in the streets.

22:44 You rescue me from a hostile army; you preserve me as a leader of 
nations; people over whom I had no authority are now my subjects.

22:45 Foreigners are powerless before me; when they hear of my exploits, 
they submit to me.

22:46 Foreigners lose their courage; they shake with fear as they leave 
their strongholds.

22:47 The Lord is alive!

My protector is praiseworthy!

The God who delivers me is exalted as king!

22:48 The one true God completely vindicates me; he makes nations submit 
to me.

22:49 He delivers me from my enemies; you snatch me away from those who 
attack me; you rescue me from violent men.

22:50 So I will give you thanks, O Lord, before the nations! I will sing 
praises to you.

22:51 He gives his chosen king magnificent victories; he is faithful to 
his chosen ruler, to David and to his descendants forever!"

David's Final Words

23:1 These are the final words of David:

"The oracle of David son of Jesse, the oracle of the man raised up as 
the ruler chosen by the God of Jacob, Israel's beloved singer of songs:

23:2 The Lord's spirit spoke through me; his word was on my tongue.

23:3 The God of Israel spoke, the protector of Israel spoke to me.

The one who rules fairly among men, the one who rules in the fear of God,

23:4 is like the light of morning when the sun comes up, a morning in 
which there are no clouds.

He is like the brightness after rain that produces grass from the earth.

23:5 My dynasty is approved by God, for he has made a perpetual covenant 
with me, arranged in all its particulars and secured. He always delivers 
me, and brings all I desire to fruition.

23:6 But evil people are like thorns -- all of them are tossed away, for 
they cannot be held in the hand.

23:7 The one who touches them must use an iron instrument or the wooden 
shaft of a spear.

They are completely burned up right where they lie!"

David's Warriors

23:8 These are the names of David's warriors:

Josheb-Basshebeth, a Tahkemonite, was head of the officers. He killed 
eight hundred men with his spear in one battle. 23:9 Next in command was 
Eleazar son of Dodo, the son of Ahohi. He was one of the three warriors 
who were with David when they defied the Philistines who were assembled 
there for battle. When the men of Israel retreated, 23:10 he stood his 
ground and fought the Philistines until his hand grew so tired that it 
seemed stuck to his sword. The Lord gave a great victory on that day. 
When the army returned to him, the only thing left to do was to plunder 
the corpses.

23:11 Next in command was Shammah son of Agee the Hararite. When the 
Philistines assembled at Lehi, where there happened to be an area of a 
field that was full of lentils, the army retreated before the 
Philistines. 23:12 But he made a stand in the middle of that area. He 
defended it and defeated the Philistines; the Lord gave them a great 
victory.

23:13 At the time of the harvest three of the thirty leaders went down 
to David at the cave of Adullam. A band of Philistines was camped in the 
valley of Rephaim. 23:14 David was in the stronghold at the time, while 
a Philistine garrison was in Bethlehem. 23:15 David was thirsty and 
said, "How I wish someone would give me some water to drink from the 
cistern in Bethlehem near the gate!" 23:16 So the three elite warriors 
broke through the Philistine forces and drew some water from the cistern 
in Bethlehem near the gate. They carried it back to David, but he 
refused to drink it. He poured it out as a drink offering to the Lord 
23:17 and said, "O Lord, I will not do this! It is equivalent to the 
blood of the men who risked their lives by going." So he refused to 
drink it. Such were the exploits of the three elite warriors.

23:18 Abishai son of Zeruiah, the brother of Joab, was head of the 
three. He killed three hundred men with his spear and gained fame among 
the three. 23:19 From the three he was given honor and he became their 
officer, even though he was not one of the three.

23:20 Benaiah son of Jehoida was a brave warrior from Kabzeel who 
performed great exploits. He struck down the two sons of Ariel of Moab. 
He also went down and killed a lion in a cistern on a snowy day. 23:21 
He also killed an impressive-looking Egyptian. The Egyptian wielded a 
spear, while Benaiah attacked him with a club. He grabbed the spear out 
of the Egyptian's hand and killed him with his own spear. 23:22 Such 
were the exploits of Benaiah son of Jehoida, who gained fame among the 
three elite warriors. 23:23 He received honor from the thirty warriors, 
though he was not one of the three elite warriors. David put him in 
charge of his bodyguard.

23:24 Included with the thirty were the following: Asahel the brother of 
Joab, Elhanan son of Dodo from Bethlehem, 23:25 Shammah the Harodite, 
Elika the Harodite, 23:26 Helez the Paltite, Ira son of Ikkesh from 
Tekoa, 23:27 Abiezer the Anathothite, Mebunnai the Hushathite, 23:28 
Zalmon the Ahohite, Maharai the Netophathite, 23:29 Heled son of Baanah 
the Netophathite, Ittai son of Ribai from Gibeah in Benjamin, 23:30 
Benaiah the Pirathonite, Hiddai from the wadis of Gaash, 23:31 Abi-Albon 
the Arbathite, Azmaveth the Barhumite, 23:32 Eliahba the Shaalbonite, 
the sons of Jashen, Jonathan 23:33 son of Shammah the Hararite, Ahiam 
son of Sharar the Hararite, 23:34 Eliphelet son of Ahasbai the 
Maacathite, Eliam son of Ahithophel the Gilonite, 23:35 Hezrai the 
Carmelite, Paarai the Arbite, 23:36 Igal son of Nathan from Zobah, Bani 
the Gadite, 23:37 Zelek the Ammonite, Naharai the Beerothite (the 
armor-bearer of Joab son of Zeruiah), 23:38 Ira the Ithrite, Gareb the 
Ithrite 23:39 and Uriah the Hittite. Altogether there were thirty-seven.



      Prayer


Lord, when we celebrate Your glory and honor and power we draw nearer to 
You, and it is only there that we have purpose and safety. May I praise 
and worship You often.


      Commentary


In his usual bombastic style David wrote a prosaic reflection on the 
recent events of his life. He narrows his responsibility for the 
troubles by only addressing his direct honor to the Lord God, rather 
than his personal sin and leadership failures, and he emphasizes the sin 
of others.

David does give glory to the Lord God in his poetic tribute, recognizing 
the Lord's faithfulness, justice, and omnipotence.

David then gave honor to the warriors who had surrounded him over many 
years, telling of their amazing exploits in battle, and explaining how 
they had earned their promotions.


      Interaction


        Consider

David's emphasis, though favorable to himself, was primarily on the Lord 
God, where it should be.


        Discuss

Why would David believe it was important to celebrate the loyal warriors?



        Reflect

On those occasions where David fell short in his personal righteousness 
and his sense of leadership priorities his eyes and heart were not on 
the Lord.


        Share

When have you heard a leader reflect upon his experiences and give 
primary importance to the Lord God?



      Faith in Action


        Prayer:

Ask the Holy Spirit to show you the big and small picture of the Lord 
God's role in your life.



        Action:

Today I will take the time to celebrate what the Lord God means to me, 
what He has done for me, what He has done through me, and what He has 
done in spite of me. I will share my reflections with at least one other 
believer.


        Be Specific ______________________________________________________



    Saturday's text will be:


      2 Samuel 24



-- 

Draw nearer to the Lord and He will bless you,
Have an http://Ultrafidian.com Day!
David M. Colburn, DMin. MaCo
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Personal Site: http://bibleseven.com
Bible Resources: http://bible.org
Teacher's Verse: John 7:16
Defend free speech or lose your freedom.
I don't google I SEARCH! http://ixquick.com
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

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From mwmcmlln at mnsi.net  Fri Jan 28 00:42:26 2011
From: mwmcmlln at mnsi.net (Mike McMullin)
Date: Fri, 28 Jan 2011 00:42:26 -0500
Subject: [Linux4christians] Ubuntu opts for LibreOffice LDigest, Vol 81,
 Issue 16
In-Reply-To: <1296115242.2249.19.camel@leysin.pleinsoleil>
References: <mailman.193.1296087722.3412.linux4christians@thelinuxlink.net>
	<1296115242.2249.19.camel@leysin.pleinsoleil>
Message-ID: <1296193346.8944.20.camel@P-733-Lin>

On Thu, 2011-01-27 at 00:00 -0800, Georges wrote:
> Le mercredi 26 janvier 2011 ? 19:22 -0500,
> linux4christians-request at thelinuxlink.net a ?crit :
> > Date: Tue, 25 Jan 2011 08:05:19 -0700
> > From: "Peter B. Steiger" <webservant at trinitybclaramie.org>
> > To: Linux for Christians <linux4christians at thelinuxlink.net>
> > Subject: Re: [Linux4christians] Ubuntu opts for LibreOffice LDigest,
> [snip]
> > What are the philosophical reasons for the change?  I stopped using OO
> > and
> > switched to Libre for technical reasons -- OO kept crashing whenever I
> > tried
> > to save a spreadsheet, but Libre works just fine. 
> [snip]
> 
> Personally, I am much in agreement with the reasons set forth by the
> Document Foundation, basically an independent foundation controlling
> OpenOffice development rather than the stranglehold that Oracle seemed
> to be exercising. 
> 
> I suppose it was to be expected but it is sad to see that Oracle could
> not see the value of an independent foundation for the OpenOffice
> community. I guess their schoolyard logic was "We bought Sun
> Microsystems so we bought OpenOffice.org so it's ours!"
> 
> As I indicated in my earlier post, Ubuntu users have for some time,
> perhaps without their knowledge, actually used a flavour of Go-oo rather
> than pure OOo.
> 
> I am not, at least not yet, a FLOSS purist but I would prefer to see
> several large companies underwriting an independent foundation rather
> than a single company in possession as under Oracle or even Sun before
> them.

  In reference to Sun, OOo was a port of their Star Office, I can see
why they had a vested interested in it.


From dcolburn at bibleseven.com  Fri Jan 28 21:16:05 2011
From: dcolburn at bibleseven.com (dcolburn at bibleseven.com)
Date: Fri, 28 Jan 2011 21:16:05 -0500
Subject: [Linux4christians] Saturday - 2 Samuel 24
Message-ID: <4D437865.3050407@bibleseven.com>


    Saturday


      2 Samuel 24



David Displeases the Lord by Taking a Census

24:1 The Lord's anger again raged against Israel, and he incited David 
against them, saying, "Go count Israel and Judah." 24:2 The king told 
Joab, the general in command of his army, "Go through all the tribes of 
Israel from Dan to Beer Sheba and muster the army, so I may know the 
size of the army."

24:3 Joab replied to the king, "May the Lord your God make the army a 
hundred times larger right before the eyes of my lord the king! But why 
does my master the king want to do this?"

24:4 But the king's edict stood, despite the objections of Joab and the 
leaders of the army. So Joab and the leaders of the army left the king's 
presence in order to muster the Israelite army.

24:5 They crossed the Jordan and camped at Aroer, on the south side of 
the city, at the wadi of Gad, near Jazer. 24:6 Then they went on to 
Gilead and to the region of Tahtim Hodshi, coming to Dan Jaan and on 
around to Sidon. 24:7 Then they went to the fortress of Tyre and all the 
cities of the Hivites and the Canaanites. Then they went on to the Negev 
of Judah, to Beer Sheba. 24:8 They went through all the land and after 
nine months and twenty days came back to Jerusalem.

24:9 Joab reported the number of warriors to the king. In Israel there 
were 800,000 sword-wielding warriors, and in Judah there were 500,000 
soldiers.

24:10 David felt guilty after he had numbered the army. David said to 
the Lord, "I have sinned greatly by doing this! Now, O Lord, please 
remove the guilt of your servant, for I have acted very foolishly."

24:11 When David got up the next morning, the Lord had already spoken to 
Gad the prophet, David's seer: 24:12 "Go, tell David, 'This is what the 
Lord says: I am offering you three forms of judgment. Pick one of them 
and I will carry it out against you.'"

24:13 Gad went to David and told him, "Shall seven years of famine come 
upon your land? Or shall you flee for three months from your enemy with 
him in hot pursuit? Or shall there be three days of plague in your land? 
Now decide what I should tell the one who sent me." 24:14 David said to 
Gad, "I am very upset! I prefer that we be attacked by the Lord, for his 
mercy is great; I do not want to be attacked by men!"

24:15 So the Lord sent a plague through Israel from the morning until 
the completion of the appointed time. Seventy thousand men died from Dan 
to Beer Sheba. 24:16 When the angel extended his hand to destroy 
Jerusalem, the Lord relented from his judgment. He told the angel who 
was killing the people, "That's enough! Stop now!" (Now the Lord's angel 
was near the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite.)

24:17 When he saw the angel who was destroying the people, David said to 
the Lord, "Look, it is I who have sinned and done this evil thing! As 
for these sheep -- what have they done? Attack me and my family."

David Acquires a Threshing Floor and Constructs an Altar There

24:18 So Gad went to David that day and told him, "Go up and build an 
altar for the Lord on the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite." 
24:19 So David went up as Gad instructed him to do, according to the 
Lord's instructions.

24:20 When Araunah looked out and saw the king and his servants 
approaching him, he went out and bowed to the king with his face to the 
ground. 24:21 Araunah said, "Why has my lord the king come to his 
servant?" David replied, "To buy from you the threshing floor so I can 
build an altar for the Lord, so that the plague may be removed from the 
people." 24:22 Araunah told David, "My lord the king may take whatever 
he wishes and offer it. Look! Here are oxen for burnt offerings, and 
threshing sledges and harnesses for wood. 24:23 I, the servant of my 
lord the king, give it all to the king!" Araunah also told the king, 
"May the Lord your God show you favor!" 24:24 But the king said to 
Araunah, "No, I insist on buying it from you! I will not offer to the 
Lord my God burnt sacrifices that cost me nothing."

So David bought the threshing floor and the oxen for fifty pieces of 
silver. 24:25 Then David built an altar for the Lord there and offered 
burnt sacrifices and peace offerings. And the Lord accepted prayers for 
the land, and the plague was removed from Israel.



      Prayer


Lord, You know our hearts and You do not tolerate sin gladly. May I take 
care in any role in leadership; husband, father, teacher, counselor, to 
not allow my sin to cause trouble for others.


      Commentary



The Lord God was again angry with Israel, though the text does not 
specify the reason. It may have been the internal divisiveness, the 
failure of David to implement a system of justice (witness the case of 
Tamar and Absalom's manipulation through the promise of justice), 
Israel's chronic tolerance of other religions in their midst and often 
in their homes, or some other offense against God.

David commanded Joab to make a census of the manpower available to the 
army. Joab and the other military leaders pleaded with him to not do so, 
as they knew it was forbidden by the Lord God, but David insisted.

The NET translator's notes postulate that the Lord God "incited" David 
to violate the law because He was angry with Israel. They suggest that 
the 2 Samuel 24 telling was a spiritual perspective, and that the 
Chronicles 1:21 telling was the human perspective e.g. that there was a 
foreign enemy whom David feared and therefore he desired knowledge of 
his resources for battle (despite God's historic defense of Israel 
against overwhelming odds).

Give the ambiguities it may not be necessary to postulate either with 
certainty but rather that the adversary was David's chronic personal 
insecurity, that his lack of faith created an adversarial relationship 
with the Lord God, so He then incited David to go ahead and conduct the 
census and bring trouble to his kingdom. (God had warned that a human 
king would be a two-way street of trouble for Israel, their sin would 
hurt him, and his sin would hurt them.)

The response of Joab and the other military leaders lends support to the 
notion that they were unconcerned as to troop strength and they they 
trusted the Lord God to raise up as many as were needed, Joab said "May 
the Lord your God make the army a hundred times larger right before the 
eyes of my lord the king! But why does my master the king want to do this?".

Joab and his men reluctantly obeyed and returned with the census, at 
which time David was immediately repentant of his sin, but it was too 
late. The prophet Gad brought David three options from the Lord God; 
seven years of famine, three days of plague, or three months fleeing an 
enemy.

David had been through the fleeing-thing twice before and quickly 
decided that he preferred the measured judgment of God to that of man. 
His reason for rejecting the seven years of famine are not discussed but 
his age and the probable harm to the nation may have prompted him to 
choose against such a long hardship. David chose the plague and the Lord 
God took 70,000 men then halted the death angel.

David cried out to the Lord that it was his fault and he and his family 
rather than others should be punished. Gad instructed David to build an 
altar and to make an offering to the Lord, which he did, and the time of 
punishment ceased.



      Interaction


        Consider

While David had just given praise and worship to the Lord God for what 
He had done, for him and for Israel, much of the trouble was David's fault.


        Discuss

Why was David unable to see what was obvious to Joab?



        Reflect

It seems that it took yet another tragedy for David to recognize that he 
had erred again and needed to confess and to repent.


        Share

When have you observed the failures of a leader bringing harm to those 
whom they led?



      Faith in Action


        Prayer:

Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you a place in your life where 
imaginary fears are causing you to obsess about worldly defenses rather 
than relying upon the Lord.



        Action:

Today I will confess and repent of those places where I have placed 
fears about health or money or popularity or anything else of this world 
above the Lord God. I will ask a fellow believer to pray in-agreement 
with me as I restore the balance with God first in all things.


        Be Specific ______________________________________________________


             Sunday's text will be:  1 Kings 1-2:10



-- 

Draw nearer to the Lord and He will bless you,
Have an http://Ultrafidian.com Day!
David M. Colburn, DMin. MaCo
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Personal Site: http://bibleseven.com
Bible Resources: http://bible.org
Teacher's Verse: John 7:16
Defend free speech or lose your freedom.
I don't google I SEARCH! http://ixquick.com
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

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From dcolburn at bibleseven.com  Sat Jan 29 20:17:21 2011
From: dcolburn at bibleseven.com (dcolburn at bibleseven.com)
Date: Sat, 29 Jan 2011 20:17:21 -0500
Subject: [Linux4christians] Sunday - 1 Kings 1-2:11
Message-ID: <4D44BC21.90103@bibleseven.com>


    Sunday


      1 Kings 1-2:11



Adonijah Tries to Seize the Throne

1:1 King David was very old; even when they covered him with blankets, 
he could not get warm. 1:2 His servants advised him, "A young virgin 
must be found for our master, the king, to take care of the king's needs 
and serve as his nurse. She can also sleep with you and keep our master, 
the king, warm." 1:3 So they looked through all Israel for a beautiful 
young woman and found Abishag, a Shunammite, and brought her to the 
king. 1:4 The young woman was very beautiful; she became the king's 
nurse and served him, but the king did not have sexual relations with her.

1:5 Now Adonijah, son of David and Haggith, was promoting himself, 
boasting, "I will be king!" He managed to acquire chariots and horsemen, 
as well as fifty men to serve as his royal guard. 1:6 (Now his father 
had never corrected him by saying, "Why do you do such things?" He was 
also very handsome and had been born right after Absalom.) 1:7 He 
collaborated with Joab son of Zeruiah and with Abiathar the priest, and 
they supported him. 1:8 But Zadok the priest, Benaiah son of Jehoiada, 
Nathan the prophet, Shimei, Rei, and David's elite warriors did not ally 
themselves with Adonijah. 1:9 Adonijah sacrificed sheep, cattle, and 
fattened steers at the Stone of Zoheleth near En Rogel. He invited all 
his brothers, the king's sons, as well as all the men of Judah, the 
king's servants. 1:10 But he did not invite Nathan the prophet, Benaiah, 
the elite warriors, or his brother Solomon.

1:11 Nathan said to Bathsheba, Solomon's mother, "Has it been reported 
to you that Haggith's son Adonijah has become king behind our master 
David's back? 1:12 Now let me give you some advice as to how you can 
save your life and your son Solomon's life. 1:13 Visit King David and 
say to him, 'My master, O king, did you not solemnly promise your 
servant, "Surely your son Solomon will be king after me; he will sit on 
my throne"? So why has Adonijah become king?' 1:14 While you are still 
there speaking to the king, I will arrive and verify your report."

1:15 So Bathsheba visited the king in his private quarters. (The king 
was very old, and Abishag the Shunammite was serving the king.) 1:16 
Bathsheba bowed down on the floor before the king. The king said, "What 
do you want?" 1:17 She replied to him, "My master, you swore an oath to 
your servant by the Lord your God, 'Solomon your son will be king after 
me and he will sit on my throne.' 1:18 But now, look, Adonijah has 
become king! But you, my master the king, are not even aware of it! 1:19 
He has sacrificed many cattle, steers, and sheep and has invited all the 
king's sons, Abiathar the priest, and Joab, the commander of the army, 
but he has not invited your servant Solomon. 1:20 Now, my master, O 
king, all Israel is watching anxiously to see who is named to succeed my 
master the king on the throne. 1:21 If a decision is not made, when my 
master the king is buried with his ancestors, my son Solomon and I will 
be considered state criminals."

1:22 Just then, while she was still speaking to the king, Nathan the 
prophet arrived. 1:23 The king was told, "Nathan the prophet is here." 
Nathan entered and bowed before the king with his face to the floor. 
1:24 Nathan said, "My master, O king, did you announce, 'Adonijah will 
be king after me; he will sit on my throne'? 1:25 For today he has gone 
down and sacrificed many cattle, steers, and sheep and has invited all 
the king's sons, the army commanders, and Abiathar the priest. At this 
moment they are having a feast in his presence, and they have declared, 
'Long live King Adonijah!' 1:26 But he did not invite me -- your servant 
-- or Zadok the priest, or Benaiah son of Jehoiada, or your servant 
Solomon. 1:27 Has my master the king authorized this without informing 
your servants who should succeed my master the king on his throne?"

David Picks Solomon as His Successor

1:28 King David responded, "Summon Bathsheba!" She came and stood before 
the king. 1:29 The king swore an oath: "As certainly as the Lord lives 
(he who has rescued me from every danger), 1:30 I will keep today the 
oath I swore to you by the Lord God of Israel: 'Surely Solomon your son 
will be king after me; he will sit in my place on my throne.'" 1:31 
Bathsheba bowed down to the king with her face to the floor and said, 
"May my master, King David, live forever!"

1:32 King David said, "Summon Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, and 
Benaiah son of Jehoiada." They came before the king, 1:33 and he told 
them, "Take your master's servants with you, put my son Solomon on my 
mule, and lead him down to Gihon. 1:34 There Zadok the priest and Nathan 
the prophet will anoint him king over Israel; then blow the trumpet and 
declare, 'Long live King Solomon!' 1:35 Then follow him up as he comes 
and sits on my throne. He will be king in my place; I have decreed that 
he will be ruler over Israel and Judah." 1:36 Benaiah son of Jehoiada 
responded to the king: "So be it! May the Lord God of my master the king 
confirm it! 1:37 As the Lord is with my master the king, so may he be 
with Solomon, and may he make him an even greater king than my master 
King David!"

1:38 So Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, Benaiah son of Jehoiada, 
the Kerethites, and the Pelethites went down, put Solomon on King 
David's mule, and led him to Gihon. 1:39 Zadok the priest took a horn 
filled with olive oil from the tent and poured it on Solomon; the 
trumpet was blown and all the people declared, "Long live King Solomon!" 
1:40 All the people followed him up, playing flutes and celebrating so 
loudly they made the ground shake.

1:41 Now Adonijah and all his guests heard the commotion just as they 
had finished eating. When Joab heard the sound of the trumpet, he asked, 
"Why is there such a noisy commotion in the city?" 1:42 As he was still 
speaking, Jonathan son of Abiathar the priest arrived. Adonijah said, 
"Come in, for an important man like you must be bringing good news." 
1:43 Jonathan replied to Adonijah: "No! Our master King David has made 
Solomon king. 1:44 The king sent with him Zadok the priest, Nathan the 
prophet, Benaiah son of Jehoiada, the Kerethites, and the Pelethites and 
they put him on the king's mule. 1:45 Then Zadok the priest and Nathan 
the prophet anointed him king in Gihon. They went up from there 
rejoicing, and the city is in an uproar. That is the sound you hear. 
1:46 Furthermore, Solomon has assumed the royal throne. 1:47 The king's 
servants have even come to congratulate our master King David, saying, 
'May your God make Solomon more famous than you and make him an even 
greater king than you!' Then the king leaned on the bed 1:48 and said 
this: 'The Lord God of Israel is worthy of praise because today he has 
placed a successor on my throne and allowed me to see it.'"

1:49 All of Adonijah's guests panicked; they jumped up and rushed off 
their separate ways. 1:50 Adonijah feared Solomon, so he got up and went 
and grabbed hold of the horns of the altar. 1:51 Solomon was told, 
"Look, Adonijah fears you; see, he has taken hold of the horns of the 
altar, saying, 'May King Solomon solemnly promise me today that he will 
not kill his servant with the sword.'" 1:52 Solomon said, "If he is a 
loyal subject, not a hair of his head will be harmed, but if he is found 
to be a traitor, he will die." 1:53 King Solomon sent men to bring him 
down from the altar. He came and bowed down to King Solomon, and Solomon 
told him, "Go home."

David's Final Words to Solomon

2:1 When David was close to death, he told Solomon his son: 2:2 "I am 
about to die. Be strong and become a man! 2:3 Do the job the Lord your 
God has assigned you by following his instructions and obeying his 
rules, commandments, regulations, and laws as written in the law of 
Moses. Then you will succeed in all you do and seek to accomplish, 2:4 
and the Lord will fulfill his promise to me, 'If your descendants watch 
their step and live faithfully in my presence with all their heart and 
being, then,' he promised, 'you will not fail to have a successor on the 
throne of Israel.'

2:5 "You know what Joab son of Zeruiah did to me -- how he murdered two 
commanders of the Israelite armies, Abner son of Ner and Amasa son of 
Jether. During peacetime he struck them down like he would in battle; 
when he shed their blood as if in battle, he stained his own belt and 
the sandals on his feet. 2:6 Do to him what you think is appropriate, 
but don't let him live long and die a peaceful death.

2:7 "Treat fairly the sons of Barzillai of Gilead and provide for their 
needs, because they helped me when I had to flee from your brother Absalom.

2:8 "Note well, you still have to contend with Shimei son of Gera, the 
Benjaminite from Bahurim, who tried to call down upon me a horrible 
judgment when I went to Mahanaim. He came down and met me at the Jordan, 
and I solemnly promised him by the Lord, 'I will not strike you down 
with the sword.' 2:9 But now don't treat him as if he were innocent. You 
are a wise man and you know how to handle him; make sure he has a bloody 
death."

2:10 Then David passed away and was buried in the city of David. 2:11 
David reigned over Israel forty years; he reigned in Hebron seven years, 
and in Jerusalem thirty-three years.



      Prayer


Lord, You are sovereign in the affairs of Your people and rebellion 
always results in harm to the rebellious. May I be careful and prayerful 
when making decisions so that I do not get out ahead of Your timing 
and/or apart from Your will.



      Commentary


When David was old and near death Adonijah decided to follow the model 
of Absalom and tried to steal the throne from Solomon, the promised 
successor to David.

Joab, Abiathar the priest, and others followed him, including many of 
David's other sons, but Nathan and several of the priests, and David's 
elite warriors did not -- they were neither informed nor invited to 
Adonijah's illegitimate crowning at the temple.

Nathan heard and coordinated with Bathsheba to lead David to intervene, 
which he did, giving authority and instructions for the immediate 
crowning of Solomon.

Adonijah, Joab, and those with them were surprised and frightened that 
they had failed -- most fled Adonijah who clung to the horns of the Ark 
of God and begged for Solomon's mercy, which he granted.

David counseled Solomon that Joab had been too free to act without 
consulting in killing other leaders under David's authority and should 
be punished with death soon, and that Shimei also deserved an early 
death, only not by the sword.

David further counseled Solomon to follow the Law of Moses closely so 
that he would be blessed, he would be a blessing to the people, and he 
would have a kingdom to pass on to his descendants. Then David died.



      Interaction


        Consider

Nathan, the prophet, was God's agent in the mess that Adonijah had 
created. He knew David could be temperamental and as he had in the 
original tragedy with Bathsheba he led David, now in partnership with 
Bathsheba, to make a decisive and right decision.


        Discuss

There were multiple occasions when Joab had greater respect for the Lord 
God's Law than did David, such as the census, and others where he 
offered wisdom David. Why then did he assist Adonijah in his attempted coup?



        Reflect

David counseled Solomon to act decisively in two areas; execute two men 
whom David believed represented unresolved sins against God, and to keep 
himself close to God's law.


        Share

When have you had to deal carefully with someone in authority because 
they were temperamental?



      Faith in Action


        Prayer:

Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you influences that are a threat to 
your righteous living before the Lord God and actions you need to take 
to hold you close to Him.



        Action:

Today I will prayerfully inventory the activities and people in my life 
as the Holy Spirit points out those who distract me from His priorities. 
As quickly as is possible I will alter my activities relationships to 
intentionally diminish their influence. I will also implement those 
activities, and increase my time with, the activities and things the 
Holy Spirit prompts me to recognize as good for my walk before Him.


        Be Specific ______________________________________________________



    Monday's text will be:


      1 Kings 2:12-46



-- 

Draw nearer to the Lord and He will bless you,
Have an http://Ultrafidian.com Day!
David M. Colburn, DMin. MaCo
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Personal Site: http://bibleseven.com
Bible Resources: http://bible.org
Teacher's Verse: John 7:16
Defend free speech or lose your freedom.
I don't google I SEARCH! http://ixquick.com
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

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From mITw at shaw.ca  Sun Jan 30 03:37:04 2011
From: mITw at shaw.ca (Georges)
Date: Sun, 30 Jan 2011 00:37:04 -0800
Subject: [Linux4christians] Ubuntu opts for LibreOffice LDigest, Vol 81,
 Issue 16
In-Reply-To: <mailman.229.1296349631.3412.linux4christians@thelinuxlink.net>
References: <mailman.229.1296349631.3412.linux4christians@thelinuxlink.net>
Message-ID: <1296376624.1332.21.camel@leysin.pleinsoleil>

Le samedi 29 janvier 2011 ? 20:07 -0500,
linux4christians-request at thelinuxlink.net a ?crit :
> Message: 1
> Date: Fri, 28 Jan 2011 00:42:26 -0500
> From: Mike McMullin <mwmcmlln at mnsi.net>
> To: linux4christians at thelinuxlink.net
> Subject: Re: [Linux4christians] Ubuntu opts for LibreOffice LDigest,
>         Vol 81, Issue 16
[snip]
> On Thu, 2011-01-27 at 00:00 -0800, Georges wrote:
> > Le mercredi 26 janvier 2011 ? 19:22 -0500,
> > linux4christians-request at thelinuxlink.net a ?crit :
> > > Date: Tue, 25 Jan 2011 08:05:19 -0700
> > > From: "Peter B. Steiger" <webservant at trinitybclaramie.org>
> > > To: Linux for Christians <linux4christians at thelinuxlink.net>
> > > Subject: Re: [Linux4christians] Ubuntu opts for LibreOffice
> LDigest,
> > [snip]
> > > What are the philosophical reasons for the change?  I stopped
> using OO
> > > and
> > > switched to Libre for technical reasons -- OO kept crashing
> whenever I
> > > tried
> > > to save a spreadsheet, but Libre works just fine. 
> > [snip]
> > 
> > I suppose it was to be expected but it is sad to see that Oracle
> could
> > not see the value of an independent foundation for the OpenOffice
> > community. I guess their schoolyard logic was "We bought Sun
> > Microsystems so we bought OpenOffice.org so it's ours!"
> > 
> > [snip] 
> > I am not, at least not yet, a FLOSS purist but I would prefer to see
> > several large companies underwriting an independent foundation
> rather
> > than a single company in possession as under Oracle or even Sun
> before
> > them.
> 
>   In reference to Sun, OOo was a port of their Star Office, I can see
> why they had a vested interested in it.
Yes, Mike,

I too can see that Sun Microsystems originally had a vested interest in
Star Office. As I recall, they bought a German company, the owners and
perhaps creators of what became Star Office. I believe Sun had grown
tired of spending great sums of money for office licenses from the likes
of M$. One has to believe that they got their fifty millions back from
internal savings as well as from the sale of Star Office licenses.

My guess is that they created OpenOffice.org to gain input from the
open-source communities as a way of reducing their need for internal
improvements in their Star Office.

I am not so convinced of internal needs or desires on the part of Oracle
although their could be great benefits. However, I do remain unconvinced
that Oracle has the faintest idea how to live with true open-source
community developed software. One has to suspect that Oracle's internal
structure and culture is far more rigid in their development schemes and
procedures.

There does seem to be some irony in the amount of Germany based
contribution and influence in the development of Libre Office. From my
perspective, LibreOffice is Star Office rising in the east (at least
east of France).

Some seem to think of OpenOffice.org as just a free version of Star
Office. I rather suspect the reverse became the case. Some also seem to
believe there is no difference between OpenOffice and LibreOffice and
certainly Ubuntu users will see little initial difference - we've been
using a modified Go-oo for some time now.

Although there remains, in the short term, an opportunity for Oracle to
release OpenOffice to The Document Foundation, I really do not expect
that to happen.

My expectation is that both office suites will continue to support the
open document standards but the products will grow apart within the next
very few years.

Georges



From dcolburn at bibleseven.com  Sun Jan 30 19:30:21 2011
From: dcolburn at bibleseven.com (dcolburn at bibleseven.com)
Date: Sun, 30 Jan 2011 19:30:21 -0500
Subject: [Linux4christians] Monday - 1 Kings 2:12-46
Message-ID: <4D46029D.2070905@bibleseven.com>


    Monday


      1 Kings 2:12-46



Solomon Secures the Throne

2:12 Solomon sat on his father David's throne, and his royal authority 
was firmly solidified.

2:13 Haggith's son Adonijah visited Bathsheba, Solomon's mother. She 
asked, "Do you come in peace?" He answered, "Yes." 2:14 He added, "I 
have something to say to you." She replied, "Speak." 2:15 He said, "You 
know that the kingdom was mine and all Israel considered me king. But 
then the kingdom was given to my brother, for the Lord decided it should 
be his. 2:16 Now I'd like to ask you for just one thing. Please don't 
refuse me." She said, "Go ahead and ask." 2:17 He said, "Please ask King 
Solomon if he would give me Abishag the Shunammite as a wife, for he 
won't refuse you." 2:18 Bathsheba replied, "That's fine, I'll speak to 
the king on your behalf."

2:19 So Bathsheba visited King Solomon to speak to him on Adonijah's 
behalf. The king got up to greet her, bowed to her, and then sat on his 
throne. He ordered a throne to be brought for the king's mother, and she 
sat at his right hand. 2:20 She said, "I would like to ask you for just 
one small favor. Please don't refuse me." He said, "Go ahead and ask, my 
mother, for I would not refuse you." 2:21 She said, "Allow Abishag the 
Shunammite to be given to your brother Adonijah as a wife." 2:22 King 
Solomon answered his mother, "Why just request Abishag the Shunammite 
for him? Since he is my older brother, you should also request the 
kingdom for him, for Abiathar the priest, and for Joab son of Zeruiah!"

2:23 King Solomon then swore an oath by the Lord, "May God judge me 
severely, if Adonijah does not pay for this request with his life! 2:24 
Now, as certainly as the Lord lives (he who made me secure, allowed me 
to sit on my father David's throne, and established a dynasty for me as 
he promised), Adonijah will be executed today!" 2:25 King Solomon then 
sent Benaiah son of Jehoiada, and he killed Adonijah.

2:26 The king then told Abiathar the priest, "Go back to your property 
in Anathoth. You deserve to die, but today I will not kill you because 
you did carry the ark of the sovereign Lord before my father David and 
you suffered with my father through all his difficult times." 2:27 
Solomon dismissed Abiathar from his position as priest of the Lord, 
fulfilling the decree of judgment the Lord made in Shiloh against the 
family of Eli.

2:28 When the news reached Joab (for Joab had supported Adonijah, 
although he had not supported Absalom), he ran to the tent of the Lord 
and grabbed hold of the horns of the altar. 2:29 When King Solomon heard 
that Joab had run to the tent of the Lord and was right there beside the 
altar, he ordered Benaiah son of Jehoiada, "Go, strike him down." 2:30 
When Benaiah arrived at the tent of the Lord, he said to him, "The king 
says, 'Come out!'" But he replied, "No, I will die here!" So Benaiah 
sent word to the king and reported Joab's reply. 2:31 The king told him, 
"Do as he said! Strike him down and bury him. Take away from me and from 
my father's family the guilt of Joab's murderous, bloody deeds. 2:32 May 
the Lord punish him for the blood he shed; behind my father David's back 
he struck down and murdered with the sword two men who were more 
innocent and morally upright than he -- Abner son of Ner, commander of 
Israel's army, and Amasa son of Jether, commander of Judah's army. 2:33 
May Joab and his descendants be perpetually guilty of their shed blood, 
but may the Lord give perpetual peace to David, his descendants, his 
family, and his dynasty." 2:34 So Benaiah son of Jehoiada went up and 
executed Joab; he was buried at his home in the wilderness. 2:35 The 
king appointed Benaiah son of Jehoiada to take his place at the head of 
the army, and the king appointed Zadok the priest to take Abiathar's place.

2:36 Next the king summoned Shimei and told him, "Build yourself a house 
in Jerusalem and live there -- but you may not leave there to go 
anywhere! 2:37 If you ever do leave and cross the Kidron Valley, know 
for sure that you will certainly die! You will be responsible for your 
own death." 2:38 Shimei said to the king, "My master the king's proposal 
is acceptable. Your servant will do as you say." So Shimei lived in 
Jerusalem for a long time.

2:39 Three years later two of Shimei's servants ran away to King Achish 
son of Maacah of Gath. Shimei was told, "Look, your servants are in 
Gath." 2:40 So Shimei got up, saddled his donkey, and went to Achish at 
Gath to find his servants; Shimei went and brought back his servants 
from Gath. 2:41 When Solomon was told that Shimei had gone from 
Jerusalem to Gath and had then returned, 2:42 the king summoned Shimei 
and said to him, "You will recall that I made you take an oath by the 
Lord, and I solemnly warned you, 'If you ever leave and go anywhere, 
know for sure that you will certainly die.' You said to me, 'The 
proposal is acceptable; I agree to it.' 2:43 Why then have you broken 
the oath you made before the Lord and disobeyed the order I gave you?" 
2:44 Then the king said to Shimei, "You are well aware of the way you 
mistreated my father David. The Lord will punish you for what you did. 
2:45 But King Solomon will be empowered and David's dynasty will endure 
permanently before the Lord." 2:46 The king then gave the order to 
Benaiah son of Jehoiada who went and executed Shimei.

So Solomon took firm control of the kingdom.



      Prayer


Lord, You knew who Solomon could trust, and who had committed past 
crimes and were due justice. May I listen closely when You tell me who I 
may need to remove from a closest circle of associates if there be some 
who will be distractions from Your plan for my life.



      Commentary


Adonijah presented himself to Bathsheba, arrogantly declaring that he 
had been king of Israel (as if that had been legitimate), but then was 
displaced by God in favor of Solomon. He asked Bathsheba to request that 
Solomon give David's last concubine, the one who warmed him in his last 
days but with whom he had no sexual relationship, to him as his wife.

When Bathsheba presented this request to Solomon declared his request to 
be the same as if he were requesting the throne, and for this additional 
act of rebellion he sent Benaiah to execute him. Solomon also had Joab 
executed by Benaiah as David had advised.

Shimei was given the opportunity to live in Jerusalem but was not 
allowed to travel, he violated his commitment not to travel, and 
received the punishment of death -- which he knew was the consequence 
and which David had recommended to Solomon.

Abithar the priest, a descendant of Eli, was dismissed by Solomon, 
ending the role of Eli's family in the priesthood as was prophesied. 
Zadok the priest took Abiathar's place.



      Interaction


        Consider

Abithar, Adonijah, Joab, and Shimei had to know that their days were 
numbered.


        Discuss

Why would Adonijah think that Solomon would give his father's youngest, 
and still a virgin, concubine to him after he had tried to steal the throne?



        Reflect

Solomon appears to have begun his reign as a clear-headed and decisive 
young man.


        Share

When have you experienced or observed a new leader consolidating 
authority by changing those in high positions of responsibility?



      Faith in Action



        Prayer:

Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you a significant influence in your 
life with whom you may need to set new boundaries.



        Action:

Today I will prayerfully assess those with a significant influence on my 
life. I will set limiting boundaries on those who do not reinforce God's 
priorities and make an effort to spend more time with those who do.


        Be Specific ______________________________________________________



    Tuesday's text will be:


      1 Kings 3-4



-- 

Draw nearer to the Lord and He will bless you,
Have an http://Ultrafidian.com Day!
David M. Colburn, DMin. MaCo
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Personal Site: http://bibleseven.com
Bible Resources: http://bible.org
Teacher's Verse: John 7:16
Defend free speech or lose your freedom.
I don't google I SEARCH! http://ixquick.com
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

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From mwmcmlln at mnsi.net  Sun Jan 30 19:48:52 2011
From: mwmcmlln at mnsi.net (Mike McMullin)
Date: Sun, 30 Jan 2011 19:48:52 -0500
Subject: [Linux4christians] Ubuntu opts for LibreOffice LDigest, Vol 81,
 Issue 16
In-Reply-To: <1296376624.1332.21.camel@leysin.pleinsoleil>
References: <mailman.229.1296349631.3412.linux4christians@thelinuxlink.net>
	<1296376624.1332.21.camel@leysin.pleinsoleil>
Message-ID: <1296434932.6366.27.camel@P-733-Lin>

On Sun, 2011-01-30 at 00:37 -0800, Georges wrote:
> Le samedi 29 janvier 2011 ? 20:07 -0500,
> linux4christians-request at thelinuxlink.net a ?crit :
> > Message: 1
> > Date: Fri, 28 Jan 2011 00:42:26 -0500
> > From: Mike McMullin <mwmcmlln at mnsi.net>
> > To: linux4christians at thelinuxlink.net
> > Subject: Re: [Linux4christians] Ubuntu opts for LibreOffice LDigest,
> >         Vol 81, Issue 16
> [snip]
> > On Thu, 2011-01-27 at 00:00 -0800, Georges wrote:
> > > Le mercredi 26 janvier 2011 ? 19:22 -0500,
> > > linux4christians-request at thelinuxlink.net a ?crit :
> > > > Date: Tue, 25 Jan 2011 08:05:19 -0700
> > > > From: "Peter B. Steiger" <webservant at trinitybclaramie.org>
> > > > To: Linux for Christians <linux4christians at thelinuxlink.net>
> > > > Subject: Re: [Linux4christians] Ubuntu opts for LibreOffice
> > LDigest,
> > > [snip]
> > > > What are the philosophical reasons for the change?  I stopped
> > using OO
> > > > and
> > > > switched to Libre for technical reasons -- OO kept crashing
> > whenever I
> > > > tried
> > > > to save a spreadsheet, but Libre works just fine. 
> > > [snip]
> > > 
> > > I suppose it was to be expected but it is sad to see that Oracle
> > could
> > > not see the value of an independent foundation for the OpenOffice
> > > community. I guess their schoolyard logic was "We bought Sun
> > > Microsystems so we bought OpenOffice.org so it's ours!"
> > > 
> > > [snip] 
> > > I am not, at least not yet, a FLOSS purist but I would prefer to see
> > > several large companies underwriting an independent foundation
> > rather
> > > than a single company in possession as under Oracle or even Sun
> > before
> > > them.
> > 
> >   In reference to Sun, OOo was a port of their Star Office, I can see
> > why they had a vested interested in it.
> Yes, Mike,
> 
> I too can see that Sun Microsystems originally had a vested interest in
> Star Office. As I recall, they bought a German company, the owners and
> perhaps creators of what became Star Office. I believe Sun had grown
> tired of spending great sums of money for office licenses from the likes
> of M$. One has to believe that they got their fifty millions back from
> internal savings as well as from the sale of Star Office licenses.

  They'd have to sell quite a few copies, last I read of their license,
you buy the box, you get 5 or 6 installs.  I did buy the box once, and
it had install media for Windows and Linux, and three installs.  I
really was quite impressed with their proprietary Printer Driver for my
BJC-4300, it really made a difference in the print quality.

> My guess is that they created OpenOffice.org to gain input from the
> open-source communities as a way of reducing their need for internal
> improvements in their Star Office.

> I am not so convinced of internal needs or desires on the part of Oracle
> although their could be great benefits. However, I do remain unconvinced
> that Oracle has the faintest idea how to live with true open-source
> community developed software. One has to suspect that Oracle's internal
> structure and culture is far more rigid in their development schemes and
> procedures.

  I'm actually more curious as to what Oracle will do with Solaris/
openSolaris.  Odd I don't know if Sun was still puting out Computers.

> There does seem to be some irony in the amount of Germany based
> contribution and influence in the development of Libre Office. From my
> perspective, LibreOffice is Star Office rising in the east (at least
> east of France).
> 
> Some seem to think of OpenOffice.org as just a free version of Star
> Office. I rather suspect the reverse became the case. Some also seem to
> believe there is no difference between OpenOffice and LibreOffice and
> certainly Ubuntu users will see little initial difference - we've been
> using a modified Go-oo for some time now.
> 
> Although there remains, in the short term, an opportunity for Oracle to
> release OpenOffice to The Document Foundation, I really do not expect
> that to happen.
> 
> My expectation is that both office suites will continue to support the
> open document standards but the products will grow apart within the next
> very few years.

  Probably.  Any idea on the status of Oracle's OS?


From dcolburn at bibleseven.com  Mon Jan 31 21:21:27 2011
From: dcolburn at bibleseven.com (dcolburn at bibleseven.com)
Date: Mon, 31 Jan 2011 21:21:27 -0500
Subject: [Linux4christians] Tuesday - 1 Kings 3-4
Message-ID: <4D476E27.20406@bibleseven.com>


    Tuesday


      1 Kings 3-4



The Lord Gives Solomon Wisdom

3:1 Solomon made an alliance by marriage with Pharaoh, king of Egypt; he 
married Pharaoh's daughter. He brought her to the City of David until he 
could finish building his residence and the temple of the Lord and the 
wall around Jerusalem. 3:2 Now the people were offering sacrifices at 
the high places, because in those days a temple had not yet been built 
to honor the Lord. 3:3 Solomon demonstrated his loyalty to the Lord by 
following the practices of his father David, except that he offered 
sacrifices and burned incense on the high places.

3:4 The king went to Gibeon to offer sacrifices, for it had the most 
prominent of the high places. Solomon would offer up a thousand burnt 
sacrifices on the altar there. 3:5 One night in Gibeon the Lord appeared 
to Solomon in a dream. God said, "Tell me what I should give you." 3:6 
Solomon replied, "You demonstrated great loyalty to your servant, my 
father David, as he served you faithfully, properly, and sincerely. You 
have maintained this great loyalty to this day by allowing his son to 
sit on his throne. 3:7 Now, O Lord my God, you have made your servant 
king in my father David's place, even though I am only a young man and 
am inexperienced. 3:8 Your servant stands among your chosen people; they 
are a great nation that is too numerous to count or number. 3:9 So give 
your servant a discerning mind so he can make judicial decisions for 
your people and distinguish right from wrong. Otherwise no one is able 
to make judicial decisions for this great nation of yours." 3:10 The 
Lord was pleased that Solomon made this request. 3:11 God said to him, 
"Because you asked for the ability to make wise judicial decisions, and 
not for long life, or riches, or vengeance on your enemies, 3:12 I grant 
your request, and give you a wise and discerning mind superior to that 
of anyone who has preceded or will succeed you. 3:13 Furthermore, I am 
giving you what you did not request -- riches and honor so that you will 
be the greatest king of your generation. 3:14 If you follow my 
instructions by obeying my rules and regulations, just as your father 
David did, then I will grant you long life." 3:15 Solomon then woke up 
and realized it was a dream. He went to Jerusalem, stood before the ark 
of the Lord's covenant, offered up burnt sacrifices, presented peace 
offerings, and held a feast for all his servants.

Solomon Demonstrates His Wisdom

3:16 Then two prostitutes came to the king and stood before him. 3:17 
One of the women said, "My master, this woman and I live in the same 
house. I had a baby while she was with me in the house. 3:18 Then three 
days after I had my baby, this woman also had a baby. We were alone; 
there was no one else in the house except the two of us. 3:19 This 
woman's child suffocated during the night when she rolled on top of him. 
3:20 She got up in the middle of the night and took my son from my side, 
while your servant was sleeping. She put him in her arms, and put her 
dead son in my arms. 3:21 I got up in the morning to nurse my son, and 
there he was, dead! But when I examined him carefully in the morning, I 
realized it was not my baby." 3:22 The other woman said, "No! My son is 
alive; your son is dead!" But the first woman replied, "No, your son is 
dead; my son is alive." Each presented her case before the king.

3:23 The king said, "One says, 'My son is alive; your son is dead,' 
while the other says, 'No, your son is dead; my son is alive.'" 3:24 The 
king ordered, "Get me a sword!" So they placed a sword before the king. 
3:25 The king then said, "Cut the living child in two, and give half to 
one and half to the other!" 3:26 The real mother spoke up to the king, 
for her motherly instincts were aroused. She said, "My master, give her 
the living child! Whatever you do, don't kill him!" But the other woman 
said, "Neither one of us will have him! Let them cut him in two!" 3:27 
The king responded, "Give the first woman the living child; don't kill 
him. She is the mother." 3:28 When all Israel heard about the judicial 
decision which the king had rendered, they respected the king, for they 
realized that he possessed supernatural wisdom to make judicial decisions.

Solomon's Royal Court and Administrators

4:1 King Solomon ruled over all Israel. 4:2 These were his officials:

Azariah son of Zadok was the priest.

4:3 Elihoreph and Ahijah, the sons of Shisha, wrote down what happened.

Jehoshaphat son of Ahilud was in charge of the records.

4:4 Benaiah son of Jehoiada was commander of the army.

Zadok and Abiathar were priests.

4:5 Azariah son of Nathan was supervisor of the district governors.

Zabud son of Nathan was a priest and adviser to the king.

4:6 Ahishar was supervisor of the palace.

Adoniram son of Abda was supervisor of the work crews.

4:7 Solomon had twelve district governors appointed throughout Israel 
who acquired supplies for the king and his palace. Each was responsible 
for one month in the year. 4:8 These were their names:

Ben-Hur was in charge of the hill country of Ephraim.

4:9 Ben-Deker was in charge of Makaz, Shaalbim, Beth Shemesh, and Elon 
Beth Hanan.

4:10 Ben-Hesed was in charge of Arubboth; he controlled Socoh and all 
the territory of Hepher.

4:11 Ben-Abinadab was in charge of Naphath Dor. (He was married to 
Solomon's daughter Taphath.)

4:12 Baana son of Ahilud was in charge of Taanach and Megiddo, as well 
as all of Beth Shan next to Zarethan below Jezreel, from Beth Shan to 
Abel Meholah and on past Jokmeam.

4:13 Ben-Geber was in charge of Ramoth Gilead; he controlled the tent 
villages of Jair son of Manasseh in Gilead, as well as the region of 
Argob in Bashan, including sixty large walled cities with bronze bars 
locking their gates.

4:14 Ahinadab son of Iddo was in charge of Mahanaim.

4:15 Ahimaaz was in charge of Naphtali. (He married Solomon's daughter 
Basemath.)

4:16 Baana son of Hushai was in charge of Asher and Aloth.

4:17 Jehoshaphat son of Paruah was in charge of Issachar.

4:18 Shimei son of Ela was in charge of Benjamin.

4:19 Geber son of Uri was in charge of the land of Gilead (the territory 
which had once belonged to King Sihon of the Amorites and to King Og of 
Bashan). He was sole governor of the area.

Solomon's Wealth and Fame

4:20 The people of Judah and Israel were as innumerable as the sand on 
the seashore; they had plenty to eat and drink and were happy. 4:21 
(5:1) Solomon ruled all the kingdoms from the Euphrates River to the 
land of the Philistines, as far as the border of Egypt. These kingdoms 
paid tribute as Solomon's subjects throughout his lifetime. 4:22 Each 
day Solomon's royal court consumed thirty cors of finely milled flour, 
sixty cors of cereal, 4:23 ten calves fattened in the stall, twenty 
calves from the pasture, and a hundred sheep, not to mention rams, 
gazelles, deer, and well-fed birds. 4:24 His royal court was so large 
because he ruled over all the kingdoms west of the Euphrates River from 
Tiphsah to Gaza; he was at peace with all his neighbors. 4:25 All the 
people of Judah and Israel had security; everyone from Dan to Beer Sheba 
enjoyed the produce of their vines and fig trees throughout Solomon's 
lifetime. 4:26 Solomon had 4,000 stalls for his chariot horses and 
12,000 horses. 4:27 The district governors acquired supplies for King 
Solomon and all who ate in his royal palace. Each was responsible for 
one month in the year; they made sure nothing was lacking. 4:28 Each one 
also brought to the assigned location his quota of barley and straw for 
the various horses.

4:29 God gave Solomon wisdom and very great discernment; the breadth of 
his understanding was as infinite as the sand on the seashore. 4:30 
Solomon was wiser than all the men of the east and all the sages of 
Egypt. 4:31 He was wiser than any man, including Ethan the Ezrahite or 
Heman, Calcol, and Darda, the sons of Mahol. He was famous in all the 
neighboring nations. 4:32 He composed 3,000 proverbs and 1,005 songs. 
4:33 He produced manuals on botany, describing every kind of plant, from 
the cedars of Lebanon to the hyssop that grows on walls. He also 
produced manuals on biology, describing animals, birds, insects, and 
fish. 4:34 People from all nations came to hear Solomon's display of 
wisdom; they came from all the kings of the earth who heard about his 
wisdom.



      Prayer


Lord, You give good gifts, but Your children do not always use them to 
Your glory. May I take regular inventory of the gifts You have given to 
be sure I have not drifted from Your intended purpose.



      Commentary


Solomon was well-intentioned, though immature, so he married Pharaoh's 
daughter as part of a peace treaty. He then copied the people who 
offered sacrifices to God in "the high places", which had historically 
been for pagan false gods, rather than at the Ark of God.

God spoke to Solomon in a dream and asked him what he desired. Solomon 
replied that he desired wisdom to lead with justice. For his self-less 
request God granted exceptional wisdom as well as exceptional power and 
wealth.

Solomon inherited his father, David's, predisposition to speak and write 
in extremes, so his representation of his father as a flawless leader 
was clearly not historical but rhetorical.

Solomon's first public demonstration of God's gift of wisdom was 
discerning the true mother between two prostitutes with competing claims 
to a baby.

Solomon's royal court divided responsibilities for the administration of 
the royal activities as well as oversight of the regions of the nation 
among a list of trusted men.

Solomon ruled most of the civilized world and they all paid tribute, so 
his court (including representatives from all of them) was massive, and 
his wealth equally great. There was peace and prosperity for most, 
though there were many who labored hard to serve the king and to earn 
the tribute paid from other subject-nations.



      Interaction


        Consider

With so many people around him to handle the details, and peace and 
prosperity in the land, Solomon had lots of time, and 
essentially-unlimited resources, to be creative.


        Discuss

Does it seem right away that the Lord God was allowing Solomon to serve 
as a model for what happens when despite great wealth and wisdom that an 
obsession with worldly things will eventually cause a mere human to lose 
sight of Him?



        Reflect

While the Lord God had given Solomon great wealth and wisdom there is no 
implicit assumption to be made that all that Solomon did was evidence of 
God-honoring wisdom, only that he had great wisdom and used it to the 
benefit of an earthly kingdom.


        Share

When have you observed a person who claimed to be a Christian but whose 
worldly wealth caused them to drift from what was important to the Lord 
God??



      Faith in Action


        Prayer:

Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you something in your life that started 
as a blessing but may have become, even in a small way, a 
self-perpetuating draw on your resources and time rather than a tool for 
health and in His service.



        Action:

Today I will prayerfully assess the way I spend my time and resources 
and I will make the necessary adjustments to reorient priorities to 
God's and away from distractions.


        Be Specific ______________________________________________________



    Wednesday's text will be:


      I Kings 5-7



-- 

Draw nearer to the Lord and He will bless you,
Have an http://Ultrafidian.com Day!
David M. Colburn, DMin. MaCo
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Personal Site: http://bibleseven.com
Bible Resources: http://bible.org
Teacher's Verse: John 7:16
Defend free speech or lose your freedom.
I don't google I SEARCH! http://ixquick.com
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

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