-------------------------<BrethrenVoice>------------------------- [which seeks to be guided solely by the NT Biblical pattern, facilitates free flow of Christian info. To God be the glory!] [eMail Moderator: brethrenvoice-owner@...] [The Moderator would welcome your comments/feedback] [<SUNDAY-GLEANINGS> Archives/Read online: http://associate.com/digests/brethrenvoice/ezmlm.cgi] <SUNDAY-GLEANINGS> <22 December 2002> Contents: ----------- 1) <Devotional> "Treasury of David - Psalm 19:2"- C.H. Spurgeon 2) <Bible-Study> "Peace offerings" (Pt-1)-Charles E.Wigg 3) <Science> "Wonderfully made" (Pt-2) - Dr. Paul Brand 4) <From-the-Gleaner> "Top-stories-of-the-week" - Ben 1) <DEVOTIONAL> TREASURY OF DAVID - PSALM 19:2 C. H. Spurgeon Verse 2. "Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge." As if one day took up the story where the other left it, and each night passed over the wondrous tale to the next. The original has in it the thought of pouring out or welling over, with speech; as though days and nights were but as a fountain flowing evermore with Jehovah's praise. Oh to drink often at the celestial well, and learn to utter the glory of God! The witnesses above cannot be slain or silenced; from their elevated seats they constantly preach the knowledge of God, unawed and unbiased by the judgment of men. Even the changes of alternating night and day are mutely eloquent, and light and shade equally reveal the Invisible One; let the vicissitudes of our circumstances do the same, and while we bless the God of our days of joy, let us also extol him who giveth "songs in the night." The lesson of day and night is one which it were well if all men learned. It should be among our day-thoughts and night-thoughts, to remember the flight of time, the changeful character of earthly things, the brevity both of joy and sorrow, the preciousness of life, our utter powerlessness to recall the hours once flown, and the irresistible approach of eternity. Day bids us labour, night reminds us to prepare for our last time; day bids us work for God and night invites us to rest in him; day bids us look for endless day, and night warns us to escape from everlasting night. _______________________________________________________ 2) <BIBLE-STUDY> THE PEACE OFFERING LEVITICUS CHAPTER 3 AND CHAPTER 6:11-37. (PART-1) Charles E. Wigg The peace offering differs from the other offerings, in that after the best part of the offering had been presented to God by burning on the altar, and after the priest had received his portion, what remained of the offering was eaten by the offerer and his friends, or family. It was mentioned in the introduction, that this offering corresponds with the Corinthian Epistles, especially the first Epistle, because in those epistles fellowship is emphasized, eating and drinking is also stressed. In 1 Cor. 1;19, we are told that we are called to the fellowship of God's Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. The word for fellowship is 'KOINONIA" in the Greek, and means a common sharing, or participation, thus we are called to a common sharing of the richness of Christ. This is just what the Peace Offering would teach us. In chapter five , verse eight, of 1 Corinthians , we are told to keep, or celebrate the feast, and in chapter eight, we are warned against partaking of the table of demons, or eating in idol temples of things sacrificed to idols. In chapter nine we are taught that those who minister about Holy Things, live of the things of the temple. Also that those who wait at the altar, are partakers with the altar. In chapter ten we are taught what Israel ate and drank. In verses 16-22 we are taught about eating and drinking and about partaking of the Lord's table. In chapter eleven we are instructed about the Lord's Supper, and warned about eating or drinking unworthily. PEACE: In the Peace Offering, peace is stressed, as we shall presently see. Without peace there can be no real fellowship. This subject is dealt with in Eph 2:14-20., where we are taught about peace and how it has been made, or won for us. Not only peace with God, but peace with fellow believers, in spite of the many national characteristics that would render such peace impossible. This is also presented to us in 1 Cor. 1;17-18, where the preaching of the cross is brought in to heal the strifes and divisions that were existing among the Corinthian believers. I think that all this evidence confirms our comparison of the Peace Offering with the Corinthian epistles, in fact several of the Epistles of Paul.. Let us now look at the details of the peace-offering, and see what we can learn. [To be concluded] --- [Reproduced by permission] _______________________________________________________ 3) <SCIENCE> "WONDERFULLY MADE" (PART 2 OF 2)* Dr. Paul Brand Bone cells live in rigid structures that exude strength. Cut in cross section, bones resemble tree rings, overlapping strength with strength, offering impliability and sturdiness. In contrast, skin cells form undulating patterns of softness and texture that rise and dip, giving shape and beauty to our bodies. They curve and jut at unpredictable angles so that every person's fingerprint is unique. The king of cells, the one I have devoted much of my life to studying, is the nerve cell. It has an aura of wisdom and complexity about it. Spider-like, it branches out and unites the body with a computer network of dazzling sophistication. Its axons, "wires" carrying distant messages to and from the human brain, can reach a yard in length. I never tire of viewing these specimens or thumbing through books which render cells. Individually they seem puny and oddly designed, but I know these invisible parts cooperate to lavish me with the phenomenon of life. Every second my smooth muscle cells modulate the width of my blood vessels, gently push matter through my intestines, open and close the plumbing in my kidneys. When things are going well--my heart contracting rhythmically, my brain humming with knowledge, my lymph laving tired cells--I rarely give these cells a passing thought. But I believe these cells in my body can also teach me about larger organisms: families, groups, communities, villages, nations--and especially about one specific community of people that is likened to a body more than thirty times in the New Testament. I speak of the Body of Christ, that network of people scattered across the planet who have little in common other than their membership in the group that follows Jesus Christ. My body employs a bewildering zoo of cells, none of which individually resembles the larger body. Just so, Christ's Body comprises an unlikely assortment of humans. Unlikely is precisely the right word, for we are decidedly unlike one another and the One we follow... How can any organism composed of such diversity attain even a semblance of unity?... The unifying factor is connection with and commitment to the Head. We can only find true fellowship, meaningful growth and maturity in our mutual obedience to Him. Then we will "grow up into Him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: from whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplies...makes increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love" (Eph. 4:15-16). [Concluded] --- *[From "Fearfully and Wonderfully Made", by Dr. Paul Brand & Philip Yancey, Zondervan] _______________________________________________________ 4) <FROM-THE-GLEANER> A-GLANCE-AT-THE-TOP-STORIES-OF-THE-WEEK Ben US VETOES RESOLUTION CONDEMNING ISRAEL FOR UN: The United States vetoed an Arab-backed resolution that would have condemned Israel for the recent killings of three UN workers. The U.S. ambassador called the resolution one-sided and not conducive to Mideast peace efforts. ISRAEL, US HOLD ANOTHER ROUND OF MILITARY TALKS: Israel and the United States have begun another round of high-level military cooperation talks concerning the expected war against Iraq. QUARTET'S MIDEAST ROAD MAP '99.5 PERCENT' DONE: Amid word that the United States, Russia, the European Union and the United Nations are "very close" to agreeing on a plan for a comprehensive Israeli-Palestinian settlement, the four issued a statement Friday calling for "an immediate, comprehensive cease-fire" in the region. POWELL LAYS OUT PATH IN IRAQ DISPUTE: US Secretary of State Colin Powell, after rejecting the weapons declaration Iraq submitted to the U.N. Security Council as "a new lie," laid out the path Thursday for the United States as it continues to increase pressure on Iraq to disarm. US MILITARY READY FOR IRAQ WAR: The United States' top military commander said on Saturday his forces were ready for action if called upon to fight a war in Iraq. BLAIR TELLS UK TROOPS TO PREPARE FOR POSSIBLE WAR: Prime Minister Tony Blair told British troops Friday to prepare for possible war with Iraq but said it was still unclear whether weapons inspectors would find Iraq in breach of a U.N. resolution on disarmament. US SAYS LIBYA, SYRIA PURSUE WMD PROGRAMMES: The United States has determined that Libya and Syria have accelerated their weapons of mass destruction programs. POPE SAYS CONFLICT IS BATHING THE FUTURE IN BLOOD: Pope John Paul expressed despair at the growing number of conflicts in the world on Saturday, saying the face of Christ was marked by pain because of it and the future was bathed in blood. BONE MARROW STEM CELLS USED TO CREATE BRAIN CELLS: Stem cells from a person's own bone marrow can be used to generate brain cells and other nervous system cells that, when put back into the body, may be a way to treat diseases like brain cancer or Alzheimer's, researchers said on Friday. DROUGHT-RACKED AUSTRALIA SEES HOTTEST YEAR EVER: With Australia in the grip of a fierce drought, the year 2002 will turn out to be its hottest ever in terms of maximum daytime temperatures, the weather bureau said Thursday. EARTH HOTTER IN 2002 AS USA COOLS: El Nino's return in 2002 helped to hike global temperatures to the second highest on record and scorch the earth with widespread drought, U.S. government forecasters said on Tuesday. COLLEGE COEDS EXPERIMENT WITH PAGANISM: Syracuse University students recently lit candles in the school's Hendricks Chapel. What made this event unusual, however, was the fact that these students were members of the Syracuse University Pagan Society. 'HEROIC' US OPPOSING ABORTION AT SUMMIT: The United States has faced a steady stream of opposition for its stance against abortion at a population conference in Bangkok, Thailand, this week, but several pro-life groups are applauding the Bush administration for its courage. YUPPIES 'TIRED OF RELATIVISM' RETURN TO GOD: Young educated New Yorkers are pouring into mainline churches and synagogues in such numbers that some ministers believe is they are witnessing an awakening. ALARM AT 'EU-PENTAGON' PLAN: The European Union is drawing up plans for a "Euro-Pentagon" in Brussels commanded by a defence chief able to launch military operations anywhere in the world. ---------------------------<BrethrenVoice>--------------------------- Subscribe, eMail:<brethrenvoice-subscribe@...> Unsubscribe, eMail:<brethrenvoice-unsubscribe@...> FAQs/Faith Statement, eMail: <brethrenvoice-faq@...> <BrethrenVoice> Home: www.brethrenvoice.com <eFellowship> Home: http://groups.msn.com/BrethrenChristiansForum/ "Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith." 2 Cor 13:5 _________________________________________________________________