The Saddest Verse in the Bible

Last Saturday I was honored to serve coffee and refreshments to the Women's Ministry here at the First Berean Congregational Church at their annual celebration of motherhood, expectant motherhood, grand-motherhood, great-grand-motherhood, and "otherhood". As the brunch got underway, introductions were made and many of the women stood and shared their favorite bible verse. 

I never thought of having a favorite bible verse, one that I could call my very own, one that would give me comfort and guidance whenever I recalled it. Immediately one leapt to mind and I rejected it because it was too easy, so I continued to ponder but that one verse kept coming back to mind relentlessly. So I pondered that verse, and studied that verse, and prayed over that verse, and slowly the reason why the Holy Spirit brought me that verse dawned on me, and soon I realized it was the saddest verse I know, yet at the same time it's most wonderful verse in the bible. 

So let me drag this out and preface this properly. I'll start with a question - Does God love us? Yes! He really does! He made us for reasons we can barely fathom yet we pitiful little creatures give him pleasure just by loving him back:

For the Lord takes pleasure in His people; He will beautify the afflicted ones with salvation. (Psalm 149:4)

I could go on and on, but to be honest it would be easier for me to let CH Spurgeon go on and on for me instead: 

App Review: Blue Letter Bible

I really, really like the Blue Letter Bible website, I really do, it's one of my favorite study tools out there, it's packed full of information and references and commentaries. So when they came up with the iOS application I downloaded it immediately. Even though I'm trying to "unApple" my technical life I still have the odd Apple product or two laying around so I can compare iOS vs Android (and because my Boss says I have to have one... for now). Just recently the Blue Letter Bible just released an Android application of BLB and I immediately installed it on my phone and tablet (I'm very "Samsung-centric") and tore into the 'new kid on the block' to see what's under the hood and how it stacks up against it's older iOS brother. 

For you non techies iOS = Apple products, like iPhone, iPod, iPad iWatch, iStrain. Android = Android phones (Motorola, Samsung, LG) software is based on the very stable Linux operating system and the phones themselves do not shatter like great-grandma's finest lead crystal if dropped more than three inches. The Blue Letter Bible app is not available for Windows phones, then again much of the known technical universe is not available for the Windows phone.

Both the iOS version and the Android version have similar functions, their layout is a bit different so if you get used to one it will take you a little searching to find that same function in another. However, with just a few exceptions, the core functionality of each application is very similar. Here's my overall view of this application:

Remembering the 21 Egyptian Christian Martyrs

In separate attacks during December 2014, and in January 2015 ISIS terrorists captured 21 migrant Egyptian workers from the Libyan town of Sirte. ISIS claimed they were being held to "avenge the [nonexistant] kidnapping of Muslim women by the Egyptian Coptic Church"

These men were Christians all, despite the protestations of some Christian bloggers who should know better and one sitting president who doesn't appear to know much. Twenty men were raised to love and follow Jesus, and one received a baptism of sea water and blood and came to know God is a very personal way.

These men were not street thugs or felons so the Obama administration felt no compunction to send a representative to their memorial service, they were just hard working men trying to provide for their families who were slaughtered at the embarrassment of Islam and to the glory of their lord Christ Jesus. Before their names are lost in the sands of time let us remember them one last time:

ISIS Slaughters 300 Christian Prisoners

Isis militants slaughter more than 300 Yazidi captives in northern Iraq after thousands were taken captive from villages 

• Hundreds of Yazidi prisoners have been killed near Mosul in northern Iraq
• Yazidi Progress Party condemned the 'heinous criminal acts' by extremists
• About 40,000 were captured when Isis attacked Yazidi villages last summer
• 
  

By JENNY STANTON FOR MAILONLINE

PUBLISHED: 14:08 EST, 2 May 2015 | UPDATED: 07:20 EST, 3 May 2015

More than 300 Yazidi prisoners have been slaughtered by Islamic State militants near Mosul in Iraq. According to the Yazidi Progress Party, hundreds were murdered by Isis on Friday in the Tal Afar district. It comes after around 40,000 people were kidnapped at gunpoint when the terrorists attacked Yazidi villages last summer.

The party statement, quoted by Shafaq News, condemned the 'heinous criminal acts' committed by Isis against the Yazidis.

Random Bits

Empress Clinton demands that religious beliefs about murdering unborn babies needs to be changed. Why? Because Empress Clinton demands it.

It's all about the doctrine - an awesome post about the importance of sound doctrine - something the emergent church is avoiding at all costs.

More proof of Ear Tickling on the increase - you may ask "What's wrong with the book 'Jesus Calling'?" in a word - everything. Seriously, everything.

The World Map of Christian Apps - got a spare megabyte or two on your smartphone or tablet? If so then this list is for you! Many of these apps are quite good, a some need work, and some... I'm still trying to figure out why they exist. I definitely have some reviewing to do. Sadly a few of my favorite apps didn't make this list, so here they are: CARM (Android, iOS) Got Questions (Android, iOS, Windows) Grace To You (Android, iOS, Windows, Kindle)

This could get interesting - a Catholic has decided to sit down and read the bible, while blogging about her trip through God's word. Will the Holy Spirit of God lead her to a stronger faith? Will she find salvation in Jesus rather than the trappings and man made requirements of the Catholics? Or will she loose interest half way through Isaiah?

Barack Hussein Obama has abandoned captives being held by the terrorist government in Iran in order to insure Iran has nuclear weapons.