Above: One of My Globes
Image Source = Kenneth Randolph Taylor
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The Collects:
Almighty Creator and ever-living God: we worship your glory, eternal Three-in-One,
and we praise your power, majestic One-in-Three.
Keep us steadfast in this faith, defend us in all adversity,
and bring us at last into your presence, where you live in endless joy and love,
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
or
God of heaven and earth, before the foundation of the universe
and the beginning of time you are the triune God:
Author of creation, eternal Word of salvation, life-giving Spirit of wisdom.
Guide us to all truth by your Spirit, that we may proclaim all that Christ has revealed
and rejoice in the glory he shares with us.
Glory and praise to you, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, now and forever. Amen.
—Evangelical Lutheran Worship (2006), page 37
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The Assigned Readings:
Job 38:1-11 (Thursday)
Job 38:12-21 (Friday)
Job 38:22-38 (Saturday)
Psalm 8 (All Days)
2 Timothy 1:8-12a (Thursday)
2 Timothy 1:12b-14 (Friday)
John 14:15-17 (Saturday)
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What we do not understand about God and related topics outweighs what we know about them. Why, for example, do good people suffer? The Book of Job tells us that God permitted the suffering of the eponymous character. That is a difficult answer, but it is the one the text provides in Chapters 1 and 2. We know of the reasons for the sufferings of the Apostle Paul; his witness created many enemies. The Gospel of Christ does that frequently. Jesus did, after all, die on a cross—and not for any sin he had committed, for he had committed none.
The glorification of our Lord and Savior in the Fourth Gospel was his crucifixion. This was a twist many people did not expect, for crucifixion was a mode of execution the Roman Empire reserved for those it considered the worst of the worst. It was a mark of shame and public humiliation. And this became Christ’s glorification? The twist was—and remains—a wonderful one.
In the name of that crucified and resurrected Lord and Savior, through whom we have access to the gift of the Holy Spirit—God’s active power on earth—in John 14:16, we can have eternal life in this world and the next one. The same world which did not know Jesus or the Holy Spirit killed him, St. Paul the Apostle, and a great company of martyrs. It continues to make martyrs. Yet the Kingdom of God, like a great week, goes where it will.
So may we say with the author of Psalm 8,
O Lord our governor,
how glorious is your name in all the world.
–Verse 1, Common Worship (2000)
KENNETH RANDOLPH TAYLOR
MAY 16, 2014 COMMON ERA
THE FEAST OF SAINTS ANDREW FOURNET AND ELIZABETH BICHIER, COFOUNDERS OF THE DAUGHTERS OF THE CROSS; AND SAINT MICHAEL GARICOITS, FOUNDER OF THE PRIESTS OF THE SACRED HEART OF BETHARRAM
THE FEAST OF SAINT JOHN NEPOMUCENE, ROMAN CATHOLIC PRIEST
THE FEAST OF THE MARTYRS OF SUDAN
THE FEAST OF TE WARA HAURAKI, ANGLICAN MISSIONARY
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Adapted from This Post:
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BLOGA THEOLOGICA 
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