Guest Voices

Secular Values Voters and the Presidential Debates

The first forum held between presidential candidates John McCain and Barack Obama took place in a megachurch. Today, they are scheduled to have their first face-to-face debate at the University of Mississippi, a more secular forum where the candidates should address the concerns of secular values voters.

If Senators McCain and Obama debate in Oxford, Miss., they will have a 90 minute discussion on national security and foreign policy that is likely to include the state of the U.S. military. A disturbing story which has been reported in recent months should be part of that conversation: the coercive religious culture that dominates today's armed forces.

It is not only the 21 percent of our military who are either atheists or agnostics who suffer; it's also every member - Jewish, Lutheran, Catholic and others - who is not a born-again Christian. The 1.5 million Americans who make up the U.S. military mirror the religious diversity of the civilian population they protect, and yet too many in the military leadership have turned a blind eye to the well documented pattern of harassment and discrimination towards those who do not hold a born-again Christian belief system. This pattern takes the form of special access to the Pentagon for the Christian Embassy, revoked privileges and denials of promotions to soldiers deployed overseas and on domestic bases, and even death threats. So far, the presidential candidates have been silent on this widespread religious persecution in the military each seeks to command, even as it directly affects morale and undermines and the meritocracy upon which our military is built. What do our potential commanders in chief have to say about this problem?

In the town hall style debate on October 7th and the final debate on October 15th, most of the conversation will be about domestic policy. Two issues sure to come up are public education and the role of faith groups in providing social services; in both, the problem of spending taxpayer dollars for religious activities needs to be discussed.

In our public schools, which serve 90 percent of America's children, science is under attack even as experts agree it is a strong science curriculum that will keep our economy competitive. Not only are the natural sciences being coupled with the biblical story of creation in some classrooms, but basic reproductive biology is giving way to ineffective, theologically based abstinence-only education. Obviously, abstinence prevents unwanted pregnancies, but abstinence-only-until-marriage is not a health course curriculum, it's a theological construct and it doesn't work. Neither candidate has forcefully decried these forms of religious intrusion into our nation's public schools; an American president must know the difference between articles of faith and scientific facts when it comes to taxpayer-funded public education.

Lastly, both Senators McCain and Obama have vowed to continue President Bush's White House Office of Faith-based and Community Initiatives. Obama has even promised to expand it. However, this program has become a patronage mill for political allies. There is little effort to ensure that taxpayer subsidized programs do not involve proselytizing, and religious discrimination in hiring is widespread. In spite of Obama's pledge to clean up this unconstitutional mess, it's unlikely anyone can salvage a corrupt, multi-billion dollar government bureaucracy that stretches across twelve federal agencies. Further, this program not only deprives effective secular organizations of needed funds for social services, it actually privileges religious groups by giving them a special status and special access to federal dollars. The candidates should tell us why they are unwilling to shut down this corrupt, discriminatory program.

These are questions that nontheistic Americans care about, as do many religious citizens. Scholars may debate the individual beliefs of the founding fathers, but the men who founded our country were clear. They wrote a constitution that nowhere contains the word God, and explicitly prohibits religious tests for public office. They made the very first amendment one that prohibits government from imposing religion and guarantees freedom of conscience for all citizens, regardless of religious beliefs. It's time to ask the candidates if they intend to honor our secular constitutional tradition.

Lori Lipman Brown is director of the Secular Coalition for America.

By Lori Lipman Brown |  September 25, 2008; 2:17 PM ET
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In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.
And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.
And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.
And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness.
And God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And the evening and the morning were the first day.
And God said, Let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters, and let it divide the waters from the waters.
And God made the firmament, and divided the waters which were under the firmament from the waters which were above the firmament: and it was so.
And God called the firmament Heaven. And the evening and the morning were the second day.
And God said, Let the waters under the Heaven be gathered together unto one place, and let the dry land appear: and it was so.
And God called the dry land Earth; and the gathering together of the waters called he Seas: and God saw that it was good.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - NASA extended the mission of the busy Phoenix lander on Monday, saying it will operate until it dies in the cold, dark Martian winter.
The lander found evidence that the chemical makeup of the dust on the surface of Mars resembles that of sea water, adding to evidence that liquid water that once may have supported life flowed on the planet's surface.
And, said JPL's Michael Hecht, further analysis shows the Martian dust is about as alkaline as seawater, with a pH of 8.3, more evidence that life could have existed on Mars.

THE DUST ON THE SURFACE OF MARS RESEMBLES THAT OF SEA WATER
MARTIAN DUST IS ABOUT AS ALKALINE AS SEAWATER

These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not:

THESE TWELVE JESUS SENT FORTH

I am debtor both to the Greeks, and to the Barbarians; both to the wise, and to the unwise.
So, as much as in me is, I am ready to preach the gospel to you that are at Rome also.

I AM DEBTOR BOTH TO THE GREEKS, AND TO THE BARBARIANS
I AM READY TO PREACH THE GOSPEL TO YOU THAT ARE AT ROME

To ancient astrologers the planets represented the will of the gods and their direct influence upon human affairs. To modern astrologers the planets represent basic drives or impulses in the human psyche. These drives express themselves a) with different qualities through the twelve signs of the zodiac, and b) in different spheres of life through the twelve houses. How the planets manifest themselves also depends on the aspects (or angles) that they form with each other in the sky as seen from Earth.

THE TWELVE SIGNS OF THE ZODIAC
SPHERES OF LIFE THROUGH THE TWELVE HOUSES

Romulus (c. 771 BC–c. 717 BC) and Remus (c. 771 BC–c. 753 BC) are the traditional founders of Rome, appearing in Roman mythology as the twin sons of the priestess Rhea Silvia, fathered by the god of war, Mars. According to the tradition recorded as history by Plutarch and Livy, Romulus served as the first King of Rome.

the twin sons of the priestess Rhea Silvia, fathered by THE GOD OF WAR, MARS.
Luperca's husband is the WOLF-AND-SHEPHERD-GOD LUPERCUS WHO BROUGHT FERTILITY to the flocks.

The evening star they called Hesperos (Latinized Hesperus) (Ἓσπερος, the "star of the evening"), but by Hellenistic times, they realized the two were the same planet. Hesperos would be translated into Latin as Vesper and Phosphoros as Lucifer ("Light Bearer"), a poetic term later used to refer to the fallen angel cast out of heaven. The Romans would later name the planet in honor of their goddess of love, Venus, whereas the Greeks used the name of her Greek counterpart, Aphrodite

PHOSPHOROS AS LUCIFER ("LIGHT BEARER"), a poetic term later used to refer to the fallen angel cast out of heaven
The Romans would later name the planet in honor of THEIR GODDESS OF LOVE, VENUS,

Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, honour, and glory, and blessing.
And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever.
And the four beasts said, Amen. And the four and twenty elders fell down and worshipped him that liveth for ever and ever.

WORTHY IS THE LAMB THAT WAS SLAIN TO RECEIVE POWER AND RICHES
every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea
Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne
and unto the Lamb for ever and ever
THE FOUR AND TWENTY ELDERS FELL DOWN AND WORSHIPPED HIM

And there was again a battle in Gob with the Philistines, where Elhanan the son of Jaareoregim, a Bethlehemite, slew THE BROTHER OF GOLIATH THE GITTITE, the staff of whose spear was like a weaver's beam.
And there was yet a battle in Gath, where was a man of great stature, that had ON EVERY HAND SIX FINGERS, and ON EVERY FOOT SIX TOES, FOUR AND TWENTY in number; and HE ALSO WAS BORN TO THE GIANT.
And when he defied Israel, Jonathan the son of Shimea the brother of David slew him.
These four were born to the giant in Gath, and fell by the hand of David, and by the hand of his servants.

“AND THERE WAS YET A BATTLE IN GATH”
“THE BROTHER OF GOLIATH THE GITTITE”
“ON EVERY HAND SIX FINGERS”
“ON EVERY FOOT SIX TOES, FOUR AND TWENTY in NUMBER”
“HE ALSO WAS BORN TO THE GIANT”

The Egyptian god Ptah is given the title dū gitti 'Lord of Gath' in a prism from Lachish which has on its opposite face the name of Amenhotep II (c. 1435–1420 BCE) The title dū gitti is also found in Serābitṭ text 353. Cross (1973, p. 19) points out that Ptah is often called the lord (or one) of eternity and thinks it may be this identification of Ēl with Ptah that lead to the epithet ’olam 'eternal' being applied to Ēl so early and so consistently.

THE EGYPTIAN GOD PTAH IS GIVEN THE TITLE DŪ GITTI 'LORD OF GATH'
PTAH IS OFTEN CALLED THE LORD (OR ONE) OF ETERNITY

In Roman mythology, Diana was the goddess of the hunt, being associated with wild animals and woodland, and also of the moon.
Along with her main attributes, Diana was an emblem of chastity. Oak groves were especially sacred to her. According to mythology, Diana was born with her twin brother Apollo on the island of Delos, daughter of Jupiter and Latona. Diana made up a trinity with two other Roman deities: Egeria the water nymph, her servant and assistant midwife; and Virbius, the woodland god.

Diana was the goddess of the hunt
associated with wild animals and woodland, and ALSO OF THE MOON.
Oak groves were especially sacred to her
DIANA MADE UP A TRINITY WITH TWO OTHER ROMAN DEITIES
EGERIA THE WATER NYMPH
VIRBIUS, THE WOODLAND GOD

Pluto was the Roman god of the underworld, known in Latin as Tertius, the counterpart of the Greek Hades. He was originally the Roman god of certain metals and, because these materials are mined, he also took on the role of god of the underworld. The Greek word for wealth is Πλοῦτος (Plοutos) and it is believed that the Romans derived Pluto from the Greek because these metals, jewels and other riches lie under the Earth.

PLUTO WAS THE ROMAN GOD OF THE UNDERWORLD
THESE METALS, JEWELS AND OTHER RICHES LIE UNDER THE EARTH.

Amorite inscriptions from Zinčirli refer to numerous gods, sometimes by name, sometimes by title, especially by such titles as ilabrat 'god of the people'(?), il abīka 'god of your father', il abīni 'god of our father' and so forth. Various family gods are recorded, divine names listed as belong to a particular family or clan, sometimes by title and sometimes by name, including the name Il 'god'. In Amorite personal names the most common divine elements are Il ('God'), Hadad/Adad, and Dagan. It is likely that Il is also very often the god called in Akkadian texts Amurru or Il Amurru.

especially by such titles as ilabrat 'god of the people'(?), il abīka 'GOD OF YOUR FATHER', il abīni 'GOD OF OUR FATHER' and so forth.
In Amorite personal names the most common divine elements are Il ('God'), Hadad/Adad, and DAGAN

The word El was found at the top of a list of gods as the Ancient of Gods or the Father of all Gods, in the ruins of the Royal Library of the Ebla civilization, in the archaeological site of Tell Mardikh in Syria dated to 2300 BC. He may have been a desert god at some point, as the myths say that he had two wives and built a sanctuary with them and his new children in the desert. El had fathered many gods, but most important were Hadad, Yam and Mot, each of whom has similar attributes to the Greek gods Zeus, Poseidon or Ophion and Hades or Thanatos respectively. Ancient Greek mythographers identified El with Cronus

El had fathered many gods, but most important were Hadad, Yam and Mot, each of whom has similar attributes to the Greek gods Zeus, POSEIDON or Ophion and HADES or Thanatos respectively

A bilingual inscription from Palmyra (KAI. 11, p. 43) dated to the first century equates Ēl-Creator-of-the-Earth with the Greek god Poseidon. Going back to the eighth century BCE the bilingual inscription at Karatepe in the Taurus Mountains equates Ēl-Creator-of-the-Earth to Luwian hieroglyphs read as da-a-ś, this being the Luwian form of the name of the Babylonian water god Ea, lord of the abyss of water under the earth.

the TAURUS Mountains equates Ēl-Creator-of-the-Earth to Luwian hieroglyphs read as da-a-ś, this being the Luwian form of the name of THE BABYLONIAN WATER GOD EA, LORD OF THE ABYSS OF WATER UNDER THE EARTH.

The Egyptian god Ptah is given the title dū gitti 'Lord of Gath' in a prism from Lachish which has on its opposite face the name of Amenhotep II (c. 1435–1420 BCE) The title dū gitti is also found in Serābitṭ text 353. Cross (1973, p. 19) points out that Ptah is often called the lord (or one) of eternity and thinks it may be this identification of Ēl with Ptah that lead to the epithet ’olam 'eternal' being applied to Ēl so early and so consistently.

THE EGYPTIAN GOD PTAH IS GIVEN THE TITLE DŪ GITTI 'LORD OF GATH'
PTAH IS OFTEN CALLED THE LORD (OR ONE) OF ETERNITY

And there was again a battle in Gob with the Philistines, where Elhanan the son of Jaareoregim, a Bethlehemite, slew THE BROTHER OF GOLIATH THE GITTITE, the staff of whose spear was like a weaver's beam.
And there was yet a battle in Gath, where was a man of great stature, that had ON EVERY HAND SIX FINGERS, and ON EVERY FOOT SIX TOES, FOUR AND TWENTY in number; and HE ALSO WAS BORN TO THE GIANT.
And when he defied Israel, Jonathan the son of Shimea the brother of David slew him.
These four were born to the giant in Gath, and fell by the hand of David, and by the hand of his servants.

“THE BROTHER OF GOLIATH THE GITTITE”
“ON EVERY HAND SIX FINGERS”
“ON EVERY FOOT SIX TOES, FOUR AND TWENTY in NUMBER”
“HE ALSO WAS BORN TO THE GIANT”

In Roman mythology the sun was represented by Apollo, the god of light.
In Roman mythology the Moon was represented by Diana, the hunter goddess.
In Roman mythology Mercury was the messenger of the gods, noted for his speed and swiftness .
In Roman mythology Venus, was the goddess of love and beauty, famous for the passions she could stir among the gods.
Mars was the Roman god of war and bloodshed, whose symbol was a spear and shield
In Roman mythology Jupiter was the ruler of the gods (having overthrown Saturn) and their guardian and protector, and his symbol was the thunderbolt.
In Roman mythology Saturn was the god of agriculture founder of civilisations and of social order and conformity. The glyph is most often seen as scythe-like but it is primarily known as the "crescent below the cross", whereas Jupiter's glyph is the "crescent above the cross".
In Greek mythology Uranus was the personification of the heavens and the night sky.
In Roman mythology Neptune was the god of the sea, and the deep, ocean blue colour of the planet Neptune reflects this.
In Roman mythology Pluto was the god of the underworld and of wealth, hence the coin-and-chalice glyph.

Posted by: Anonymous | September 30, 2008 1:30 AM
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And when they came to Marah, they could not drink of the waters of Marah, for they were bitter: therefore the name of it was called Marah.
And the people murmured against Moses, saying, What shall we drink?
And he cried unto the Lord; and the Lord shewed him a tree, which when he had cast into the waters, the waters were made sweet: there he made for them a statute and an ordinance, and there he proved them,
And said, If thou wilt diligently hearken to the voice of the Lord thy God, and wilt do that which is right in his sight, and wilt give ear to his commandments, and keep all his statutes, I will put none of these diseases upon thee, which I have brought upon the Egyptians: for I am the Lord that healeth thee.
And they came to Elim, where were twelve wells of water, and threescore and ten palm trees: and they encamped there by the waters.

“And he cried unto the Lord; and the Lord shewed him a tree, which when he had cast into the waters, the waters were made sweet: there he made for them a statute and an ordinance, and there he proved them,”

“And said, If thou wilt diligently hearken to the voice of the Lord thy God, and wilt do that which is right in his sight, and wilt give ear to his commandments, and keep all his statutes, I will put none of these diseases upon thee, which I have brought upon the Egyptians: for I am the Lord that healeth thee.”

Posted by: Anonymous | September 29, 2008 7:34 AM
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Moreover Job continued his parable, and said,
Oh that I were as in months past, as in the days when God preserved me;
When his candle shined upon my head, and when by his light I walked through darkness;
As I was in the days of my youth, when the secret of God was upon my tabernacle;
When the Almighty was yet with me, when my children were about me;

“Job continued”
“when by his light I walked through darkness”
“As I was in the days of my youth”
“when the SECRET OF GOD WAS UPON MY TABERNACLE”
“When THE ALMIGHTY WAS YET WITH ME”
“when my children were about me”

And said, Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return thither: the Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.

“NAKED CAME I OUT OF MY MOTHER'S WOMB”
“naked shall I return thither”
“BLESSED BE THE NAME OF THE LORD.”

Moreover Job continued his parable, and said,
As God liveth, who hath taken away my judgment; and the Almighty, who hath vexed my soul;
All the while my breath is in me, and the spirit of God is in my nostrils;

“ALL THE WHILE MY BREATH IS IN ME”
“THE SPIRIT OF GOD IS IN MY NOSTRILS”

The tabernacles of robbers prosper, and they that provoke God are secure; into whose hand God bringeth abundantly.
But ask now the beasts, and they shall teach thee; and the fowls of the air, and they shall tell thee:
Or speak to the earth, and it shall teach thee: and the fishes of the sea shall declare unto thee.
Who knoweth not in all these that the hand of the Lord hath wrought this?
In whose hand is the soul of every living thing, and the breath of all mankind.
Doth not the ear try words? and the mouth taste his meat?
With the ancient is wisdom; and in length of days understanding.
With him is wisdom and strength, he hath counsel and understanding.

“In whose hand is the soul of every living thing, and the breath of all mankind”
“With him is wisdom and strength, he hath counsel and understanding.”

Will God hear his cry when trouble cometh upon him?
Will he delight himself in the Almighty? will he always call upon God?
I will teach you by the hand of God: that which is with the Almighty will I not conceal.
Behold, all ye yourselves have seen it; why then are ye thus altogether vain?

“I will teach you by the hand of God: that which is with the Almighty will I not conceal”
”Behold, all ye yourselves have seen it; why then are ye thus altogether vain?”

If I say, Surely the darkness shall cover me; even the night shall be light about me.
Yea, the darkness hideth not from thee; but the night shineth as the day: the darkness and the light are both alike to thee.
For thou hast possessed my reins: thou hast covered me in my mother's womb.
I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.
My substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.
Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them.
How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God! how great is the sum of them!
If I should count them, they are more in number than the sand: when I awake, I am still with thee.

“For thou hast possessed my reins”
“thou hast covered me in my mother's womb”
“My substance was not hid from thee”
“when I WAS MADE IN SECRET”
“IN THY BOOK ALL MY MEMBERS WERE WRITTEN”

The secret things belong unto the Lord our God: but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children for ever, that we may do all the words of this law.

“The secret things belong unto the Lord”
“but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children for ever”
“THAT WE MAY DO ALL THE WORDS OF THIS LAW”

The secret of the Lord is with them that fear him; and he will shew them his covenant.

“The secret of the Lord is with them that fear him”
“and he will shew them his covenant”

He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.

The words of the Lord are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times.
Thou shalt keep them, O Lord, thou shalt preserve them from this generation for ever.
The wicked walk on every side, when the vilest men are exalted.

“Thou shalt keep them, O Lord, thou shalt preserve them from this generation for ever.”

Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord? or who shall stand in his holy place?
He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully.
He shall receive the blessing from the Lord, and righteousness from the God of his salvation.
This is the generation of them that seek him, that seek thy face, O Jacob. Selah.
Lift up your heads, O ye gates; and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in.
Who is this King of glory? The Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle.
Lift up your heads, O ye gates; even lift them up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in.
Who is this King of glory? The Lord of hosts, he is the King of glory. Selah.

“THIS IS THE GENERATION OF THEM THAT SEEK HIM, THAT SEEK THY FACE, O JACOB”

And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying,
Speak unto Aaron and unto his sons, saying, On this wise ye shall bless the children of Israel, saying unto them,
The Lord bless thee, and keep thee:
The Lord make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee:
The Lord lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace.
And they shall put my name upon the children of Israel, and I will bless them.

“On this wise ye shall bless the children of Israel, saying unto them”
“The Lord bless thee” - Israel
“and keep thee” - Moses
“THE LORD MAKE HIS FACE SHINE UPON THEE” - SOLOMON
“be gracious unto thee” - Mordecai
“The Lord lift up his countenance upon thee” - Jeremiah
“give thee peace” - JUDAH Maccabee
“And they shall put my name upon the children of Israel” - JUDAS
“AND I WILL BLESS THEM” - ABRAHAM, JACOB

And Isaac called Jacob, and blessed him, and charged him, and said unto him, Thou shalt not take a wife of the daughters of Canaan.
Arise, go to Padanaram, to the house of Bethuel thy mother's father; and take thee a wife from thence of the daughters of Laban thy mother's brother.
And God Almighty bless thee, and make thee fruitful, and multiply thee, that thou mayest be a multitude of people;
And give thee the blessing of Abraham, to thee, and to thy seed with thee; that thou mayest inherit the land wherein thou art a stranger, which God gave unto Abraham.

“GOD ALMIGHTY BLESS THEE”
“AND MAKE THEE FRUITFUL”
“AND MULTIPLY THEE”
“HAT THOU MAYEST BE A MULTITUDE OF PEOPLE”
“GIVE THEE THE BLESSING OF ABRAHAM”

Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom.
Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice.
Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities.
Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.
Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me.
Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.

“Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.”
“Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me.”
“Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.”

Now after the death of Moses the servant of the Lord it came to pass, that the Lord spake unto Joshua the son of Nun, Moses' minister, saying,
Moses my servant is dead; now therefore arise, go over this Jordan, thou, and all this people, unto the land which I do give to them, even to the children of Israel.
Every place that the sole of your foot shall tread upon, that have I given unto you, as I said unto Moses.
From the wilderness and this Lebanon even unto the great river, the river Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites, and unto the great sea toward the going down of the sun, shall be your coast.
There shall not any man be able to stand before thee all the days of thy life: as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.
Be strong and of a good courage: for unto this people shalt thou divide for an inheritance the land, which I sware unto their fathers to give them.
Only be thou strong and very courageous, that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law, which Moses my servant commanded thee: turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest prosper whithersoever thou goest.
This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.

“Moses the servant of the Lord”
“There shall not any man be able to stand before thee all the days of thy life”
“as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee”
” I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.”
“Only be thou strong and very courageous”
“that thou mayest OBSERVE TO DO ACCORDING TO ALL THE LAW”
“which Moses my servant commanded thee”
“This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth”
” for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.”

Moses therefore wrote this song the same day, and taught it the children of Israel.
And he gave Joshua the son of Nun a charge, and said, Be strong and of a good courage: for thou shalt bring the children of Israel into the land which I sware unto them: and I will be with thee.
And it came to pass, when Moses had made an end of writing the words of this law in a book, until they were finished,
That Moses commanded the Levites, which bare the ark of the covenant of the Lord, saying,
Take this book of the law, and put it in the side of the ark of the covenant of the Lord your God, that it may be there for a witness against thee.
For I know thy rebellion, and thy stiff neck: behold, while I am yet alive with you this day, ye have been rebellious against the Lord; and how much more after my death?
Gather unto me all the elders of your tribes, and your officers, that I may speak these words in their ears, and call heaven and earth to record against them.
For I know that after my death ye will utterly corrupt yourselves, and turn aside from the way which I have commanded you; and evil will befall you in the latter days; because ye will do evil in the sight of the Lord, to provoke him to anger through the work of your hands.
And Moses spake in the ears of all the congregation of Israel the words of this song, until they were ended.

“Moses had made an end of writing the words of this law in a book”
“That Moses commanded the Levites”
“which bare the ark of the covenant of the Lord”
“Take this book of the law”
“and put it in the side of the ark of the covenant of the Lord your God”
“that it may be there for a witness against thee”

And he declared unto you his covenant, which he commanded you to perform, Ten Commandments; and he wrote them upon two tables of stone.
And the Lord commanded me at that time to teach you statutes and judgments, that ye might do them in the land whither ye go over to possess it.
Take ye therefore good heed unto yourselves; for ye saw no manner of similitude on the day that the Lord spake unto you in Horeb out of the midst of the fire:
Lest ye corrupt yourselves, and make you a graven image, the similitude of any figure, the likeness of male or female,
The likeness of any beast that is on the earth, the likeness of any winged fowl that flieth in the air,
The likeness of any thing that creepeth on the ground, the likeness of any fish that is in the waters beneath the earth:
And lest thou lift up thine eyes unto heaven, and when thou seest the sun, and the moon, and the stars, even all the host of heaven, shouldest be driven to worship them, and serve them, which the Lord thy God hath divided unto all nations under the whole heaven.

“he declared unto you his covenant”
“which he commanded you to perform”
“Ten Commandments”
“he wrote them upon two tables of stone”

There was nothing in the ark save the two tables of stone, which Moses put there at Horeb, when the Lord made a covenant with the children of Israel, when they came out of the land of Egypt.
And it came to pass, when the priests were come out of the holy place, that the cloud filled the house of the Lord,
So that the priests could not stand to minister because of the cloud: for the glory of the Lord had filled the house of the Lord.
Then spake Solomon, The Lord said that he would dwell in the thick darkness.

“There was nothing in the ark save the two tables of stone”
“which Moses put there at Horeb”
“when the Lord made a covenant with the children of Israel”
“that the cloud filled the house of the Lord”
“for the glory of the Lord had filled the house of the Lord”
“The Lord said that he would dwell in the thick darkness”

For God giveth to a man that is good in his sight wisdom, and knowledge, and joy: but to the sinner he giveth travail, to gather and to heap up, that he may give to him that is good before God. This also is vanity and vexation of spirit.

“GOD GIVETH TO A MAN THAT IS GOOD IN HIS SIGHT WISDOM, AND KNOWLEDGE, AND JOY”

Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.
I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me.
Riches and honour are with me; yea, durable riches and righteousness.

“I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me.”

Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.

“Death and life are in the power of the tongue”
“they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.”

A wholesome tongue is a tree of life: but perverseness therein is a breach in the spirit.

“A wholesome tongue is a tree of life”

The song of songs, which is Solomon's.
Let her kiss me with the kisses of his mouth: for thy love is better than wine.
Because of the savour of thy good ointments thy name is as ointment poured forth, therefore do the virgins love me.

“Let her kiss me with the kisses of his mouth”
“for thy love is better than wine”
“therefore do the virgins love me”

So she caught him, and kissed him, and with an impudent face said unto him,
I have peace offerings with me; this day have I payed my vows.
Therefore came I forth to meet thee, diligently to seek thy face, and I have found thee.

“So she caught him, and kissed him”
“and with an impudent face said unto him”
“I have peace offerings with me; this day have I payed my vows”
”Therefore came I forth to meet thee, diligently to seek thy face”
”I have found thee”

The mouth of a righteous man is a well of life: but violence covereth the mouth of the wicked.
Hatred stirreth up strifes: but love covereth all sins.

“The mouth of a righteous man is a well of life”
“but love covereth all sins”

He that covereth a transgression seeketh love; but he that repeateth a matter separateth very friends.

“He that covereth a transgression seeketh love”

Posted by: harold | September 27, 2008 2:58 AM
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Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom.
Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice.
Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities.
Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.
Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me.
Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.

For God giveth to a man that is good in his sight wisdom, and knowledge, and joy: but to the sinner he giveth travail, to gather and to heap up, that he may give to him that is good before God. This also is vanity and vexation of spirit.

“GOD GIVETH TO A MAN THAT IS GOOD IN HIS SIGHT WISDOM, AND KNOWLEDGE, AND JOY”

Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.
I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me.
Riches and honour are with me; yea, durable riches and righteousness.

“I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me.”

Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.

“Death and life are in the power of the tongue”
“they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.”

A wholesome tongue is a tree of life: but perverseness therein is a breach in the spirit.

“A wholesome tongue is a tree of life”

The song of songs, which is Solomon's.
Let her kiss me with the kisses of his mouth: for thy love is better than wine.
Because of the savour of thy good ointments thy name is as ointment poured forth, therefore do the virgins love me.

“Let her kiss me with the kisses of his mouth”
“for thy love is better than wine”
“therefore do the virgins love me”

So she caught him, and kissed him, and with an impudent face said unto him,
I have peace offerings with me; this day have I payed my vows.
Therefore came I forth to meet thee, diligently to seek thy face, and I have found thee.

“So she caught him, and kissed him”
“and with an impudent face said unto him”
“I have peace offerings with me; this day have I payed my vows”
”Therefore came I forth to meet thee, diligently to seek thy face”
”I have found thee”

The mouth of a righteous man is a well of life: but violence covereth the mouth of the wicked.
Hatred stirreth up strifes: but love covereth all sins.

“The mouth of a righteous man is a well of life”
“but love covereth all sins”

He that covereth a transgression seeketh love; but he that repeateth a matter separateth very friends.

“He that covereth a transgression seeketh love”

Posted by: harold | September 27, 2008 2:28 AM
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The early bird catches the worm.

Deliver my soul from the sword; my darling from the power of the dog.

“Deliver my soul from the sword”
“my darling from the power of the dog”

But there was a certain man, called Simon, which beforetime in the same city used sorcery, and bewitched the people of Samaria, giving out that himself was some great one:
To whom they all gave heed, from the least to the greatest, saying, This man is the great power of God.

“a certain man, called Simon”
“used sorcery, and bewitched the people of Samaria”
“giving out that himself was some great one:”
“To whom they all gave heed, from the least to the greatest, saying”
”This man is the great power of God.”

Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.

“I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves”
“BE YE THEREFORE WISE AS SERPENTS”
”HARMLESS AS DOVES”

And in the second year of the reign of Nebuchadnezzar Nebuchadnezzar dreamed dreams, wherewith his spirit was troubled, and his sleep brake from him.
Then the king commanded to call the magicians, and the astrologers, and the sorcerers, and the Chaldeans, for to shew the king his dreams. So they came and stood before the king.
And the king said unto them, I have dreamed a dream, and my spirit was troubled to know the dream.
Then spake the Chaldeans to the king in Syriack, O king, live for ever: tell thy servants the dream, and we will shew the interpretation.
The king answered and said to the Chaldeans, The thing is gone from me: if ye will not make known unto me the dream, with the interpretation thereof, ye shall be cut in pieces, and your houses shall be made a dunghill.
But if ye shew the dream, and the interpretation thereof, ye shall receive of me gifts and rewards and great honour: therefore shew me the dream, and the interpretation thereof.

“THEN THE KING COMMANDED TO CALL THE MAGICIANS”
“AND THE ASTROLOGERS, AND THE SORCERERS”
“Then spake the Chaldeans to the king in Syriack”
” O KING, LIVE FOR EVER”

This is the bread which cometh down from heaven, that a man may eat thereof, and not die.
I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.
The Jews therefore strove among themselves, saying, How can this man give us his flesh to eat?
Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you.
Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day.
For my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed.
He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him.
As the living Father hath sent me, and I live by the Father: so he that eateth me, even he shall live by me.
This is that bread which came down from heaven: not as your fathers did eat manna, and are dead: he that eateth of this bread shall live for ever.
These things said he in the synagogue, as he taught in Capernaum.
Many therefore of his disciples, when they had heard this, said, This is an hard saying; who can hear it?

“I am the living bread which came down from heaven”
“that a man may eat thereof, and not die.”
“if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever”
“the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.”
“Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood”
“ye have no life in you”
“Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life”
“He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood”
” dwelleth in me, and I in him”
” O KING, LIVE FOR EVER”
“AS THE LIVING FATHER HATH SENT ME”
” I live by the Father”
” MANY THEREFORE OF HIS DISCIPLES, WHEN THEY HAD HEARD THIS, SAID”
“THIS IS AN HARD SAYING; WHO CAN HEAR IT?”

Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.

“Death and life are in the power of the tongue”
“they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.”

That thy foot may be dipped in the blood of thine enemies, and the tongue of thy dogs in the same.

“be dipped in the blood of thine enemies”
“THE TONGUE OF THY DOGS IN THE SAME.”

He that sacrificeth unto any god, save unto the Lord only, he shall be utterly destroyed.
Thou shalt neither vex a stranger, nor oppress him: for ye were strangers in the land of Egypt.
Ye shall not afflict any widow, or fatherless child.
If thou afflict them in any wise, and they cry at all unto me, I will surely hear their cry;
And My wrath shall wax hot, and I will kill you with the sword; and your wives shall be widows, and your children fatherless.
If thou lend money to any of My people that is poor by thee, thou shalt not be to him as an usurer, neither shalt thou lay upon him usury.
If thou at all take thy neighbour's raiment to pledge, thou shalt deliver it unto him by that the sun goeth down:
For that is his covering only, it is his raiment for his skin: wherein shall he sleep? and it shall come to pass, when he crieth unto me, that I will hear; for I am gracious.
Thou shalt not revile the gods, nor curse the ruler of thy people.
Thou shalt not delay to offer the first of thy ripe fruits, and of thy liquors: the firstborn of thy sons shalt thou give unto Me.
Likewise shalt thou do with thine oxen, and with thy sheep: seven days it shall be with his dam; on the eighth day thou shalt give it Me.
And ye shall be holy men unto Me: neither shall ye eat any flesh that is torn of beasts in the field; ye shall cast it to the dogs.

“He that sacrificeth unto any god”
“he shall be utterly destroyed”
“If thou at all take thy neighbour's raiment to pledge”
“For that is his covering only”
“it is his raiment for his skin”
“and it shall come to pass”
“when he crieth unto me”
“that I will hear”
“for I am gracious”
“And ye shall be holy men unto Me”
“neither shall ye eat any flesh that is torn of beasts in the field”
“ye shall cast it to the dogs”

They return at evening: they make a noise like a dog, and go round about the city.
Behold, they belch out with their mouth: swords are in their lips: for who, say they, doth hear?
But thou, O Lord, shalt laugh at them; thou shalt have all the heathen in derision.

“they make a noise like a dog”
“Behold, they belch out with their mouth”
“swords are in their lips”
“FOR WHO, SAY THEY, DOTH HEAR?”
“But thou, O Lord, shalt laugh at them”
“thou shalt have all the heathen in derision.”


Posted by: Anonymous | September 27, 2008 2:23 AM
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The early bird catches the worm.

Deliver my soul from the sword; my darling from the power of the dog.

“Deliver my soul from the sword”
“my darling from the power of the dog”

But there was a certain man, called Simon, which beforetime in the same city used sorcery, and bewitched the people of Samaria, giving out that himself was some great one:
To whom they all gave heed, from the least to the greatest, saying, This man is the great power of God.

“a certain man, called Simon”
“used sorcery, and bewitched the people of Samaria”
“giving out that himself was some great one:”
“To whom they all gave heed, from the least to the greatest, saying”
”This man is the great power of God.”

Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.

“I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves”
“BE YE THEREFORE WISE AS SERPENTS”
”HARMLESS AS DOVES”

And in the second year of the reign of Nebuchadnezzar Nebuchadnezzar dreamed dreams, wherewith his spirit was troubled, and his sleep brake from him.
Then the king commanded to call the magicians, and the astrologers, and the sorcerers, and the Chaldeans, for to shew the king his dreams. So they came and stood before the king.
And the king said unto them, I have dreamed a dream, and my spirit was troubled to know the dream.
Then spake the Chaldeans to the king in Syriack, O king, live for ever: tell thy servants the dream, and we will shew the interpretation.
The king answered and said to the Chaldeans, The thing is gone from me: if ye will not make known unto me the dream, with the interpretation thereof, ye shall be cut in pieces, and your houses shall be made a dunghill.
But if ye shew the dream, and the interpretation thereof, ye shall receive of me gifts and rewards and great honour: therefore shew me the dream, and the interpretation thereof.

“THEN THE KING COMMANDED TO CALL THE MAGICIANS”
“AND THE ASTROLOGERS, AND THE SORCERERS”
“Then spake the Chaldeans to the king in Syriack”
” O KING, LIVE FOR EVER”

This is the bread which cometh down from heaven, that a man may eat thereof, and not die.
I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.
The Jews therefore strove among themselves, saying, How can this man give us his flesh to eat?
Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you.
Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day.
For my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed.
He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him.
As the living Father hath sent me, and I live by the Father: so he that eateth me, even he shall live by me.
This is that bread which came down from heaven: not as your fathers did eat manna, and are dead: he that eateth of this bread shall live for ever.
These things said he in the synagogue, as he taught in Capernaum.
Many therefore of his disciples, when they had heard this, said, This is an hard saying; who can hear it?

“I am the living bread which came down from heaven”
“that a man may eat thereof, and not die.”
“if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever”
“the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.”
“Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood”
“ye have no life in you”
“Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life”
“He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood”
” dwelleth in me, and I in him”
” O KING, LIVE FOR EVER”
“AS THE LIVING FATHER HATH SENT ME”
” I live by the Father”
” MANY THEREFORE OF HIS DISCIPLES, WHEN THEY HAD HEARD THIS, SAID”
“THIS IS AN HARD SAYING; WHO CAN HEAR IT?”

He that sacrificeth unto any god, save unto the Lord only, he shall be utterly destroyed.
Thou shalt neither vex a stranger, nor oppress him: for ye were strangers in the land of Egypt.
Ye shall not afflict any widow, or fatherless child.
If thou afflict them in any wise, and they cry at all unto me, I will surely hear their cry;
And My wrath shall wax hot, and I will kill you with the sword; and your wives shall be widows, and your children fatherless.
If thou lend money to any of My people that is poor by thee, thou shalt not be to him as an usurer, neither shalt thou lay upon him usury.
If thou at all take thy neighbour's raiment to pledge, thou shalt deliver it unto him by that the sun goeth down:
For that is his covering only, it is his raiment for his skin: wherein shall he sleep? and it shall come to pass, when he crieth unto me, that I will hear; for I am gracious.
Thou shalt not revile the gods, nor curse the ruler of thy people.
Thou shalt not delay to offer the first of thy ripe fruits, and of thy liquors: the firstborn of thy sons shalt thou give unto Me.
Likewise shalt thou do with thine oxen, and with thy sheep: seven days it shall be with his dam; on the eighth day thou shalt give it Me.
And ye shall be holy men unto Me: neither shall ye eat any flesh that is torn of beasts in the field; ye shall cast it to the dogs.

“He that sacrificeth unto any god”
“he shall be utterly destroyed”
“If thou at all take thy neighbour's raiment to pledge”
“For that is his covering only”
“it is his raiment for his skin”
“and it shall come to pass”
“when he crieth unto me”
“that I will hear”
“for I am gracious”
“And ye shall be holy men unto Me”
“neither shall ye eat any flesh that is torn of beasts in the field”
“ye shall cast it to the dogs”

They return at evening: they make a noise like a dog, and go round about the city.
Behold, they belch out with their mouth: swords are in their lips: for who, say they, doth hear?
But thou, O Lord, shalt laugh at them; thou shalt have all the heathen in derision.

“they make a noise like a dog”
“Behold, they belch out with their mouth”
“swords are in their lips”
“FOR WHO, SAY THEY, DOTH HEAR?”
“But thou, O Lord, shalt laugh at them”
“thou shalt have all the heathen in derision.”


Posted by: Anonymous | September 27, 2008 2:16 AM
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Don't fret neither candidate believes what he is forced by campaign pressures to say. Neither is a religious man in the fundamentalist sense.

Posted by: Anonymous | September 26, 2008 11:25 AM
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All of it needs to stop beginning with the tax exempt status of churches, etc. NO tax exempt status, no faith based funding, period. In the interim, IRS audits of all churches, etc., are long overdue.

Posted by: Farnaz | September 26, 2008 9:50 AM
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The comments to this entry are closed.

 
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