Reading from Wednesday, June 30

I feel pretty crappy right now. I got a $100 gift card from work and I have spent the last hour and a half trying to figure out how to spend it on myself. I need a new laptop power cord ($11) because my last one literally exploded, but I couldn't think of anything else to get for myself.

Here's what I'm gonna do. I'm gonna pray about it and figure out the best way to spend that money. I don't pray very often so this will be a good opportunity for me and the big guy to connect.

OK - let's see if the Bible has any guidance.

Reading for June 30
2 Kings 17:1-18:12
Wow. The Israelites were booted from Isarel. God had enough with all these corrupt and villainous kings of Israel and it says he "removed them from his presence" - based on historical data I would translate that to "killed them good." The tribe/nation of Judah was spared though as they were, while sometimes trouble, much better than Israel.

So Israel was repopulated with new people from neighboring lands. But wouldn't you know it - they didn't worship God either. How could you expect them to though? They were from another land where that wasn't their custom or religion...well because they didn't worship God, the king of Israel sent lions to maul them. That'll teach em.

Acts 20:1-38
I'm starting to really get a sense for how cool Paul really was. When I was in Rome last year, Jilly and I went to St. Paul's cathedral. I just thought that was a symbolic name but no, Paul is actually (supposedly) buried there! When Jilly told me that it blew my mother loving mind. It went a little something like this:

"Paul?!"
"Yes."
"Like, Paul from the Bible?"
"YES!"
"He's buried."
"Yup."
"Right here. Where we're standing?
"YEEESSSSS!!!"

Then I put on my hat and got yelled at for putting on my hat inside next to Paul's tomb.

Whoops. I just realized that it's St. Peter's, not St. Paul's. Well, at least I got to tell that story. Just replace every reference to Paul with Peter and then the story is accurate.

So anyway, Paul. Paul has just finished his visit in Ephesus and he gives a big rousing farewell speech that is similar in structure to the speeches of the great leaders of the Old Testament, but much less scary and threatening in its tone with lines like this:

²⁸Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which he bought with his own blood.

It's just a really cool speech and it sets the precedent for the letter he writes them later. What really got to me was the final line of the chapter:

 ³⁶When he had said this, he knelt down with all of them and prayed. ³⁷They all wept as they embraced him and kissed him. ³⁸What grieved them most was his statement that they would never see his face again. Then they accompanied him to the ship.

What this tells me is that Paul was not only a righteous and great servant of God, but he was also a pretty great guy to be around. And it's interesting to see the relationships he develops with people in comparison to Jesus' life. Jesus only was able to become close with his disciples during his life, and his message was so polarizing that people either loved him or tried to kill him. Which meant that the people who loved him probably had to keep that to themselves or they would be at risk too.

Paul on the other hand is totally accessible and actually has the time to foster strong relationships with people - enough to when he leaves them they all get together in a big group and cry. At my church when someone is leaving for a long time we all gather around them and pray for them, and that reminds me of this scene with Paul. It's just kind of cool to see something that's as relateable as grieving over a friend leaving you for a long time or possibly forever.



Psalm 148:1-14
⁸ lightning and hail, snow and clouds,
       stormy winds that do his bidding,
 ⁹ you mountains and all hills,
       fruit trees and all cedars,
 ¹⁰ wild animals and all cattle,
       small creatures and flying birds,
 ¹¹ kings of the earth and all nations,
       you princes and all rulers on earth,
 ¹² young men and maidens,
       old men and children.
 ¹³ Let them praise the name of the LORD,
       for his name alone is exalted;
       his splendor is above the earth and the heavens.

It's interesting to think of everything on earth working together in a perfect orchestra of praise to each one's creator. 

Proverbs 18:6-7
 ⁶ A fool's lips bring him strife,
       and his mouth invites a beating.
 ⁷ A fool's mouth is his undoing,
       and his lips are a snare to his soul.

Anybody with kids out there? Next time they start getting snippy drop verse 6 on them.
"Uh uh uh! Somebody's mouth is inviting a beating...."

Aaaaaaand goodnight.


Please pray that I will find a good and noble use for my money.