Rice bowl game in Fort Worth

DW and I went to Fort Worth for the bowl game versus Air Force. I mentioned several things to my children but I left out one important thing. WE WERE ON THE FRONT ROW. We were right in front of the offensive line group meeting. We could practically reach out and touch them. I imagine the coaches had to tame their speech because if they raised their voices we could hear them. So they mostly whispered. I tried not to eavesdrop but I did see the players sneak a look at us to see if we were listening. Amon Carter stadium on the TCU campus is a very old, very traditional stadium. Ninety percent of the seats are between the twenty yard lines. The stands are very close to the field. There is a very thin sideline. Amon Carter stadium was made in a time when football was a much simpler game played by a few players and a few coaches. There was no need for space for water girls, section meetings, remote headsets and TV cameras.

Which brings me to getting into the stadium. I assumed there would be parking. Well I left late thinking parking would be simple. I was trying to avoid being out in the freezing cold with nothing to do except wait. Well, that was a mistake. We did not get into our seats until the second quarter. First the access to the stadium is nil. We entered by a small road and Google maps recommended a small back way in which I did not see until I passed it. But many probably expected parking and got confused when they just got shunted through. We should have known when we got close to the zoo and saw a few people had parked there and were taking a walk down the same road we were on. They were going as fast as we were. We finally ended up driving past the stadium and after trying to find legal parking on campus we parked in the neighborhood several blocks away. We had a good 3/4 mile walk and on campus had to cross several vacant fields. TCU is a sprawling campus.

Imagine our surprise when we pulled out our tickets and found we were on row A. I was still in denial until I got to the seats. I thought we would be too low but not really. Sometimes the chain gang sticks blocked us a little but that was no problem. I enjoyed watching the official crew techniques and the chain crew as well. We were a section of Rice fans with the rest of the stadium a smattering of Air Force fans. We were at about the 30 yard line. When play was on our side the players crowded in front of us we could see them talking to one another. The coaches acted composed even after bad plays. I wondered if they would have actually so casual if we were not so close to them.

The Rice team dominated the line of scrimmage so it would have been a surprise if we had not won. We did 33-14 but the score remained close most of the time due to 5 or 6 fumbles in the first have and several errant passes in the second. There were enough great throws and runs to make it exciting and give us the victory. I heard a lady reporter on the radio say that "Rice thrashed Air Force 33-14". That about sums it up because of the domination at the line of scrimmage.

picking oranges

I went this morning to pick oranges on Coyle. A man was out raking the leaves out of the street gutters for his neighbors. When I said "Good morning!" He responded that is was a great morning. I agreed that it was a wonderful morning. I do not think he thought I said it enthusiastically enough so he repeated how great a morning it was.

Later when I was struggling to get the high oranges left on this tree he was whistling and humming Handel's Messiah, "And the glory the glory of the Lord, shall be revealed." When I mentioned I did not have any good gloves (mine all have holes) he gave me the gloves off his hands. They were old and mismatched but they did not have holes and they kept my frostbitten blue tipped fingers from getting worse as I walked home. When I got back my fingers were back to normal. God is blessing that man.

I got about twenty and while I was at it I knocked off the remaining pecans from my tree with my fruit picker. Mine are so big they actually stay in the basket. Cool.

Ancient Library of Qumran - Dr. Frank Cross

This is an older book, published 1958. Sometimes older is better. Lots of books have been written about the Dead Sea Scrolls. But Frank Moore Cross, Jr. is one of the best. He is willing to connect these scrolls with the Bible, both Old and New Testaments. He understands the Bible, both as a witness for archaeology and also as a statement of God's witness to his people.

What I truly love about this book is that he is willing to give opinions, and of course then defend them convincingly. So many people want to say "No one knows." etc. He tells us that the sectarian commentaries are using prophets, such as Habakkuk to refer to specific people existing at that time. They are not allegorical, they they are allusions. If you have read at all about this you have heard about the Teacher of Righteousness. He did really exist, probably one of the founders of the Essenes. But the monikers of the Wicked Priest, Wrathful Lion, the Prince of Darkness, and more, these all refer to actual living people, most of whom are know from the books of the Maccabees. The Essenes saw them differently than the Maccabees did. The Essenes felt these men were perverting the truth, taking power upon themselves that they should not have and compromising with the gentile rulers. Anyway I find this very enlightening. Even of some of his opinions might be wrong, like I said at least he is giving us a place to start rather than refusing to risk being wrong. Cross was a giant in the field.

In the last few chapters he discusses how the Essenes and the early church were very similar in political structure and in some beliefs. The early church and the Essenes both believed in a quick return of the Messiah. They both believed in sharing things in common. Both had a high view of baptism. Of course there were many differences. But again I think he makes a good case for the Essene movement having a large influence on the early Jewish Christian church.

I find it fascinating too that he feels several of Jesus' teaching may be addressing bad things in the Essene movement, as Jesus knew many of his followers prized this group. For example Jesus spoke several times about not being concerned for rank and positions. The Essenes were very concerned with rank and authority in their organization. Jesus wanted his followers to not be like this. In some places Jesus spoke specifically of Pharisees but in other times, like when James and John asked to have the positions at his left and right, it was not about the Pharisees at all. He could have been criticizing the Essene proclivities.

Anyway, it is a good book, I recommend it.

Psalm 16

The commentator speaks of Bucket Lists disparagingly and says that David does not need one because "The LORD is the portion of my cup and inheritance. God does support my lot." Psalm 16:5.

I have spoken a little of bucket lists. I do seek joy and pleasure and peace, perhaps too much. I do not let God be my portion and cup as much as I should. I endeavored to spend more time talking to God this advent, have more than one quiet time a day. I started out doing it but pursuit of pleasure has distracted me.

After listening to a MP sermon my other resolution was to have a less stressed Advent. That mainly means to me that I resist anger and stay away from worry and impatience. I was not going to do Christmas cards. But later I decided to try to do that without getting angry. I have done that so far, they are mostly done. But I suspect those around me do not know how to act. When I ask them to help they mostly demure, waiting to be forced. So I am doing them mostly by myself. Well, I have plenty of time. Oh instead of a newsletter, which brings stress, I have decided to enclose a sheet of 2012 pictures. This has been a good success. I put a word document on a thumb drive and go to fed-ex/kinkos to make color copies. It looks good. Perhaps we will put together a newsletter later and email it.

There have been more parties than usual (1). And of course the season is not over. So far I have had three caroling events and we hope to do one more in the neighborhood. One daughter has back out because of a commitment. I tried not to get angry. I have tried to keep peaceful. I have tried to be joyful too.

David had lots of external stresses. But he tried to remain calm and seek refuge in God. He has taken counsel. He has been instructed while he sleeps (16:7). He has kept his heart glad. He has found pleasure (and joy) in God's presence. (16:11). Let us all seek to do the same, find pleasure more in God's presence and less in Bucket Lists.

minutae about Luke 15, parables of lost things

God's joy is in ransoming us, loving us, keeping us, possessing us, dwelling with us, and finally taking us to be with him forever.

^ Now all the tax collectors and the sinners were coming near Him to listen to Him. ^ Both the Pharisees and the scribes began to grumble, saying, "This man receives sinners and eats with them." ^ So He told them this parable, saying, ^ "What man among you, if he has a hundred sheep and has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open pasture and go after the one which is lost until he finds it? ^ When he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. ^ And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, 'Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost!' ^ I tell you that in the same way, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance. ^ "Or what woman, if she has ten silver coins and loses one coin, does not light a lamp and sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it? ^ When she has found it, she calls together her friends and neighbors, saying, 'Rejoice with me, for I have found the coin which I had lost!' ^ In the same way, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents."

I am impressed by the fact that one parable is aimed at women and one at men. Jesus was interested equally in both sexes. He did respect and love women equally with men. And yet they complement each other. Both are important for all people.

Maranatha! Come Lord Jesus

I am reading a lot of notes, and hearing sermons that touch on Jesus' second coming. He will come again in great glory and power. Some speak of the Rapture but of that my theology is not that clear. But Jesus will come again to take his saints, those he has saved.

In truth I have mixed feelings. I like a lot of things about this world. I like playing games. I like reading. I like football. Will we have those things in heaven? My Father Wounding issues cause me to have problems trusting fathers and God the Father is no different. Still, in faith, I can cry Come Lord Jesus! And in faith I know what is to come will be infinitely better than what we have here. Jesus has promised us a reward in heaven, a reward all I had to do is believe in. I believe Jesus came in flesh, was God in the flesh. He died for my sins and was resurrected on the third and now sits with God in heaven.

I believe. But I do not even trust that belief because I know it is so frail. I trust God is bigger than even my lack of faith. It is he who save me.

I read Luke 21:28 recently in a message I gave, "Look up! And lift your heads, for your redemption is coming to you." All those before us have also cried "Come Lord Jesus!" and they have gone to their reward. For two thousand believers have believed and waited for his return.

In the mean time we call each other to live holy lives, to resist temptation. I think of Reverend Larry Hall and his exemplary life, dare I even say holy life? I say he has been a witness in his church and his example has helped many to be encouraged.

I too am admonished to live a holy life, resisting temptation that I can so easily fall into. You too are admonished to live holy lives, different from those in the mainstream culture around us. Because I do not know who will be encouraged, and neither do you by you witness. Hopefully my family will be encouraged. You have loved ones who need to see a life lived well, holy unto God.

shoflifter shot fleeing

This seems to have been a one day story. A woman was shot while obviously shoplifting with two other women. She was chased by a Sheriff's deputy working as a security guard. He was attempting to arrest them and they were attempting to flee in a car.

This woman's mother was quoting as saying she did not deserve to die for such a small thing. My question to you is is she right?

I would submit to you is the mother is wrong. She took the risk, this was not her first time. She has priors. The story is she tried to run over the law officer and he fired to protect himself. But even without that he has the right to use whatever force he needed to in order to stop her.

She took the risk. She assumed he would not shoot because the theft "was so small". But I think if we decide that people can be scofflaws what is the world coming to? We all pay for the stealing going on, which increases greatly during the Christmas season. If we do not pay for it them the company goes out of business.

On a related note I understand that after the power outage in NYC there was quit of bit of looting. Did the police stand by and allow it? If so shame on them. Shooting a few of those thieves would be a deterrent to others. Breaking in and looting stores is going to ruin many store owners who have spent their lives building this business and helping society by fulfilling a need and paying taxes. Don't these people count? Why should a bunch of thieves count more than hard working middle class shop owners. I say shops should be defended. It is wrong for the police to allow laws to be broken in such a flagrant manner.

Jeremiah at end (chapter 51)

Jeremiah's last prophesies are aimed at encouraging Israel. It is violent and bloody but so have the previous years. We have to understand the time. In chapter 51, Jeremiah sends a scroll to Babylon with a scribe going with the conquered king, King Zedekiah. I think Zedekiah had the horrible experience of watching his sons killed and then being blinded. What a painful ordeal! Then he is allowed to live as a living sign of Nebuchadnezzar's victory and Israel's utter defeat.

In this horrible time for God's people God sends Jeremiah to encourage. His work tell that Babylon, the city that seems so powerful, so dominating, will soon be overthrown. And at its destruction it will never rise again.

A scribe is given a scroll to be read in Babylon to the people who are exiled there. Then Jeremiah instructs that the scroll be weighed down and thrown into the Euphrates as a sign. Just as the scroll sinks, never to rise again, so Babylon will sink, never to risk again. Jeremiah is pronouncing God's judgment on Babylon, as he pronounced judgment on Israel.

In contrast God's chosen people have been beaten and many killed. But the remnant will rise again. God is not defeated. He has had his hand in all this, to punish Israel. But God is not defeated. He is still alive and still their God, even though they are not in the promised land.

God is not a god fixed in a certain place. He is the God of the whole world, the whole universe. He has been hard on Israel but he will be merciful again. His judgement is not forever.

Advent

Yesterday, the first Sunday in Advent, MP spoke about spending more time with God.  Just being quiet, less time with other things, less money on things that do not satisfy.  I am going to shake a stick and try to do it, today anyway.  When I get quiet though I get sleepy.  But for at least an hour on Sunday, after the football game and before going to evening church service.  I did fall asleep for a time during that hour.

Sunday morning after the 9 AM service at Brighton Home one of the ladies said, when asked how she was doing said, "I am just sitting here enjoying it."  Nothing to do.  No agenda.  I think that is what MP was suggesting.  Can I handle that?

At the evening service MF spoke on a similar thing, forgetting lessor things and sticking to the most important thing.  He listed several things that were not as important.  After all it is Advent.  It is to be expected that the sermons will be on waiting on God.

The scriptures spoke a lot of Jesus second coming, he coming back in power.  The earth will change. The gospel said, when you see those days are near, straighten up you back.  Be in anticipation.  Be proud, your vindication is near!

So as MF emphasized, be on the alert, do not think about less important things.  Be eager for the most important.

Jeremiah 49

Well not really this chapter alone.  But reading through Jeremiah.  In chapter 49 (and elsewhere) God is commenting on the great political events of the time.  He is predicting what will soon happen and commenting on the reasons.  God says these wars and famine and disasters are the result of people's sin and pride.  They refuse to take care of the poor and widow.  Instead they take advantage of them.  They are selfish.  So God sent prophets like Jeremiah to predict what is about to happen and give God's perspective.
What is about to happen is not all that well hidden.  But God's perspective is unique.  As we look at our world and think about what will happen in the future would it be nice now to have a prophet to tell us why?  (Perhaps not.)  But we mostly think there is no why.  I think this is a big mistake.  God still cares about his creation.  Why should it be any different than in Jeremiah's time.  Who has the bravery to speak in God's name?  How would we know if a prophet was self appointed or God appointed?  Certainly any real prophet would be reviled, ridiculed, even punished as Jeremiah was.  So most of us would never volunteer for the job.
But I believe God still loves his creation passionately.  He despairs when  he sees us so selfish and destructive of one another.  He longs to see us do righteously, love mercy, and walk humbly before our God.  That would be good for us, better for our world, and please God greatly.:
I said wouldn't it be nice to have a prophet like Jeremiah today?  Well the people of his time said "No!"   The demanded, "Don't say these horrible things about destruction and murder!"  They must have thought that by predicting these things they might be brought into existence.  They would much rather stay in denial.  But God sent Jeremiah so that there could not pretend everything was all right.  He told them they were sinners and they would see God's judgment.
Aren't we in denial too?  We want things to continue just as they are now.  Why can't we just continue as we are now?  Perhaps the terrible things that could happen with the world's economy can be put off, might not happen at all.  We can continue our selfishness and everything will stay as it is.
But if we are willing to look at the future we can see what is likely to happen done the road.  And perhaps it is not as far off as we'd like to hope.  We remember economic disasters of the past, panics, depressions, monetary collapse.  We hope they will not happen again.  We remember the last big world war.  We can see the power of the U.S. waning.  Who will take up the coming power vacuum in the world?
What we do not have and what we desperately need is God's perspective on all this.  Yes he does have one.  He is close.  He cares.  Whatever happens I trust in his care for me.  Those who do not have this trust should repent of their sins and ask God to enter their heart and take over their lives.  It would be nice if a prophet was here to explain all this for us.  But we do have the Bible and there are many examples that help us to see God's way of understanding.  Let us seek him for his view.

Jeremiah 32:1-15

Jeremiah 32 - In the midst of allowing destruction and chaos, God asked Jeremiah, now jailed for telling  the truth, to buy a piece of land.  I liken it to Peter being told beforehand that he is going to preach to Gentiles.  Peter would never have done it unless God had not spoken to him beforehand.  This is what happens in the case of Jeremiah in chapter 32.
So God tells Jeremiah that a man is going to visit him offering him land.  Because God tells him beforehand he feels God is asking him to buy it.  So Jeremiah takes a deed and gives good money with all the proper witnesses, while still in jail.  We are given all the legal details.  I guess the author wants us to see even with destruction looming business is still being carried out in normal ways.
Thus Jeremiah is saying and modelling that God will restore his people.  In the midst of a terrible judgment that is about to happen, God still sees beyond to recovery.  God says, "Houses and fields and vineyards shall again be bought in this land."
After the election I see a terrible judgment about to happen to this country.  No I am not a prophet.  I am just looking at the signs.  As a country we have chosen selfishness over responsibility.  We have chosen sexual license, fiscal license, abortion out of convenience and pronounced it all good in the public square.
I hope I am wrong.  A lot of terribly smart people are on board with voting for a socialist president.  How blind can smart people be?  Are they ignoring the obvious?  They don't want to see?
Yet God will be merciful to us too, as he was to the people of Israel in the time of Jeremiah.  But not, I fear, before a judgment.  I worry about my family, how they will survive.  Yet God says pray for daily bread.  He promises to give us our daily bread.  I believe it.  I pray for faith not to worry.  I do not want to give up, to retire from life.

Jeremiah 33 - confusing prophesies

As I read Jeremiah 33, he is speaking of God's faithfulness despite his people's great sin.  The first part of the chapter describes the great slaughter that will come at the hands of the Chaldeans.  But the whole tenor of the chapter is about God's restoration.  God will restore them as they were before.  Yet nothing really is said about their repentance.  Perhaps their condition is so weak, so dire, as to not even require repentance.  They have been brought to their knees.  But God promises, God vows to restore them.
Then the chapter takes a tangent.  In verse 33:15 Jeremiah speaks of the "righteous branch of David".  That can only refer to Jesus.  We see that now.  But Jesus has not really come yet to execute justice and righteousness in the earth.  Or has he?  Can we say that in his condemnation and death he judged us?  Is that what God is saying here?
Then is verse 33:17 he assets David shall never lack a man to sit on the throne of Israel.  Yet the kingdom did cease.  How can this be? Jeremiah adds, "There shall always be a Levitical priest to offer burnt offerings, to prepare sacrifices."  (That doesn't seem so important to us, but it did to them.)  Yet temple worship did cease.  How do we understand this claim?
From verses 19 to 26 the wording seems dense, hard to understand.  I do not clearly understand it.  Could that be intentional?
John Fieldsend picks up on 24.  "Have you not observed what this people have spoken, saying, the two families which the Lord has chosen, He has rejected them?"  What two families?
Fieldsend thinks this could refer to the two covenants that theologians has argued about since the church began:  Did God's covenant to the Jews fall away?  Did the church replace Israel as God's chosen people?  Fieldsend calls this thinking "triumphalism".  Or are there now two paths to God, one through Christ and one through the torah (old covenant)?
This discussion has been going on since the church began  Paul speaks to it at great length in Romans, especially chapters 9 - 11.
Perhaps Jeremiah's prophesy here presages all this.  Jeremiah is speaking to what happens when God's covenant is broken.  Christians see the Jews rejection of Jesus as a break of the covenant.  This is important to us  who break the covenant regularly.  Jeremiah concludes in 26, "I will restore their fortunes, I will have mercy on them."

downtown post office

I have been going to the downtown post office to pick up mail for over 30 years now.  There is the same professional postal guy who delivers people's mail.  He has been here for all these years.  And he has not aged a day.  He is a tradition, a fixture.  And every once in a while he become a barometer for the sentiment of the city.
He is a Dallas Cowboy fan, thought he usually does not flaunt it.  But he had some very good comments during the Luv Ya Blue days.
Today he and a fellow he knew (he knows everybody) were loudly lamenting last night's result, saying, "Well we just have to deal with it!"  I'm not sure I know exactly where he stands on the result but he made it clear, we don't have to like it.  But we cannot change it.  We have to deal with it.  We may not understand how it could have happened.  We may wonder the sanity of so many people voting for four more years of mismanagement and deficit spending.  But have to get up the next day and deal with it.
Some of us certainly are in a sort of mourning.  It is a bit like losing a football game.  It's over.  We have to look ahead.  We have to pick up the pieces.  We have to deal with it.  We have to move on as best we can.
He made mention of the fact that our children will be the ones to bear the brunt of all this.  We did what we could.  People seemed oblivious to the facts.  We will likely not be here to see all the ramifications.  But we get up and get on with our lives.

Judge what is right

Luke 12:57 "Why can't you decide for yourselves what is right?"

In the context of this discourse Jesus meaning is clear.  Do not wait for judgment day.  Judge what is right, for your own actions.  And do what is right.  Do not wait for others to judge for you, take it upon yourself to be responsible.  Do not wait for God or your boss to judge. 

In the context, before this Jesus was speaking of people's natural ability to judge the weather.  We do not give it a second thought.  We look outside and try to predict.  And often we are right, because we know what to look for.  It is the same for more important things.

Jesus is saying, yes we can do a pretty good job of predicting the weather.  In the same fashion we can do a pretty good job of predicting more important things, like the trajectory of our country and our world.  He is saying "judge the times".

The times, in Jesus' times, were ripe for the Messiah.  Many people were expectant.  The Jewish leaders could read the scriptures and knew the time foretold in the prophets was about now.  Yet they still did not understand that the Messiah was standing before them.  They did not read the times right.  Jesus was inviting them to reread, to see again, this time to judge correctly.

Also too, despite all the warning about a Messiah that would change everything, many people just kept on living as they were, day by day, eating drinking, marrying, working.  They did not want to look beyond their day to day existence.  Perhaps they felt powerless.  Whatever was going to happen would happen.  But Jesus was trying to tell them that was not so.  Just as they could see weather changes and make adjustments to their behavior, so if they read the political and spiritual signs they could also make changes.

Do you try to read present times?  Do you seek God's wisdom about our country and our world?  I think we can read the signs and we can make adjustments to what we see.  We can and we should.  Like the Jewish leaders we may not be right.  We may have to reread again the signs when no facts occur and new events happen.  But we should never give up trying to be actively involved in the world.

There are many Christians speaking prophetically to our world.  I was a reader of David Wilkerson before he died.  He spoke to the future of this country and how we could act to repent and change our behavior.

Jesus spoke to our behavior as faithful servants of God:  (Luke 12:42-48 GNB)  The Lord answered, "Who, then, is the faithful and wise servant? He is the one that his master will put in charge, to run the household and give the other servants their share of the food at the proper time. How happy that servant is if his master finds him doing this when he comes home! Indeed, I tell you, the master will put that servant in charge of all his property. But if that servant says to himself that his master is taking a long time to come back and if he begins to beat the other servants, both the men and the women, and eats and drinks and gets drunk, then the master will come back one day when the servant does not expect him and at a time he does not know. The master will cut him in pieces and make him share the fate of the disobedient. "The servant who knows what his master wants him to do, but does not get himself ready and do it, will be punished with a heavy whipping. But the servant who does not know what his master wants, and yet does something for which he deserves a whipping, will be punished with a light whipping. Much is required from the person to whom much is given; much more is required from the person to whom much more is given.

If we know we should act then we should act!  We should be sensible servants of our father God
.
We are tempted to think we are powerless.  We cannot change society.  Perhaps in a sense we are powerless.  But we can do our part.  What we can control we can do to be faithful and sensible, knowing that God will come back eventually and check on us.  Who knows?  If others do the same, it will make a difference.  We may never know how our actions help.  But we can trust God.  He knows and is pleased with us.  He will bless his faithful servants.  And Jesus says he will whip those who think they can get away with ignoring God.  Let's not be like that!

Luke 11:5

After Jesus gives them a structure for prayer, full of polite commands addressed to God he speaks to them several parables about prayer.  The first one I always stumble on.
Remember it?  Suppose someone has last minute guests who arrive very late at night.  But this man has nothing to serve them and they are hot and tired and hungry from traveling.  So he goes to a neighbor/friend and knocks on his door and asks for three loaves of bread.  The man inside says I am asleep and my family are all under the covers.  I cannot get up.  Yet the man who is in need knows he has the loaves.  He would rather get him mad than neglect his guests.  So he keeps knocking until the man gets up, gets him the food, so he can have peace and quiet for the rest of the night.
But I tend to think of God is different.  I wonder if he cares.  I do not think I can get him to do anything for me, even if it is a good thing.  I know I would have a problem trying to make a person give me what I need either.  I find it easier to just give up and sulk and think I am a victim here.  I ask the first time and if it is no then I am liable to give up.  I would do that with God or with a person.  It seems like begging.  I am too proud.  It is beneath me.  It is the same with God.  When I pray the first time and God does not seem to answer I give up.  I give up.  I get mad at God and say I am a victim.  God does not care.  God does not love me.
Jesus' point is the opposite of course.  He does not call it begging, he calls it persistence.  Jesus is telling us here "do not give up".  We don't know why God does not answer the first time.  But we are told to be persistent.
I find it comfortable to get mad, sulk, refuse to beg, refuse to take my real cares to God anymore.  I take that same manner to humans as well.  Right now I need some help and I have called people to ask for help.  When they do not call right back or help right away I tend to give up.  But I have to be persistent.  Right now things are moving in that arena.  But I still need to be persistent, not in an angry manner but in a confident manner.  The example Jesus gives is of a man being confidently persistent.  He knows his friend can help him.  And he need to keep asking until he does.  We know that about God too.  God is able to help us.  We just need to keep asking until he does.
 Jesus is saying be persistent in prayer.  It is good to be persistent.
But in the next parable he tells the disciples that God like to give good things to his disciples like a father does to his children.  We are like children to him.  Humans might not be as smart about giving what we need but God is perfect.
Jesus tells us to be persistent in prayer about our real needs, about good needs.  Despite what it looks like sometimes God want to answer prayer, to give us what we need, to give us good things.  By not being persistent we may very well miss out on God's gift to us.

Financial Sunday II

Sunday was the second Sunday in a row for financial sermons at both churches.  Coincidence?  I don't know.
At VCH in the morning HF spoke on being responsible with your money.  He is a former banker so he knows a lot about debt.  He used Proverbs to illustrate points about basic money management.  He stressed controlling debt and spoke a little on savings.  A key point was never co-sign for a friend.  People need to be forwarded and forearmed before that friend or relative comes begging.  If you do it once you probably learn.  But it is best to never do it at all.  Perhaps a corollary point: Parents are no obligated to support their children after they are grown.  As he would likely say, that approaches meddling.  I know one couple that has a weakness for helping their 40 year old children.  One needs to go into that with your eyes wide open.  Nevertheless we do need to let our kids get out of their own problems, if they absolutely can.  And they usually can, it just might be painful.  We hate to see our kids go through things like this.  But they must learn, just like we did.
In the evening at SJD it was Loyalty Sunday, the day people are supposed to turn in their pledge cards and get them blessed.  Last week they prepared us for it, another financial Sunday.  Last week was "Fork it over Sunday" as a priest friend of mine once said. That is the  Sunday when giving to the church is stressed.  Some priests apologize for having to do this.  Last week the rector was subtle but not apologetic.  This week JD used the lectionary to make some points.  Amos prophesied against a wealthy people who were ruthless against the weak and the poor, taking advantage of them and refusing to help them in time of need.  She linked this to giving.  I cannot remember how.
The gospel was the story of the rich young ruler.  She spoke of the man's confidence in his ability.  Money, or his salary played a large role in his confidence.  Money can get in the way.  Jesus saw that it got in the way of the man and his soul.  How are we to react to that?  Are we to give all our money away?  Or is this hyperbole like the earlier preaching about ripping out your eye if it caused you to sin?  Some tradition has it that this man later did give all his money away and followed Jesus.  But that is romantic dross.  The point is to put God before money.  Use it to serve God and not to serve ourselves.  And remember money can never save your eternal soul.

big weekend

My ankles are hurting.  My right knee still hurts a lot, especially when I turn it.  It makes it hard to get to sleep.  This has been aggravated by running and jogging as a middle school football referee.  Well, this week I have three more games, just when my legs were recovering.  My legs felt a little better when I lay down last night to sleep. But tonight it will likely be worse.

DW counseled that I should stretch.  It seems that is all I do as stretch.  Sometimes it looks more like squirming, trying to get more comfortable.  I do stretch while I am standing.  I do it while I am sitting.  I went out Saturday night to see the Rice Light Extravaganza on the academic quad.  That is the one with the statue of William Marsh Rice himself.  The light show was spectacular.  But the whole time I stood and watch I kept moving around, trying to get comfortable.  I was sort of stretching as I could.  It looked more like wiggling.

The Extravaganza was implemented with a computer program that projected sophisticated  light beams off three large buildings on the eastern side of the quad.  The quad consists of six three story buildings so this was done off the eastern half of the quad.  It started with a projected owl flapping from one side of the three "walls" to the other side.  Even though owls fly quietly this is a/v after all so the flapping was pronounced.  The show ended with a similar flight of the owl across the three walls.  In between there was some interesting a/v affects and some teaching and preaching.  We saw names of greats from Rice's past.  There were Curl and Smalley and a picture of a buckyball.  At one point we saw a bunch of typical Rice graduates, at least I think that is what that was.  One period of preaching was a treatise on Rice goals with the visual effect of water (or molten rock) being poured to one side.  Then it reverses and pours back to the other side.  This reversal happened several times.  The show was very arresting.  It lasted about 20 minutes.  All through I was moving around, trying to get more comfortable.

Earlier JB went with me to see the homecoming football game.  Rice surprisingly won over an unbeaten UTSA team 34-14.  Rice dominated the game pretty much like Green Bay dominated the Texans Sunday night and like Oklahoma dominated Texas (Boomer Sooner) on Saturday afternoon.

Thursday through Saturday Rice celebrated 100 years of existence.  There were events all over campus of various times.  There was free food and long lines everywhere.  There were also expensive formal dinners, for those who prefer that.  DW is pretty tired these days after doing the things where she wants to serve.  So she did not come with me to any of these events.  I am sorry I could not share it with her.  But there was quite a bit walking even though a lot of parking lots were open.  I saw a lot of people I had not seen in a long time and got to talk to some of them.  The 100th anniversary of Rice brought out many who never or very rarely come back.  On to the next 100 (as several wags have said).

Luke 9

Last night DW and I got to talk with a man who did not accept that Jesus was the only way to God.  I tried to explain that Jesus claimed that and that his resurrection proved that his claims must be taken seriously.

Well obviously he did not accept that answer and DW had more to say to him.  I did not feel like repeating the same thing and listening to his similar response.  But I know DW had more creative things to help him with.  But I think finally we spoke across each other.  Neither was going to concede.  Neither of us is going to be convinced.

To me Luke speaks to the openness of the things that Jesus and his disciples did.  Jesus sent his disciples out to preach and heal.  The commotion even caused the king, Herod to take notice.  As Paul said, "None of this took place in a dark corner."  No Jesus made people take notice.  People had to decide whether they thought he was God or whether he was crazy.  Jesus was killed by the government authorities and his resurrection was never refuted by anyone.  The man last night said there were other ways to explain that.  Not credible ways.  Sure people are going to try to explain it away because they do not want to believe.  It would cause them to have to change their behavior.

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Luke 9:1-9  ^ And He called the twelve together, and gave them power and authority over all the demons and to heal diseases. ^ And He sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to perform healing. ^ And He said to them, "Take nothing for your journey, neither a staff, nor a bag, nor bread, nor money; and do not even have two tunics apiece. ^ Whatever house you enter, stay there until you leave that city. ^ And as for those who do not receive you, as you go out from that city, shake the dust off your feet as a testimony against them." ^ Departing, they began going throughout the villages, preaching the gospel and healing everywhere. ^ Now Herod the tetrarch heard of all that was happening; and he was greatly perplexed, because it was said by some that John had risen from the dead, ^ and by some that Elijah had appeared, and by others that one of the prophets of old had risen again. ^ Herod said, "I myself had John beheaded; but who is this man about whom I hear such things?" And he kept trying to see Him.

buying a watch

I waited two weeks to buy a watch.  I feel naked without a watch.  To find out the time I have to dig in my pocket, find my cell phone, turn it on and squint at the face.  If I am outside I really have to squint.  Sometimes I do not have my cell phone with me.  Then I am SOL.  But I waited two weeks.

Why?

Well two reasons.  While in Israel I swam and found out  the jeweler who replaced my battery was not careful to set the gasket well, or it was ruined and we were both too cheap to replace it.  So it filled with water and was ruined.  I quickly bought a watch somewhere without looking.  When at the YMCA I took a swim with it and it promptly filled with water.

I have to say parenthetically that I have both old watches near my desk.  I figured out where a screwdriver was that would open them.  I found getting the battery loose was not easy.  I tried to ease them out.  Several days later I figured "what do I have to lose" - I forced the cages around the batteries and got them out.  Then I tried to seriously dry out the watches.  But rebooting with the battery did not make them work.  One lit up partially but they are done it seems, without repairmen help.  But they are not worth repairing.  I hate to say that but it is true.  I still have not brought myself to throw them out.  But I have reclaimed the batteries for other uses.

So finally it came to me that Academy would likely have $10 waterproof watches.  Well if anyone would have them Academy would.  So late one night I was passing Academy and risked them being closed.  I figured they would be closed.  They looked closed.  No wait, someone is heading for the front door.  So I kept driving and got out of the car.  I got out of the car and approached the door.  It opened and I am in!
Right after the door is a case with watches.  But they are expensive.  They are not all water resistant.  (That is the proper word.)  So fortunately I had the sense to ask an employee.  He pointed me to the other side.  And after a few glances I found the case.  It is a big case with at least a hundred $10 waterproof watches.  I have hit the jackpot.  Each watch is slightly different that the others.  I am looking for one that is totally black, does not have too little a face (too feminine), and has a fairly simple look.  Several fit the bill and I picked one.

I am so glad to have a watch on my right arm.  I have almost gotten the habit of glancing down to see the time.  Ah, the world is right again.

keeping my eyes to myself - ministry fair

The church ministry fair showed me I can keep my eyes to myself.  Thanks be to God!  But I am not healed, from it.  I still am as rebellious as ever.  My eyes do not make it as obvious.  Women have different reactions.  There is the woman I have not noticed.  So she flirted.  There is the woman who does not believe I have reformed.  Sorry.  I am truly sorry.  I do pretty much keep my eyes to myself.  But it is still very conscious.  Will it ever be easier?  Probably only when I have my new glorious body in heaven.

That reminds me of the mixer for Lee High School graduates commemorating the 50th anniversary of it's founding.  Was it my imagination that there were women on the make?  Wow, they were almost as old as me.  It never ends does it?  Barbara and I had great fun.  Again it was somewhat unsuspected.  Why do I go you might ask if I have such low expectations?  Well I keep hoping to see some people that I did know and like when I was in school.  Alas.  Those people never come.

Barbara got to make a new friend and they discussed Christian ministry for an hour or so.

Ministry fair was a lot of fun.  Who knew?  They had to turn off the lights and kick some of out.  I sure did not expect to be there so long.  I got some new missionaries to pray for.  I also need to remember to pray for local missionaries like the Litzenbergers.  I ran into Wes and got very encouraged about renewing chess club for the year.  I've been wondering if they were trying to let me down easy.  It was not particularly successful last year.  Still I think chess can offer a great benefit to certain kids.

Luke 8:22-25

I realize my comments are a little off beat.  I hope they can be interesting-encouraging-new for some people.
The disciples had heard amazing teaching.  It was uniquely different than that of the scribes and Pharisees.  The scribes taught on distinctions in the law.  The Pharisees spoke on  the nature of God and how to be better observing Jews.  Jesus was so unique.  He was encouraging.  The others, when they did not put you to sleep, made everything seem so hard.  Jesus, without trivializing it, made it seem possible.  And he made it seem important.
The disciples had seem him heal.  Now there were others out there doing healing, sort of like faith healers.  But the disciples knew his healing was different, powerful.  They knew Jesus was not just a teacher and not just a faith healer.
But to see nature obey his command, this was very unexpected.  After seeing other miraculous acts this likely seemed the most powerful to them.  Others taught them.  Others tried to heal people.  But what others tried to command nature?
After Jesus calmed the storm, he asked them, "Where is your faith?"  Why did Jesus ask them?  Does Jesus sometimes ask us the same question?  Should he?
Luke's story shows that the disciples did not even respond to the question. Obviously they did not feel embarrassed by their astonishment.  They did not think it amiss that they had not had faith.
Is the lack of faith Jesus refers to their lack of faith in Jesus ability to command nature on in their lack of faith it their own ability to command nature for themselves in Jesus name?
But Luke says they were not discussing any of this.  Instead they were wondering about Jesus.  Who was he that he could command the wind and the water?  They knew he was unique.  But who was he?  Of course we know the answer.  He was as the Son of God.  He shared the power of God himself.  We still do not understand what it means to be God in the flesh of a man.
No one else ever attempted to change a violent storm or an earthquake.  No people just tried to minimize the damage and to repair the damage after it was over.  One might go to a god and appeal to him/her for help.  But this was a man.
When the disciples woke Jesus what did they expect to happen?  If I were in such a situation, in a boat about to sink and my friend was asleep, from exhaustion as Jesus was, I would probably wake them up.  I would do it so that they too could make arrangements as best they could to try to survive.  Was that why the disciples woke Jesus?  Or did they expect him somehow to do something, to save them somehow?  They might have expected him to do something.  But obviously from their reaction this was not what they expected.  Perhaps it happened so fast they really had no expectations.  They just knew it was a good idea to wake him up.
I know to thinks happen so fast in our lives about all we know to do is cry his name, "Jesus!"  That is what the disciples did.  It was the right thing to do.  It is the right thing for us to do also.

^ Now on one of those days Jesus and His disciples got into a boat, and He said to them, "Let us go over to the other side of the lake." So they launched out. ^ But as they were sailing along He fell asleep; and a fierce gale of wind descended on the lake, and they began to be swamped and to be in danger. ^ They came to Jesus and woke Him up, saying, "Master, Master, we are perishing!" And He got up and rebuked the wind and the surging waves, and they stopped, and it became calm. ^ And He said to them, "Where is your faith?" They were fearful and amazed, saying to one another, "Who then is this, that He commands even the winds and the water, and they obey Him?"
 

thyroid - doctors

I took DW to see her doctor today.  It is a process.  I did not think she got much information.  But she tried.  Next week the neurologist.  Hopefully we get definitive answers.  I guess we just have to trust Jesus.  But I'd like definite answers. 
While waiting I read that little book about the 4 year old who went up to heaven and came back to talk about it, Heaven is For Real..  I skimmed it you might say.  It's a nice, encouraging book.  I also spoke to my accountability partner on the phone.  We prayed for each other, mostly he prayed for me.
My DW has been diligently searching the internet about symptoms of low thyroid.  She is looking to see if the episode she had last Saturday can be attributed to low thyroid.  Maybe.  But again no definitive answers.
She did come across something that she pointedly mentioned to me.  She said the symptoms in men are often different than in women.  Often symptoms of low thyroid in men include bouts of anger.  She nods her head knowingly in my direction.
I did ask at a check up a few years ago about thyroid and he added the test to my blood work.  He said my thyroid was on the lower end of normal and he would not recommend medication.  Perhaps I should revisit this next time I see my GP.
But it perhaps does explain the rest of my family and her brother's situation.  We are all from Iowa and I guess being inland and not having access to iodine in seafood quite as readily makes us more susceptible to low thyroid.  We should eat more iodized salt, maybe.

Luke 8:16-21

Today my daily reading switches from 2 Chronicles to Luke.  This section here seems like a hodge-podge.  It starts with three small parables that are better developed in other gospels.  It comes after the parable of the sower.  It seems Luke decided to add some other wonderful parables of Jesus.  He did not have a logical place to add them.  But he did not want to exclude them.  He placed them here.  And there is an attempt by Luke to link them together.  But it is not very persuasive to me.  Mostly they should be taken separately.  Reading them together devotionally I know God can speak.  Still to me this section seems more like a miscellaneous.
Verse 16 speaks of a light and putting it on a lampstand.  The Sermon on the Mount has a much fuller rendition.  In Matthew this sermon point is linked with salt.  That seems more apt.  Matthew speaks of identity: You ARE the light of the world.  You ARE salt of the earth.
Here in Luke this parable is linked with another about being hidden.  Everything hidden now will be brought to the light.  Nothing hidden now that will not be brought to the light.
So Luke uses light to bring out another point entirely.  Light is good.  Light is God.  When we try to hide our deeds from God, well it just cannot be done.  And more frightening, all our hidden deeds, that we are ashamed of, will eventually be seen by others.  Isn't that what Jesus is saying here?
Finally a third parable in verse 18 seems a conclusion taken from the parable of the talents.   "Take care how you listen" is the conclusion.  Like in the parable of the talents the man who hides his talent loses it.  He loses it to the man who has the most.  This seems a great commentary on the parable of the talents, which exists in other gospels, but not here.
Then we have the story of his family coming to him.  It seems out of context as well.  In another gospel this comes when Jesus is at home in Capernaum and the crowds are mobbing his house.  It looks a bit out of control to his family, who really do not believe he is the Son of God, yet.  They are worried for his safety.  But Jesus knows he has it under control.  Here again we have the conclusion without the context.
Verse 21 makes it clear that Jesus sees us, his followers, the ones who do believe, as his family.  We are his true family.  It is an honor and a blessing to know such a personal God.  He treats us as family.  He loves us like family.  He also is honest with us like family too.  We belong.  We cannot lose our place.  Praise God for his loving grace!

^ "Now no one after lighting a lamp covers it over with a container, or puts it under a bed; but he puts it on a lamp stand, so that those who come in may see the light. ^ For nothing is hidden that will not become evident, nor anything secret that will not be known and come to light. ^ So take care how you listen; for whoever has, to him more shall be given; and whoever does not have, even what he thinks he has shall be taken away from him." ^ And His mother and brothers came to Him, and they were unable to get to Him because of the crowd. ^ And it was reported to Him, "Your mother and Your brothers are standing outside, wishing to see You." ^ But He answered and said to them, "My mother and My brothers are these who hear the word of God and do it."

2 Chronicles 7

(first draft, found)
Well we know God answered Solomon's long prayer. Fire came down on the sacrifice in the temple and burned it all up. Then the glory of God filled the house. The consecration had to stop because the priests could not enter. God had accepted the temple as his own, his symbolic dwelling place. Even Solomon proclaimed in his prayer that God did not really live in one place. He is too big for that.

The people responded by bowing low and giving praise to God for his loving kindness. His faithful love is everlasting.

We are told Solomon sacrificed 22,000 oxen and 120,000 sheep (7:5). Some might find it hard to believe there were even that many animals in all of Israel. They would insist these numbers are inflated. The story in Chronicles, a repeat of the same story in 1 Kings, was written after Kings. Perhaps some memories are distorted. I like to think this story is largely accurate and the writer meant to be accurate.

Well a lot of animals sacrifices would create a great feast. Solomon spent the first seven days consecrating the middle court and seven more days consecrating the altar. All the people came. It was an enormous assembly. All those animals would be part of a great feast.

God responds by saying, "I have chosen and consecrated the house." (7:16) God makes it clear he is in control.

God's covenant with Israel is conditional. Israel must continue to worship God. They must be faithful. God will mightily bless them. But if they are not faithful and worship other gods God will repudiate his covenant with them. The consequences will be death and destruction.

However God promises to forgive them if after falling away they repent and return to him. If they humble themselves and repent God promises to forgive. We are under a similar covenant today. Except that because of Jesus we now are forgiven for all sins. But we must believe and accept Jesus as our Savior and Lord. The new covenant is greater than the old. But God has always been a forgiving God.

Solomon's dynasty is also under the same kind of covenant. The descendants must stay faithful, not following other gods and leading the people into following other gods. Again, if they return to God, he will forgive them. But we will see later that God forgives but the consequences are still real. So it best to not sin in the first place.

2 Chronicles 7

(I sure hate it when my first attempt to type this gets lost in the ether.  SIGH.)

Well we know that God answered Solomon's long consecration prayer by sending fire down on the whole sacrifice and burning it up.  Then the glory of the Lord filled the house.  So the consecration is over.  God has blessed his house.  No one could enter the temple anymore, God's glory kept them out.
How did God's glory keep them out?  We are told them it was like a cloud.  One can move through a cloud, at least physically.  But God's holiness, God's righteousness causes such shame that unholy man feels unable to move towards, even to raise his head. Is it different in the age of Jesus' forgiveness? 
The people responded by bowing low and giving praise to God for his lovingkindness.  His faithful love is everlasting.  This is an appropriate response.
We are told Solomon sacrificed 22,000 oxen and 120,000 sheep (7:5).  Some will find it hard to belief that there were even that many animals in the whole land of Israel.  They do not believe enough people to keep or produce that many animals.  But later the writer describes all the people gathered here and describes it in terms of area where they are staying.  This area is pretty big and implies a very big crowd, millions.  These sacrificed animals will make a pretty large feast.
Solomon spent seven days consecrating the middle court and seven more days consecrating the altar.  All the people came.  It was an enormous assembly.  I tend to believe these numbers.  But I know that Chronicles was written after the version given in 1 Kings.  From a distance of time things might get distorted, perhaps inflated.  However I do not believe anyone meant to lie.  They meant to tell the truth to the glory of God.
God responds by saying, "I have chosen and consecrated this house (7:16).  God is actively involved.  God describes this present covenant.  It is conditional.  God will bless his chosen people if they continue faithful.  They must continue to worship God but also to live righteously, as God lives.  God also promises to correct and punish his people if they act unrighteously and worship other Gods.  I suppose the writers already knew what happened.  It sort of seems that the people being unfaithful was a foregone conclusion.
But God promises to forgive their unfaithfulness if they humble themselves and repent.  God promises to be the big man.  No matter how much we offend God, God promises to forgive and take us back.  Surely he knows as he takes us back, that we will do it again.  God promises that we can be faithful, but our experience gives us little comfort that is true.  We believe it only by faith..
Solomon's dynasty is also contingent on his descendants staying faithful. not worshiping other gods and leading the people into worshiping other gods. The writer likely is writing this from exile or from the experience of having to build a second temple after the first temple is destroyed.  Solomon was promised God would be faithful if he and his descendants were faithful.  But the unfaithfulness started at the end of his life and continued with his sons.

2 Chronicles 6

Chapter is a long consecrating prayer for Solomon's new temple. Anyone have to sit through a long prayer? Often invocations can be long. Sometimes I get restless. Well, in fact usually I do. Yet there are times for long prayers. After my first reaction I try to be patient and listen. Prayer for healing often seems like it should be long. The consecration prayer in the Episcopal church every Sunday for communion is pretty long. I may not really pay attention to any of, often just one thing. Yet it seems appropriate to have a long consecration for such a serious thing.

People often think they must take a long time when they lay hands on someone and pray for healing. Often a prayer like that includes elements of encouragement and teaching for the person being prayed for. Solomon's prayer of consecration includes elements of that. The prayer is directed at the listener as well as to God.

Yet prayers for healing or for important needs do not have to be long. Who was it, James? who said, "The prayer of the righteous man is powerful." How well you walk before God in obedience to his commandments has a lot more to do with whether your prayer gets answered than how long it is. I know God has shown me that some of my prayers got answered not because of how good I am but because of how good the person I pray for is. Or even it could be how good someone agreeing with me in prayer is. And God answers prayer sometimes simply because he is compassionate and he wants to.

Well anyway the consecration prayer of Solomon is pretty long. The consecration of such a spectacular building, devoted to God certainly deserves to be long. And Solomon does a great job. He thanks God. He tells of God's character, his might and his faithfulness to Israel. Then he asks God to dwell in his temple and pay attention to his people. Then, taking the role of prophet he foretells (pretty much) that the people will fall away. He asks God to forgive them when they have suffered because of their iniquity and make an effort to repent. Solomon tells God and he tells the people that when they have worshiped other Gods and done evil if they humble themselves and repent, resolve to do better God will forgive them. Jesus, remembering God the Father, tells the disciples to forgive 70 time 7 if someone sins against you and comes back and asks forgiveness. That is God's way. It is what Solomon, in wisdom, ask God to do, because it is already God's way.

We too may suffer for our sins, for our wrongdoing. If we use that as an opportunity to repent, ask God for forgiveness, we will be restored to fellowship with Him. It is God's promise in John's epistles, in Paul's epistles, here in Solomon's prayer.

God gave a tangible answer to Solomon's prayer by sending down fire and consuming the sacrifice (7:1).

I think I will leave God's response, chapter 7, until tomorrow.

2 Chronicles 2

This is the second telling of the building of the temple by Solomon. An interesting tidbit is that Solomon waited until his fourth year to start. It took a while to establish his kingdom but also to begin to amass wealth.

I am reading these books about cities that were at their time the political and military centers of the world. Almost by default they also became the richest cities in the world. I am reading books about London and Rome specifically but also some about New York (or maybe Washington) as the present center of power in the world. Now for a time the center of power, certainly in this region is Jerusalem.

Some archaeologists/pre-historians claim that this never happened. It is hard to find corroborations in the extant writings of the neighboring countries. But accuracy was not a goal for these writings, usually royal records extolling the successes of their kings and armies. They are not likely to tell of the times when their power was in eclipse. So a time when Jerusalem and its king were powerful, more powerful even than the neighboring countries, well it is certainly possibly.

Hiram of Lebanon is again spoken of. I'd like to think Hiram was paid for his lumber, paid fairly. But we are not told that. We are told that his workers are paid for their labor. But it looks like Hiram sent the lumber as tribute. He is the vassal and he sends this precious resource to Solomon certainly because Solomon is his protector. But he also does seem to genuinely have respect for Solomon and his father David. And Hiram speaks well of Israel's God. Perhaps he does admire Solomon's desire to build a permanent temple in Israel's relatively new capitol city.

Hiram sent what he has in abundance and Solomon sends what he needs, food. Tyre seems to be a coastal city-state with little land for producing crops. Tyre is a net importer of food, probably. So it is a fair trade though what Hiram has is a rare commodity in this region, a forest of tall hardwood trees.

In chapter three we learn that the gold Solomon uses in the temple comes from a place called Parvaim. I do not know where this is. Anyone know. Perhaps it comes from lower Africa. I seem to remember in first kings there is mention of ships heading down the Red Sea to Ophir and trading with people there. With power comes control of trading. Solomon also sent traders in the Mediterranean as well. That brought lots of resources and increased the wealth of the people.

Here it is mentioned (1:17-18) that the conscripted workers were aliens. This probably made some redactor happy but in 1 Kings the conscripted workers seem to be Israelites. Also it seems that when Rehoboam becomes king and the people ask for less conscription this is a big issue for the people. So it seems that Solomon did find use for a lot of conscripted labor by Israelites during his reign. That is what absolute rulers do and it was in the best interest of people. These workers built walled cities and forts throughout the land. We look back and think it unfair that they were not paid and that they were not able to volunteer. There certainly were people hurt and killed in this dangerous work. But it must have been normal practice in this day and time.

In this chapter we are seeing practical ways in which Solomon's wisdom was used and some details of his wealth.

2 Chronicles 1

Solomon asks for wisdom when God appears to him in a dream. It seems Solomon is trying his best to be righteous before God as he takes over the kingdom.

Verse 1 speaks of "securing the kingdom". Securing the kingdom could involve some pretty earthy things. It could involve judging some people worthy of death or banishment. Yet God blessed Solomon (1).

Solomon communicated with his people. This is so important. Many leaders do not spend the time to communicate. Then he went both to the old altar at Gibeon and then the new altar set up by his father in Jerusalem. He honors the old and the new. He tries to cover all his spiritual bases.

He sacrifices lavishly. That sacrificed meat has to be eaten. All this fresh meat was likely to be shared with all the people who came for the coronation/celebration. So the people were rewarded for supporting Solomon. They received a lavish meal which they could rarely get otherwise.

Probably as a result of Solomon's honest attempt to please God, without expecting anything in return, God responded by appearing to him (7). Solomon asked for wisdom. Many of us remember this story. God granted him wisdom and gave him riches too.

The rest of the chapter shows how the happened. Israel controls major trade routes between Africa and Asia. As Solomon builds up his power, the writer numbers his horses and chariots, he able to extract tolls from traders as they passed through Israel.

But also Israel becomes the middle man. They buy chariots and horses and then sell them at a profit to those who wish to buy them. Chariots and horses were used primarily for war. Solomon is essentially controlling the sale of implements of war.

Solomon, by virtue of the location of Israel controlled the trade routes and as they became a local power the people amassed great wealth. Jerusalem, at least in Solomon's time, became a world city.

Sermon review - part 2

Reviewing what I wrote about the first sermon, it barely resembles the actual sermon. Just a FYI. Any complaints should come this way.

RC spoke of the guilt (of sin) that we all have. He gave the example of his hiring. Before he came on to the staff the bishop called LH and asked to have an appointment to speak to the new priest. When LH told him about he asked with some worry, "What did you do wrong?" RC's answer was (or should have been) "How long do you have?" RC gave some trivial but funny examples. Then he commented "I have done much worse but LH will not let me tell you about those." {I talked to his wife later and her opinion was that he is not so bad.}

But we all are bad. Some of us are worse than other. But all of are bad. And we feel the sense of guilt even when we are not conscious of a specific sin. {I am reminded of the anecdote from Alpha. Arthur Conan Doyle, a great prankster, once sent cables to twelve prominent London men. The cable stated, "All is discovered. Flee at once!" Very soon all twelve men had left London.} We all felt that nagging guilt for evil done and evil contemplated. And we know others are capable of similar evil.

He concluded with a presentation of the gospel: Yet that is what Jesus came for. That is why he died, taking on our sin, past, present, and future. In him we are righteous and spotless.

Sermon review September 2 - part one

I have not done this in a while. Disclaimer, this is an impression from memory of the first of two sermons I heard Sunday. I have not "cheated" and looked at notes. This is what I took away 24 hours later. Some parts of this may be my own thoughts that were born from what was said. Major parts of the this sermon may have been omitted as not important to me or because I have simply forgotten.

MP has been doing a series on the book of James. This is his second to last sermon on James. I missed last week. This week's portion was the last part of chapter 4 and most of chapter 5. His theme is summarized by James' admonition: "The wages of your workers that you have withheld from them have cried up to heaven."

The pastor spoke on not taking advantage of people in business. Living a moral life with money. He mentioned not necessarily looking for the cheapest price, the best deal. We should think about whether people are receiving a living wage while producing things.

MP spoke of the people you use for lawn care. This is also one that concerns me a lot. I find it wonderful that it came up in a sermon. I do worry and pray about this very thing. I also think about when I hire a handy man to work around the house. Do you just think about how little you can get by with paying? Or do you consider how well they work and pay fairly, even generously? I do think he mentioned restaurant tipping but this applies here too. It was amazing to hear from the pulpit things that DW and I have always struggled with. As he said, this is hard.

We also have some rental apartments and we have to think about that too with the poorer people that we get for renters. Sometimes they despite-fully use us but that does not give us reason to be unfair to them.

James said, "The wages that you have withheld from your workers have cried up to heaven." God has heard their complaint, seen their plight. And he will act against you. I do wonder if some of the troubles that happen to us are the result of my selfishness with money and people I hurt crying to heaven. I really try to be fair and do right. But I am sure I get it wrong sometimes. Someone might get me angry and I retaliate.

But when I am in a position of power this is sin. This is wrong. Our powerful God is just even when we provoke him to anger. We must strive to follow his example. And we must be merciful even as God, through Jesus Christ, is merciful to us.

Tampa airport

Let me just start out by saying this is the best airport. Quick and easy entry and movement from checkout to gates. That is a must.

But free internet and great workstations that makes it the best. Very very nice.

I went to bed last night at 3 AM. That has been normal for this convention. I'm talking EST now. I never did switch my watch to Eastern time. So I have to do the mental calculation. It's not always easy. We leave for the Convention Center, here called The Forum at 4:30 PM. That with traffic and time for loading close to 600 people means we get there pretty close to 7 PM, the time the convention starts.

Then we get done at 11 PM. What with getting out, getting on buses, switching to new buses at the football stadium, Raymond James Stadium, and a 40 miles trip back to Saddlebrook Resort we get back between 1 AM and 3 AM. Each of the three nights the setup was different. Last night we rushed out, thinking we have figured out their loading system to get on as quickly as possible, only to find they have changed their pattern again. Tonight the stadium was pretty much filled, this was the big night. There were close to 20,000 people to move out. Switching at Raymond James, after the first night, was not as bad. The walk was significant but I can handle that. Our buses were easy to find and we got off pretty quickly.

But now I am exhausted. I do not feel like I even slept. I have been getting to bed around 3 AM. It takes me a while to get settled. I do check the mail and see what's on the channels, really nothing. Last night I quickly packed, never made a mess, everything was pretty orderly and my bag is still big. I had to get up at 6 AM to get to a 7 PM Supershuttle ride to the airport. I set my alarm clock twice, for 5:50 AM and 6:15 AM. It never went off. Yes I should have gotten a wake up call on my phone. But as usual, God was good. He woke me up just in time to make the shuttle. Officially I was 4 minutes late since I had to rush in and check out. But I missed cooking my last breakfast on the apartment stove. I had enough time to pack my computer and do so last minute things. I did a quick double check. I still don't think I left anything. I did not even get any milk. I wonder if my roommate will take any of the food we have left over. I have taken some of it (tuna fish) but did leave a few things I wanted, potatoes maybe. I also packed myself a lunch from the leftovers last night.

I said I'm in a great airport. But the bad news is that I have a 3 hour layover in Miami before embarking for home. My experience is that Miami is a contrast, the worst airport in the world. Lots of walking, less than friendly staff. I will not have as much baggage as last time so the walking will not be as bothersome.

I am taking American today. like United each checked bag is $30 and over 50 pounds is $100. On the way over I had to take out a few books to get under 50 pounds. Today my bag weighs 66 pounds. I cannot take enough out to get down to 50. The check in lady clearly explains they can put extra in a box and I save $70. Two bags costs $60. One overweight bag costs $130. So I find enough to fill a 6 cu. ft. box. She wraps it up and I'm all set. Aside from the cost, pretty painless. Then a quick tram shuttle to Terminal F and I am now waiting for my plane to leave. I have about two hours to wait here. Yes there are seven terminals but each one has fewer gates so less walking once you get there.

Last Day of Convention

I am not a great speech or variety show junkie so often the presentation put me to sleep or made me bored. But there people were nice. There were some good conversations. The books I read could not keep my interest. I did finish a couple of books but ended up just hanging out or napping.

My roommate was very nice. He knew a lot of people and inside information. He ate lunch out a lot, presumable finding out more inside information. I feel much more informed.

Mitt Romney was not my first choice and I wondered why people voted for him. After this convention I think I know. He was certainly the most qualified candidate running, having run a state, several successful businesses, and turned around the almost failed Salt Lake City winter Olympics. It's on a bigger scale but he will have a similar task if he should win. This country has run away spending going on. Obama does not even pretend to have a budget. And I think a lot of it is because Obama is trying to repay cronies.

Romney is most qualified to take on this task having turned around several entities int the past. I wonder if the population of this country is willing to allow a government to make the tough decisions necessary to lower spending. As a group we see what we what and figure someone else can pay for it. A lot of people want to believe Obama's divisive rhetoric. That way we can justify taxing them more. We are a tough group to govern.

golfing attire at Saddlebrook Resort, Tampa

Oh yes, at the entrance to Saddlebrook resort are a couple of driving ranges and putting greens. Almost everyone is suitably attired.

The shirts were day-glow colors. Wow! There were a couple of day-glow yellow shirts and three very bright orange shirts. Also bright white. Then the pants tended to be just as white from bright blue to white. There was some green. I don't remember pink. The women tended to have the green shirts.

There were a few people in dark pants. But I did not see any dark shirts.

shallow impressions of Tampa

Quickly I have to get out to the bus.

I have seen waterless urinals. I knew they were possible. I had thought of it. But now I've seen them. I don't know how they work. I really never stuck around to see.

The homes on the fairways of this golf resort have screened in back yard. I guess it keeps out golf balls and especially mosquitoes. Cool. We are pretty much as humid in Houston, but I have never seen screened in back yards. Some of the large twenty foot high screened backyards include swimming pools.

I walked just off the premises. It's about two miles from our resort hotel to the front entrance. I found that just next to us is a pretty large orchard. They seem to be oranges. Several have died from lack of water it seems. But most are doing well with a lot of almost ripe fruit on them.

RNC - Tampa Bay

RNC - Tampa I have walked the perimeter of the golf course twice now. The second time I was in what we are getting of the hurricane, sprinkles that sometimes generate into hard sprinkles but often just muggy. Little wind.

< P> I saw a lot of different sea birds: egrets, gulls, herons, even a falcon. That was pretty cool. I got some great pictures.

The delegates have a scavenger hunt which I have joined. I might not be much help.

We had a planned welcome party at the local baseball field, Tropicana last night, Sunday. The lead act was Todd Akin. I hope I have got that name right.

Since the Monday convention was called off due to the hurricane. So instead I guess we have another party to go to.

We got dropped off and saw the demonstrators with what looked like army between them and us. There was as much of the police people as there were demonstrators. But they have discovered several people with guns nearby.

Everything is fenced off with six or seven foot high temporary fencing. I think there is wire on top. The buses have a security guard with an automatic rifle. There are thousands of security of various agencies. At the airport lot of people walked about with shirts saying they were RNC staff. But they did not help us, they must have been a type of security too, though seemingly without weapons.

The locals seem pretty sanguine. I'm a little surprised I don't hear or see more complaining about all the closures.

When we are bused around the police have blocked and stopped traffic. You would think it was a big VIP, the president or something moving in a caravan.

Last night at a party on the bay there were a half a dozen patrol boats with machine guns moving around.

We were at a place called Taylor's (or something) last night for our second party. The first rowdy drunken party at Tropicana Field Sunday was good. I had a good party experience there. I met a lot of interesting people including several media. It was fun to watch the dancing. The act, Chet Akin (?) was pretty good. But the second was too much of a good thing. I laid back on the alcohol this time. I may be repeating myself but Tampa food is none too good. They tout Cuban food. It will never be Tex-Mex.

One party was pretty good. Two in a row is too much. I guess we would not have had the second without the hurricane. The second was sponsored by AT&T who had screens all over with advertising for the company.

Today I am going to a Pro-life convocation at 11 PM before the main meeting calls to order at 2PM. I don't know why I am in such a hurry since I am just an alternate.

Each alternate is paired with a delegate. I can only get on the floor if my delegate expressly allows me to. My delegate is a nice lady, very politically experienced. She only half jokingly said if I wanted to get on the floor I had to kiss her ring. It a big brightly jeweled ring in the shape of Texas. So when I see her I pretend to kiss the ring. Hey why not? It's a good joke.

Luke 21:5-19 persecution

Jesus predicts persecution and links it (somehow) to the end of the world. In the first section he is asked about the temple and he predicts that it will be destroyed. This happened 40 years later. Was this written after the fact and simply put in his mouth to make him look good? I don't think. But this section is only an introduction to the main point. The temple is only the first of the signs.

Then he speaks of false messiahs and terrible events that will make one think the end must be near. We know both of those things have happened. Many times they have happened, haven't they? We have a new one. The Mayan Calendar had an end and it is coming at the time of the Winter Solstice. Some are taking this seriously as an end time prediction. Most of us are planning to have fun with it.

Interesting to me, Jesus says, "These things must take place but the end does not follow IMMEDIATELY. I have never noticed this before. Or it is just underscored to me right now.

Then he speaks of persecution. Jesus predicts the persecution of his followers. He is probably thinking of his own future experience here, that it will be like that for his faithful as well. Later when the disciples think back on his teaching here, they will remember his persecution and death, as well as his resurrection. It will give them hope when they are persecuted.

Jesus speaks of this as an opportunity to testify, to witness, to explain who Jesus is and why they persist despite disapproval and hatred. In verse 15 Jesus assures them that God will give them wisdom that none of their attackers can refute.

No one can refute my experience. I suspect in my children's time persecution in this country will get worse. But in all ages there are things that Christians believe that cause anger and at least mild persecution among average non-Christians.

Today some of those things are monogamy, a mindset that homosexuality is not normal and in fact self destructive, and pro-life (anti-abortion). Not every Christian agrees with all these things but they are obviously the teaching of the Bible and the church since the beginning. Speaking of these things publically can get you ridiculed and increasingly into trouble with the government. But they are definitely time for witnessing.

Other things that some Christians believe I am not so convinced of myself. Perhaps they are right. I could be ridiculing what God loves. So I try to resist the wish to make fun or put down.

Not that long ago there were Christian women who demonstrated about alcohol. This was about 100 years ago. "Demon rum" it was called. Many ridiculed Carrie Nation and her followers. Even today Carrie Nation is a name that brings a titter. Was she following God? She certainly thought so. Yes alcohol can be a demon. Many have been ruined by abusing it. The movement she started later caused us to outlaw alcohol and start the era called Prohibition. We now feel that was an overreaction and are scared to prohibit other addictive substances, such as nicotine. Perhaps PSA's against alcohol and nicotine are the better solution.

The Prohibition movement was certainly a Christian movement. But after it was passed we found out what hypocrites we were. It was a good idea. We just did not have the discipline to keep it.

Pharisees and Sadducces - Acts 22:30-23:11

OK I am using this portion of scripture to mainly speak of the world view of Harry Kemelman, who is the author of the "day, the Rabbi " series. The first one is called "Friday the Rabbi Slept Late". These are fun mysteries without lots of sex and violence. My wife and I love them. As a student of cultures and sub-cultures I especially love this series.

Several times in each book there is a scene where the rabbi speaks of what Judaism is and what it is not. By and large I agree with his view. The view is definitely one of the Sadducees.

At the time of Jesus Christ there were two major schools of thought in Judaism: Pharisee and Sadducee. Jesus most definitely fell on the side of the Pharisee. But over time the Pharisee view fell out of favor and has almost died out.

As we read in the Acts scripture Sadducees felt there was no afterlife, no angels, nothing spiritual, which I assume means no healing, no real way of experiencing God, at least spiritually. The Pharisees believed all of those spiritual things were real. God can be experienced. He intervenes into our world.

But the view of the Sadducee is the take that Kemelman's rabbi, Rabbi Small takes. God cannot be known really. Judaism has become a religion of dietary rules and moral laws. Jews follow the laws and obey the moral laws simply because God said so. But there is no expectation that one will receive benefits from all this. The major rites of the Jewish religion occur at home among family, not at church or synagogue.

Speaking my opinion now this change in Judaism is for two major reasons. First the temple was destroyed. It was not rebuilt and likely will never be rebuilt. So the major rites of the Old Testament which involved the temple cannot be done anymore. Our sensibilities have changed much over the centuries. Today one cannot even imagine ritually killing animals in the name of God. We wonder why anyone would do it and what would it prove?

Secondly the hope of a religious savior, however one envisions that, has died. They partially died as a result of the destruction of the temple. But also the time that the savior was to come, according to most views of the prophets, was at the time that Jesus came. Since no other man that the Jews could accept did come and Jesus has been such a world wide success the Jews are left with a big problem. Their leaders quickly closed ranks after Jesus died and reportedly rose from the dead. They decided anyone who believed Jesus was the Jewish messiah would be declared not a Jew. Some were stoned and killed.

As Rabbi Small has said, Judaism is about ritual and laws, not about beliefs. One can be an atheist and still confidently attend services and do the rituals. But he doesn't mention the only exception is one cannot accept Jesus as the Jewish savior. That puts one outside the pale of Jewishness.

But since the Jews had no alternative to put forward as the savior who is definitely predicted in their scriptures they have decided over time that no savior will come. So they have had to redefine what God had meant. Whenever the prophets speak of an individual they have decided this refers to Israel as a group. The talk of a savior is to be "spiritualized". Often it actually works pretty well.

Anyway this is the view of Kemelman's rabbi. He expresses it very well, certainly better than I have.

Life is good

My life is good. I planned it. Now it's by God's grace. Paul criticized some disciples for saying, "I will go to such and such a city and conduct business and make a profit." Rather say, "By God's grace I will go and do such and such."

I am so aware that my planning has come true by God's grace. Nevertheless I did plan this and by and large it has come to pass. I know how tenuous this is. Do not trust in goods that mold can rot. Money can rot quickly because of inflation or several kinds of financial disaster.

It's not quite what I hoped for 20 years ago. But it's pretty close. I had a plan, I worked the plan. Interest rates are sure not what we expected 20 years ago. But these things come it cycles. It's not totally unexpected.

That is why the lack of control on my Israeli trip was so startling. I know God's loves me because he worked to test me about how I would react to situations where I found myself desperately out of control. Would I still trust him and love him? I could have done better. But I knew God's presence in all that.

Part of life is good: I was reading in the WSJ that people are now using public hotel bars as a mobile offices. (Is that what WG does?) Some hotels think this is good for business and actually encourage it. It sets an ambiance that business travelers might see as friendly. These hotels have free wi-fi, great lighting, and sufficient plugs for laptops. If you are making a lot of phone calls you may have to take it outside. But it's a pretty cool idea. I should try the Hilton Americas down the road sometime.

But I have always planned to use my college library like that. It's going full circle. I used to hang out there when I was in high school, before I even matriculated there. Now I am hanging out there in my semi-retirement. I have a desk I always use. There is even a desk drawer. There is free wi-fi and a snack machine close by. But I always bring a lunch and some cold tea. It simulates going to an office to work. It helps to separate oneself from home.

I do some personal business, personal projects, personal reading, check email and Facebook. I don't do much corporate business but I do take some calls and email. More business people know my personal phone number than I'd like. I have no problem keeping busy for eight hours.

Then I might go to the gym on the way home. It's pretty cool.

Man proposes and God disposes. Each breath I take is a gift from God. Yet one still must have a plan. With no plan your plan cannot come true. As plans go my plan was pretty modest. It was a plan for retirement. I know a man from Hawaii who was very public about his plan to retire. He was working the plan while also living his life. His life included exercise for fitness and increasingly for adventure. While hiking a mountain pass he fell to his death. He was with a group. It was dangerous but he felt he had taken every precaution. Yet he died young, early 40's I think.

So one plans but one never knows how it will work out. We remember you RS, rest in peace.

today's sermon - healing

Today was our annual healing sermon. Or so it seems. I think DG preaches about once a year and it is always on emotional healing. Why? Because we need it. We likely had not done much since the last one.

DG spoke on having the courage to seek God about our healing. We do not want to face into the hard emotional work it will take to get healing. We must admit that we are broken and we need help. It takes courage to be vulnerable. It takes courage to seek prayer from a fellow human being. Yes, he says, we must include others in our healing. We cannot do it ourselves.

We have experienced external stresses that cause us to be broken. He listed shame, trauma, abuse, betrayal, and abandonment. We have emotional baggage. Perhaps the thing that jumped out at me was the comments about avoidance. I am very guilty there. I sure do a lot of avoidance. Why do I avoid certain movies and certain people? It has to do with emotional baggage, no doubt. But I don't know the details. I have not really wanted to know. Do I have the courage to ask God? Or others?

He spoke on spiritual exercises: prayer, Bible reading, quiet time. That I can do. He spoke of being part of the body of Christ, church going, Life Groups (small groups). That I can do too. But being vulnerable is pretty hard. Courage? Yeah perhaps that's it. Lack of courage.

I can always increase in my knowledge in God's love. I know partially that God is proud of me.

I spoke recently of all the challenges of travel during our July vacation. I know God wanted me to deal with issues of avoidance. Thank God he is still working with me.

DG spoke of opportunities to grieve. I have experienced some of those too and try to use them as opportunities for healing.

I always feel challenged after this annual sermon. The question is always how much am I going to do about it? I will do some.

testing - our vacation

I have probably gone over this before, but it bears another try.

I have the definite feel that on our July vacation trip we were tested. Every travel plan was messed up. Things did not go the way I planned. A lot of this was my fault, poor planning, poor leading on my part.

Also DW got sick and could not work on the mountain. She was not able to visit friends while in Kansas. It certainly did not turn out the way she expected it to.

Well, I am always tempted to think God is testing me because he is angry with me or he is disappointed in me. I have to struggle with those thoughts and feelings every time I face adversity. However we are told in scripture we are tested because he loves us. The testing is to get us closer to God and the perfection he wants for us. He is proud of us. But like any good daddy he wants us to grow. This is for our happiness and joy.

After thinking about it from a couple of weeks I can encourage myself that God took the time to test me because he loves me. He wants me to grow in ability, in grace. He is working to bring me higher. And he wants me to bless him in the midst of it.

At the time it was happening I knew I should feel that way but it was hard to act out of it. I have so much more to learn. At the time I felt very unspiritual. I spent less time in prayer than I usually do. One might think that in the holy land one would feel more holy. We I didn't. I felt less holy if anything. Possibly because my cares and concerns overwhelmed me.

He wants me to know he loves me in the midst of testing. In the midst of testing I allow myself to doubt God's approval of me. I worry testing occurs because he is mad at me. But I can thank God that he takes the time to teach me. It is a good thing.

Acts 19

You can read the passage first if you like.

I wonder if Paul did not get a little carried away with his big plans. It is good to have a big vision. Paul was undaunted despite physical danger. In the meantime though there was a lot of opposition. Paul's brash personality got him into a lot of trouble. Greek democracy could border on mob rule. Here we have an example. The silversmiths, rather than try to find something that Paul had really done wrong, which was fairly unlikely, tried to stir up patriotic sentiment to get him killed or at least thrown out of the city.

Back in chapter 15 we find that God had somehow kept him out of the province of Asia. But now he is in Asia preaching and making disciples. You can expect a backlash when you are successful. There are always unintended consequences.

I was reading that the temple of Diana (Artemis) in Ephesus was considered one of the seven wonders of the Roman world. It must have been truly spectacular. And the Ephesians had every right to be proud.

This was like a protest riot. The crowd chanted slogans. (But two hours? Wow!) Most of them had no idea why they were even assembled. Most of them had little faith in a statue made from human hands. Artemis was a concept not really a god, not like we think of God. She was not transcendent.

We are not sure if Paul ever made it to Spain, his other big idea. We know he got to Jerusalem, found more opposition and got to Rome, but not the way he hoped. e came as a prisoner. Still Paul used every opportunity to serve God, to preach and proclaim. And God confirmed his words with Holy Spirit power. Luke's history ends before Paul's death. Perhaps his history was written right as it was happening and the rest of Paul's life was in the future. Some say he did make it to Spain after being released from prison.

As the Roman world became more and more a Christian world it did cause many outward changes. What silversmiths created was only a small one. They would find other ways to make money. The silversmiths were prophetic in this, as pagan worship passed away the temple would go out of use. The building would be adapted to another role or the stones be taken down and used to build other buildings. Basilicas became churches.

Acts 19:21-41 ^ Now after these things were finished, Paul purposed in the Spirit to go to Jerusalem after he had passed through Macedonia and Achaia, saying, "After I have been there, I must also see Rome." ^ And having sent into Macedonia two of those who ministered to him, Timothy and Erastus, he himself stayed in Asia for a while. ^ About that time there occurred no small disturbance concerning the Way. ^ For a man named Demetrius, a silversmith, who made silver shrines of Artemis, was bringing no little business to the craftsmen; ^ these he gathered together with the workmen of similar trades, and said, "Men, you know that our prosperity depends upon this business. ^ You see and hear that not only in Ephesus, but in almost all of Asia, this Paul has persuaded and turned away a considerable number of people, saying that gods made with hands are no gods at all. ^ Not only is there danger that this trade of ours fall into disrepute, but also that the temple of the great goddess Artemis be regarded as worthless and that she whom all of Asia and the world worship will even be dethroned from her magnificence." ^ When they heard this and were filled with rage, they began crying out, saying, "Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!" ^ The city was filled with the confusion, and they rushed with one accord into the theater, dragging along Gaius and Aristarchus, Paul's traveling companions from Macedonia. ^ And when Paul wanted to go into the assembly, the disciples would not let him. ^ Also some of the Asiarchs who were friends of his sent to him and repeatedly urged him not to venture into the theater. ^ So then,some were shouting one thing and some another, for the assembly was in confusion and the majority did not know for what reason they had come together. ^ Some of the crowd concluded it was Alexander, since the Jews had put him forward; and having motioned with his hand, Alexander was intending to make a defense to the assembly. ^ But when they recognized that he was a Jew, a single outcry arose from them all as they shouted for about two hours, "Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!" ^ After quieting the crowd, the town clerk *said, "Men of Ephesus, what man is there after all who does not know that the city of the Ephesians is guardian of the temple of the great Artemis and of the image which fell down from heaven? ^ So, since these are undeniable facts, you ought to keep calm and to do nothing rash. ^ For you have brought these men here who are neither robbers of temples nor blasphemers of our goddess. ^ So then, if Demetrius and the craftsmen who are with him have a complaint against any man, the courts are in session and proconsuls are available; let them bring charges against one another. ^ But if you want anything beyond this, it shall be settled in the lawful assembly. ^ For indeed we are in danger of being accused of a riot in connection with today's events, since there is no real cause for it, and in this connection we will be unable to account for this disorderly gathering." ^ After saying this he dismissed the assembly.