Pray For The Peace of Jerusalem(3/23/23)[Prayer]

The Holy Scriptures | 3/23/23 | left that other site

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Pray For The Peace of Jerusalem

Mark 12

Paying the Imperial Tax to Caesar

13 Later they sent some of the Pharisees and Herodians to Jesus to catch him in his words. 14 They came to him and said, “Teacher, we know that you are a man of integrity. You aren’t swayed by others, because you pay no attention to who they are; but you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. Is it right to pay the imperial tax[b] to Caesar or not? 15 Should we pay or shouldn’t we?”

But Jesus knew their hypocrisy. “Why are you trying to trap me?” he asked. “Bring me a denarius and let me look at it.” 16 They brought the coin, and he asked them, “Whose image is this? And whose inscription?”

“Caesar’s,” they replied.

17 Then Jesus said to them, “Give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s and to God what is God’s.”

And they were amazed at him.

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New International Version (NIV) Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

God Bless America.

ML/LTOS

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Pray For The Peace of Jerusalem

Our Father,
Who Art in Heaven,
Blessed Be Your Glorious Name Forever!
We Come Into Your Holy Presence With Praise and Singing.
For You Alone Are Worthy,
You Alone Are LORD,
You Alone Are The One True God of Abraham!
Ancient of Days,
Rock of Ages,
LORD of Hosts,
Omnipotent, Omniscient, and Omnipresent,
You Know the End from the Beginning,
And the beginning from the end.

Let all that has been Concealed
Be Revealed.

Father, We Pray For The Peace Of Jerusalem,
According To Your Will and Promise.
We Pray That You Will Forgive The Sins
of Our Own Nation,
and Lead us all to Godly Repentance.
Create in Us Clean Hearts, Oh LORD,
and Renew a Right Spirit Within Us.

This we Pray Together,
As We Await Your Messiah,
Blessed Be He,
To Set Up His Kingdom,
And Make All Things Right.

God Bless America.

ML/LTOS

[left that other site]

Pray For The Peace of Jerusalem

Mark 12

Paying the Imperial Tax to Caesar

13 Later they sent some of the Pharisees and Herodians to Jesus to catch him in his words. 14 They came to him and said, “Teacher, we know that you are a man of integrity. You aren't swayed by others, because you pay no attention to who they are; but you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. Is it right to pay the imperial tax[b] to Caesar or not? 15 Should we pay or shouldn't we?”

But Jesus knew their hypocrisy. “Why are you trying to trap me?” he asked. “Bring me a denarius and let me look at it.” 16 They brought the coin, and he asked them, “Whose image is this? And whose inscription?”

“Caesar's,” they replied.

17 Then Jesus said to them, “Give back to Caesar what is Caesar's and to God what is God's.”

And they were amazed at him.

_______________________________________________________

New International Version (NIV) Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Eleven-Year-Old Frankie is an aspiring songwriter. He's very good with concepts and lyrics, but not as good with melodies and chords. Part of our piano lesson always seems to end up with songwriting. About a month ago, his lyrics seemed to make a quantum leap into awesomeness. His rhyme, meter, and use of language suddenly became very sophisticated and spot-on. I thought maybe this was due to the onset of puberty or some other change in his life that could be causing such insight. I asked him what was going on.

With complete innocence and enthusiasm, he demonstrated that all he had to do was speak into his smart phone, and an AI Robot would compose the lyrics based upon what he said. To Frankie, this was not "cheating". He was just using the AI as a tool. Needless to say, I was APPALLED.

This brought to mind a deceased friend, who, years ago, used an computer program to compose melodies. He churned out songs a mile-a-minute, all of them forgettable. I can't recall a single melody resulting from his using a program to compose. I guess I'm just Old-Fashioned.

Just this morning, I read an article that stated that AI and Robots could be programmed to perform "religious functions". Services such as Bible Interpretation, Confession and Absolution, Sermons, and Spiritual Advice could be available at the touch of a screen. The story was on a "blog" so it was opinion rather than hard news, but it got me thinking about the ramifications.

If we are to get our Spirituality from a machine that can be programmed to respond in a certain way, then, we can be "programmed" to believe in a certain way as well. The "Program" can eventually be tweaked to intimate that the computer itself IS a "god", the one to whom we bring our thoughts, prayers, petitions, and worship.

In my own personal reading this morning, I came across this:

20And Herod was highly displeased with them of Tyre and Sidon: but they came with one accord to him, and, having made Blastus the king's chamberlain their friend, desired peace; because their country was nourished by the king's country. 21And upon a set day Herod, arrayed in royal apparel, sat upon his throne, and made an oration unto them. 22And the people gave a shout, saying, It is the voice of a god, and not of a man. 23And immediately the angel of the Lord smote him, because he gave not God the glory: and he was eaten of worms, and gave up the ghost.

24But the word of God grew and multiplied. (ACTS 12 KJV)

The Word of God is very explicit about making "gods" out of anything that takes our eyes off The One True God. These "gods" can be anything, even good things like Family, Careers, Friendship, Our Nation, Our Ethnicity, or even Our Religion. The Ancient Romans made "gods" out of their Emperors, and expected their population to do the same. That's why they had so much trouble governing the the People of Israel. While Polytheists can easily add another "god" to their Pantheon, Monotheists can't.

Once again, Jesus answers a Trick Question with another Question. He knows a phony question when He hears it, and turns it right back at the questioner.

While still doing one's civic duty, including paying taxes, serving as a juror, or military service, we are not to worship our heroes and our leaders. That is reserved for God alone.

Come and Pray For the Peace of Jerusalem, For Our FRiends in Need, For Persecuted Believers, and For Our Beloved Nation.

"He was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification." (Romans 4:25)

God Bless America.

Blessings To All Who Visit This Garden of Prayer.

Hallelujah and Amen

ML/LTOS

[etabeta]

Rightly so.

Joining in prayer. God bless.

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Pray For The Peace of Jerusalem

Thank You, Etabeta, For Your Prayers For the Peace of Jerusalem, For Our FRiends in Need, For Persecuted Believers, and For Our Beloved Nation.

"He was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification." (Romans 4:25)

God Bless America.

Blessings To All Who Visit This Garden of Prayer.

Hallelujah and Amen

ML/LTOS

[DarthVader]

Amen !!! <><

Psalm 96

1 O sing to the Lord a new song;
sing to the Lord, all the earth.
2 Sing to the Lord, bless his name;
tell of his salvation from day to day.
3 Declare his glory among the nations,
his marvelous works among all the peoples.
4 For great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised;
he is to be revered above all gods.
5 For all the gods of the peoples are idols,
but the Lord made the heavens.
6 Honor and majesty are before him;
strength and beauty are in his sanctuary.

7 Ascribe to the Lord, O families of the peoples,
ascribe to the Lord glory and strength.
8 Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name;
bring an offering, and come into his courts.
9 Worship the Lord in holy splendour;
tremble before him, all the earth.

10 Say among the nations, ‘The Lord is king!
The world is firmly established; it shall never be moved.
He will judge the peoples with equity.’
11 Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice;
let the sea roar, and all that fills it;
12 let the field exult, and everything in it.
Then shall all the trees of the forest sing for joy
13 before the Lord; for he is coming,
for he is coming to judge the earth.
He will judge the world with righteousness,
and the peoples with his truth.

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Pray For The Peace of Jerusalem

Thank You, DarthVader, For Your Prayers and Wonderful Psalm For the Peace of Jerusalem, For Our FRiends in Need, For Persecuted Believers, and For Our Beloved Nation.

"He was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification." (Romans 4:25)

God Bless America.

Blessings To All Who Visit This Garden of Prayer.

Hallelujah and Amen

ML/LTOS

[TianaHighrider]

Thank you. Blessings and Prayers up

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Pray For The Peace of Jerusalem

Thank You, TianaHighrider, For Your Prayers For the Peace of Jerusalem, For Our FRiends in Need, For Persecuted Believers, and For Our Beloved Nation.

"He was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification." (Romans 4:25)

God Bless America.

Blessings To All Who Visit This Garden of Prayer.

Hallelujah and Amen

ML/LTOS

[Maudeen]

We live in the most troubling of times. May we as well as helping others seek the Truth in all that we do!

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Pray For The Peace of Jerusalem

Thank You, Maudeen, For Your Prayers For the Peace of Jerusalem, For Our FRiends in Need, For Persecuted Believers, and For Our Beloved Nation.

"He was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification." (Romans 4:25)

God Bless America.

Blessings To All Who Visit This Garden of Prayer.

Hallelujah and Amen

ML/LTOS

[Hiskid]

Amen

[left that other site]

Pray For The Peace of Jerusalem

Thank You, Hiskid, For Your Prayers For the Peace of Jerusalem, For Our FRiends in Need, For Persecuted Believers, and For Our Beloved Nation.

"He was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification." (Romans 4:25)

God Bless America.

Blessings To All Who Visit This Garden of Prayer.

Hallelujah and Amen

ML/LTOS

[left that other site]

Pray For The Peace of Jerusalem

Thank You, Hiskid, For Your Prayers For the Peace of Jerusalem, For Our FRiends in Need, For Persecuted Believers, and For Our Beloved Nation.

"He was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification." (Romans 4:25)

God Bless America.

Blessings To All Who Visit This Garden of Prayer.

Hallelujah and Amen

ML/LTOS