Psalm 80-Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel,You who lead Joseph like a flock;

Psalm 80 (New King James Version)

Psalm 80

To the Chief Musician. Set to “The Lilies.”[a] A Testimony[b] of Asaph. A Psalm.

1 Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel,
You who lead Joseph like a flock;
You who dwell between the cherubim, shine forth!
2 Before Ephraim, Benjamin, and Manasseh,
Stir up Your strength,
And come and save us!

3 Restore us, O God;
Cause Your face to shine,
And we shall be saved!

4 O LORD God of hosts,
How long will You be angry
Against the prayer of Your people?
5 You have fed them with the bread of tears,
And given them tears to drink in great measure.
6 You have made us a strife to our neighbors,
And our enemies laugh among themselves.

7 Restore us, O God of hosts;
Cause Your face to shine,
And we shall be saved!

8 You have brought a vine out of Egypt;
You have cast out the nations, and planted it.
9 You prepared room for it,
And caused it to take deep root,
And it filled the land.
10 The hills were covered with its shadow,
And the mighty cedars with its boughs.
11 She sent out her boughs to the Sea,[c]
And her branches to the River.[d]

12 Why have You broken down her hedges,
So that all who pass by the way pluck her fruit?
13 The boar out of the woods uproots it,
And the wild beast of the field devours it.

14 Return, we beseech You, O God of hosts;
Look down from heaven and see,
And visit this vine
15 And the vineyard which Your right hand has planted,
And the branch that You made strong for Yourself.
16 It is burned with fire, it is cut down;
They perish at the rebuke of Your countenance.
17 Let Your hand be upon the man of Your right hand,
Upon the son of man whom You made strong for Yourself.
18 Then we will not turn back from You;
Revive us, and we will call upon Your name.

19 Restore us, O LORD God of hosts;
Cause Your face to shine,
And we shall be saved!
Footnotes:
Psalm 80:1 Hebrew Shoshannim
Psalm 80:1 Hebrew Eduth
Psalm 80:11 That is, the Mediterranean
Psalm 80:11 That is, the Euphrates

Psalm 78 -Give ear, O my people, to my law;

1 Give ear, O my people, to my law;
Incline your ears to the words of my mouth.
2 I will open my mouth in a parable;
I will utter dark sayings of old,
3 Which we have heard and known,
And our fathers have told us.
4 We will not hide them from their children,
Telling to the generation to come the praises of the LORD,
And His strength and His wonderful works that He has done.

5 For He established a testimony in Jacob,
And appointed a law in Israel,
Which He commanded our fathers,
That they should make them known to their children;
6 That the generation to come might know them,
The children who would be born,
That they may arise and declare them to their children,
7 That they may set their hope in God,
And not forget the works of God,
But keep His commandments;
8 And may not be like their fathers,
A stubborn and rebellious generation,
A generation that did not set its heart aright,
And whose spirit was not faithful to God.

9 The children of Ephraim, being armed and carrying bows,
Turned back in the day of battle.
10 They did not keep the covenant of God;
They refused to walk in His law,
11 And forgot His works
And His wonders that He had shown them.

12 Marvelous things He did in the sight of their fathers,
In the land of Egypt, in the field of Zoan.
13 He divided the sea and caused them to pass through;
And He made the waters stand up like a heap.
14 In the daytime also He led them with the cloud,
And all the night with a light of fire.
15 He split the rocks in the wilderness,
And gave them drink in abundance like the depths.
16 He also brought streams out of the rock,
And caused waters to run down like rivers.

17 But they sinned even more against Him
By rebelling against the Most High in the wilderness.
18 And they tested God in their heart
By asking for the food of their fancy.
19 Yes, they spoke against God:
They said, “Can God prepare a table in the wilderness?
20 Behold, He struck the rock,
So that the waters gushed out,
And the streams overflowed.
Can He give bread also?
Can He provide meat for His people?”

21 Therefore the LORD heard this and was furious;
So a fire was kindled against Jacob,
And anger also came up against Israel,
22 Because they did not believe in God,
And did not trust in His salvation.
23 Yet He had commanded the clouds above,
And opened the doors of heaven,
24 Had rained down manna on them to eat,
And given them of the bread of heaven.
25 Men ate angels’ food;
He sent them food to the full.

26 He caused an east wind to blow in the heavens;
And by His power He brought in the south wind.
27 He also rained meat on them like the dust,
Feathered fowl like the sand of the seas;
28 And He let them fall in the midst of their camp,
All around their dwellings.
29 So they ate and were well filled,
For He gave them their own desire.
30 They were not deprived of their craving;
But while their food was still in their mouths,
31 The wrath of God came against them,
And slew the stoutest of them,
And struck down the choice men of Israel.

32 In spite of this they still sinned,
And did not believe in His wondrous works.
33 Therefore their days He consumed in futility,
And their years in fear.

34 When He slew them, then they sought Him;
And they returned and sought earnestly for God.
35 Then they remembered that God was their rock,
And the Most High God their Redeemer.
36 Nevertheless they flattered Him with their mouth,
And they lied to Him with their tongue;
37 For their heart was not steadfast with Him,
Nor were they faithful in His covenant.
38 But He, being full of compassion, forgave their iniquity,
And did not destroy them.
Yes, many a time He turned His anger away,
And did not stir up all His wrath;
39 For He remembered that they were but flesh,
A breath that passes away and does not come again.

40 How often they provoked Him in the wilderness,
And grieved Him in the desert!
41 Yes, again and again they tempted God,
And limited the Holy One of Israel.
42 They did not remember His power:
The day when He redeemed them from the enemy,
43 When He worked His signs in Egypt,
And His wonders in the field of Zoan;
44 Turned their rivers into blood,
And their streams, that they could not drink.
45 He sent swarms of flies among them, which devoured them,
And frogs, which destroyed them.
46 He also gave their crops to the caterpillar,
And their labor to the locust.
47 He destroyed their vines with hail,
And their sycamore trees with frost.
48 He also gave up their cattle to the hail,
And their flocks to fiery lightning.
49 He cast on them the fierceness of His anger,
Wrath, indignation, and trouble,
By sending angels of destruction among them.
50 He made a path for His anger;
He did not spare their soul from death,
But gave their life over to the plague,
51 And destroyed all the firstborn in Egypt,
The first of their strength in the tents of Ham.
52 But He made His own people go forth like sheep,
And guided them in the wilderness like a flock;
53 And He led them on safely, so that they did not fear;
But the sea overwhelmed their enemies.
54 And He brought them to His holy border,
This mountain which His right hand had acquired.
55 He also drove out the nations before them,
Allotted them an inheritance by survey,
And made the tribes of Israel dwell in their tents.

56 Yet they tested and provoked the Most High God,
And did not keep His testimonies,
57 But turned back and acted unfaithfully like their fathers;
They were turned aside like a deceitful bow.
58 For they provoked Him to anger with their high places,
And moved Him to jealousy with their carved images.
59 When God heard this, He was furious,
And greatly abhorred Israel,
60 So that He forsook the tabernacle of Shiloh,
The tent He had placed among men,
61 And delivered His strength into captivity,
And His glory into the enemy’s hand.
62 He also gave His people over to the sword,
And was furious with His inheritance.
63 The fire consumed their young men,
And their maidens were not given in marriage.
64 Their priests fell by the sword,
And their widows made no lamentation.

65 Then the Lord awoke as from sleep,
Like a mighty man who shouts because of wine.
66 And He beat back His enemies;
He put them to a perpetual reproach.

67 Moreover He rejected the tent of Joseph,
And did not choose the tribe of Ephraim,
68 But chose the tribe of Judah,
Mount Zion which He loved.
69 And He built His sanctuary like the heights,
Like the earth which He has established forever.
70 He also chose David His servant,
And took him from the sheepfolds;
71 From following the ewes that had young He brought him,
To shepherd Jacob His people,
And Israel His inheritance.
72 So he shepherded them according to the integrity of his heart,
And guided them by the skillfulness of his hands.

Psalm 77 – I cried out to God with my voice

1 I cried out to God with my voice—
To God with my voice;
And He gave ear to me.
2 In the day of my trouble I sought the Lord;
My hand was stretched out in the night without ceasing;
My soul refused to be comforted.
3 I remembered God, and was troubled;
I complained, and my spirit was overwhelmed. Selah

4 You hold my eyelids open;
I am so troubled that I cannot speak.
5 I have considered the days of old,
The years of ancient times.
6 I call to remembrance my song in the night;
I meditate within my heart,
And my spirit makes diligent search.

7 Will the Lord cast off forever?
And will He be favorable no more?
8 Has His mercy ceased forever?
Has His promise failed forevermore?
9 Has God forgotten to be gracious?
Has He in anger shut up His tender mercies? Selah

10 And I said, “This is my anguish;
But I will remember the years of the right hand of the Most High.”
11 I will remember the works of the LORD;
Surely I will remember Your wonders of old.
12 I will also meditate on all Your work,
And talk of Your deeds.
13 Your way, O God, is in the sanctuary;
Who is so great a God as our God?
14 You are the God who does wonders;
You have declared Your strength among the peoples.
15 You have with Your arm redeemed Your people,
The sons of Jacob and Joseph. Selah

16 The waters saw You, O God;
The waters saw You, they were afraid;
The depths also trembled.
17 The clouds poured out water;
The skies sent out a sound;
Your arrows also flashed about.
18 The voice of Your thunder was in the whirlwind;
The lightnings lit up the world;
The earth trembled and shook.
19 Your way was in the sea,
Your path in the great waters,
And Your footsteps were not known.
20 You led Your people like a flock
By the hand of Moses and Aaron.

Coptic Calendar

What’s the coptic calendar like ?

The coptic calendar is a Julian calendar, following the solar cycle like the western calendar. It got the same number of days 365 (or 366 for a leap year). It always starts the same time September 11 (or 12 for a leap year) with the month named Toot (or Thout). Every month is 30 days. Therefore, there are 12 months 30 days each in addition to a short month of 5 (or 6 in a leap year) days named the forgotten (or El Nassi in Arabic language). So the first 3 months are Thout, Peopi (or Babah), and Hathour. The last 30 day month is Mesra, where on day 1 we start the fast for St Mary which lasts 15 days. The month of Mesra starts on August 7th of every year.

The Coptic calendar was inherited from the old Egyptians where the names were given for gods and festivities like:

Thout or Tut or Thoth was god of wisdom & science inventor of writing patron of scribes.

Babah Opet was feast & festival with diversity.

Hatur was Goddess, cow of heaven who gave birth to the sun and men and she is mother of Horus. Hatur was assimilated by Isis clothed in the form of lion.

Kiyahk is the name of vase used in celebration of Union of the Ka, festival Osarian – vegetating Osiris- lentils germinate in moist cotton pads is still practiced in celebration-

Bramhat: festival Amenhoteb worship cult from 18th dynasty.

Bauna festival of valley annual commemoration of the dead.

Misra Ra birthday

As Nasi or small month 1st day is festival of Osiris.

How does the coptic calendar affect the services in the coptic church ?

Special prayers in each of the three seasons of the year as part of the seven short lithanies. The 3 seasons are the flood season so the prayers are for blessing the waters and the fields, the planting and seeding seasons so the prayers are for blessing the seeds, and the third season is harvesting and more planting so the prayers include the plants and the harvests.

September 27th – Feast of the Cross

What happened on this day ?

Is the Feast of the cross a major one ?

What is the spiritual meaning of the cross ?

What does Pope Shenouda tell us ?

What did Bishop Serapion and Hegumen Bishoy Kamel tell us about the cross ?

For answers, check out the link in our Catechism blog
http://copticchurch.wordpress.com/2009/09/september-27-feast-of-the-cross/

Psalm 70 – Make haste, O God, to deliver me!

Psalm 70

–To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David. To bring to remembrance.

1 Make haste, O God, to deliver me!
Make haste to help me, O LORD!

2 Let them be ashamed and confounded
Who seek my life;
Let them be turned back and confused
Who desire my hurt.
3 Let them be turned back because of their shame,
Who say, “Aha, aha!”

4 Let all those who seek You rejoice and be glad in You;
And let those who love Your salvation say continually,
“Let God be magnified!”

5 But I am poor and needy;
Make haste to me, O God!
You are my help and my deliverer;
O LORD, do not delay.

September 11th – Happy Coptic New Year

http://copticchurch.wordpress.com/2009/09/10/topic-24-september-11th-a-new-coptic-year-begins/

September 13th- Psalm 67 – God be merciful to us and bless us,..

God be merciful to us and bless us,
And cause His face to shine upon us, Selah
2 That Your way may be known on earth,
Your salvation among all nations.

3 Let the peoples praise You, O God;
Let all the peoples praise You.
4 Oh, let the nations be glad and sing for joy!
For You shall judge the people righteously,
And govern the nations on earth. Selah

5 Let the peoples praise You, O God;
Let all the peoples praise You.
6 Then the earth shall yield her increase;
God, our own God, shall bless us.
7 God shall bless us,
And all the ends of the earth shall fear Him.

September 6th- The Case For A Creator by Lee Strobel

Strobel introduced himself as a journalist investigating scientific evidence that points toward God. To continue from the previous meeting, we’ll go through the scientists arguments.
Against the Theory
Evolutionary biologist George Gaylord (p. 23) “man is the result of purposeless and natural processes”.

Writer on science Nancy Piercey “Darwin believed if God was admitted then He would ensure the right selection is made not natural selection.

Law Professor Phillip Johnson ” the whole point of Darwinism is to show there is no need for God.
The Case for a Creator book by Lee Strobel focused on views in support of the existence of a creator from scientists of various disciplines such as mathematicians, physicists, biologists, and cosmologists. In a 1985 Dallas conference about scientific prove for existence of God, the result was an outline for the jury to follow and get experts in scientific areas together.
Doubts about Darwinism: Darwin expressed the theory of evolution as a tree called the tree of life which disagrees with the fossil theory (p. 43). Darwin’s tree of life showed natural selection, Molecular and Cell Biologist Jonathan Wells (2000) said, where over time one species over time, exposed to different conditions, could produce several varieties. But all starts from one cell where you cannot make a living cell. Then, there is still the missing link in the fossil records to support the evolution of reptiles to birds. The archaopteryx is a bird first thought to come from reptile ancesstry but the fossils found occur tens of millions of years later than they fit in the theory, therefore, the missing link is still missing. Archeoraptor is a fake fossil, Discover magazine claimed. Overall evolution theory still is not fully supported with proper fossils in addition to the fact that the original cell creator is not known.
Cambrian explosion (p. 43)- called the biological big bang 540 million years ago in the Cambrian geological period. According to the theory of the Cambrian explosion, new life forms like insects and animals suddenly appear (p. 44) without any ancestors as in Darwinism. I
Where Science meets faith
Evidence of physics support :
as in p. 23 and p.80- Evolution means adaptation by natural means instead of divine intervention. However, the laws of physics (like gravity) are very ordered; therefore, must support fine tuning by a designer.
Evidence of mathematics – Strobel p. 82 – a God Hypothesis ? Descartes in the 17th century tried by deductive proofs to prove the existence of God, but according to Meyer, was sloppy. Therefore, cannot prove or disprove God.
Evidence of intelligence and creativity – Strobel p. 90, 91 – Biologist Meyer finds the historical character so compelling that If Jesus of the bible is not real then you’ll have to worship the person who created the character because he is beyond comprehension.
Evidence of Philosophy- Strobel p. 98 – whatever begins to exist has a cause, the universe began to exist, therefore, universe has a cause.. by al-ghazali around year 1100 and John philoponus of Alexandria.
Evidence of Beauty – Strobel p. 147 – The analysis of beauty by Hogarth (1700s) beauty or elegance is simplicity with variety. The physicists did find in the world fundamental simplicity which give rise to enormous complexity needed for life.
Evidence of cosmology is a miracle (p. 93)- starting the universe out of nothing. Evidence of Cosmology (p. 93) Big bang billions of years ago theory agrees with Genesis. Albert Einstein formulated his relativity theory which imply that the universe is dynamic, not static which means the universe is either exploding or imploding. Edwin Hubble (1920) discovered that light coming from distant places arrives red and explained that galaxies are moving which support the mathematical model which support the big bang theory which support an explosion in the beginning. Aristotle (400 B.C.) view was that the universe is eternal, therefore, 13th century Christian philosopher Thomas Aquinas eternal universe proves that God exists.
Cambrian explosion is against natural selection and evolution theory
- capacity for self reflection, for language, for creativity… physical matter cannot account for it. It is intelligent design.

August 23rd- Darwinism vs Christianity

If you are reading this post, you may think “I know it all, what’s new ?”

The problem is that many teachers or school principals do not understand how to teach science in a way to encourage the students pursue science and curiosity as they develop their minds ? Is it against the christian faith to ask how did Adam and Eve develop in the sixth day ? Did the birds have fish ancestors ? What’s the missing link in the story of dynausors ? Is the Darwin theory all right ?

Can a Darwinian be a Christian ? Do we understand Darwinism ? is the theory of Natural Selection the point of contention ? Going through a study with the help from the book “The Case for a creator” by Lee Strobel who also wrote “The case for Christ” and “The case for Faith”.

On Sunday August 23rd, we had an excellent meeting where most participated with their knowledge, experiences, and views regarding Darwin’s evolution theory, the case for a creator as in the bible’s Genesis, and old times philosophers, Islamic, and modern scientists.

How does Evolution Theory speaks against a Creator ?

Darwin’s Theory of Evolution interpreted as anti-creation in late 1800s. Darwin wrote the Origin of Species.

What is Natural Selection ?
Natural selection acts to preserve and accumulate minor advantageous genetic mutations. Suppose a member of a species developed a functional advantage (it grew wings and learned to fly). Its offspring would inherit that advantage and pass it on to their offspring. The inferior (disadvantaged) members of the same species would gradually die out, leaving only the superior (advantaged) members of the species. Natural selection is the preservation of a functional advantage that enables a species to compete better in the wild. Natural selection is the naturalistic equivalent to domestic breeding. Over the centuries, human breeders have produced dramatic changes in domestic animal populations by selecting individuals to breed. Breeders eliminate undesirable traits gradually over time. Similarly, natural selection eliminates inferior species gradually over time.
What did Darwin say ? – Slowly But Surely…? microevolution versus macroevolution- (all about science web site)
Darwin’s Theory of Evolution is a slow gradual process. Darwin wrote, “…Natural selection acts only by taking advantage of slight successive variations; can never take a great and sudden leap, but must advance by short and sure, through slow steps.” Thus, Darwin conceded that, “If it could be demonstrated that any complex organ existed, which could not possibly have been formed by numerous, successive, slight modifications, my theory would absolutely break down.” [2] Such a complex organ would be known as an “irreducibly complex system”. An irreducibly complex system is one composed of multiple parts, all of which are necessary for the system to function. If even one part is missing, the entire system will fail to function. Every individual part is integral. [3] Thus, such a system could not have evolved slowly, piece by piece. The common mousetrap is an everyday non-biological example of irreducible complexity. It is composed of five basic parts: a catch (to hold the bait), a powerful spring, a thin rod called “the hammer,” a holding bar to secure the hammer in place, and a platform to mount the trap. If any one of these parts is missing, the mechanism will not work. Each individual part is integral. The mousetrap is irreducibly complex. [4]

Darwin’s Theory of Evolution is a theory in crisis in light of the tremendous advances we’ve made in molecular biology, biochemistry and genetics over the past fifty years. We now know that there are in fact tens of thousands of irreducibly complex systems on the cellular level. And we don’t need a microscope to observe irreducible complexity. The eye, the ear and the heart are all examples of irreducible complexity, though they were not recognized as such in Darwin’s day. Nevertheless, Darwin confessed, “To suppose that the eye with all its inimitable contrivances for adjusting the focus to different distances, for admitting different amounts of light, and for the correction of spherical and chromatic aberration, could have been formed by natural selection, seems, I freely confess, absurd in the highest degree.”
http://www.darwins-theory-of-evolution.com/

Why evolution is considered against Christianity ? another answer is : because the meaning of evolution is that there is no sin but evolution of whatever Christians call sin, then As St. Paul said Christian faith is in vain.
http://atheism.about.com/od/evolutionreligionreligious/a/EvolutionChristianity.htm

The Case for a Creator book by Lee Strobel focused on views in support of the existence of a creator from scientists of various discipline such as mathematicians, physicists, biologists, and cosmologists.

In a 1985 Dallas conference about scientific prove for existence of God, the result was an outline for the jury to follow and get experts in scientific areas together such as in cosmology, physics, biology, ..
Strobel p. 11 “The word of God is not a theory”,
Strobel p. 23- Biologist Myer said Evolution means adaptation by natural means instead of divine intervention. However, the laws of physics especially for the beginning of the universe support fine tuning by a designer.
Strobel p. 80 – Where Science meets faith- capacity for self reflection, for language, for creativity… physical matter cannot account for it. It is intelligent design.
Strobel p. 82 – a God Hypothesis ? Descartes in the 17th century tried by deductive proofs prove the existence of God, but according to Meyer, was sloppy. Therefore, cannot prove or disprove God.
Strobel p. 90, 91 – Meyer finds the historical character so compelling that If Jesus of the bible is not real then you’ll have to worship the person who created the character because he is beyond comprehension. The evidence of cosmology is a miracle (p. 93)- starting the universe out of nothing.
Strobel p. 98 – whatever begins to exist has a cause, the universe began to exist, therefore, universe has a cause.. by al-ghazali around year 1100 and john philoponus of Alexandria.
Strobel p. 147 – The analysis of beauty by Hogarth (1700s) beauty or elegance is simplicity with variety. Physicists found in the world fundamental simplicity which give rise to enormous complexity needed for life

The Case for a Creator book by Lee Strobel To be continued Sunday September 6th. Cambrian explosion- new life forms suddenly without any ancestors as in Darwinism..Biology’s Big Bang…

Current status in American schools
Creation Science or Creationism or Intelligent design
State creationism laws were passed during the 1980’s in Arkansas and Louisiana, to force the teaching of creationism in place of evolution. In a 1987 case, Edwards v. Aquillard, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that these laws were unconstitutional because they violated the establishment clause of the 1st Amendment of the U.S. constitution. Creation science was seen to be a expression of religious belief. It was judged to be not a true science because it could never be falsified –(a science should be falsifiable and quantifyable) i.e., it was firmly held as a religious belief by its adherents that no amount of contradictory physical evidence could change.
Teaching Evolution? Many High School Biology Teachers Include Creationism ScienceDaily (May 20, 2008) — In recent years, US courts have consistently ruled that teaching explicitly religious alternatives to evolution in public schools is a violation of the Establishment Clause of the Constitution. After the Scopes Trial (Tennessee, 1925) the theory of evolution gained much public support. However, this did not translate into evolution being taught widely in the public schools of America.


Protestant Religious schools:However, there seems to be an increasing trend among some Christian high schools and colleges to abandon creation science in favor of theistic evolution — the concept that evolution of the species happened on earth over billions of years, and that God used evolution as a tool to create the species that we see today.
Public Schools In 2008, first nationally representative survey of teachers concerning the teaching of evolution,” the authors show that one in eight high school biology teachers present creationism as a scientifically valid alternative to Darwinian evolution. While this number does not reflect public demand–38% of Americans would prefer that creationism to be taught instead of evolution–it does represent a disconnect between legal rulings, scientific consensus, and classroom education.
The majority of biology teachers spend between 3 and 15 hours on evolution. This is a wide range for a topic considered by the National Academy of Sciences to be “the central concept of biology.” The amount of time spent teaching human evolution is even less: the majority of teachers spend no more than five hours on the subject. “This is the hottest of the hot buttons” says Berkman, suggesting that pressure from the community might play a role in how teachers structure their classes. The authors show that the disparity in teaching evolution is not linked to differences in state regulations, but can more likely be attributed to differences of religious belief and education amongst teachers. Less than one-third of high school biology teachers believe that God had no part in evolution, nearly one-half believe God had a hand in evolution, and almost one in six believe that God created humans in their present form within the last 10,000 years. The teachers who hold creationist or intelligent design beliefs spent substantially less time teaching evolution than their Darwinist counterparts. Likewise, teachers with a stronger background in evolution spent 60% more time teaching it than those who had the least education in the subject.
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/05/080520090630.htm

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