2010: A Bible Odyssey

Have you ever read through the whole Bible? Have you ever wondered how the whole story connects together? This year I am challenging myself and our congregation to Journey through the Bible in a year. I encourage you to take up this challenge and commit to pursue doing the daily readings (The schedule even Gives you Saturdays off to catch up.)
While you do this you'll know that others are doing it with you. You'll have fellow travelers reading the same accounts of God's great works and will always have something to talk about.
In addition your pastor will be preaching throughout the year from selections from the scriptures as you are reading them, highlighting the great unfolding story of God's Good News.
Our journey will not be like the usual, Bible in a year, plans but will be a cover to cover journey, keeping the story in unity from Genesis through Revelation. If you get off track you can just pick up on that days readings and then recover on Saturday.
I am excited to be doing this with you and I know it will not only make us stronger in the Word, but also strengthen our ties as a congregation as we find our place in the adventure together.

In Christ and On the Shepherd's Path,
Mark

Bible Reading Plan for Oakdale UP Church 2010

Use Saturdays to catch up.

Pray: Heavenly Father, Through the Holy Spirit, help me to understand what I read and apply it to
my life. In Jesus Name Amen.


_ 1/1/2010 –––– Genesis 1 - 4
_ 1/3/2010 –––– Genesis 5 - 8
_ 1/4/2010 –––– Genesis 9 - 11
_ 1/5/2010 –––– Genesis 12 - 16
_ 1/6/2010 –––– Genesis 17 - 19
_ 1/7/2010 –––– Genesis 20 - 23
_ 1/8/2010 –––– Genesis 24 - 25
_ 1/10/2010 ––– Genesis 26 - 28
_ 1/11/2010 ––– Genesis 29 - 30
_ 1/12/2010 ––– Genesis 31 - 34
_ 1/13/2010 ––– Genesis 35 - 36
_ 1/14/2010 ––– Genesis 37 - 40
_ 1/15/2010 ––– Genesis 41 - 42
_ 1/17/2010 ––– Genesis 43 - 45
_ 1/18/2010 ––– Genesis 46 - 49
_ 1/19/2010 ––– Genesis 50
_ ––––––––––– Exodus 1 - 3
_ 1/20/2010 ––– Exodus 4 - 7
_ 1/21/2010 ––– Exodus 8 - 10
_ 1/22/2010 ––– Exodus 11 - 13
_ 1/24/2010 ––– Exodus 14 - 17
_ 1/25/2010 ––– Exodus 18 - 21
_ 1/26/2010 ––– Exodus 22 - 24
_ 1/27/2010 ––– Exodus 25 - 27
_ 1/28/2010 ––– Exodus 28 - 29
_ 1/29/2010 ––– Exodus 30 - 33
_ 1/31/2010 ––– Exodus 34 - 36
_ 2/1/2010 –––– Exodus 37 - 39
_ 2/2/2010 –––– Exodus 40
_ ––––––––––– Leviticus 1 - 3
_ 2/3/2010 –––– Leviticus 4 - 7
_ 2/4/2010 –––– Leviticus 8 - 10
_ 2/5/2010 –––– Leviticus 11 - 13
_ 2/7/2010 –––– Leviticus 14 - 15
_ 2/8/2010 –––– Leviticus 16 - 18
_ 2/9/2010 –––– Leviticus 19 - 22
_ 2/10/2010 ––– Leviticus 23 - 25
_ 2/11/2010 ––– Leviticus 26 - 27
_ 2/12/2010 ––– Numbers 1 - 2
_ 2/14/2010 ––– Numbers 3 - 4
_ 2/15/2010 ––– Numbers 5 - 7
_ 2/16/2010 ––– Numbers 8 - 9
_ 2/17/2010 ––– Numbers 10 - 13
_ 2/18/2010 ––– Numbers 14 - 15
_ 2/19/2010 ––– Numbers 16 - 18
_ 2/21/2010 ––– Numbers 19 - 22
_ 2/22/2010 ––– Numbers 23 - 25
_ 2/23/2010 ––– Numbers 26 - 28
_ 2/24/2010 ––– Numbers 29 - 31
_ 2/25/2010 ––– Numbers 32 - 33
_ 2/26/2010 ––– Numbers 34 - 36
_ 2/28/2010 ––– Deuteronomy 1 - 3
_ 3/1/2010 –––– Deuteronomy 4 - 6
_ 3/2/2010 –––– Deuteronomy 7 - 10
_ 3/3/2010 –––– Deuteronomy 11 - 13
_ 3/4/2010 –––– Deuteronomy 14 - 18
_ 3/5/2010 –––– Deuteronomy 19 - 22
_ 3/7/2010 –––– Deuteronomy 23 - 27
_ 3/8/2010 –––– Deuteronomy 28 - 29
_ 3/9/2010 –––– Deuteronomy 30 - 32
_ 3/10/2010 ––– Deuteronomy 33 - 34
_ ––––––––––– Joshua 1 - 2
_ 3/11/2010 ––– Joshua 3 - 7
_ 3/12/2010 ––– Joshua 8 - 10
_ 3/14/2010 ––– Joshua 11 - 14
_ 3/15/2010 ––– Joshua 15 - 17
_ 3/16/2010 ––– Joshua 18 - 20
_ 3/17/2010 ––– Joshua 21 - 24
_ 3/18/2010 ––– Judges 1 - 3
_ 3/19/2010 ––– Judges 4 - 6
_ 3/21/2010 ––– Judges 7 - 9
_ 3/22/2010 ––– Judges 10 - 13
_ 3/23/2010 ––– Judges 14 - 17
_ 3/24/2010 ––– Judges 18 - 20
_ 3/25/2010 ––– Judges 21
_ ––––––––––– Ruth 1 - 3
_ 3/26/2010 ––– Ruth 4
_ ––––––––––– 1 Samuel 1 - 3
_ 3/28/2010 ––– 1 Samuel 4 - 8
_ 3/29/2010 ––– 1 Samuel 9 - 13
_ 3/30/2010 ––– 1 Samuel 14 - 15
_ 3/31/2010 ––– 1 Samuel 16 - 18
_ 4/1/2010 –––– 1 Samuel 19 - 22
_ 4/2/2010 –––– 1 Samuel 23 - 25
_ 4/4/2010 –––– 1 Samuel 26 - 30
_ 4/5/2010 –––– 1 Samuel 31
_ ––––––––––– 2 Samuel 1 - 2
_ 4/6/2010 –––– 2 Samuel 3 - 7
_ 4/7/2010 –––– 2 Samuel 8 - 11
_ 4/8/2010 –––– 2 Samuel 12 - 14
_ 4/9/2010 –––– 2 Samuel 15 - 18
_ 4/11/2010 ––– 2 Samuel 19 - 21
_ 4/12/2010 ––– 2 Samuel 22 - 23
_ 4/13/2010 ––– 2 Samuel 24
_ ––––––––––– 1 Kings 1 - 2
_ 4/14/2010 ––– 1 Kings 3 - 5
_ 4/15/2010 ––– 1 Kings 6 - 7
_ 4/16/2010 ––– 1 Kings 8 - 10
_ 4/18/2010 ––– 1 Kings 11 - 12
_ 4/19/2010 ––– 1 Kings 13 - 15
_ 4/20/2010 ––– 1 Kings 16 - 19
_ 4/21/2010 ––– 1 Kings 20 - 21
_ 4/22/2010 ––– 1 Kings 22
_ ––––––––––– 2 Kings 1 - 3
_ 4/23/2010 ––– 2 Kings 4 - 6
_ 4/25/2010 ––– 2 Kings 7 - 9
_ 4/26/2010 ––– 2 Kings 10 - 13
_ 4/27/2010 ––– 2 Kings 14 - 16
_ 4/28/2010 ––– 2 Kings 17 - 19
_ 4/29/2010 ––– 2 Kings 20 - 23
_ 4/30/2010 ––– 2 Kings 24 - 25
_ ––––––––––– 1 Chronicles 1
_ 5/2/2010 –––– 1 Chronicles 2 - 3
_ 5/3/2010 –––– 1 Chronicles 4 - 6
_ 5/4/2010 –––– 1 Chronicles 7 - 8
_ 5/5/2010 –––– 1 Chronicles 9 - 11
_ 5/6/2010 –––– 1 Chronicles 12 - 14
_ 5/7/2010 –––– 1 Chronicles 15 - 18
_ 5/9/2010 –––– 1 Chronicles 19 - 23
_ 5/10/2010 ––– 1 Chronicles 24 - 26
_ 5/11/2010 ––– 1 Chronicles 27 - 29
_ 5/12/2010 ––– 2 Chronicles 1 - 5
_ 5/13/2010 ––– 2 Chronicles 6 - 9
_ 5/14/2010 ––– 2 Chronicles 10 - 14
_ 5/16/2010 ––– 2 Chronicles 15 - 19
_ 5/17/2010 ––– 2 Chronicles 20 - 24
_ 5/18/2010 ––– 2 Chronicles 25 - 28
_ 5/19/2010 ––– 2 Chronicles 29 - 32
_ 5/20/2010 ––– 2 Chronicles 33 - 35
_ 5/21/2010 ––– 2 Chronicles 36
_ ––––––––––– Ezra 1 - 2
_ 5/23/2010 ––– Ezra 3 - 7
_ 5/24/2010 ––– Ezra 8 - 10
_ 5/25/2010 ––– Nehemiah 1 - 4
_ 5/26/2010 ––– Nehemiah 5 - 7
_ 5/27/2010 ––– Nehemiah 8 - 10
_ 5/28/2010 ––– Nehemiah 11 - 13
_ 5/30/2010 ––– Esther 1 - 5
_ 5/31/2010 ––– Esther 6 - 10
_ ––––––––––– Job 1
_ 6/1/2010 –––– Job 2 - 5
_ 6/2/2010 –––– Job 6 - 9
_ 6/3/2010 –––– Job 10 - 13
_ 6/4/2010 –––– Job 14 - 17
_ 6/6/2010 –––– Job 18 - 21
_ 6/7/2010 –––– Job 22 - 26
_ 6/8/2010 –––– Job 27 - 30
_ 6/9/2010 –––– Job 31 - 33
_ 6/10/2010 ––– Job 34 - 36
_ 6/11/2010 ––– Job 37 - 39
_ 6/13/2010 ––– Job 40 - 42
_ ––––––––––– Psalms 1 - 4
_ 6/14/2010 ––– Psalms 5 - 12
_ 6/15/2010 ––– Psalms 13 - 18
_ 6/16/2010 ––– Psalms 19 - 25
_ 6/17/2010 ––– Psalms 26 - 32
_ 6/18/2010 ––– Psalms 33 - 36
_ 6/20/2010 ––– Psalms 37 - 42
_ 6/21/2010 ––– Psalms 43 - 49
_ 6/22/2010 ––– Psalms 50 - 56
_ 6/23/2010 ––– Psalms 57 - 64
_ 6/24/2010 ––– Psalms 65 - 69
_ 6/25/2010 ––– Psalms 70 - 74
_ 6/27/2010 ––– Psalms 75 - 78
_ 6/28/2010 ––– Psalms 79 - 83
_ 6/29/2010 ––– Psalms 84 - 89
_ 6/30/2010 ––– Psalms 90 - 94
_ 7/1/2010 –––– Psalms 95 - 102
_ 7/2/2010 –––– Psalms 103 - 105
_ 7/4/2010 –––– Psalms 106 - 108
_ 7/5/2010 –––– Psalms 109 - 115
_ 7/6/2010 –––– Psalms 116 - 118
_ 7/7/2010 –––– Psalms 119
_ 7/8/2010 –––– Psalms 120 - 131
_ 7/9/2010 –––– Psalms 132 - 139
_ 7/11/2010 ––– Psalms 140 - 146
_ 7/12/2010 ––– Psalms 147 - 150
_ ––––––––––– Proverbs 1 - 2
_ 7/13/2010 ––– Proverbs 3 - 5
_ 7/14/2010 ––– Proverbs 6 - 9
_ 7/15/2010 ––– Proverbs 10 - 12
_ 7/16/2010 ––– Proverbs 13 - 15
_ 7/18/2010 ––– Proverbs 16 - 19
_ 7/19/2010 ––– Proverbs 20 - 22
_ 7/20/2010 ––– Proverbs 23 - 25
_ 7/21/2010 ––– Proverbs 26 - 29
_ 7/22/2010 ––– Proverbs 30 - 31
_ ––––––––––– Ecclesiastes 1
_ 7/23/2010 ––– Ecclesiastes 2 - 6
_ 7/25/2010 ––– Ecclesiastes 7 - 12
_ 7/26/2010 ––– Song of Solomon 1 - 7
_ 7/27/2010 ––– Song of Solomon 8
_ ––––––––––– Isaiah 1 - 4
_ 7/28/2010 ––– Isaiah 5 - 8
_ 7/29/2010 ––– Isaiah 9 - 13
_ 7/30/2010 ––– Isaiah 14 - 20
_ 8/1/2010 –––– Isaiah 21 - 25
_ 8/2/2010 –––– Isaiah 26 - 29
_ 8/3/2010 –––– Isaiah 30 - 35
_ 8/4/2010 –––– Isaiah 36 - 39
_ 8/5/2010 –––– Isaiah 40 - 43
_ 8/6/2010 –––– Isaiah 44 - 48
_ 8/8/2010 –––– Isaiah 49 - 53
_ 8/9/2010 –––– Isaiah 54 - 59
_ 8/10/2010 ––– Isaiah 60 - 65
_ 8/11/2010 ––– Isaiah 66
_ ––––––––––– Jeremiah 1 - 3
_ 8/12/2010 ––– Jeremiah 4 - 6
_ 8/13/2010 ––– Jeremiah 7 - 10
_ 8/15/2010 ––– Jeremiah 11 - 14
_ 8/16/2010 ––– Jeremiah 15 - 19
_ 8/17/2010 ––– Jeremiah 20 - 23
_ 8/18/2010 ––– Jeremiah 24 - 27
_ 8/19/2010 ––– Jeremiah 28 - 31
_ 8/20/2010 ––– Jeremiah 32 - 34
_ 8/22/2010 ––– Jeremiah 35 - 38
_ 8/23/2010 ––– Jeremiah 39 - 43
_ 8/24/2010 ––– Jeremiah 44 - 48
_ 8/25/2010 ––– Jeremiah 49 - 50
_ 8/26/2010 ––– Jeremiah 51 - 52
_ 8/27/2010 ––– Lamentations 1 - 3
_ 8/29/2010 ––– Lamentations 4 - 5
_ ––––––––––– Ezekiel 1 - 2
_ 8/30/2010 ––– Ezekiel 3 - 7
_ 8/31/2010 ––– Ezekiel 8 - 12
_ 9/1/2010 –––– Ezekiel 13 - 16
_ 9/2/2010 –––– Ezekiel 17 - 19
_ 9/3/2010 –––– Ezekiel 20 - 22
_ 9/5/2010 –––– Ezekiel 23 - 25
_ 9/6/2010 –––– Ezekiel 26 - 29
_ 9/7/2010 –––– Ezekiel 30 - 33
_ 9/8/2010 –––– Ezekiel 34 - 36
_ 9/9/2010 –––– Ezekiel 37 - 39
_ 9/10/2010 ––– Ezekiel 40 - 43
_ 9/12/2010 ––– Ezekiel 44 - 47
_ 9/13/2010 ––– Ezekiel 48
_ ––––––––––– Daniel 1 - 2
_ 9/14/2010 ––– Daniel 3 - 5
_ 9/15/2010 ––– Daniel 6 - 8
_ 9/16/2010 ––– Daniel 9 - 12
_ 9/17/2010 ––– Hosea 1 - 7
_ 9/19/2010 ––– Hosea 8 - 14
_ 9/20/2010 ––– Joel 1 - 3
_ ––––––––––– Amos 1 - 2
_ 9/21/2010 ––– Amos 3 - 8
_ 9/22/2010 ––– Amos 9
_ ––––––––––– Obadiah 1
_ ––––––––––– Jonah 1 - 4
_ ––––––––––– Micah 1
_ 9/23/2010 ––– Micah 2 - 7
_ 9/24/2010 ––– Nahum 1 - 3
_ ––––––––––– Habakkuk 1 - 3
_ 9/26/2010 ––– Zephaniah 1 - 3
_ ––––––––––– Haggai 1 - 2
_ 9/27/2010 ––– Zechariah 1 - 7
_ 9/28/2010 ––– Zechariah 8 - 14
_ 9/29/2010 ––– Malachi 1 - 4
_ ––––––––––– Matthew 1
_ 9/30/2010 ––– Matthew 2 - 5
_ 10/1/2010 ––– Matthew 6 - 8
_ 10/3/2010 ––– Matthew 9 - 11
_ 10/4/2010 ––– Matthew 12 - 13
_ 10/5/2010 ––– Matthew 14 - 15
_ 10/6/2010 ––– Matthew 16 - 18
_ 10/7/2010 ––– Matthew 19 - 21
_ 10/8/2010 ––– Matthew 22 - 23
_ 10/10/2010 –– Matthew 24 - 25
_ 10/11/2010 –– Matthew 26 - 27
_ 10/12/2010 –– Matthew 28
_ ––––––––––– Mark 1
_ 10/13/2010 –– Mark 2 - 4
_ 10/14/2010 –– Mark 5 - 6
_ 10/15/2010 –– Mark 7 - 9
_ 10/17/2010 –– Mark 10 - 11
_ 10/18/2010 –– Mark 12 - 13
_ 10/19/2010 –– Mark 14 - 15
_ 10/20/2010 –– Mark 16
_ ––––––––––– Luke 1
_ 10/21/2010 –– Luke 2 - 3
_ 10/22/2010 –– Luke 4 - 5
_ 10/24/2010 –– Luke 6 - 7
_ 10/25/2010 –– Luke 8 - 9
_ 10/26/2010 –– Luke 10 - 11
_ 10/27/2010 –– Luke 12 - 13
_ 10/28/2010 –– Luke 14 - 16
_ 10/29/2010 –– Luke 17 - 18
_ 10/31/2010 –– Luke 19 - 21
_ 11/1/2010 ––– Luke 22
_ 11/2/2010 ––– Luke 23 - 24
_ 11/3/2010 ––– John 1 - 3
_ 11/4/2010 ––– John 4 - 5
_ 11/5/2010 ––– John 6
_ 11/7/2010 ––– John 7 - 8
_ 11/8/2010 ––– John 9 - 10
_ 11/9/2010 ––– John 11 - 12
_ 11/10/2010 –– John 13 - 16
_ 11/11/2010 –– John 17 - 18
_ 11/12/2010 –– John 19 - 21
_ ––––––––––– Acts 1
_ 11/14/2010 –– Acts 2 - 4
_ 11/15/2010 –– Acts 5 - 6
_ 11/16/2010 –– Acts 7 - 9
_ 11/17/2010 –– Acts 10 - 11
_ 11/18/2010 –– Acts 12 - 14
_ 11/19/2010 –– Acts 15 - 16
_ 11/21/2010 –– Acts 17 - 19
_ 11/22/2010 –– Acts 20 - 22
_ 11/23/2010 –– Acts 23 - 25
_ 11/24/2010 –– Acts 26 - 28
_ 11/25/2010 –– Romans 1 - 3
_ 11/26/2010 –– Romans 4 - 7
_ 11/28/2010 –– Romans 8 - 11
_ 11/29/2010 –– Romans 12 - 15
_ 11/30/2010 –– Romans 16
_ ––––––––––– 1 Corinthians 1 - 3
_ 12/1/2010 ––– 1 Corinthians 4 - 7
_ 12/2/2010 ––– 1 Corinthians 8 - 11
_ 12/3/2010 ––– 1 Corinthians 12 - 14
_ 12/5/2010 ––– 1 Corinthians 15 - 16
_ ––––––––––– 2 Corinthians 1
_ 12/6/2010 ––– 2 Corinthians 2 - 6
_ 12/7/2010 ––– 2 Corinthians 7 - 11
_ 12/8/2010 ––– 2 Corinthians 12 - 13
_ ––––––––––– Galatians 1 - 3
_ 12/9/2010 ––– Galatians 4 - 6
_ ––––––––––– Ephesians 1
_ 12/10/2010 –– Ephesians 2 - 4
_ 12/12/2010 –– Ephesians 5 - 6
_ ––––––––––– Philippians 1 - 2
_ 12/13/2010 –– Philippians 3 - 4
_ ––––––––––– Colossians 1 - 2
_ 12/14/2010 –– Colossians 3 - 4
_ ––––––––––– 1 Thessalonians 1 - 4
_ 12/15/2010 –– 1 Thessalonians 5
_ ––––––––––– 2 Thessalonians 1 - 3
_ ––––––––––– 1 Timothy 1
_ 12/16/2010 –– 1 Timothy 2 - 6
_ 12/17/2010 –– 2 Timothy 1 - 4
_ ––––––––––– Titus 1
_ 12/19/2010 –– Titus 2 - 3
_ ––––––––––– Philemon 1
_ ––––––––––– Hebrews 1 - 3
_ 12/20/2010 –– Hebrews 4 - 8
_ 12/21/2010 –– Hebrews 9 - 11
_ 12/22/2010 –– Hebrews 12 - 13
_ ––––––––––– James 1 - 2
_ 12/23/2010 –– James 3 - 5
_ ––––––––––– 1 Peter 1
_ 12/24/2010 –– 1 Peter 2 - 5
_ ––––––––––– 2 Peter 1
_ 12/26/2010 –– 2 Peter 2 - 3
_ ––––––––––– 1 John 1 - 3
_ 12/27/2010 –– 1 John 4 - 5
_ ––––––––––– 2 John 1
_ ––––––––––– 3 John 1
_ ––––––––––– Jude 1
_ 12/28/2010 –– Revelation 1 - 6
_ 12/29/2010 –– Revelation 7 - 12
_ 12/30/2010 –– Revelation 13 - 17
_ 12/31/2010 –– Revelation 18 - 22

Read and consider this, on the merits of its statements, not on public opinion or perceptions. Does this reflect your beliefs? What stand should be taken? Are the three points true and non-negotiable? Your thoughts...

The Manhattan Declaration
A Call of Christian Conscience
Christians, when they have lived up to the highest ideals of their faith, have defended the weak and vulnerable and worked tirelessly to protect and strengthen vital institutions of civil society, beginning with the family.

We are Orthodox, Catholic, and evangelical Christians who have united at this hour to reaffirm fundamental truths about justice and the common good, and to call upon our fellow citizens, believers and non-believers alike, to join us in defending them. These truths are:

1. the sanctity of human life
2. the dignity of marriage as the conjugal union of husband and wife
3. the rights of conscience and religious liberty.


Inasmuch as these truths are foundational to human dignity and the well-being of society, they are inviolable and non-negotiable. Because they are increasingly under assault from powerful forces in our culture, we are compelled today to speak out forcefully in their defense, and to commit ourselves to honoring them fully no matter what pressures are brought upon us and our institutions to abandon or compromise them. We make this commitment not as partisans of any political group but as followers of Jesus Christ, the crucified and risen Lord, who is the Way, the Truth, and the Life.


from: http://www.manhattandeclaration.org/

In Christ and on the Shepherd's Path,
Mark

Newsletter Nov 2009

Being the Church, Wherever You go...

If you are not into computers please bear with this article because, trust me, It will have something for you too.

During the time I was gone I attended the 2009 MidAmerica Wee Kirk Conference. Wee Kirk is a ministry to Members and Leaders of small churches co-sponsored by Presbyterians for Renewal and the denomination and subsidized by generous churches. It is by the way, one of the best deals in the Presbyterian church, a three day two night conference including room, food, and the conference for under $100 per couple (or family if in one room) and even less for individuals. I only tell you this because on this trip, I completed my last obligation to the Mid America conference and next year will be trying to convince some of you to take a much shorter journey with me to the one right here in PA. (This year's was in Mount Pleasant)

Anyway to save money on travel for workshop leaders they get as many planning team members as possible to lead workshops, so while I was there I led the 1 hour workshop "His Space: using Social Networking for ministry in the Wee Kirk." For those of you who use Facebook or MySpace or any number of other of these sites you know what "Social Networking" means. For anyone else, it suffices to say that an awful lot of people are using these sites on the Internet to stay connected to friends and family around the world, down the street, and even in their own house.

Another old friend of mine Dr. Douglas Estes, who I reconnected with on Facebook, had at the same time just published a book called SimChurch: Being the Church in the Virtual World. He sent me a copy of the book while I was in Oklahoma. His book takes ministry on the web a step even further, exploring and instructing about an ongoing practice of some believers, "virtual churches". These are churches that exist on the internet for people to participate in on the web, apearing there as "avatars" animated representations of themselves. Now if this sounds weird to you I'll grant you that, But...

The World has become weird.

And Wired...and Wireless.

Technology, for better or worse has become an increasing part of our lives and more and more a part of the way we communicate and relate to each other. And people are spending an increasing amount of their time online.

So whether you like the online world or not, whether you own a computer or not, the challenge remains the same. Mark 16:15 records Jesus saying "Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation." Go into all the world...to me, means go where people are. Online, Offline, Virtual, "real" world, wherever you are, you are the church. Wherever you find people, those people need to hear the gospel so they can respond to it with faith. People of faith need encouragement, wherever you can find them. People need Jesus. Obviously, not all of us are called to jump into ministry in virtual environments, but we are all called, wherever we are, to be the church, representing Christ to everyone we meet, everywhere.

In Christ and on the Shepherd's Path,

Mark

Sunday Sept 27

Acts 21:17-36

17 After we arrived in Jerusalem, the brethren received us gladly. 18 And the following day Paul went in with us to James, and all the elders were present. 19 After he had greeted them, he began to relate one by one the things which God had done among the Gentiles through his ministry. 20 And when they heard it they began glorifying God; and they said to him, "You see, brother, how many thousands there are among the Jews of those who have believed, and they are all zealous for the Law; 21 and they have been told about you, that you are teaching all the Jews who are among the Gentiles to forsake Moses, telling them not to circumcise their children nor to walk according to the customs. 22 "What, then, is to be done? They will certainly hear that you have come. 23 "Therefore do this that we tell you. We have four men who are under a vow; 24 take them and purify yourself along with them, and pay their expenses so that they may shave their heads; and all will know that there is nothing to the things which they have been told about you, but that you yourself also walk orderly, keeping the Law. 25 "But concerning the Gentiles who have believed, we wrote, having decided that they should abstain from meat sacrificed to idols and from blood and from what is strangled and from fornication." 26 Then Paul took the men, and the next day, purifying himself along with them, went into the temple giving notice of the completion of the days of purification, until the sacrifice was offered for each one of them.

27 Paul Seized in the Temple

When the seven days were almost over, the Jews from Asia, upon seeing him in the temple, began to stir up all the crowd and laid hands on him, 28 crying out, "Men of Israel, come to our aid! This is the man who preaches to all men everywhere against our people and the Law and this place; and besides he has even brought Greeks into the temple and has defiled this holy place." 29 For they had previously seen Trophimus the Ephesian in the city with him, and they supposed that Paul had brought him into the temple. 30 Then all the city was provoked, and the people rushed together, and taking hold of Paul they dragged him out of the temple, and immediately the doors were shut. 31 While they were seeking to kill him, a report came up to the commander of theRoman cohort that all Jerusalem was in confusion. 32 At once he took along some soldiers and centurions and ran down to them; and when they saw the commander and the soldiers, they stopped beating Paul. 33 Then the commander came up and took hold of him, and ordered him to be bound with two chains; and he began asking who he was and what he had done. 34 But among the crowd some were shouting one thing and some another, and when he could not find out the facts because of the uproar, he ordered him to be brought into the barracks. 35 When he got to the stairs, he was carried by the soldiers because of the violence of the mob; 36 for the multitude of the people kept following them, shouting, " Away with him!"

NASU

Acts 21:17-36 Exposition

17 After we arrived in Jerusalem, the brethren received us gladly.

Her we find Paul, after being told through the Spirit, that he faced certain arrest and persecution, arriving in that city. While he would certainly face persecution, he was initially received well by the "brethren" there. The "brethren" are the Christ following Jews and among them the Apostles and elders who remained in that City. These were those whose leadership in the church had formerly led to the decisions about how gentile Christians were to be received into the church and what would be required of these men and women who were not under the Law. The received Paul well and gladly.

18 And the following day Paul went in with us to James, and all the elders were present.

It was fitting for Paul to visit with these elders and with James since he was of the same church and not seeking to work in their city and lead people to a separate communion or present another "gospel'. His visit itself is a show of unity between the Jerusalem church and the converts Paul had won in the surrounding gentile world. This was truly to be one church founded on Jesus Christ alone.

19 After he had greeted them, he began to relate one by one the things which God had done among the Gentiles through his ministry. 20 And when they heard it they began glorifying God;

The success of a minister in one area is no cause for alarm to the true Church, for the true church enjoys nothing more than to see God's Kingdom Grow. Another's success is not our failure but spurs us on to greater worship and greater service ourselves.

and they said to him, "You see, brother, how many thousands there are among the Jews of those who have believed, and they are all zealous for the Law;

Paul is then reminded that in the time of his absence from Jerusalem how many Jews also are believers so that he would understand the differences between these Jews who were "zealous for the law" and those people of the Churches Paul had encountered who were less concerned with the law being more like the gentiles in culture if not Gentile themselves.

21 and they have been told about you, that you are teaching all the Jews who are among the Gentiles to forsake Moses, telling them not to circumcise their children nor to walk according to the customs.

Paul is told that the rumor about him in Jerusalem is that he has been teaching Jews to abandon those customs of the law which set them apart as People of Israel. This rumor had no basis as Paul's mission was to the Gentiles and any contention he had with the law had to do with those who were FORCING Gentiles to adopt the law to be counted as Christians. Yet the misunderstanding was so great that Paul needed ,it was felt, to show that he himself was not abandoning the law.

22 "What, then, is to be done? They will certainly hear that you have come.

The goal of these elders was to maintain the peace between Paul and Jewish believers and avoid conflict that would divide the church. This was not to accommodate those Jews outside the church who would have rejected even a law keeping Christian as they rejected even the idea of Jesus as Messiah and God.

23 "Therefore do this that we tell you. We have four men who are under a vow; 24 take them and purify yourself along with them, and pay their expenses so that they may shave their heads; and all will know that there is nothing to the things which they have been told about you, but that you yourself also walk orderly, keeping the Law.

Paul was to show his unity with the other Jewish believers by showing his participation with and provision for these Jewish customs by undergoing purification rites and paying the expenses for others to also join in these customs. This would discredit the idea that Paul opposed the keeping of the law by Jews who trusted in Christ.

25 "But concerning the Gentiles who have believed, we wrote, having decided that they should abstain from meat sacrificed to idols and from blood and from what is strangled and from fornication."

This line clarifies that Paul and the Jewish Church's keeping of the law was their own practice in identifying with the people of Israel and was by no means to be a command to all non-Jewish believers. The previous decrees of the council would suffice for the Gentiles. There are times when the church will practice one thing at one place and not at another and these practices where they do not oppose Scripture, do not likewise bind the whole church or the church at all times and places.

26 Then Paul took the men, and the next day, purifying himself along with them, went into the temple giving notice of the completion of the days of purification, until the sacrifice was offered for each one of them.

Paul takes no exception to this suggestion and complies. This however places him in reach of those whose violence toward him is already predetermined and not at all deterred by his keeping of the Law.

27 Paul Seized in the Temple

When the seven days were almost over, the Jews from Asia, upon seeing him in the temple, began to stir up all the crowd and laid hands on him,

It was not the Jerusalem Jews who had been living in relative peace with the Christians at Jerusalem who stirred up the crowd but Jews from the very regions outside of Jerusalem where Paul had been preaching and whose brethren has caused Paul trouble and chased him from city to city.

28 crying out, "Men of Israel, come to our aid! This is the man who preaches to all men everywhere against our people and the Law and this place; and besides he has even brought Greeks into the temple and has defiled this holy place."

Their grudge against Paul was so great that they set out to draw others into it calling on the Jews at Jerusalem to join them in their attack on Paul. Taking the occasion of the controversy surrounding Pauls teaching which he had just sought to correct.

29 For they had previously seen Trophimus the Ephesian in the city with him, and they supposed that Paul had brought him into the temple.

They also added to their slander an assumption that Paul had brought a gentile companion to the temple, even though there was no evidence of this. People are often quick when it suits their anger and grudge to assume that an enemy is doing wrong when the evidence is circumstantial. An unpopular Pastor with a glass of wine at dinner must be a drunk in their eyes. A Christian's firing of an incompetent employee who has a homosexual partner must be motivated by hate. Your neighbor's choice to mow the lawn while you're napping must be an attempt to aggravate you. Etc.

30 Then all the city was provoked, and the people rushed together, and taking hold of Paul they dragged him out of the temple, and immediately the doors were shut.

Their rage succeeded in provoking a crowd to violence against a man who they did not know except by reputation and drive them to seek to kill him without investigation or trial. Rage is quick to judge and slow to discern right action.

31 While they were seeking to kill him, a report came up to the commander of the Roman cohort that all Jerusalem was in confusion.

Ironically it is the ungodly Romans, neither Jew nor Christian who must maintain order. God will use the ungodly as tools in His hand when necessary. This is the purpose of civil government.

32 At once he took along some soldiers and centurions and ran down to them; and when they saw the commander and the soldiers, they stopped beating Paul.

Fear for their own safety and realization that their own actions would not stand justified by the civil law the rioters are stopped in their rage by soldiers where their own reason could not stop them.

33 Then the commander came up and took hold of him, and ordered him to be bound with two chains; and he began asking who he was and what he had done.

Assuming Paul to be a criminal of at least some sort to justify the crowd's treatment of Him, Paul is arrested.

34 But among the crowd some were shouting one thing and some another, and when he could not find out the facts because of the uproar, he ordered him to be brought into the barracks.

Their case against Paul was so unsure as they had no real cause for their hatred that Paul's arrest becomes more for his safety and civil order than for any punishment for any crime of Paul's doing.

35 When he got to the stairs, he was carried by the soldiers because of the violence of the mob;

36 for the multitude of the people kept following them, shouting, " Away with him!"

NASU

The mob's anger is not reduced making it necessary for the soldiers to carry him to be able to enter the barracks. The people's violence had not abated with a simple arrest. Rage and hatred is seldom satisfied with anything short of Blood. Christian, realized that we too can be tempted to unconsidered rage against an enemy and to actions that seek an enemy's destruction rather than his redemption. We should always be mindful that While we were yet enemies of God, and sinners, Christ died violently at our hands so that we could be redeemed, even, while he possessed all the power necessary to destroy any and all of us were that His will. God worked for our protection and redemption not for our destruction, such is His Grace. Dare we neglect such a salvation.

In Christ and on the Shepherd's path,

Mark

Newsletter

Renewing the Mind...

We live among people, or maybe we hold this opinion ourselves, believing that our religious faith is simply a choice among many. You will hear people say It doesn't matter what you believe as long as you are sincere and do good. They will say that a person's private faith is irrelevant as long as his public actions benefit others and avoid doing harm. Yet scripture calls us to a different kind of faith. One that gets us branded as radicals, intolerant and immovable, stubborn and ...did I say already...intolerant.

Listen to Romans 12:2 and consider if you can keep your faith and tolerate everything.

"Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will."

People love to quote back Jesus' words "Judge not, lest ye be judged." yet what about this renewing the mind stuff?

Your faith is not a set pattern of activities and "right answers" for use on Sunday only. Your faith and your growing understanding of God's will revealed in Scripture will affect how you think about.

Lying,

Stealing,

Poverty,

Death,

Immigration,

Life,

Music,

Art,

Happiness,

Gambling,

Prayer,

Sex,

Marriage,

Love,

Globalization,

Food,

Public Policy,

Clothing

Healthcare,

War,

Peace,

Embryonic Stem Cell Research

Shopping

Adult Stem Cell Research

Religion,

Money,

Politics,

Gossip,

Can I go on...

The point is as you read each of these words, Notice, I have not told you how to believe concerning each thing. The fact is you must come to believe something concerning these things and any and all others not listed and it must, if you would be "renewed in your mind" ,come into agreement, ( I like the Catholic word, Communion) with your faith.

We are then told that when we do this we will "Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will."

This will make you intolerant...not mean, not un-loving, not violent...just intolerant, unwilling to accept the "goodness" of those positions and behaviors contrary to the new pattern of God's Kingdom and it's citizens. It will also, in Love, make you sorrowful and unwilling to allow others continue to live in any world inferior to God's Kingdom and Christ's family at least without having made an informed choice.

We are not Christians to be successful in the world. We are Christians because we believe Christ has overcome the world.

In Christ and on the Shepherd's Path,

Mark

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May contain Confidential Information intended for the original recipient only.  Confidential information is shared only when necessary to directly aid in acquiring assistance for an individual or family.  Any misuse of this information is prohibited.

Rev Mark R. Simonds
Pastor, Oakdale UP Church
"Declaring Teaching and Living God's Word of Grace"
President, West Allegheny Ministerial Association
"Worshiping and Serving One Triune God Together"

No Images

I emailed a post about the Holocaust and I'm Pretty sure the images didn't come through. It's a shame though. I really wanted you to see them. Nothing gruesome, just a good point.
Sorry to all. If I can find them I'll post.
In Christ and on the Shepherd's Path,
Mark

Fwd: Never Forget

In MEMORIAM - 63 YEARS LATER

Please read the little cartoon carefully, it's powerful. Then read the
comments at the end.

I'm doing my small part by forwarding this message. I hope you'll
consider doing the same.
In Memoriam

It is now more than 60 years after the Second World War in Europe
ended This e-mail is being sent as a memorial chain, in memory of the
six million Jews, 20 million Russians, 10 million Christians and 1,900
Catholic priests who were murdered, massacred, raped, burned, starved
and humiliated with the German and Russian Peoples looking the other
way!

Now, more than ever, with Iraq , Iran , and others, claiming the
Holocaust to be 'a myth,' it's imperative to make sure the world never
forgets, because there are others who would like to do it again.

This e-mail is intended to reach 40 million people worldwide!

Join us and be a link in the memorial chain and help us distribute it
around the world.

Please send this e-mail to 10 people you know and ask them to continue
the memorial chain.
Please don't just delete it.

It will only take you a minute
________________________________

--
Rev Mark R. Simonds
Pastor, Oakdale UP Church
"Declaring Teaching and Living God's Word of Grace"
President, West Allegheny Ministerial Association
"Worshiping and Serving One Triune God Together"