Month: April 2013

Morning Reading: Luke 18.31-34 (NLT) – listen up

Reading: Luke 18.31-34 (NLT)

shadow-of-crossTaking the twelve disciples aside, Jesus said, “Listen, we’re going up to Jerusalem, where all the predictions of the prophets concerning the Son of Man will come true. He will be handed over to the Romans, and he will be mocked, treated shamefully, and spit upon. They will flog him with a whip and kill him, but on the third day he will rise again.”

But they didn’t understand any of this. The significance of his words was hidden from them, and they failed to grasp what he was talking about.

Prayer: Lord Jesus – Give me the willingness to follow you… to obey you… even though I don’t understand where we are going, or what will happen when we get there. You alone are the Way, the Truth, and the Life. You alone hold the key to eternal life. Truly Lord, I have no where else to go. Amen.

Hymn: “Beneath the Cross of Jesus” – Elizabeth C. Clephane (1868)

Beneath the cross of Jesus / I fain would take my stand,
The shadow of a mighty rock / Within a weary land;
A home within the wilderness, A rest upon the way
From the burning of the noontide heat / And the burden of the day.

Upon that cross of Jesus / Mine eye at times can see
The very dying form of One / Who suffered there for me;
And from my smitten heart, with tears, Two wonders I confess:
The wonders of His glorious love / And my unworthiness.

I take, O Cross, thy shadow / For my abiding place;
I ask no other sunshine than / The sunshine of His face;
Content to let the world go by, To know no gain or loss,
My sinful self– my only shame, My glory– all the cross.

Hungary Hands Over Public Schools to Religious Institutions – Repost

Hungary Hands Over Public Schools to Religious Institutions

Created on Saturday, 06 April 2013 16:39 / Written by Luis Dufaur

The Hungarian government is transferring public schools to religious institutions, reported the French magazine L’Express.

Pascal Vigil in the Cathedral of Budapest. The Hungarian government is handing public education back to religious institutions.
Pascal Vigil in the Cathedral of Budapest. The Hungarian government is handing public education back to religious institutions.

This policy has infuriated socialist leaders within and outside Hungary and even in European countries where public education has had calamitous results. The angry complaints center on the fact that traditional morals are being restored with the help of Hungarian government policy.Schools have brought back the singing of religious hymns as well as beginning the classes with prayer. And students’ parents get to choose the catechism to be taught to their children.

Churches retain their school subsidies regardless of the number of students. In the small town of Alsoörs, which L’Express presents as a typical case, out of a total of ninty-six families only two voted against transferring the school to the Church, underscoring the strong popular support this measure has. Continue reading “Hungary Hands Over Public Schools to Religious Institutions – Repost” →

Netanyahu: Israel is the Bright Star of Freedom – Reblog

Netanyahu: Israel is the Bright Star of Freedom

NetanyahuPrime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu issues a special greeting ahead of Israel’s 65th Independence Day.
By Elad Benari – First Publish: 4/12/2013, 6:14 AM

Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu issued a special video greeting on Thursday ahead of Yom Ha’atzmaut, Israel’s 65th Independence Day which will be celebrated on Tuesday.


“65 years ago we celebrated our new found freedom, the renewal of Jewish sovereignty in our ancestral homeland,” said Netanyahu. “This was a dream of ages. Jews prayed for this for generations, ‘Next year in Jerusalem’. Now we’re here in Jerusalem, in the one and only independent Jewish state.”

Israel, he said, has “a remarkable economy, with technology, with entrepreneurship, with science, with culture. We have a strong army and a strong economy and we have a home for every Jew around the world who wants to make Israel his home.”

“When you look around us, you see that Israel is the bright star of freedom, the bright star of a liberal democracy that embraces all its citizens, Jews and non-Jews like.”

“I hope that all of you have a chance to visit Israel this coming year, and I want to thank you for the support that you’ve given us. I know that because of your support, we have renewed strength to face the future with great optimism and with great hope,” said Netanyahu.

Morning Reading: Luke 18:18-30 NLT – not good enough

Reading: Luke 18:18-30 NLT

Once a religious leader asked Jesus this question: “Good Teacher, what should I do to inherit eternal life?”

“Why do you call me good?” Jesus asked him. “Only God is truly good. But to answer your question, you know the commandments: ‘You must not commit adultery. You must not murder. You must not steal. You must not testify falsely. Honor your father and mother.’”

image
What Profiteth It A Man: The Rich Young Ruler (Modern)
Liz Lemon Swindle

The man replied, “I’ve obeyed all these commandments since I was young.”

When Jesus heard his answer, he said, “There is still one thing you haven’t done. Sell all your possessions and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”

But when the man heard this he became very sad, for he was very rich.

When Jesus saw this, he said, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the Kingdom of God! In fact, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the Kingdom of God!”

Those who heard this said, “Then who in the world can be saved?”

He replied, “What is impossible for people is possible with God.”

Peter said, “We’ve left our homes to follow you.”

“Yes,” Jesus replied, “and I assure you that everyone who has given up house or wife or brothers or parents or children, for the sake of the Kingdom of God, will be repaid many times over in this life, and will have eternal life in the world to come.”

Prayer: Lord Jesus – I can never do enough to merit entering your Kingdom. Thank you for loving me enough to pay the entry price for me. Thank you for calling me your friend. Your grace truly is amazing. Amen.

Hymn: “Amazing Grace” – John Newton

Morning Reading: Luke 18:15-17 NLT – kids of the Kingdom

Reading: Luke 18:15-17 NLT

Christ with ChildrenChristopher SanterPacem Studio
Christ with Children
Christopher Santer, Pacem Studio

One day some parents brought their little children to Jesus so he could touch and bless them. But when the disciples saw this, they scolded the parents for bothering him.

Then Jesus called for the children and said to the disciples, “Let the children come to me. Don’t stop them! For the Kingdom of God belongs to those who are like these children. I tell you the truth, anyone who doesn’t receive the Kingdom of God like a child will never enter it.”

Prayer: Lord Jesus -Restore in me the sheer joy and wonder of knowing you. Make every day an adventure… exploring your Kingdom. Amen.

Kid’s of the Kingdom: “Every move I make”  – Hillsong Kids

Na– na– na na na na na  / Na– na– na na na na na / Na– na– na na na na na

Every move I make  I make in You / You make me move, Jesus / Every breath I take I breathe in You

Every step I take  I take in You / You are my way, Jesus / Every breath I take I breathe in You

Waves of mercy / Waves of grace / Everywhere I look / I see Your face / Your love has captured me / Oh my God, this love / How can it be