1 Chronicles 3–5

What does it say?

Chapter 3 lists David’s children, then goes through the royal line of David from Solomon of Bathsheba. The second half of the the chapter lists the known postexilic descendants of David. “Most of these individuals are unknown outside of this list. Exceptions are Zerubbabel, of whom considerably more is known and Hattush (v. 22)  who is known only as one who returned with Ezra (Ezra 8:2).”  (IVP BBC OT)  Chapters 4 and 5 list the descendants of Asher, Simeon and Reuben. Chapter 5 begins with a statement about birth rite and defilement and explaining who had the birth rite. Reuben had defiled the bed of Jacob; therefore, Jacob gave the birth rite of the first son to the first born of his second wife Rachel. Then the text speaks of how the tribe of Judah (meaning the Davidic royal line) prevailed over Joseph’s line but acknowledges that the birth rite of the first son was given to Joseph. 

What does it mean?

These genealogies can be difficult to understand because the customs are so different than the customs of the world that I live in today. Birth rites and change of birth rites do not make a lot of since in the financial middle class of the United States of America that I grew up in. However, the meaning for these genealogies is the same as the previous 2 chapters. This text was originally written for a postexilic community that returned from exile to Babylon and was seeking an identity as the people chosen by God to occupy the land.

What should I do?

I have a list of descendants in an old family bible. The list dates back to 1715, 61 years before the Declaration of Independence. The list is nostalgic but I know nothing of those people except for their names. I do not need the list to say that I have rights as a citizen of the United States of America or the rights to a particular piece of property or to be identified with the people of God. If one of my descendants were a Christian, does that make me a Christian because he was baptized in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit and learned to observe all that Jesus commanded? The answer is no it does not. Jesus said, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” (John 3:3) The family line that we must descend from comes from above, not from the people of the earth. “But as many as received Him (Jesus Christ), to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.” (John 1:12-13)

1 Chronicles 1–2

What does it say?

Chapter 1 traces genealogy from Adam to Noah. Then from Noah to the people of Canaan and the non-Israelite descendants of Abraham. Then chapter 2 traces the genealogy of the twelve tribes of Israel, beginning with the genealogy to David and then diverts to the genealogy of the descendants of Caleb. 

What does it mean?

Chronicles depicts the pre-exilic period but was written for the people of the post-exilic period. Genealogy was very important to these people because of rights to the land. The land had been divided up among the tribes of Israel, and within tribes among families. For those returning to the land of Canaan in the post-exilic period, if one could trace his genealogy to a particular person of the pre-exilic period then he had the rights to that families land. As well as the right of an Israelite to worship the Lord the God of Israel ceremonially in the Temple.

What Shall I do?

Should I trace my family line so that I may no my rights to a particular piece of land in the country? Or should I trace my family line, so that I may know that I am a descendant of God’s people? I Have traced my genealogy to the turn of the 17th century into the 18th century in the region of the Virginia Colony, what is now called the American south. Does this make me more of an American than someone who is a naturalized citizen? Does this give me rights to the land that others do not have. Am I some how closer to God than others because of my genealogy. The answer is no. The genealogies in 1 Chronicles and in all of Scripture served a purpose for the people whom they were originally written for but in my life genealogies only serve the purpose of satisfying my curiosity. It does not place me above others. One thing that we can all take out of these genealogies is that every single person on earth descended from the first man Adam, and his wife, the first woman Eve. “The Lord God commanded the man, saying, “From any tree of the garden you may eat freely; but from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat from it you will surely die.” (Genesis 2:16-17)  The first man and the first woman Adam and Eve ate from that tree. “Therefore, just as through one man sin entered into the world, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men, because all sinned.” (Romans 5:12) “For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive.” (1 Corinthians 15:22) Should we trust in Adam or in Christ? I shall put my trust in Christ Alone!

2 Kings 23-25

What does it say?

Josiah, king of Judah, when the Law of the Lord was found he made many changes in the land of Judah but this did not result in salvation from the wrath of God for the sins of Israel and Judah for the Lord had set a date for the destruction of Jerusalem at the hands of men. Josiah was killed by Pharaoh Neco king of Egypt and the people made Jehoahaz king in place of his father. “Pharaoh Neco made Eliakim the son of Josiah king in the place of Josiah his father, and changed his name to Jehoiakim. But he took Jehoahaz away and brought him to Egypt, and he died there.” (2 Kings 23:34) Jehoiakim rebelled against Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon. Jehoikim died and was replaced by his son Jehoiachin who was captured by Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon who would remain in Babylon to his death. After this, Zedekiah was made king, then Jerusalem was burned and plundered by Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon.

What does it mean?

A day and an hour is coming in which God will judge the world in righteousness through a man whom God has appointed, furnishing proof to all men by raising him (Jesus Christ) from the dead. These words Paul the apostle spoke to the philosophers in Athens. (cf. Acts 17:31) God has promised to judge the earth. It has been a long time since Jesus departed from the earth and gave his Spirit to the church. God is slow to anger and this is demonstrated in the people of Israel and Judah but God will by no means leave the guilty unpunished. Turning from sin to doing what is right does not do away with the sins committed in the past. God has promised death to all who break his commandments. Turning to doing what is right today is good but it does not do away with the sins of the past. God’s promises always come true. The promise of eternal life in Christ Jesus and the promise of eternal punishment and hell, both if these are true.

What shall I do?

Repent and believe in the gospel of Jesus Christ. Turning from sin will not save you but you must turn from sin to the salvation of the Lord which is found in Jesus Christ alone. Jesus said, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.” (Mark 1:15)

February 26th, 2020

Reading: 2 Kings, chapters 17 vs 7 through, chapter 22. This section covered the reason for Israel’s fall, the reign of Hezekia in Jerusalem, the return to worship of the Lord, followed by a turning away from the Lord under kings Manasseh and Amon; lastly, a turning back to the Lord under Josiah king of Judah. Israel fell because they feared other gods,¹ forsaking all the commandments of the Lord their God; they fell into Idolatry.² The people that replaced them were no better.³ When the king of Assyria came to destroy Jerusalem, Hezekiah prayed a prayer of repentance and the Lord the God of all creation listened to Hezekiah king of Judah and kept Assyria away.⁴ Through the prophets, the Lord promised the destruction of Jerusalem because of the return to Idolatry under Manasseh and Amon.⁵ The book of the Law is discovered in the temple. Through the Huldah prophetess, Josiah understands the reason for Israel’s destruction.⁶ 

I am working a half-day today, 7:30am–12:30pm. I will work 3 cardiac rehab classes this morning. When I got off work yesterday, I returned to exercise myself by riding a stationary bike for 30 minutes. I was able to do this without pain and it is the best activity because my foot does not flex when doing this activity and there is no weight barring on the heel. The doctor told me that he is ok with me riding a stationary bike during the 6 weeks of recovery. I will follow doctor Hosch’s orders and wear this boot when walking for the next 6 weeks and my aerobic exercise will be done on a stationary bike. I think that I should go today and find a biking shoe because they are stiff and keep the foot from flexing when riding a bike. 

This evening, at Sylvania we will be preparing for our mission’s conference. We will be entertaining a speaker, Kent Parks. I do not know this man but Dr. Dave Rowlett recommended him to speak at our conference. The conference will begin with a dinner on Friday evening and go through the Sunday morning corporate worship service. Paul McClung is coming to the conference and we will have a table at the conference for the Cuban pastor teaching ministry. 

February 25th, 2020

This morning I read 2 Kings, chapters 11 through 17 verse 6, the king of Assyria captured Samaria and carried Israel away into exile to Assyria.¹ The Assyrians took people from their land and deported them to another place and replaced them with other people whom were being deported from their land. The deportation policy was intended to remove from conquered peoples anything that they might rally in defense of. If they have no land and no nation, and their ethnic identity has been compromised (through forced assimilation), there is no identity to fight for.² All of this came about from the Lord the God of Israel whom they forsook for other gods and Idols that they made with their hands. The Lord’s dealing with Israel and their disobedience to the Law³ highlights the attributes of God.

Then the Lord passed by in front of him and proclaimed, “The Lord, the Lord God, compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in lovingkindness and truth; who keeps lovingkindness for thousands, who forgives iniquity, transgression and sin; yet He will by no means leave the guilty unpunished, visiting the iniquity of fathers on the children and on the grandchildren to the third and fourth generations.”⁴ 

The Lord God showed amazing compassion and graciousness to Israel. He demonstrated his slowness to anger and his steadfast love for Israel despite the constant sins that they committed againts the Lord and everyone of His promises came true. However, though God is committed to steadfast love and He is slow to anger. What happened to Israel demonstrates that He will not leave the guilty unpunished and the children suffer for many generations because of the sins of the parents.

Israel was always disobedient to the Law of the Lord from Exodus to this point in their history. However, they had something that the gentiles did not have, they possessed the oracles of God, which refers to the Word of God.⁵ 

¹ 1 Kings 17:6 (NASB).

² 1 Kings 17:6 (IVP BBC OT).

³ cf. Exodus 20:1-17.

⁴ Exodus 34:6-7 (NASB).

⁵ cf. Romans 3:1-2.

February 24th, 2020

I am reading 2 Kings and this morning I read chapters 6–10. The Lord’s commandments are plain: You shall have no other gods before me, yet much if Israel worshiped Baal. You shall not create in graven images and bow down to them, yet Israel had two temples in which graven images of cows were worshiped as the Lord. You shall not take the name of the Lord you God in vain, yet they counted God’s name as equal to that of the supposed gods of the land. They murdered their neighbors; in my reading this morning a woman boiled and ate her own child. It was so bad that a king of Israel or Judah was considered good if he did not worship Baal or bow down to idols, yet God’s standard is that a man keeps the whole law and does not offended at any point. Israel, Judah and all of mankind; therefore, is in need of forgiveness and the only way for God to be just and justify anyone is for God to have taken our place in judgment and that happened at the cross; however, for the sacrifice of Jesus Christ to apply God requires repentance and faith. Being that I cannot run and I am wearing a brace on my right foot I did nothing all day yesterday. I do not like being a sedentary person. I do not understand how anyone could choose to live this way. Darlene and I went to Sylvania church to take part in corporate spiritual disciplines: Worshiping the Lord our God with other believers. Reading and studying scripture; we went to Rodney Skyles class and he taught on Matthew 20:17-28. Phillip Dancy preached on Luke 16:19-31, the rich man and Lazarus. Rodney and Phillip had some incites in these passages that I had not thought about on my own. In Phillip’s sermon, he demonstrated that even in hell, the rich man had more concern for himself and his family than for Lazarus. After church I wrote about Matthew 28:18-20 a piece that I titled The Four All’s of the Great Commission Fulfilled through the Practice of Evangelism and Discipleship. I may adapt this and make it available on-line sometime during the week. I also completed the Spanish lesson that I have been working on: Beginner I–Course3–Lesson 2. It was difficult when I started but after repeated attempts I began to understand the content. Today, I return to work wearing this boot, I am considered about getting to and from my automobile because I have to park a long way from the building, sometimes 1/2 of a mile away. There are buses available nut I have never depended on them before and do not know how frequently they run. Wearing this boot at work shall make for an interesting day.

February 23rd, 2020

“This is the day which the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.”¹ How do we rejoice when nothing seems to be going our way? On February 16^th, 2014 my earthly father died from a horrible disease the destroyed his brian. Watching his suffering and the way that he died broke my heart. I had been active as a Christian sharing my faith with others in my community, and nationally, open air preaching around large sporting events. After my father’s death, I decided to return to education. I was a registered nurse with an associates degree which I received from El Centro College in Dallas, Texas, December 11^th, 1997. The summer after my father’s death I started taking classes online with the University of Texas at Arlington, Texas, receiving a Bachelor of Science in Nursing, December 19^th, 2015. I applied for a job as the cardiovascular nurse educator in the hospital that I worked at and was denied a job that all around me believed that I was the most qualified; a person with less education and less experience got the job. I turned once again to education, but not nursing, theology. I began taking classes with the Midwestern Baptist online you program, seeking a Master of Theological Studies. I did this program that I may grow in knowledge and understand about the Bible, the church, God and ministry. I graduated during a wonderful celebratory ceremony on the campus of Midwestern Baptist in Kansas City, Missouri, May 3^rd, 2019. Darlene and I were looking forward to the marriage of our daughter in June. The engagement broke and we lost a great deal of money spent on the wedding. I thought as a graduate from a seminary I should be in a ministry and found no such place in my local church; therefore, I sought to become a traveling missionary who worked as a nurse when home but would go to some foreign land to teach what I had learned at Midwestern. In September, 2019, I went to Cuba with Paul McClung and I thought that I had found my occupation in God’s kingdom. While traveling, I saw things in Paul signs that reminded of my father when he began to develop disease. Paul has developed a disease, though different from my father has no cure. Paul is often dizzy, which causes him to feel ill and his moods are effected. We were to return to Cuba in December, 2019, but our religious visas were denied, but we were told that we could come in the spring of 2020. That has now been cancelled because of Paul’s illness. I had been working for the majority of my nursing career in the Cardiovascular intensive care. In April of 2018, one of my colleagues was arrested, he is accused of harming and murdering patients on the unit. I admit that I had a difficult time after his arrest and eventually left my long time work for cardiac rehab in January, 2019. I could no longer deal with the suffering and death that surrounds ICU nursing. Our relationship with our daughter is often strained because she, a 26 year old woman still lives in our home and should have been married. On Thursday, I heard that the prosecutors are seeking the death penalty for Will Davis, my arrested former nursing colleague. Running is a mental release for me and I went running after work only to severely injure my foot. I am now in a brace for the next 6 weeks and cannot run. The Word says, ” This is the day which the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.”² How do we rejoice when nothing seems to be going our way? The answer is that I have nothing to complain about. I have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. I deserving nothing less than death and hell for my disobedience to our creators commandments. I have broken all of the Ten Commands of God during my life. I have not loved God with all of my heart, soul, mind and strength. I have not loved my neighbor as myself. ”But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”³ We can all rejoice when nothing seems to be going our way because of the cross. The penalty for sin has been paid, and we are promised eternal life in the new heaven and new earth in the presence of God through faith in His Son Jesus Christ. The proof , Jesus Christ rose from the dead on the third day. Therefore, “This is the day which the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.”⁴ 

February 22nd, 2020

I took the day off from work because I was unable to walk more than a few steps. Darlene got me an appointment with Dr. Hosch who is a pediatrist with Christus Trinity Clinic. He said that I tore the planer fascia. He put me on an anti-inflammatory (Naproxen) for the next 2 weeks and fitted me with an orthopedic boot to immobilize my foot. He said that I am to wear the boot for the next 6 weeks and will not be able to return to running until after he sees me in his office. I am scheduled to see him 6 weeks from now. I do not think that I have gone a month without running in my entire life, probably no more than a week. However, he did say that I can use a stationary bike once the pain is reduced. I guess that will allow me to maintain some fitness but it is nothing like running. Running is not only a fitness activity for me but a mental activity. I do a great deal of thinking while running outside.

I read 1 Kings, chapters 19–22 and recited John, chapter 7. The king of Israel said to the king of Aram regarding his boast that he would defeat Israel: “Let not him who girds on his armor boast like him who takes it off.”¹ Do men not boast about their lives. No man knows the day or hour of his death, yet all live as though they will live forever. God has fixed a day in which He will judge the world in righteousness.² It is appointed for men to die once and after this comes judgment.³ What shall we say to the Lord on the day we take off our armor and the Lord asks, “Have you observed all that I commanded you?” Have you worshiped other gods? Have you made idols of things on the earth to worship? Have you dishonored My name? Have you honored My rest (Sabath)? Have you honored your mother and your father? Have you murdered either in thought or deed? Have you committed adultery with another in thought or deed? Have you taken (stole) what belong to someone else without their permission? Have you coveted the things and persons that I gave to your neighbor? Who, on the day that we take off our armor can boast, “I have observed all that You commanded me, now let me into Your rest?” The Lord will say, “Did not Moses give you the Law, and yet none of you carries out the Law?”⁴ What shall anyone say on that day but “I have sinned and fallen short of your glory.”⁵ Nothing in my hands I bring but to the cross of Jesus Christ I cling. Have mercy on me Lord a sinner. In Jesus Christ alone I trust for the forgiveness of my sins. 

February 21st, 2020

I worked in cardiac rehab from 7:30am–6:30pm, most of the day I was despondent. I was not feeling sorry for myself or at least I do not think that I was. All around us are constant reminders that we are not yet home. The Word promises in the kingdom of God  “and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away.”¹ My brother in Christ Paul McClung is ill and no longer teaches at Sylvania Church. I wonder if Abdiel, the leader of the Reformed Baptist in Cuba will continue with the ministry of appointing pastors and teaching them. Then I learn that the prosecuting attorneys will be seeking the death penalty for Will Davis. After work I was running on a treadmill when I suddenly felt acute pain in the arch of my right foot. I believe that something tore in the foot because I am not able to bear wight on it for it is very painful. So, for the time being I am hobbled. I had registered to run in the Tyler Fresh 15K which will be in 2 weeks. Running is special to me. No matter what else is going on in life I could go for a run and everything seemed better. Presently I cannot walk much less go for a run. I know that the Lord is sovereign over all things; therefore, I know that his will be done. “And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.“² I read 1 Kings 16–18 in which the characters of Ahab, Jezebel and Elijah are introduced. 

February 20th, 2020

During breakfast I continued working on the current Spanish lesson. In my opinion, this lesson is much more difficult than all the previous lessons. I departed for work and used the time alone to practice reciting Juan 1:1-13. I have become fluid in this particular Spanish passage and since I know the word in English; therefore, I understand the word in Spanish. I worked in out patient cardiac rehab from 7:30am – 5:00pm. During one of the morning sessions I received a text message form Paul McClung that he had contacted the brother of the pastor that we worked with in Cuba, telling him not to get visas for us this spring do to his illness. I trust in the providence of the Lord but do not like to see my brother suffering. Also, I am disappointed about not going back to Cuba as planned this spring. The church in Cuba is a beautiful church. The brothers their hunger and thirst for the word of truth. They love God (Father and Son and Holy Spirt) and they love one another. I do not want to make any of this about myself because my brother is suffering; however, I must be honest about my feelings. I have worked hard for the past 5 months trying to learn Spanish, not missing a single day of lessons, and memorizing a lengthy passage of Scripture in that language. I wanted to recite that passage for the Cuban church, so that they might see my love for the word and for them. Lately, I have been trying to figure out my job in the Kingdom. Before going to seminary I new that I was to share the gospel with others, and was busy doing so, open-air preaching at events with sports fan out reach international at the Super Bowl and other sporting events. It seems that I lost my zeal for personal evangelism while taking seminary classes. While taking classes and working a full-time job in nursing my time was limited. My final class was Missiology; therefore, foreign missions was fresh on my mind when I graduated. Lately I have felt a call back to personal evangelism. I need to be warning people of the wrath of God to come and telling them that Christ Jesus took the wrath of God on our behalf, but they must repent and believe. Why did God have me go to Cuba if that is not were he wants me to serve? Was it so that I could document the work Paul McClung did in Cuba these past 20 years? Why did the Lord put it into my heart and mind to go to seminary if I am not to teach his sheep? Why did I loose zeal for personal evangelism? What would the Lord have me doing for His Kingdom? I read 1 Kings 13–15, it seems that the classic prophet is introduced with an unnamed prophet, ”this nameless prophet is a defender of the covenant.”¹ The classic prophet’s function: Their role was to challenge the establishment and the social order, to remind the leadership and the people of their obligation to the covenant with Yahweh and to provide warning of the punishment that went with violation of the covenantal agreement.² Today I will be working a long shift, 7:30am–6:30pm and I plan to do a 30 minute run after work. 

¹ IVP BBC OT

² Ibid.

February 19th, 2020

Luke investigated everything carefully that was handed down from the eyewitnesses and servants of the word. Luke wrote his gospel account in consecutive order. Luke made this address to someone named Theophilus, telling him that he wrote this way so that he may know the exact truth about the things accomplished. (Luke 1:1-4) However, not all of Scripture is written that way; in fact, most of Scripture is not written in consecutive order. “Israel’s record of history was not intended to be a record of events but a record of the ways in which God had acted in history.” (IVP BBC OT) I am bring up this point because I will be journaling about things accomplished in consecutive order but I am more concerned with recording the ways God is acting. I am posting what I write early in the morning after I have spent time reading Scripture; therefore, the title reflects the day on which the material is posted, not the day on which the events written about occurred. However, the thoughts and events that I write in this journal will have occurred since the previous posting. The events and thoughts that I write in this journal may be in consecutive order but not necessarily. I will, however, attempt to always honor God (Father and Son and Holy Spirit) with what I write. Attempt is the correct verb because only Jesus Christ was able to glorify God in the flesh. 

I am currently working on lesson 2 of the beginner I – Course 3 – Spanish program that I have been working on since returning from Cuba this past September. These lessons are really beginning to build on one another and are becoming more complicated and lengthy. Early on, I had no problem going through a lesson while eating breakfast before work but the lessons that I am doing now are often 3 times the length of the earlier lessons and the content takes more thought. I am staying with the plan and will continue not counting a lesson complete until I answer all questions in a lesson 100% correct in a single go through. I departed for work shortly before 7:00am and used the drive to practice reciting the prolog to the gospel of John in Spanish. Thus far, I have memorized through verse 13. I thought about stopping there but when I set out, I planned to memorize the entire prolog which I believe goes through verse 18. I think that next week I will begin memorizing verse 14. 

I was in the cardiac/pulmonary rehab depart from 7:30am – 11:30am; therefore, I had a short day and used that to do a good tempo run in my neighborhood. 5 minute warmup jog – 20 minutes at 7 minutes and 20 seconds per mile (15km goal pace) – 6 minute cool-down jog. It was an enjoyable workout, competed while the temperature was warm and the air was dry. A cold front came through shortly after I competed the workout. I have been reading the book What did Jesus Do? By author Ray Comfort. Comfort takes a look at the methods used by Jesus, Paul, Stephen, Peter, James and John the Baptist before suggesting What Can You Do? So far, I have read though James and I am enjoying this book because the method of Law to the proud and grace to the humble is biblical. (Cf. Jam 4:6) 

Darlene and had dinner with Paul and Janet McClung at Outback Steakhouse. Paul was a former elder at Sylvania Church and established the pastoral teaching ministry in Cuba. I went to Cuba this past fall with Paul. Paul has had difficulties of late with an unknown condition that is altering his thinking and giving him dizziness. Darlene and I are very concerned for our friends. 

1 Kings 10 – 12: What an odd situation it is to have the Lord appear to a person twice in their lifetime and then forsake the Lord for Idolatry. Solomon had become to big for his britches as the southern saying goes. 1 Kings 10:4-5 (NASB) 

When the queen of Sheba perceived all the wisdom of Solomon, the house that he had built, the food of his table, the seating of his servants, the attendance of his waiters and their attire, his cupbearers, and his stairway by which he went up to the house of the Lord, there was no more spirit in her. 

This lead to the divided kingdom that would reign throughout the remainder of kings. Why would a man who had the Lord appear to him even once forsake the Lord? I think that James gives the answer: James 1:14-15 (NASB)

But each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lust. Then when lust has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and when sin is accomplished, it brings forth death. 

Lust is a powerful force that even the wisest and riches person in the world cannot defeat. Regarding lust, Jesus said to tear it away or cut it off that you may not die because of lust. Christ Jesus died for our sins according to the Scriptures and He was buried and He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures. 

February 18th, 2020

Yesterday, I worked in Cardiac rehab from 7:30am to 4:45pm. After work I rode a stationary bike for 30 minutes at a moderate effort. Scripture reading, 1 Kings 8-9. Recitation, John 3. Solomon’s dedication of the Temple and his prayer to the Lord before the people was temporal and not eternal. He and all Israel would soon break the first and second commandments falling into idolatry. Once in idolatry love for neighbor also fall away. Israel was suppose to glorify the Lord God among the nations of the earth but they turned inward and not outward. There is a son of David who brought glory to the name and his name is Jesus. Therefore, at the name of Jesus, every knee shall bend and every tongue shall confess Jesus Christ as Lord to the glory of God the Father. He is the image of the invisible God. The first born of all creation. Jesus Christ is given first place in everything. If someone hates the Son they hate the Father because the Son is the exact representation of His nature. To love the Son is to love the Father and to love the Father is to love the Son. In Solomon’s prayer a theme is repeated. When the people repent and offer supplication he ask the Lord to forgive their sin. It is acknowledged that they will sin because all sin and there is no man who does not sin. God is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in lovingkindness and truth, He forgives sin but will by no means leave the guilty unpunished; therefore, supplication must be made and Jesus Christ made the supplication on our behalf, He died in our place for our sins but all must repent and believe. All must repent but repentance without atonement is of no value; therefore, repentance does not save but all must repent and believe. The gospel is a thing of beauty. We have all (sinned) broken the Law set by our creator God. The penalty is death, eternal punishment in the lake of fire. Jesus Christ paid our penalty on the cross and defeated death for all who will repent and believe. Repent (turn) from sin and believe in Jesus Christ, following Him as Lord. He is the propitiation for our sin and He is our God in human flesh.

February 17th, 2020

Scripture: reading, 1 Kings 6–7 and recitation, John 2. I have decided that I should return to reciting 1 chapter from John’s gospel daily rather than breaking it up into smaller sections. I truly love the Word of God and look forward to reading and reciting His Word every morning. Yesterday, I ran for 1 hour and 7 minutes at a moderate pace. It has been a few weeks since I ran on 2 days back to back and I noticed the fatigue in my legs but I enjoyed the run nonetheless. I also noticed a slight soreness in my foot during the day but no pain as before and this morning there is no soreness. Nevertheless, I will do 30 minutes cross training today rather than running. I had the responsibility along with Mike Anderson to sit at the missions conference sign up table before Bible study and before and after corporate worship. Mike and I are members of the missions committee at Sylvania church and the committee has planned a missions conference for the weekend of February 28th, 29th and March 1st. On Friday the 29th we will have a free barbecue dinner paid for out of the missions budget with the missionaries that we support being in attendance. On Saturday there is a men’s breakfast with a speaker and ladies luncheon with a speaker. Then in Sunday, the committee has employed Kent Sparks to give a message to the congregation in missions. I have been reluctant regarding all of this because I am not a planner, nor did I have any insight into the planning of this event but will be a participant along with Paul McClung regarding the Cuban pastoral teaching ministry. Darlene and I attended Rodney Skyles’ class. Rodney taught on Matthew 20:1-16; the landowner and the workers hired for the vineyard. Rodney had some insights regarding covenants regarding this passage that I had not thought about before. Then in corporate worship Phillip preached on Luke 16:14-18. The main idea that I took from Phillips sermon: The proud heart justifies itself in the sight of men but the demands of the Law are much higher; therefore, what is esteemed among men is detestable in the eyes of God. This makes me think of Romans 3:20, “for by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified in His sight.” After departing our brothers and sisters at Sylvania, Darlene and I enjoyed a meal together then I completed, Spanish–Beginner I–Course 3–Lesson 1. That evening we watched a movie We Are Marshall about the tragedy that occurred at Marshall University in November, 1970. Our daughter Bethany has been spending weekends away and I have no knowledge of where she is or what she is doing. During the week days, as she is going back and forth from work, she sleeps and eats in our home. On Friday morning she goes to work and doesn’t return until Sunday evening. She is 26 years old but she lives in our home. I am worried about her but do not know how to reach her. When I have tried to talk with her she blows up. I am at a loss as to what I should be saying and doing.  

P.S. Yesterday was the 6th anniversary of my father’s death. 

February 16th, 2020

I read 1 Kings, chapters 3, 4, and 5. After sacrificing to the Lord (worship) Solomon slept and in a dream the Lord asked him what he would like the Lord to do for him. Solomon asked for wisdom that he might rule his people Israel. The Lord God granted him wisdom but also gave him riches and power. Thus, the physical promises of  the Abrahamic covenant were fulfilled. God had given Abraham a nation to many to count because they were “as numerous as the sand that is on the seashore,” (4:20, NASB) a land, and a kingdom. God had told Abraham that kings would come from him. One thing remains, that all the nations would be blessed. (Gn 22:18) This would be fulfilled in the person of Jesus Christ. Judah and Israel thought inwardly instead of outwardly. I personally understand this because it is my nature to think inwardly. I will withdraw to myself, or with those who are closest to me. This must be overcome because the Lord God has given all authority in his son Jesus Christ and he has commissioned the church to go make disciples of all the nations, to teach them all of his commandments, and has promised to be with us always as we are going. Soloman raised up forced labors from Israel to cut down lumber for building the house of the Lord in Jerusalem. I am not sure what to think about this but I believe that it is contrary to the Law but I would have to do some research regarding that in the Law. Yesterday morning, I ran for a little over 1 hour on a route that I enjoy running. I call this route the boot run because the GPS ends up in the shape of a boot. The distance is a little over 12km. I plan to repeat this run again this morning before going to Sylvania church for corporate worship. After running I had a picture printed for mom that she wanted and had it framed. I listened to a commentary on the book of Romans while cleaning the house. I also read chapters out of the book, What did Jesus Do? by Ray Comfort. It was a quite and relaxing day. I spent the day alone because Darlene had gone to Louisiana to visit he family. During dinner I watch a movie called Utopia about golf, set in Utopia, TX. It was entertaining. 

February 15th, 2020

1 Kings 1–2: The end of David’s reign as king and the establishment of Solomon as king in Jerusalem. The two eldest sons of David were dead; therefore, Adonijah believed that he was aire to the thrown and since David had become ill he believed that he should establish himself king. In these two chapters many men died with the establishment of Solomon as king and the cleansing of David’s thrown. I personally do not understand these ways because I am a follower of the Lord Jesus Christ whose kingdom is not established by force but through sacrifice. That being said, David’s thrown is established forever in Jesus Christ but not by physical force but by the sacrifice of Jesus Christ through faith whom God raised from the dead. In 2:10 the Scripture says, David slept with his fathers. This indicates awakening at some point in time. The ancient Israelites believed as the Christian does today, that a day and hour is coming when all will rise from the dead. The Son of God Jesus Christ is the first to rise and all will rise at his coming. 

Yesterday I worked Pulmonary rehab from 9:00am to 4:00pm. Exercising people with lung diseases often seems strange because their tolerance for exercise is so limited. In fact, there is a great deal of sitting around and talking. The sessions end up being more of a social event rather than exercise. For this reason, many of those who have gone through that program continue to hang around because of the social aspect. They eat and bring foods that are contrary to what we to teach our cardiac rehab patients. If I say anything about this, the person in charge of pulmonary rehab would contradict me and the director would support her despite the truth of the matter. I understand that pulmonary diseases are debilitating and fearful; therefore, the emotional aspect and support is supreme but the contradiction is apparent for our cardiac rehab patients who need to eat right and exercise. 

After work I went to the gym and rode a stationary bike for 30 minutes at a moderate effort while watching and episode of Way of the Master. I have been watching these when I exercise on a machine. My foot is feeling good; therefore, I plan to run outside for about an hour both today and tomorrow. Next week, Lord willing, I will cross train on a machine at the Gym on Monday and Friday; run for about 30 minutes on Tuesday and Thursday; and rest on Wednesday.

February 14th, 2020

Today I arose at 5:00am to read 2 Samuel 23–24. The last words of David are a song giving praise to God for establishing his kingdom. God made a covenant with David in 7:8-18, so in this psalm David contrast the righteous ruler with the unrighteous. It was David who was raised on high. David began is a boy herding sheep and God made him king of his people Israel. David was considered the sweet psalmist; in fact, David wrote the majority of the psalms.  David believed himself to be a prophet because his songs and wisdom came from God. After this, a list of David’s mighty men and some of their acts are given. There is the three and the thirty but there are a total of 37 men listed. Perhaps, as some died some were replaced? A remembrance is made regarding the men who brought David water from the the well in Bethlehem. David had made a comment that he would like a drink from that well. David did not say this as a command but was just speaking his desires out loud. These men wanting to serve him went and got the water at great risk to their lives. David refused to drink it because he believed himself to be unworthy of their blood but poured it out to the Lord because he is worthy. God’s anger was against Israel and God used David’s sin to punish Israel. David mistrusted the Lord; therefore, David did a count of the people so that he may know how many warriors he could count on having. For his sin, through the prophet Gad, God gave David a choice of famine, foes or sickness for Israel. David choose sickness because he believed the Lord would be merciful and relent. The Lord did relent and Jerusalem was not struck. This leads to the purchase of the sight of the temple which would be built by his son Solomon. 

Yesterday, I worked in cardiac rehab from 7:30am to 6:30pm. We normally have about 30 patients throughout the day but yesterday we only had 24. Nonetheless I was busy throughout the day. A high school student visited us and we showed him many things about the heart and exercise. I took one of the ten commandment coins out of my pocket and began flipping it. The young man became curios so I gave it to him and told him what it was. After work I ran on a treadmill for 30 minutes, then ended the day with a meal at home and watched an episode of the Andy Griffith Show. I do not know why I enjoy that old television show.  

February 13th, 2020

This morning I read, 2 Samuel 21 – 22. David has 7 of Saul’s sons slain to make atonement for Saul’s misdeed against the Gibeonites; however, this act contradicts the commandment of Deuteronomy 24:16, “Fathers shall not be put to death for their sons, nor shall sons be put to death for their fathers; everyone shall be put to death for his own sin.” Also, their bodies should have been buried that same day and not laid out because Deuteronomy 21:22–23 says, “ If a man has committed a sin worthy of death and he is put to death, and you hang him on a tree, his corpse shall not hang all night on the tree, but you shall surely bury him on the same day (for he who is hanged is accursed of God), so that you do not defile your land which the Lord your God gives you as an inheritance.” David did these things to bring rain because the Lord God withheld the rain because of Saul’s misdeeds against the Gibeonites whom Israel made a covenant with when they entered the land of Canaan. It should be noted that the rain did not fall until the men were buried. Can a wrong be righted by doing a wrong? Our Lord Jesus Christ committed no sin, yet he was hanged on a tree for our sins and he was buried that same day and we know that God excepted his death as atonement for our sins because God raised him from the dead on the third day. Romans 4:25, “He who was delivered over because of our transgressions, and was raised because of our justification.” David’s song recorded in 2 Samuel 22 is also recorded as Psalm 18. I wonder if this is to show that the Psalms of David are part of his history; and thereby, his heart-relationship with the Lord our God should be understood both in the history of David and the Psalms that David wrote. It appears that in this Psalm that David is saying that he is righteous and his enemies are unrighteous, but I think that David is righteous in the eyes of God because his trust is in the Lord not because his actions are righteous. God is just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus. (Rom. 3:26) I think that the principle that we can take from this passages is to trust in the Lord. We should not model David’s actions. Though David’s intentions were good, his actions broke the commandments but David’s trust is in the Lord; therefore, he is declared righteous in the sight of God. God could do this regarding the saints of the past and in the present because of the redemption which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. 

February 12th, 2020

Reading: 2 Samuel chapters 19 – 20; David restored as king in Jerusalem.

Recitation: John chapter 20; the resurrection of the Son of God Jesus Christ as Lord and God.

I worked in from 9:30am until 3:30pm. Before lunch I received one patient for assessment and cardiac rehab orientation interview. After lunch I spent the afternoon working on my ACLS re-certification. ACLS stands for Advanced•Cardiac•Life•Support. I first became certified over 20 years ago and I am required to become re-certified every 2 years. This has changed from the past. When I first did these things we did re-certification in a lab and took a written test. Now the entire thing is on a computer except for a check off on a dummy to show that you can do chest compressions. There are several videos to watch and scenarios to do regarding someone having a heart attack, stroke, or going into cardiac/pulmonary arrest. As I watched these, much of the heartache regarding more than 20 years of ICU nursing came back to me and I wept regarding the real death that happened in my sight. After work I spent 30 minutes running on a treadmill. I would have preferred to run outside but it was cold and raining. I felt somewhat depressed and thinking that I am ready for the new heaven and new earth. There is so much conflict in this world even on a day to day basis. Yesterday evening I picked a book off of my shelf and began to read. The book is Through the Gates of Splendor by Elisabeth Elliot. Early in the book she said of Jim Elliot in his youth, that he had come to see the Bible as the book above all books and understood that to follow its teaching is not to live a sheltered life but an abundant life. (Elliot, 1996) I have been thinking about my place. What would the Lord have me doing. No man knows the day or our of his own death or the return of the Lord. However, I know based on averages that I have lived two thirds of my life. What would the Lord have me doing for this the last one third as his slave? I am a slave of Jesus Christ for he purchased me with his own blood. (cf.Rv.5:9)

February 11th, 2020

This morning I arose at 4:30am and read 2 Samuel, chapters 16 – 18; David’s fleeing across the Jordan into Galilee and the death of David’s rebellious son Absalom in the forest. I consider the actions of Absalom horrendous and most would agree. He rebelled against his father’s rule and he had sex with his father’s wives on a rooftop in broad day light; however, are not my thoughts, words and deeds rebellious towards my heavenly Father God. My mind is a cesspool of wickedness, my words have been like slashing swords and my actions selfish, yet like David did not want his son to die, and God does not desire that any should perish. I recited John, chapter 19; the torcher, death and burial of the Son of God. When you realize that Jesus death on the cross was for your sins, that changes your entire perspective. Conversion is not a simple belief and repentance is not a simple turning from sin. When you see the light that you have sinned against God and know that Jesus Christ died for your sins it changes everything. Then you are willing to do anything at all for your Lord. I use to call my blog a slave of Jesus Christ because I believe that Jesus purchased me from slavery to sin with his own blood. I changed the name because people did not understand the title to one that combined my work and studies; I work as a Registered Nurse and have completed a Masters degree in Theological Studies. Yesterday was a good day at work because I was needed. It is good to be needed. There were several who needed my knowledge and advice. The days that I do not like my job are the days that I am clerical. I often feel un-needed regarding my Theological Studies. I worked very hard for 3 years completing a masters degree. For this reason I truly enjoyed going to Cuba this past fall because the Cuban pastors desired to hear what I have learned. It is good to be needed. Is it glory that I seek? No, I do not want glory because glory is the Lord’s but I do want to be needed for what I have labored to learn. 

February 10th, 2020

Today I read 2 Samuel, chapter 14 – 15, and recited John, chapter 18. I get the picture from these text that we live in a sinful-fallen world, yet I have hope because Jesus Christ is risen and has promised to return and raise all who believe in him (trust) to eternal life in the new heaven and new earth which is yet to come. Jesus Christ has already been inaugurated King but is yet to sit down on his glorious thrown to judge the earth. I am not going to pretended that I fully understand this. I do not understand the lengthy waiting period. I am inpatient. I want to live in the new heaven and new earth now. However, I must live for the kingdom now. Jesus said, to go therefore and make disciples of all the nations. That is all people on the earth. Such an overwhelming task for an individual but can I show one person the way and the truth and the life? Being that yesterday was a Sunday I had the day off from work and spent the morning at Sylvania Church. Phillip preached on Luke, chapter 16, vs. 1 – 13, the unrighteous steward. Phillip seems to interpret the parables contrasting persons in the kingdom of God and the kingdom of man but I take a more narrow approach. I think that the parables are not about those outside of the church but about those who are considered within the church. In another parable (Mt. 13:23-30) Jesus called the true converts wheat and the false converts tares. These will live side-by-side until the end. The unrighteous steward, he is a tare within the church. Could this have been a parable about Judas? I do not know but it seems possible. Yesterday morning I started Spanish – Beginner I – Course 3. This is actually the 4th course since starting spanish lessons. I really do want to learn this language. Also, I wrote down on an index card the final 2 verses or final sentence of John’s prolog in Spanish. I have almost completed memorizing the prolog to the gospel of John in Spanish. The weather was nice; therefore, I spent time cleaning up the front lawn and taking leaves out of the gutters. I also ordered two books: What did Jesus do? And God has a wonderful plan for your life. The second title is in mockery of the modern felt needs gospel because the truth is, if you repent and follow Jesus Christ things in this life might go badly but we are promised heaven.

February 9th, 2020

Reading: 2 Samuel, chapters 12 and 13.

Recitation: John, chapter 17.

David broke three of the ten commandments: He broke the tenth commandment by coveting another man’s wife, then the seventh commandment by committing adultery. He broke the sixth commandment by arranging the death of Bathsheba’s husband, Uriah. Jesus said, “ ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the great and foremost commandment. The second is like it, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments depend the whole Law and the Prophets.” (Mt. 22:37-40) The Ten Commandments can be divided into those commandments which show that a person has love for God and those which show love towards ones neighbor. David violated the commandments on the side of loving ones neighbor; however, he recognized that in violating the Law of God, his sin was primarily against God. Nathan used the Law to bring convection before telling him that God has taken away his sin; therefore, he would not die but his son would die. Can you say picture of the gospel? The son did nothing wrong, yet it is the son who dies for the sins of David. There is much sin in David’s family with Amnon, Tamar and Absalom. I have sinned against the Lord. I have violated his commandments. I have not loved God with all of my heart, soul and mind. I have not loved my neighbor as myself. I have broken everyone of the Ten Commandments; however, God has taken away my sin and God’s son (Jesus Christ) died in my place. Like David’s children, my children are angry Law breakers. I have no one to blame but myself. Yes, my children are at fault for their sin against God and neighbor but I did not raise them to fear God. The advantage that the Jew in Paul’s day had over the gentile was the Scriptures. (cf.  Romans 3:2) I did not read the Scriptures to my children, nor talk about them, nor teach them the ways of the Lord. I was a father who just wanted them to be quite. I have redemption for my sins in Jesus Christ but there are consequences in this life being played out just as there were for David and his sin. 

February 8th, 2020

Today, though it be Saturday, I arose at 4:30am that I may read Scripture before going to work, for it is my turn to work on the unit ambulating postoperative patients. I will be at work today from 7:00am to 12:30pm ambulating people who just this week had heart surgery or lung surgery. Reading: 2 Samuel chapters 8 – 11, the Israelites defeat of the Philistines, the subduing of Moab and the battle with Ammon; also, Davids sin with Bathsheba and the murder of Uriah. Recitation: John chapter 16, the Lord encourages the disciples before his arrest. In these two text we have David thinking only of himself and Christ thinking of his disciples. Who should be emulated? The answer is Christ but to do so a man must die to self. To be a servant of others is to deny self. Denying self is probably the most difficult thing that a person can do. Christ died for our sins. He gave up his life that we who have sinned against God might live. The wages for sin is death and he promised to save us from death and grant to us eternal life in his Father’s kingdom. Not only that, through faith in him we become children of God. Yesterday, I worked in Pulmonary rehab from 9:00am – 3:30 pm. Pulmonary rehab is slow paced because the exercise tolerance of people with lung diseases is low. They must have rest breaks in-between exercise modalities and the later half of the class involves chairs with instruction and very light weights. After work I cross trained: 20 minutes on a stationary bike and 20 minutes on an elliptical trainer, each at a moderate effort. It is my norm to do a long run on Saturday morning but I cannot today; therefore, my plan is to do that tomorrow morning. Yesterday, I received coins in the mail that have the Ten Commandments printed on one side of the coin and the gospel on the other. The font is very small but I hope to use them as a conversation starter and not a tract in place of conversation.

February 7th, 2020

This is the day that the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it. I have had some trouble sleeping lately. I have trouble in falling asleep; also, I awaken midnight and have trouble falling back asleep. Regardless I do sleep; therefore, I am able to work and live. This morning I read 2 Samuel chapters 4 -7 and recited John chapter 15. There are many interesting things to say about these. The brining of the Ark of God into Jerusalem. On the first attempt Uzzah was struck dead when he reached out to steady the Ark of God. The Ark of God contained the 2 tablets, the ten commandments of God. Then when David desired to build a house for God he covenanted to build a house for David, that through his seed his kingdom would be establish forever. Then from John chapter 15 vs 1 Jesus said, “I am the true vine.” Jesus is the seed of the woman that God first spoke of in Genesis 3:15, and he is the seed of Abraham through Sarah, and he is the seed of the household of David. Jesus Christ is the true vine of God. It is in Jesus Christ alone that the serpents head would be crushed, that all the nations would be blessed and the kingdom of David would eternally reign. Jesus Christ has been given all authority in heaven and on earth but is yet to return and sit down on his thrown. I do not arise early each morning to read Scripture because I have too but because I desire to hear a word from God. Jesus did not abolish the Law but fulfilled the Law. Jesus did not teach against the Law but magnified the Law in the heart. Who can say honestly in there heart that it is write to worship other gods; to makeup your own god, to speak the name without reverence, at the name of Jesus Christ every knee shall bend and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord; or dishonor the Lord’s rest; or dishonor your parents; or murder someone (hate) in your heart; or commit adultery (lust) in your heart; steal what belongs to your neighbor; or even covet what God has given to them which is theft in the heart? If we are honest, we cannot, yet we all have and I have broken everyone of these commandment either by thought or in deed. Like a power house generates electricity, my mind is a generator for sin; therefore, I trust in the promise of eternal life in Jesus Christ and do not trust in my own goodness to save on the day of judgment.

February 6th, 2020

I arose at 4:30am and read 2 Samuel chapters 1 – 3 and recited John chapter 14. How can one hear the Word of God in Jesus Christ written in John chapter 14 on not believe that God the Almighty is one Devine being who subsist eternally in three persons. I admit that I have had confusion in my past days of following the Lord regarding the Trinity. Sometimes, even now I am confused as to who I should be praying too. Should I pray to the Father or should I pray to Jesus Christ and I almost never consider that I should pray to the Holy Spirit, yet the Spirit is equally God in essence with the Father and the Son. Most often I pray to the Father in the name of the Son but I will also pray to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit as one Devine being. During such a prayer I may even address members of the Trinity individually. However, I always conclude in Jesus Christ because it is in Jesus Christ alone that I am justified before Almighty God. Yesterday, I worked in Cardiac Rehab from 7:30am until 4:00pm; Darlene and I enjoyed a fellowship dinner at Sylvania Church sitting with our friends the Kriechbaum’s. I desire to be with our brothers and sisters in Christ and just being able to talk with the brethren during the middle of the week is a wonderful blessing. I have a long day ahead. I will be at work from 7:30am until 6:30pm then my plan is to run on a treadmill for 40 minutes after work. Yesterday, I took the day off from exercise because my plan is to exercise 5 days a week.

February 5th, 2020

I arose at 4:30am and read 1 Samuel chapters 28 -31 and recited John chapter 13. For some reason my continence is low this morning and I do not know the reason. I was restless at times during the night. I normally sleep through the night and awake only once during the night to void. However, last night I awoke repeatedly and when I did my mind was thinking about something that Paul said on Mars hill: A day and an hour is coming in which God will judge the world in righteousness through a man whom he has appointed, furnishing proof to all men by raising him from the dead. Paul was of course talking about the final judgment and the Son of God Jesus Christ being the Son of Man who has been appointed judge for he is the one whom God raised from the dead. The question is, why was this statement on my mind every time I awoke and I awoke numerous times during the night? My first orientation appointment yesterday was strange. The man began saying that people avoid him because he is always talking about God. I gave him one of the gospel tracts that the Lord had given me to write. He said that he liked the tract and could give these out; therefore, I gave him several of them so that he could. It was difficult doing his orientation interview because he was continually talking about something. He called himself an Israelitist and said that the lost tribes of Israel went north and that he was of the tribe of Dan that migrated to Ireland. I ignored these things and tried repeatedly to redirect him back to his health and exercise history interview. How do people get so wild in their thinking? Why do people take something small out of Scripture and make it into something else? The gospel is so very simple. We have all broken God’s law. Jesus paid the penalty in blood (his life) because of this, God can now be just and justify the one who has faith in Jesus. God raised Jesus from the dead and Jesus will raise all from the dead on the last day. Those who repented to eternal life and the unrepentant to eternal punishment.

February 4th, 2020

Today, I recited John chapter 12 vs 27 – 50 and read 1 Samuel 25 – 27. The Father spoke to the Son in the hearing of the people and his voice sounded like thunder. David said to Saul, “The Lord will repay each man for his righteousness and his faithfulness; for the Lord delivered you into my hand today, but I refused to stretch out my hand against the Lord’s anointed.” (1 Sm 26:23) This is the second time that David had refused to put Saul to death when he had been delivered into his hand. David was against Nebal for he had dishonored David and his men but Abigail his wife was kind to David and he realized that he should not avenge by his own hand. This interaction was fresh on his mind when he came upon Saul in the field. From the song of Moses Deuteronomy 32:35

“Vengeance is Mine, and retribution,
In due time their foot will slip;
For the day of their calamity is near,
And the impending things are hastening upon them.”

Yesterday, I had the day off work. I exercised on an elliptical machine for 20 minutes and a stationary bike for 20 minutes. I have been using the time on these machines to view episodes of the Way of the Master television program on YouTube. This morning I will run outside before going to work and I am looking forward to doing a run outside. I am scheduled to be at work from 9:00am – 4:30pm. I believe that I am scheduled to do Cardiac Rehab orientations which involves researching electronic patient charts and compiling a paper chart for use in Cardiac Rehab, followed by an interview and assessment of the patient. I enjoy the time that I spend with the patients but the majority of the time is clerical rather than clinical. I will spend about 1 hour each with 2 patients today, and the remainder of time working on their charts and the charts of others. However, it is necessary and I do get to know them by reviewing their health history and talking with them.

February 3rd, 2020

I recited John chapter 12 vs 1 – 26 and read 1 Samuel chapters 21 – 24: The Lord’s triumphal entry into Jerusalem and Saul’s seeking the life of David. David is more righteous than Saul, this he confessed to David at the cave; however, compared to the Lord his righteousness is like a filthy rag in comparison. David lied to Ahimelech the priest: “The king has commissioned me with a matter and has said to me, ‘Let no one know anything about the matter on which I am sending you and with which I have commissioned you; and I have directed the young men to a certain place.’ (1 Samuel 21:2) David was running from Saul and he hid this from Ahimelech. The example for us to follow is not David or anyone else for that matter it is Christ, “who committed no sin, nor was any deceit found in His mouth.” (1 Peter 2:22) Yesterday, Phillip preached on Luke chapter 15, three parables: the lost sheep, the lost coin, and the prodigal son. Phillip pointed out that these parables are not about the lost things: The parable about the lost sheep is about the shepherd. The parable about the lost coin is about the woman who looks for the coin. The parable about the prodigal son is about the father. These three parables give us a glimpse of God’s love for the lost and his desire that they be found. I am off from work today. My work week will be Tuesday – Saturday this week. Today, I would like to read and complete Ray Comforts book, The Way of the Master. My exercise today will be 40 minutes split between an elliptical trainer and a stationary bike. Yesterday, I registered for the Tyler Fresh 15K on March 7th. My plan is to do 3 days of running each week on Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday; and 40 minutes of cross training on Monday and Friday, that my foot will be healthy. I would also like to spend sometime today on my Spanish lessons, I am getting really close to finishing Beginner I – Course 2, only to lessons remain two be completed.

February 2nd, 2020

I recited John chapter 11 vs 38 – 57 and read 1 Samuel chapters 18 – 20. The text is similar in that Saul sought the life of David because of Jealousy and the chief priest and Pharisees sought the life of Jesus for the same reason. Yesterday morning I ran 15km at a moderate effort in 1 hour and 21 minutes. It was so nice to get outdoors and run. I truly enjoy Saturday morning runs because I have the time to run longer and there is little traffic on the road. The pace as easier than my weekday runs; therefore, I can think. I am often preaching the gospel to myself from the Scriptures. As I ran, I silently recited parts of Paul’s letter to the Romans: chapter 1 vs 16 – 17; chapter 3; and chapter 10 vs 3 – 17. Several years ago, I memorized these because they explained the gospel to me and the purpose for evangelism. The text themselves are a sermon when recited, even without elaborating on the text. I had decided that I would take my lunches out of my department in the common area near the café. Previously I had done this to get away. I would put ear buds in and watch the Andy Griffith show. I had decided that I would no longer put ear buds in that I might be ready to speak to someone about the gospel. An opportunity arose Thursday that I missed because I was reading on my phone. I young man was standing near the table and was at looking for a place to sit. When I looked up it was to late because a man at another table had offered him a place to sit down. If I am to use my lunch break for evangelism I need put away the phone and be ready to invite someone to sit down. This young man had seen that I was in another place and not noticing him. I must be hospitable per first Timothy chapter 3 vs 2. Lord willing my lunch break can actually be used for evangelism. Completed: Spanish – Beginner I – Course 2 – lesson 9.

The Week of January 26th, 2020 – February 1st, 2020

Sunday:

Yesterday morning I ran on the roads at an easy pace averaging 8:58 per mile for 1 hour and 21 minutes. I was happy to be back outside running and I did so pain free. While running I thought about how I should exercise this week. I plan to exercise 5 days this week: Monday and Friday I will cross train for 40 minutes; 20 minutes on a stationary bike and 20 minutes on an elliptical trainer. On Tuesday and Thursday, I will run for 40 minutes; 10 minutes easy pace, 20 minutes at my goal 15k pace, and 10 minutes easy pace. Then on Saturday I will run on the road for 1 hour and 20 minutes at an easy pace. Darlene and I stayed home yesterday, we relaxed and read; I began reading “The Way of the Master” by Ray Comfort. Reading this book again having completed a Master of Theological Studies degree is good. When I read the book before, I was a baby Christian, but this is no longer the case. I can really see the biblical truth of the way of the master and will be employing this method of evangelism in my daily interactions with people. I plan to return to open air preaching but more than that I must talk with people daily. Today I arose at 5:00am and read the book of Ruth. There are a number of genealogies in Scripture and Ruth the Moabitess is in the line of David; therefore, in the line of our Lord Jesus Christ. (cf. Mt. 1:5) The story of Ruth and her kinsmen redeemer Boaz is a picture of the gospel. 

Monday:

This is the day that the Lord has made, may I rejoice and be glad in it. This morning I read first Samuel chapters 1 – 3 and recited John chapter 8 vs 1 – 30. Yesterday, Phillip Dancy preached a sermon that he called “Discipleship Tested,” from Luke chapter 14 vs 25 – 35. The main idea is that if you are to follow after Jesus Christ you must die to self. You may lose your possessions, your family and even your physical life; the question is, are you prepared to do that? Have you counted the cost? This reminds me of Pliable and the swamp of despond from John Bunyan’s Pilgrims Progress. Pliable was not sold out. He came as far as was comfortable and when the journey became difficult he turned back to the city of destruction, but Christian continued on the journey despite that trial and the many trials to come. I am a man often despondent regarding the trials of this life. I desire for my children to follow Jesus Christ, to marry Christ loving spouses and give Darlene and I grandchildren, but at present none of these things have happened. So, do I look to the things of this world, or do I set my sight on the kingdom of God? I have a good job as a Registered Nurse in Cardiac Rehab but am I willing to lose that job for the sake of the gospel? I do not think that I would lose my wife as she loves the Lord, but would I be willing for the sake of the gospel? I believe that the American gospel is a lie. The prosperity gospel comes right out with it but there is a taint in most American gospel presentations, all you have to do is look at the tracts. We were all created by God to represent him on the earth. We have all broken his law. The penalty is hell and Christ Jesus paid that penalty on the cross. He was forsaken by the Father, then on the third day he forever defeated sin and death by rising from the dead. What we must do is simple in word but not so simple in deed. We must all repent (turn from self) and believe (trust) in Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of our sins and eternal life in the kingdom of God. Today, I will be driving to Canton, TX. I will spend the morning working at the Canton Clinic Cardiac Rehab. 

Tuesday:

I have to be at work earlier than usual, so I arose at 4:00am and read 1 Samuel 4 – 7; then, I recited the later half of John 8. Yesterday, I drove to Canton, TX, but I was not needed when I arrived. I stayed for about 2 hours and departed. The time was not wasted because I listened to 2 sermons on false conversion that Ray Comfort believes is a result of telling people that God loves you and has a wonderful plan for your life. You have a hole in your heart that only God can fill. If you will come to Jesus Christ you will have joy, peace and a wonderful abundant life. I believe that Ray Comfort is correct, because throughout history the difficulties resulting from the fall are present in this world for both the righteous and the unrighteous. In addition to that the Christian is tempted by his flesh, the world and Satan everyday. Christians throughout the ages are persecuted for following Jesus. I do not think that it right to tell people these things because this is not the gospel. All must flee to Jesus Christ to escape the wrath that is to come. We all deserve death and hell for our crimes committed against God, but God demonstrated his own love for us in that while we were yet sinning Christ died for us. I believe that the Roman road is good if one uses it the way paul did; however, it is not used that away. In giving the Roman road, the evangelist begins with Romans chapter 3 vs 23, “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God;” however, he does not point out what sin is and specifically how the person has sinned. The apostle spent 3 chapters doing that very thing before summarizing that all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. Yes, the law must be preached before grace can be appreciated. Telling someone that they can have a better life in this world by following Jesus is a lie. The hope for the Christian is in the world to come. Today I will be working in the CVICU ambulating patients. Yesterday, I rode a stationary bike for 20 minutes and an elliptical machine for 20 minutes. After work, I plant to run for 40 minutes, 20 of which at my 15k race pace. Completed Spanish: Beginner I – Course 2 – lesson 7. 

Wednesday:

I arose at 4:30am and read first Samuel  chapters 8 – 10 and recited John chapter 9. The description of Saul brought back memories of my father and I could not help but think of him as I read: “a choice and handsome man, and there was not a more handsome person than he among the sons of Israel; from his shoulders and up he was taller than any of the people.” (1 Sm 9:2) There is a picture in my study of his graduation from the Dallas Fire Department rookie school. My father was a choice and handsome man. The tops of the men’s heads are at his shoulders; therefore, from his shoulders and up he was taller than any of the people. I have difficulties in relating to my mother without my father and I think that she has difficulty relating to me. I love her for she is my mother, but I confess there was a special bond that I had with my father that I do not have with my mother. My family, Darlene and our children were always considered first in my parents’ household but since my fathers’ departure we have become last. I am not saying this out of envy, but it is a fact, my sister and her children are first in my mothers’ home. The commandment of God: “‘Honor your father and your mother, as the Lord your God has commanded you, that your days may be prolonged and that it may go well with you on the land which the Lord your God gives you.” (Dt. 5:16) Some think that the ten commandments were only given to Israel; however, all are espoused in the New Testament to Christians. (cf. Mt. 15:4, 19:19; Mk. 7:10, 10:19; Lk. 18:20; Eph. 6:2, 3; Col. 3:20) Yesterday, I sent a text message to my mother while I was at work just asking her how she is doing. Her answer was about Julie and her two boys. This is the norm when communicating with her because Julie and the boys are her entire world. How do I honor my mother as the Lord commanded? My father left her with all that she needs to live on. To honor as a noun or a verb denotes counting that person of high value. It is the duty of children to honor their parents. My mother does not honor my family as she honors my sister’s or even my brother’s families; regardless, I must count her of value high. How do I honor my mother? During breakfast I completed Spanish: Beginner I – Course 2 – lesson 8. 

Thursday:

Yesterday I worked in cardiac rehab from 7:30am – 3:30pm; after this, Darlene and I ate dinner at Sylvania church. Darlene is not feeling well because of a head cold, so we went home. We have been entertained in the evening by watching episodes of “The Little House on the Prairie.” Darlene fell asleep on the couch and about 7:45. I encouraged her to go to bed and I made my way to my study where I picked up Ray Comfort’s book “The Way of the Master.” I read this book several years ago as a new Christian prior to receiving theological education. Now, having that background, I am reading it again in a new light.  I keep thinking about John 1:17, “For the Law was given through Moses; grace and truth were realized through Jesus Christ.” I am amazed as I read by those who believed in preaching law before grace: D. L. Moody said, “It is a great mistake to give a man who has not been convicted of sin certain passages that were never meant for him. The Law is what he needs.... Do not offer the consolation of the gospel until he sees and knows he is guilty before God. We must give enough of the Law to take away all self-righteousness. I pity the man who preaches only one side of the truth - always the gospel, and never the Law.” These kinds of statements are repeated over and over again by men of God from the past. How can a man appreciate the cure unless he is convinced that he has the disease? The Law must precede grace because men are self-righteous. Yes, people in this world are often in a place of brokenness but this is caused by worldly sorrow. They don’t have the place in this world that they would like to have, and this produces sorrow. All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. (Rom 3:23) That really does not mean anything when you are not convinced of your own sin before a righteous and holy God. In fact, hearing it without Law may cause you to be flippant regarding personal sin. What do I mean when I say Law? I mean those text of Scripture that speak of God’s holy and righteous standard. Did John mean that Moses preached Law and Jesus only preached grace? No, in fact Jesus expounded the Law. The sermon on the mount is incredible to this regard. Jesus says: “Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish but to fulfill.” (Mt. 5:17) Then he begins to explain that the Law reveals what is in the human heart. During the time of Jesus ministry, the scribes and Pharisees were considered the most righteous of all; yet, Jesus called them white washed tombs because they gave the appearance of perfect righteousness on the outside but inwardly they were wicked, just as all are wicked. Jesus explained that God sees anger and hatred as murder and lust as adultery. He concludes this section of the sermon by saying that other men are not the standard, the righteousness of God is the standard to enter the kingdom of God. (Mt. 5:21-48) The Law makes grace appreciable when you understand the standard and have no hope of qualifying in the flesh. Today, woke a little earlier than usual, not by intention. I intended to arise at 4:30am but awoke thirsty at 4:15am. I read 1 Samuel 11 – 13; in only three chapters Saul became king and was rejected by God because he wanted all authority in heaven and on earth. I recited John 10:1-21, Jesus is the good shepherd who laid down his life for the sheep; thus, demonstrating his own love for us at the cross. Today I started Spanish: Beginner I – Course 2 – lesson 9. 

Friday:

This morning, I arose at 5:00am and recited John 10:22-42; and read, 1 Samuel 14-15. The kingdom was taken away from Saul because he disobeyed the Word of the Lord. In John, Jesus is called the Word and, in the section, that I recited this morning Jesus said: “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand. (Jn. 10:27-28) The apostle John calls sin lawlessness. (1 Jn. 3:4) Lawlessness is deciding for oneself good and evil rather than observing the Law (Word) of God. Throughout the New Testament I find that Jesus Christ is put in the place of the Law. This makes since since Jesus is the Law become flesh. Therefore, in the new covenant Jesus Christ is the Law for all who repent and believe. He is the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to God but through Jesus. (Jn. 14:6) Following Jesus Christ is obeying the voice of the Lord and not following Christ is rebellion. Therefore, what is the purpose for the Old Testament Law in the life of a Christian? 1) To know God’s standard of righteousness. 3) To convict the sinner. 4) To drive the convicted sinner to the gospel for salvation. Yesterday, I worked in cardiac rehab from 7:30am – 6:30pm, then I ran on a treadmill at a moderate-hard effort for 40 minutes. 

Saturday:

I arose at 5:00am, recited John 11:1-37 and read 1 Samuel 16-17. Lazarus became sick and died. Jesus’ disciples were afraid to go to Bethany because the Jews sought to kill him. Saul had been rejected by God as king and David was secretly anointed by Samuel as God’s chosen king; therefore, he defeats the Philistine Goliath with a sling and a stone. There is an aspect of the spirits in this text that I wonder about. The Spirit of the Lord came strongly upon David but departed from Saul and an evil spirit from the Lord tormented him. Yesterday, I worked in cardiac rehab from 9:30am – 5:00pm. In the morning, I received 1 new patient for orientation. I spent the afternoon breaking down 4 charts: 1 a recent graduate who completed cardiac rehab and 3 who dropped out of the program. The difference in outcomes data between those who regularly attend all 3 weekly sessions for 3 months and those who do not is great. I have been slowly reading through The Way of the Master by Ray Comfort and have concluded that Comfort’s method is correct which he concluded from 2 conversations that Jesus had with strangers. The 2 conversations are the Samaritan woman at the well and the rich young ruler. Regarding the woman at the well the Lord did 4 things: First, he struck up a conversation with her in the natural realm. Second, he purposely began to talk of spiritual things. Third, he pointed out her sin. The woman was not justifying her sin; therefore, fourth, Jesus revealed himself to her. Regarding the rich young ruler. Jesus corrected his understand of a good person by using the 10 commandments. His god was his wealth, thereby breaking the 1^stcommandment. Jesus then gave him the prescription for eternal life; turn away from your sin and follow Jesus Christ. This morning I will be running 15km at a moderate pace.