onewhoponders

Daily Office Readings for Saturday of Proper 26: Year 2

Morning,  Psalms 75 and 76; Evening,  Psalms 23 and 27;
Ecclesiasticus 51:1to12; Revelation 18:1to14; Luke 14:1to11

“On one occasion when Jesus was going to the house of a leader of the Pharisees to eat a meal on the Sabbath, they were watching him closely. Just then, in front of him, there was a man who had dropsy. And Jesus asked the lawyers and Pharisees, ‘Is it lawful to cure people on the Sabbath, or not?’  But they were silent. So Jesus took him and healed him, and sent him away.  Then he said to them, ‘If one of you has a child or an ox that has fallen into a well, will you not immediately pull it out on a Sabbath day?’  And they could not reply to this.” (Luke 14: 1 to 6)

Jesus asks a question about how closely they follow their own laws.  This is God in Christ Jesus who sees “in secret” and knows all that we do.  But what he is trying to show them is that the Sabbath is a gift from God to them for their own health of body, mind and spirit. The Sabbath is not some tool of wrath for God, by which God might condemn us just for the sake of enforcing a law.

Besides all this, who prepared the meal they were partaking of on the Sabbath?  No faith should have laws whereby only certain humans are to abide by.  This includes my own tradition.  Maybe one day we will let all persons desiring to partake of Holy Communion do so.  We are not there yet unfortunately.  I am not so sure that baptism was a requirement with our Lord Jesus to receive the Bread and Wine (Body and Blood), but it is for us today.

No religious tradition is perfect. Sometimes it takes people from other traditions to show us our shortcomings.  “Is it lawful to cure people on the Sabbath, or not?”  Is it lawful for the un-baptized to receive Communion or not? We all must follow our own paths.  I am on the Episcopal path of the Jesus movement as our former Presiding Bishop said. And, I am thankful.  But I also see paths for improvement. I think Jesus is saying that not all laws should be absolute save loving God and loving our neighbors. These two laws of love are absolute laws under which all other lower laws must yield. Thank You Lord Jesus.

Please keep up your thoughts and prayers and hopes for Ukraine and Russia, Israel and Palestine, and our schools. And, as we listen to what the Spirit of God is saying to us, let us live to love and serve, and to teach others to love and serve, while pondering anew what the Almighty can do. John

Let us pray: (The Collect for Saturdays BCP p. 99)        

Almighty God, who after the creation of the world rested from all your works and sanctified a day of rest for all your creatures: Grant that we, putting away all earthly anxieties, may be duly prepared for the service of your sanctuary, and that our rest here upon earth may be a preparation for the eternal rest promised to your people in heaven; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Daily Office Readings for Friday of Proper 26: Year 2

Morning,  Psalm 69: Evening,  Psalm 73;
Ecclesiasticus 50:1,11to24; Revelation 17:1to18; Luke 13:31to35

“At that very hour some Pharisees came and said to him, ‘Get away from here, for Herod wants to kill you.’ He said to them, ‘Go and tell that fox for me, “Listen, I am casting out demons and performing cures today and tomorrow, and on the third day I finish my work.  Yet today, tomorrow, and the next day I must be on my way, because it is impossible for a prophet to be killed away from Jerusalem.”  Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often have I desired to gather your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing!” (Luke 13: 31 to 34)

I was blessed to be able to go on a Christian pilgrimage to the Holy Land in February of 2018.  I am thankful to God for this opportunity.  Before going I prayed to God to let me be open to accept and receive whatever God saw fit to bless me with.  And God answered me with truth.  My pilgrimage  began in Northern Israel (Galilee), and then ended in the city of Jerusalem in the south.

The two landscapes are totally different.  Galilee, to the north, has fertile fields and little hills, and is the span of land that our Lord Jesus conducted his three year ministry of teaching, preaching and healing. I was impressed with Capernaum, Nazareth, Cana, and Mount Tabor. Also, I was impressed with Lake Galilee, of which, I use my picture from a boat in Lake Galilee looking back at the shoreline of Galilee as the heading of my daily blog. The picture shows all the places Jesus walked to do His ministry more than 2000 years ago.

We ended our trip down in Jerusalem.  To get there we went down to Jericho and then the long ride by bus up to the top of a mountain of sand some 2,474 feet above sea level.  It must have been a real task to get water up there 2000 years ago. Much praise and worshipful attention has been centered on Jerusalem.  Judaism, Christianity and Islam all claim a religious heritage to the place. I went to, and visited the Church of the Holy Sepulcher. Given all of its splendor, I was not that impressed.  Then I remembered that I prayed to God to show me what God wanted me to see.

I also recalled that our Lord Jesus, of his own free will and accord, chose the land of Galilee to bring the good news of kingdom of heaven.  And when he was raised from the dead, he told his followers to again meet him in Galilee from which he gave the Great Commission (Matthew 28). If I was again blessed to go to Israel, I would only go to Galilee and again take in as much as I can. If you ask God for something in serious prayer, please understand, God’s response to you is not guided by what humanity values. Ponder, pray and perceive.

 “Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all their multitude. And on the seventh day God finished the work that he had done, and he rested on the seventh day from all the work that he had done” (Genesis 2:1 and 2). So, for this evening and tomorrow day my friends, Shabbat Shalom. 

What is Shabbat? Intro to the Jewish Sabbath – YouTube                                     

Please keep up your thoughts and prayers and hopes for Ukraine and Russia; Israel and Palestine, and our schools. And, as we listen to what the Spirit of God is saying to us, let us live to love and serve, and to teach others to love and serve, while pondering anew what the Almighty can do. John

Let us pray:

O Almighty God, Creator and Sustainer of all life, You have shown us with your presence in our Lord Jesus that our mission, and your divine purpose for us, is the most important call on our lives and the lives of our communities. Help us to be willing, and then keep us ever-willing, as we strive to teach, heal, and feed those in need of your gifts, to the glory of your Name; Amen.

Daily Office Readings for Thursday of Proper 26: Year 2

Morning, Psalm 71; Evening, Psalm 74;
Ecclesiasticus 44:1to15; Revelation 16:12 to21; Luke 13:18 to 30

“Someone asked him, ‘Lord, will only a few be saved?’ He said to them, ‘Strive to enter through the narrow door; for many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able.” (Luke 13: 23 and 24)

I guess the answer to the question of “someone” is, yes, only a few will be saved.  There is a wide door that many will walk through, but that door does not mean it is the entry into paradise.

Each one of us has the personal responsibility to do what we think is right to do, no matter how unpopular it might be. I have a poster that shows an old man walking alone down a road.  Under it the caption reads, “It is better to walk alone than in a crowd going the wrong way.”

The wide door can surely accommodate the large crowd. But through the wide door it may lead the large crowd over the side of a steep cliff, and down into the abyss to their own demise. We all must make our own decisions about where we are going.  Even following the crowd is a decision; it is a decision to let others decide for us.  We can’t follow the crowd and then later, when trouble comes, allege innocents saying “I thought they knew what they were doing.”

Two biblical crowd decisions that I can recall show where the wrong decisions were made. One is  when the crowd persuaded Aaron to make a golden calf for the Israelites to worship while in the wilderness; and the other is when the crowd around the jailed Jesus insisted that he be crucified. Crowds are made up of individuals who have handed over their independent conscience to mob rule. Don’t do that.  Be who God made you to be, and do what God asks you to do in your prayers.

God’s Way is often a little more difficult and sometimes the unpopular path to travel. Too many of us look for the short cut, the easy way, the wide door.  Our Lord Jesus says, “Strive to enter through the narrow door; for many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able.” Being able is a matter of personal determination and life discipline. Each one of us must make our own decisions about each next step in our lives.  And if you find that you are joined by other disciplined and determined persons who also chose your same path, great! But first strive to find your own path to our Lord Jesus. Roll your heart sleeves up, it’s hard work, it’s the narrow door.

Please keep up your thoughts and prayers and hopes for Ukraine and Russia, Israel and Palestine, and our schools. And, as we listen to what the Spirit of God is saying to us, let us live to love and serve, and to teach others to love and serve, while pondering anew what the Almighty can do. John

Let us pray:

Most Glorious Lord God, You gave each of us the ability to decide for ourselves the path we take, and have placed us in communities where others also have the same such abilities. Help us, Dear God, through our daily discipline of prayer and pondering to seek the narrow door that leads to your will for all humanity, and the discipline to defer easy, wide doors, that lead to self-serving ways. In Your Name we pray; Amen.

Daily Office Readings for Wednesday of Proper 26: Year 2

Morning,  Psalm 72; Evening, Psalm 119:73to96:
Ecclesiasticus 43:23-33; Revelation 16:1to11; Luke 13:10to17

“When he laid his hands on her, immediately she stood up straight and began praising God.” (Luke 13:13)

The leader of the synagogue gets upset because Jesus heals on the Sabbath day.  The leader himself probably could not heal the woman on any day of the week.  And, he forgets that the Sabbath was made for us, not us for the Sabbath.

Jesus does more than just heal this woman; he causes her to praise God.  I wonder how many people who regularly attended the synagogue came away with a renewed sense of being thankful to God and praising God. How many of us come away from our places of worship with a renewed sense of giving thanks to God and praising God?

Here is the truth; we shouldn’t wait for the Sabbath or our Day of worship to turn people to God. And, turning people to God doesn’t have to take place in a house of worship. We can turn people to God at work, at home, at school, at the bus stop or even in a tavern. The opportunity to show people the love of God comes everyday and everywhere.

Every day brings us an opportunity to do something good. We may not be able to heal infirmities but we can share with the sick the power and love of God.  We can give them hope in their distress.  Every day brings us an opportunity to teach people to praise God; anywhere, anytime. Let us do more to turn people to God.

Please keep up your thoughts and prayers and hopes for Ukraine and Russia, Israel and Palestine, and our schools. And, as we listen to what the Spirit of God is saying to us, let us live to love and serve, and to teach others to love and serve, while pondering anew what the Almighty can do. John

Let us pray:

O God Almighty, Creator and Sustainer of all life, lead those of us who have experienced your healing, blessing and revelation, to at least tell our stories to those who say they don’t know you. Let us touch the hearts of non-believers in order that they may stand up straight and began praising God also. Amen.

Daily Office Readings for Tuesday of Proper 26: Year 2

Morning, Psalms 61and 62; Evening,  Psalm 68:

Ecclesiasticus 43:1to 22; Revelation 14:14to15:8; Luke 13:1to9

“It is the moon that marks the changing seasons, governing the times, their everlasting sign.  From the moon comes the sign for festal days, a light that wanes when it completes its course. The new moon, as its name suggests, renews itself; how marvelous it is in this change, a beacon to the hosts on high, shining in the vault of the heavens!” (Ecclesiasticus 43: 6 to 8)

As an Education for Ministry (EfM) mentor, I have learned to make use of metaphor to explain life situations and our call as Christians.  This is a fine opportunity to do it now with the words from the writer of Ecclesiasticus.

The moon waxes and wanes.  It grows, from our earthly perspective, and then shrinks again. When the moon is directly between earth and the sun it is invisible.  We call this the New Moon. It is almost like it is born again.  It starts out small again and then fills in as the days advance.

We too, as we grow in Christ we reflect the light of the “Son.”  We also have a continual need to find a quiet place for solace and contemplation.  We have no light of our own.  We reflect the Light of our Lord Jesus.  As the Church we signal the changing seasons.  Advent is approaching, then comes Christmas.  Christmas is followed by the light of Epiphany which leads us into Lent. Then the Great Day and season of Easter!  Then we’re back to Pentecost or Ordinary time.  The Church as the moon has a huge responsibility.  We must signal the changing of the seasons, the times, the festal days, the everlasting sign.  And we do this by renewing ourselves regularly. It’s important to remember to do self care.  Those outside of us count on us. This earth needs the moon to keep it in balance.

Today we remember William Temple; Archbishop of Canterbury (6 November 1944), and his bio can be found at: William Temple.  My favorite Temple quote is: “The Church exists primarily for the sake of those who are still outside it. It is a mistake to suppose that God is only, or even chiefly, concerned with religion.”

Please keep up your thoughts and prayers and hopes for Ukraine and Russia, Israel and Palestine, and our schools. And, as we listen to what the Spirit of God is saying to us, let us live to love and serve, and to teach others to love and serve, while pondering anew what the Almighty can do. John

Let us pray:

O Almighty God, You created us male and female in order that we may grow humanity in faith and love. And like the moon in its newness, it is not seen, just as an infant in the womb is not seen. But then it grows and becomes seen, “ how marvelous it is in this change.” Please keep us ever mindful we pray, that we too wax to our fullness, and then wane back to you, in Your Grand design for all mankind. Amen.

Daily Office Readings for Tuesday of Proper 26: Year 2

Morning, Psalms 61and 62; Evening,  Psalm 68:

Ecclesiasticus 43:1to 22; Revelation 14:14to15:8; Luke 13:1to9

“It is the moon that marks the changing seasons, governing the times, their everlasting sign.  From the moon comes the sign for festal days, a light that wanes when it completes its course. The new moon, as its name suggests, renews itself; how marvelous it is in this change, a beacon to the hosts on high, shining in the vault of the heavens!” (Ecclesiasticus 43: 6 to 8)

As an Education for Ministry (EfM) mentor, I have learned to make use of metaphor to explain life situations and our call as Christians.  This is a fine opportunity to do it now with the words from the writer of Ecclesiasticus.

The moon waxes and wanes.  It grows, from our earthly perspective, and then shrinks again. When the moon is directly between earth and the sun it is invisible.  We call this the New Moon. It is almost like it is born again.  It starts out small again and then fills in as the days advance.

We too, as we grow in Christ we reflect the light of the “Son.”  We also have a continual need to find a quiet place for solace and contemplation.  We have no light of our own.  We reflect the Light of our Lord Jesus.  As the Church we signal the changing seasons.  Advent is approaching, then comes Christmas.  Christmas is followed by the light of Epiphany which leads us into Lent. Then the Great Day and season of Easter!  Then we’re back to Pentecost or Ordinary time.  The Church as the moon has a huge responsibility.  We must signal the changing of the seasons, the times, the festal days, the everlasting sign.  And we do this by renewing ourselves regularly. It’s important to remember to do self care.  Those outside of us count on us. This earth needs the moon to keep it in balance.

Today we remember William Temple; Archbishop of Canterbury (6 November 1944), and his bio can be found at: William Temple.  My favorite Temple quote is: “The Church exists primarily for the sake of those who are still outside it. It is a mistake to suppose that God is only, or even chiefly, concerned with religion.”

Please keep up your thoughts and prayers and hopes for Ukraine and Russia, Israel and Palestine, and our schools. And, as we listen to what the Spirit of God is saying to us, let us live to love and serve, and to teach others to love and serve, while pondering anew what the Almighty can do. John

Let us pray:

O Almighty God, You created us male and female in order that we may grow humanity in faith and love. And like the moon in its newness, it is not seen, just as an infant in the womb is not seen. But then it grows and becomes seen, “ how marvelous it is in this change.” Please keep us ever mindful we pray, that we too wax to our fullness, and then wane back to you, in Your Grand design for all mankind. Amen.

Daily Office Readings for Monday of Proper 26: Year 2

Morning, Psalms 56 and 57; Evening, Psalms 64 and 65
Ecclesiasticus 38:24 to 34; Revelation 14:1 to 13; Luke 12:49 to 59

“How different the one who devotes himself to the study of the law of the Most High!” (Ecclesiasticus 38:34)

I have a friend who really appreciates the life lessons she received from her former pastor. She said he would take his own money to post bail for one of his parishioners when he was arrested; he broke his own Church tradition and served real wine at their Holy Communions, and other such acts that taught her to live a faithful Christian life. He was a barber by trade.

Our Ecclesiasticus reading for today teaches us that one cannot be both. The author says that we either devote ourselves to secular work or we devote ourselves to work of spiritual healing and worship. The writer teaches that we can’t effectively do both.  I disagree.

For one thing, the secular work we find ourselves in was either handed down as the family business, or was evaluated for us in some kind of career test, or something we thought would be nice to do or, such a craft pays well.  Real spiritual healing and Church worship are not career choices, such Godly vocations are Callings.  Jesus Called fishermen to follow him.  He didn’t stop them from being fishermen, he qualified them to do the Lord’s work. We still need both today.  I don’t believe we must forego one in order to do the other.  We don’t qualify ourselves for the Lord’s work.  God doesn’t call the qualified, God qualifies the Called.

There are many doctors and scientists today who are also life changing Christian clergy, and not all are called along our Christian path. The point is that many of us are like Saint Paul who was a tentmaker who was also called to take the Gospel of Christ to the Gentiles. You too may be such a saint who God is calling to do such work, the Lord’s work.

Today we remember Adeline Blanchard Tyler and her Companions and information about her can be found at: Adeline Blanchard Tyler

Please keep up your thoughts and prayers and hopes for Ukraine and Russia, Israel and Palestine, and our schools. And, as we listen to what the Spirit of God is saying to us, let us live to love and serve, and to teach others to love and serve, while pondering anew what the Almighty can do. John

Let us pray:

O Lord God Almighty, who brought us into being through your Creating Word, and gave us free will to decide how we may best serve our community and also called us to follow your Grand design of love for all people, we pray you lead us and guide us in ways that satisfy our neighbor’s needs as well as fulfilling your most Holy Call on our lives. This we ask in Your most holy Name, Amen.

The Gospel Reading for All Saints Day 2024

John 11: 32 to 44

Jesus said to her, “Did I not say to you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?”

Again, there is so much packed into this Gospel reading. We begin here in the middle of Jesus coming to Bethany and has already spoken with Martha, apparently to no avail.

Jesus now engages with her sister Mary who says the exact same thing, that is, “If you had been here my brother would not have died.” These are the same words used by Martha. Jesus met Martha in her blaming unbelief and he met Mary in her sad but anxious faith in Jesus. Jesus meets us where we are.

And then we have “the Jews.”  We must be careful here and remember that all were Jews but the writer of John’s Gospel lumps Temple authorities as a separate group of mainly critics of Jesus.  Such writing could lead one to think that Jesus was not Jewish, but indeed, he was, and kept all of the Jewish traditions and festivals. We Christians need to ponder what this means deeper than we do.

When Martha reveals her unbelief in her complaint about the stench, Jesus said to her, “Did I not say to you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?”  Martha was initially telling Jesus what she thought Jesus wanted to hear. She said to Him, “Yes, Lord; I have come to believe that You are the Christ, the Son of God, and He who comes into the world.” (John 11:27)

But Martha’s words were lip service as she later revealed her fear of moving the stone that covered her brother’s tomb. As we follow the teachings of Jesus we become more than disciples, we become saints. And yes, we have fears and doubts, but faith covers all. We come here every Sunday and say the Creed and the Lord’s Prayer and then we go back outside and tell folks not to move the stone.  Perhaps the stench emanates from our lack of faith? We shouldn’t try to tell Jesus what we think Jesus wants to hear. Jesus knows the truth about us, and will still meet us where we are today.

Please keep up your thoughts and prayers and hopes for Ukraine and Russia, Israel and Palestine, and our schools. And, as we listen to what the Spirit of God is saying to us, let us live to love and serve, and to teach others to love and serve, while pondering anew what the Almighty can do. John

Let us pray:

Almighty God, you have knit together your elect in one communion and fellowship in the mystical body of your Son Christ our Lord: Give us grace so to follow your blessed saints in all virtuous and godly living, that we may come to those ineffable joys that you have prepared for those who truly love you; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, in glory everlasting. Amen. (BCP 245)

Daily Office Readings for Saturday of Proper 25: Year 2

Morning, Psalm 55; Evening, Psalms 138 and 139:
Ecclesiasticus. 35:1to17; Revelation 13:11to18; Luke 12:32to48

“For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”  (Luke 12: 34)

I really had to look at this passage closely. I have heard that if you really want to know what a person’s priorities are just look at their checkbook, or perhaps today, their receipts, as fewer people are writing actual checks today. The point is the same, what we really care about is revealed by where we put our money.

This means our money follows our heart’s desire rather than our hearts following our money. Money, all by itself, has no desire at all. Some of us may not have the money that will allow us to follow our heart’s desire.  That doesn’t mean we don’t have desires.  Of course we do.

I think the most important lesson here is that we can learn to love and desire what God wants us to desire, and that is, to do God’s will. Over the years I have outgrown some selfish desires in life.  I don’t care about fancy cars, or clothes anymore. Unfortunately I had to experience some of these things to realize they aren’t that important. Blessed is the person who has never had these material things and never wanted them.

Real happiness for me now is seeing to it that others have the simple things in life, food, health care, housing, education, and a way to get around as they need to. My happiness in part, is based on the happiness of my neighbor. I believe this is the desire that God wants me to have.  So where is my treasure?

I give to my church and to charitable organizations. I join clubs and organizations who also share my desire to care for the poor and disenfranchised. I know my little treasure won’t bring an end to their plight but it makes me feel better and brings some joy to my heart, knowing that I helped with some relief for them.

Money is not meant to be worshiped but it will reveal the nature of our worship. We are to love God and love our neighbor. As far as I know, God does not need any money.  Some of our neighbors do. These are the neighbors we are asked by God to love. Loving our neighbor should be our heart’s desire.

Please keep up your thoughts and prayers and hopes for Ukraine and Russia; Israel and Palestine, and our schools. And, as we listen to what the Spirit of God is saying to us, let us live to love and serve, and to teach others to love and serve, while pondering anew what the Almighty can do. John

Let us pray: (The Collect for Saturdays BCP p. 99)

Almighty God, who after the creation of the world rested from all your works and sanctified a day of rest for all your creatures: Grant that we, putting away all earthly anxieties, may be duly prepared for the service of your sanctuary, and that our rest here upon earth may be a preparation for the eternal rest promised to your people in heaven; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Daily Office Readings for Friday of Proper 25: Year 2

Morning, Psalms 40 and 54; Evening, Psalm 51;
Ecclesiasticus 34:1to 8 and 18to22; Revelation 13:1to10; Luke 12:13-31:

“Then he said, “I will do this: I will pull down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. And I will say to my soul, Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.”  (Luke 12: 18 and 19)

This Gospel of Luke is not written against the rich.  Often the rich in this Gospel contribute to the poor.  But Luke’s Gospel does get to the heart and soul of where those with wealth may do their worst works.

In this reading for today the rich landowner never considers those less fortunate than himself; that he might follow the biblical mandate to not glean your field completely, thus leaving something for the needy.  He just figures out a way to keep more for himself.  He even talks to his soul, his direct connection to God.  Our souls just want us to gravitate towards the kingdom of God.

Jesus gives several examples of how fruitless it is to not be rich towards God. Jesus warns that life in nature is fed better, and dressed better, than humans who try to do this for themselves at the neglect of those who have next to nothing. The man’s own soul would not be in agreement with his intentions to hoard his blessings.  And in fact, his soul will be taken back by God that day.

Jesus tells him (and us), “Do not keep striving for what you are to eat and what you are to drink, and do not keep worrying.  For it is the nations of the world that strive after all these things, and your Father knows that you need them.  Instead, strive for his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well, (Luke 12: 29 to 31).  This reminds me of the hymn, “Seek Ye First the Kingdom of God and His Righteousness.” It is a beautiful hymn from our “Lift Every Voice and Sing” Hymnal.

Jesus informs us that our Heavenly Father knows we need food and provisions in order to live healthy lives.  While we need these things they should not become idols that replace God in our lives.  As citizens of heaven, temporarily visiting earth, we should never forget whose we are.

Today is All Saints Day! I will ponder All Saints Day on Sunday November 3^rd.

“Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all their multitude. And on the seventh day God finished the work that he had done, and he rested on the seventh day from all the work that he had done” (Genesis 2:1 and 2). So, for this evening and tomorrow day my friends, Shabbat Shalom. 

What is Shabbat? Intro to the Jewish Sabbath – YouTube

Please keep up your thoughts and prayers and hopes for Ukraine and Russia; Israel and Palestine, and our schools. And, as we listen to what the Spirit of God is saying to us, let us live to love and serve, and to teach others to love and serve, while pondering anew what the Almighty can do. John

Let us pray:

O Almighty God, be present in our understanding that all we have comes from you and often we are meant to share our overabundance with those who have not, and know not how to achieve it. But all of us are yours and we are meant to care for and love each other. Help us O Lord God to know this and behave accordingly; Amen.