<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8" ?><!-- generator=Zoho Sites --><rss version="2.0" xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom" xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/"><channel><atom:link href="https://www.steveaves.com/blogs/tag/theology/feed" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml"/><title>Steve Aves - My Thoughts #Theology</title><description>Steve Aves - My Thoughts #Theology</description><link>https://www.steveaves.com/blogs/tag/theology</link><lastBuildDate>Sun, 08 Mar 2026 10:34:29 -0700</lastBuildDate><generator>http://zoho.com/sites/</generator><item><title><![CDATA[God is Sovereign]]></title><link>https://www.steveaves.com/blogs/post/god-is-sovereign</link><description><![CDATA[<img align="left" hspace="5" src="https://www.steveaves.com/files/Blog Files/worship_bible.jpg"/>The Apostle Paul explains to the Jewish Christians who are concerned about their fellow Jews who do not accept Jesus as the Christ, that God is sovereign.]]></description><content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class="zpcontent-container blogpost-container "><div data-element-id="elm_HODcDY91TDCLvCuhTZYyHQ" data-element-type="section" class="zpsection "><style type="text/css"></style><div class="zpcontainer-fluid zpcontainer"><div data-element-id="elm_-1CfI0O-R2-xliTy6QhHQA" data-element-type="row" class="zprow zprow-container zpalign-items- zpjustify-content- " data-equal-column=""><style type="text/css"></style><div data-element-id="elm_svciFwLJRH632hZF-Di-6w" data-element-type="column" class="zpelem-col zpcol-12 zpcol-md-12 zpcol-sm-12 zpalign-self- "><style type="text/css"></style><div data-element-id="elm_q25xcxOQQxeNT25bv5fiSQ" data-element-type="text" class="zpelement zpelem-text "><style> [data-element-id="elm_q25xcxOQQxeNT25bv5fiSQ"].zpelem-text { border-radius:1px; } </style><div class="zptext zptext-align-center " data-editor="true"><div style="color:inherit;"><p style="text-align:left;text-indent:0.25in;"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-weight:400;">The Apostle Paul explains to the Jewish Christians who are concerned about their fellow Jews who do not accept Jesus as the Christ, that God is sovereign.</span></p><p style="text-align:left;text-indent:0.25in;"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-weight:400;"><br></span></p><p style="text-align:left;text-indent:0.25in;"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-weight:400;">13 As it is written,</span></p><p style="text-align:left;text-indent:0.25in;"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-weight:400;">“I have loved Jacob,</span></p><p style="text-align:left;text-indent:0.25in;"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-weight:400;">but I have hated Esau.”</span></p><p style="text-align:left;text-indent:0.25in;"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-weight:400;">14 What then are we to say? Is there injustice on God’s part? By no means! 15 For he says to Moses,</span></p><p style="text-align:left;text-indent:0.25in;"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-weight:400;">“I will have mercy on whom I have mercy,</span></p><p style="text-align:left;text-indent:0.25in;"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-weight:400;">and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.”</span></p><p style="text-align:left;text-indent:0.25in;"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-weight:400;">16 So it depends not on human will or exertion but on God who shows mercy. 17 For the scripture says to Pharaoh, “I have raised you up for this very purpose, that I may show my power in you and that my name may be proclaimed in all the earth.” 18 So then he has mercy on whomever he chooses, and he hardens the heart of whomever he chooses.</span></p><p style="text-align:left;text-indent:0.25in;"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-weight:400;">God’s Wrath and Mercy</span></p><p style="text-align:left;text-indent:0.25in;"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-weight:400;">19 You will say to me then, “Why then does he still find fault? For who can resist his will?” 20 But who indeed are you, a human, to argue with God? Will what is molded say to the one who molds it, “Why have you made me like this?” 21 Has the potter no right over the clay, to make out of the same lump one object for special use and another for ordinary use?</span></p><p style="text-align:left;text-indent:0.25in;"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-weight:400;"><br></span></p><p style="text-align:left;text-indent:0.25in;"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-weight:400;">Romans 9:13-21 (NRSVue Strong's Bible)</span></p><p style="text-align:left;text-indent:0.25in;"><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div></div>
</div></div></div></div></div></div> ]]></content:encoded><pubDate>Tue, 04 Jun 2024 08:09:48 -0600</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[God's Countenence ]]></title><link>https://www.steveaves.com/blogs/post/gods-countenance</link><description><![CDATA[<img align="left" hspace="5" src="https://www.steveaves.com/files/Blog Files/worship_bible.jpg"/>So, THAT is what is meant by "the LORD lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace."]]></description><content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class="zpcontent-container blogpost-container "><div data-element-id="elm_HODcDY91TDCLvCuhTZYyHQ" data-element-type="section" class="zpsection "><style type="text/css"></style><div class="zpcontainer-fluid zpcontainer"><div data-element-id="elm_-1CfI0O-R2-xliTy6QhHQA" data-element-type="row" class="zprow zprow-container zpalign-items- zpjustify-content- " data-equal-column=""><style type="text/css"></style><div data-element-id="elm_svciFwLJRH632hZF-Di-6w" data-element-type="column" class="zpelem-col zpcol-12 zpcol-md-12 zpcol-sm-12 zpalign-self- "><style type="text/css"></style><div data-element-id="elm_q25xcxOQQxeNT25bv5fiSQ" data-element-type="text" class="zpelement zpelem-text "><style> [data-element-id="elm_q25xcxOQQxeNT25bv5fiSQ"].zpelem-text { border-radius:1px; } </style><div class="zptext zptext-align-center " data-editor="true"><p style="text-align:left;text-indent:0.25in;"><span>&nbsp;</span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-weight:400;">Verse 26 has a larger punch when you understand what &quot;countenance&quot; meant to the Jewish people back then.</span><span>&nbsp;</span></p><p style="text-align:left;"><span>&nbsp;</span></p><p style="text-align:left;"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-weight:700;">The Priestly Benediction</span></p><p style="text-align:left;"><span style="font-size:12pt;">22 The LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 23 “Speak to Aaron and his sons, saying: Thus you shall bless the Israelites: You shall say to them:</span></p><p style="text-align:left;"><span style="font-size:12pt;">24 The LORD bless you and keep you;</span></p><p style="text-align:left;"><span style="font-size:12pt;">25 the LORD make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you;</span></p><p style="text-align:left;"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-style:italic;">26 the LORD lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.</span></p><p style="text-align:left;"><span style="font-size:12pt;">27 “So they shall put my name on the Israelites, and I will bless them.”</span></p><p style="text-align:left;"><span style="font-size:12pt;">Numbers 6:21-27 (NRSVue Strong's Bible)</span></p><p style="text-align:left;"><span>&nbsp;</span></p><p style="text-align:left;"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-weight:700;">OR</span></p><p style="text-align:left;"><span style="font-size:12pt;">26 May the LORD show you his favor and give you his peace.’</span></p><p style="text-align:left;"><span style="font-size:12pt;">Numbers 6:26 (NLT)</span></p><p style="text-align:left;"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-weight:700;">OR</span></p><p style="text-align:left;"><span style="font-size:12pt;">26 the LORD turn his face toward you and give you peace.”’</span></p><p style="text-align:left;"><span style="font-size:12pt;">Numbers 6:26 (NIV)</span></p><p style="text-align:left;"><span>&nbsp;</span></p><p style="text-align:left;"><span style="font-size:12pt;">Noun: countenance</span></p><p style="text-align:left;"><span style="font-size:12pt;">1. The appearance conveyed by a person's face</span></p><p style="text-align:left;"><span style="font-size:12pt;">2. Formal and explicit approval</span></p><p style="text-align:left;"><span style="font-size:12pt;">[WordWeb.info]</span></p><p style="text-align:left;"><span>&nbsp;</span></p><p style="text-align:left;"><span style="font-size:12pt;">63tn v. 26 The last line of the blessing also has first the image and then the parallel interpretation—for God to lift up his face is for God to give peace. </span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-style:italic;text-decoration:underline;">The idea of the fallen face is one of anger (see Gen 4:6, 7); and the idea of the hidden face is that of withholding support, favor, or peace (see Deut 31:18; Pss 30:8; 44:25). If God lifts his face toward his people, it means he has given them peace—peace, prosperity, completeness, health, safety, general well-being, and the like.</span></p><div style="text-align:left;"><span style="font-size:12pt;">Numbers 6:26 (NET 2nd Ed.)</span></div></div>
</div></div></div></div></div></div> ]]></content:encoded><pubDate>Wed, 29 May 2024 12:12:51 -0600</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[The Law and Gospel]]></title><link>https://www.steveaves.com/blogs/post/The-Law-and-Gospel</link><description><![CDATA[<img align="left" hspace="5" src="https://www.steveaves.com/files/Blog Files/worship_bible.jpg"/>Lectionary examples of Martin Luther's Law and Gospel]]></description><content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class="zpcontent-container blogpost-container "><div data-element-id="elm_HODcDY91TDCLvCuhTZYyHQ" data-element-type="section" class="zpsection "><style type="text/css"></style><div class="zpcontainer-fluid zpcontainer"><div data-element-id="elm_-1CfI0O-R2-xliTy6QhHQA" data-element-type="row" class="zprow zprow-container zpalign-items- zpjustify-content- " data-equal-column=""><style type="text/css"></style><div data-element-id="elm_svciFwLJRH632hZF-Di-6w" data-element-type="column" class="zpelem-col zpcol-12 zpcol-md-12 zpcol-sm-12 zpalign-self- "><style type="text/css"></style><div data-element-id="elm_q25xcxOQQxeNT25bv5fiSQ" data-element-type="text" class="zpelement zpelem-text "><style> [data-element-id="elm_q25xcxOQQxeNT25bv5fiSQ"].zpelem-text { border-radius:1px; } </style><div class="zptext zptext-align-center " data-editor="true"><div style="color:inherit;"><div style="color:inherit;"><div style="color:inherit;"><p style="text-align:left;text-indent:0.25in;"><span>&nbsp;</span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-weight:400;">The Lectionary reading for today highlights for me the distinction Martin Luther made between <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Law_and_Gospel" title="Law and Gospel" target="_blank" rel="">Law and Gospel</a></span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-weight:400;">:</span></p><p style="text-align:left;text-indent:0.25in;"></p><span><br></span><div style="color:inherit;"><p style="text-align:left;text-indent:0.25in;"><span>&nbsp;</span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-weight:400;font-style:italic;">Martin Luther recognized that the Word of God brings a different kind of healing through the Law and Gospel. “Law” describes what God requires. It demands perfection: a standard we cannot meet. “Gospel” describes what God provides so that we may live.</span><span><br></span></p><p style="text-align:left;text-indent:0.25in;"><span><br></span></p><p style="text-align:left;text-indent:0.25in;"><span>&nbsp;</span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-weight:400;">First reading is from <a href="# The-Wickedness_of-Judah" rel="">Isaiah 1:1-20</a> (LAW). It is kind of long, but the poetry of the writing makes it flow well.</span><span><br></span></p><p style="text-align:left;text-indent:0.25in;"></p><span></span><div style="color:inherit;"><p style="text-align:left;text-indent:0.25in;"><span>&nbsp;</span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-weight:400;">The second reading is from <a href="#Life-in-the-Spirit" rel="">Romans 8:1-8</a> (GOSPEL). The apostle Paul explains what the gospel means.</span><span><br></span></p><p style="text-align:left;text-indent:0.25in;"></p><p style="text-align:left;text-indent:0.25in;"><span><br></span></p><div style="color:inherit;"><div style="color:inherit;"><p style="text-align:left;text-indent:0.25in;"><span>&nbsp;</span></p><p style="text-align:left;">​<span title=" The-Wickedness_of-Judah" class="zpItemAnchor"></span>​<span>&nbsp;</span><span style="font-size:14pt;font-weight:700;font-style:italic;">The Wickedness of Judah</span><span>&nbsp;</span></p><p style="text-align:left;"><span style="font-size:12pt;">2 Hear, O heavens, and listen, O earth,</span></p><p style="text-align:left;"><span style="font-size:12pt;">for the LORD has spoken:</span></p><p style="text-align:left;"><span style="font-size:12pt;">I reared children and brought them up,</span></p><p style="text-align:left;"><span style="font-size:12pt;">but they have rebelled against me.</span></p><p style="text-align:left;"><span style="font-size:12pt;">3 The ox knows its owner</span></p><p style="text-align:left;"><span style="font-size:12pt;">and the donkey its master’s crib,</span></p><p style="text-align:left;"><span style="font-size:12pt;">but Israel does not know;</span></p><p style="text-align:left;"><span style="font-size:12pt;">my people do not understand.</span></p><p style="text-align:left;"><span style="font-size:12pt;">4 Woe, sinful nation,</span></p><p style="text-align:left;"><span style="font-size:12pt;">people laden with iniquity,</span></p><p style="text-align:left;"><span style="font-size:12pt;">offspring who do evil,</span></p><p style="text-align:left;"><span style="font-size:12pt;">children who act corruptly,</span></p><p style="text-align:left;"><span style="font-size:12pt;">who have forsaken the LORD,</span></p><p style="text-align:left;"><span style="font-size:12pt;">who have despised the Holy One of Israel,</span></p><p style="text-align:left;"><span style="font-size:12pt;">[[who are utterly estranged!]],</span></p><p style="text-align:left;"><span style="font-size:12pt;">5 Why do you seek further beatings?</span></p><p style="text-align:left;"><span style="font-size:12pt;">Why do you continue to rebel?</span></p><p style="text-align:left;"><span style="font-size:12pt;">The whole head is injured,</span></p><p style="text-align:left;"><span style="font-size:12pt;">and the whole heart faint.</span></p><p style="text-align:left;"><span style="font-size:12pt;">6 From the sole of the foot to the head,</span></p><p style="text-align:left;"><span style="font-size:12pt;">there is no soundness in it,</span></p><p style="text-align:left;"><span style="font-size:12pt;">only bruises and sores</span></p><p style="text-align:left;"><span style="font-size:12pt;">and bleeding wounds;</span></p><p style="text-align:left;"><span style="font-size:12pt;">they have not been drained or bound up</span></p><p style="text-align:left;"><span style="font-size:12pt;">or softened with oil.</span></p><p style="text-align:left;"><span style="font-size:12pt;">7 Your country lies desolate;</span></p><p style="text-align:left;"><span style="font-size:12pt;">your cities are burned with fire;</span></p><p style="text-align:left;"><span style="font-size:12pt;">in your very presence</span></p><p style="text-align:left;"><span style="font-size:12pt;">aliens devour your land;</span></p><p style="text-align:left;"><span style="font-size:12pt;">it is desolate, as overthrown by foreigners.</span></p><p style="text-align:left;"><span style="font-size:12pt;">8 And daughter Zion is left</span></p><p style="text-align:left;"><span style="font-size:12pt;">like a booth in a vineyard,</span></p><p style="text-align:left;"><span style="font-size:12pt;">like a shelter in a cucumber field,</span></p><p style="text-align:left;"><span style="font-size:12pt;">like a besieged city.</span></p><p style="text-align:left;"><span style="font-size:12pt;">9 If the LORD of hosts</span></p><p style="text-align:left;"><span style="font-size:12pt;">had not left us a few survivors,</span></p><p style="text-align:left;"><span style="font-size:12pt;">we would have been like Sodom</span></p><p style="text-align:left;"><span style="font-size:12pt;">and become like Gomorrah.</span></p><p style="text-align:left;"><span style="font-size:12pt;">10 Hear the word of the LORD,</span></p><p style="text-align:left;"><span style="font-size:12pt;">you rulers of Sodom!</span></p><p style="text-align:left;"><span style="font-size:12pt;">Listen to the teaching of our God,</span></p><p style="text-align:left;"><span style="font-size:12pt;">you people of Gomorrah!</span></p><p style="text-align:left;"><span style="font-size:12pt;">11 What to me is the multitude of your sacrifices?</span></p><p style="text-align:left;"><span style="font-size:12pt;">says the LORD;</span></p><p style="text-align:left;"><span style="font-size:12pt;">I have had enough of burnt offerings of rams</span></p><p style="text-align:left;"><span style="font-size:12pt;">and the fat of fed beasts;</span></p><p style="text-align:left;"><span style="font-size:12pt;">I do not delight in the blood of bulls</span></p><p style="text-align:left;"><span style="font-size:12pt;">or of lambs or of goats.</span></p><p style="text-align:left;"><span style="font-size:12pt;">12 When you come to appear before me,</span></p><p style="text-align:left;"><span style="font-size:12pt;">who asked this from your hand?</span></p><p style="text-align:left;"><span style="font-size:12pt;">Trample my courts no more!</span></p><p style="text-align:left;"><span style="font-size:12pt;">13 Bringing offerings is futile;</span></p><p style="text-align:left;"><span style="font-size:12pt;">incense is an abomination to me.</span></p><p style="text-align:left;"><span style="font-size:12pt;">New moon and Sabbath and calling of convocation—</span></p><p style="text-align:left;"><span style="font-size:12pt;">I cannot endure solemn assemblies with iniquity.</span></p><p style="text-align:left;"><span style="font-size:12pt;">14 Your new moons and your appointed festivals</span></p><p style="text-align:left;"><span style="font-size:12pt;">my soul hates;</span></p><p style="text-align:left;"><span style="font-size:12pt;">they have become a burden to me;</span></p><p style="text-align:left;"><span style="font-size:12pt;">I am weary of bearing them.</span></p><p style="text-align:left;"><span style="font-size:12pt;">15 When you stretch out your hands,</span></p><p style="text-align:left;"><span style="font-size:12pt;">I will hide my eyes from you;</span></p><p style="text-align:left;"><span style="font-size:12pt;">even though you make many prayers,</span></p><p style="text-align:left;"><span style="font-size:12pt;">I will not listen;</span></p><p style="text-align:left;"><span style="font-size:12pt;">your hands are full of blood.</span></p><p style="text-align:left;"><span style="font-size:12pt;">16 Wash yourselves; make yourselves clean;</span></p><p style="text-align:left;"><span style="font-size:12pt;">remove your evil deeds</span></p><p style="text-align:left;"><span style="font-size:12pt;">from before my eyes;</span></p><p style="text-align:left;"><span style="font-size:12pt;">cease to do evil;</span></p><p style="text-align:left;"><span style="font-size:12pt;">17 learn to do good;</span></p><p style="text-align:left;"><span style="font-size:12pt;">seek justice;</span></p><p style="text-align:left;"><span style="font-size:12pt;">rescue the oppressed;</span></p><p style="text-align:left;"><span style="font-size:12pt;">defend the orphan;</span></p><p style="text-align:left;"><span style="font-size:12pt;">plead for the widow.</span></p><p style="text-align:left;"><span style="font-size:12pt;">18 Come now, let us argue it out,</span></p><p style="text-align:left;"><span style="font-size:12pt;">says the LORD:</span></p><p style="text-align:left;"><span style="font-size:12pt;">If your sins are like scarlet,</span></p><p style="text-align:left;"><span style="font-size:12pt;">will they become like snow?</span></p><p style="text-align:left;"><span style="font-size:12pt;">If they are red like crimson,</span></p><p style="text-align:left;"><span style="font-size:12pt;">will they become like wool?</span></p><p style="text-align:left;"><span style="font-size:12pt;">19 If you are willing and obedient,</span></p><p style="text-align:left;"><span style="font-size:12pt;">you shall eat the good of the land,</span></p><p style="text-align:left;"><span style="font-size:12pt;">20 but if you refuse and rebel,</span></p><p style="text-align:left;"><span style="font-size:12pt;">you shall be devoured by the sword,</span></p><p style="text-align:left;"><span style="font-size:12pt;">for the mouth of the LORD has spoken.</span></p><p style="text-align:left;"><span style="font-size:12pt;">Isaiah 1:1-20 (NRSVue Strong's Bible)</span></p><p style="text-align:left;"><span style="font-size:12pt;"><br></span></p><p style="text-align:left;text-indent:0.25in;"><span><span style="font-style:italic;"><a href="#Top" rel="">To Top</a></span><a href="#Top" rel=""><br></a></span></p><p style="text-align:left;"><span>&nbsp;</span><span id="Life-in-the-Spirit" title="Life-in-the-Spirit" class="zpItemAnchor"></span><a href="#Life-in-the-Spirit" rel="">​</a><span style="font-size:14pt;font-weight:700;font-style:italic;"><a href="#Life-in-the-Spirit" rel="">Life in the Spirit</a></span><span><br></span></p><p style="text-align:left;"></p><p style="text-align:left;"><span style="font-size:12pt;">1 Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death. 3 For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do: by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and to deal with sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, 4 so that the just requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit., 5 For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit., 6 To set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. 7 For this reason the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law—indeed, it cannot, 8 and those who are in the flesh cannot please God.</span></p><p style="text-align:left;text-indent:0.25in;"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-weight:400;">Romans 8:1-8 (NRSVue Strong's Bible)</span></p><p style="text-align:left;text-indent:0.25in;"><span style="color:inherit;"><span><span style="font-style:italic;"><a href="#Top" rel="">To Top</a></span></span></span></p><p style="text-align:left;text-indent:0.25in;"><br></p></div>
</div><p style="text-align:left;text-indent:0.25in;"></p></div></div></div></div>
</div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div> ]]></content:encoded><pubDate>Fri, 24 May 2024 08:38:25 -0600</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Support One Another]]></title><link>https://www.steveaves.com/blogs/post/support-one-another</link><description><![CDATA[<img align="left" hspace="5" src="https://www.steveaves.com/files/Blog Files/worship_bible.jpg"/>So then, whenever we have an opportunity, let us do good to all people, and especially to those who belong to the family of faith]]></description><content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class="zpcontent-container blogpost-container "><div data-element-id="elm_HODcDY91TDCLvCuhTZYyHQ" data-element-type="section" class="zpsection "><style type="text/css"></style><div class="zpcontainer-fluid zpcontainer"><div data-element-id="elm_-1CfI0O-R2-xliTy6QhHQA" data-element-type="row" class="zprow zprow-container zpalign-items- zpjustify-content- " data-equal-column=""><style type="text/css"></style><div data-element-id="elm_svciFwLJRH632hZF-Di-6w" data-element-type="column" class="zpelem-col zpcol-12 zpcol-md-12 zpcol-sm-12 zpalign-self- "><style type="text/css"></style><div data-element-id="elm_q25xcxOQQxeNT25bv5fiSQ" data-element-type="text" class="zpelement zpelem-text "><style></style><div class="zptext zptext-align-center " data-editor="true"><div style="color:inherit;"><div style="color:inherit;"><p style="text-align:left;text-indent:0.25in;"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-weight:400;">Paul wrote to the churches in Galatia to encourage them, give them direction on what it means to be a <a href="#LOVE-SUMS-UP-THE-LAW" rel="">follower of Jesus</a>, and to counter the teaching of a few Jewish Christians who taught that the Galatians had to be circumcised AND follow ALL the Jewish laws.</span></p><p style="text-align:left;text-indent:0.25in;"></p><p style="text-align:left;text-indent:0.25in;"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-weight:400;">Paul believed the law to follow, now that Christ had come, was only the &quot;<a href="#LOVE-SUMS-UP-THE-LAW" rel="">law of Christ</a>.&quot;</span></p><p style="text-align:left;text-indent:0.25in;"></p><p style="text-align:left;text-indent:0.25in;"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-weight:400;">What is striking to me are verses 1 to 5. Paul says the way to reestablish a sinner is to use the &quot;spirit of gentleness,&quot; and not to condemn nor shame them. Boy, unlike today with &quot;cancel culture.&quot; Paul adds that if you are following &quot;the Jewish rules,&quot; remember that &quot;you're unique, like everyone else,&quot; so no bragging rights. Besides, “<a href="https://www.olivetree.com/bible/?query=John.8%3A3-11&amp;version=CEV" title="Read the story here." target="_blank" rel="">Let anyone among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her</a>.” John 8:7.</span></p><p style="text-align:left;text-indent:0.25in;"></p><p style="text-align:left;text-indent:0.25in;"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-weight:400;">The values Paul expounds is contrary to today.</span></p><p style="text-align:left;text-indent:0.25in;"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-weight:400;"><br></span></p><p style="text-align:left;text-indent:0.25in;"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-weight:400;font-style:italic;">1 Brothers and sisters, if a person is discovered in some sin, you who are spiritual restore such a person in a spirit of gentleness. Pay close attention to yourselves, so that you are not tempted too. 2 Carry one another’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the <a href="#LOVE-SUMS-UP-THE-LAW" rel="">law of Christ.</a> 3 For if anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself. 4 Let each one examine his own work. Then he can take pride in himself and not compare himself with someone else. 5 For each one will carry his own load.</span></p><p style="text-align:left;text-indent:0.25in;"></p><p style="text-align:left;text-indent:0.25in;"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-weight:400;font-style:italic;">6 Now the one who receives instruction in the word must share all good things with the one who teaches it. 7 Do not be deceived. God will not be made a fool. For a person will reap what he sows, 8 because the person who sows to his own flesh will reap corruption from the flesh, but the one who sows to the Spirit will reap eternal life from the Spirit. 9 So we must not grow weary in doing good, for in due time we will reap, if we do not give up. 10 So then, whenever we have an opportunity, let us do good to all people, and especially to those who belong to the family of faith.</span></p><p style="text-align:left;text-indent:0.25in;"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-weight:400;">Galatians 6:1-10 (NET 2nd Ed.)</span></p><p style="text-align:left;text-indent:0.25in;"><span>&nbsp;</span></p><p style="text-align:left;text-indent:0.25in;">​<span id="LOVE-SUMS-UP-THE-LAW" title="LOVE-SUMS-UP-THE-LAW" class="zpItemAnchor"></span>​<span style="font-size:12px;font-weight:400;">LOVE SUMS UP THE LAW. AUGUSTINE: The “law of Christ” means the law of love. The one who loves his neighbor fulfills the law. The love of neighbor is strongly commended even in the Old Testament.&nbsp;The apostle elsewhere says that it is by love that all the commands of the law are summed up.&nbsp;If so, then it is evident that even that Scripture which was given to the covenant people was the law of Christ, which, since it was not being fulfilled by fear, he came to fulfill by love. The same Scripture, therefore, and the same law is called the old covenant when it weighs down in slavery those who are grasping after earthly goods. It is called the new testament when it raises to freedom those who are ardently seeking the eternal good. EPISTLE TO THE GALATIANS 58 [1B.6.2].</span></p><p style="text-align:left;text-indent:0.25in;"><span style="font-size:12px;font-weight:400;">Galatians 6:2 (Ancient Christian Commentary on Scripture)</span></p></div>
</div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div> ]]></content:encoded><pubDate>Tue, 30 Apr 2024 11:33:56 -0600</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Grandson Is Confirmed at Church]]></title><link>https://www.steveaves.com/blogs/post/grandson-is-confirmed-at-church</link><description><![CDATA[<img align="left" hspace="5" src="https://www.steveaves.com/Markell Head Shot on sled.jpg"/>My grandson is confirmed into St. John's Lutheran Church.]]></description><content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class="zpcontent-container blogpost-container "><div data-element-id="elm_d5K_oBjCRheeaoJ25k3dTg" data-element-type="section" class="zpsection "><style type="text/css"></style><div class="zpcontainer-fluid zpcontainer"><div data-element-id="elm_oCp-ABI9Sk6n_4mcOvX7RA" data-element-type="row" class="zprow zprow-container zpalign-items- zpjustify-content- " data-equal-column=""><style type="text/css"></style><div data-element-id="elm_qghqoN6HRcy4cpNw8Ph-9A" data-element-type="column" class="zpelem-col zpcol-12 zpcol-md-12 zpcol-sm-12 zpalign-self- "><style type="text/css"></style><div data-element-id="elm_Ai36ThK6RDGhnlbuFrsZMQ" data-element-type="heading" class="zpelement zpelem-heading "><style> [data-element-id="elm_Ai36ThK6RDGhnlbuFrsZMQ"].zpelem-heading { border-radius:1px; } </style><h2
 class="zpheading zpheading-align-center " data-editor="true">I'm a proud grandfather<br></h2></div>
<div data-element-id="elm_Dw0bduwURAioWa7JJUizYA" data-element-type="text" class="zpelement zpelem-text "><style> [data-element-id="elm_Dw0bduwURAioWa7JJUizYA"].zpelem-text { border-radius:1px; } </style><div class="zptext zptext-align-center " data-editor="true"><div style="text-align:justify;">Below is the video of the complete church service. I have it starting at the point where the confirmands are joining in the &quot;children's sermon.&quot; Then I marked highlights if you don't want to view the entire service, though I recommend you do.</div><div style="text-align:justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align:justify;"><span style="color:inherit;">5:11 children's sermon<br>14:01 sermon. Good sermon, particularly if you are not familiar with the Lutheran traditions.<br>34:02 confession. The </span><span style="color:inherit;">confirmands AND the church make the confession of faith.</span><br><span style="color:inherit;">37:10 Markell is confirmed.<br>49:35 photos of the confirmands</span></div></div>
</div><div data-element-id="elm_mkN_b_UphVO206zgWbsX4Q" data-element-type="video" class="zpelement zpelem-video "><style type="text/css"> [data-element-id="elm_mkN_b_UphVO206zgWbsX4Q"].zpelem-video{ border-radius:1px; } </style><div class="zpvideo-container zpiframe-align-center zpiframe-mobile-align- zpiframe-tablet-align-"><iframe class="zpvideo " width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/CVOZxL8sZ8I?si=eMaLPB1Q7hQL2tQG&amp;amp;start=310" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>
</div></div></div></div></div></div> ]]></content:encoded><pubDate>Mon, 04 Dec 2023 08:44:06 -0600</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[ If Aliens Are Real]]></title><link>https://www.steveaves.com/blogs/post/if-aliens-are-real</link><description><![CDATA[<img align="left" hspace="5" src="https://www.steveaves.com/images/g58d3d49b064d92fa1db28af024b036ab887bb69d0cc112a4489663ffb663f49626e6bdb9b0656ad139f6fa8800cc4a80c872a19a297d98382ae54fc8e3f4cf6f_1280.jpg"/> One of my favorite podcasts, &quot;New Time Religion,&quot; has an interesting episode. The discussion is from a theological perspective. ]]></description><content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class="zpcontent-container blogpost-container "><div data-element-id="elm_nl2zDPmcQKeRt5pKEVYFQw" data-element-type="section" class="zpsection "><style type="text/css"></style><div class="zpcontainer-fluid zpcontainer"><div data-element-id="elm_kxjL9iCKQMSraiFHq9y7Vw" data-element-type="row" class="zprow zprow-container zpalign-items- zpjustify-content- " data-equal-column=""><style type="text/css"> [data-element-id="elm_kxjL9iCKQMSraiFHq9y7Vw"].zprow{ border-radius:1px; } </style><div data-element-id="elm_dIIHnWmjTFC6D-qb8VCMDw" data-element-type="column" class="zpelem-col zpcol-12 zpcol-md-12 zpcol-sm-12 zpalign-self- "><style type="text/css"> [data-element-id="elm_dIIHnWmjTFC6D-qb8VCMDw"].zpelem-col{ border-radius:1px; } </style><div data-element-id="elm_IG9PDn-XQGylx5ZupJjVbw" data-element-type="text" class="zpelement zpelem-text "><style> [data-element-id="elm_IG9PDn-XQGylx5ZupJjVbw"].zpelem-text { border-radius:1px; } </style><div class="zptext zptext-align-center " data-editor="true"><p style="text-align:left;"><span style="color:inherit;"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-weight:400;">One of my favorite podcasts, &quot;New Time Religion,&quot; has an interesting episode. The discussion is from a theological perspective.</span></span></p></div>
</div><div data-element-id="elm_t7f6Db0RgTgrRH3t7Pi4Tw" data-element-type="iframe" class="zpelement zpelem-iframe "><style type="text/css"> [data-element-id="elm_t7f6Db0RgTgrRH3t7Pi4Tw"].zpelem-iframe{ border-radius:1px; } </style><div class="zpiframe-container zpiframe-align-center"><iframe class="zpiframe " src="https://www.podbean.com/player-v2/?from=embed&amp;i=5kr8q-147e787-pb&amp;square=1&amp;share=1&amp;download=1&amp;fonts=Arial&amp;skin=1&amp;font-color=&amp;rtl=0&amp;logo_link=&amp;btn-skin=7&amp;size=300" width="700" height="300" align="center" allowfullscreen scrolling="no" style="border:none;min-width:min(100%, 430px);height:300px;"></iframe></div>
</div></div></div></div></div></div> ]]></content:encoded><pubDate>Wed, 16 Aug 2023 12:23:39 -0600</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Why I Like The "harsh" Or "difficult" Old Testament Narratives]]></title><link>https://www.steveaves.com/blogs/post/why-i-like-the-harsh-or-difficult-old-testament-narratives</link><description><![CDATA[<img align="left" hspace="5" src="https://www.steveaves.com/files/Blog Files/tn_03_FB_David_Bathsheba_1024.jpg"/>I like the "harsh" or "difficult" Old Testament narratives. What I find refreshing is the raw honesty about people - God's people - and the struggles God and His people have with each other. There is a timelessness to it.]]></description><content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class="zpcontent-container blogpost-container "><div data-element-id="elm_PLTntQ2oR8W2x4pVDhiU1w" data-element-type="section" class="zpsection "><style type="text/css"></style><div class="zpcontainer-fluid zpcontainer"><div data-element-id="elm_Asszr3yaQputf35umzn1Gw" data-element-type="row" class="zprow zprow-container zpalign-items- zpjustify-content- " data-equal-column=""><style type="text/css"> [data-element-id="elm_Asszr3yaQputf35umzn1Gw"].zprow{ border-radius:1px; } </style><div data-element-id="elm_abkQNMqNSpCwTUoZvvSoFg" data-element-type="column" class="zpelem-col zpcol-12 zpcol-md-12 zpcol-sm-12 zpalign-self- "><style type="text/css"> [data-element-id="elm_abkQNMqNSpCwTUoZvvSoFg"].zpelem-col{ border-radius:1px; } </style><div data-element-id="elm_t6kdkUZzQzyAHgrJTiK5DA" data-element-type="heading" class="zpelement zpelem-heading "><style> [data-element-id="elm_t6kdkUZzQzyAHgrJTiK5DA"].zpelem-heading { border-radius:1px; } </style><h2
 class="zpheading zpheading-align-center " data-editor="true"><span style="color:inherit;"><span>&nbsp;</span><span style="font-size:16pt;font-weight:700;">Why I Like The &quot;harsh&quot; Or &quot;difficult&quot; Old Testament Narratives</span><span><br></span></span></h2></div>
<div data-element-id="elm_j4WDrRHlTNmtAi5WHipDAg" data-element-type="text" class="zpelement zpelem-text "><style> [data-element-id="elm_j4WDrRHlTNmtAi5WHipDAg"].zpelem-text { border-radius:1px; } </style><div class="zptext zptext-align-left " data-editor="true"><div style="color:inherit;"><div style="color:inherit;"><p style="text-align:left;text-indent:0.25in;"><span>&nbsp;&nbsp;</span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-weight:400;">I like the &quot;harsh&quot; or &quot;difficult&quot; Old Testament narratives. What I find refreshing is the raw honesty about people - God's people - and the struggles God and His people have with each other. There is a timelessness to it.</span></p><p style="text-align:left;text-indent:0.25in;"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-weight:400;">Too often, the difficult stories and events we reference get sanitized for our current sensibilities. The reality of those stories get lost. This meme is a favorite of mine, conveying how Luther's message has been &quot;cleaned up&quot; to make it more ..... palatable.</span></p><p style="text-align:left;text-indent:0.25in;"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-weight:400;"><img src="/files/Blog%20Files/tn_Modern%20Lutherism.jpg" style="width:148px !important;height:164.52px !important;max-width:100% !important;"></span></p></div><p style="text-align:left;text-indent:0.25in;"><span>&nbsp;&nbsp;</span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-weight:400;">My observations of human life inform me that these old &quot;stories&quot; are as relevant today as they were 3000 years ago. A case in point is <a href="#David_Commits_Adultery_with_Bathsheba" title="David and Bathsheba" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">David and Bathsheba</a>.</span></p><p style="text-align:left;text-indent:0.25in;"></p><p style="text-align:left;text-indent:0.25in;"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-weight:400;font-style:italic;">It happened, late one afternoon, when David rose from his couch and was walking about on the roof of the king’s house, that he saw from the roof a woman bathing; the woman was very beautiful. David sent someone to inquire about the woman. It was reported, “This is Bathsheba daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah the Hittite.” So David sent messengers to get her, and she came to him, and he lay with her. (Now she was purifying herself after her period.) Then she returned to her house. The woman conceived; and she sent and told David, “I am pregnant.”</span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-weight:400;font-style:italic;"><br></span></p><p style="text-align:left;text-indent:0.25in;"><span>&nbsp;&nbsp;</span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-weight:400;">What is shocking, right at the start of this story, is the protagonist is David. David, the little shepherd boy <a href="#sheep" title="who God chose" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">who God chose</a>. David, the man God said was &quot;<a href="#man_after_his_own_heart" title="after his own heart" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">after his own heart</a>.&quot; David, the leader who we would least expect to commit this heinous sin.</span></p><p style="text-align:left;text-indent:0.25in;"></p><p style="text-align:left;text-indent:0.25in;"></p><p style="text-align:left;text-indent:0.25in;"><span>&nbsp;&nbsp;</span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-weight:400;">Well, let's look at current times for people who took advantage of others by using their exalted positions. Three come to mind; Bill Cosby, Bill Clinton, and Harvey Weinstein.</span></p><p style="text-align:left;text-indent:0.25in;"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-weight:400;">David tries to <a href="#wash_your_feet" title="hide Bathsheba's pregnancy" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">hide Bathsheba's pregnancy</a>; he attempts to make it appear as if the child is really Bathsheba's husband's, Uriah, which does not work. As so often happens, desperation escalates the efforts and leads to worse results. David <a href="#struck_down" title="sets up Uriah" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">sets up Uriah</a> to be killed in a battle. David now has committed another sin.</span></p><p style="text-align:left;text-indent:0.25in;"></p><p style="text-align:left;text-indent:0.25in;"></p><p style="text-align:left;text-indent:0.25in;"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-weight:400;">True to life, lying makes the original mistake worse.</span></p><p style="text-align:left;text-indent:0.25in;"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-weight:400;">Soon, David is <a href="#You_are_the_man" title="confronted by God" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">confronted by God</a> for his sins. David admits his sins, God then &quot;put away your sin.&quot; David does not have to die for his sin (which is what the law prescribes for what he did), but the child will die.</span></p><p style="text-align:left;text-indent:0.25in;"></p><p style="text-align:left;text-indent:0.25in;"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-weight:400;">Harsh. Yet, there are consequences for our actions.</span></p><p style="text-align:left;text-indent:0.25in;"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-weight:400;">Items in this narrative I find worth pondering:</span></p><div style="color:inherit;"><ul><li><p style="text-align:left;"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-weight:400;">What is different between David and Clinton, Cosby, and Weinstein? I think it is David kept God in his heart, AND REPENTED when confronted.</span></p></li><li><p style="text-align:left;"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-weight:400;">If a servant of David's had said something like, &quot;Bathsheba is not your wife. This could go badly.&quot; would David have reconsidered? Then again, much like today, the person that knew and could have / should have, said something was afraid of consequences to them self. Kind of a damning thought, really. Inaction is as bad as action in this case.</span></p></li><li><p style="text-align:left;"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-weight:400;">Is this story one that shows the consequence of hero worship? David was a lowly shepherd boy, and was raised to be king by the people.</span></p></li><li><p style="text-align:left;"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-weight:400;">Power corrupts. A good leader must have people around them who can, and will, challenge them when needed. How do we enforce this?</span></p></li></ul></div><p style="text-align:left;text-indent:0.25in;"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-weight:400;">I have read other thoughts and opinions about this text. There is a lot here. </span></p><p style="text-align:left;text-indent:0.25in;"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-weight:400;">Do you have any thoughts to share about it?</span></p></div></div>
</div><div data-element-id="elm_hEc3RvQ7mJj95nHThgOjZQ" data-element-type="divider" class="zpelement zpelem-divider "><style type="text/css"> [data-element-id="elm_hEc3RvQ7mJj95nHThgOjZQ"].zpelem-divider{ border-radius:1px; } </style><style></style><div class="zpdivider-container zpdivider-line zpdivider-align-center zpdivider-width100 zpdivider-line-style-solid "><div class="zpdivider-common"></div>
</div></div><div data-element-id="elm_5suxI_0uaE67jNV23LoAkw" data-element-type="heading" class="zpelement zpelem-heading "><style> [data-element-id="elm_5suxI_0uaE67jNV23LoAkw"].zpelem-heading { border-radius:1px; } </style><h3
 class="zpheading zpheading-style-none zpheading-align-center " data-editor="true">Text References<br></h3></div>
<div data-element-id="elm_Jdvr7o0QKOgh5dm6sa3mYw" data-element-type="text" class="zpelement zpelem-text "><style> [data-element-id="elm_Jdvr7o0QKOgh5dm6sa3mYw"].zpelem-text { border-radius:1px; } </style><div class="zptext zptext-align-left " data-editor="true"><p style="text-align:left;text-indent:0.375in;"><span>&nbsp;</span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-weight:400;">2 Samuel 11:1 - 12:15 (NRSV)</span><span>&nbsp;</span></p><p style="text-align:left;text-indent:0.375in;"><span>&nbsp;</span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-weight:700;">​<span id="David_Commits_Adultery_with_Bathsheba" title="David_Commits_Adultery_with_Bathsheba" class="zpItemAnchor"></span>​David Commits Adultery with Bathsheba</span><br><span style="font-size:12pt;font-weight:400;">&nbsp;Chapter 11</span><br><span style="font-size:12pt;font-weight:400;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; In the spring of the year, the time when kings go out to battle, David sent Joab with his officers and all Israel with him; they ravaged the Ammonites, and besieged Rabbah. But David remained at Jerusalem.</span><br><span style="font-size:12pt;font-weight:400;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; It happened, late one afternoon, when David rose from his couch and was walking about on the roof of the king’s house, that he saw from the roof a woman bathing; the woman was very beautiful. David sent someone to inquire about the woman. It was reported, “This is Bathsheba daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah the Hittite.” So David sent messengers to get her, and she came to him, and he lay with her. (Now she was purifying herself after her period.) Then she returned to her house. The woman conceived; and she sent and told David, “I am pregnant.”</span><br><span style="font-size:12pt;font-weight:400;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; So David sent word to Joab, “Send me Uriah the Hittite.” And Joab sent Uriah to David. When Uriah came to him, David asked how Joab and the people fared, and how the war was going. <span style="font-style:italic;">Then David said to Uriah, “Go down to your house, and <span id="wash_your_feet" title="wash_your_feet" class="zpItemAnchor"></span>​wash your feet.”</span> Uriah went out of the king’s house, and there followed him a present from the king. But Uriah slept at the entrance of the king’s house with all the servants of his lord, and did not go down to his house. When they told David, “Uriah did not go down to his house,” David said to Uriah, “You have just come from a journey. Why did you not go down to your house?” Uriah said to David, “The ark and Israel and Judah remain in booths; and my lord Joab and the servants of my lord are camping in the open field; shall I then go to my house, to eat and to drink, and to lie with my wife? As you live, and as your soul lives, I will not do such a thing.” Then David said to Uriah, “Remain here today also, and tomorrow I will send you back.” So Uriah remained in Jerusalem that day. On the next day, David invited him to eat and drink in his presence and made him drunk; and in the evening he went out to lie on his couch with the servants of his lord, but he did not go down to his house.</span><br><span style="font-size:12pt;font-weight:400;">&nbsp;</span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-weight:700;"><br></span></p><p style="text-align:left;text-indent:0.375in;"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-weight:700;">David Has Uriah Killed</span><br><span style="font-size:12pt;font-weight:400;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; In the morning David wrote a letter to Joab, and sent it by the hand of Uriah. In the letter he wrote, <span style="font-style:italic;">“Set Uriah in the forefront of the hardest fighting, and then draw back from him, so that he may be <span id="struck_down" title="struck_down" class="zpItemAnchor"></span>​struck down and die.”</span> As Joab was besieging the city, he assigned Uriah to the place where he knew there were valiant warriors. The men of the city came out and fought with Joab; and some of the servants of David among the people fell. Uriah the Hittite was killed as well. Then Joab sent and told David all the news about the fighting; and he instructed the messenger, “When you have finished telling the king all the news about the fighting, then, if the king’s anger rises, and if he says to you, ‘Why did you go so near the city to fight? Did you not know that they would shoot from the wall? Who killed Abimelech son of Jerubbaal? Did not a woman throw an upper millstone on him from the wall, so that he died at Thebez? Why did you go so near the wall?’ then you shall say, ‘Your servant Uriah the Hittite is dead too.’”</span><br><span style="font-size:12pt;font-weight:400;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; So the messenger went, and came and told David all that Joab had sent him to tell. The messenger said to David, “The men gained an advantage over us, and came out against us in the field; but we drove them back to the entrance of the gate. Then the archers shot at your servants from the wall; some of the king’s servants are dead; and your servant Uriah the Hittite is dead also.” David said to the messenger, “Thus you shall say to Joab, ‘Do not let this matter trouble you, for the sword devours now one and now another; press your attack on the city, and overthrow it.’ And encourage him.”</span><br><span style="font-size:12pt;font-weight:400;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; When the wife of Uriah heard that her husband was dead, she made lamentation for him. When the mourning was over, David sent and brought her to his house, and she became his wife, and bore him a son.</span><br><span style="font-size:12pt;font-weight:400;">&nbsp;</span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-weight:700;"><br></span></p><p style="text-align:left;text-indent:0.375in;"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-weight:700;">Nathan Condemns David</span><br><span style="font-size:12pt;font-weight:400;">&nbsp;But the thing that David had done displeased the LORD,</span><br><span style="font-size:12pt;font-weight:400;">&nbsp;and the LORD sent Nathan to David. He came to him, and said to him, “There were two men in a certain city, the one rich and the other poor. The rich man had very many flocks and herds; but the poor man had nothing but one little ewe lamb, which he had bought. He brought it up, and it grew up with him and with his children; it used to eat of his meager fare, and drink from his cup, and lie in his bosom, and it was like a daughter to him. Now there came a traveler to the rich man, and he was loath to take one of his own flock or herd to prepare for the wayfarer who had come to him, but he took the poor man’s lamb, and prepared that for the guest who had come to him.” Then David’s anger was greatly kindled against the man. He said to Nathan, “As the LORD lives, the man who has done this deserves to die; he shall restore the lamb fourfold, because he did this thing, and because he had no pity.”</span><br><span style="font-size:12pt;font-weight:400;">&nbsp;Nathan said to David, “<span id="You_are_the_man" title="You_are_the_man" class="zpItemAnchor"></span>​You are the man! Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel: I anointed you king over Israel, and I rescued you from the hand of Saul; I gave you your master’s house, and your master’s wives into your bosom, and gave you the house of Israel and of Judah; and if that had been too little, I would have added as much more. <span style="font-style:italic;">Why have you despised the word of the LORD, to do what is evil in his sight? You have struck down Uriah the Hittite with the sword, and have taken his wife to be your wife, and have killed him with the sword of the Ammonites.</span> Now therefore the sword shall never depart from your house, for you have despised me, and have taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be your wife. Thus says the LORD: I will raise up trouble against you from within your own house; and I will take your wives before your eyes, and give them to your neighbor, and he shall lie with your wives in the sight of this very sun. For you did it secretly; but I will do this thing before all Israel, and before the sun.” David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the LORD.” Nathan said to David, “Now the LORD has put away your sin; you shall not die. Nevertheless, because by this deed you have utterly scorned the LORD, the child that is born to you shall die.” Then Nathan went to his house.</span><br><span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></p><p style="text-align:left;text-indent:0.375in;"><span>&nbsp;</span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-weight:400;">1 Samuel 16:11-13 (NRSV)</span><span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></p><p style="text-align:left;text-indent:0.375in;"><span>&nbsp;</span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-weight:400;">Samuel said to Jesse, “Are all your sons here?” And he said, “There remains yet the youngest, but he is keeping the <span id="sheep" title="sheep" class="zpItemAnchor"></span>​sheep.” And Samuel said to Jesse, “Send and bring him; for we will not sit down until he comes here.” He sent and brought him in. Now he /was ruddy, and had beautiful eyes, and was handsome. The LORD said, “Rise and anoint him; for this is the one.” Then Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him in the presence of his brothers; and the spirit of the LORD came mightily upon David from that day forward. Samuel then set out and went to Ramah.</span></p><p style="text-align:left;text-indent:0.375in;"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-weight:400;"><br></span></p><p style="text-align:left;text-indent:0.375in;"><span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-weight:400;">1 Samuel 13:13-14 (NRSV)</span><span>&nbsp;</span></p><p style="text-align:left;text-indent:0.375in;"><span>&nbsp;</span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-weight:400;">Samuel said to Saul, “You have done foolishly; you have not kept the commandment of the LORD your God, which he commanded you. The LORD would have established your kingdom over Israel forever, but now your kingdom will not continue; </span><span style="font-size:12pt;text-decoration:underline;font-weight:400;font-style:italic;">the LORD has sought out a <span id="man_after_his_own_heart" title="man_after_his_own_heart" class="zpItemAnchor"></span>​man after his own heart</span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-weight:400;">; and the LORD has appointed him to be ruler over his people, because you have not kept what the LORD commanded you.”</span><br><span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <br></span></p></div>
</div></div></div></div></div></div> ]]></content:encoded><pubDate>Sat, 12 Nov 2022 11:13:02 -0600</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Pentecost Sunday]]></title><link>https://www.steveaves.com/blogs/post/pentecost-sunday</link><description><![CDATA[<img align="left" hspace="5" src="https://www.steveaves.com/images/g73d1ba70b396fbcb5b820f221a7aeed81d932352ad167810ce70b9d676adefb6f8156c7d51820fa80cbb8285badc9054642003d579090b4980290160f4a6e437_1280.jpg"/>The disciples were huddled together behind locked doors, afraid of the Roman soldiers, when suddenly, WHOOSH!]]></description><content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class="zpcontent-container blogpost-container "><div data-element-id="elm_yUuVBDkMSyOh2gWuxvWedg" data-element-type="section" class="zpsection "><style type="text/css"></style><div class="zpcontainer-fluid zpcontainer"><div data-element-id="elm_5sJqF6VFR7qWbjyJt8k3NA" data-element-type="row" class="zprow zprow-container zpalign-items- zpjustify-content- " data-equal-column=""><style type="text/css"></style><div data-element-id="elm_mCvHKdgQTOWEKdxumC17LQ" data-element-type="column" class="zpelem-col zpcol-12 zpcol-md-12 zpcol-sm-12 zpalign-self- "><style type="text/css"></style><div data-element-id="elm_yCTOAgrZdJvdeElhZBvRvQ" data-element-type="imagetext" class="zpelement zpelem-imagetext "><style> @media (min-width: 992px) { [data-element-id="elm_yCTOAgrZdJvdeElhZBvRvQ"] .zpimagetext-container figure img { width: 200px ; height: 112.50px ; } } @media (max-width: 991px) and (min-width: 768px) { [data-element-id="elm_yCTOAgrZdJvdeElhZBvRvQ"] .zpimagetext-container figure img { width:200px ; height:112.50px ; } } @media (max-width: 767px) { [data-element-id="elm_yCTOAgrZdJvdeElhZBvRvQ"] .zpimagetext-container figure img { width:200px ; height:112.50px ; } } [data-element-id="elm_yCTOAgrZdJvdeElhZBvRvQ"].zpelem-imagetext{ border-radius:1px; } </style><div data-size-tablet="" data-size-mobile="" data-align="left" data-tablet-image-separate="false" data-mobile-image-separate="false" class="zpimagetext-container zpimage-with-text-container zpimage-align-left zpimage-size-small zpimage-tablet-fallback-small zpimage-mobile-fallback-small hb-lightbox " data-lightbox-options="
            type:fullscreen,
            theme:dark"><figure role="none" class="zpimage-data-ref"><span class="zpimage-anchor" role="link" tabindex="0" aria-label="Open Lightbox" style="cursor:pointer;"><picture><img class="zpimage zpimage-style-none zpimage-space-none " src="/images/g44ebdecd8a7d7ddae1f514f5c877295d6f7ba3c86209a651697a7a980a25f89b0ce1b44c390a4d2e121bc198c89e2e7a4607878b66ff2c8cc29c6554a85ea28c_1280.jpg" width="200" height="112.50" loading="lazy" size="small" data-lightbox="true"/></picture></span></figure><div class="zpimage-text zpimage-text-align-left " data-editor="true"><p><span style="font-style:italic;"><span style="color:inherit;">​ &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. And suddenly from heaven there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. Divided tongues, as of fire, appeared among them, and a tongue rested on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them ability.<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Now there were devout Jews from every nation under heaven living in Jerusalem. And at this sound the crowd gathered and was bewildered, because each one heard them speaking in the native language of each. Amazed and astonished, they asked, “Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? And how is it that we hear, each of us, in our own native language? Parthians, Medes, Elamites, and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabs—in our own languages we hear them speaking about God’s deeds of power.” All were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, “What does this mean?”<br>Acts 2:1-12 (NRSV)</span></span></p></div>
</div></div></div></div></div></div></div> ]]></content:encoded><pubDate>Sun, 05 Jun 2022 07:30:24 -0500</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Ash Wednesday]]></title><link>https://www.steveaves.com/blogs/post/Ash-Wednesday</link><description><![CDATA[This holiday, the beginning of the season of Lent, stands as a counterweight to all of our talk about self-esteem, getting ahead, &quot;those people,& ]]></description><content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class="zpcontent-container blogpost-container "><div data-element-id="elm_WkpdqGDjTOOBczPBqL2Keg" data-element-type="section" class="zpsection "><style type="text/css"></style><div class="zpcontainer-fluid zpcontainer"><div data-element-id="elm_uy-G_YUiRcGisScNnf37cw" data-element-type="row" class="zprow zprow-container zpalign-items- zpjustify-content- " data-equal-column=""><style type="text/css"></style><div data-element-id="elm_Tc-XvAwLTISHwldIgDvfUg" data-element-type="column" class="zpelem-col zpcol-12 zpcol-md-12 zpcol-sm-12 zpalign-self- "><style type="text/css"></style><div data-element-id="elm_IzBzWyihQIiBcPjUCH5EkQ" data-element-type="text" class="zpelement zpelem-text "><style></style><div class="zptext zptext-align- " data-editor="true"><div><p><span></span></p><p class="zw-paragraph"><span style="background-color:transparent;font-size:12pt;">This holiday, the beginning of the season of Lent, stands as a counterweight to all of our talk about self-esteem, getting ahead, &quot;those people,&quot; those immigrants, stupid democrats, ignorant republicans, and your irritating neighbor.&nbsp;</span><br></p><p class="zw-paragraph"><span style="font-size:12pt;"><br></span></p><p class="zw-paragraph"><span style="font-size:12pt;">Appears to me, Ash Wednesday is an anathema in our culture. It acknowledges that we all came from the same place, and headed back there too. It is an acknowledgment that we are deeply flawed. All of us.</span></p><p class="zw-paragraph"><span>&nbsp;</span></p><span style="font-size:12pt;">Here by the grace of God go I. And you.</span><p></p><p><span><span style="font-size:12pt;"><br></span></span></p><p><span></span></p><p class="zw-paragraph"><span style="font-size:12pt;"><i>We become walking beacons of messy redemption who no longer must compare ourselves to anyone else because we’re all marked with the same mark, stamped with the same grace and held in the same arms.</i></span></p><span style="font-size:12pt;">https://www.livinglutheran.org/2020/02/the-great-and-holy-leveling-field/</span><br><p></p></div></div>
</div></div></div></div></div></div> ]]></content:encoded><pubDate>Wed, 26 Feb 2020 10:05:03 -0600</pubDate></item></channel></rss>