Scripture Passage for the Day

Though he slay me, yet will I hope in him;
I will surely defend my ways to his face.

Job 13:15 New International Version

Scripture Passage for the Day

No, let justice well up like fresh water, let honesty roll in full tide.

Amos 5:24 Moffatt Translation

Scripture Passage for the Day

Let justice roll on like water, and righteousness like a mighty stream.

Amos 5:24 Berkeley Version

Scripture Passage for the Day

Instead let justice flow on like a river and righteousness like a never-failing torrent.

Amos 5:24 Revised English Version

Scripture Passage for the Day

But let justice roll down like waters,
and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.

Amos 5:24 New Revised Standard Version

Scripture Passage for the Day

But let justice roll on like a river,
righteousness like a never-failing stream!

Amos 5:24 New International Version

Scripture Passage for the Day

if my people, who belong to me, humble themselves and pray and seek my presence, turning from their evil ways, I will listen up in heaven and forgive their sins and heal my land.

My eyes shall be open and my ears attentive to prayer offered in this place;

2 Ch 7:14-15 Moffatt Translation

Scripture Passage for the Day

and My people, who are called by My name, humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their evil ways, then I will hear from heaven and forgive their sin and heal their land.

My eyes shall be open and My ears attentive to prayer from this place

2 Ch 7:14-15 Berkeley Version

Quote for the Day

If there is one basic element in our Constitution, it is civilian control of the military.

-- President Harry S. Truman (1884-1972)

Scripture Passage for the Day

and then my people whom I have named my own submit and pray to me and seek me and turn back from their evil ways, I shall hear from heaven and forgive their sins and restore their land.

Now my eyes will be open and my ears attentive to the prayers which are made in this place.

2 Ch 7:14-15 Revised English Bible

Scripture Passage for the Day

if my people who are called by my name humble themselves, pray, seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.

Now my eyes will be open and my ears attentive to the prayer that is made in this place.

2 Ch 7:14-15 New Revised Standard Version

Quote for the Day

A fanatic is a man that does what he thinks th' Lord wud do if He knew th' facts iv th' case.

-- Finley Peter Dunne, American humorist (1867-1936)

Scripture Passage for the Day

if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.

Now my eyes will be open and my ears attentive to the prayers offered in this place.

2 Ch 7:14-15 New International Version

A 21st Century Demoniac of the Gerasenes?

They went across the lake to the region of the Gerasenes. When Jesus got out of the boat, a man with an evil spirit came from the tombs to meet him. This man lived in the tombs, and no one could bind him any more, not even with a chain. For he had often been chained hand and foot, but he tore the chains apart and broke the irons on his feet. No one was strong enough to subdue him. Night and day among the tombs and in the hills he would cry out and cut himself with stones.

When he saw Jesus from a distance, he ran and fell on his knees in front of him. He shouted at the top of his voice, “What do you want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? Swear to God that you won’t torture me!” For Jesus had said to him, “Come out of this man, you evil spirit!”

Then Jesus asked him, “What is your name?”

“My name is Legion,” he replied, “for we are many.” And he begged Jesus again and again not to send them out of the area.

A large herd of pigs was feeding on the nearby hillside. The demons begged Jesus, “Send us among the pigs; allow us to go into them.” He gave them permission, and the evil spirits came out and went into the pigs. The herd, about two thousand in number, rushed down the steep bank into the lake and were drowned.

Those tending the pigs ran off and reported this in the town and countryside, and the people went out to see what had happened. When they came to Jesus, they saw the man who had been possessed by the legion of demons, sitting there, dressed and in his right mind; and they were afraid. Those who had seen it told the people what had happened to the demon-possessed man—and told about the pigs as well. Then the people began to plead with Jesus to leave their region.

Mark 5:1-17 New International Version

As we reflect upon the tragedy of 8 January 2011 and offer prayers for those killed and injured and their families, let us not forget another set of victims of this horrific incident. Let us offer our prayers and compassion for the family of the young man who did the shooting, and for him also.

Imagine for a moment the pain of the shooter's family as they take upon themselves a part of the guilt for his actions. Feel the pain of a mother whose son has committed such an evil act. Try to experience the feelings of a father who sensed something wrong, sought to find his son and control him, yet failed. Ask the questions they are asking, "What more could I have done?" "What did we do wrong?" "Why did this happen in our family?"

Try for a moment to understand the torment of the soul that has driven a young man to be filled to overflowing with frustration, hatred and violence. What would it take for you to lose control your yourself in such a way?

When the local people in the region of the Gerasenes could no longer live with the uncontrollable violence of the young demoniac in their community, they drove him out to live among the dead. That was their solution. Isolate the problem.

When Jesus encountered the young demoniac, his solution was to cure the problem. Remove the forces that drove the man to violence. Restore his sanity and restore him to society as a positive contributor rather than a disruptive, destructive agent.

Jesus considered the life of one demoniac to be more important than the economic gains of the community. He was willing to sacrifice a whole herd of pigs in order to restore one rejected man.

The community had a different set of values. The loss of their unclean wealth was more than they could bear. Pigs were more important than a mad man. So they begged Jesus to leave before he could possibly encounter any more societal rejects and sacrifice more of their profits in restoring them.

Unfortunately, we are more like the Gerasene community than Jesus. We are glad to reduce responsibility for the violence to the acts of a mad man rather than examine the role of violence in our own actions. What words do we use about those with whom we differ? How do we use power to restrain others? How do we deny the humanity of those who differ from us in culture, ethnicity, religion or politics?

Why are we unwilling to provide mental health care which could prevent the suffering of many and reduce the chances that their agony could lead to violence? Are our profits so important? What pigs are we protecting?

What is the value of a human life?

Those of us who profess to follow Jesus have no option but to behave as he behaves. We cannot dismiss this shooter as simply a "nut case." We must pray for him. We must begin to strive to love those suffering with mental illnesses. And we must join in the effort to reform our society so that those with mental illnesses have the treatments they need and that their families have the assistance they need in compelling their suffering loved one to enter into treatment.

Then Jesus asked him, “What is your name?”

“My name is Legion,” he replied, “for we are many.”

Quote for the Day

I refuse to accept the idea that the 'is-ness' of man's present nature makes him morally incapable of reaching up for the 'ought-ness' that forever confronts him.

-- Martin Luther King Jr. (1929-1968)

Quote for the Day

Dignity is like a perfume, those who use it are scarcely conscious of it.

-- Queen Christina of Sweden (1626-1689)

Be It Hereby Resolved

I have resolved to give Sarah Palin, Rush Limbaugh and Glen Beck the attention they deserve. From now on I will avoid reading, listening to or watching anything related to them.

Scripture Passage for the Day

I lift mine eyes to the mountains; ah, where is help to come from?

Help comes from the Eternal who made heaven and earth.

Ps 121:1-2 Moffat Translation

Scripture Passage for the Day

I raise my eyes toward the hills. Whence shall my help come?
My help comes from the LORD, who made heaven and earth.

Ps 121:1-2 Berkeley Version

Scripture Passage for the Day

If I lift up my eyes to the hills, where shall I find help?
My help comes only from the LORD, maker of heaven and earth.

Ps 121:1-2 Revised English Bible

Scripture Passage for the Day

I lift up my eyes to the hills—
from where will my help come?
My help comes from the Lord,
who made heaven and earth.

Ps 121:1-2 New Revised Standard Version

Scripture Passage for the Day

I lift up my eyes to the hills—
where does my help come from?
My help comes from the LORD,
the Maker of heaven and earth.

Ps 121:1-2 New International Version

Scripture Passage for the Day

Listen, Israel: 'the Eternal, the Eternal alone, is our God. And you must love the Eternal your God with all your mind and with all your soul and all your strength.'

Deut. 6:4-5 Moffat Translation

Scripture Passage for the Day

Hear, O Israel, the LORD our God is one LORD, and you shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength.

Deut. 6:4-5 Berkeley Version

Scripture Passage for the Day

Hear, Israel: the LORD is our God, the LORD our one God; and you must love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.

Deut. 6:4-5 Revised English Bible

Scripture Passage for the Day

Hear, O Israel: The Lord is our God, the Lord alone. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your might.

Deut. 6:4-5 New Revised Standard Version

Scripture Passage for the Day

Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.

Deut. 6:4-5 New International Version

Violets

I've been trying out a new macro lens and some new lighting equipment on violets. I think with practice, the new stuff will do well.