Tuesday 28 September 2010<span style="mso-spacerun:
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<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">******************************************************************</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Hosea 4:1-10<o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Hear the word of the Lord, O people of Israel;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>for the Lord has an indictment against the inhabitants of the land.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">There is no faithfulness or loyalty,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>and no knowledge of God in the land.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Swearing, lying, and murder,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>and stealing and adultery break out;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>bloodshed follows bloodshed.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Therefore the land mourns,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>and all who live in it languish;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">together with the wild animals</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>and the birds of the air,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>even the fish of the sea are perishing.</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Yet let no one contend,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>and let none accuse,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>for with you is my contention, O priest.*</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">You shall stumble by day;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>the prophet also shall stumble with you by night,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>and I will destroy your mother.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>because you have rejected knowledge,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I reject you from being a priest to me.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">And since you have forgotten the law of your God,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I also will forget your children.</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">The more they increased,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>the more they sinned against me;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>they changed* their glory into shame.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">They feed on the sin of my people;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>they are greedy for their iniquity.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">And it shall be like people, like priest;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I will punish them for their ways,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>and repay them for their deeds.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">They shall eat, but not be satisfied;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>they shall play the whore, but not multiply;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">because they have forsaken the Lord</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>to devote themselves to<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">******************************************************************</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Acts 21:1-14</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">When we had parted from them and set sail, we came by a straight course to Cos, and the next day to Rhodes, and from there to Patara.* When we found a ship bound for Phoenicia, we went on board and set sail. We came in sight of Cyprus; and leaving it on our left, we sailed to Syria and landed at Tyre, because the ship was to unload its cargo there. We looked up the disciples and stayed there for seven days. Through the Spirit they told Paul not to go on to Jerusalem. When our days there were ended, we left and proceeded on our journey; and all of them, with wives and children, escorted us outside the city. There we knelt down on the beach and prayed and said farewell to one another. Then we went on board the ship, and they returned home.</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>When we had finished* the voyage from Tyre, we arrived at Ptolemais; and we greeted the believers* and stayed with them for one day. The next day we left and came to Caesarea; and we went into the house of Philip the evangelist, one of the seven, and stayed with him. He had four unmarried daughters* who had the gift of prophecy. While we were staying there for several days, a prophet named Agabus came down from Judea. He came to us and took Paul’s belt, bound his own feet and hands with it, and said, ‘Thus says the Holy Spirit, “This is the way the Jews in Jerusalem will bind the man who owns this belt and will hand him over to the Gentiles.” ’ When we heard this, we and the people there urged him not to go up to Jerusalem. Then Paul answered, ‘What are you doing, weeping and breaking my heart? For I am ready not only to be bound but even to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.’ Since he would not be persuaded, we remained silent except to say, ‘The Lord’s will be done.’</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Luke 5:12-26</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Once, when he was in one of the cities, there was a man covered with leprosy.* When he saw Jesus, he bowed with his face to the ground and begged him, ‘Lord, if you choose, you can make me clean.’ Then Jesus* stretched out his hand, touched him, and said, ‘I do choose. Be made clean.’ Immediately the leprosy* left him. And he ordered him to tell no one. ‘Go’, he said, ‘and show yourself to the priest, and, as Moses commanded, make an offering for your cleansing, for a testimony to them.’ But now more than ever the word about Jesus* spread abroad; many crowds would gather to hear him and to be cured of their diseases. But he would withdraw to deserted places and pray.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>One day, while he was teaching, Pharisees and teachers of the law were sitting nearby (they had come from every village of Galilee and Judea and from Jerusalem); and the power of the Lord was with him to heal.* Just then some men came, carrying a paralysed man on a bed. They were trying to bring him in and lay him before Jesus;* but finding no way to bring him in because of the crowd, they went up on the roof and let him down with his bed through the tiles into the middle of the crowd* in front of Jesus. When he saw their faith, he said, ‘Friend,* your sins are forgiven you.’ Then the scribes and the Pharisees began to question, ‘Who is this who is speaking blasphemies? Who can forgive sins but God alone?’ When Jesus perceived their questionings, he answered them, ‘Why do you raise such questions in your hearts? Which is easier, to say, “Your sins are forgiven you”, or to say, “Stand up and walk”? But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins’—he said to the one who was paralysed—‘I say to you, stand up and take your bed and go to your home.’ Immediately he stood up before them, took what he had been lying on, and went to his home, glorifying God. Amazement seized all of them, and they glorified God and were filled with awe, saying, ‘We have seen strange things today.’<o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Morning Psalms: Psalm 97, 99</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Psalm 97</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">The Lord is king! Let the earth rejoice;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>let the many coastlands be glad!</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Clouds and thick darkness are all around him;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Fire goes before him,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>and consumes his adversaries on every side.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">His lightnings light up the world;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>the earth sees and trembles.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The mountains melt like wax before the Lord,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>before the Lord of all the earth.</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">The heavens proclaim his righteousness;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>and all the peoples behold his glory.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">All worshippers of images are put to shame,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>those who make their boast in worthless idols;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>all gods bow down before him.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Zion hears and is glad,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>and the towns* of Judah rejoice,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>because of your judgements, O God.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">For you, O Lord, are most high over all the earth;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>you are exalted far above all gods.</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The Lord loves those who hate* evil;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>he guards the lives of his faithful;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>he rescues them from the hand of the wicked.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Light dawns* for the righteous,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>and joy for the upright in heart.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Rejoice in the Lord, O you righteous,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>and give thanks to his holy name!</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Psalm 99</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">The Lord is king; let the peoples tremble!</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>He sits enthroned upon the cherubim; let the earth quake!</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The Lord is great in Zion;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>he is exalted over all the peoples.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Let them praise your great and awesome name.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Holy is he!</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Mighty King,* lover of justice,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>you have established equity;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">you have executed justice</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>and righteousness in Jacob.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Extol the Lord our God;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>worship at his footstool.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Holy is he!</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Moses and Aaron were among his priests,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Samuel also was among those who called on his name.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>They cried to the Lord, and he answered them.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">He spoke to them in the pillar of cloud;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>they kept his decrees,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>and the statutes that he gave them.</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">O Lord our God, you answered them;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>you were a forgiving God to them,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>but an avenger of their wrongdoings.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Extol the Lord our God,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>and worship at his holy mountain;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>for the Lord our God is holy.</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Evening Psalms: Psalm 94</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Psalm 94</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">O Lord, you God of vengeance,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>you God of vengeance, shine forth!</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Rise up, O judge of the earth;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>give to the proud what they deserve!</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">O Lord, how long shall the wicked,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>how long shall the wicked exult?</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">They pour out their arrogant words;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>all the evildoers boast.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">They crush your people, O Lord,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>and afflict your heritage.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">They kill the widow and the stranger,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>they murder the orphan,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">and they say, ‘The Lord does not see;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>the God of Jacob does not perceive.’</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Understand, O dullest of the people;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>fools, when will you be wise?</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">He who planted the ear, does he not hear?</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">He who formed the eye, does he not see?</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">He who disciplines the nations,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">he who teaches knowledge to humankind,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>does he not chastise?</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The Lord knows our thoughts,*</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>that they are but an empty breath.</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Happy are those whom you discipline, O Lord,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>and whom you teach out of your law,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">giving them respite from days of trouble,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>until a pit is dug for the wicked.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">For the Lord will not forsake his people;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>he will not abandon his heritage;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">for justice will return to the righteous,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>and all the upright in heart will follow it.</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Who rises up for me against the wicked?</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Who stands up for me against evildoers?</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">If the Lord had not been my help,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>my soul would soon have lived in the land of silence.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">When I thought, ‘My foot is slipping’,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>your steadfast love, O Lord, held me up.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">When the cares of my heart are many,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>your consolations cheer my soul.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Can wicked rulers be allied with you,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>those who contrive mischief by statute?</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">They band together against the life of the righteous,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>and condemn the innocent to death.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">But the Lord has become my stronghold,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>and my God the rock of my refuge.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">He will repay them for their iniquity</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>and wipe them out for their wickedness;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>the Lord our God will wipe them out.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">******************************************************************</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
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