August 14, 2006

I. Readings
Psalms 5, 29, 82
Judges 12:1-7
Acts 5:12-26
John 3:1-21

II. Selections
Psalm 82:5
They have neither knowledge nor understanding,
they walk around in darkness;
all the foundations of the earth are shaken.

Judges 12:7
Jephthah judged Israel six years. Then Jephthah the Gileadite died, and was buried in his town in Gilead.

Acts 5:24-25
Now when the captain of the temple and the chief priests heard these words, they were perplexed about them, wondering what might be going on. Then someone arrived and announced, "Look, the men whom you put in prison are standing in the temple and teaching the people!"

John 3:3
Jesus answered [ Nicodemus], "Very truly, I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God without being born from above."

III. Meditation: Jephthah died and was buried

Our leaders are mortal.
They die and are buried,
and new leaders must be found.

Our leaders are mortal.
They become perplexed
and wonder what is going on.

Our leaders are mortal;
but if they walk in darkness,
all our foundations are shaken.

Whether leader or follower,
no one can see your kingdom
without being born from above.