Thursday, December 26, 2013

Thu Dec 26th Todays News

Alan Turing, convicted of gross indecency in 1952, has been granted a posthumous royal pardon. His crime was in reporting a break in to his residence to police, it was discovered he had a homosexual relationship with another mature man. And rather than be sent to prison, he accepted chemical castration. He took cyanide in 1954. Turing was a genius who had contributed to the world's defence against Nazism as a code breaker. He is considered the father of modern computer science and artificial intelligence. When circumstances are not just, it is nice to believe that the royals can intercede. But this just seems too late. 
On the issue of injustice and forgiveness, the US has imprisoned Jonathan Pollard. Israel's PM Netanyahu has stood up for him, calling for his release, but because of the politics of the situation, Pollard remains in jail. His crime was one of US government mismanagement, he was a known security risk and, through lack of appropriate supervision, became an Israeli spy. It is apparent that the claims are not of the order of Assange or Snowden. Pollard has served more time than any one else convicted in the US of a similar crime. He is an Israeli citizen. Maybe Obama could release him, as a gesture favouring peace? 
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Hatches
Happy birthday and many happy returns Ann Thompson. Born on the same day, across the years, as
Matches
Despatches
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About
Welcome to ByteFoundry, your IT expert. We keep you focused on building your business and delighting your customers by providing technology you can rely on
Mission

Make technology an asset for your business, not a problem.
Description
ByteFoundry provides fully managed technology solutions for medium and small business. We manage file servers, networks (LAN), firewalls, wireless networks and even desktop systems or laptops.

We are unique for two reasons, firstly we utilize primarily open source software to make the underlying hardware less expensive and the solutions more flexible. Secondly, we bring to the table the experience from managing large highly automated corporate networks and apply that experience to your small or medium business network.

Business relies on technology more and more. Even cloud technologies are useless if connectivity is failing or problematic. Medium and small business can't afford high end technical staff as full time employees - ByteFoundry makes them available so you can leverage that higher technical proficiency.

Make technology an asset for business growth, by making available expertise usually only available to large companies. Use that know-how to provide lower cost technology solutions that are more flexible and more reliable. Build solutions that solve real business problems and 'stay out of the way'. Be their IT manager not just an outsourced help desk.


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Today: The Exclusive Story of a Bachelorette’s Suicide. 

“I've never met anyone like her.”http://bit.ly/DRP1225
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John Tran ..or she will be your nightmare?
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I don't know how to breathe when I sing .. ed
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Welcome to Christmas. We hope you have a pleasant stay…

Don't miss #TheTimeoftheDoctor tonight at 7.30pm on ABC TV.
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Dean Hamstead
"Nevertheless we try to represent this data relationally, because we have a relational database, and when you have a hammer, you go around hammering everything with it, whether or not that thing needs hammering."
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If a movie is released in the USA, then 2 months later in Australia - I'm just going to pirate it.
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There needs to be a story to tell that hits the right notes. Joss Whedon is not alone with having a great style .. I love Moffat's Dr Who and what he does for the female companions .. which he also did in Coupling (UK version). But there is a cult in writing promoting character external to a storyline .. it isn't character, but story which creates the character .. Buffy was hurt and damaged .. nobody does that to a character they like .. but it is only then that character asserts itself .. ed
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Arnold Schwarzenegger
The gift of giving is the greatest gift of all. That, and a chance to ride in my tank. Enter below for both! 

Let’s ride: http://bit.ly/RideWithArnoldS
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www.news.com.au
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www.news.com.au
Australian journalism is so poor that it is hard not to feel sympathy for Thailand. - ed
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Unbelievable facts
In October of 1994 Pulp Fiction, Forrest Gump, The Shawshank Redemption and Jurassic Park were all in theatres at the same time.
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Jak Nu

Merry Xmas. If you are Reading this you sleep like a child and was up to open presents or are the same type of idiot that queues up outside shops when the letter s is added to their phone model... or simply you were up editing your brother's pre-wedding video shot 2 days ago and are Awesomely Wicked and therefore deserve no rest.
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When an old man died in the geriatric ward of a nursing home in an Australian country town, it was believed that he had nothing left of any value.
Later, when the nurses were going through his meager possessions, They found this poem. Its quality and content so impressed the staff that copies were made and distributed to every nurse in the hospital.

One nurse took her copy to Melbourne. The old man's sole bequest to posterity has since appeared in the Christmas editions of magazines around the country and appearing in mags for Mental Health. A slide presentation has also been made based on his simple, but eloquent, poem.

And this old man, with nothing left to give to the world, is now the author of this 'anonymous' poem winging across the Internet.

Cranky Old Man

What do you see nurses? . . .. . .What do you see?
What are you thinking .. . when you're looking at me?
A cranky old man, . . . . . .not very wise,
Uncertain of habit .. . . . . . . .. with faraway eyes?
Who dribbles his food .. . ... . . and makes no reply.
When you say in a loud voice . .'I do wish you'd try!'
Who seems not to notice . . .the things that you do.
And forever is losing . . . . . .. . . A sock or shoe?
Who, resisting or not . . . ... lets you do as you will,
With bathing and feeding . . . .The long day to fill?
Is that what you're thinking?. .Is that what you see?
Then open your eyes, nurse .you're not looking at me.
I'll tell you who I am . . . . .. As I sit here so still,
As I do at your bidding, .. . . . as I eat at your will.
I'm a small child of Ten . .with a father and mother,
Brothers and sisters .. . . .. . who love one another
A young boy of Sixteen . . . .. with wings on his feet
Dreaming that soon now . . .. . . a lover he'll meet.
A groom soon at Twenty . . . ..my heart gives a leap.
Remembering, the vows .. .. .that I promised to keep.
At Twenty-Five, now . . . . .I have young of my own.
Who need me to guide . . . And a secure happy home.
A man of Thirty . .. . . . . My young now grown fast,
Bound to each other . . .. With ties that should last.
At Forty, my young sons .. .have grown and are gone,
But my woman is beside me . . to see I don't mourn.
At Fifty, once more, .. ...Babies play 'round my knee,
Again, we know children . . . . My loved one and me.
Dark days are upon me . . . . My wife is now dead.
I look at the future ... . . . . I shudder with dread.
For my young are all rearing .. . . young of their own.
And I think of the years . . . And the love that I've known.
I'm now an old man . . . . . . .. and nature is cruel.
It's jest to make old age . . . . . . . look like a fool.
The body, it crumbles .. .. . grace and vigor, depart.
There is now a stone . . . where I once had a heart.
But inside this old carcass . A young man still dwells,
And now and again . . . . . my battered heart swells
I remember the joys . . . . .. . I remember the pain.
And I'm loving and living . . . . . . . life over again.
I think of the years, all too few . . .. gone too fast.
And accept the stark fact . . . that nothing can last.
So open your eyes, people .. . . . .. . . open and see.
Not a cranky old man .
Look closer . . . . see .. .. . .. .... . ME!!

Remember this poem when you next meet an older person who you might brush aside without looking at the young soul within. We will all, one day, be there, too!

PLEASE SHARE THIS POEM (originally by Phyllis McCormack; adapted by Dave Griffith)

The best and most beautiful things of this world can't be seen or touched. They must be felt by the heart!

elderhelpers.org
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Meteorologist Jim Loznicka
You've heard about it and now you can see it. The "Angel Cloud" that appeared over Palm Beach yesterday.
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George Takei
He needed a slush fund.
Credit: Tundra Comics
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The Bible Series
Merry Christmas from 'The Bible' series! Thanks for joining us on this amazing journey and always remember the reason for the season!
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Liberal Party of Australia
The Coalition will again take the measures necessary to clean up Labor's financial mess.

Please SHARE to show your support for our plans that will strengthen Australia's economy.
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Andy Trieu
I told a bunch of tourists once that boxing day was named after a famous Australian boxing match between a kangaroo and a emu...#boxingday
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Clive Palmer?
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www.news.com.au
Soldier on - ed===
<Do the Alarmists check both sides of the debate or just go ahead and publish already busted alarm stories?

They're Ba-a-ack! With the busted c@w f@rt methane causes global bµllt!sh!>
theclimatescepticsparty.blogspot.com
http://theclimatescepticsparty.blogspot.com.au/2013/12/holy-cow-another-global-warming-myths.html
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May need to resize .. ed
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<... I just don't care. I still like seeing Xmas trees. There are worse things to look at despite being conflicted.

" The Christmas tree, now so common among us, was equally common in Pagan Rome and Pagan Egypt. In Egypt that tree was the palm-tree; in Rome it was the fir; the palm tree denoting the pagan messiah, as Baal-Tamar, the fir referring to him as Baal-Berith. The mother of Adonis, the sun-god and great mediatorial divinity, was mystically said to have been changed into a tree, and when in that state to have brought forth her divine son. If the mother was a tree, the son must have been recognized as the 'Man the branch.' And this entirely accounts for the putting of the Yule Log into the fire on Christmas Eve, and the appearance of the Christmas tree the next morning."

That sure puts a different spin on Christmas traditions, now doesn't it?

Most Christians don't even realize that G-d warned us about such things in the Bible.

In Jeremiah 10:1-4, G-d warns us against putting up these decorated trees like the pagans were doing....

Hear what the LORD says to you, O house of Israel. This is what the LORD says: "Do not learn the ways of the nations or be terrified by signs in the sky, though the nations are terrified by them. For the customs of the peoples are worthless; they cut a tree out of the forest, and a craftsman shapes it with his chisel. They adorn it with silver and gold; they fasten it with hammer and nails so it will not totter."

The Puritans understood this. It comes as a surprise to most Americans to learn that the Puritans once banned Christmas trees in many areas of the United States because they were considered so pagan. ">

unexplainedmysteriesoftheworld.com
- See more at: http://unexplainedmysteriesoftheworld.com/archives/the-mystery-of-the-pagan-origin-of-christmas-jesus-was-not-born-on-december-25th-but-a-whole-bunch-of-pagan-gods-were#sthash.a8Rz2Kjr.dpuf
David Daniel Ball Atheist researcher attacks Joseph Atwill's work ..http://www.patheos.com/.../joseph-atwill-has-not-proven.../

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Holden promise to continue making substandard cars for Australia, but not in Australia. - ed
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www.news.com.au
Who knew? - ed
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"Mommy?"
"Yes, Max?"
"Does Santa go to every country in the world?"
"Yep."
"How about Australia?"
"Yep."
"Africa?"
"Yep."
"Even South Yorkshire?"
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Pastor Rick Warren
Urge friends who don’t yet know Jesus to watch "The Greatest Gifts You'll Ever Get" Repeating EVERY HR .http://bit.ly/1dYPov8
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Madu Odiokwu Pastorvin
Heavenly Father,I thank You for Your grace and mercy on my life. I choose to rise and put my trust in You. Thank You, Lord, for accomplishing Your purposes in my life.I thank You for what's to come. Help me go beyond believing to expecting my dreams to come to pass. Show me how to prepare for the things You have planned for me. In Jesus' Name. Amen.
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gopthedailydose.com
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Obama to Israel "Free Arab terrorists to show your goodwill to Abbas'
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www.israelnationalnews.com
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B"H These two obviously love their community of Kochov Ya'akov located in the Binyamin region.

Photo by Ezra Ridgley
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www.algemeiner.com
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www.israelvideonetwork.com
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calevbenyefuneh.blogspot.se
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www.meforum.org
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December 25, 2013
By:Rivkah Rybak


Approximately 10 families were represented at today's Knesset meeting with Israel’s Deputy Defense Minister MK Danny Danon. Other members of Knesset were also such as:

David Tsur - Hatenua Chaired by Tzipi Livni
Ayelet Shaked - HaBayit HaYehudi
Nissim Zeev - Shas
Orit Strock - HaBayit HaYehudi
Yoni Chetboun - HaBayit HaYehudi

There are no words that can express the display of courage, determination and desire of the families present at today's meeting with Danny Danon and the members of Knesset.

To sit and listen to the compelling stories of the survivors, for those who are at a stage to consider themselves survivors, left many speechless. Members of Knesset expressed distress for the current governmental situations surrounding the release of terrorists, in the soon to be third group of murderers.

After the formal representations around the table, many informal and perhaps even more productive conversations grasped the attention of those who remained.

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Phone(02) 8405 7992
Emailinfo@bytefoundry.com.au
Websitehttp://bytefoundry.com.au

About

Welcome to ByteFoundry, your IT expert. We keep you focused on building your business and delighting your customers by providing technology you can rely on
Mission
Make technology an asset for your business, not a problem.
Description
ByteFoundry provides fully managed technology solutions for medium and small business. We manage file servers, networks (LAN), firewalls, wireless networks and even desktop systems or laptops.

We are unique for two reasons, firstly we utilize primarily open source software to make the underlying hardware less expensive and the solutions more flexible. Secondly, we bring to the table the experience from managing large highly automated corporate networks and apply that experience to your small or medium business network.

Business relies on technology more and more. Even cloud technologies are useless if connectivity is failing or problematic. Medium and small business can't afford high end technical staff as full time employees - ByteFoundry makes them available so you can leverage that higher technical proficiency.

Make technology an asset for business growth, by making available expertise usually only available to large companies. Use that know-how to provide lower cost technology solutions that are more flexible and more reliable. Build solutions that solve real business problems and 'stay out of the way'. Be their IT manager not just an outsourced helpdesk.

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sultanknish.blogspot.com
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www.israpundit.com
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www.timesofisrael.com
The statistics aren't significant .. 2% is too small, and probably not representative of wider society. More likely to be children of diplomats or involved with senior administrative or business positions - ed
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www.timesofisrael.com
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<What evil spirit possessed Moshe Dayan to give up Har Habayit/The Temple Mount?>
http://youtu.be/7l1ol69rRxo
Dayan was not a believer. He thought it was a chess piece. It is too central to Israel's identity to give away. - ed
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December 25, 2013 / 22 Tevet, 5774 / Plenty of articles to keep you busy all day!
 


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The 'peace process' is well underway. Israel is under intense pressure to give up significant parts of its homeland and divide Jerusalem, its eternal capital.

Unfortunately, Israel was pressured to release over 100 Palestinian terrorists, many with blood on their hands. Half have already been released, with another release scheduled to take place soon. We believe that this is a huge tragedy for the people of Israel, 80% of whom opposed this painful decision.

Now more than ever, Israel needs the strong support of friends like you! You can make a real difference by helping us utilize the full power of the internet to spread the truth about Israel and prevent future tragedies.

Please consider becoming a partner in support of Israel with a monthly donation. Simply check the 'monthly' box on the screen.

Click to Donate --> https://unitedwithisrael.org/donate

While the brave soldiers of the IDF protect Israeli citizens from their enemies on the battlefield, 'United with Israel' is fighting the war of public opinion in homes, cafes, universities, synagogues and churches throughout the world.

The enemies of Israel have spent billions to spread lies and demonize the State of Israel. United with Israel uses the latest technology to reach millions across the globe and turn them into advocates for Israel. We are now expanding our program into multiple languages to reach people in their native tongues.

Your support is needed to build grassroots support for Israel around the world. At this special time, we ask you to open your heart and help Israel today.

CLICK BELOW TO MAKE A TAX-DEDUCTIBLE DONATION
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United with Israel must raise SUBSTANTIAL FUNDS to maintain and expand its professional staff and pay for language translation, content development, video production, graphics, programming, advertising, SEO, social media technology, local branch development and much more.

With your support, we can empower millions of people around the world to become global advocates for the People, Country and Land of Israel.

Thank you for opening your heart and helping Israel today.

With Blessings from Israel,

The 'United with Israel' Family

PS - We ask you to kindly forward this email to your family and friends. They too, deserve the opportunity and privilege to make a real difference by standing United with Israel. 


CLICK TO DONATE --> https://unitedwithisrael.org/donate

Checks can be sent to our US address:
United with Israel
PO Box 151 
Lawrence, NY 11559
United States

Checks can be mailed directly to Israel:
United with Israel
8/19 Nachal Maor St.
Box 71530
Bet Shemesh 99623
ISRAEL

To donate by phone please call:
+1-646-213-4003 (USA) 
+972-2-533-7841 (Israel)
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HonestReporting's Israel Daily News Stream: Everything You Need to Know About Media Coverage of Israel and the MidEast

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This is the most amazing Israeli Wedding Music Video I have ever seen!!
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December 26Boxing Day in Commonwealth countriesSt. Stephen's Day (Western Christianity); Twelve Holy Daysbegin (Esoteric Christianity); Kwanzaa begins in Canada and the United States
Pierre and Marie Curie
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Events[edit]

Births[edit]

Deaths[edit]

Holidays and observances[edit]

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“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” Isaiah 9:6 NIV
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Morning and Evening by Charles Spurgeon

Morning

"Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel."
Isaiah 7:14
Let us today go down to Bethlehem, and in company with wondering shepherds and adoring Magi, let us see him who was born King of the Jews, for we by faith can claim an interest in him, and can sing, "Unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given." Jesus is Jehovah incarnate, our Lord and our God, and yet our brother and friend; let us adore and admire. Let us notice at the very first glance his miraculous conception. It was a thing unheard of before, and unparalleled since, that a virgin should conceive and bear a Son. The first promise ran thus, "The seed of the woman," not the offspring of the man. Since venturous woman led the way in the sin which brought forth Paradise lost, she, and she alone, ushers in the Regainer of Paradise. Our Saviour, although truly man, was as to his human nature the Holy One of God. Let us reverently bow before the holy Child whose innocence restores to manhood its ancient glory; and let us pray that he may be formed in us, the hope of glory. Fail not to note his humble parentage. His mother has been described simply as "a virgin," not a princess, or prophetess, nor a matron of large estate. True the blood of kings ran in her veins; nor was her mind a weak and untaught one, for she could sing most sweetly a song of praise; but yet how humble her position, how poor the man to whom she stood affianced, and how miserable the accommodation afforded to the new-born King!
Immanuel, God with us in our nature, in our sorrow, in our lifework, in our punishment, in our grave, and now with us, or rather we with him, in resurrection, ascension, triumph, and Second Advent splendour.

Evening

"And it was so, when the days of their feasting were gone about, that Job sent and sanctified them, and rose up early in the morning, and offered burnt offerings according to the number of them all: for Job said, It may be that my sons have sinned, and cursed God in their hearts. Thus did Job continually."
Job 1:5
What the patriarch did early in the morning, after the family festivities, it will be well for the believer to do for himself ere he rests tonight. Amid the cheerfulness of household gatherings it is easy to slide into sinful levities, and to forget our avowed character as Christians. It ought not to be so, but so it is, that our days of feasting are very seldom days of sanctified enjoyment, but too frequently degenerate into unhallowed mirth. There is a way of joy as pure and sanctifying as though one bathed in the rivers of Eden: holy gratitude should be quite as purifying an element as grief. Alas! for our poor hearts, that facts prove that the house of mourning is better than the house of feasting. Come, believer, in what have you sinned today? Have you been forgetful of your high calling? Have you been even as others in idle words and loose speeches? Then confess the sin, and fly to the sacrifice. The sacrifice sanctifies. The precious blood of the Lamb slain removes the guilt, and purges away the defilement of our sins of ignorance and carelessness. This is the best ending of a Christmas-day--to wash anew in the cleansing fountain. Believer, come to this sacrifice continually; if it be so good tonight, it is good every night. To live at the altar is the privilege of the royal priesthood; to them sin, great as it is, is nevertheless no cause for despair, since they draw near yet again to the sin-atoning victim, and their conscience is purged from dead works.
Gladly I close this festive day,
Grasping the altar's hallow'd horn;
My slips and faults are washed away,
The Lamb has all my trespass borne.
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Today's reading: Zephaniah 1-3, Revelation 16 (NIV)

View today's reading on Bible Gateway

Today's Old Testament reading: Zephaniah 1-3

1 The word of the LORD that came to Zephaniah son of Cushi, the son of Gedaliah, the son of Amariah, the son of Hezekiah, during the reign of Josiah son of Amon king of Judah:
Judgment on the Whole Earth in the Day of the LORD
2 “I will sweep away everything
from the face of the earth,” declares the LORD.
3 “I will sweep away both man and beast;
I will sweep away the birds in the sky
and the fish in the sea—
and the idols that cause the wicked to stumble.”
“When I destroy all mankind
on the face of the earth,” declares the LORD,
4 “I will stretch out my hand against Judah
and against all who live in Jerusalem.
I will destroy every remnant of Baal worship in this place,
the very names of the idolatrous priests—
5 those who bow down on the roofs
to worship the starry host,
those who bow down and swear by the LORD
and who also swear by Molek,
6 those who turn back from following the LORD
and neither seek the LORD nor inquire of him....”

Today's New Testament reading: Revelation 16

The Seven Bowls of God’s Wrath
1 Then I heard a loud voice from the temple saying to the seven angels, “Go, pour out the seven bowls of God’s wrath on the earth.”
2 The first angel went and poured out his bowl on the land, and ugly, festering sores broke out on the people who had the mark of the beast and worshiped its image.
3 The second angel poured out his bowl on the sea, and it turned into blood like that of a dead person, and every living thing in the sea died.
4 The third angel poured out his bowl on the rivers and springs of water, and they became blood. 5 Then I heard the angel in charge of the waters say:
“You are just in these judgments, O Holy One,
you who are and who were;
6 for they have shed the blood of your holy people and your prophets,
and you have given them blood to drink as they deserve....”
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Advent-Header-2011
Luke 2:20: The Birth of Jesus
1 In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. 2 (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) 3 And everyone went to their own town to register.
4 So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. 5 He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. 6 While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, 7 and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.
8 And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”
13 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,
14 “Glory to God in the highest heaven,
and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”
15 When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”
16 So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. 17 When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, 18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. 19 But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.
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Luke 2:20: The Birth of Jesus
1 In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. 2(This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) 3 And everyone went to their own town to register.
4 So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David.5He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child.6While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, 7 and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.
8 And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.10But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. 12This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”
13 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,
14 “Glory to God in the highest heaven,
and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”
15 When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”
16 So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. 17 When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, 18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. 19 But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.
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FRB-Christmas-Story-BookCover-SmallReading 20: Let All God's Angels Worship Him

The author of the book of Hebrews, who did not identify himself, wrote this letter to Jewish Christians to encourage them in their faith. He reminded them that Jesus Christ came to the earth to fulfill the Old Testament Scriptures, that he is God, and that he is greater than even the angels.

Hebrews 1:1-14
The Son Superior to Angels
1 In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, 2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he made the universe. 3 The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven. 4So he became as much superior to the angels as the name he has inherited is superior to theirs.
5 For to which of the angels did God ever say,
“You are my Son;
today I have become your Father”?
Or again,
“I will be his Father,
and he will be my Son”?
6 And again, when God brings his firstborn into the world, he says,
“Let all God’s angels worship him.”
7 In speaking of the angels he says,
“He makes his angels winds,
his servants flames of fire.”
8 But about the Son he says,
“Your throne, O God, will last for ever and ever,
and righteousness will be the scepter of your kingdom.
9 You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness;
therefore God, your God, has set you above your companions
by anointing you with the oil of joy.”
10 He also says,
“In the beginning, O Lord, you laid the foundations of the earth,
and the heavens are the work of your hands.
11 They will perish, but you remain;
they will all wear out like a garment.
12 You will roll them up like a robe;
like a garment they will be changed.
But you remain the same,
and your years will never end.”
13 To which of the angels did God ever say,
“Sit at my right hand
until I make your enemies
a footstool for your feet”?
14 Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation?
Further Study
JUST THE FACTS
  1. How did God speak to “our forefathers”? How does God speak “in these last days”? (vv. 1 – 2)
  2. Where does the Son now sit? (v. 3)
  3. What tasks has God given the angels? (vv. 6 – 7,14)
LET’S TALK
  1. What words and phrases show how Christ is greater than the angels?
  2. How does this reading help you understand the “big picture” of Jesus’ coming?
WHY THIS MATTERS

The Messiah’s coming was foretold by the prophets. Jesus was born and lived and died as a human being. Now Jesus Christ holds a position of honor in heaven at the right hand of God.

POINTS OF INTEREST

1:5 The author of this letter quoted two Old Testament texts that his original readers would have been familiar with-—Psalm 2:7 and 2 Samuel 7:14--to prove that Jesus Christ is God’s Son.
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Family Reading BibleToday's reading is from:The Family Reading Bible 

Additional resources:

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A Christmas Devotional

CHRISTMAS

The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told. -Luke 2:20
At the birth of Jesus, amidst the dirt and straw of a stable, millennia of promises, prophecies, and hopes were fulfilled. In the birth of a child, something that happens every single day all over the world, something happened that would change the world. Everything the faithful were anticipating took shape. It was the alignment of all that was meant to be. But the birth of Jesus has that power and significance only if he really is who he said he was.
The shepherds heard, they saw, and it was all just as they had been told. In a perfect conjunction of heaven and earth, God came to earth, connecting the two for his eternal purposes. Years later, Jesus would tell us in so many different ways, "I have come into the world as a light" (John 12:46); "I have come that they may have life and have it to the full" (John 10:10); "For this reason I was born and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth," (John 18:37).
So...
When we are sensing the dirtiness of life in this world, we can focus on the purity of Christ.
When we feel weak, we can lean on the power of Christ.
When we are ill, we can remember that he is the great physician.
When we are confused, we can turn to his words to get our bearings.
When we are damaged, we can remember that he said that he would not break a bruised reed nor snuff out a smoldering wick.
When we know we have sinned, we can know his forgiveness.
When we are wayward, we can remember he called himself "the way."
When we have been lied to, we can remember he called himself "the truth."
When we feel like our energy and our enthusiasm is waning, we can remember that he called himself "the life."
And so, we can pray:
Thank you Lord Christ for humbling yourself and taking the form of man. Thank you for pushing back the darkness of this world and of my life. Thank you for fully living before us so that we can see just how much life we can have. Let me live for the next 52 weeks in the light of your ongoing presence and power in this world. And then let me celebrate Christmas again-with joy.
This is the final email in the devotional series “Christmas Joy”. For additional devotional material from Mel Lawrenz, please visit The Brook Network. Or, An e-book version of this devotional is also available, compatible with your PC, Mac, iPhone, iPad, Android or Kindle.
Merry Christmas!
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About The Author - Mel Lawrenz serves as minister at large for Elmbrook Church and leads The Brook Network. Having been in pastoral ministry for thirty years, the last decade as senior pastor of Elmbrook, Mel seeks to help Christian leaders engage with each other. Mel is the author of eleven books, the most recent for church leaders, Whole Church: Leading from Fragmentation to Engagement.

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