Crisis in Egypt. How We Talk? A Way That Seems Right. Evolution's Leap of Faith. Jerusalem Captured. VBS About Paul’s Trip to Athens.

 

For “Scripture Sunday”:

Crisis in Egypt

“Hundreds are injured and killed in the streets of Egypt as this crisis continues to unfold. Is there any hope for a better future in Egypt?

The Middle East continues to see the turmoil this summer, and Egypt in particular is undergoing another crisis. Just last week the military intervened and removed President Morsi, the newly elected president who was part of the Muslim Brotherhood. Millions of people have been rioting and demonstrating in the streets. And just this week 51 people were killed and over 400 injured as a result of what's been taking place.

Why is Egypt important? It is the largest Arab nation that has the largest standing army and Egypt is a key player in the whole Middle Eastern situation. And it is a key nation that is mentioned in Bible prophecy.

I've been looking back over some of those prophecies as I've been looking at the headlines of what's been taking place in Egypt lately. And if you're wanting to find a message of hope and understanding beyond today and today's situation there, there is a prophecy in Isaiah chapter 19 that I think helps us to understand not only a hope, but why Egypt is important to God. Egypt is an Arab state. It is a Muslim nation. But Egypt is important to the God of Abraham. And this particular prophecy zeroes in on that. Beginning in verse 19 it says, "In that day there will be an altar to the Lord in the midst of the land of Egypt and a pillar to the Lord at its border”.

This is talking about the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, the God of Jacob. This is not talking about the Muslim god or any other god. It's talking about a specific God and this prophecy is saying there will be an altar to them.

And it will be a sign for a witness to the Lord it goes on to say as people come to know God. And then in verse 21 it says, "Then the Lord will be known to Egypt and the Egyptians will know the Lord in that day and will make sacrifice and offerings. Yes, they will make a vow to the Lord and perform it," verse 21 Isaiah 19:19-21 See All...

That's the message of hope beyond what we see today in the headlines, beyond the suffering that's taking place because of misrule. That's why Egypt is important, not because of just what is happening in headlines today and what that means even for Bible prophecy, but for the hope that God's word holds out for that country, that nation specifically and a very encouraging and comforting prophecy such as this.”   Video at: http://www.ucg.org/beyond-today-daily/news-and-prophecy/crisis-egypt

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What does the Bible say about how we talk?

1. Don't use God's name lightly.

"You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes His name in vain" (Exodus 20:7; also Deuteronomy 5:11).

2. Replace filthy and foolish talk and coarse jokes with thankfulness.

"…neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks" (Ephesians 5:4).

3. Remember we will give account for every word we speak.

"But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment. For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned" (Matthew 12:36-37).

It’s pretty clear when God says, “You shall not steal. You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor” (Exodus 20:15, 16). We also might hear the oft-used quote, “Honesty is the best policy.” Here’s another one: “Love truthfulness and honesty. These are sacred treasures.” A character in Shakespeare’s Hamlet says, “To thine own self be true ... thou canst not then be false to any man.”

Can you be trusted? Let’s be of good character.  Let’s strive to be like Paul, worthy of imitation: “Therefore I urge you to imitate me. I am sending to you Timothy. … He will remind you of my way of life in Christ Jesus, which agrees with what I teach everywhere in every church” (1 Corinthians 4:16, 17 NIV).
KEY BIBLE TEXTS
The lip of truth shall be established for ever: but a lying tongue is but for a moment. - Proverbs 12:19
Lying lips are abomination to the LORD: but they that deal truly are his delight. - Proverbs 12:22
A wholesome tongue is a tree of life: but perverseness therein is a breach in the spirit. - Proverbs 15:4

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Proverbs: A Way That Seems Right

Wisdom that sticks with you - straight from God's Word.

“"There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death," (Proverbs 14:12 There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.
See All...).

When an individual or a group, even a nation, thinks their ways are pure according to their own standards, they may convince many that their deeds are just. Yet when evaluated by God's Word, they are absolutely wrong.

Appearances can be deceiving. Immoral behavior, though made acceptable by clever arguments and popular persuasion, is still a sin when it breaks the law of God.

By which standard do you measure yourself? God's standard or the world's?”  From: http://www.ucg.org/character/proverbs-way-seems-right/   

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The sermon on WGN TV this morning:

Evolution's Leap of Faith

Transcript at: http://www.ucg.org/beyond-today-program/science/evolutions-leap-faith

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On This Day:

 

Jerusalem captured in First Crusade, Jul 14, 1099:

“During the First Crusade, Christian knights from Europe capture Jerusalem after seven weeks of siege and begin massacring the city's Muslim and Jewish population.

Beginning in the 11th century, Christians in Jerusalem were increasingly persecuted by the city's Islamic rulers, especially when control of the holy city passed from the relatively tolerant Egyptians to the Seljuk Turks in 1071. Late in the century, Byzantine Emperor Alexius Comenus, also threatened by the Seljuk Turks, appealed to the West for aid. In 1095, Pope Urban II publicly called for a crusade to aid Eastern Christians and recover the holy lands. The response by Western Europeans was immediate.

The first crusaders were actually undisciplined hordes of French and German peasants who met with little success. One group, known as the "People's Crusade," reached as far as Constantinople before being annihilated by the Turks. In 1096, the main crusading force, featuring some 4,000 mounted knights and 25,000 infantry, began to move east. Led by Raymond of Toulouse, Godfrey of Bouillon, Robert of Flanders, and Bohemond of Otranto, the army of Christian knights crossed into Asia Minor in 1097.

In June, the crusaders captured the Turkish-held city of Nicaea and then defeated a massive army of Seljuk Turks at Dorylaeum. From there, they marched on to Antioch, located on the Orontes River below Mount Silpius, and began a difficult six-month siege during which they repulsed several attacks by Turkish relief armies. Finally, early in the morning of June 3, 1098, Bohemond persuaded a Turkish traitor to open Antioch's Bridge Gate, and the knights poured into the city. In an orgy of killing, the Christians massacred thousands of enemy soldiers and citizens, and all but the city's fortified citadel was taken. Later in the month, a large Turkish army arrived to attempt to regain the city, but they too were defeated, and the Antioch citadel surrendered to the Europeans.

After resting and reorganizing for six months, the crusaders set off for their ultimate goal, Jerusalem. Their numbers were now reduced to some 1,200 cavalry and 12,000 foot soldiers. On June 7, 1099, the Christian army reached the holy city, and finding it heavily fortified, began building three enormous siege towers. By the night of July 13, the towers were complete, and the Christians began fighting their way across Jerusalem's walls. On July 14, Godfrey's men were the first to penetrate the defenses, and the Gate of Saint Stephen was opened. The rest of the knights and soldiers then poured in, the city was captured, and tens of thousands of its occupants were slaughtered.

The crusaders had achieved their aims, and Jerusalem was in Christian hands, but an Egyptian army marched on the holy city a few weeks later to challenge their claim. The Egyptians' defeat by the outnumbered Christians in August ended Muslim resistance to the Europeans for the time being, and five small Christian states were set up in the region under the rule of the leaders of the crusade.”

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Yesterday:

Jay called to say that he couldn’t go to church, as he was going somewhere with his mother.  I asked him if it was more important than going to church, and he said “Yes, more important”.  My first thought was, I hope she is taking him to a rehab.  I found out later, that she was just throwing him out, AGAIN.  (Each time, is the last time!)

I took care of all the animals and leisurely dressed ready to go early for Bible Study at the church.

When I walked in, I wished I had my camera with me. The whole building had been decorated in Grecian style as they had just finished Vacation Bible School about Paul’s trip to Athens.  The volunteers had done a superb job. 

One busy mother, Sonya, had painted a stone pathway on large pieces of construction paper, taped them down, and it made a long path from the sanctuary to the dining room.  It must have taken her ages. 

In the sanctuary, there were Easy-ups for tents, draped in yard goods, and columns painted on paper and placed on the walls. 

The stage had a great big cardboard scene with the sea in the background, a boat, and small hills and houses in the foreground.  Many of the congregation were dressed up in their Grecian garb from the VBS. 

Karen, the VBS program Director, introduced the different ‘Oikos’, (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oikos) Rome, Corinth, Antioch, Ephesus, and Traos groups, and they sang their special songs from the VBS last week.  This VBS was for the kids and adults and they all enjoyed it just as much. 

One of the elders dressed as Dionysius, said a prayer.  The pastor, dressed as Paul, gave a short sermon about Paul’s trip after he left Athens and went to Corinth from Acts 18.

There were a couple of interesting videos made by participants of the VBS.

The dining hall was decorated in the same theme.  Easy-Ups draped in fabric made a Grecian food market, and Grecian clad ladies served food behind the counter. 

There was an abundance of food, and everyone had a special time yesterday.