America; The Beautiful
O beautiful for spacious skies,
For amber waves of grain,
For purple mountain majesties
Above the fruited plain!
America! America!
God shed His grace on thee,
And crown thy good with brotherhood
From sea to shining sea!
O beautiful for pilgrim feet
Whose stern impassion'd stress
A thoroughfare for freedom beat
Across the wilderness.
America! America!
God mend thine ev'ry flaw,
Confirm thy soul in self-control,
Thy liberty in law.
O beautiful for heroes prov'd
In liberating strife,
Who more than self their country loved,
And mercy more than life.
America! America!
May God thy gold refine
Till all success be nobleness,
And ev'ry gain divine.
O beautiful for patriot dream
That sees beyond the years
Thine alabaster cities gleam
Undimmed by human tears.
America! America!
God shed His grace on thee,
And crown thy good with brotherhood
From sea to shining sea.
God - The Book Part V. Conclusion
Creation To Eternity
The Betrayal and Crucifixion Part 1.
After supper, Jesus walked to a garden called Gethsemane for a time of prayer. His disciples followed Him to this secluded place.
After His prayer, the chief priests and captains of the temple and the elders arrived there, looking for Jesus. Judas, who had just eaten with Him, was leading the group. Judas approached Jesus, greeting Him with a
kiss of betrayal.
Suddenly, Jesus identified himself to the mob by saying, "I AM."
The crowd went backwards and fell to the ground.
After that, Jesus allowed himself to be tied up and brought into the high priest's house.
The temple officers struck the blindfolded Jesus and then said, "Prophesy you holy man. Who hit you?" The temple officers who held Jesus ridiculed Him and spit in His face. And when they had blindfolded Him, they punched Him and slapped Him on the face, and then said, "Prophesy you holy man. Who hit you?"
Early the next morning, the crowd led Jesus to the Roman governor, Pilate. And they began to accuse Him, saying, "We found this fellow corrupting our Jewish nation."
But after questioning Jesus, Pilate told the chief priests, the rulers and the people; "He has done nothing worthy of death. I'll just order Him to be beaten and then release Him."
But they called out all at once, saying, "Get rid of this man. Crucify Him. Crucify Him."
Pilate, wanting to satisfy the people, had Jesus brutally whipped, and then turned Him over to be crucified.
The soldiers pushed a crown of thorns onto Jesus' head, and then put a purple robe on Him. Mocking Him, and beating Him with their fists.
The Roman soldiers braided a mock crown of thorns, placing it on His head, and they put a purple robe on Him. They said, "Hail, King of the Jews!" And they beat Him with their fists.
Afterwards they took Jesus and led Him away, making Him carry a wooden cross up to a place called Calvary, also known as Golgotha or the place of a skull.
The Betrayal and Crucifixion Part 2
There in the same area, where many years before God had told Abraham to sacrifice his only beloved son Isaac, they nailed Jesus, God's only beloved son, to the cross.
As they did this, Jesus said, "Father, forgive them; they don't know what they are doing."
While Jesus hung between two criminals who were also being executed, soldiers took His clothes, gambling for His robe, which fulfilled the prophetic words spoken by David.
For three hours, the people watched. The rulers with them mocked Jesus, saying, "He saved others; let Him save Himself if He is the Christ, the chosen of God ."
Then a darkness came on the land which stayed for three more hours as the prophet's words were fulfilled: "The Lord laid the sins of us all on Him."
Jesus then cried out with a loud voice, saying, "My God, My God, why have You forsaken me?"
Jesus, knowing that everything was now accomplished, fulfilled scripture when He said, "I thirst."
The soldiers ridiculed Jesus as they offered Him vinegar by saying, "If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself."
Jesus tasted the vinegar, then called out, "It is finished. Father, into your hands I commit my spirit." Then He bowed His head, and let His spirit go.
As He died, the sun darkened and the earth quaked, and the thick veil of the Temple ripped down the middle.
Now when the Roman captain in charge saw what happened, he said, "Truly this man was the Son of God."
Then the soldiers came and broke the legs of the two thieves who were hanging on the crosses beside Jesus.
But when the soldiers saw that Jesus was already dead, they didn't break His legs. Instead, one of them pierced His side with a spear, allowing blood and water to pour out.
All of this happened so that the Scriptures would be fulfilled: "None of His bones will be broken," and "They shall look on Him whom they pierced."
Afterwards, two believers (Joseph and Nicodemus) took Jesus' body, wound it in linen grave clothes dipped in spices, and laid His body in a tomb. Then, as requested by the Jewish leaders, the tomb was sealed and guarded by Roman soldiers.
Resurrection to Eternity
Now, after three days, there was a great earthquake, and an angel of the Lord rolled back the stone from the tomb's door. In fright, the Roman soldiers trembled and then ran away. When followers of Jesus came to the tomb and saw the stone moved, they were confused.
Suddenly, two men stood by them in shining garments, saying, "Why are you looking for the living among the dead? He is not here, He is risen. Remember how He told you before that He must be delivered into the hands of sinful men and be crucified, and the third day rise again?"
Then they remembered His words.
The same day in the evening, Jesus came to the disciples and stood among them and said, "Peace to you."
But they were terrified, thinking that they were seeing a spirit.
So He said, "Look at my hands and my feet, it is really Me. Touch me and see, for a spirit doesn't have flesh and bones, like you see I have. Everything happened as I told you it would because all the writings that described me in the law of Moses, and in the Prophets, and in the Psalms, had to be fulfilled."
Then He opened their understanding, saying, "It is written in the Scriptures that Christ must suffer and rise from the dead the third day; and that repentance and forgiveness of sins should be preached in His name
among all nations. And you have seen these things."
Jesus continued appearing to many people, showing them that He was alive, which gave infallible proof of His resurrection. And He instructed His disciples, "Go into all the world and preach the Gospel."
At the end of forty days, Jesus announced to His disciples, "You shall receive power after the Holy Spirit comes upon you, and you shall tell others about Me, both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and to the uttermost part of the earth."
As they watched, Jesus was taken up, and a cloud took Him out of their sight. Two men in white clothing said, "Why are you standing there staring up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was just taken up into heaven, shall come back again in the same manner as you saw Him go."
Resurrection to Eternity Part 2
So the followers of Jesus went throughout the land, preaching and baptizing, telling everyone that Christ the Savior was risen from the dead. They showed in the Scriptures how by Adam came sin and death, but by Jesus Christ came forgiveness and the resurrection of the dead.
Christians, dead or alive, will one day be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air.
They told how one day all the new bodies of those who have trusted God and believed in Jesus as their Lord and Savior will be raised from the dead and, together with those who are alive, will be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air.
God's book also says that Heaven will open, and Jesus will return to earth as the conquering King and righteous Judge.
And the name written on his clothes will be KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS. And the armies which are in heaven will follow him upon white horses.
Jesus will stand on the Mount of Olives (just as the prophet Zechariah said), and the mountain will divide. And Christ will reign over all the earth. But when a thousand years expire, Satan will once more go out to deceive the nations, but fire will come down from God and devour those who follow Satan.
Then finally, Satan, the deceiver, will be thrown into the lake of fire and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.
And then, in front of a great white throne, the dead, both small and great, will stand before God; and who ever is not found written in the Book of Life will be thrown into the lake of fire.
We will all stand before God, the great white throne judgment; and who ever is not found written in the Book of Life will be thrown into the lake of fire.
But in a new heaven and a new earth, God will be with His people. And God will wipe away all tears from their eyes. And there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain; for the former things are passed away. And there shall be no night and no need for candles, nor light from the sun; because the glory of God and the lamb will be the light; and They shall reign for ever and ever.
And the Tree of Life will be there and the curse on mankind will be gone.
Jesus says, "Let those who are thirsty come. Let them freely drink the water of life. Behold, I come quickly; blessed are they who obey My words.
He that hears My word, and believes on Him that sent me, has everlasting life, and shall not be condemned; but is passed from death unto life."
This is God's Story for You.
This is God's Story for Them.
You know this story; have known it most all of your life. But what about those people that don't know it?
I fully admit that I am not the door to door kind of person. It's really not in my nature to go out and ring a stranger's doorbell and say: Can I share something with you? Two thumbs up for those that can but it just isn't me.
Still; opportunities come up everyday for each of us to share this Story ... in Part or in Whole.
Facing an Non-Believer is a difficult task at best.
Coming from a scientific background and through the trials of a lifetime I have found that, at least for me, it is much easier to reach out to some people on a Scientific level than it is to try and reach them on a Religious level.
I want you to look at this Questionaire that I will be including in the final segment.
In fact I encourage you and want you! to feel completely comfortable to print it out in several copies and keep them on hand. The next time you are confronted with a Non-Believer just give it to them to look over at their leisure and reach their own conclusions.
At the very least you will be setting them up to do a little investigative work on their own. Supernaturally you are setting them up for the Holy Spirit to minister to them as they study these questions.
You may never know if you have reached them on some level- but you can take great comfort in knowing that you tried. Which is all that God really expects of us.
To know God's Story
To Believe it
To try and live a good life
To Share it with others.
It is my hope that while reading this you will have come to better understand Your place in the Kingdom of God. You are Important and You Matter greatly in the furtherment of spreading the Word of God.
Let our hearts join with the Heart of Jesus Christ that no man be left behind. That we will feel the pain that He feels when one leaves this planet unsaved.
Until we each, in our appointed time, unite with Our Saviour, I wish you a life filled with the Peace that surpasses all understanding!
Dr. Angel Koerner Ph.D
God - The Book Part IV.
Creation To Eternity
Prophets Describe the Savior
After forty years in the desert, the Israelites, known also as Jews, entered the promised land of Canaan. Although the inhabitants of Canaan knew of God's mighty miracles for the Jews, they rejected Jehovah as God, and fought against the Children of Israel. But God protected the Jews as they resettled in the land promised to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
Once a year the appointed High Priest went behind a sacred veil which separated the people from the Holy presence of God.
The Lord ordained priests to oversee the animal sacrifices and to lead in worship. There the priest represented the whole nation before the Lord.
After many years, the Israelites crowned a king, David, whom God called, "A man after my own heart."
God spoke to the Jews through David and other godly men, called prophets, reminding them to be holy as a witness to all nations. When the Israelites sinned, the Lord warned Israel through these prophets, that if they continued to sin, He would allow a foreign nation to overrun their country.
In spite of these warnings, Israel was disobedient and rebelled against God, rejecting His laws and killing the prophets who testified against them.
Finally, after eight hundred years of rebellion, Israel was taken out of her own land and was made captive in the nations of Assyria and Babylon.
But God continued to speak through prophets during the Jews' captivity. Some of the messages were calls to repentance, while others were prophecies about the Savior who would come to rescue sinful mankind.
The prophet Micah foretold the exact city where the Savior would be born and described His eternal nature saying, "Out of Bethlehem shall the one come who will rule in Israel, whose existence is from old, from everlasting."
God even revealed that the coming Savior would descend from the royal line of David. Through the writings of the prophet Malachi, the Lord described a special messenger who would announce the coming Savior and prepare the people to receive Him.
Prophets Describe the Savior (Part 2)
Zechariah prophesied, "O daughter of Jerusalem: Behold, your King comes to you: He is righteous and has salvation; humble, and riding on the foal of an donkey."
King David described how the Savior Himself would know in advance that one of His close friends, with whom He ate bread, would betray Him.
And Zechariah even recorded that the price of the betrayal would be thirty pieces of silver.
'Jesus was whipped, tortured, and then crucified, for our sins".
Through the prophet Isaiah, God foretold that the coming Savior would be tortured, by whipping, and that His face would be spat upon.
David described the method of execution as "piercing the Savior's hands and feet, yet not breaking any of His bones."
That the Savior would say, "My God, my God, why have You forsaken Me?", and that onlookers would laugh and ridicule the Savior, saying, "He believed that the Lord would deliver him."
David also wrote that "the Savior's bones would be out of joint and in His thirst He would be given vinegar to drink," and that the Savior's persecutors would "divide His clothes among them, and gamble for His
robe."
Isaiah said that onlookers would be "astonished" when they saw how the Savior's face was disfigured from the torture.
The prophecies in God's book even describe how one day, David's descendants, the inhabitants of Jerusalem, would "look at the Savior whom they had pierced."
And all this was written in the Scriptures many hundreds of years before the Savior came.
The Ministry of Jesus Christ
After seventy years of captivity, the Lord allowed His people to come back to the land of Israel. Only a small group chose to return, but they as well as Jews elsewhere, still lived under the rule of other nations...
Five hundred years later, when Rome ruled Israel, two young Jews named Joseph and Mary, both descendants of the royal line of David, planned to marry. But before they came together, Mary became pregnant through the power of the Holy Spirit of God.
Then an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying, "Joseph, Don't worry about taking Mary as your wife: for the child in her was conceived by the Holy Spirit. The child is the Son of God. And when she gives birth to this son, you must name Him 'Jesus', which means Savior, for He will save His people from their sins."
This happened as the prophet Isaiah had foretold, The Lord Himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin will bare a son, and they will call Him Emmanuel, which means God with us."
In a city called Bethlehem, Jesus was born in a stable.
Joseph and Mary had to travel to the city of Bethlehem for a census and to pay taxes. And while there, Mary gave birth to her firstborn son whom they named Jesus. So, as prophesied, Jesus was born in Bethlehem to a descendant of King David.
And in the same country, there were shepherds watching over their flocks at night. And the angel of the Lord came to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were very frightened. Then the angel said, "Don't be afraid: for I bring good news of great joy, for all people. Today a Savior was born for you which is Christ the Lord."
And the child grew, becoming strong in spirit; and the grace of God was on Him. Jesus matured, increasing in wisdom and in favor with God and man.
Jesus Grows in Grace and Spirit
Now when Jesus was about thirty years of age, a man named John the Baptist came preaching and baptizing in the wilderness, saying, "Repent: Prepare yourselves for the Lord."
John was the messenger the prophets had foretold would announce the coming of the Savior. Then Jesus came to the Jordan river to be baptized by John. And when John saw Jesus coming, he said, "Behold, the Lamb of God, which takes away the sin of the world."
And Jesus, when He was baptized, went up out of the water, and the heavens opened to Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descend like a dove and light on Him. And a voice from heaven said, "This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased."
Then, after Jesus spent forty days in the desert, Satan, who had successfully tempted Eve in the Garden, tried ways of tempting Jesus - but Jesus would not sin.
Finally, Satan took Jesus to an especially high mountain, and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. Then Satan said, "All these things I will give to you, if you will fall down and worship me."
Jesus answered, "Get away from me, Satan: because God has written that, you shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only shall you serve."
While Jesus, the son of God, lived on earth in the form of a man, He was tempted in all the same ways we are, yet He never sinned.
So, where Adam failed, Jesus succeeded. This showed that Jesus indeed could be the Savior of mankind--the lamb sent from God.
Jesus revealed himself as the promised Savior in many ways, including performing countless miracles. At a wedding feast, He changed water into wine. He healed a man who had been lame for thirty-eight years.
Jesus cured a man with Leprosy, saying, "Be clean." And immediately the leprosy left him. A man full of leprosy - an untouchable - saw Jesus and fell on his face, saying, "Lord, if You want to, You can make me clean."
Jesus then reached out his hand and touched him, saying, "Be clean." And immediately the leprosy left him.
Jesus brought sight to a man who had been blind from birth.
One woman, who for twelve years had a disease which doctors could not heal, reached out and touched Jesus' robe. He turned, saying, "Daughter, be comforted. Your faith has made you well; go in peace."
Those suffering from different kinds of diseases were brought to Him, and He healed them all.
Jesus called twelve men together, asking them to follow Him. He gave them power and authority over devils, and He sent these disciples out to preach about the kingdom of God, and to heal the sick.
His fame went everywhere, and great crowds came together to hear Him teach and to be healed of their diseases.
When a gathering of five thousand people needed food, Jesus prayed over a young boy's lunch of bread and fish. The food was miraculously multiplied, so that it fed the whole throng, with twelve baskets left over.
But the people kept asking for more proof that Jesus was from God. They said, "Our forefathers ate manna in the desert. It is written in the Scriptures, He gave them bread from heaven to eat."
Jesus replied, "The bread of God is He who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world."
The people said, "Lord, give us this bread all the time."
Jesus answered, "I am the bread of life: he that comes to Me shall never hunger; he that believes on Me shall never thirst." Jesus prophesied that He must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and then be raised from the dead on the third day.
Most of the religious and political leaders rejected Jesus' teaching. However, one, a Pharisee called Nicodemus, came to Jesus at night, seeking truth.
Jesus told him, "Unless a man is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God."
Nicodemus asked, "How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter his mother's womb a second time and be born?"
Jesus explained, "That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. You should not be so amazed that I said, "You must be born again."
Nicodemus said to Him, "How can these things be?"
Jesus scolded him for teaching others about religion when he didn't understand spiritual truths himself. Then Jesus explained spiritual birth. "For God loved the world so much that He gave His only begotten Son,
that who ever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world; He sent Him so that the world might be saved.
The real condemnation is this: light came into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light because their deeds were evil. He who believes on the Son has everlasting life: and he who does not believe on the Son, shall not see life; but the wrath of God remains on him."
Finally Nicodemus understood and believed.
To a foreign woman, Jesus said, "Whoever drinks the water that I give shall never thirst; it shall be a well of water within him, springing up into everlasting life."
The woman said, "I know that the Messiah will come, who will be called Christ. When He comes, He will tell us everything."
Jesus said to her, "I who speak to you am that Messiah."
Later, Jesus taught the people, saying, "If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself, and follow Me. For what does it benefit a person if he gains the wealth of the whole world and loses his own soul?
Watch out! Beware of greed: for a person's life does not consist in the abundance of the things which he owns, for where your treasure is, there will your heart be also."
Then the chief priests and the Pharisees called a meeting, and said, "What are we going to do? This man is performing so many miracles. If we let Him continue, everyone will believe on Him: and then the Romans revoke our right to control the people."
Meanwhile, Jesus taught with great authority. He went into the temple and threw out the merchants who were inside, buying and selling. He said to them, "It is written in the Scriptures, My house is the house of prayer: but you have made it a den of thieves."
And He taught saying, "This is the will of Him who sent Me, that everyone who believes on the Son may have everlasting life, and I will raise up from the grave those who believe. But there are some of you who do not believe. Jesus knew from the beginning who they were that did not believe, and who would betray Him.
So there was a split among the people because of Him. Among the chief rulers, many believed on Him; but because of the Pharisees they did not confess their belief since they were afraid they might be expelled
from their religious meeting places. They loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.
Jesus taught, saying, "I am the light of the world: whoever follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life." Most of the religious leaders looked for a way to destroy Jesus, but could not find one, because all the people were anxious to hear Him when He spoke.
Jesus continued teaching in the Temple, saying, "I am the light of the world: whoever follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life."
And He said to those who believed on Him, "If you continue living as I tell you, then you are indeed My disciples. You shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free. If the Son shall make you free, you shall be free indeed. I am the door; if any man comes to God through Me, he shall be saved. I am the Good Shepherd: the Good Shepherd gives his life for the sheep. My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. And I give unto them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall any man snatch them out of My hand."
After three years of teaching, Jesus instructed His disciples to bring Him a certain young donkey, one that had never been ridden, and He sat on it. Then as He rode toward Jerusalem, a huge crowd began to rejoice and loudly praise God for all the mighty works which they had seen.
They called out, "Hosanna! Blessed be the King that comes in the name of the Lord: peace in heaven, and glory in the highest."
But when Jesus neared the city, he looked at it and cried over it because the people still did not recognize him as the promised Savior.
Satan entered into Judas, one of Jesus' twelve disciples, and Judas betrayed Jesus.
Then Satan entered into Judas Iscariot, one of Jesus' twelve disciples, and Judas conspired with the chief priests and captains about how he might betray Jesus. They were glad, and agreed to give him thirty pieces of silver to inform them of a time and a place they could capture Jesus when there were no crowds around Him.
Jesus knew that His hour to die had come, so He gathered His disciples together for a Passover dinner. As they ate, Jesus took bread, blessed it, broke it, gave it to them, saying, "Take, eat: this is My body, broken for you. This do in remembrance of Me."
And He took a cup, and when He had given thanks, he gave it to them; and they all drank. And He said to them, "This is my blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the forgiveness of sins. But I say unto you, I will not any more drink of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it again with you in My Father's kingdom."
Jesus said, "Don't let yourselves be upset: you believe in God, believe also in Me. In my Father's house are many mansions, and I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back again to get you, so that you can be with Me. And you know where I am going and you know the way to get there."
But Thomas said, "Lord, we don't know where you're going, so how could we know the way?"
Jesus answered, "I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man comes to the Father except through me."
That evening, Jesus also warned the disciples of difficult times to come. He said, "If the world hates you, remember that it hated Me before it hated you. He that hates Me, hates My Father also."
God - The Book Part III.
Creation To Eternity
The Exodus
Isaac, Abraham's son, married and became the father of twins, Jacob and Esau. Later, God gave Jacob the new name of "Israel," and he was chosen to carry on the promised line.
Jacob had twelve sons. One of them, Joseph, was sold into slavery by his own brothers, but through God's divine care, he eventually became ruler alongside the king of Egypt, the great Pharaoh.
Joseph, being a godly man, forgave his brothers and invited all his relatives to move to Egypt, saving them from a terrible famine. So the seventy descendants of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, known as "The Children of Israel," moved to Egypt, the country which would one day enslave them, just as God had foretold Abraham.
Now these descendants of Abraham bore many children, and the land of Egypt was filled with them; But a new pharaoh, who did not remember Joseph, began to worry.
He told the Egyptians, "Behold, the Children of Israel --these Hebrews-- now outnumber us. We must deal wisely with them. If we let them continue to multiply and we become involved in a war, they might join our enemies and fight against us."
So the Egyptians turned the Hebrews into slaves. The brutal slave masters made the lives of the Children of Israel bitter with impossibly-hard work. But the more they were mistreated, the more they grew in number.
Then Pharaoh summoned the Hebrew nurses, and told them, "When you act as midwives for the Hebrew women, let their daughters live, but all newborn sons, you must kill."
The Exodus (Part 2)
One Hebrew mother hid her newborn son, but after three months could no longer conceal him. So she laid her baby in a basket covered with tar, and placed it in the reeds by the river's bank.
When Pharaoh's daughter came down to bathe at the river, she saw the basket among the reeds and she looked inside.
When she saw the baby and he cried, she felt compassion toward him and said, "This is one of the Hebrews' children."
She took the baby and raised him as her son, calling him Moses, which means, "Drawn Out of the Water."
So Moses became destined to inherit the Egyptian kingdom with all of its treasures. After Moses was grown, he went out among his Hebrew relatives who were all in bondage.
As he observed their hardships, he saw an Egyptian beating a Hebrew slave. When Moses thought no one was looking, he killed the Egyptian, and hid his body in the sand.
But Pharaoh heard about the Egyptian's death and went after Moses to kill him, so Moses fled and lived in the land of Midian.
After forty years, that Pharaoh died. The Children of Israel groaned under their slavery, and their cry rose up unto God. So God set about to honor His covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
The Exodus (Part 3)
Moses had become a shepherd, and, as he led his flock in the desert, the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a flame of fire from the middle of a bush: Amazingly, the bush burned, but was not consumed.
An Angel of the Lord appeared to Moses in a flame of fire from the a bush, but the bush was not burned. So Moses said, "I must go over there to see this great sight and find out why that bush is not burnt."
As he approached, God called to him out of the bush, saying, "Moses, Moses."
Moses answered, "Here I am."
Then God said, "Come no closer. Take off your shoes, for you are standing on holy ground. I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob."
Moses hid his face; because he was afraid to look at God. And the Lord said, "I have surely seen the affliction of My people in Egypt, and have heard their cry. I know their sorrows.
I have come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians, and to bring them into a good land flowing with milk and honey.
Now Moses, I will send you to Pharaoh, that you may lead My people, the Children of Israel, out of Egypt."
And Moses said unto God, "Who am I, that I should go to Pharaoh, and that I should bring Your people out of Egypt? When I say to the Children of Israel, 'The God of your fathers has sent me to you'; and they say back to me, 'What is his name?' what shall I say to them?"
Then God said to Moses, "I AM THAT I AM. You shall say to the children of Israel, I AM has sent me to you."
And Moses said unto the Lord, "O my Lord, I am not eloquent. I am not a good speaker; my words get tangled up."
But the Lord answered, "Who has made man's mouth? Haven't I, the Lord? Now go. Aaron, your brother, is a good speaker. Talk through him. I will be with your mouth, and with his mouth, and will teach you what you shall say and do.
When you return to Egypt, you will do miracles in front of Pharaoh. But I will harden his heart, so that he shall not let the people go. You must tell Pharaoh, 'The Lord said, Israel is My son, even My firstborn: Let My son go, so he may serve Me: and if you refuse to let him go, I will kill your son, even your firstborn."
The Exodus (Part 4)
Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh and said, "The Lord God of Israel says, Let my people go." But Pharaoh's heart was hardened, and he refused.
But Pharaoh demanded, "Who is the Lord, that I should obey His voice to let Israel go? I don't know the Lord, neither will I let Israel go."
So Moses returned to the Lord, asking, "Lord, why did you send me? I went to Pharaoh to speak in your name, but You have not delivered Your people."
God answered, "I am the Lord: And I appeared unto Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, only by the name God Almighty."
Then, the Lord explained to Moses that in Egypt He would soon reveal Himself as Jehovah, the Savior, and there also He would prove to the Egyptians that all people must worship the one true God, not His
creations. Then the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, "Go before Pharaoh. Take your staff, and stretch out your hand on the waters of Egypt."
Moses and Aaron did as the Lord commanded, and struck the river; and all the water in the river turned to blood. The fish died, and the river stank, and the Egyptians could not drink any of the water throughout
all the land of Egypt.
The Exodus (Part 5)
The Lord spoke again to Moses, "Go to Pharaoh, and say to him, The Lord says, 'Let my people go, so they may serve Me. And if you refuse to let them go, indeed, I will strike your whole territory with frogs."
But Pharaoh refused. So frogs came up and covered the land of Egypt. The frogs went into the people's houses, and into their bedrooms, on their beds, into their ovens and their mixing bowls.
Then Pharaoh called for Moses and Aaron and said, "Go, beg the Lord to take away the frogs, and I will let the people go."
But when Pharaoh saw that there was relief from the plague, he hardened his heart, just as the Lord had said. So God continued to bring plagues upon the land of Egypt. Each time Pharaoh pleaded for the plague to stop, and it would. And then each time he would break his promise to let the Children of Israel go.
So throughout the land of Egypt, God turned the dust of the earth into lice that crawled on man, and on animals. Then the magicians of Egypt said to Pharaoh, "This is the work of God."
Next, God sent swarms of flies upon Pharaoh and upon his servants. He sent a horrible plague that killed all the cattle of Egypt; but none of the cattle of the Children of Israel died.
Then Moses stood before Pharaoh and sprinkled ashes up toward heaven, which caused boils to break out on all the Egyptians and their animals. Next God warned everyone that he would bring a torrential hail storm on Egypt. All who believed the word of the Lord, made their servants and cattle hide inside their houses: But those who disregarded the word of the Lord left their servants and their cattle in the field.
Then hail, mingled with fire, came down, ruining every planted field, breaking every tree and killing the servants and animals which were not inside. Only in the land of Goshen, where the children of Israel lived, there was no hail.
The Lord then brought locusts over all the land of Egypt. They covered everything, so that the land was darkened; and they ate every plant which the hail hadn't destroyed. Nothing green remained throughout the land of Egypt.
Then the Lord brought darkness—a darkness so thick it could be felt covered all the land of Egypt for three days. People could not see each other and they did not go outside of their houses; but all the Children of
Israel had light in their homes.
Pharaoh still wouldn't let all the people go and even threatened Moses by saying, "Get away from me. The day you see my face again, you will die."
Moses answered, "You have spoken correctly, I will never see your face again."
The Exodus (Part 6)
Then the Lord said to Moses, "I am going to bring just one more plague on Pharaoh and upon Egypt; afterwards he will actually send all of My people out of Egypt."
"This plague will bring death to all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharaoh who sits on a throne, to the firstborn of the maidservant behind the mill. And there shall be a great cry throughout all the land of Egypt, such as has never happened before and shall never be again."
"Moses, speak to all the congregation of Israel. Tell them I said, Select a lamb, one for each household: Your lamb must a year old male with no imperfections. After four days, the whole assembly of Israel shall kill it in the evening."
"And you must take a bunch of hyssop, and dip it in the lamb's blood, and strike the top of the door frame and the two side posts with the blood; and none of you shall go out the door of your houses until the morning. And you must eat the lamb that night, roasted with fire; but do not break any of its bones. You must eat it with unleavened bread because it is the Lord's Passover."
"For I will pass through the land of Egypt, and will kill all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast. I will execute judgment against all the gods of Egypt: I am the Lord. And the blood shall be a mark of safety on the houses where you are, so when I see the blood, I will not allow the destroyer to come into your houses to smite you. He will pass-over you. And every year after this, you must celebrate the dinner of unleavened bread as a memorial, calling it the Lord's Passover."
So the Children of Israel did as the Lord had commanded them through Moses and Aaron.
The Exodus (Part 7)
Because of Egypt's sin, the Lord killed all the first born in the land of Egypt, all except his chosen people, the Children of Israel.
Then at midnight it happened. The Lord killed all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharaoh, who sat on his throne, to the firstborn of the captive in the dungeon; even all the firstborn of
cattle.
And Pharaoh and his servants and all the Egyptians woke up in the night; and there was a great cry in Egypt; for there was not a single house where there was not one dead.
But those inside the houses whose door posts were marked with the blood of the lamb were saved.
Then Pharaoh called for Moses and Aaron by night, and said, "Wake everyone up. You and the Children of Israel must get away from my people. Go, serve the Lord just as you wanted."
And the Egyptians urged the Hebrews to hurry, trying to send them out of the land as quickly as possible, crying out, "If you don't leave, we are all going to be dead!" The Egyptians even gave their jewels and gold to the departing Hebrews.
And the Children of Israel--numbering now in the millions --left, taking with them flocks and herds.
Just as God had told Abraham, Abraham's descendants had been slaves, and they came out of bondage in the fourth generation with great wealth. So this huge nation, which God called His "firstborn" left the land of Egypt and camped on the edge of the wilderness.
And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, "Soon Pharaoh will think the Children of Israel have been ensnared by the desert." And I will harden Pharaoh's heart, and he will follow after you; but I will be honored, so that the Egyptians may know that I am the Lord."
Then, just as God had said, Pharaoh and his servants again turned against the Hebrews, saying, "Why did we let the slaves of Israel go?"
And Pharaoh took six hundred chosen chariots, and all the other chariots of Egypt, and his horsemen and his army and pursued the Hebrews, overtaking them as they encamped with their backs to the Red Sea.
The Exodus (Part 8)
When the Hebrews looked up and saw the Egyptians, they were terrified, and they cried out to the Lord.
Then Moses said to the people, "Do not fear! Stand still and see the salvation of the Lord, which He will show to you today: for the Egyptians whom you have seen today, you shall see again no more. The Lord will
fight for you."
The Lord said to Moses, "Lift up your staff, and stretch out your hand over the sea, and divide it: and the Children of Israel shall walk on dry ground through the middle of the sea."
And Moses stretched out his hand over the sea; and the Lord caused a strong east wind to drive the sea back, and the waters were divided. And Israel went into the middle of the sea on dry ground—the waters forming a wall beside them on both sides.
Then all of Pharaoh's horses, his chariots, and his horsemen pursued the Hebrews, following after them across the dry ground. But the Lord confused the Egyptian army, and He caused the wheels on their chariots to fall off so that the horses couldn't pull them.
The Egyptians panicked. "Let's run from Israel because the Lord fights for them."
Then the Lord said to Moses, "Stretch out your hand over the sea." And when Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, the sea returned to its place. The Egyptians tried to escape from the water, but the Lord
defeated them in the middle of the sea.
The water covered Pharaoh's army, his chariots and his horses. All of them were destroyed. But the children of Israel had walked across on dry land right through the middle of the sea. When Israel saw this great miracle which the Lord did against the Egyptians, the people were awed, and they respected God and believed in the Lord and his servant Moses.
The Ten Commandments:
But soon after their rescue from Egypt, the Israelites complained to Moses, saying, "You brought us out into the wilderness to die. We have no water and we have no food."
Showing great mercy, the Lord responded to their doubt by bringing them water. And He also said, "Watch, I will rain bread from heaven for you; and you shall go out every morning and gather it." He did, and they called it "manna."
Soon this nation camped around a mountain in the desert of Sinai. Suddenly, there was thunder and lightning on the mountain, and out of a thick cloud, the sound of a trumpet blew so loud that all the people trembled. Then the Lord, cloaked in fire, descended on the mountain, and the whole mountain shuddered.
The Lord called Moses up to the top of the mountain and gave him the Ten Commandments.
And the Lord called Moses up to the top of the mountain and spoke these words to him: "I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery." And as the Lord spoke, He wrote these ten commandments on tables of stone.
1. You shall have no other gods before Me.
2. You shall not make idols or bow down to them, nor serve them.
3. You shall not use the name of the Lord your God disrespectfully.
4. Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.
5. Honor your father and your mother.
6. You shall not murder.
7. You shall not commit adultery.
8. You shall not steal.
9. You shall not lie about your neighbor.
10. You shall not lust for your neighbor's house, or his wife, or any thing that is your neighbor's.
The Lord gave His perfect standard of holiness through these laws, but then He also showed Moses what people must do when they broke those laws.
The Lord said, "You must build an altar and dedicate it to Me. You shall make sacrifices on it and I will bless you. The blood will be a covering for your sin and I will forgive you."
NOTES:
Biblical Altar:
Biblical altars were generally structures of earth (Ex. 20:24) " 'Make an altar of earth for me and sacrifice on it your burnt offerings and fellowship offerings, your sheep and goats and your cattle. Wherever I cause my name to be honored, I will come to you and bless you.
or of
stones that had not been hewn
(Ex. 20:25) If you make an altar of stones for me, do not build it with dressed stones, for you will defile it if you use a tool on it.
Sacrifices were offered on them.
Altars were generally erected in conspicuous places (usually) under the direction of God:
Gen. 22:9;
When they reached the place God had told him about, Abraham built an altar there and arranged the wood on it. He bound his son Isaac and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood
(Also See: Ezek. 6:3; 2 Kings 23:12; 16:4; 23:8; Acts 14:13).
The word altar is used in Heb. 13:10 for the sacrifice offered upon it--the sacrifice Christ offered. "We have an altar from which those who minister at the tabernacle have no right to eat".
Paul found among the many altars erected in Athens one bearing the inscription, "To the unknown God" (Acts 17:23), or rather "to an [some] unknown God." "For as I walked around and looked carefully at your objects of worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: TO AN UNKNOWN GOD. Now what you worship as something unknown I am going to proclaim to you"
The reason for this inscription cannot now be accurately determined. However, it offered the apostle the opportunity to proclaim the gospel to the "men of Athens."
The First Altar Specifically Mentioned in the Bible is the one erected by Noah (Gen. 8:20), "Then Noah built an altar to the LORD and, taking some of all the clean animals and clean birds, he sacrificed burnt offerings on it"
* I have often wondered though if during the time of Adam an alter was used for God's sacrifice as the first blood sacrifices was mentioned in Genesis with Adam and Eve (God's shedding of animal blood to make
coverings for them) and then again their son Able's offerings (Gen. 3-4).
* Any Thoughts On That??
Altars were erected by Abraham (Gen. 12:7; 13:4; 22:9),
by Isaac (Gen. 26:25),
by Jacob (33:20; 35:1,3),
and by Moses (Ex. 17:15, "Jehovah-nissi").
In the tabernacle, and afterwards in the temple, two altars were erected.
(1) THE ALTAR OF BURNT OFFERING (Ex. 30:28), called also the "brazen altar" (Ex. 39:39) and "the table of the Lord" (Mal. 1:7).
This altar, as erected in the tabernacle, is described in Ex. 27:1-8. It was a hollow square, 5 cubits in length and in breadth, and 3 cubits in height. It was made of shittim wood, and was overlaid with plates of brass. Its corners were ornamented with "horns" (Ex. 29:12; Lev. 4:18).
ALTAR UTENSILS - In Ex. 27:3 the various utensils used at the altar are listed. "Make all its utensils of bronze-its pots to remove the ashes, and its shovels, sprinkling bowls, meat forks and firepans". They were also made of brass. (1 Sam. 2:13,14; Lev. 16:12; Num. 16:6,7.)
TEMPLE ALTAR - In Solomon's temple the altar was larger (2 Chr. 4:1. Compare 1 Kings 8:22, 64; 9:25), and was made completely of brass, covering a structure of stone or earth.
This altar was renewed by Asa (2 Chr. 15:8). It was removed by Ahaz (2 Kings 16:14), and "cleansed" by Hezekiah, in the latter part of whose reign it was rebuilt. It was finally broken up and carried away by the Babylonians (Jer. 52:17).
After the return from captivity it was re-erected (Ezra 3:3,6) on the same place where it had formerly stood. When Antiochus Epiphanes pillaged Jerusalem the altar of burnt offering was taken away.
Again the altar was erected by Herod, and remained in its place till the destruction of Jerusalem by the Romans (70 A.D.).
FIRE - The fire on the altar was not permitted to go out (Lev. 6:9).
ALTAR'S LOCATION TODAY? - In the Mosque of Omar, immediately underneath the great dome, which occupies the site of the old temple, there is a rough projection of the natural rock, of about 60 feet in its extreme length, and 50 in its greatest breadth, and in its highest part about 4 feet above the general pavement. This rock seems to have been left intact when Solomon's temple was built. * Some * believe this is the site of the altar of burnt offering. Underneath this rock is a cave, which may could have been the granary of Araunah's threshing-floor (1 Chr. 21:22).
(2) THE ALTAR OF INCENSE (Ex. 30:1-10), called also "the golden altar" (39:38; Num. 4:11), stood in the holy place "before the vail that is by the ark of the testimony."
INCENSE - On this altar sweet spices were continually burned with fire taken from the brass altar. The morning and the evening services were begun by the high priest offering incense on this altar. The burning of the incense was a type of prayer (Ps. 141:2; Rev. 5:8; 8:3,4).
SIZE AND CONSTRUCTION - This altar was a small movable table, made of acacia wood overlaid with gold (Ex. 37:25,26). It was 1 cubit in length and breadth, and 2 cubits in height.
In Solomon's temple the altar was similar in size, but was made of cedarwood (1 Kings 6:20; 7:48) overlaid with gold. In Ezek. 41:22 it is called "the altar of wood." (Compare Ex. 30:1-6.)
In the temple built after the Exile the altar was restored. Antiochus Epiphanes took it away, but it was later restored by Judas Maccabaeus (1 Macc. 1:23; 4:49). Among the trophies carried away by Titus on the
destruction of Jerusalem the altar of incense is not found, nor is any mention made of it in Heb. 9.
It was at this altar Zacharias ministered when an angel appeared to him (Luke 1:11). It is the only altar which appears in the heavenly temple (Isa. 6:6; Rev. 8:3,4).
~ Always Memorial Day ~
Memorial Day, an American holiday observed on the last Monday of May, honors men and women who died while serving in the U.S. military. Originally known as Decoration Day, it originated in the years following the Civil War and became an official federal holiday in 1971. Many Americans observe Memorial Day by visiting cemeteries or memorials, holding family gatherings and participating in parades.
Early Observances of Memorial Day
The Civil War claimed more lives than any conflict in U.S. history, requiring the establishment of the country’s first national cemeteries. By the late 1860s Americans in various towns and cities had begun holding springtime tributes to these countless fallen soldiers, decorating their graves with flowers and reciting prayers.
It is unclear where exactly this tradition originated; numerous different communities may have independently initiated the memorial gatherings. Nevertheless, in 1966 the federal government declared Waterloo, New York, the official birthplace of Memorial Day. Waterloo— which had first celebrated the day on May 5, 1866— was chosen because it hosted an annual, community-wide event, during which businesses closed and residents decorated the graves of soldiers with flowers and flags.
Decoration Day
On May 5, 1862, General John A. Logan, leader of an organization for Northern Civil War veterans, called for a nationwide day of remembrance later that month. “The 30th of May, 1868, is designated for the purpose of strewing with flowers, or otherwise decorating the graves of comrades who died in defense of their country during the late rebellion, and whose bodies now lie in almost every city, village and hamlet churchyard in the land,” he proclaimed. The date of Decoration Day, as he called it, was chosen because it wasn’t the anniversary of any particular battle.
On the first Decoration Day, General James Garfield made a speech at Arlington National Cemetery, and 5,000 participants decorated the graves of the 20,000 Union and Confederate soldiers buried there. Many Northern states held similar commemorative events and reprised the tradition in subsequent years; by 1890 each one had made Decoration Day an official state holiday. Many Southern states, on the other hand, continued to honor their dead on separate days until after World War I.
Evolution of Memorial Day
Memorial Day, as Decoration Day gradually came to be known, originally honored only those lost while fighting in the Civil War. But during World War I the United States found itself embroiled in another major conflict, and the holiday evolved to commemorate American military personnel who died in all wars.
For decades, Memorial Day continued to be observed on May 30, the date Logan had selected for the first Decoration Day. But in 1968 Congress passed the Uniform Monday Holiday Act, which established Memorial Day as the last Monday in May in order to create a three-day weekend for federal employees; the change went into effect in 1971. The same law also declared Memorial Day a federal holiday.
Memorial Day Traditions
Cities and towns across the United States host Memorial Day parades each year, often incorporating military personnel and members of veterans’ organizations. Some of the largest parades take place in Chicago, New York and Washington, D.C. Americans also observe Memorial Day by visiting cemeteries and memorials. On a less somber note, many people throw parties and barbecues on the holiday, perhaps because it unofficially marks the beginning of summer.
Honoring soldiers, patriots, freedom-fighters past, ancient and future; in the United States and other countries.
On this day we honor the memory of those who have died while in the military service of the United Sates of America. It is also fitting that we remember all those who have died for the cause of freedom, whatever country they are from; for we are indeed all one family and we share each other's common destiny on this planet that God created for us all.
Likewise, we think of those who died believing they were fighting for freedom, though the political leaders in their comm and may have had other intentions in mind. Our thoughts also turn to those who died defending the cause of truth and virtue, whether or not they donned the uniform of their respective countries; and we think not only of those who thus sacrificed in our generation, but in generations past, all the way back to our first parents in the garden of Eden.
There have been many heroes down through the ages, both celebrated as well as unknown, who have given their all for the sake of a better world. Their combined efforts have given us what we have today, laying the foundation for us so that we now are on the brink of achieving the most ideal society attainable by mankind.
May we go forward, building on the legacy they left behind, drawing from the courage they exhibited, to bring to fruition a society of freedom and peace for which they helped labor.
The enemies of freedom and civility have provided us with obstacles that have made us strong. Today we honor the many lives that have been lost in the battles that have been fought that peace and freedom might prevail.
Today, we also recognize that there may yet be many lives lost, for not only are we closer to achieving the ideal society, but the enemies of freedom have also never been closer to achieving their goal of a counterfeit society of peace -- one of compulsion at the point of a sword. As this war comes to a head, there will yet be many who will lay down their lives in defense of truth and virtue.
May we be faithful to the legacy we have been given, so that truth and freedom may prevail.
~ A Soldier Coming Home ~
A Story is told about a soldier who was finally coming home after having fought in Vietnam. He called his parents from San Francisco.
"Mom and Dad, I'm coming home, but I've a favor to ask. I have a friend I'd like to bring home with me."
"Sure," they replied, "We'd love to meet him."
"There's something you should know the son continued, he was hurt pretty badly in the fighting. He stepped on a land mine and lost an arm and a leg. He has nowhere else to go, and I want him to come live with us."
"I'm sorry to hear that son. Maybe we can help find him somewhere to live."
"No, Mom and Dad, I want him to live with us."
"Son," said the father, "you don't know what you're asking. Someone with such a handicap would be a terrible burden on us. We have our own lives to live, and we can't let something like this interfere with our lives. I think you should come home and forget about this guy. He'll find a way to live on his own."
At this point, the son hung up the phone. The parents heard nothing more from him. A few days later, however, they received a call from the San Francisco police. Their son had died after falling from a building, they were told. The police believed it was suicide. The grief-stricken parents flew to San Francisco and were taken to the city morgue to identify the body of their son. They recognized him, but to their horror they also discovered something they didn't know, their son had only one arm and leg.
The parents in this story are like many of us. We find it easy to love those who are good-looking or fun to have around, but we don't like people who inconvenience us or make us feel uncomfortable, We would rather stay away from people who aren't as healthy, beautiful, or as smart as we are.
Thankfully, there's someone who won't treat us that way. Someone who loves us with unconditional love that welcomes us into the forever family, regardless of how messed up we are.
Tonight, before you tuck yourself in for the night, say a little prayer that God will give you the strength you need to accept people as they are, and to help us all to be more understanding of those who are different from us!
~Author Unknown~
~ Taps ~
Day is done,
gone the sun,
From the hills,
from the lake,
From the skies.
All is well,
safely rest,
God is nigh.
Go to sleep,
peaceful sleep,
May the soldier
or sailor,
God keep.
On the land
or the deep,
Safe in sleep.
Love, good night,
Must thou go,
When the day,
And the night
Need thee so?
All is well.
Speedeth all
To their rest.
Fades the light;
And afar
Goeth day,
And the stars
Shineth bright,
Fare thee well;
Day has gone,
Night is on.
Thanks and praise,
For our days,
'Neath the sun,
Neath the stars,
'Neath the sky,
As we go,
This we know,
God is nigh.
