Reading from Friday, July 30

Jilly and I just watched a movie called "The Stoning of Sorana M." It's a true story of a recent stoning in Iran where the woman's husband falsely accuses her of cheating, convinces the rest of the village's government and eventually they stone her to death. But I didn't realize how brutal the act of stoning was. They bury the accused up to their waist and tie their hands behind their back, so there is very little resistance on the body, and so the stones hit as strongly as possible. First the family throws the rocks at the person, then it's open season. Rocks are hurled at her head over and over until she is a bloody mess and eventually dies.

It was absolutely sickening - and to think that God ordered this type of death on people in the Old Testament is unbelievable. It's animalistic. Again, I am thankful to be living in a time where God no longer commissions that type of thing, but what a terrifying God we serve...

Reading for July 30
2 Chronicles 26:1-28:27
The history of three more kings is covered in this reading. Uzziah was the next in line, he was in God's graces until he became powerful. He then became prideful and he lost his favor with God. Then he got leprosy and died.

Then Jotham became king of Judah, but he was good, so he wasn't killed.

Then Ahaz became king and he sucked and he was given over in battle to many nations. Then he died.

Romans 13:1-14
This section opens with the idea of respecting and obeying whoever is currently governing over you and your country, because whoever is in power has been put there by God. I think this is a good thing for our country to hear with all the hyper partisanship flying around and people getting angry with eachother over simple differences in opinion. I don't think you have to agree with everything your government or leadership does, but you have to respect it. I think this should come with a caveat that if your leader is corrupt and evil then you should not follow them.

This is incredible -

8Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for he who loves his fellowman has fulfilled the law. 9The commandments, "Do not commit adultery," "Do not murder," "Do not steal," "Do not covet," and whatever other commandment there may be, are summed up in this one rule: "Love your neighbor as yourself."10Love does no harm to its neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.

As I said in the last post, this is something else I can be proud of about my faith. The idea that loving one another, if it's done properly and truly, will cover every commandment. Aside from the laws concerning God directly, that is certainly the case. Jesus covered the full spectrum by saying - love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul and mind, and love your neighbor as yourself.

Psalm 23:1-6
This is Psalm 23. Probably the most well known Psalm every written. I love this verse in the middle...

Even though I walk
through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
they comfort me.

At this point in David's life, he was going through some heavy stuff, and for him to write such hopeful things about God in thie time is extremely encouraging. If David can get through the death of the majority of his children, losing his throne to one of his only remaining sons and survive exile from his own nation and still praise God, it gives me hope that when I experience something life-shatteringly awful in my life, I will be able to cope and still praise God.

Proverbs 20:11
Come on...you know better...

Even a child is known by his actions,
by whether his conduct is pure and right.

Alright - I got two down, yo.

Jilly and I are going to see John Mayer tomorrow night so I may not get to post. Here's hopin I'm up for it when I get home.