Sunday 26 October 2008<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span><!--StartFragment-->
<p class="MsoNormal">DAILY LECTIONARY</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Email Evangelism, forward to a friend: http://www.dailylectionary.org</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Ecclesiasticus 18:19-33</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Before you speak, learn;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>and before you fall ill, take care of your health.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Before judgement comes, examine yourself;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>and at the time of scrutiny you will find forgiveness.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Before falling ill, humble yourself;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>and when you have sinned, repent.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Let nothing hinder you from paying a vow promptly,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>and do not wait until death to be released from it.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Before making a vow, prepare yourself;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>do not be like one who puts the Lord to the test.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Think of his wrath on the day of death,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>and of the moment of vengeance when he turns away his face.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">In the time of plenty think of the time of hunger;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>in days of wealth think of poverty and need.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">From morning to evening conditions change;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>all things move swiftly before the Lord.</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">One who is wise is cautious in everything;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>when sin is all around, one guards against wrongdoing.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Every intelligent person knows wisdom,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>and praises one who finds her.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Those who are skilled in words become wise themselves,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>and pour forth apt proverbs.*</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Do not follow your base desires,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>but restrain your appetites.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">If you allow your soul to take pleasure in base desire,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>it will make you the laughing-stock of your enemies.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Do not revel in great luxury,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>or you may become impoverished by its expense.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Do not become a beggar by feasting with borrowed money</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>when you have nothing in your purse.*</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">1 Corinthians 10:15-24</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">I speak as to sensible people; judge for yourselves what I say. The cup of blessing that we bless, is it not a sharing in the blood of Christ? The bread that we break, is it not a sharing in the body of Christ? Because there is one bread, we who are many are one body, for we all partake of the one bread. Consider the people of Israel;* are not those who eat the sacrifices partners in the altar? What do I imply then? That food sacrificed to idols is anything, or that an idol is anything? No, I imply that what pagans sacrifice, they sacrifice to demons and not to God. I do not want you to be partners with demons. You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons. You cannot partake of the table of the Lord and the table of demons. Or are we provoking the Lord to jealousy? Are we stronger than he?</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>‘All things are lawful’, but not all things are beneficial. ‘All things are lawful’, but not all things build up. Do not seek your own advantage, but that of others.</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Matthew 18:15-20</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">‘If another member of the church* sins against you,* go and point out the fault when the two of you are alone. If the member listens to you, you have regained that one.* But if you are not listened to, take one or two others along with you, so that every word may be confirmed by the evidence of two or three witnesses. If the member refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if the offender refuses to listen even to the church, let such a one be to you as a Gentile and a tax-collector. Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. Again, truly I tell you, if two of you agree on earth about anything you ask, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there among them.’<o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Morning Psalms:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Psalm 63:1-11, 98</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Psalm 63:1-11</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">O God, you are my God, I seek you,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>my soul thirsts for you;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">my flesh faints for you,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>as in a dry and weary land where there is no water.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">So I have looked upon you in the sanctuary,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>beholding your power and glory.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Because your steadfast love is better than life,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>my lips will praise you.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">So I will bless you as long as I live;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I will lift up my hands and call on your name.</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">My soul is satisfied as with a rich feast,*</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>and my mouth praises you with joyful lips</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">when I think of you on my bed,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>and meditate on you in the watches of the night;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">for you have been my help,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>and in the shadow of your wings I sing for joy.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">My soul clings to you;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>your right hand upholds me.</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">But those who seek to destroy my life</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>shall go down into the depths of the earth;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">they shall be given over to the power of the sword,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>they shall be prey for jackals.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">But the king shall rejoice in God;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>all who swear by him shall exult,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>for the mouths of liars will be stopped.</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Psalm 98</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">O sing to the Lord a new song,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>for he has done marvellous things.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">His right hand and his holy arm</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>have gained him victory.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The Lord has made known his victory;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>he has revealed his vindication in the sight of the nations.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">He has remembered his steadfast love and faithfulness</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>to the house of Israel.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">All the ends of the earth have seen</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>the victory of our God.</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>break forth into joyous song and sing praises.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Sing praises to the Lord with the lyre,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>with the lyre and the sound of melody.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">With trumpets and the sound of the horn</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>make a joyful noise before the King, the Lord.</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Let the sea roar, and all that fills it;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>the world and those who live in it.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Let the floods clap their hands;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>let the hills sing together for joy</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">at the presence of the Lord, for he is coming</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>to judge the earth.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">He will judge the world with righteousness,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>and the peoples with equity.</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Evening Psalms:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Psalm 103</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Psalm 103</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Bless the Lord, O my soul,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>and all that is within me,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>bless his holy name.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Bless the Lord, O my soul,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>and do not forget all his benefits—</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">who forgives all your iniquity,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>who heals all your diseases,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">who redeems your life from the Pit,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">who satisfies you with good as long as you live*</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">The Lord works vindication</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>and justice for all who are oppressed.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">He made known his ways to Moses,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>his acts to the people of Israel.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The Lord is merciful and gracious,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">He will not always accuse,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>nor will he keep his anger for ever.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">He does not deal with us according to our sins,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>nor repay us according to our iniquities.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">For as the heavens are high above the earth,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>so great is his steadfast love towards those who fear him;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">as far as the east is from the west,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>so far he removes our transgressions from us.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">As a father has compassion for his children,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>so the Lord has compassion for those who fear him.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">For he knows how we were made;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>he remembers that we are dust.</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">As for mortals, their days are like grass;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>they flourish like a flower of the field;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">for the wind passes over it, and it is gone,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>and its place knows it no more.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">But the steadfast love of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>on those who fear him,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>and his righteousness to children’s children,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">to those who keep his covenant</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>and remember to do his commandments.</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">The Lord has established his throne in the heavens,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>and his kingdom rules over all.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Bless the Lord, O you his angels,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>you mighty ones who do his bidding,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>obedient to his spoken word.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Bless the Lord, all his hosts,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>his ministers that do his will.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Bless the Lord, all his works,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>in all places of his dominion.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Bless the Lord, O my soul.</p>
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