Entry for December 31, 2006

"Facts are stubborn things, and whatever may be our wishes, our inclinations, or the dictums of our passions, they cannot alter the state of facts and evidence."

-- John Adams

Entry for December 30, 2006

"If you wish information and improvement from the knowledge of others, and yet at the same time express yourself as firmly fixed in your present opinions; modest, sensible men, who do not love disputation, will probably leave you undisturbed in the possession of your error."

-- Benjamin Franklin (1771)

A poem by Laurence Binyon

"O world, be nobler for her sake!

If she but knew thee what thou art,

What wrongs are borne, what deeds are done

In thee, beneath thy daily sun,

Know'st thou not that her tender heart

For pain and very shame would break?

O world, be nobler for her sake!"

So Very Awake

The law of the Lord is perfect, restoring the soul;
The testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple.
The precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart;
The commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes.
The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring for ever;
The ordinances of the Lord are true, they are righteous altogether;
More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold;
Sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.
Moreover by them is Thy servant warned;
In keeping of them there is great reward.
Who can discern errors?
Clear Thou me from hidden faults.
Keep back Thy servant also from presumptuous sins,
That they may not have dominion over me; then shall I be faultless,
And I shall be clear from great transgression.
Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart

Be acceptable before Thee, O Lord, my Rock, and my Redeemer.
Psalm 19:8-15

Israel and the Nations

Sing and rejoice, O daughter of Zion; for, lo, I come, and I will dwell in the midst of thee, saith the Lord.
And many nations shall join themselves to the Lord in that day, and shall be My people, and I will dwell in the midst of thee ...
Zechariah 2:14-15

At every time, in every place

... from the rising of the sun even unto the going down of the same
My name is great among the nations;
And in every place offerings are presented unto My name,
Even pure oblations;
For My name is great among the nations,
Saith the Lord of hosts.
Malachi 1:11

Katrina Prayer

After a great disaster: "Almighty God, who art a very present Help in time of trouble, let not the heart of Thy people fail when fear cometh, but do Thou sustain and comfort them until these calamaties be overpassed; and since Thou knowest the cause and reason why this grievous disaster of storm and flood hath fallen upon men, so do Thou forgive our sins, heal the hurt and wounded, console the bereaved and afflicted, protect the innocent and helpless, and deliver any who are still in peril; for the sake of Thy great mercy, in Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen."