Reading from Tuesday, November 30

::Sigh of relief:: November was the toughest month to get through on here. With the two week vacation at the beginning of the month, I've been stuck way behind for the whole month. Finishing this post will still put me at 10 days back, but at least I'll be in the current month. And I started this thing 10 days behind, so I should be able to catch up quickly.

Gettin real close to the end, yo.

Reading for November 30
Daniel 7:1-28
Daniel has his own dream.
In this dream, Daniel sees four beasts. One of them is more terrifying than the others with iron teeth and a vicious demeanor. He later interprets this dream to reveal that the beasts are four powerful nations across the earth. The iron-toothed monster was of greatest concern to Daniel. This is how that one was interpreted:

‘The fourth beast is a fourth kingdom that will appear on earth. It will be different from all the other kingdoms and will devour the whole earth, trampling it down and crushing it.

America? Is that you?

1 John 1:1-10
New book.

I took a business trip to Orlando a few months ago and found something very funny about the security line: in that instant everyone was equal. There was a dude who was in front of me at check in and I was like, "Damn, that is one cool dude." Total swagger, total confidence, pretty girl on his arm the whole thing. Then we got to the security line, and I realized he's just like everyone else on line. He had to take his shoes and jacket off just like every other person, and all of a sudden he didn't stand out anymore.

Sin is a lot like the security gate. Everyone is subject to its snares and trickery, no matter how cool you are.

⁸ If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. ⁹ If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. ¹⁰ If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word is not in us.

Psalm 119:153-176
I don't think this is what Peter meant when he wrote about having mutual affection and love for others.

¹⁵⁸ I look on the faithless with loathing,
   for they do not obey your word.
¹⁵⁹ See how I love your precepts;
   preserve my life, LORD, in accordance with your love.

Proverbs 28:23-24
 ²³ Whoever rebukes a person will in the end gain favor
   rather than one who has a flattering tongue.
 ²⁴ Whoever robs their father or mother
   and says, “It’s not wrong,”
   is partner to one who destroys.

Tell the truth, yo.