tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-41107233164280297602024-03-28T07:07:50.749-07:00West Loop ChurchReflections on the GOSPEL. Creation, fall, redemption, restoration /consummation /recreation. Inclusive and exclusive. Tabernacle and presence.UBF Gospel Musingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10090631448496541233noreply@blogger.comBlogger939125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4110723316428029760.post-49614463829324578552024-03-14T08:01:00.000-07:002024-03-18T07:02:50.090-07:00Change (Romans 6:1-14)<script>
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</script><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1nQ362d_UJkxHoOPriBr0dVioKWzvKgfVyHlOyn3J-nkJO5iaLoyFP-g0OKUm9YPkm90drTbQKStym0Cb026Oh3_kAz_KhH5sQbiLRM0k0I4MzpwL-El4jIVfYtg6wxpFCg0V6n1KsO3rAlchxsjltEmFQ6MXSc3BR5t6yVoQ1wnNjm7pe63qyTYErB0/s1376/Rom6.5-6.png" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a></div></div><div><i style="white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; display: inline !important; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5pG23yhtaLPo0DdTYjvTa6QA-Qi5vBEtWoxPsJfSdaAkz65V8hIEbSStaj1BXV1xIWAyXCvYaJKhjFMLToaDeZulvrdIH5VscrDHA3x5NPZG6ZecgwsiXFFdIRvahA9w3AHV3InjuiHuaO0k2kt-0geQaZNKn61GP75uy_OMjYOgjRko1Hq3zm2rz0dU/s700/Romans%206-1%20God%20Forbid%20That%20We%20Continue%20in%20Sin%20white.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; display: inline !important; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="525" data-original-width="700" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5pG23yhtaLPo0DdTYjvTa6QA-Qi5vBEtWoxPsJfSdaAkz65V8hIEbSStaj1BXV1xIWAyXCvYaJKhjFMLToaDeZulvrdIH5VscrDHA3x5NPZG6ZecgwsiXFFdIRvahA9w3AHV3InjuiHuaO0k2kt-0geQaZNKn61GP75uy_OMjYOgjRko1Hq3zm2rz0dU/s320/Romans%206-1%20God%20Forbid%20That%20We%20Continue%20in%20Sin%20white.jpg" width="320"></a></div></span></i><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><i style="font-size: large; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-size: medium;">If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?</span></i></li><li><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;">What do you wish you could cut out OR add to your life forever, instantly?</span></i></span></li></ul></div><div><ol style="text-align: left;"><li><i><span style="font-size: medium;">How might you answer someone who says that it is no big deal for a Christian to sin, since grace will cover it (Rom 6:1; 5:20)? [Why did Paul's Jewish opponents oppose his teaching of grace (Rom 6:15?]<span></span></span></i></li></ol></div><a href="https://bentohwestloop.blogspot.com/2024/03/change-romans-61-14.html#more">Read more »</a>UBF Gospel Musingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10090631448496541233noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4110723316428029760.post-41306040581131429222024-03-13T16:22:00.000-07:002024-03-13T16:22:10.093-07:00Is this moral policing?Gal 6:1, 1 Cor 5:1-13, 1 Tim 5:20, Tit 3:10-11, Jas 5:19, Rom 16:17, 2 Tim 4:2, Lk 17:3-4, Ezek 33:7-12, Lev 19:17, Gal 2:11-14<script>
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precise, specific, narrow interpretation of Scripture or biblical doctrine, and
then use it to question any other contrary interpretation or perspective or
practice: <i>"...then I saw all that God has done. No one can comprehend
what goes on under the sun. Despite all their efforts to search it out, no one
can discover its meaning. <b>Even if the wise claim they know, they cannot really
comprehend it</b>" (Eccl 8:17)</i>.<span></span><a href="https://bentohwestloop.blogspot.com/2024/03/dont-demand-your-own-interpretation-of.html#more">Read more »</a>UBF Gospel Musingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10090631448496541233noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4110723316428029760.post-88110640238460284362024-03-04T08:34:00.000-08:002024-03-04T13:48:46.088-08:00Death (Psalm 49) and Judgment (Psalm 50)<script>
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</script><div><i style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; font-family: Rubik, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17px;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-size: small;"><span class="text Ps-50-1" style="box-sizing: inherit;"><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, Segoe UI, Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, Noto Sans, sans-serif, Arial" style="box-sizing: inherit;">“</span></span><span class="text Ps-49-15" face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" id="en-NIV-14664" style="box-sizing: inherit;">But <span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: bolder;">God </span>will <span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: bolder;">redeem </span>me from the realm of the dead;</span><span class="indent-1" face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" style="box-sizing: inherit;"><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="box-sizing: inherit; font-family: monospace;"> </span><span class="text Ps-49-15" style="box-sizing: inherit;">he will surely take me to himself” (Ps 49:15). </span></span></span></i><i style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; font-family: Rubik, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17px;"><span class="indent-1" face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" style="box-sizing: inherit;"><span class="text Ps-50-14" id="en-NIV-14683" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Sacrifice thank offerings to God, </span><span class="text Ps-50-14" style="box-sizing: inherit;">fulfill your vows to the Most High, </span><span class="text Ps-50-15" id="en-NIV-14684" style="box-sizing: inherit;">and <b>call </b>on <b>me </b>in the day of trouble;</span><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="box-sizing: inherit; font-family: monospace;"> </span><span class="text Ps-50-15" style="box-sizing: inherit;"><b>I will deliver you</b>, and you will honor me </span>(Ps 50:14-15).</span></i></div><div><i style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; font-family: Rubik, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17px;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-size: small;"><span class="indent-1" face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" style="box-sizing: inherit;"><span class="text Ps-49-15" style="box-sizing: inherit;"><br></span></span></span></i></div><div><i><b>Psalm 49</b>: <u>The <b>Brevity </b>of <b>Life</b>, the <b>Certainty </b>of <b>Death </b>and the <b>Futility </b>of <b>Wealth</b></u>.</i></div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><i>What are 2 unavoidable guarantees and certainties in life (Heb 9:27)?<span></span></i></li></ul></div><a href="https://bentohwestloop.blogspot.com/2024/03/death-psalm-49-and-judgment-psalm-50.html#more">Read more »</a>UBF Gospel Musingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10090631448496541233noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4110723316428029760.post-45682776602740382032024-02-27T14:54:00.000-08:002024-03-26T16:58:14.829-07:00Drowning in Darkness (Psalm 69:1-36)<script>
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</script><div><i><span><span class="text Ps-69-1" face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" style="background-color: white; position: relative;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: small; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmLx3iPlA9kxLWj3gQ60Ts8WqhpzomntLCQPyw2JW5xkzdFXDixFknqFJDm0Y8mZfrr5yHbs8GjrP1xZN75iaDi6hYbfkbqqLk776kDKSu8twZzY0CPZTXNy6lD22JiGvbwyVLiNMUCBapyY6CQXWhyyW3GBTKOUOeI3SjF5eXM_WotCS3951bXwGRUmM/s1000/Ps69.1-3.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmLx3iPlA9kxLWj3gQ60Ts8WqhpzomntLCQPyw2JW5xkzdFXDixFknqFJDm0Y8mZfrr5yHbs8GjrP1xZN75iaDi6hYbfkbqqLk776kDKSu8twZzY0CPZTXNy6lD22JiGvbwyVLiNMUCBapyY6CQXWhyyW3GBTKOUOeI3SjF5eXM_WotCS3951bXwGRUmM/s320/Ps69.1-3.jpg" width="320"></a></div><b><u>Desperation</u> </b>(Ps 69:1-4): <span style="font-size: x-small;">"<b>Save </b>me, O God,</span></span><span class="indent-1" face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="background-color: white; font-family: monospace; line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Ps-69-1" style="position: relative;"><span style="background-color: white;">for</span><span style="background-color: #fcff01;"> the waters have come up to my neck. </span></span></span></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial"><span><span style="background-color: #fcff01;">I <b>sink </b>in the miry depths</span><span style="background-color: white;">, </span></span></span><span class="text Ps-69-2" face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" style="background-color: white; position: relative;">where there is no foothold. </span><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial"><span><span style="background-color: #fcff01;">I have come into the </span><b style="background-color: #fcff01;">deep waters</b><span style="background-color: white;">; the</span><b style="background-color: #fcff01;"> </b></span></span><span style="background-color: #fcff01;"><span class="text Ps-69-2" face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" style="position: relative;"><b>floods engulf </b>me. </span><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial">I am <b>worn out</b> <b>calling </b>for <b>help</b>;</span><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="font-family: monospace; line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Ps-69-3" face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" style="position: relative;">my throat is parched. </span><span class="text Ps-69-3" face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" style="position: relative;">My eyes fail, </span></span><span class="indent-1" face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial"><span class="text Ps-69-3" style="position: relative;"><span style="background-color: #fcff01;"><b>looking </b>for my <b>God</b></span><span style="background-color: white;">.</span> </span></span><span class="text Ps-69-4" face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" id="en-NIV-14940" style="background-color: white; position: relative;">Those who <b>hate me without reason</b></span><span class="text Ps-69-4" style="background-color: white; position: relative;"><span style="font-family: monospace;"> </span></span><span class="text Ps-69-4" face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" style="background-color: white; position: relative;">outnumber the hairs of my head; </span><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" style="background-color: white;">many are my enemies without cause, </span><span class="text Ps-69-4" face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" style="background-color: white; position: relative;">those who seek to destroy me. </span><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" style="background-color: white;"><span class="text Ps-69-4" style="position: relative;">I am forced to restore</span><span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="font-family: monospace; line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Ps-69-4" style="position: relative;">what I did not steal."</span></span></span></span></i></div><div><i><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" style="background-color: white;"><b><u>Folly</u> </b>(Ps 69:5-12): </span><span style="background-color: #fcff01;"><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial">"You, God, <b>know </b>my <b>folly</b>;</span><span><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="font-family: monospace; line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Ps-69-5" face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" style="position: relative;">my <b>guilt </b>is not <b>hidden </b>from <b>you</b></span></span></span><span><span class="indent-1" face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial"><span class="text Ps-69-1" style="position: relative;"><span style="background-color: #fcff01;">"</span><span style="background-color: white;"> (Ps 69:5; 51:3-4).</span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: x-small;"> </span></span></span></span></i><i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span><span class="indent-1" face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" style="background-color: white;"><span class="text Ps-69-1" style="position: relative;">"...</span></span></span><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial"><span style="background-color: white;">for </span><span style="background-color: #fcff01;"><b>zeal </b>for your <b>house consumes </b>me</span></span><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" style="background-color: white;">,</span><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="font-family: monospace; line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Ps-69-9" face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" style="position: relative;">and the insults of those who insult you fall on me" (Ps 69:9).<span></span></span></span></i></div><a href="https://bentohwestloop.blogspot.com/2024/02/drowning-in-darkness-psalm-691-36.html#more">Read more »</a>UBF Gospel Musingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10090631448496541233noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4110723316428029760.post-21182921305033202002024-02-21T08:16:00.000-08:002024-03-11T14:08:47.679-07:00God Knows and Sees All (Psalm 139)<script>
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</script><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><span class="text Ps-139-1" face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" style="background-color: white; position: relative;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqR-AcBHcN7XN3y57LOZccDlIQipPKrsma3BUW1uyf3QHl0_tMyYRZZ4Iq0cdPFa40ARtnNoJ6_1LT8jSX5S-fKD993LQHpg2YOyY2kr9h0jO3A_LYzp1aDftG63XgTmh3kbhIbqloI7QtEjuOWrk2er4XhzXS6ZdCX5KYrwlJpf8ZoCa1GSQNxSMb_jo/s720/Ps139.3.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="720" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqR-AcBHcN7XN3y57LOZccDlIQipPKrsma3BUW1uyf3QHl0_tMyYRZZ4Iq0cdPFa40ARtnNoJ6_1LT8jSX5S-fKD993LQHpg2YOyY2kr9h0jO3A_LYzp1aDftG63XgTmh3kbhIbqloI7QtEjuOWrk2er4XhzXS6ZdCX5KYrwlJpf8ZoCa1GSQNxSMb_jo/s320/Ps139.3.jpg" width="320"></a></div><u>Too Wonderful for Me</u>: "You have <b>searched </b>me, <span class="small-caps" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: small-caps; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal;">Lord</span>,<span style="font-family: monospace;"> </span></span><span class="text Ps-139-1" face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" style="position: relative;">and you <b>know </b>me"</span> (Ps 139:1). "<span class="text Ps-139-23" face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" id="en-NIV-16263" style="background-color: white; position: relative;"><b>Search </b>me, God, and <b>know </b>my heart;</span><span class="indent-1" face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" style="background-color: white;"><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="font-family: monospace; line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Ps-139-23" style="position: relative;"><b>test </b>me and know my anxious thoughts. </span></span><span class="text Ps-139-24" face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" id="en-NIV-16264" style="background-color: white; position: relative;"><b>See </b>if there is any offensive way in me,</span><span class="indent-1" face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" style="background-color: white;"><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="font-family: monospace; line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Ps-139-24" style="position: relative;">and lead me in the way everlasting" (Ps 139:23-24).</span></span></i></span><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 18.75px; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><i>Do you want your children, parents, spouse or friends to know your every thought and desire just like God?</i></span></li></ul></div><div><i style="color: #050505; font-size: 18.75px; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Is it <b>scary </b>that <b>God knows everything about you</b>?</i><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 18.75px; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> No one can ever escape from God, yet the psalmist finds nothing to fear or regret from such a "scary" truth.</span></div><div><span></span></div><a href="https://bentohwestloop.blogspot.com/2024/02/too-wonderful-for-me-psalm-139.html#more">Read more »</a>UBF Gospel Musingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10090631448496541233noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4110723316428029760.post-34746176000458197882024-02-16T10:06:00.000-08:002024-02-21T10:56:51.635-08:00Raising Disciples<ul style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: small; text-align: left;"><li><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: x-small;"><span style="background-color: white;"><i><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggrOwU9MLTsf_7Te9DxMG7aRj04Y9rPUdyvpa7qM0QWXItnx60Ir9_IAwW0pte7u9x_HiOaLcJ0jsQ3G1Bhk_HbLKZliDyahBMHtKzYWA-LGe7NM1PIKEOPhyphenhypheniU5lpAJ5xnrsJremu59yf5RO2b1xtFx-TMMp1g2EXN8EfGi164EH-hy6iHfKX9wtT7NU/s1600/Rom2.21.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggrOwU9MLTsf_7Te9DxMG7aRj04Y9rPUdyvpa7qM0QWXItnx60Ir9_IAwW0pte7u9x_HiOaLcJ0jsQ3G1Bhk_HbLKZliDyahBMHtKzYWA-LGe7NM1PIKEOPhyphenhypheniU5lpAJ5xnrsJremu59yf5RO2b1xtFx-TMMp1g2EXN8EfGi164EH-hy6iHfKX9wtT7NU/s320/Rom2.21.jpg" width="320"></a></div><span style="font-family: arial;">Sadly, it's so much easier to teach others than to teach myself (Rom 2:21).</span></i></span></span></li></ul><ul style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; text-align: left;"><li><i>Focus on "<b>be</b>" not "do," "<b>being</b>" not "doing," "<b>being </b>a disciple" (Mk 1:17a; Mt 28:19a) not "raising disciples" (Mk 1:17b; Mt 28:19b).</i></li><ul><li><i>Focus first on <b>yourself </b>(Ac 20:28a) and not primarily on others (Ac 20:28b).</i></li><li><i>Focus on <b>Jesus </b>(Heb 12:2), not the Bible student (Isa 53:6a).<span></span></i></li></ul></ul><a href="https://bentohwestloop.blogspot.com/2024/02/raising-disciples.html#more">Read more »</a>UBF Gospel Musingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10090631448496541233noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4110723316428029760.post-4963671486143707822024-02-11T20:21:00.000-08:002024-03-11T19:09:06.081-07:00When the Foundations are Destroyed (Psalm 11-12)<script>
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</script><div><i><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;"></span></i></div><div><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;"><i><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKgWsydpVGRgWzgw6mJMttF60hpCNH8tlr6CTccw5kgeRiF94TctwGfFDg2DP3GUtQam_yHT1enhQ8q3oOTn3xGgi-97tAjMVV6tt5d7mZRtmSCCEfHezMIZwkpGKJ4ocJhZ6udX80eNxTUtDiLiEq5CniEtMyJBe-xZ1FRiT-OvT46pBpDGu6NkccEiA/s400/Ps12.6-Pr23.23-derek-prince-buy-the-truth.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="400" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKgWsydpVGRgWzgw6mJMttF60hpCNH8tlr6CTccw5kgeRiF94TctwGfFDg2DP3GUtQam_yHT1enhQ8q3oOTn3xGgi-97tAjMVV6tt5d7mZRtmSCCEfHezMIZwkpGKJ4ocJhZ6udX80eNxTUtDiLiEq5CniEtMyJBe-xZ1FRiT-OvT46pBpDGu6NkccEiA/s320/Ps12.6-Pr23.23-derek-prince-buy-the-truth.jpg" width="320"></a></div>* Your thoughts about having faith in God (Mk 11:22)?</i></span><br><ol style="text-align: left;"><li><i><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;">When is it a very strong temptation to flee/run away (Ps 11:1; Mt 16:22; Lk 13:31; Ac 21:12; 1 Sam 26:20)? Why (Ps 11:2-3)? Why should we not (Ps 11:4; 9:7; 96:10; 99:1; 146:10; Dan 4:26; Rev 19:6)? What if your life is in great danger (Phil 1:21; 1 Cor 6:19-20; 7:23; Ac 20:24)?</span></i></li><li><i><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;">What should you know a<i style="white-space-collapse: collapse;"><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;">bout the <i style="font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial; font-variant-caps: small-caps; white-space-collapse: collapse;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Lord </span></i>(Ps 11:4, 7a)? A</span></i>bout the righteous and the wicked (Ps 11:5-6: Gen 19:24; 2 Pet 2:6-9)? [Why-]Should you want to see God's face (Ps 11:7; 13:1; 34:15-16; 27:4; 63:2; 80:3; Exo 33:18; Num 6:25)? </span></i></li><li><i><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;">Why do we need help from the <i style="font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial; font-variant-caps: small-caps; white-space-collapse: collapse;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Lord </span></i>(Ps 12:1-4; Isa 6:5; Jas 3:5-6)? Where do lies come from (Gen 3:1, 4-5; Jn 8:44)? What does the <i style="white-space-collapse: collapse;"><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;"><i style="white-space-collapse: collapse;"><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;"><i style="font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial; font-variant-caps: small-caps; white-space-collapse: collapse;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Lord </span></i></span></i></span></i>promise to do (Ps 12:5)?</span></i></li><li><i><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhOmAHUsT5cXy_mia1_GaCOlcZHIf_c6MpDXBOAnFVMaj-3D1DnnhGDnpWu89e3BTMEIlFkQGlS2e64NsHUD9pdcgby-0l9qO_3aA304lFbe7Kl42b0gdTRLNM1A8NNBG89cnjuI0rghkpehBImLivY3VNRA8JCQEpa8HX06w023RRJXmuErs-Drk2Gy2c" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="788" data-original-width="1050" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhOmAHUsT5cXy_mia1_GaCOlcZHIf_c6MpDXBOAnFVMaj-3D1DnnhGDnpWu89e3BTMEIlFkQGlS2e64NsHUD9pdcgby-0l9qO_3aA304lFbe7Kl42b0gdTRLNM1A8NNBG89cnjuI0rghkpehBImLivY3VNRA8JCQEpa8HX06w023RRJXmuErs-Drk2Gy2c" width="320"></a></div>What counteracts the power of lying lips (Ps 12:6; 18:30; 19:7)? Why (Eph 6:17; 2 Tim 3:16; Heb 4:12; Jn 6:63; Mt 24:35; Mk 13:31; Lk 21:33)? Knowing this, what should you do practically (Ps 1:2; 119:97, 11; Prov 23:23; Phil 4:8: Jn 8:31-32)?<span></span></span></i></li></ol><i><ul style="text-align: left;"><li style="white-space-collapse: preserve;">When the vile are honored (Ps 12:8) and foundations are destroyed what can the righteous do (Ps 11:3)? "When vileness is exalted" (Ps 12:8, NKJV). "What can an honest person do when everything crumbles?" (Ps 11:3, CEV)<span></span></li></ul></i></div><div><i><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span></span>"When the <b>foundations </b>are being <b>destroyed</b>, what can the righteous do?” (Ps 11:3) </span></i><i><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;">"...</span></i><i><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;">when <b>what </b>is <b>vile </b>is <b>honored </b>by the human race" (Ps 12:8).<span></span></span></i></div><a href="https://bentohwestloop.blogspot.com/2024/02/when-foundations-are-destroyed-psalm-11.html#more">Read more »</a>UBF Gospel Musingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10090631448496541233noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4110723316428029760.post-28378292756657854452024-01-28T07:18:00.000-08:002024-02-14T08:52:01.208-08:00Shout Out, Bow Down, Listen Up! (Psalm 95)<div><span><i><span style="font-family: arial;"><span class="text Ps-95-1" style="background-color: white; position: relative;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie1Y0Bct9h5uWvMGIWHPce_3hf_G3Y90aEDAmKxFUXtuKi2ZasxCvNf-NnjlDupyHE2A7m09SHe4yH9JwsvSfr841MbJ5OGcs23MsmMZzw7od2aj1nTxzqmdM4UBbIYjIAx97fDQx-bYAtMD3f4-93ZTSF_bkPJoGbTPNLJRztDVIVBxqcNoLuZdfgsJY/s1376/Ps95-6.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1376" height="167" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie1Y0Bct9h5uWvMGIWHPce_3hf_G3Y90aEDAmKxFUXtuKi2ZasxCvNf-NnjlDupyHE2A7m09SHe4yH9JwsvSfr841MbJ5OGcs23MsmMZzw7od2aj1nTxzqmdM4UBbIYjIAx97fDQx-bYAtMD3f4-93ZTSF_bkPJoGbTPNLJRztDVIVBxqcNoLuZdfgsJY/s320/Ps95-6.jpg" width="320"></a></div>"<b>Come</b>, let us <b>sing </b>for <b>joy </b>to the <span class="small-caps" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: small-caps; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal;"><b>Lord</b></span>;</span><span class="indent-1" style="background-color: white;"><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Ps-95-1" style="position: relative;">let us <b>shout aloud</b> to the <b>Rock </b>of our <b>salvation</b>. </span></span></span></i></span><i><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="background-color: white;">Let us come before him</span><span style="background-color: white;"> </span><span style="background-color: white;">with thanksgiving and </span></span></i><span style="font-family: arial;"><span class="text Ps-95-2" style="font-style: italic; position: relative;"><b>extol </b>him with music and song. </span><span style="background-color: white;"><i>For <u>the</u></i></span><i><u><span style="background-color: white;"> </span><b><span class="small-caps" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: small-caps; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal;">Lord</span><span style="background-color: white;"> </span></b><span style="background-color: white;">is the <b>great God</b>,</span></u></i></span><span style="font-family: arial;"><i><u><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Ps-95-3" style="position: relative;">the great King above all gods</span></u></i><span class="indent-1" style="background-color: white; font-style: italic;"><span class="text Ps-95-1" style="position: relative;"><b> </b>(Ps 95:1-3). "</span></span><span class="text Ps-95-6" id="en-NIV-15461" style="background-color: white; font-style: italic; position: relative;">Come, let us <b>bow </b>down in <b>worship</b>, </span><span class="indent-1" style="background-color: white; font-style: italic;"><span class="text Ps-95-6" style="position: relative;">let us <b>kneel </b>before the <span class="small-caps" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: small-caps; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal;">Lord</span> our Maker; </span></span><span class="text Ps-95-7" id="en-NIV-15462" style="background-color: white; font-style: italic; position: relative;">for he is our God</span><span class="indent-1" style="background-color: white; font-style: italic;"><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Ps-95-7" style="position: relative;">and we are the people of his pasture, </span></span><span class="indent-1" style="background-color: white; font-style: italic;"><span class="text Ps-95-7" style="position: relative;">the flock under his care. </span></span><span class="text Ps-95-7" style="background-color: white; font-style: italic; position: relative;">Today, if only you would <b>hear </b>his <b>voice</b>, '</span><span class="text Ps-95-8" id="en-NIV-15463" style="background-color: white; font-style: italic; position: relative;"><b>Do not harden your</b> <b>hearts</b>...'" (Ps 95:6-8a). </span></span></div><div><span><br><span></span></span></div><a href="https://bentohwestloop.blogspot.com/2024/01/shout-out-bow-down-listen-up-psalm-95.html#more">Read more »</a>UBF Gospel Musingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10090631448496541233noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4110723316428029760.post-76304040138951615412024-01-25T10:26:00.000-08:002024-02-26T09:22:50.155-08:00How to Live with God (Psalm 15). God will not abandon you (Psalm 16)<div class="Ar Au Ao" id=":1bl"><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;"><i><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8e8iPnvhW4qFrhLkY9j0tDQz7pKX4kI27wuRtbT4djvInJQbMDnGZtP24DOOEe3S-wnhRdTFFdSZVXOJweykLM_u5oSlvyUr_HClEEHymgANtLvNIRle2XaxPx1OlA8sY9B1VOgsnxho2xfBCn-TuMOfDc1hErQW65JlbfAA_08jnKCj_DZMwk7f8q60/s700/Psalm%2015-1%20Who%20May%20Abide%20In%20You%20House%20brown.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="525" data-original-width="700" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8e8iPnvhW4qFrhLkY9j0tDQz7pKX4kI27wuRtbT4djvInJQbMDnGZtP24DOOEe3S-wnhRdTFFdSZVXOJweykLM_u5oSlvyUr_HClEEHymgANtLvNIRle2XaxPx1OlA8sY9B1VOgsnxho2xfBCn-TuMOfDc1hErQW65JlbfAA_08jnKCj_DZMwk7f8q60/s320/Psalm%2015-1%20Who%20May%20Abide%20In%20You%20House%20brown.jpg" width="320"></a></div><span style="font-family: arial;">"Lord, <b>who may dwell in your sacred tent</b>? <b>Who may live on your holy mountain</b>?</span> <span style="font-family: arial;">The one whose <b>walk </b>is blameless, who <b>does </b>what is righteous, who <b>speaks </b>the truth from their heart; whose <b>tongue </b>utters no slander, who <b>does </b>no wrong to a neighbor, and <b>casts </b>no slur on others; </span></i></span><span style="font-family: arial;"><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">who despises a vile person</span><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="font-size: 0.42em; line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Ps-15-4" face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" style="font-size: 16px; position: relative;">but honors those who fear the <span class="small-caps" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: small-caps; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal;">Lord</span>; </span><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">who keeps an oath</span><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"> </span><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">even when it hurts,</span><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="font-size: 0.42em; line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Ps-15-4" face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" style="font-size: 16px; position: relative;">and does not change their mind; </span><span class="text Ps-15-5" face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" id="en-NIV-14093" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; position: relative;">who lends money to the poor without interest;</span><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="font-size: 0.42em; line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Ps-15-5" face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" style="font-size: 16px; position: relative;">who does not accept a bribe against the innocent.</span><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;"><i> </i></span></span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" style="background-color: white;"><i>Whoever <b>does these things </b></i></span><i><span class="text Ps-15-5" style="position: relative;">will never be shaken" (Ps 15:1-5).</span></i></span></div><div class="Ar Au Ao" id=":1bl"><i style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br></span></i></div><div class="Ar Au Ao" id=":1bl"><i style="color: #222222;"><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: arial;">To <b>enter God</b>'s<b> presence</b>.</span><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="font-size: small;"> This brief poem of 5 verses instructs those who desire to enter the presence of God in the sanctuary. It gives </span><span style="font-family: arial;">11 answers to the question of who can enter God's presence (Ps 15:2-5a).</span><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="font-size: small;"></span></span></i></div><a href="https://bentohwestloop.blogspot.com/2024/01/how-to-live-with-god-psalm-15.html#more">Read more »</a>UBF Gospel Musingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10090631448496541233noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4110723316428029760.post-57953501312907388792024-01-16T13:09:00.001-08:002024-03-09T12:23:09.194-08:00Feeling Far From Father God (Psalm 77)<div dir="ltr"><i><span face="system-ui,-apple-system,"Segoe UI",Roboto,Ubuntu,Cantarell,"Noto Sans",sans-serif,Arial" style="color: black;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjL7htdO41NL-vHIrOCtnrudCdT3b6SUdYrBMVMbh01VWMG_uFe2-ow6qoj3msKiMAwtshGR24edWoGlx1JyUbT3Buoh7zlUiq7Fth92H3XmvSM4_ivY4ffWR3vJucPRnUVsGesbvIrKpiM0fL7RmyrlE_J4KMw4YIH_0Gij6rYK5jHJnIrJTPuajrGrNc" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjL7htdO41NL-vHIrOCtnrudCdT3b6SUdYrBMVMbh01VWMG_uFe2-ow6qoj3msKiMAwtshGR24edWoGlx1JyUbT3Buoh7zlUiq7Fth92H3XmvSM4_ivY4ffWR3vJucPRnUVsGesbvIrKpiM0fL7RmyrlE_J4KMw4YIH_0Gij6rYK5jHJnIrJTPuajrGrNc" width="320"></a></div><b><u>When You Feel Far From God</u></b>: "I <b>cried </b>out to God for <b>help</b>;</span><span face="system-ui,-apple-system,"Segoe UI",Roboto,Ubuntu,Cantarell,"Noto Sans",sans-serif,Arial" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: monospace; line-height: 0;"> </span><span>I <b>cried </b>out to God to <b>hear </b>me" (Ps 77:1). </span></span></i><i><span face="system-ui,-apple-system,"Segoe UI",Roboto,Ubuntu,Cantarell,"Noto Sans",sans-serif,Arial" id="m_-4676489728978712432m_-1038974852198611094m_3682873483100554992m_5733651168553131169m_3692919337308924248m_3103298147623972324m_8870392749995284597m_-9144595662358007682m_7607130449614345203en-NIV-15101" style="color: black;">"Will <u>the Lord <b>reject</b></u><b> </b>forever?</span><span face="system-ui,-apple-system,"Segoe UI",Roboto,Ubuntu,Cantarell,"Noto Sans",sans-serif,Arial" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: monospace; line-height: 0;"> </span><span>Will <u>he <b>never show</b> his favor</u> again?</span></span><span face="system-ui,-apple-system,"Segoe UI",Roboto,Ubuntu,Cantarell,"Noto Sans",sans-serif,Arial" id="m_-4676489728978712432m_-1038974852198611094m_3682873483100554992m_5733651168553131169m_3692919337308924248m_3103298147623972324m_8870392749995284597m_-9144595662358007682m_7607130449614345203en-NIV-15102" style="color: black;"><span style="display: inline; font-weight: 700; line-height: normal; vertical-align: text-top;"> </span>Has <u>his unfailing love <b>vanished</b></u><b> </b>forever?</span><span face="system-ui,-apple-system,"Segoe UI",Roboto,Ubuntu,Cantarell,"Noto Sans",sans-serif,Arial" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: monospace; line-height: 0;"> </span><span>Has <u>his promise <b>failed</b></u><b> </b>for all time?</span></span><span face="system-ui,-apple-system,"Segoe UI",Roboto,Ubuntu,Cantarell,"Noto Sans",sans-serif,Arial" id="m_-4676489728978712432m_-1038974852198611094m_3682873483100554992m_5733651168553131169m_3692919337308924248m_3103298147623972324m_8870392749995284597m_-9144595662358007682m_7607130449614345203en-NIV-15103" style="color: black;"><span style="display: inline; font-weight: 700; line-height: normal; vertical-align: text-top;"> </span>Has God <u><b>forgotten </b>to be merciful</u>?</span><span face="system-ui,-apple-system,"Segoe UI",Roboto,Ubuntu,Cantarell,"Noto Sans",sans-serif,Arial" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: monospace; line-height: 0;"> </span><span>Has he <u>in <b>anger withheld </b>his compassion</u>?" (Ps 77:7-9)</span></span></i><div><ul><li><i><font color="#000000" face="system-ui, -apple-system, Segoe UI, Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, Noto Sans, sans-serif, Arial">Have you ever faced something <u>so difficult</u> and <u>so heartbreaking</u> that it's caused you to question God's goodness, presence and love (Ps 77:7-9; 22:1)?<span></span></font></i></li></ul></div></div><a href="https://bentohwestloop.blogspot.com/2024/01/when-god-seems-to-withdraw-from-you.html#more">Read more »</a>UBF Gospel Musingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10090631448496541233noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4110723316428029760.post-22283486483375727562024-01-07T07:00:00.000-08:002024-02-10T18:53:49.114-08:00Why Churches Die<div dir="ltr"><span face="proxima-nova,sans-serif" style="color: #242c3b; font-size: 18px;"><i></i><span face=""Google Sans", Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #001d35;"><div dir="ltr"><span face="proxima-nova,sans-serif" style="color: #242c3b; font-size: 18px;"><span face=""Google Sans", Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #001d35;"><div class="x1e56ztr" data-block="true" data-editor="kd36" data-offset-key="at0g0-0-0" style="color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18.75px; margin-bottom: 8px; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="at0g0-0-0" style="direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; position: relative;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span data-offset-key="at0g0-0-0" style="font-family: inherit; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"><span data-text="true" style="font-family: inherit;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuIx4JmR7oBmiVXaRr9DPOcSwXy-337sXhHGlPOJiKNUMQJ8ttI7BRSg3ERKAmaFZh3pkkbLIsAzZyzDqOY5YFy41Q4-EoqRo7OKEFlipvLSd56y67fnlUcXbs1Q7twFNhP2y0bH_mHdyie7G-9tYteB_H4UZriu5XHdnTB5TY2yG9J4OyXptRoK1leJU/s640/WhyDyingChurchesDie-640x640.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="640" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuIx4JmR7oBmiVXaRr9DPOcSwXy-337sXhHGlPOJiKNUMQJ8ttI7BRSg3ERKAmaFZh3pkkbLIsAzZyzDqOY5YFy41Q4-EoqRo7OKEFlipvLSd56y67fnlUcXbs1Q7twFNhP2y0bH_mHdyie7G-9tYteB_H4UZriu5XHdnTB5TY2yG9J4OyXptRoK1leJU/s320/WhyDyingChurchesDie-640x640.jpg" width="320"></a></div>Why</span></span></span><span data-offset-key="at0g0-1-0" style="font-family: inherit; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"><span data-text="true" style="font-family: inherit;"> do churches die</span></span><span data-offset-key="at0g0-1-1" style="font-family: inherit; font-style: italic;"><span data-text="true" style="font-family: inherit;">? Thom Rainer's list:</span></span></div></div><blockquote class="xckqwgs x26u7qi x7g060r xi81zsa x6prxxf x1sy10c2 x11i5rnm xieb3on x1mh8g0r x1pi30zi x1swvt13" data-block="true" data-editor="kd36" data-offset-key="5hikc-0-0" style="border-left-color: var(--divider); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 4px; color: var(--secondary-text); font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18.75px; margin: 20px 0px; padding-left: 16px; padding-right: 16px; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="5hikc-0-0" style="direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="5hikc-0-0" style="font-family: inherit; font-style: italic;"><span data-text="true" style="font-family: inherit;">(1) because they refuse to admit they’re sick, </span></span></div></blockquote><blockquote class="xckqwgs x26u7qi x7g060r xi81zsa x6prxxf x1sy10c2 x11i5rnm xieb3on x1mh8g0r x1pi30zi x1swvt13" data-block="true" data-editor="kd36" data-offset-key="dgsc0-0-0" style="border-left-color: var(--divider); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 4px; color: var(--secondary-text); font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18.75px; margin: 20px 0px; padding-left: 16px; padding-right: 16px; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="dgsc0-0-0" style="direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="dgsc0-0-0" style="font-family: inherit; font-style: italic;"><span data-text="true" style="font-family: inherit;">(2) they don’t take sufficient responsibility, </span></span></div></blockquote><blockquote class="xckqwgs x26u7qi x7g060r xi81zsa x6prxxf x1sy10c2 x11i5rnm xieb3on x1mh8g0r x1pi30zi x1swvt13" data-block="true" data-editor="kd36" data-offset-key="5m78h-0-0" style="border-left-color: var(--divider); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 4px; color: var(--secondary-text); font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18.75px; margin: 20px 0px; padding-left: 16px; padding-right: 16px; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="5m78h-0-0" style="direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="5m78h-0-0" style="font-family: inherit; font-style: italic;"><span data-text="true" style="font-family: inherit;">(3) they are too inwardly focused, </span></span></div></blockquote><blockquote class="xckqwgs x26u7qi x7g060r xi81zsa x6prxxf x1sy10c2 x11i5rnm xieb3on x1mh8g0r x1pi30zi x1swvt13" data-block="true" data-editor="kd36" data-offset-key="fsqt7-0-0" style="border-left-color: var(--divider); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 4px; color: var(--secondary-text); font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18.75px; margin: 20px 0px; padding-left: 16px; padding-right: 16px; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="fsqt7-0-0" style="direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="fsqt7-0-0" style="font-family: inherit; font-style: italic;"><span data-text="true" style="font-family: inherit;">(4) they want to return to the glory days, </span></span></div></blockquote><blockquote class="xckqwgs x26u7qi x7g060r xi81zsa x6prxxf x1sy10c2 x11i5rnm xieb3on x1mh8g0r x1pi30zi x1swvt13" data-block="true" data-editor="kd36" data-offset-key="4vp3b-0-0" style="border-left-color: var(--divider); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 4px; color: var(--secondary-text); font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18.75px; margin: 20px 0px; padding-left: 16px; padding-right: 16px; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="4vp3b-0-0" style="direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="4vp3b-0-0" style="font-family: inherit; font-style: italic;"><span data-text="true" style="font-family: inherit;">(5) they are waiting for the super pastor, </span></span></div></blockquote><blockquote class="xckqwgs x26u7qi x7g060r xi81zsa x6prxxf x1sy10c2 x11i5rnm xieb3on x1mh8g0r x1pi30zi x1swvt13" data-block="true" data-editor="kd36" data-offset-key="djrjs-0-0" style="border-left-color: var(--divider); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 4px; color: var(--secondary-text); font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18.75px; margin: 20px 0px; padding-left: 16px; padding-right: 16px; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="djrjs-0-0" style="direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="djrjs-0-0" style="font-family: inherit; font-style: italic;"><span data-text="true" style="font-family: inherit;">(6) they are unwilling to change.</span></span></div></blockquote></span></span></div><span></span></span></span></div><a href="https://bentohwestloop.blogspot.com/2024/01/god-never-ceases-calling-us-to-him.html#more">Read more »</a>UBF Gospel Musingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10090631448496541233noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4110723316428029760.post-13185047498379601312024-01-05T02:42:00.001-08:002024-02-12T13:40:20.134-08:00Downcast, Disturbed, Discouraged, Depressed (Psalm 42-43)<div dir="ltr"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNj0dlmBjcd3nz1yWR-G8ZrfUc1H_SQ84_LC-C5KaKqFa5qmuiNJ5h9_0M411_QhNn1veb3-vdlRKMo5d0ZpnFwPLgGd4tGN-COwXQA3AIS0U26IUeeuPIRswE7BMR-a9V-AkeA9P1nRfFTJbWwa4j_uSBD2KizAcxj39z2rFTQm_KJoyXYINhaT72rOg/s850/Ps42.5-martyn-lloyd-jones-have-you-realized-that-most-of-your-unhappiness-in-life-is-due-to-the-fact-that-you-.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="850" height="151" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNj0dlmBjcd3nz1yWR-G8ZrfUc1H_SQ84_LC-C5KaKqFa5qmuiNJ5h9_0M411_QhNn1veb3-vdlRKMo5d0ZpnFwPLgGd4tGN-COwXQA3AIS0U26IUeeuPIRswE7BMR-a9V-AkeA9P1nRfFTJbWwa4j_uSBD2KizAcxj39z2rFTQm_KJoyXYINhaT72rOg/s320/Ps42.5-martyn-lloyd-jones-have-you-realized-that-most-of-your-unhappiness-in-life-is-due-to-the-fact-that-you-.jpg" width="320"></a></div><div><i><span face="system-ui,-apple-system,"Segoe UI",Roboto,Ubuntu,Cantarell,"Noto Sans",sans-serif,Arial" style="color: black;"></span></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i><i style="font-family: Rubik, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, Arial, sans-serif;"><span face="Roboto,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif" style="color: #001320; text-align: justify;">In Psalm 42-43, the writer felt overwhelmed and discouraged.</span></i></i></div><div><ol style="text-align: left;"><li><i><span face="system-ui,-apple-system,"Segoe UI",Roboto,Ubuntu,Cantarell,"Noto Sans",sans-serif,Arial" style="color: black;">Do you long for God as a deer pants for water (Ps 42:1-2)?</span></i></li><ul><li><i><span face="system-ui,-apple-system,"Segoe UI",Roboto,Ubuntu,Cantarell,"Noto Sans",sans-serif,Arial" style="color: black;">Do you long for God more in good times or in hard times? </span></i></li><li><i><span face="system-ui,-apple-system,"Segoe UI",Roboto,Ubuntu,Cantarell,"Noto Sans",sans-serif,Arial" style="color: black;">Do you long more for something else or for God? </span></i><i><span face="system-ui,-apple-system,"Segoe UI",Roboto,Ubuntu,Cantarell,"Noto Sans",sans-serif,Arial" style="color: black;">For answers [Why? Why? (Ps 42:5, 9, 11; 43:2, 5)] </span></i><i><span face="system-ui,-apple-system,"Segoe UI",Roboto,Ubuntu,Cantarell,"Noto Sans",sans-serif,Arial" style="color: black;">or for God Himself?<span></span></span></i></li></ul></ol></div></div><a href="https://bentohwestloop.blogspot.com/2024/01/spiritual-depression-psalm-42-43.html#more">Read more »</a>UBF Gospel Musingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10090631448496541233noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4110723316428029760.post-17090529859091705792024-01-04T08:44:00.000-08:002024-01-04T08:44:04.911-08:00Universal Salvation, David Bentley Hart<span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;">Romans 5:18-19, 1 Corinthians 15:22, 2 Corinthians 5:14, Romans 11:32, 1 Timothy 2:3-6, Titus 2:11, 2 Corinthians 5:19, Ephesians 1:9-10, Colossians 1:27-28, John 12:32, Hebrews 2:9, John 17:2, John 4:42, John 12:47, 1 John 4:14, 2 Peter 3:9, Matthew 18:14, Philippians 2:9-11, Colossians 1:19-20, 1 John 2:2, John 3:17, Luke 16:16, and 1 Timothy 4:10. (Cited in Hart's That All Shall Be Saved, 95-102).</span><script>
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Gal 4:26; Heb 12:22; cf. Exo 26:33-34; 1 Ki 6:20; 2 Chron 3:8)?</span></i></li><li><i><span style="font-size: medium;">Why is the promise of God dwelling with man the best promise ever (Rev 21:3-4, 7; 7:16-17; Eze 37:27; Is 25:8; 65:19; 9:6)? What prevents this from happening (Isa 59:2)?</span></i></li><li><span style="font-size: medium; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><i>How does God make all things new (Rev 21:5; Isa 43:18-19, 2 Cor 5:17)?</i></span></li><li><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;"><i>Why is God "the Alpha and the Omega" (Rev 21:6; 1:8; 22:13; Isa 41:4; 44:6; 48:12)? [What is Alpha and Omega</i></span><i style="white-space-collapse: preserve;"> in the Greek alphabet?] What is it to be thirsty for the water of life (Rev 21:6b; Isa 55:1; Jn 4:13-14)? To be victorious (Rev 21:7; Gal 3:26)?</i></span></li><li><i style="white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-size: medium;">What is every person's worst destiny (Rev 21:8)? Are you afraid of dying? Hell? How can you not be cowardly (Rom 1:16; 2 Tim 1:7; Heb 2:14-15; Phil 1:21; Ac 20:24)?</span></i></li></ol><i style="white-space-collapse: preserve;"><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-size: medium;">How might the new heaven and the new earth be entirely and existentially different from anything you have ever experienced in your life? How can it help you handle trials, tribulations and temptations in your life?</span></li></ul></i><div><span style="font-size: medium; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><i>Revelation is about the triumph of God over Satan and the forces of sin and evil through Christ, culminating in a new heaven and a new earth (Rev 21:1). The ultimate hope of God's people is heaven (> 500x in Scripture; ~50x in Revelation).</i></span></div><p></p><div><ol style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(69,89,164,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; border: 0px solid rgb(227, 227, 227); box-sizing: border-box; color: #0d0d0d; counter-reset: list-number 0; display: flex; flex-direction: column; font-family: Söhne, ui-sans-serif, system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol", "Noto Color Emoji"; font-size: 20px; list-style: none; margin: 1.25em 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><li style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(69,89,164,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(227, 227, 227); box-sizing: border-box; counter-increment: list-number 1; display: block; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 28px; padding-left: 0.375em;"><p class="que" style="color: #001320; font-family: Roboto, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 8px; margin-top: 8px; text-align: justify; white-space-collapse: collapse;"><span class="count" style="color: #b55c21; font-weight: 700;">Bonus questions for your own reflection and rumination:</span></p></li><li style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(69,89,164,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(227, 227, 227); box-sizing: border-box; counter-increment: list-number 1; display: block; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 28px; padding-left: 0.375em;"><p class="que" style="color: #001320; font-family: Roboto, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 8px; margin-top: 8px; text-align: justify; white-space-collapse: collapse;"><span class="count" style="color: #b55c21; font-weight: 700;">1.</span> What does the promise of a new heaven and a new earth signify to you?</p><p class="que" style="color: #001320; font-family: Roboto, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 8px; margin-top: 8px; text-align: justify; white-space-collapse: collapse;"><span class="count" style="color: #b55c21; font-weight: 700;">2.</span> What emotions or thoughts does the description of the New Jerusalem evoke in you?</p><p class="que" style="color: #001320; font-family: Roboto, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 8px; margin-top: 8px; text-align: justify; white-space-collapse: collapse;"><span class="count" style="color: #b55c21; font-weight: 700;">3.</span> How does the vision of God dwelling among His people influence your understanding of God's relationship with humanity?</p><p class="que" style="color: #001320; font-family: Roboto, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 8px; margin-top: 8px; text-align: justify; white-space-collapse: collapse;"><span class="count" style="color: #b55c21; font-weight: 700;">4.</span> How does the absence of a physical temple in the New Jerusalem shape your view of worship?</p><p class="que" style="color: #001320; font-family: Roboto, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 8px; margin-top: 8px; text-align: justify; white-space-collapse: collapse;"><span class="count" style="color: #b55c21; font-weight: 700;">5.</span> How does the concept of the second death in the lake of fire influence your understanding of divine judgment and reward?</p><p class="que" style="color: #001320; font-family: Roboto, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 8px; margin-top: 8px; text-align: justify; white-space-collapse: collapse;"><span class="count" style="color: #b55c21; font-weight: 700;">6.</span> In what ways do you see God making things new in your life today?</p><p class="que" style="color: #001320; font-family: Roboto, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 8px; margin-top: 8px; text-align: justify; white-space-collapse: collapse;"><span class="count" style="color: #b55c21; font-weight: 700;">7.</span> How can the promise of a life without mourning, crying, or pain bring comfort in your present situations?</p><p class="que" style="color: #001320; font-family: Roboto, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 8px; margin-top: 8px; text-align: justify; white-space-collapse: collapse;"><span class="count" style="color: #b55c21; font-weight: 700;">8.</span> How can the detailed description of the New Jerusalem inspire you to live in anticipation of this glorious future?</p><p class="que" style="color: #001320; font-family: Roboto, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 8px; margin-top: 8px; text-align: justify; white-space-collapse: collapse;"><span class="count" style="color: #b55c21; font-weight: 700;">9.</span> How can the vision of the New Jerusalem impact the way you handle trials and tribulations in your life?</p><p class="que" style="color: #001320; font-family: Roboto, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 8px; margin-top: 8px; text-align: justify; white-space-collapse: collapse;"><span class="count" style="color: #b55c21; font-weight: 700;">10.</span> How does the vision of God as the Alpha and Omega influence your view of God's sovereignty?</p><p class="que" style="color: #001320; font-family: Roboto, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 8px; margin-top: 8px; text-align: justify; white-space-collapse: collapse;"><span class="count" style="color: #b55c21; font-weight: 700;">11.</span> What does it mean to you to be called to "overcome," as mentioned in verse 7?</p></li></ol><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>In what ways will the new heaven and the new earth be entirely
different from anything we’ve experienced to this point in our lives?
How will the new heaven and the new earth be better from what we’ve
experienced to this point in our lives? (v. 1-8)</li><li>What does it mean to you that the Lord will dwell with us forever? Why
is this important? (v. 3)</li><li>Why do you think John includes this beautiful, comforting picture of
God wiping away every tear from our eyes? Why is this important? (v. 4) </li><li>God prepares us for eternity and provides us with the perspective we
need by means of His Word. How can you be more intentional about
the time you spend in God’s Word moving forward? Alone? With your
family? At church?</li><li>● What do you think it means to live with an eternal perspective? Are you
living with an eternal perspective? Moving forward, how can you more
intentionally live in light of the eternal destiny that’s in store for you as
God’s people?</li></ul></div></div><!--[if !supportLists]--><p></p>
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I'll start with joyful events.</i><div><div><i><br />The <b>joy</b> of <b>studying </b>and<b> preaching </b><b>Exodus</b> for the first time in 2022. In brief, all people need only 3 things without which we will still be enslaved by someone or something and are no different from the slaves oppressed by Pharaoh in Egypt:</i></div><div><ol><li><i><b>Deliverance </b>(Exo 19:4; 20:2). We need a Savior (Mt 1:21). No one can save themselves. I need salvation to "be joyful always."</i></li><li><i><b>Obedience </b>(Exo 19:5; 20:3-17). We need to obey the Law (Jn 14:15) to be happy. I need to obey God "be joyful always."</i></li><li><i><b>Tabernacle </b>(Exo 25:8; 29:44-46). We need a tabernacle for God to dwell with us (Jn 1:14). I must build my tabernacle to "be joyful always."</i></li></ol></div><div><i>In 2023, no matter what, the only 3 things I need--</i><i>deliverance/salvation, obedience/Law, tabernacle--</i><i>do not change one iota.</i></div><div><i><b><br /></b></i></div><div><i>The most joyest event in 2022 is when </i><i><b>Johnny</b>, my youngest and 7th grandchild, was born on 2/13/2022. Christy and I baby sit him 3 days a week, 6 hours each day. It is the first time in my 6 decades of life that I've spent so much time with a baby, since I hardly spent any time with our own 4 kids and 6 prior grandchildren when they were babies. But by enjoying baby Johnny 3 days a week I realized that I had missed 10 previous opportunities to enjoy lovely babies.</i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><i>Next, though this was a loss for our Podil members, it was a happy surprise that John and Maria became a part of our WL church community in mid 2022. Dasha tells me that WL stole John and Maria from them. At the end of 2022 we also celebrated the joyous white wedding of Sarah Gutierez. Finally, what is always joyful all year round without exception is knowing your prayer, love and support for me, despite my many shortcomings and sins. But</i><i> things happened in 2022 that I was quite sad and sorry about, yet God wants me to never lose my joy in Him.</i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><i><b>Departure </b>of <b>friends</b>. When people leave the church after many years or even decades, I feel that I've lost some friends that I at least see every Sunday at church. And if they left the church because of me, I'm sorry that I said things that caused them to leave. Despite the departure of some long standing older and younger people, I know that God has comforted and helped me to keep my heart and to "be joyful always" only because of Christ.</i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><i><b>Indicted </b>for a<b> criminal offense</b>. In mid-December half a dozen FBI agents came to my house unannounced to arrest me in hand-cuffs at 7:15 am for committing health care fraud. Without going into detail about the charges, it completely surprised me. It's the first time I've ever been hand-cuffed as a potentially dangerous criminal. I was in detention with leg chains for a day with 2 other convicted felons in the same jail cell, and I was released on bond to be tried at a later date. If found guilty my maximum sentence is 10 years in prison + a fine of up to $500,000. This waiting</i><i> for a jury trial</i><i> and their verdict is </i><i>uncomfortable and distressful </i><i>with many unknowns. But my key verse says, "<b>be joyful always</b>." I learned practically that joy is a choice which has nothing to do with my situation or circumstances. Even Jesus saw the joy set before him while being tortured, crucified and executed on the cross (Heb 12:2). So "be joyful always" is still a great KV for 2023.</i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><i>Why did this happen? I've been praying that God would</i><i> sanctify and purify me to be more like Jesus. So, without a doubt</i><i> </i><i>God is faithful to answer my prayer. Would you also pray for yourself for God to truly sanctify and purify you?</i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><i><b>II</b>. Because of the possibility and prospect of being found guilty and sent to jail, a</i><i> few key verses for 2023 are:</i></div><div><ul><li><i>Phil 4:8b--"if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--<b>think about such things</b>."</i></li><li><i>Isa 55:9--"my <b>ways </b>[are] higher than your ways, and my <b>thoughts </b>than your thoughts."</i></li><li><i>Mt 6:33--"But seek <b>first </b>his kingdom and his righteousness..."</i></li><li><i>Heb 13:5--"Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, 'Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you,'" which is from Dt 31:6: "Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you."</i></li></ul><i>With these verses in mind, being in jail is no big deal in the big picture and in the scheme of things. I hope Christy will visit me in jail. But I have to confess that I will miss seeing my 7-8 grandchildren grow up.</i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><i>In 2023, God willing, and with your love, prayer and support, John and I will preach. I pray to preach through Acts. Pray for God to bless our outreach and evangelism at UIC. Pray for Ukraine and the end of the war.</i><br /></div></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><i>"Never will I leave you, never will I forsake you," therefore seek first his kingdom and his righteousness.</i></div></div></div> </blockquote></div> UBF Gospel Musingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10090631448496541233noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4110723316428029760.post-34124175413739236722023-12-25T13:14:00.001-08:002023-12-25T13:14:47.458-08:00Day 22 Advent, 12/25/23: God became a Man (John 1:14)<div><div><div dir="ltr"><div class="gmail_quote"><div><div lang="und" style="font-family:roboto,"helvetica neue",helvetica,arial,sans-serif;width:100%;padding:0px;margin:0px;background-color:rgb(255,255,255)"><div dir="ltr" style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif">Merry X'mas. This is the last day of Advent reflection </div><div dir="ltr" style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif"><br></div><div dir="ltr" style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif">I've often thought of God becoming a man to live among them to save them, to a man becoming a cockroach to live among cockroaches to save cockroaches. This analogy is not only gross and crude, but inconceivable. Surely you can come up with a poignant analogy that expresses the mystery and majesty of the incarnation.<div dir="auto" style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif"><br></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif">Yesterday, Jim Cook shared in his sermon the Message translation of John 1:14: "The Word became flesh, and moved into the neighborhood..." which reminded Christy Toh of Mr. Rogers. Jesus is truly the intimate friend of all sinners without discrimination, or favoritism, or racism, or gender bias.</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif"><br></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif">Lord, help me to always remember the great cost of the Incarnation and the ultimate cost of the Cross. Help me to live out the truth that Jesus is the Incarnate God who is with me in order to save me.</div></div><table width="100%" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" role="none" style="border-collapse:collapse;border-spacing:0px;padding:0px;margin:0px;width:100%;height:100%;background-repeat:repeat;background-position:top;font-family:roboto,"helvetica neue",helvetica,arial,sans-serif;background-color:rgb(255,255,255)"><tbody style="font-family:roboto,"helvetica neue",helvetica,arial,sans-serif"><tr style="font-family:roboto,"helvetica neue",helvetica,arial,sans-serif"><td valign="top" style="padding:0px;margin:0px;font-family:roboto,"helvetica neue",helvetica,arial,sans-serif"><table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" role="none" style="border-collapse:collapse;border-spacing:0px;width:100%;font-family:roboto,"helvetica neue",helvetica,arial,sans-serif;table-layout:fixed!important"><tbody style="font-family:roboto,"helvetica neue",helvetica,arial,sans-serif"><tr style="font-family:roboto,"helvetica neue",helvetica,arial,sans-serif"><td align="center" style="padding:0px;margin:0px;font-family:roboto,"helvetica neue",helvetica,arial,sans-serif"><table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" role="none" style="border-collapse:collapse;border-spacing:0px;width:750px;font-family:roboto,"helvetica neue",helvetica,arial,sans-serif;background-color:transparent"><tbody style="font-family:roboto,"helvetica neue",helvetica,arial,sans-serif"><tr style="font-family:roboto,"helvetica neue",helvetica,arial,sans-serif"><td align="left" style="padding:0px;margin:0px;font-family:roboto,"helvetica neue",helvetica,arial,sans-serif"><table width="100%" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" role="none" style="border-collapse:collapse;border-spacing:0px;font-family:roboto,"helvetica neue",helvetica,arial,sans-serif"><tbody style="font-family:roboto,"helvetica neue",helvetica,arial,sans-serif"><tr style="font-family:roboto,"helvetica neue",helvetica,arial,sans-serif"><td valign="top" align="center" style="padding:0px;margin:0px;width:750px;font-family:roboto,"helvetica neue",helvetica,arial,sans-serif"><table width="100%" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" style="border-collapse:collapse;border-spacing:0px;font-family:roboto,"helvetica neue",helvetica,arial,sans-serif;background-color:rgb(239,239,239)" bgcolor="#efefef" role="presentation"><tbody style="font-family:roboto,"helvetica neue",helvetica,arial,sans-serif"><tr style="font-family:roboto,"helvetica neue",helvetica,arial,sans-serif"><td align="center" style="padding:0px;margin:0px;font-size:0px;font-family:roboto,"helvetica neue",helvetica,arial,sans-serif"></td> </tr> <tr style="font-family:roboto,"helvetica neue",helvetica,arial,sans-serif"><td align="center" style="padding:0px;margin:0px;font-size:0px;font-family:roboto,"helvetica neue",helvetica,arial,sans-serif"></td> </tr> </tbody></table> </td> </tr> </tbody></table> </td> </tr> </tbody></table> </td> </tr> </tbody></table> <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" align="center" role="none" style="border-collapse:collapse;border-spacing:0px;width:100%;font-family:roboto,"helvetica neue",helvetica,arial,sans-serif;table-layout:fixed!important"><tbody style="font-family:roboto,"helvetica neue",helvetica,arial,sans-serif"><tr style="font-family:roboto,"helvetica neue",helvetica,arial,sans-serif"><td align="center" bgcolor="#ffffff" style="padding:0px;margin:0px;font-family:roboto,"helvetica neue",helvetica,arial,sans-serif;background-color:rgb(255,255,255)"><table bgcolor="#ffffff" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" role="none" style="border-collapse:collapse;border-spacing:0px;width:750px;font-family:roboto,"helvetica neue",helvetica,arial,sans-serif;background-color:transparent"><tbody style="font-family:roboto,"helvetica neue",helvetica,arial,sans-serif"><tr style="font-family:roboto,"helvetica neue",helvetica,arial,sans-serif"><td align="left" style="padding:0px;margin:0px;font-family:roboto,"helvetica neue",helvetica,arial,sans-serif"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%" role="none" style="border-collapse:collapse;border-spacing:0px;font-family:roboto,"helvetica neue",helvetica,arial,sans-serif"><tbody style="font-family:roboto,"helvetica neue",helvetica,arial,sans-serif"><tr style="font-family:roboto,"helvetica neue",helvetica,arial,sans-serif"><td align="center" valign="top" style="padding:0px;margin:0px;width:750px;font-family:roboto,"helvetica neue",helvetica,arial,sans-serif"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%" role="presentation" style="border-collapse:collapse;border-spacing:0px;font-family:roboto,"helvetica neue",helvetica,arial,sans-serif"><tbody style="font-family:roboto,"helvetica neue",helvetica,arial,sans-serif"><tr style="font-family:roboto,"helvetica neue",helvetica,arial,sans-serif"><td align="center" style="margin:0px;padding:25px 30px 30px;font-family:roboto,"helvetica neue",helvetica,arial,sans-serif"><p style="margin:0px;font-family:roboto,"helvetica neue",helvetica,arial,sans-serif;line-height:39px;font-size:26px;color:rgb(51,51,51)">Mon, Dec 25, 2023</p></td></tr><tr style="font-family:roboto,"helvetica neue",helvetica,arial,sans-serif"><td align="center" style="padding:30px;margin:0px;font-family:roboto,"helvetica neue",helvetica,arial,sans-serif"><p style="margin:0px;font-family:roboto,"helvetica neue",helvetica,arial,sans-serif;line-height:27px;font-size:18px;color:rgb(51,51,51)">Solemnity of the Nativity of the Lord (Christmas)</p> </td> </tr> <tr style="font-family:roboto,"helvetica neue",helvetica,arial,sans-serif"><td align="center" style="margin:0px;padding:10px 30px 30px;font-family:roboto,"helvetica neue",helvetica,arial,sans-serif"><div style="text-align:center;font-family:roboto,"helvetica neue",helvetica,arial,sans-serif"><font style="font-size:18px;font-family:roboto,"helvetica neue",helvetica,arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(189,156,103)">John 1:1–18</font></div> </td> </tr> <tr style="font-family:roboto,"helvetica neue",helvetica,arial,sans-serif"><td align="left" style="margin:0px;padding:10px 30px 30px;font-family:roboto,"helvetica neue",helvetica,arial,sans-serif"><p style="margin:0px;font-family:roboto,"helvetica neue",helvetica,arial,sans-serif;line-height:30px;font-size:20px;color:rgb(51,51,51)">Friends, our Gospel for Christmas day is the prologue to the Gospel of John. In many ways, it is the entire Gospel, indeed the entire Bible, in miniature.<br><br>Let's turn to the central passage: "And the Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us." The word used in Greek here for "made his dwelling" is eskenosen, which means literally, "pitched his tent among us." Don't read that in a folksy way. It is meant to call to mind the tabernacle of the temple.<br><br>The Word becoming flesh is God coming to dwell definitively in his world, undoing the effects of sin and turning it into what it was always meant to be. Notice, too, what we see in the wake of this tabernacling: "And we saw his glory, the glory as of the Father's only Son, full of grace and truth."<br><br>So John is telling us that Jesus is the new Eden, the new Temple, the restored creation, the realization of God's intention for the world. And our purpose is not simply to gaze on this fact with wonder but rather to enter into its power: "From his fullness we have all received, grace in place of grace."</p></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" align="center" role="none" style="border-collapse:collapse;border-spacing:0px;width:100%;font-family:roboto,"helvetica neue",helvetica,arial,sans-serif;table-layout:fixed!important"><tbody style="font-family:roboto,"helvetica neue",helvetica,arial,sans-serif"><tr style="font-family:roboto,"helvetica neue",helvetica,arial,sans-serif"><td align="center" bgcolor="#ffffff" style="padding:0px;margin:0px;font-family:roboto,"helvetica neue",helvetica,arial,sans-serif;background-color:rgb(255,255,255)"><table bgcolor="#ffffff" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" role="none" style="border-collapse:collapse;border-spacing:0px;width:750px;font-family:roboto,"helvetica neue",helvetica,arial,sans-serif;background-color:transparent"><tbody style="font-family:roboto,"helvetica neue",helvetica,arial,sans-serif"><tr style="font-family:roboto,"helvetica neue",helvetica,arial,sans-serif"><td align="left" style="padding:20px 20px 0px;margin:0px;font-family:roboto,"helvetica neue",helvetica,arial,sans-serif"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%" role="none" style="border-collapse:collapse;border-spacing:0px;font-family:roboto,"helvetica neue",helvetica,arial,sans-serif"><tbody style="font-family:roboto,"helvetica neue",helvetica,arial,sans-serif"><tr style="font-family:roboto,"helvetica neue",helvetica,arial,sans-serif"><td align="center" valign="top" style="padding:0px;margin:0px;width:710px;font-family:roboto,"helvetica neue",helvetica,arial,sans-serif"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%" role="presentation" style="border-collapse:collapse;border-spacing:0px;font-family:roboto,"helvetica neue",helvetica,arial,sans-serif"><tbody style="font-family:roboto,"helvetica neue",helvetica,arial,sans-serif"><tr style="font-family:roboto,"helvetica neue",helvetica,arial,sans-serif"><td align="center" href="https://ac.wordonfire.org/proc.php?nl=29&c=10130&m=20969&s=9514380708f13e2436104381f4ffb600&act=unsub" style="padding:0px;margin:0px;font-family:roboto,"helvetica neue",helvetica,arial,sans-serif"><p style="margin:0px;font-family:roboto,"helvetica neue",helvetica,arial,sans-serif;line-height:21px;font-size:14px;color:rgb(51,51,51)"><br><br><sub style="font-size:8px;line-height:0;vertical-align:-0.4em;font-family:roboto,"helvetica neue",helvetica,arial,sans-serif">.</sub></p> </td> </tr> </tbody></table> </td> </tr> </tbody></table> </td> </tr> <tr style="font-family:roboto,"helvetica neue",helvetica,arial,sans-serif"><td align="left" style="padding:0px;margin:0px;font-family:roboto,"helvetica neue",helvetica,arial,sans-serif"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%" role="none" style="border-collapse:collapse;border-spacing:0px;font-family:roboto,"helvetica neue",helvetica,arial,sans-serif"><tbody style="font-family:roboto,"helvetica neue",helvetica,arial,sans-serif"><tr style="font-family:roboto,"helvetica neue",helvetica,arial,sans-serif"><td align="center" valign="top" style="padding:0px;margin:0px;width:750px;font-family:roboto,"helvetica neue",helvetica,arial,sans-serif"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%" role="presentation" style="border-collapse:collapse;border-spacing:0px;font-family:roboto,"helvetica neue",helvetica,arial,sans-serif"><tbody style="font-family:roboto,"helvetica neue",helvetica,arial,sans-serif"><tr style="font-family:roboto,"helvetica neue",helvetica,arial,sans-serif"><td align="center" style="padding:30px 0px;margin:0px;font-size:0px;font-family:roboto,"helvetica neue",helvetica,arial,sans-serif"><table border="0" width="100%" height="100%" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" role="presentation" style="border-collapse:collapse;border-spacing:0px;font-family:roboto,"helvetica neue",helvetica,arial,sans-serif"><tbody style="font-family:roboto,"helvetica neue",helvetica,arial,sans-serif"><tr style="font-family:roboto,"helvetica neue",helvetica,arial,sans-serif"><td style="padding:0px;border-bottom-width:0px;border-bottom-style:solid;background:repeat;height:1px;width:100%;margin:0px;font-family:roboto,"helvetica neue",helvetica,arial,sans-serif;border-bottom-color:rgb(204,204,204)"></td> </tr> </tbody></table> </td> </tr> </tbody></table> </td> </tr> </tbody></table> </td> </tr> </tbody></table> </td> </tr> </tbody></table> </td> </tr> </tbody></table> <img src="https://ac.wordonfire.org/Prod/link-tracker?nl=29&c=10130&m=20969&s=9514380708f13e2436104381f4ffb600&l=open&account=wordonfire.activehosted.com&a=999795128" border="0" width="1" height="1" style="display: block; border: 0px; overflow: hidden; font-family: roboto, "helvetica neue", helvetica, arial, sans-serif; width: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; height: 1px !important;"><br><br clear="all"></div> </div></div></div> </div> </div> UBF Gospel Musingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10090631448496541233noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4110723316428029760.post-79888138506466911652023-12-24T13:11:00.001-08:002023-12-31T14:41:01.586-08:00Day 21 Advent, 12/24/23 🔴: Jesus' Kingdom will Never End<div dir="ltr"><div><div dir="auto"><i>"…his kingdom will never end"</i> (Luke 1:33).</div><div dir="auto"><br /></div><div>Merry Xmas eve. In this world kingdoms rise and wane. Once a kingdom has been defeated, it never arises again. The kingdom of David was conquered by Babylon and exiled over 500 years ago in 587 B.C. But the angel promised Mary that the child she will bear <span face="system-ui,-apple-system,"Segoe UI",Roboto,Ubuntu,Cantarell,"Noto Sans",sans-serif,Arial" style="color: black; font-size: 16px;"><i>"will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High.</i></span><span face="system-ui,-apple-system,"Segoe UI",Roboto,Ubuntu,Cantarell,"Noto Sans",sans-serif,Arial" style="color: black; font-size: 16px;"><i> The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David"</i> (Lk 1:32). Though this was inconceivable, God would fulfill his ancient promise made to David (2 Sam 7:16) around 1,000 B.C. as John Peace shared today during the lectionary reading.</span></div><div><span face="system-ui,-apple-system,"Segoe UI",Roboto,Ubuntu,Cantarell,"Noto Sans",sans-serif,Arial" style="color: black; font-size: 16px;"><br /></span></div><div><span face="system-ui,-apple-system,"Segoe UI",Roboto,Ubuntu,Cantarell,"Noto Sans",sans-serif,Arial" style="color: black; font-size: 16px;">Lord, thank you for faithfully keeping your promise despite our unfaithfulness to you. Thank you for sending your Son through whom your kingdom will never end. Help me to live with this glorious hope in my heart in the years to come.</span></div><div><div class="gmail_quote"> <div> <span color="transparent" style="display: none; height: 0px; opacity: 0; width: 0px;">Live on YouTube: Bishop Robert Barron - He Will Rule Forever - Bishop Barron's Sunday Sermon!</span> <table align="center" bgcolor="transparent" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="width: 680px;" valign="top"> <tbody><tr> <td width="40"></td> <td width="600"> <table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="width: 600px;"> <tbody><tr> <td> <table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="width: 600px;" valign="center"> <tbody><tr> <td valign="center" width="584"> <a href="https://www.youtube.com/attribution_link?a=js_7lWyD_qUL6D4K&u=/" target="_blank"><img alt="Youtube Logo" border="0" height="30" src="http://www.gstatic.com/youtube/img/branding/youtubelogo/1x/youtubelogo_60.png" style="display: block;" /></a> </td> </tr> </tbody></table> </td> </tr> <tr> <td> <table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="width: 600px;" valign="center"> <tbody><tr> <td> <table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="width: 600px;"> <tbody><tr> <td colspan="3"> <a class="nonplayable" href="https://www.youtube.com/attribution_link?a=js_7lWyD_qUL6D4K&u=/watch%3Fv%3D5DaaX3lHz84%26feature%3Dem-lsp" style="display: block; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"> <table align="center" aria-label="He Will Rule Forever - Bishop Barron's Sunday Sermon" background="http://i.ytimg.com/vi/5DaaX3lHz84/sddefault.jpg?sqp=-oaymwEGCIAFEOgC&rs=AMzJL3lN8jIwGo9AJrBgPuA63BDLoyguoQ&feature=em-lsp" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="background-position: 50% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat; background-size: cover; height: 338px; width: 600px;"> <tbody><tr><td aria-label="He Will Rule Forever - Bishop Barron's Sunday Sermon"> <img alt="He Will Rule Forever - Bishop Barron's Sunday Sermon" src="https://www.gstatic.com/youtube/img/email/transparent_pixel.png" style="max-height: 300px;" width="600" /> </td></tr> <tr aria-label="He Will Rule Forever - Bishop Barron's Sunday Sermon" scope="row"> <td aria-label="He Will Rule Forever - Bishop Barron's Sunday Sermon" style="color: white; font-size: 12px; text-align: right;" valign="bottom" width="600"> <div style="background-color: #e62117; border-radius: 2px; display: inline-block; margin-bottom: 8px; margin-right: 8px; padding: 2px 4px;">PREMIERE</div> </td> </tr> </tbody></table> </a> </td> </tr> <tr><td> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="height: 16px;"> <tbody><tr> <td height="16"></td> </tr> </tbody></table> </td></tr> <tr> <td> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="table-layout: fixed; width: 560px;"> <tbody><tr> <td style="vertical-align: top;" width="32"> <a href="https://www.youtube.com/attribution_link?a=js_7lWyD_qUL6D4K&u=/channel/UCcMjLgeWNwqL2LBGS-iPb1A%3Ffeature%3Dhttp://www.youtube.com/channel/UCcMjLgeWNwqL2LBGS-iPb1A%253Ffeature%253Dem-lsp" target="_blank"> <img border="0" src="https://yt3.ggpht.com/Abgf9T2UMuimPnTWEo09VFTRCiWmlIFzWVTbP1F-Q8d1aT0b7hcuE3qZPL_016AuiKxteeBXhFY=s88-c-k-c0x00ffffff-no-rj" style="border-radius: 50%; display: block;" width="32" /> </a> </td> <td width="16"></td> <td> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="table-layout: fixed; width: 540px;"> <tbody><tr><td valign="center"> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="table-layout: fixed;"> <tbody><tr> <td style="padding-bottom: 4px;"> <a href="https://www.youtube.com/attribution_link?a=js_7lWyD_qUL6D4K&u=/watch%3Fv%3D5DaaX3lHz84%26feature%3Dem-lsp" style="text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"> <span face="Roboto,sans-serif" style="color: #212121; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;" valign="center"> He Will Rule Forever - Bishop Barron's Sunday Sermon </span> </a> </td> </tr> <tr> <td></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr><tr> <td> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"> <tbody><tr> <td style="color: #757575; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: 16px; overflow-wrap: break-word; word-wrap: break-word;"><br /></td></tr> </tbody></table> </td> </tr> </tbody></table> </td> <td width="40"></td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="3"> <table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="background-repeat: no-repeat; background-size: 100% 100%; height: 18px; width: 600px;"> <tbody><tr> <td width="40"></td> <td aria-label="YouTube Link" width="20"> <a href="https://www.youtube.com/attribution_link?a=js_7lWyD_qUL6D4K&u=/youtube" target="_blank"> <img alt="YouTube" border="0" height="18" src="https://www.gstatic.com/youtube/img/email/youtube_email_icon_grey.png" /> </a> </td> <td width="16"></td> <td aria-label="Twitter Link"> <a href="https://twitter.com/YouTube" target="_blank"> <img alt="Twitter" border="0" height="18" src="https://www.gstatic.com/youtube/img/email/twitter_email_icon_grey.png" /> </a> </td> </tr> </tbody></table> </td> </tr> </tbody></table> </div> <img height="1" src="https://www.youtube.com/attribution_link?a=js_7lWyD_qUL6D4K&u=/gen_204%3Fa%3D" style="color: transparent; display: none; height: 0px; opacity: 0; width: 0px;" width="1" /> </div></div> </div> </div> UBF Gospel Musingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10090631448496541233noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4110723316428029760.post-36131137907153556962023-12-23T11:56:00.001-08:002023-12-23T11:56:21.985-08:00Day 20 Advent, 12/23/23: Christ came to set his people free (Luke 1:68)<div><div dir="ltr"><div class="gmail_quote"><div lang="und" style="font-family:roboto,'helvetica neue',helvetica,arial,sans-serif;width:100%;padding:0;Margin:0;background-color:#ffffff" dir="auto"><span>2 more days to Christmas! Merry day before Christmas eve.</span><br><span><br></span></div><div lang="und" style="font-family:roboto,'helvetica neue',helvetica,arial,sans-serif;width:100%;padding:0;Margin:0;background-color:#ffffff" dir="auto"><span>The Lord's hand was upon Zechariah and upon his son John the Baptist (Lk 1:66) and he sang a song of Christ coming to set his people free (Lk 1:68).</span></div><div lang="und" style="font-family:roboto,'helvetica neue',helvetica,arial,sans-serif;width:100%;padding:0;Margin:0;background-color:#ffffff" dir="auto"><span><br></span></div><div lang="und" style="font-family:roboto,'helvetica neue',helvetica,arial,sans-serif;width:100%;padding:0;Margin:0;background-color:#ffffff" dir="auto"><span>Bishop Barron asks, "How are you enslaved to sin? What do you have to do to become free?</span></div><div lang="und" style="font-family:roboto,'helvetica neue',helvetica,arial,sans-serif;width:100%;padding:0;Margin:0;background-color:#ffffff" dir="auto"><span><br></span></div><div lang="und" style="font-family:roboto,'helvetica neue',helvetica,arial,sans-serif;width:100%;padding:0;Margin:0;background-color:#ffffff" dir="auto"><span>Struggling through this most eventful and painful year, I go in and out of the 7 deadly sins: lust, sloth, gluttony (oh dear, Xmas!), wrath, envy, greed and pride. Impatience and hypocrisy fits in somewhere as well. David says, "I know my transgressions and my sin is always before me" (Ps 51:3). I can elaborate on each of the 7 or 9 sins. Only because Jesus took the punishment and penalty of my sins upon himself on the Cross, am I able to know </span>God's deliverance and redemption by faith. What helps me is to always remember Scripture. Yesterday I remembered Luke 9:23, which is what Jesus says a disciple needs to do.</div><div lang="und" style="font-family:roboto,'helvetica neue',helvetica,arial,sans-serif;width:100%;padding:0;Margin:0;background-color:#ffffff" dir="auto"><span><br></span></div><div lang="und" style="font-family:roboto,'helvetica neue',helvetica,arial,sans-serif;width:100%;padding:0;Margin:0;background-color:#ffffff" dir="auto"><span>Lord, thank you for your mercy and grace to me to deliver me and your people from the power of sin and death. Help me to daily deny myself and take up my cross and follow you.<br></span><table width="100%" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" role="none" style="border-collapse:collapse;border-spacing:0px;padding:0;Margin:0;width:100%;height:100%;background-repeat:repeat;background-position:center top;background-color:#ffffff"><tbody><tr><td valign="top" style="padding:0;Margin:0"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" align="center" role="none" style="border-collapse:collapse;border-spacing:0px;table-layout:fixed!important;width:100%"><tbody><tr><td align="center" bgcolor="#ffffff" style="padding:0;Margin:0;background-color:#ffffff"><table bgcolor="#ffffff" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" role="none" style="border-collapse:collapse;border-spacing:0px;background-color:transparent;width:750px"><tbody><tr><td align="left" style="padding:0;Margin:0"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%" role="none" style="border-collapse:collapse;border-spacing:0px"><tbody><tr><td align="center" valign="top" style="padding:0;Margin:0;width:750px"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%" role="presentation" style="border-collapse:collapse;border-spacing:0px"><tbody><tr><td align="center" style="Margin:0;padding-top:25px;padding-bottom:30px;padding-left:30px;padding-right:30px"><div class="gmail_quote"><div><div lang="und" style="width:100%;padding:0px;margin:0px"><table width="100%" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" role="none" style="border-collapse:collapse;border-spacing:0px;padding:0px;margin:0px;width:100%;height:100%;background-repeat:repeat;background-position:50% 0%"><tbody><tr><td valign="top" style="padding:0px"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" align="center" role="none" style="border-collapse:collapse;border-spacing:0px;width:100%;table-layout:fixed"><tbody><tr><td align="center" bgcolor="#ffffff" style="padding:0px"><table bgcolor="#ffffff" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" role="none" style="border-collapse:collapse;border-spacing:0px;background-color:transparent;width:750px"><tbody><tr><td align="left" style="padding:0px"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%" role="none" style="border-collapse:collapse;border-spacing:0px"><tbody></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></div></div></div><p style="Margin:0;font-family:roboto,'helvetica neue',helvetica,arial,sans-serif;line-height:39px;color:#333333;font-size:26px">Saturday, December 23, 2023</p> </td> </tr> <tr><td align="center" style="padding:0;Margin:0;padding-bottom:20px;font-size:0px"></td> </tr> <tr><td align="center" style="padding:0;Margin:0;padding-bottom:20px;font-size:0px"></td> </tr> <tr><td align="center" style="padding:30px;Margin:0"><p style="Margin:0;font-family:roboto,'helvetica neue',helvetica,arial,sans-serif;line-height:27px;color:#333333;font-size:18px">Third Week of Advent</p> </td> </tr> <tr><td align="center" style="Margin:0;padding-top:10px;padding-bottom:30px;padding-left:30px;padding-right:30px"><div style="text-align:center"><font color="#bd9c67" style="font-size:18px">Luke 1:57–66</font></div> </td> </tr> <tr><td align="left" style="Margin:0;padding-top:10px;padding-bottom:30px;padding-left:30px;padding-right:30px"><p style="Margin:0;font-family:roboto,'helvetica neue',helvetica,arial,sans-serif;line-height:30px;color:#333333;font-size:20px">Friends, today's Gospel tells the story of the birth and naming of John the Baptist. John's father Zechariah had been rendered speechless after his vision in the sanctuary, but we hear that "his mouth was opened, his tongue freed, and he spoke blessing God." What follows this passage is the wonderful Canticle of Zechariah, which puts Jesus and John in the context of the great story of Israel. I would like to explore two lines of that great prayer today.<br><br>The God of Israel, Zechariah prays, "has come to his people and set them free." This is what God always wants to do. He hates the fact that we've become enslaved by sin and fear, and accordingly, he wants to liberate us. The central event of the Old Testament is an event of liberation from slavery. We are, as sinners, enslaved to our pride, our envy, our anger, our appetites, our greed, our lust—all of which wrap us up and keep us from being the people that we want to be.<br><br>Zechariah continues: "He has raised up for us a mighty Savior, born of the house of his servant David." God will effect this liberation through the instrumentation of a mighty Savior. This should be read against the background of Israel's long history of military struggle against its enemies. A great warrior has come, and he is from the house of Israel's greatest soldier, David. God had promised that he would put a descendant of David on the throne of Israel for all eternity, and Zechariah is prophesying that this will take place.</p></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table><br clear="all"></div> </div></div> </div> UBF Gospel Musingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10090631448496541233noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4110723316428029760.post-89827838546351127932023-12-22T07:19:00.001-08:002023-12-22T07:19:47.317-08:00Day 19 Advent, 12/22/23: Mary Gave Herself Entirely to God (Luke 1:46-47)<div dir="ltr"><div class="gmail_quote"><div><div lang="und" style="font-family:roboto,'helvetica neue',helvetica,arial,sans-serif;width:100%;padding:0;Margin:0;background-color:#ffffff"><table width="100%" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" role="none" style="border-collapse:collapse;border-spacing:0px;padding:0;Margin:0;width:100%;height:100%;background-repeat:repeat;background-position:center top;background-color:#ffffff"><tbody><tr><td valign="top" style="padding:0;Margin:0"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" align="center" role="none" style="border-collapse:collapse;border-spacing:0px;table-layout:fixed!important;width:100%"><tbody><tr><td align="center" bgcolor="#ffffff" style="padding:0;Margin:0;background-color:#ffffff"><table bgcolor="#ffffff" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" role="none" style="border-collapse:collapse;border-spacing:0px;background-color:transparent;width:750px"><tbody><tr><td align="left" style="padding:0;Margin:0"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%" role="none" style="border-collapse:collapse;border-spacing:0px"><tbody><tr><td align="center" valign="top" style="padding:0;Margin:0;width:750px"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%" role="presentation" style="border-collapse:collapse;border-spacing:0px"><tbody><tr><td align="center" style="Margin:0;padding-top:25px;padding-bottom:30px;padding-left:30px;padding-right:30px"><p style="Margin:0;font-family:roboto,'helvetica neue',helvetica,arial,sans-serif;line-height:39px;color:#333333;font-size:26px"><span style="color:rgb(34,34,34);font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:small;text-align:start"><b>Christmas in 4 days</b>! Only 4 more days of Advent reflection.</span></p><div style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;text-align:start"><i><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:system-ui,-apple-system,"Segoe UI",Roboto,Ubuntu,Cantarell,"Noto Sans",sans-serif,Arial;font-size:16px">"My soul glorifies the Lord</span><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:system-ui,-apple-system,"Segoe UI",Roboto,Ubuntu,Cantarell,"Noto Sans",sans-serif,Arial;font-size:16px"><span id="m_-6419808798639961562m_-7615174929623565594m_-8958511702203406354m_8911507640493507403m_3816165189502934960en-NIV-24941"><span style="font-family:monospace;font-size:0.42em;line-height:0"> </span>and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior" (Luke 1:46-47).</span></span><br></i></div><div style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;text-align:start"><br></div><div style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;text-align:start"><span style="color:rgb(77,81,86);font-family:"Google Sans",Roboto,arial,sans-serif"><b><i>Mary knows what God has done</i></b>. God lays low those who exalt themselves (Lk 1:51-52a). God shows grace to the humble, the weak, the helpless and the vulnerable (Lk 1:52-53). </span>Mary wholeheartedly gives the entirety of her being to God (Lk 1:46-47), because of her gratitude for God's mercy and grace to her (Lk 1:48-49), while her ego desires nothing for itself. <span style="color:rgb(77,81,86);font-family:"Google Sans",Roboto,arial,sans-serif">Her exuberant praise is due to what God has done as she also anticipates what God will do for her, for her people Israel (Lk 1:54-55), and for all generations (Lk 1:50).</span></div><div style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;text-align:start"><br></div><div style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;text-align:start">Lord, help me to deeply reflect and realize God's mercy upon my life, so that somehow it may give all honor and glory to you.</div><p style="Margin:0;font-family:roboto,'helvetica neue',helvetica,arial,sans-serif;line-height:39px;color:#333333;font-size:26px">Friday, Dec<span style="background-color:transparent">ember 22, 2023</span></p></td></tr><tr><td align="center" style="padding:30px;Margin:0"><p style="Margin:0;font-family:roboto,'helvetica neue',helvetica,arial,sans-serif;line-height:27px;color:#333333;font-size:18px">Third Week of Advent</p> </td> </tr> <tr><td align="center" style="Margin:0;padding-top:10px;padding-bottom:30px;padding-left:30px;padding-right:30px"><div style="text-align:center"><font color="#bd9c67" style="font-size:18px">Luke 1:46–56</font></div> </td> </tr> <tr><td align="left" style="Margin:0;padding-top:10px;padding-bottom:30px;padding-left:30px;padding-right:30px"><p style="Margin:0;font-family:roboto,'helvetica neue',helvetica,arial,sans-serif;line-height:30px;color:#333333;font-size:20px">Friends, in today's Gospel, we hear the Magnificat—Mary's great hymn of praise to Yahweh.<br><br>The hymn commences with the simple declaration, "My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord." Mary announces here that her whole being is ordered to the glorification of God. Her ego wants nothing for itself; it wants only to be an occasion for giving honor to God. But since God needs nothing, whatever glory Mary gives to him returns to her benefit, so that she is magnified in the very act of magnifying him. In giving herself away fully to God, Mary becomes a superabundant source of life; indeed, she becomes pregnant with God.<br><br>This odd and wonderful rhythm of magnifying and being magnified is the key to understanding everything about Mary, from her divine motherhood to her Immaculate Conception and Assumption to her mission in the life of the Church. </p> </td> </tr> <tr><td align="center" style="padding:0;Margin:0;font-size:0px"></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" align="center" role="none" style="border-collapse:collapse;border-spacing:0px;table-layout:fixed!important;width:100%"><tbody><tr><td align="center" bgcolor="#ffffff" style="padding:0;Margin:0;background-color:#ffffff"><table bgcolor="#ffffff" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" role="none" style="border-collapse:collapse;border-spacing:0px;background-color:transparent;width:750px"><tbody><tr><td align="left" style="padding:0;Margin:0;padding-top:20px;padding-left:20px;padding-right:20px"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%" role="none" style="border-collapse:collapse;border-spacing:0px"><tbody></tbody></table></td></tr><tr><td align="left" style="padding:0;Margin:0"><br></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table><br></div> </div></div></div> UBF Gospel Musingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10090631448496541233noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4110723316428029760.post-45276197445535596352023-12-21T08:35:00.001-08:002023-12-21T08:35:24.132-08:00Day 18 Advent, 12/21/23: Can you feel the joy in this Gospel passage? (Luke 1:44)<div dir="ltr"><div class="gmail_quote"><div lang="und" style="font-family:roboto,'helvetica neue',helvetica,arial,sans-serif;width:100%;padding:0;Margin:0;background-color:#ffffff">I would not have connected this familiar Christmas passage of Mary visiting Elizabeth with David bringing the ark of the covenant back to Jerusalem (2 Sam 6:12). "...in the hill country of Judea" (Lk 1:39) was where Obed-Edom apparently lived between Kireath-Jearim and Jerusalem. This is in the Judean highlands when he housed the ark for 3 months (2 Sam 6:11; 1 Ch 13:13-14; 15:25), which is 9 miles from Jerusalem.<br></div><div lang="und" style="font-family:roboto,'helvetica neue',helvetica,arial,sans-serif;width:100%;padding:0;Margin:0;background-color:#ffffff"><br></div><div lang="und" style="font-family:roboto,'helvetica neue',helvetica,arial,sans-serif;width:100%;padding:0;Margin:0;background-color:#ffffff">I also would not have connected John the Baptist leaping for joy in Elizabeth's womb (Lk 1:44) with David dancing before the ark of the covenant as it was brought to Jerusalem (2 Sam 6:14; 1 Ch 15:29).</div><div lang="und" style="font-family:roboto,'helvetica neue',helvetica,arial,sans-serif;width:100%;padding:0;Margin:0;background-color:#ffffff"><br></div><div lang="und" style="font-family:roboto,'helvetica neue',helvetica,arial,sans-serif;width:100%;padding:0;Margin:0;background-color:#ffffff">I do find both connections plausible and reasonable and quite interesting.</div><div lang="und" style="font-family:roboto,'helvetica neue',helvetica,arial,sans-serif;width:100%;padding:0;Margin:0;background-color:#ffffff"><br></div><div lang="und" style="font-family:roboto,'helvetica neue',helvetica,arial,sans-serif;width:100%;padding:0;Margin:0;background-color:#ffffff">Lord, regardless of my life circumstances, help me to always have David's joy and gratitude in his dancing in worship before the ark of the covenant.<br><table width="100%" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" role="none" style="border-collapse:collapse;border-spacing:0px;padding:0;Margin:0;width:100%;height:100%;background-repeat:repeat;background-position:center top;background-color:#ffffff"><tbody><tr><td valign="top" style="padding:0;Margin:0"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" align="center" role="none" style="border-collapse:collapse;border-spacing:0px;table-layout:fixed!important;width:100%"><tbody><tr><td align="center" bgcolor="#ffffff" style="padding:0;Margin:0;background-color:#ffffff"><table bgcolor="#ffffff" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" role="none" style="border-collapse:collapse;border-spacing:0px;background-color:transparent;width:750px"><tbody><tr><td align="left" style="padding:0;Margin:0"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%" role="none" style="border-collapse:collapse;border-spacing:0px"><tbody><tr><td align="center" valign="top" style="padding:0;Margin:0;width:750px"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%" role="presentation" style="border-collapse:collapse;border-spacing:0px"><tbody><tr><td align="center" style="Margin:0;padding-top:25px;padding-bottom:30px;padding-left:30px;padding-right:30px"><p style="Margin:0;font-family:roboto,'helvetica neue',helvetica,arial,sans-serif;line-height:39px;color:#333333;font-size:26px">Thursday, December 21, 2023</p> </td> </tr> <tr><td align="center" style="padding:0;Margin:0;padding-bottom:20px;font-size:0px"></td> </tr> <tr><td align="center" style="padding:0;Margin:0;padding-bottom:20px;font-size:0px"></td> </tr> <tr><td align="center" style="padding:30px;Margin:0"><p style="Margin:0;font-family:roboto,'helvetica neue',helvetica,arial,sans-serif;line-height:27px;color:#333333;font-size:18px">Third Week of Advent</p> </td> </tr> <tr><td align="center" style="Margin:0;padding-top:10px;padding-bottom:30px;padding-left:30px;padding-right:30px"><div style="text-align:center"><font color="#bd9c67" style="font-size:18px">Luke 1:39–45</font></div> </td> </tr> <tr><td align="left" style="Margin:0;padding-top:10px;padding-bottom:30px;padding-left:30px;padding-right:30px"><p style="Margin:0;font-family:roboto,'helvetica neue',helvetica,arial,sans-serif;line-height:30px;color:#333333;font-size:20px">Friends, today's Gospel tells the marvelous story of the Visitation. At the Annunciation, the angel had told Mary that the child to be conceived in her would be the new David. With that magnificent prophecy still ringing in her ears, Mary set out to visit her cousin Elizabeth, who was married to Zechariah, a temple priest.<br><br>No first-century Jew would have missed the significance of their residence being "in the hill country of Judah." That was precisely where David found the ark, the bearer of God's presence. To that same hill country now comes Mary, the definitive and final Ark of the Covenant.<br><br>Elizabeth is the first to proclaim the fullness of the Gospel: "How does this happen to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?"—the Lord, which is to say, the God of Israel. Mary brings God into the world, thus making it, at least in principle, a temple.<br><br>And then Elizabeth announces that at the sound of Mary's greeting, "the infant in my womb leaped for joy." This is the unborn John the Baptist doing his version of David's dance before the ark of the covenant, his great act of worship of the King. </p> </td> </tr> <tr><td align="center" style="padding:0;Margin:0;font-size:0px"></td> </tr> </tbody></table> </td> </tr> </tbody></table> </td> </tr> </tbody></table> </td> </tr> </tbody></table> <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" align="center" role="none" style="border-collapse:collapse;border-spacing:0px;table-layout:fixed!important;width:100%"><tbody><tr><td align="center" bgcolor="#ffffff" style="padding:0;Margin:0;background-color:#ffffff"><table bgcolor="#ffffff" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" role="none" style="border-collapse:collapse;border-spacing:0px;background-color:transparent;width:750px"><tbody><tr><td align="left" style="padding:0;Margin:0;padding-top:20px;padding-left:20px;padding-right:20px"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%" role="none" style="border-collapse:collapse;border-spacing:0px"><tbody><tr><td align="center" valign="top" style="padding:0;Margin:0;width:710px"></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr><tr><td align="left" style="padding:0;Margin:0"><br></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table><br></div> </div></div> UBF Gospel Musingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10090631448496541233noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4110723316428029760.post-42936387576582230342023-12-20T07:37:00.000-08:002023-12-20T07:40:48.262-08:00Day 17 Advent (12/20/23): Fall in Love with God (Luke 1:38)<div dir="ltr"><div class="gmail_quote"><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_attr">It is interesting to me that in this Advent season Luke 1:26-38 appears 4 times in 22 days. Today is the 3rd time, with the 4th time being on Christmas eve, which would be the 4th Sunday of Advent.<br></div></div><div class="gmail_quote"><ul><li>The 1st time on 12/8/23 addressed the <a href="https://bentohwestloop.blogspot.com/2023/12/day-6-of-advent-12823-hail-mary-full-of.html" target="_blank">Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary. </a>Despite doctrinal differences, may Protestants and Catholics love each other in Christ.</li><li>The 2nd time on 12/12/23 was the first time I read about <a href="https://bentohwestloop.blogspot.com/2023/12/day-9-of-advent-reflection-121223-hail.html" target="_blank">our Lady of Guadalupe</a>. God can surely choose to reveal Himself through visions and apparitions, though this has not been my own experience.</li><li>Today, the 3rd time, focuses on Mary's submission and obedience. God's favor to her was to conceive the Son of God as a virgin (Lk 1:28-31) while betrothed to Joseph. This would cause endless shame, disgrace, misunderstanding, fear, worry, anxiety, uncertainty, and possible stoning as an adulterous woman. Yet she welcomed it as "the Lord's servant" (Lk 1:38) with overflowing joy and gratitude (Lk 1:46ff).</li></ul>Bishop Barron asks, "Why is surrender such a critical part of falling in love with God?" </div><div class="gmail_quote"><br></div><div class="gmail_quote">Lord, though I love many things in the world, help me to always love you utmost in my heart with joy and gratitude. Thank you for helping me to surrender my life and future into your hands alone.<br><div><u></u> <div lang="und" style="font-family:roboto,'helvetica neue',helvetica,arial,sans-serif;width:100%;padding:0;Margin:0;background-color:#ffffff"> <table width="100%" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" role="none" style="border-collapse:collapse;border-spacing:0px;padding:0;Margin:0;width:100%;height:100%;background-repeat:repeat;background-position:center top;background-color:#ffffff"><tbody><tr><td valign="top" style="padding:0;Margin:0"><table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" role="none" style="border-collapse:collapse;border-spacing:0px;table-layout:fixed!important;width:100%"><tbody><tr><td align="center" style="padding:0;Margin:0"><table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" role="none" style="border-collapse:collapse;border-spacing:0px;background-color:transparent;width:750px"><tbody><tr><td align="left" style="padding:0;Margin:0"><table width="100%" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" role="none" style="border-collapse:collapse;border-spacing:0px"><tbody><tr><td valign="top" align="center" style="padding:0;Margin:0;width:750px"><table width="100%" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" style="border-collapse:collapse;border-spacing:0px;background-color:#efefef" bgcolor="#efefef" role="presentation"><tbody><tr><td align="center" style="padding:0;Margin:0;font-size:0px"></td> </tr> <tr><td align="center" style="padding:0;Margin:0;font-size:0px"></td> </tr> </tbody></table> </td> </tr> </tbody></table> </td> </tr> </tbody></table> </td> </tr> </tbody></table> <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" align="center" role="none" style="border-collapse:collapse;border-spacing:0px;table-layout:fixed!important;width:100%"><tbody><tr><td align="center" bgcolor="#ffffff" style="padding:0;Margin:0;background-color:#ffffff"><table bgcolor="#ffffff" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" role="none" style="border-collapse:collapse;border-spacing:0px;background-color:transparent;width:750px"><tbody><tr><td align="left" style="padding:0;Margin:0"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%" role="none" style="border-collapse:collapse;border-spacing:0px"><tbody><tr><td align="center" valign="top" style="padding:0;Margin:0;width:750px"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%" role="presentation" style="border-collapse:collapse;border-spacing:0px"><tbody><tr><td align="center" style="Margin:0;padding-top:25px;padding-bottom:30px;padding-left:30px;padding-right:30px"><p style="Margin:0;font-family:roboto,'helvetica neue',helvetica,arial,sans-serif;line-height:39px;color:#333333;font-size:26px">Wednesday, December 20, 2023</p> </td> </tr> <tr><td align="center" style="padding:0;Margin:0;padding-bottom:20px;font-size:0px"></td> </tr> <tr><td align="center" style="padding:0;Margin:0;padding-bottom:20px;font-size:0px"></td> </tr> <tr><td align="center" style="padding:30px;Margin:0"><p style="Margin:0;font-family:roboto,'helvetica neue',helvetica,arial,sans-serif;line-height:27px;color:#333333;font-size:18px">Third Week of Advent</p> </td> </tr> <tr><td align="center" style="Margin:0;padding-top:10px;padding-bottom:30px;padding-left:30px;padding-right:30px"><div style="text-align:center"><font color="#bd9c67" style="font-size:18px">Luke 1:26–38</font></div> </td> </tr> <tr><td align="left" style="Margin:0;padding-top:10px;padding-bottom:30px;padding-left:30px;padding-right:30px"><p style="Margin:0;font-family:roboto,'helvetica neue',helvetica,arial,sans-serif;line-height:30px;color:#333333;font-size:20px">Friends, in today's Gospel, the angel Gabriel announces to Mary that she has been chosen to be the mother of God.<br><br>In the face of this overwhelming word, Mary is confused: "How can this be, since I have no relations with a man?" And she cannot begin to imagine the full consequences of accepting this invitation: shame, exile, violent pursuit, the final agony on Calvary.<br><br>And yet, despite her fear and despite the darkness, she says, "I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word." At the crucial moment, Mary of Nazareth allows herself to fall in love with God, and in that moment of ecstasy, the Son of God enters the world for its salvation.<br><br>The human tragedy began with Adam and Eve's grasp; the divine comedy commences with Mary's letting-go. This is why the medieval commentators, with their delicious sense of the co-penetration of all parts of the Bible, observed that the "Ave" of the angel of the Annunciation reverses "Eva," the mother of all the living.</p></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" align="center" role="none" style="border-collapse:collapse;border-spacing:0px;table-layout:fixed!important;width:100%"><tbody><tr><td align="center" bgcolor="#ffffff" style="padding:0;Margin:0;background-color:#ffffff"><table bgcolor="#ffffff" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" role="none" style="border-collapse:collapse;border-spacing:0px;background-color:transparent;width:750px"><tbody><tr><td align="left" style="padding:0;Margin:0;padding-top:20px;padding-left:20px;padding-right:20px"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%" role="none" style="border-collapse:collapse;border-spacing:0px"><tbody><tr><td align="center" valign="top" style="padding:0;Margin:0;width:710px"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%" role="presentation" style="border-collapse:collapse;border-spacing:0px"><tbody><tr><td align="center" href="https://ac.wordonfire.org/proc.php?nl=29&c=10125&m=20964&s=9514380708f13e2436104381f4ffb600&act=unsub" style="padding:0;Margin:0"><p style="Margin:0;font-family:roboto,'helvetica neue',helvetica,arial,sans-serif;line-height:21px;color:#333333;font-size:14px"><br><br><sub style="font-size:8px;line-height:0;vertical-align:-0.4em">.</sub></p> </td> </tr> </tbody></table> </td> </tr> </tbody></table> </td> </tr> <tr><td align="left" style="padding:0;Margin:0"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%" role="none" style="border-collapse:collapse;border-spacing:0px"><tbody><tr><td align="center" valign="top" style="padding:0;Margin:0;width:750px"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%" role="presentation" style="border-collapse:collapse;border-spacing:0px"><tbody><tr><td align="center" style="padding:0;Margin:0;padding-top:30px;padding-bottom:30px;font-size:0"><table border="0" width="100%" height="100%" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" role="presentation" style="border-collapse:collapse;border-spacing:0px"><tbody><tr><td style="padding:0;Margin:0;border-bottom:0px solid #cccccc;background:none;height:1px;width:100%;margin:0px"></td> </tr> </tbody></table> </td> </tr> </tbody></table> </td> </tr> </tbody></table> </td> </tr> </tbody></table> </td> </tr> </tbody></table> </td> </tr> </tbody></table> <img src="https://ac.wordonfire.org/Prod/link-tracker?nl=29&c=10125&m=20964&s=9514380708f13e2436104381f4ffb600&l=open&account=wordonfire.activehosted.com&a=999795128" border="0" width="1" height="1" style="display:block;width:1px!important;min-width:1px!important;max-width:1px!important;height:1px!important;border:0;overflow:hidden"><br><br clear="all"></div> </div></div></div> UBF Gospel Musingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10090631448496541233noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4110723316428029760.post-29967277020812591542023-12-19T11:24:00.001-08:002024-02-19T08:15:38.491-08:00One Thing I Ask is to See God's Beauty (Psalm 27:1-14)<div dir="ltr"><div><div><i><span face="system-ui,-apple-system,"Segoe UI",Roboto,Ubuntu,Cantarell,"Noto Sans",sans-serif,Arial" style="color: black;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhmkKa3PYkJnNsHoesghnDCYLBpUKEtsnx6YmmbUhaMkcIaypcxwvUszWhNk7M05KwmewPVAKHRm5vWcuv-R8gFWByVDSB18g5TQkFSh46aNGz6Qz704_nu94lejjH-1y6-ePXBJJ2TukNMgwVBXOZ9clco2TfdRpywVsMbeReg-Tg-S6eKvpmh9HuLuxs" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="383" data-original-width="575" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhmkKa3PYkJnNsHoesghnDCYLBpUKEtsnx6YmmbUhaMkcIaypcxwvUszWhNk7M05KwmewPVAKHRm5vWcuv-R8gFWByVDSB18g5TQkFSh46aNGz6Qz704_nu94lejjH-1y6-ePXBJJ2TukNMgwVBXOZ9clco2TfdRpywVsMbeReg-Tg-S6eKvpmh9HuLuxs" width="320"></a></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span face="system-ui,-apple-system,"Segoe UI",Roboto,Ubuntu,Cantarell,"Noto Sans",sans-serif,Arial" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: arial;">"The <span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: small-caps; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">Lord</span> is my <b>light </b>and my <b>salvation</b>—</span></span><span style="font-family: arial;"><span face="system-ui,-apple-system,"Segoe UI",Roboto,Ubuntu,Cantarell,"Noto Sans",sans-serif,Arial" style="color: black;"><span>whom shall I fear? The </span></span><span face="system-ui,-apple-system,"Segoe UI",Roboto,Ubuntu,Cantarell,"Noto Sans",sans-serif,Arial" style="color: black;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: small-caps; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">Lord</span> is the <b>stronghold </b>of my life—</span><span face="system-ui,-apple-system,"Segoe UI",Roboto,Ubuntu,Cantarell,"Noto Sans",sans-serif,Arial" style="color: black;"><span>of whom shall I be afraid?" (Ps 27:1) </span></span><span face="system-ui,-apple-system,"Segoe UI",Roboto,Ubuntu,Cantarell,"Noto Sans",sans-serif,Arial" style="color: black; font-size: large;">"<b>One thing</b></span><span face="system-ui,-apple-system,"Segoe UI",Roboto,Ubuntu,Cantarell,"Noto Sans",sans-serif,Arial" style="color: black; font-size: large;"><b> </b></span><span face="system-ui,-apple-system,"Segoe UI",Roboto,Ubuntu,Cantarell,"Noto Sans",sans-serif,Arial" style="color: black; font-size: large;"><b>I ask</b> from the</span><span face="system-ui,-apple-system,"Segoe UI",Roboto,Ubuntu,Cantarell,"Noto Sans",sans-serif,Arial" style="color: black; font-size: large;"> </span><span class="gmail-small-caps" face="system-ui,-apple-system,"Segoe UI",Roboto,Ubuntu,Cantarell,"Noto Sans",sans-serif,Arial" style="color: black; font-size: large; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: small-caps; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">Lord</span><span face="system-ui,-apple-system,"Segoe UI",Roboto,Ubuntu,Cantarell,"Noto Sans",sans-serif,Arial" style="color: black; font-size: large;">,</span><span class="gmail-indent-1" face="system-ui,-apple-system,"Segoe UI",Roboto,Ubuntu,Cantarell,"Noto Sans",sans-serif,Arial" style="color: black;"><span class="gmail-indent-1-breaks" style="line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="gmail-text gmail-Ps-27-4">this only do I seek: </span></span><span class="gmail-text gmail-Ps-27-4" face="system-ui,-apple-system,"Segoe UI",Roboto,Ubuntu,Cantarell,"Noto Sans",sans-serif,Arial" style="color: black;">that I may <b>dwell </b>in the <b>house </b>of the <span class="gmail-small-caps" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: small-caps; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;"><b>Lord</b></span></span><span class="gmail-indent-1" face="system-ui,-apple-system,"Segoe UI",Roboto,Ubuntu,Cantarell,"Noto Sans",sans-serif,Arial" style="color: black;"><span class="gmail-indent-1-breaks" style="line-height: 0;"><b> </b></span><span class="gmail-text gmail-Ps-27-4">all the days of my life, </span></span><span class="gmail-text gmail-Ps-27-4" face="system-ui,-apple-system,"Segoe UI",Roboto,Ubuntu,Cantarell,"Noto Sans",sans-serif,Arial" style="color: black;">to <b>gaze </b>on the <b>beauty </b>of the <span class="gmail-small-caps" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: small-caps; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;"><b>Lord</b></span></span><span class="gmail-indent-1" face="system-ui,-apple-system,"Segoe UI",Roboto,Ubuntu,Cantarell,"Noto Sans",sans-serif,Arial" style="color: black;"><span class="gmail-indent-1-breaks" style="line-height: 0;"><b> </b></span><span class="gmail-text gmail-Ps-27-4">and to <b>seek </b>him in his <b>temple</b>" (Ps 27:4).</span></span></span></i></div></span></span></i></div><div><ol style="text-align: left;"><li><i><b>Confidence </b>(Ps 27:1-3). Whom shall I fear (Ps 27:1)?</i></li><li><i><b>Desire </b>(Ps 27:4-6). One thing I ask (Ps 27:4).</i></li><li><i><b>Plea </b>(Ps 27:7-12). Hear my voice (Ps 27:7).</i></li><li><i><b>Confidence </b>(Ps 27:13-14). Wait for the Lord (Ps 27:13).</i></li></ol></div><div><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;">God is <b>one </b>(Dt 6:4). I have one life. Regardless of what happens, do I have one desire? One passion? One direction?</span><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;"> One motivation?</span><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;"> One trajectory of life? One heart? One Lord? One faith? One wife? One family? One church? Rick Warren says, "The main thing is to keep the main thing the main thing." Paul says, "my only aim" (Ac 20:24) and "One thing I do" (Phil 3:13).</span></div><div><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br></span></div><div><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br></span></div><div><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span></span></span></div></div></div><a href="https://bentohwestloop.blogspot.com/2023/12/one-thing-i-ask-psalm-271-14.html#more">Read more »</a>UBF Gospel Musingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10090631448496541233noreply@blogger.com0