From The Homepage: June 2007

With the approach of the Fourth of July holiday, I'm reminded that the greatest blessing that comes from living in the United States is our right to religious freedom!

Please take time to stop by our Library Blog and read The Separation of Church and State, an article I wrote a few years ago concerning the intended lack of separation of church and state.

I also recommend watching the "Your Vote Makes the Difference" series of webcasts with Kenneth Copeland and David Barton, in which they discuss how your vote affects your religious freedom (May 28 - June 1, 2007) as well as the "Education Based on the Word of God" series (June 4 - June 8, 2007) which shows what happens when you begin to give up the basic rights this country was founded on!

One Year Bible Reading Plan

Through the Bible in one year! The number to the left is the day of the Bible reading, followed by the reading for that day. You can start any day of the year, at the beginning of the Bible, and work your way through to the very end!

1. Genesis 1-3
2. Genesis 4-6
3. Genesis 7-9
4. Genesis 10-12
5. Genesis 13-15
6. Genesis 16-18
7. Genesis 19-21
8. Genesis 22-24
9. Genesis 25-27
10. Genesis 28-30
11. Genesis 31-33
12. Genesis 34-36
13. Genesis 37-39
14. Genesis 40-42
15. Genesis 43-46
16. Genesis 47-50
17. Exodus 1-3
18. Exodus 4-6
19. Exodus 7-9
20. Exodus 10-12
21. Exodus 13-15
22. Exodus 16-18
23. Exodus 19-21
24. Exodus 22-24
25. Exodus 25-27
26. Exodus 28-30
27. Exodus 31-33
28. Exodus 34-36
29. Exodus 37-40
30. Leviticus 1-3
31. Leviticus 4-6
32. Leviticus 7-9
33. Leviticus 10-12
34. Leviticus 13-15
35. Leviticus 16-18
36. Leviticus 19-21
37. Leviticus 22-24
38. Leviticus 25-27
39. Numbers 1-3
40. Numbers 4-6
41. Numbers 7-9
42. Numbers 10-12
43. Numbers 13-15
44. Numbers 16-18
45. Numbers 19-21
46. Numbers 22-24
47. Numbers 25-27
48. Numbers 28-30
49. Numbers 31-33
50. Numbers 34-36
51. Deuteronomy 1-3
52. Deuteronomy 4-6
53. Deuteronomy 7-9
54. Deuteronomy 10-12
55. Deuteronomy 13-15
56. Deuteronomy 16-18
57. Deuteronomy 19-21
58. Deuteronomy 22-24
59. Deuteronomy 25-27
60. Deuteronomy 28-30
61. Deuteronomy 31-34
62. Joshua 1-3
63. Joshua 4-6
64. Joshua 7-9
65. Joshua 10-12
66. Joshua 13-15
67. Joshua 16-18
68. Joshua 19-21
69. Joshua 22-24
70. Judges 1-3
71. Judges 4-6
72. Judges 7-9
73. Judges 10-12
74. Judges 13-15
75. Judges 16-18
76. Judges 19-21
77. Ruth 1-4
78. 1 Samuel 1-3
79. 1 Samuel 4-6
80. 1 Samuel 7-9
81. 1 Samuel 10-12
82. 1 Samuel 13-15
83. 1 Samuel 16-18
84. 1 Samuel 19-21
85. 1 Samuel 22-24
86. 1 Samuel 25-27
87. 1 Samuel 28-31
88. 2 Samuel 1-3
89. 2 Samuel 4-6
90. 2 Samuel 7-9
91. 2 Samuel 10-12
92. 2 Samuel 13-15
93. 2 Samuel 16-18
94. 2 Samuel 19-21
95. 2 Samuel 22-24
96. 1 Kings 1-3
97. 1 Kings 4-6
98. 1 Kings 7-9
99. 1 Kings 10-12
100. 1 Kings 13-15
101. 1 Kings 16-18
102. 1 Kings 19-22
103. 2 Kings 1-3
104. 2 Kings 4-6
105. 2 Kings 7-9
106. 2 Kings 10-12
107. 2 Kings 13-15
108. 2 Kings 16-18
109. 2 Kings 19-21
110. 2 Kings 22-25
111. 1 Chronicles 4-6
112. 1 Chronicles 7-9
113. 1 Chronicles 10-12
114. 1 Chronicles 13-15
115. 1 Chronicles 16-18
116. 1 Chronicles 19-21
117. 1 Chronicles 22-25
118. 1 Chronicles 26-29
119. 2 Chronicles 1-3
120. 2 Chronicles 4-6
121. 2 Chronicles 7-9
122. 2 Chronicles 10-12
123. 2 Chronicles 13-15
124. 2 Chronicles 16-18
125. 2 Chronicles 19-21
126. 2 Chronicles 22-24
127. 2 Chronicles 25-27
128. 2 Chronicles 28-30
129. 2 Chronicles 31-33
130. 2 Chronicles 34-36
131. Ezra 1-3
132. Ezra 4-6
133. Ezra 7-10
134. Nehemiah 1-3
135. Nehemiah 4-6
136. Nehemiah 7-9
137. Nehemiah 10-13
138. Esther 1-3
139. Esther 4-6
140. Esther 7-10
141. Job 1-3
142. Job 4-6
143. Job 7-9
144. Job 10-12
145. Job 13-15
146. Job 16-18
147. Job 19-21
148. Job 22-24
149. Job 25-27
150. Job 28-30
151. Job 31-33
152. Job 34-36
153. Job 37-39
154. Job 40-42
155. Psalms 1-5
156. Psalms 6-10
157. Psalms 11-15
158. Psalms 16-20
159. Psalms 21-25
160. Psalms 26-30
161. Psalms 31-35
162. Psalms 36-40
163. Psalms 41-45
164. Psalms 46-50
165. Psalms 51-55
166. Psalms 56-60
167. Psalms 61-65
168. Psalms 66-70
169. Psalms 71-75
170. Psalms 76-80
171. Psalms 81-85
172. Psalms 86-90
173. Psalms 91-95
174. Psalms 96-100
175. Psalms 101-105
176. Psalms 106-110
177. Psalms 111-115
178. Psalms 116-120
179. Psalms 121-125
180. Psalms 126-130
181. Psalms 131-135
182. Psalms 136-140
183. Psalms 141-145
184. Psalms 146-150
185. Proverbs 1-3
186. Proverbs 4-6
187. Proverbs 7-9
188. Proverbs 10-12
189. Proverbs 13-15
190. Proverbs 16-18
191. Proverbs 19-21
192. Proverbs 22-24
193. Proverbs 25-27
194. Proverbs 28-31
195. Ecclesiastes 1-3
196. Ecclesiastes 4-6
197. Ecclesiastes 7-9
198. Ecclesiastes 10-12
199. Song of Songs 1-4
200. Song of Songs 5-8
201. Isaiah 1-3
202. Isaiah 4-6
203. Isaiah 7-9
204. Isaiah 10-12
205. Isaiah 13-15
206. Isaiah 16-18
207. Isaiah 19-21
208. Isaiah 22-24
209. Isaiah 25-27
210. Isaiah 28-30
211. Isaiah 31-33
212. Isaiah 34-36
213. Isaiah 37-39
214. Isaiah 40-42
215. Isaiah 43-45
216. Isaiah 46-48
217. Isaiah 49-51
218. Isaiah 52-54
219. Isaiah 55-57
220. Isaiah 58-60
221. Isaiah 61-63
222. Isaiah 64-66
223. Jeremiah 1-3
224. Jeremiah 4-6
225. Jeremiah 7-9
226. Jeremiah 10-12
227. Jeremiah 13-15
228. Jeremiah 16-18
229. Jeremiah 19-21
230. Jeremiah 22-24
231. Jeremiah 25-27
232. Jeremiah 28-30
233. Jeremiah 31-33
234. Jeremiah 34-36
235. Jeremiah 37-39
236. Jeremiah 40-42
237. Jeremiah 43-45
238. Jeremiah 46-48
239. Jeremiah 49-52
240. Lamentations 1-3
241. Lamentations 4-5
242. Ezekiel 1-3
243. Ezekiel 4-6
244. Ezekiel 7-9
245. Ezekiel 10-12
246. Ezekiel 13-15
247. Ezekiel 16-18
248. Ezekiel 19-21
249. Ezekiel 22-24
250. Ezekiel 25-27
251. Ezekiel 28-30
252. Ezekiel 31-33
253. Ezekiel 34-36
254. Ezekiel 37-40
255. Ezekiel 41-44
256. Ezekiel 45-48
257. Daniel 1-3
258. Daniel 4-6
259. Daniel 7-9
260. Daniel 10-12
261. Hosea 1-3
262. Hosea 4-6
263. Hosea 7-10
264. Hosea 11-14
265. Joel 1-3
266. Amos 1-3
267. Amos 4-6
268. Amos 7-9
269. Obadiah
270. Jonah 1-4
271. Micah 1-3
272. Micah 4-7
273. Nahum 1-3
274. Habakkuk 1-3
275. Zephaniah 1-3
276. Haggai 1-2
277. Zechariah 1-3
278. Zechariah 4-6
279. Zechariah 7-10
280. Zechariah 11-14
281. Malachi 1-2
282. Malachi 3-4
283. Matthew 1-3
284. Matthew 4-6
285. Matthew 7-9
286. Matthew 10-12
287. Matthew 13-15
288. Matthew 16-18
289. Matthew 19-21
290. Matthew 22-24
291. Matthew 25-28
292. Mark 1-3
293. Mark 4-6
294. Mark 7-9
295. Mark 10-12
296. Mark 13-16
297. Luke 1-3
298. Luke 4-6
299. Luke 7-9
300. Luke 10-12
301. Luke 13-15
302. Luke 16-18
303. Luke 19-21
304. Luke 22-24
305. John 1-3
306. John 4-6
307. John 7-9
308. John 10-12
309. John 13-15
310. John 16-18
311. John 19-21
312. Acts 1-3
313. Acts 4-6
314. Acts 7-9
315. Acts 10-12
316. Acts 13-15
317. Acts 16-18
318. Acts 19-21
319. Acts 22-24
320. Acts 25-28
321. Romans 1-3
322. Romans 4-6
323. Romans 7-9
324. Romans 10-12
325. Romans 13-16
326. 1 Corinthians 1-3
327. 1 Corinthians 4-6
328. 1 Corinthians 7-9
329. 1 Corinthians 10-12
330. 1 Corinthians 13-16
331. 2 Corinthians 1-3
332. 2 Corinthians 4-6
333. 2 Corinthians 7-9
334. 2 Corinthians 10-13
335. Galatians 1-3
336. Galatians 4-6
337. Ephesians 1-3
338. Ephesians 4-6
339. Philippians 1-4
340. Colossians 1-4
341. 1 Thessalonians 1-5
342. 2 Thessalonians 1-3
343. 1 Timothy 1-3
344. 1 Timothy 4-6
345. 2 Timothy 1-4
346. Titus 1-3
347. Philemon
348. Hebrews 1-3
349. Hebrews 4-6
350. Hebrews 7-9
351. Hebrews 10-13
352. James 1-3
353. James 4-5
354. 1 Peter 1-5
355. 2 Peter 1-3
356. 1 John 1-3
357. 1 John 4-5
358. 2 John, 3 John, and Jude
359. Revelation 1-3
360. Revelation 4-6
361. Revelation 7-9
362. Revelation 10-12
363. Revelation 13-15
364. Revelation 16-18
365. Revelation 19-22

My recommendations are that you do your reading first thing in the morning before beginning your day, while your mind is still fresh, and to either get up earlier than everyone else or have a private study area without distractions.

Be sure to keep a pen or pencil and notebook handy, and consider scheduling extra time in case you want to look more deeply into a particular passage or topic. A hi-liter or set of hi-liters is also recommended. Writing in a library book may not be acceptable, but God doesn't mind when you mark in His Book!

Recommended Reading: Christian Books in Review

by Barb Darbey

Book: Revolution in World Missions
Author: K. P. Yohannan

It took me only two days to read this book, which is almost a miracle in itself, as most books don't hold my interest long enough to finish them quickly. My mind tends to wander to the cares of the day and plans of the future. The typical American way, where our day-to-day lives overshadow the more important things in life.

In India, as well as other Asian countries, there is a true and clear sense of urgency among the native missionaries. Responding to the call of God, they willingly face stonings and death, fully understanding the verse in Hebrews that it "is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgement" (Hebrews 9:27).

Following the life of Dr K. P. Yohannan from childhood to his present-day status as founder and international director of Gospel for Asia, this book is indeed filled with fascinating stories and eye-opening statistics. Prepare to be moved into action as you are filled with compassion for the world of lost souls desparately needing the Gospel!

You Promised - Holding Tight to the Promises of God

by Barb Darbey

Have you ever gotten a direct word from God and then had it seem that you had to fight tooth and nail to get what He promised you? I have.

It was my second litter of puppies and thier mother's milk went bad a week and a half after they were born. Needless to say, they were in bad shape. Now this might seem a little strange to you, but God had promised me a strong, healthy litter; not just any litter, but one that would grow up to be a blessing to thier owners, thier community, and maybe even lead people to Christ. He also promised that for each puppy, there would be a soul won for Christ. Knowing full well ten puppies would equal ten souls, I was not about to give up easily. After all, He promised.

I stood firmly on that promise, for days, even to the point of telling him I was willing to "wrestle the angel" like Jacob did, even if it meant he had to break my hip in the process. Fortunately for me, God is not only faithful, he's merciful!

By their fourth week, the puppies were back on track and doing well. By ten weeks, you would never know they had had a problem.

Lately, as I look back on this ordeal, I wonder if the time spent with God crying "You promised" would have been better spent not crying, but standing on and quoting the scriptural promise that he is faithful. How much faster might the puppies have mended? Would there have been a second round of fighting for a few of the puppies? I'll leave that as food for thought with a recommendation: READ YOUR BIBLE. KNOW YOUR BIBLE. QUOTE THE SCRIPTURE.

As for me, I'm chalking this lesson up as a lesson in faith and understanding, knowing full well I'll probably need the experience later on.


A Few Verses to Stand on When You've Gotten a Promise:

Hebrews 10:23
"Let us hold fast to the profession of our faith without waivering; for he is faithful that promised."

Numbers 23:19
"God is not a man that he should lie."

Jeremiah 1:12
"I watch over my word to perform it."

Hebrews 6:18
"So God has given us both his promise and his oath. These two things are unchangeable because it is impossible for God to lie."

The Separation of Church and State

Politics and Religion
by Barb Darbey

Let's start this article off with some basics: There is no real separation between church and state as the statement is being used!

It was stated in a letter by Thomas Jefferson as "I contemplate with solemn reverence that act of the whole American people which declared that their legislature should ‘make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof,’ thus building a wall of separation between Church and State."

The "wall of separation" was not intended to keep religion out of politics, but to preserve the freedom of religion as stated in the First Amendment (“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof….”).

Let's keep in mind that this was during a time of recent separation from England, and was designed to prevent the governing body from forcing the religion that they have chosen on the peoples of this country.

Today, it is unfortunate that the "non-religious few" have taken so much from the "religious many". Perhaps more Christians need to stand up and lobby for thier religious freedoms instead of standing silently by and allowing others to make thier decisions for them.

After all, “Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord….” (Psalm 33:12), right?

Links for more info:
Jefferson’s Wall of Separation Letter
Separation of Church and State: what does it really mean? *PDF file

Intercessory Prayer

by Barb Darbey

"And he saw that there was no man, and wondered that there was no intercessor." (Isaiah 59:16)

What happens when we don't like someone's actions or words? Usually we speak poorly of them, argue with them, dislike them. We may even ask God to act in vengence to right the wrong that has been done to us. From a human stand point, that would only be fair.

But in steps grace, the freely given, unmerited favor and love of God. The love that knows no bounds, is longsuffering, and wills that all be saved. Slanderers, murderers, and thieves. Adulterers, liars, and everyone else who does not fit the ideal of perfection.

So how do you get the sinner to Jesus? Through prayer! And I don't mean just one half-hearted prayer. Pray for them as often as they cross your mind. If you're angry with them, this probably means often. Pray that thier spiritual eyes be opened, that thier hearts be softened, that thier souls be saved. Pray the blood. Pray that the Holy Spirit pours himself out like a flood upon them. When every where they look they just see Jesus.

Smile.

---

grace [greys]
-noun, verb, graced, grac‧ing.
8. Theology.
a. the freely given, unmerited favor and love of God.
b. the influence or spirit of God operating in humans to regenerate or strengthen them.
c. a virtue or excellence of divine origin: the Christian graces.
d. Also called state of grace. the condition of being in God's favor or one of the elect.
See the full definition of grace on dictionary.com

a synonym for grace is mercy:
mer · cy [mur-see]
–noun, plural -cies for 4, 5.
1. compassionate or kindly forbearance shown toward an offender, an enemy, or other person in one's power; compassion, pity, or benevolence: Have mercy on the poor sinner.
2. the disposition to be compassionate or forbearing: an adversary wholly without mercy.
3. the discretionary power of a judge to pardon someone or to mitigate punishment, esp. to send to prison rather than invoke the death penalty.
4. an act of kindness, compassion, or favor: She has performed countless small mercies for her friends and neighbors.
5. something that gives evidence of divine favor; blessing: It was just a mercy we had our seat belts on when it happened.
See the full definition of mercy on dictionary.com

that all be saved
2 Peter 3:9, KJV "The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance."
Click Here to visit BibleGateway.com and read this verse in other translations!

"perfection"
Romans 3:23 KJV "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;"
Click Here to visit BibleGateway.com and read this verse in other translations!

God's Amazing Love

God's Amazing Love: Scripture to Back Up the Promise
by Barb Darbey

Ever wonder how to be sure God loves you? Take a look at these scriptures!

"In his goodness he chose to make us his own children by giving us his true word. And we, out of all creation, became his choice possession." James 1:18 NLT

1.) "In his goodness he chose to make us his own children by giving us his true word...."
He chose to make us his own children. Consider this an adoption by parents who are capable of conceiving thier own children, who have thier own children, yet choose to adopt more children out of the love in thier hearts. And also consider these parents to be able to bless thier children "exceedingly and abundantly".

2.) "And we, out of all creation, became his choice possession."
Choice. Favorite. Most prized possession. The King James Version translates this verse: "...that we should be a kind of first fruits of his creatures." Your first fruits are your very best. In olive oil, the first pressing, the extra virgin olive oil, is the top-of-the-line, highest quality, very best. God created us to be His top-of-the-line, highest quality, very best. We are indeed His prized possession!

"Look at the lillies and how they grow......Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. And if God cares so wonderfully for flowers that are here today and gone tomorrow, won't he more surely care for you?" (Luke 12:27,28)

This was spoken by Jesus himself. The Son of God. The perfect reflection of God (John 14:9). Who could know God's heart better than Jesus? In earthly terms, we would say "the mirror doesn't lie". Knowing full well God cannot lie (Hebrews 6:18; Titus 1:2; Psalm 89:35), neither, then, can Jesus.

Roget's New Millennium™ Thesaurus, First Edition has two distinct entries for the word "care", as used in this verse. Both are verbs; the first, defined as "tend to" (synonyms: attend, baby-sit, consider, foster, look after, mind, minister, mother, nurse, nurture, protect, provide for, sit, take pains, tend, treasure, wait on, watch, watch over), and the second, defined as "regard highly" (synonyms: cherish, desire, enjoy, find congenial, go for, hold dear, like, love, prize, take to, want). Both of these definitions declare how strongly and to what extent God truely cares for each and every one of us!