TWURC
Local Notices
Tettenhall Wood URC
News & Notices
Tettenhall Wood URC invite you to come and worship with us. We are a fellowship which serves the One God, the Holy Trinity: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. We are seeking to grow in the values which are at the heart of the whole Church: growing deeper in love with God; growing in our fellowship of Christ Jesus as disciples: growing in expressing our faith in love for others; growing in sharing the Gospel.
National Notices
Welcome to Tettenhall Wood United Reformed Church
Welcome to your Tettenhall Wood United Reformed Church!
This portal gives you 3 to 4 click access to most local information around WV6 8HT - plus the very best of the the web! Enter a postcode in the Your Location tab (top right) and all the local links currently set for Tettenhall Wood United Reformed Church will relocate for you - anywhere in the UK! (i.e. you could use this same site while you are travelling on business or on holiday) To save time and money make this 2day site your homepage (Click the 'Make Homepage' button in Tools.)
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TIP! Can't find something? Use the Search Box above and click Local. It searches this portal instantly for both your local information and the Best of the Web..
Businesses can advertise on this site, or on other local or national 2day sites. Please click here to enter your details in the box below the picture. We also do unique accommodation and high ranking business websites - please see www.microportals.co.uk or telephone 01822 600001. 2day Microportals make church and community sites. Click www.mycommunity.2day.ws for examples and how they work.
News, Wit & Wisdom
Welcome to your very own Portal
The Tettenhall Wood United Reformed Church Website gives you 3 to 4 click access to most local and global information important to your personal and working life. Enter any UK postcode in the Your Location tab (top right) and all the local links set for WV6 8HT will relocate to the new postcode for you! To save time and money make the 2day site your homepage (Click the 'Make Homepage' button in Tools.)
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Wit & Wisdom
The air inside a house is between two and four times more polluted than the air in the street outside. QI
For Pakistan Emergency Donations - please click
Wit & Wisdom
The air inside a house is between two and four times more polluted than the air in the street outside. QI
2day News and News Feeds
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2day also do unique accommodation and high ranking business websites - please see www.microportals.co.uk or telephone 01822 600001. 2day Microportals make church and community sites. Click www.mycommunity.2day.ws for examples and how they work.
2day News
Rural Change & Portals
Parish councils are making deliberations that may offer opportunities for veterinary practices. Within the next few weeks important decisions will be taken about the establishment of Unitary Authorities and Community Boards. If you have started to yawn already you may miss the whole thrust and benefit of microportals.
One of the very successful microportals is being managed by a veterinary surgeon, John Lund, not for veterinary benefit but in support of his community. Within the rural areas the central activities revolve around the church, parish council and village hall. Good, old, sleepy, activities of great relevance to a few but of less interest to many. The parish magazine, or in many areas the group parishes magazine, publishes the various activities and is supported by advertising. Entries are usually small and cheap offering plumbing and candlestick making, providing basic information with a ’phone number. Not so in Bridford.
Try and imagine something that you want to know about, or do, starting from your home. If your area has a community hub you will already have it as your home page on the computer. You will already have entered your postcode. A single mouse click and up comes the hub. Rather importantly the use of hubs is going way beyond the people who surf the web. In this area very few folk spend time accessing websites for information. They could, but they choose to carry on as before, possibly because the activity lacks personality. Whereas, everything on the community portal is relevant to their household, local plumbers, pubs, doctors, events, buses, trains, parish history, church services, whatever, and the activities and offerings of the local veterinary practices.
So, what would you like to say to the people living within five miles, or ten miles of your practice? Would you wish to list the address and ’phone number or possibly the website? Would you wish to highlight a particular activity or clinical success or participation in sport, money raising, new surgery, changes in staff or disease alerts? Would you wish to talk to the community with a piece of video? Would you wish to change what is on the hub every month or week? I hope you are beginning to see that this microportal development is very much more than having a website.
The beginnings of the existing microportals have often developed in order to involve and inform people about goings on locally and also to raise money for the church or village hall. Church based portals have been credited with increasing footfall, donations and wellbeing. Individual parishes have latched on to the idea and from slow beginnings the number of people within the area going to the portal each day increases rapidly. Thousands of hits are recorded. People go to the portal for one item but then come across other things of interest. In a holiday area, such as Bridford on the edge of Dartmoor, people are encouraged to look at the hub from their home wherever it is and very rapidly the extent of aspects of interest are able to be noted.
So, at the moment the whole idea of community microportals is known to a few but major expansion is anticipated. The current establishment of county councils and district councils is to be replaced by unitary authorities. Each county will be voting on this soon and some areas will change and others may not. However, locally, the idea of shedding five chief executives of the district councils, plus all the buildings and infrastructure, with the frustrating inefficiencies and expense, has an appeal. No doubt the single authority will absorb most of the people and sites but that is not the main thrust of interest. Underlying the large authority will be the community boards, based in this area on market towns. Each parish council will be represented on these boards and there will be a community budget for the development of, yes, communities. So it is not difficult to consider that microportal community hubs will pop up covering all the communities within a community board. The opportunities for the promotion of veterinary practices, or indeed veterinary activity in general is very real.
Moving on, there are microportals for associations and professional groups. Here again these are different from websites as such and websites with links, partly because of the one click concept and ease of access. With specific groups the quality of the portal presentation may become a bigger issue. Within a community portal there will be a variety of presentations from the simple to the complex, the plain to the colourful, whereas for an association site there may be issues of quality of presentation and appearance that incur additional mastering and expense. A list of portals is available at www.2day.ws/sites and it is easy to view a range and get some idea of the breadth of the topic.
The other aspect to consider is that veterinary surgeons and veterinary businesses are targets for the services of others. As you interact with a microportal so you are open to becoming interested in a topic you had not initially thought to access. These will range from the expected to the unexpected.
For example, it was unexpected to find the topic of workplace grievances, conflict resolution and stress management. Thinking about it where better to introduce the availability of mediation than on a microportal. To promote your abilities to resolve issues between people at a local level appears worthwhile. There is a relevance here to partnerships and one of the areas highlighted is the difficulties that arise between partners as the relationship evolves over the years. This aspect of partnerships is well recognised for accountants, solicitors and of course veterinary surgeons. The point made is that it is often the local issues that bring matters to a head, with chatter between wives, clients and third parties. If there are general workplace issues that need to be aired, it may be that local microportals will form part of the tools available to a professional mediator that handles these very local matters in a confidential manner.
The topic of microportals seems to be moving rapidly from village hall activities and church services to professional concerns. Here abouts there is a distinct thrust to buy local. A veterinary practice as part of the local community appears important.
If you have experience of microportals or wish to discuss developments please contact rgard@agmed.freeserve.co.uk.
Richard Gard
4th September 2008.
First Published Veterinary Review
www.veterinaryreview.com
One of the very successful microportals is being managed by a veterinary surgeon, John Lund, not for veterinary benefit but in support of his community. Within the rural areas the central activities revolve around the church, parish council and village hall. Good, old, sleepy, activities of great relevance to a few but of less interest to many. The parish magazine, or in many areas the group parishes magazine, publishes the various activities and is supported by advertising. Entries are usually small and cheap offering plumbing and candlestick making, providing basic information with a ’phone number. Not so in Bridford.
Try and imagine something that you want to know about, or do, starting from your home. If your area has a community hub you will already have it as your home page on the computer. You will already have entered your postcode. A single mouse click and up comes the hub. Rather importantly the use of hubs is going way beyond the people who surf the web. In this area very few folk spend time accessing websites for information. They could, but they choose to carry on as before, possibly because the activity lacks personality. Whereas, everything on the community portal is relevant to their household, local plumbers, pubs, doctors, events, buses, trains, parish history, church services, whatever, and the activities and offerings of the local veterinary practices.
So, what would you like to say to the people living within five miles, or ten miles of your practice? Would you wish to list the address and ’phone number or possibly the website? Would you wish to highlight a particular activity or clinical success or participation in sport, money raising, new surgery, changes in staff or disease alerts? Would you wish to talk to the community with a piece of video? Would you wish to change what is on the hub every month or week? I hope you are beginning to see that this microportal development is very much more than having a website.
The beginnings of the existing microportals have often developed in order to involve and inform people about goings on locally and also to raise money for the church or village hall. Church based portals have been credited with increasing footfall, donations and wellbeing. Individual parishes have latched on to the idea and from slow beginnings the number of people within the area going to the portal each day increases rapidly. Thousands of hits are recorded. People go to the portal for one item but then come across other things of interest. In a holiday area, such as Bridford on the edge of Dartmoor, people are encouraged to look at the hub from their home wherever it is and very rapidly the extent of aspects of interest are able to be noted.
So, at the moment the whole idea of community microportals is known to a few but major expansion is anticipated. The current establishment of county councils and district councils is to be replaced by unitary authorities. Each county will be voting on this soon and some areas will change and others may not. However, locally, the idea of shedding five chief executives of the district councils, plus all the buildings and infrastructure, with the frustrating inefficiencies and expense, has an appeal. No doubt the single authority will absorb most of the people and sites but that is not the main thrust of interest. Underlying the large authority will be the community boards, based in this area on market towns. Each parish council will be represented on these boards and there will be a community budget for the development of, yes, communities. So it is not difficult to consider that microportal community hubs will pop up covering all the communities within a community board. The opportunities for the promotion of veterinary practices, or indeed veterinary activity in general is very real.
Moving on, there are microportals for associations and professional groups. Here again these are different from websites as such and websites with links, partly because of the one click concept and ease of access. With specific groups the quality of the portal presentation may become a bigger issue. Within a community portal there will be a variety of presentations from the simple to the complex, the plain to the colourful, whereas for an association site there may be issues of quality of presentation and appearance that incur additional mastering and expense. A list of portals is available at www.2day.ws/sites and it is easy to view a range and get some idea of the breadth of the topic.
The other aspect to consider is that veterinary surgeons and veterinary businesses are targets for the services of others. As you interact with a microportal so you are open to becoming interested in a topic you had not initially thought to access. These will range from the expected to the unexpected.
For example, it was unexpected to find the topic of workplace grievances, conflict resolution and stress management. Thinking about it where better to introduce the availability of mediation than on a microportal. To promote your abilities to resolve issues between people at a local level appears worthwhile. There is a relevance here to partnerships and one of the areas highlighted is the difficulties that arise between partners as the relationship evolves over the years. This aspect of partnerships is well recognised for accountants, solicitors and of course veterinary surgeons. The point made is that it is often the local issues that bring matters to a head, with chatter between wives, clients and third parties. If there are general workplace issues that need to be aired, it may be that local microportals will form part of the tools available to a professional mediator that handles these very local matters in a confidential manner.
The topic of microportals seems to be moving rapidly from village hall activities and church services to professional concerns. Here abouts there is a distinct thrust to buy local. A veterinary practice as part of the local community appears important.
If you have experience of microportals or wish to discuss developments please contact rgard@agmed.freeserve.co.uk.
Richard Gard
4th September 2008.
First Published Veterinary Review
www.veterinaryreview.com
August 2008
We have to upgrade both the 2day servers due to very heavy daily traffic from all over the UK.
July 2008
We add 22,000 community sites and 35,000 School plus University Community sites - making us one of the largest community networks in the UK!
May 2008
We break the 200,000 visits a day threshold!
September 2007
2day's flood beating backups. We now backup our system onto a server in the USA.
August 2007
To cope with new traffic levels 2day commissions a second server.
July 2007
2day daily hits break the 200,000 barrier
March 2007
2day hits go over 100,000 in one day and our server is upgraded to take the new level of traffic
February 2007
Three new templates are launched. One community one and two conventional website ones.
Our hits go up to over one per second!
Our hits go up to over one per second!
April 06 - Lacock repeats history!
Richard Searight - the new Fox-Talbot!
Unique window on the internet - The Microportal
A tiny village in Wiltshire, which is credited with being the birthplace of photography, is repeating history by introducing a new way of looking at the world wide web - The Microportal, or personal website!
More than 170 years ago William Henry Fox Talbot took the first photograph of a lattice window in his home at Lacock Abbey - now 2Day Microportals, headed up by Lacock-based Richard Searight, is offering communities another window, that to the World Wide Web.
The uniqueness of the system is that once users have introduced their postcode, everything they need is within three clicks of the mouse. Every day over 30,000 people use the 2Day Microportal to look something up.
The first 2Day microportal was www.lacock.2day.ws, which is now one of the most used community sites in the whole of the UK, with over 100,000 hits a year from a population of just 1,300 people.
Users can not only find contact details for everyday needs, such as the cinema, eating out, weather and local schools, but also use the site for instant access to things such as a route planner, directory inquiries and news headlines. There are also live links to train, road and airport information - all available within three clicks. People can even take their local site on holiday because it refocuses on any location in the UK.
Richard Searight says his aim is to provide every community in the UK with a personalised one-stop shop. Communities are empowered by being able to run the embedded local sections themselves and even post advertising to pay for the site!
Particularly interesting is the fact that churches have adopted the system as a means of getting themselves back into the centre of communities. 'So far we have over 200 church sites, including one in the Shetland Isles, which is receiving over 250 hits per day', says Richard.
'The vision is to create sites so complete that everyone has to make them their homepage. Once a whole community does that it starts to communicate and gel together as a social unit. The church understands this,' he said. Up until the advent of Microportals, achieving a totally comprehensive community website was completely impossible for the average local webmaster.
For further information: Richard Searight, 2Day Microportals Ltd., 01249 730439 or 07770 846450. Or visit www.2day.ws.
Unique window on the internet - The Microportal
A tiny village in Wiltshire, which is credited with being the birthplace of photography, is repeating history by introducing a new way of looking at the world wide web - The Microportal, or personal website!
More than 170 years ago William Henry Fox Talbot took the first photograph of a lattice window in his home at Lacock Abbey - now 2Day Microportals, headed up by Lacock-based Richard Searight, is offering communities another window, that to the World Wide Web.
The uniqueness of the system is that once users have introduced their postcode, everything they need is within three clicks of the mouse. Every day over 30,000 people use the 2Day Microportal to look something up.
The first 2Day microportal was www.lacock.2day.ws, which is now one of the most used community sites in the whole of the UK, with over 100,000 hits a year from a population of just 1,300 people.
Users can not only find contact details for everyday needs, such as the cinema, eating out, weather and local schools, but also use the site for instant access to things such as a route planner, directory inquiries and news headlines. There are also live links to train, road and airport information - all available within three clicks. People can even take their local site on holiday because it refocuses on any location in the UK.
Richard Searight says his aim is to provide every community in the UK with a personalised one-stop shop. Communities are empowered by being able to run the embedded local sections themselves and even post advertising to pay for the site!
Particularly interesting is the fact that churches have adopted the system as a means of getting themselves back into the centre of communities. 'So far we have over 200 church sites, including one in the Shetland Isles, which is receiving over 250 hits per day', says Richard.
'The vision is to create sites so complete that everyone has to make them their homepage. Once a whole community does that it starts to communicate and gel together as a social unit. The church understands this,' he said. Up until the advent of Microportals, achieving a totally comprehensive community website was completely impossible for the average local webmaster.
For further information: Richard Searight, 2Day Microportals Ltd., 01249 730439 or 07770 846450. Or visit www.2day.ws.
February 22
Oxford English Dictionary considers listing the word Microportal in next edition
February 21
Over 100 new Microportals created in one week!
December 2005
We welcome our 6 millionth visitor! Every 5 seconds someone uses 2day.
October 2005
2day goes onto a new high speed server which enhances performance across the system and halves new site creation times. Many apologies for the down time on Saturday 22nd October. Enjoy the new speed!
October 2005
We reach 5 million visitors
June 2005
We have just received our 3,000,000 visitor!
Business 2day
The week according to TEN
Unemployment in the euro zone remained at a record rate of 10% for a fifth month in a row.
The National Housing Federation warned that homeowners in England who bought at the peak may face four more years of negative equity.
RBS announced 400 job losses at its Direct Line subsidiary.
Ryanair announced that it is ceasing services from Belfast City Airport.
The UK economy grew slightly faster than initially thought in the second quarter, expanding by 1.2 per cent rather than the 1.1 per cent first estimated.
The Treasury is setting an example by planning to cut staff numbers by about one-quarter.
More than 500 users a day are downloading the free version of istethoscope, which experts say has already saved lives.
Leadership tip of the week:
How to make better judgements: We make better decisions when we listen to others rather than relying on our own judgement. In a study that could help anyone from new couples to the leaders of the Coalition, researchers proved that pooling wisdom with a partner reliably produces better results. A team funded by the Wellcome Trust asked pairs of volunteers to pinpoint when a very faint image appeared on a screen; if they disagreed, they talked it through. The results showed joint decisions were indeed better than ones made by the stronger individual. But a second test demonstrated the destructive effect an incompetent partner can have.
The National Housing Federation warned that homeowners in England who bought at the peak may face four more years of negative equity.
RBS announced 400 job losses at its Direct Line subsidiary.
Ryanair announced that it is ceasing services from Belfast City Airport.
The UK economy grew slightly faster than initially thought in the second quarter, expanding by 1.2 per cent rather than the 1.1 per cent first estimated.
The Treasury is setting an example by planning to cut staff numbers by about one-quarter.
More than 500 users a day are downloading the free version of istethoscope, which experts say has already saved lives.
Leadership tip of the week:
How to make better judgements: We make better decisions when we listen to others rather than relying on our own judgement. In a study that could help anyone from new couples to the leaders of the Coalition, researchers proved that pooling wisdom with a partner reliably produces better results. A team funded by the Wellcome Trust asked pairs of volunteers to pinpoint when a very faint image appeared on a screen; if they disagreed, they talked it through. The results showed joint decisions were indeed better than ones made by the stronger individual. But a second test demonstrated the destructive effect an incompetent partner can have.
Social Media
Last week in the city according to TEN
* China formally became the world’s second-largest economy during the second quarter, supplanting Japan.
* The first half of 2010 saw a slight recovery in average private company values from their historic low point at the end of 2009.
* Campbell Soup Company is preparing a £1.5bn break-up bid for United Biscuits, the British group behind Jaffa Cakes.
* The Policy Exchange think tank, warned that interest rates may rise to 8pc within two years. 300 of Woolworths' 807 retail units remain vacant following the collapse of the company in 2008.
* Only five FTSE 100 companies have a female chief executive.
Leadership tip of the week:
Quote of the week:
3Cs to recover from a mistake: While most people accept that mistakes are inevitable, no one likes to make them. The good news is that even large errors don't have to be career-enders if they are handled well. Next time you make a blunder, follow these three steps to recover gracefully: (1) Confess. Trying to hide a mistake or downplay its importance can be fatal to your career. Be candid and transparent about the mistake, take responsibility for your part in it, and don't be defensive. (2) Change. Mistakes are important learning opportunities. Explain to your boss and other interested parties what you will do differently going forward. (3) Circulate. Don't let your errors keep you from ever taking risks again. Once the mistake is behind you, get out there and focus on the future.
Last week in the city - according to 10
The BoE expects the economy to grow by about 2.5% in 2011, down from 3.4%.
A poll found that UK consumers are among the gloomiest in the world, with 34% believing the economy is in ‘a very bad’ shape.
Skype now has 560 million users worldwide, and generated £406m in sales in the first half of the year.
BT received more than 100 applications for each of its apprenticeships this year, more than applied for places at Oxford University.
A poll found that UK consumers are among the gloomiest in the world, with 34% believing the economy is in ‘a very bad’ shape.
Skype now has 560 million users worldwide, and generated £406m in sales in the first half of the year.
BT received more than 100 applications for each of its apprenticeships this year, more than applied for places at Oxford University.
Creativity - Innovation Matters - August 2010
Entrepreneurs have nothing to fear but fear of failure
I have heard this before, but in this case I hold up my hands and say that I used creative swiping and stole the title from Sir Richard Branson. You really should read his interesting article on the subject by clicking here.
Branson makes a very interesting point about fear of failure, but how can innovation actually fail? It is quite simple, the only way is to DO NOTHING.
Innovation is all about getting things done (or trying in the case of Virgin) and learning from the result whether it is success or failure. This way you can a) try again or b) use your acquired knowledge in some other way. The route forward may not necessarily be a straight line but you will move forward and potentially gain competitive advantage.
Thomas Edison is reported to have made over 2000 attempts at creating the first light bulb. His view of this was that he found 2000 ways not to make a light bulb. Imagine that there was no patent and a competitor had no knowledge of what Edison had done. Even if Edison was on attempt 1999 he was still 1999 steps ahead of his competitor, none of which he would have made without failing!!
In the words of Sir Richard Branson "If you can identify and learn from your mistakes, you have a much greater chance of bouncing back from them - and succeeding the next time" but first of course you must actually do something or you are guaranteed to fail.
Derek Cheshire
derek@creative4business.co.uk.
I have heard this before, but in this case I hold up my hands and say that I used creative swiping and stole the title from Sir Richard Branson. You really should read his interesting article on the subject by clicking here.
Branson makes a very interesting point about fear of failure, but how can innovation actually fail? It is quite simple, the only way is to DO NOTHING.
Innovation is all about getting things done (or trying in the case of Virgin) and learning from the result whether it is success or failure. This way you can a) try again or b) use your acquired knowledge in some other way. The route forward may not necessarily be a straight line but you will move forward and potentially gain competitive advantage.
Thomas Edison is reported to have made over 2000 attempts at creating the first light bulb. His view of this was that he found 2000 ways not to make a light bulb. Imagine that there was no patent and a competitor had no knowledge of what Edison had done. Even if Edison was on attempt 1999 he was still 1999 steps ahead of his competitor, none of which he would have made without failing!!
In the words of Sir Richard Branson "If you can identify and learn from your mistakes, you have a much greater chance of bouncing back from them - and succeeding the next time" but first of course you must actually do something or you are guaranteed to fail.
Derek Cheshire
derek@creative4business.co.uk.
Last week in the city - according to 10
The UK's economy grew at a faster-than-expected pace of 1.1% in the April to June period, official figures show.
Apple announced a massive 78% surge in second quarter profits to $3.25bn – boosted by the sale of 3.27 million iPads and 3.47 million Macs and 8.4 million iPhones.
Microsoft reported profits of $4.52bn for the same period. Lending to businesses and households fell in May according to the CBI.
Citigroup reported that it might quit Britain if the government imposes further taxes on banks.
The volcanic ash cloud, which closed airspace for 18 days, knocked 24% of Ryanair’s first quarter results.
It was announced that long-suffering Equitable Life policyholders may receive less than £500 each in compensation.
App of the week
Text speak may have had its day, following the launch of a free iPhone app that enables users to speak the words they wish to send in a text or email – the Dragon Dictation voice recognition system is said to be fast, easy to use and remarkably accurate.
How to resolve conflict at work:
Differences of opinion between colleagues can be useful and even productive. But when clashes turn ugly, conflict can be harmful to working relationships. Here are three tips for handling the next disagreement you have with a colleague: (1) Identify common ground. Point out what you both agree on at the beginning of the conversation. This may be a shared goal or a set of operating rules. (2) Hear your colleague out. Allow your colleague to share his opinion and explain his point of view. Don't disagree with individual points he makes; listen to the whole story. (3) Propose a solution. Use the information you gathered in the conversation to offer a resolution. This should incorporate his perspective and be different from what you originally thought.
Leadership tip of the week: Quote of the week:
If your lost property has 'vanished into thin air' or have ever 'refused to budge an inch' or have been 'tongue-tied', a 'tower of strength', 'hoodwinked' or 'in a pickle' you are quoting Shakespeare
Apple announced a massive 78% surge in second quarter profits to $3.25bn – boosted by the sale of 3.27 million iPads and 3.47 million Macs and 8.4 million iPhones.
Microsoft reported profits of $4.52bn for the same period. Lending to businesses and households fell in May according to the CBI.
Citigroup reported that it might quit Britain if the government imposes further taxes on banks.
The volcanic ash cloud, which closed airspace for 18 days, knocked 24% of Ryanair’s first quarter results.
It was announced that long-suffering Equitable Life policyholders may receive less than £500 each in compensation.
App of the week
Text speak may have had its day, following the launch of a free iPhone app that enables users to speak the words they wish to send in a text or email – the Dragon Dictation voice recognition system is said to be fast, easy to use and remarkably accurate.
How to resolve conflict at work:
Differences of opinion between colleagues can be useful and even productive. But when clashes turn ugly, conflict can be harmful to working relationships. Here are three tips for handling the next disagreement you have with a colleague: (1) Identify common ground. Point out what you both agree on at the beginning of the conversation. This may be a shared goal or a set of operating rules. (2) Hear your colleague out. Allow your colleague to share his opinion and explain his point of view. Don't disagree with individual points he makes; listen to the whole story. (3) Propose a solution. Use the information you gathered in the conversation to offer a resolution. This should incorporate his perspective and be different from what you originally thought.
Leadership tip of the week: Quote of the week:
If your lost property has 'vanished into thin air' or have ever 'refused to budge an inch' or have been 'tongue-tied', a 'tower of strength', 'hoodwinked' or 'in a pickle' you are quoting Shakespeare
Moneyweek's Week
The best-kept secret in economics…
The housing market is topping out…
Your biggest advantage over fund managers…
Welcome back to your weekend edition of Money Morning.
This is where we highlight some of the best bits from our free emails, newsletters, blog and MoneyWeek magazine that we’ve published in the past week.
● Typical! After the stock market got a real dose of the miseries last Friday, this week it was all change again. By midday yesterday, the FTSE 100 had recovered by some 4%.
This was something of a surprise, for several reasons. For one, there were some jitters over the outcome of Europe's banking stress tests, which are supposed to show how sound, or otherwise, the continent's lenders really are. By the time you get this email, they'll have been released - my colleague John Stepek will be giving his views on what they really mean for investors in Monday's Money Morning.
Second, US Fed boss Ben Bernanke was his usual cagey self in his six-month Congress testimony. The markets usually get quite excited when Bernanke talks to Congress, but there wasn't too much to see this time around. Meanwhile home sales in the US fell by 5% in June, while the stock of unsold houses hit its highest level in ten months. Hardly promising.
Add up the sum total of the above, and there's been plenty for investors to worry about, or so you might think. But with several American companies coming up with 'better than expected' results and statements - here's my take on that - investors decided to ignore the bad news and put their happy faces on.
● Meanwhile, back in Britain, the housing market looks like it's topping out again. Home loan approvals - a key gauge of future prices - dropped by 4.6% in June, according to the British Bankers Association.
This week, our editor-in-chief, Merryn Somerset Webb, was talking to a TV crew for a documentary about the property crash (she was also on Panorama this week by the way - if you missed it, you can check it out here).
They asked her why the government hadn't done anything to prevent the bubble from building in the first place. Well, of course the answer is that it's not in the government's interest to do so - you can read Merryn's take and comment on it, on our blog, here: Why the government can't stop house prices falling.
● With markets this volatile, what does an ordinary investor do? In Wednesday's Money Morning, John tried to spell it out: How to cope with the market's mood swings.
"Ignore the noise, and look at what's cheap." Long-term, large blue chips are a 'win-win' investment, he says. "If the economy recovers from here, then "that'll be good news for big companies along with the others. Profits and sales will go up.
"If we're heading into another slump, most shares will suffer, but defensives will bear up a lot better than the riskier stuff. At a recent Roundtable, we had a group of investment experts tip their top stocks for volatile times - subscribers can read it here: 13 stocks to protect your wealth in volatile markets". And if you're not already a subscriber, claim you first three issues of MoneyWeek free here.
● Talking of experts… one of the nice things about writing this Saturday round-up is that I get a good excuse to read, from cover to cover, all our newsletters. I don't always agree with their take on things, but there's lots of thought-provoking stuff you won't find anywhere else.
Like this from Bengt Saelensminde, editor of The Right Side email - "The secret weapon to beat the City Professionals".
"As private investors, we have one massive advantage over fund managers", says Bengt. "And it's so counter intuitive, you'll probably think it's not an advantage at all; in fact you may think I've lost my marbles... but here goes: we're allowed to make bad investments".
"Let me explain how you can use this to your advantage. It's a benefit that isn't available to most professional investors. Fund managers have to justify their every investment decision. Clients and colleagues question their every move. They wear the same suits, they read the same papers and they make the same conservative investments - and the same mediocre returns. The last thing a fund manager will do is make an 'off the wall' investment that could leave him with egg on his face. Yet it's the 'off-the-wall' investments that can make fortunes".
I like his thinking. What's more, Bengt's advice is completely free. If you'd like to receive The Right Side every day, simply sign up here.
Do you know what’s next for your money?
Where’s the FTSE heading?
Are we really sliding into a double-dip recession?
Should you prepare your portfolio for inflation or deflation?
Where will you put your money if the pound nosedives on Friday?
We’ve got some ideas.
Find out more here
-------------------------------------
Your capital is at risk when you invest in shares – you can lose some or all of your money; never risk more than you can afford to lose. Please seek advice if necessary. MoneyWeek Ltd. 0207 633 3780.
● Speaking of off-the-wall investments, Tom Bulford in the Penny Sleuth email was talking about how to profit from golf this week. Not in Britain or the US, but in Asia. Why Asia? Because while golf has lost its elitist reputation in the UK to a great extent, it's still very much an aspirational sport in Asia.
"Many years ago I was on a flight to Hong Kong. Due to a typhoon, the flight was diverted to Taipei. We were obliged to stay overnight before being taken back to the airport the following morning. At first light, the bus passed a golf course. To my amazement, even then, the course was packed with golfers, desperate for their fix of this maddening and challenging game. In the 1970s there were fewer that 50 courses in the whole of Asia. Now there are over 6,000. In Asia, golf is booming.
"So there's plenty of money in the golf business. One firm that's recognised the possibilities and invested heavily in Asian sport is the French media giant Lagardere. But a penny share company that has its eyes on Asian golf is AIM-quoted Parallel Media Group (PAA).
"What Parallel does is to negotiate a deal with a host golf club, put up a prize fund, probably pay a few stars an appearance fee, find sponsors and then set about selling tickets, concessions and attracting corporate hosts. Done well, and with a little bit of luck with the weather and the quality of the field, this can be a real money spinner".
You can read the rest of the story here: Cash in on Asia's obsession with golf. And if you haven't already, then sign up for Tom's Penny Sleuth email, absolutely free.
● What's the best-kept secret in modern finance? Tim Price, writer of The Price Report, reckons he has the answer. "I want to tell you about a small cabal of investors and economists who have a remarkable record of calling the top of the market before a major crash. Many consider this group to be a bunch of lunatics - a fringe element.
"But I think they're probably the best-kept secret in finance - and right now, they're telling us exactly who's to blame for the crash. And how we can protect our wealth for the rough years that lie ahead".
So who on earth can he be talking about? The answer… is the Austrian school of economists. Now this may sound at best rather arcane, and at worst, very dull. But let me assure you, if you're interested in knowing more about what's gone wrong with the global economy over the last three decades - and how everything could yet get much worse, it's fascinating stuff.
"A stock market bubble, tends to have three features: one of them is fundamental (a new technology, say, like the internet); one of them is financial (a surge in the availability of money and credit, for example); and a key one is psychological - we all believe we can get effortlessly rich, and traditional valuation measures then get thrown out of the window. The 1990s stock market bubble represented all three.
"Why do I cite the Austrian warnings issued before the Millennium Crash? Because nothing has changed. In monetary terms, what has changed has got worse. An unsustainable problem has become doubly unsustainable. Debt, leverage, deficits, the ballooning of central bank balance sheets...If these were urgent problems back in 1999 and 2000, they are multiple times worse now."
Here at MoneyWeek, we're firm believers in Austrian thinking. I'll not give you the rest of Tim's piece here - that wouldn't be fair to his subscribers - but there's one clear conclusion which you won't be remotely surprised to hear: keep buying gold.
● Just before I go, one final word for those of you who want to keep your financial life nice and simple. If you just want to leave your cash in the bank, but are worried about your buying power being devastated by inflation, then take a look at our free email, MoneyWeek Saver. This week Ruth Jackson has been looking at the best savings rates around. And she reckons she's found a "sneaky way" to beat inflation. Just click here to read the piece: The sneaky way to beat inflation today.
● By the way, you can now follow MoneyWeek articles on Twitter, and you can also sign up direct for John Stepek’s Twitter feed.
Until next week,
David Stevenson
Associate editor, MoneyWeek
MONEY MORNING™ is the free daily email service brought to you by MoneyWeek. For a 3-week FREE trial of the MoneyWeek magazine & website, click here now:
Sign up for a 3-week FREE trial of MoneyWeek
Or if you prefer to place your order over the phone, just call 0207 633 3780 and one of our Customer Service representatives will take your order for you. Please quote reference number EMYK L502 to get your special discount and free issues.
The housing market is topping out…
Your biggest advantage over fund managers…
From David Stevenson, across the river from the City
Welcome back to your weekend edition of Money Morning. This is where we highlight some of the best bits from our free emails, newsletters, blog and MoneyWeek magazine that we’ve published in the past week.
● Typical! After the stock market got a real dose of the miseries last Friday, this week it was all change again. By midday yesterday, the FTSE 100 had recovered by some 4%.
This was something of a surprise, for several reasons. For one, there were some jitters over the outcome of Europe's banking stress tests, which are supposed to show how sound, or otherwise, the continent's lenders really are. By the time you get this email, they'll have been released - my colleague John Stepek will be giving his views on what they really mean for investors in Monday's Money Morning.
Second, US Fed boss Ben Bernanke was his usual cagey self in his six-month Congress testimony. The markets usually get quite excited when Bernanke talks to Congress, but there wasn't too much to see this time around. Meanwhile home sales in the US fell by 5% in June, while the stock of unsold houses hit its highest level in ten months. Hardly promising.
Add up the sum total of the above, and there's been plenty for investors to worry about, or so you might think. But with several American companies coming up with 'better than expected' results and statements - here's my take on that - investors decided to ignore the bad news and put their happy faces on.
● Meanwhile, back in Britain, the housing market looks like it's topping out again. Home loan approvals - a key gauge of future prices - dropped by 4.6% in June, according to the British Bankers Association.
This week, our editor-in-chief, Merryn Somerset Webb, was talking to a TV crew for a documentary about the property crash (she was also on Panorama this week by the way - if you missed it, you can check it out here).
They asked her why the government hadn't done anything to prevent the bubble from building in the first place. Well, of course the answer is that it's not in the government's interest to do so - you can read Merryn's take and comment on it, on our blog, here: Why the government can't stop house prices falling.
● With markets this volatile, what does an ordinary investor do? In Wednesday's Money Morning, John tried to spell it out: How to cope with the market's mood swings.
"Ignore the noise, and look at what's cheap." Long-term, large blue chips are a 'win-win' investment, he says. "If the economy recovers from here, then "that'll be good news for big companies along with the others. Profits and sales will go up.
"If we're heading into another slump, most shares will suffer, but defensives will bear up a lot better than the riskier stuff. At a recent Roundtable, we had a group of investment experts tip their top stocks for volatile times - subscribers can read it here: 13 stocks to protect your wealth in volatile markets". And if you're not already a subscriber, claim you first three issues of MoneyWeek free here.
● Talking of experts… one of the nice things about writing this Saturday round-up is that I get a good excuse to read, from cover to cover, all our newsletters. I don't always agree with their take on things, but there's lots of thought-provoking stuff you won't find anywhere else.
Like this from Bengt Saelensminde, editor of The Right Side email - "The secret weapon to beat the City Professionals".
"As private investors, we have one massive advantage over fund managers", says Bengt. "And it's so counter intuitive, you'll probably think it's not an advantage at all; in fact you may think I've lost my marbles... but here goes: we're allowed to make bad investments".
"Let me explain how you can use this to your advantage. It's a benefit that isn't available to most professional investors. Fund managers have to justify their every investment decision. Clients and colleagues question their every move. They wear the same suits, they read the same papers and they make the same conservative investments - and the same mediocre returns. The last thing a fund manager will do is make an 'off the wall' investment that could leave him with egg on his face. Yet it's the 'off-the-wall' investments that can make fortunes".
I like his thinking. What's more, Bengt's advice is completely free. If you'd like to receive The Right Side every day, simply sign up here.
ADVERTISEMENT
Do you know what’s next for your money?
Where’s the FTSE heading?
Are we really sliding into a double-dip recession?
Should you prepare your portfolio for inflation or deflation?
Where will you put your money if the pound nosedives on Friday?
We’ve got some ideas.
Find out more here
-------------------------------------
Your capital is at risk when you invest in shares – you can lose some or all of your money; never risk more than you can afford to lose. Please seek advice if necessary. MoneyWeek Ltd. 0207 633 3780.
● Speaking of off-the-wall investments, Tom Bulford in the Penny Sleuth email was talking about how to profit from golf this week. Not in Britain or the US, but in Asia. Why Asia? Because while golf has lost its elitist reputation in the UK to a great extent, it's still very much an aspirational sport in Asia.
"Many years ago I was on a flight to Hong Kong. Due to a typhoon, the flight was diverted to Taipei. We were obliged to stay overnight before being taken back to the airport the following morning. At first light, the bus passed a golf course. To my amazement, even then, the course was packed with golfers, desperate for their fix of this maddening and challenging game. In the 1970s there were fewer that 50 courses in the whole of Asia. Now there are over 6,000. In Asia, golf is booming.
"So there's plenty of money in the golf business. One firm that's recognised the possibilities and invested heavily in Asian sport is the French media giant Lagardere. But a penny share company that has its eyes on Asian golf is AIM-quoted Parallel Media Group (PAA).
"What Parallel does is to negotiate a deal with a host golf club, put up a prize fund, probably pay a few stars an appearance fee, find sponsors and then set about selling tickets, concessions and attracting corporate hosts. Done well, and with a little bit of luck with the weather and the quality of the field, this can be a real money spinner".
You can read the rest of the story here: Cash in on Asia's obsession with golf. And if you haven't already, then sign up for Tom's Penny Sleuth email, absolutely free.
● What's the best-kept secret in modern finance? Tim Price, writer of The Price Report, reckons he has the answer. "I want to tell you about a small cabal of investors and economists who have a remarkable record of calling the top of the market before a major crash. Many consider this group to be a bunch of lunatics - a fringe element.
"But I think they're probably the best-kept secret in finance - and right now, they're telling us exactly who's to blame for the crash. And how we can protect our wealth for the rough years that lie ahead".
So who on earth can he be talking about? The answer… is the Austrian school of economists. Now this may sound at best rather arcane, and at worst, very dull. But let me assure you, if you're interested in knowing more about what's gone wrong with the global economy over the last three decades - and how everything could yet get much worse, it's fascinating stuff.
"A stock market bubble, tends to have three features: one of them is fundamental (a new technology, say, like the internet); one of them is financial (a surge in the availability of money and credit, for example); and a key one is psychological - we all believe we can get effortlessly rich, and traditional valuation measures then get thrown out of the window. The 1990s stock market bubble represented all three.
"Why do I cite the Austrian warnings issued before the Millennium Crash? Because nothing has changed. In monetary terms, what has changed has got worse. An unsustainable problem has become doubly unsustainable. Debt, leverage, deficits, the ballooning of central bank balance sheets...If these were urgent problems back in 1999 and 2000, they are multiple times worse now."
Here at MoneyWeek, we're firm believers in Austrian thinking. I'll not give you the rest of Tim's piece here - that wouldn't be fair to his subscribers - but there's one clear conclusion which you won't be remotely surprised to hear: keep buying gold.
● Just before I go, one final word for those of you who want to keep your financial life nice and simple. If you just want to leave your cash in the bank, but are worried about your buying power being devastated by inflation, then take a look at our free email, MoneyWeek Saver. This week Ruth Jackson has been looking at the best savings rates around. And she reckons she's found a "sneaky way" to beat inflation. Just click here to read the piece: The sneaky way to beat inflation today.
● By the way, you can now follow MoneyWeek articles on Twitter, and you can also sign up direct for John Stepek’s Twitter feed.
Until next week,
David Stevenson
Associate editor, MoneyWeek
MONEY MORNING™ is the free daily email service brought to you by MoneyWeek. For a 3-week FREE trial of the MoneyWeek magazine & website, click here now: Sign up for a 3-week FREE trial of MoneyWeek
Or if you prefer to place your order over the phone, just call 0207 633 3780 and one of our Customer Service representatives will take your order for you. Please quote reference number EMYK L502 to get your special discount and free issues.
How to handle disruptions - Tips from Ten
In today's world of financial crises, currency fluctuations, and terrorist threats, coping with the unexpected isn't just a good leadership skill, it's critical. Here are three ways you can improve your response to, and minimise the impact of, inevitable disruptions:
(1) Have a back-up plan. You may not always be able to rehearse Plan B, but you should have alternative approaches that can help get you out of a bind. In the absence of actual plans, mental flexibility can help you respond more quickly.
(2) Speed up communication. Information needs to move through your company quickly and efficiently. Find ways you can collect and disseminate data in short cycles.
(3) Instill values. Values help people know the right thing to do without being told or waiting for permission. They also bind a company together when surprises happen and therefore can help companies recover more quickly.
(1) Have a back-up plan. You may not always be able to rehearse Plan B, but you should have alternative approaches that can help get you out of a bind. In the absence of actual plans, mental flexibility can help you respond more quickly.
(2) Speed up communication. Information needs to move through your company quickly and efficiently. Find ways you can collect and disseminate data in short cycles.
(3) Instill values. Values help people know the right thing to do without being told or waiting for permission. They also bind a company together when surprises happen and therefore can help companies recover more quickly.
Last week in the city: - according to TEN
Fitness First is being lined up for a £2 billion listing that would trigger a giant windfall for its private equity backers.
Ocado is seeking to raise £400m in a stock market flotation.
Apple announced that it sold its 3M iPads, just 80 days after its introduction in the US.
Before its 50% slide, BP accounted for 7% of the overall FTSE index and accounted for £1 in every £7 of blue-chip payouts.
The Unite trade union is to postpone a strike ballot of British Airways cabin crew after receiving a peace offer from the airline, BAE Systems, Britain's biggest defence company, is set to cut hundreds of jobs in its UK vehicles business in the coming weeks.
TwitPic Uploader is the must have app for all Twitter users. There’s no greater instant gratification than snapping a photo and sharing it with the world.
How to motivate your board of directors:
When serving on a board of directors is voluntary, sometimes members can lose focus or doubt that their participation is essential. At your next board meeting, try these three tips for reinvigorating and encouraging board members to devote more time and energy to growing your company: (1) Pose provocative questions. Spend a significant part of each board meeting wrestling with critical issues and asking your board to think through the toughest challenges facing your company. (2) Share the stage. Minimise time spent listening to prepared presentations. Be sure one or two members don’t dominate the conversation. (3) Spend time one-on-one. Find out about members' individual interests and how they might translate to helping your company in a unique way - for example, by coaching an executive or attending a critical in-house meeting.
Ocado is seeking to raise £400m in a stock market flotation.
Apple announced that it sold its 3M iPads, just 80 days after its introduction in the US.
Before its 50% slide, BP accounted for 7% of the overall FTSE index and accounted for £1 in every £7 of blue-chip payouts.
The Unite trade union is to postpone a strike ballot of British Airways cabin crew after receiving a peace offer from the airline, BAE Systems, Britain's biggest defence company, is set to cut hundreds of jobs in its UK vehicles business in the coming weeks.
TwitPic Uploader is the must have app for all Twitter users. There’s no greater instant gratification than snapping a photo and sharing it with the world.
How to motivate your board of directors:
When serving on a board of directors is voluntary, sometimes members can lose focus or doubt that their participation is essential. At your next board meeting, try these three tips for reinvigorating and encouraging board members to devote more time and energy to growing your company: (1) Pose provocative questions. Spend a significant part of each board meeting wrestling with critical issues and asking your board to think through the toughest challenges facing your company. (2) Share the stage. Minimise time spent listening to prepared presentations. Be sure one or two members don’t dominate the conversation. (3) Spend time one-on-one. Find out about members' individual interests and how they might translate to helping your company in a unique way - for example, by coaching an executive or attending a critical in-house meeting.
The Money Week that was
* A hard lesson from BP - never catch a falling knife…
* Watch out for the death cross...
* Profiting from obscure Asian soft drinks...
Welcome back to your weekend edition of Money Morning.
This is where we highlight some of the best bits from our free emails, newsletters, blog and MoneyWeek magazine that we’ve published in the past week.
● What a week. The emergency Budget took up all the headlines, and most of the column inches on this side of the Atlantic. We were broadly happy with it. But of course, it's easy for George Osborne to stand up there and talk about huge cuts. Now they need to be pushed through.
As Tim Price put it in his Price Report newsletter: "to the extent that it imposed a degree of fiscal prudence where under Labour we had flatulence, this was 'Mission Accomplished'. We will now have to wait and see whether the savagery of the cuts to the public sector is greeted with continental-style social disunity."
● Of course, the neo-Keynesians, who think the answer to everything is to print more money, didn't like the Budget. As I noted in Wednesday's Money Morning, we'll never have a definitive answer about who's right, because these stances are often based more on personal politics than anything else - which just shows that economics really is a poor excuse for a science.
I've seen the case made that the Depression in the 1930s was caused by too much government interference, rather than too little. And I'm sure we'll see the same arguments rage over the "Great Recession" of the early 2000s in the future.
Our sympathies are with the austerity camp - although we don't think taking either path could save us from a double-dip. My colleague Merryn Somerset Webb explains in an excellent blog on the VAT hike: VAT rise won't create a Japan-style slump - but the banks might. "One of the things that most worries the 'must-have-more-stimulus' crowd about the Budget is the rise in VAT from January. It will, they say, tip the economy over the edge. Next thing we know, we'll be back in recession.
"The critics point to Japan as an example of how the nightmare of rising consumption taxes unfolds. There, in 1997, the tax rose from a mere 3% to 5%. The economy subsequently shrank in four of the next five quarters.
"I say subsequently rather than consequently for the simple reason that there is little evidence the two were particularly connected. As Graham Turner of GFC Economics points out, the Japanese economy had been slowing for some time before the tax actually rose. And the country's financial crisis was already "palpably intensifying", with a number of finance companies having just failed or being publicly on the verge of failure.
"At the same time, a big land auction in Tokyo had just failed (falling land and property prices were at the core of the Japanese financial collapse, just as they have been in ours). Worst of all, one of Japan's big insurers had just defaulted - the first to do so.
"All this 'arguably had a far greater impact on consumer confidence than the hike in consumption tax.' The UK may well end up back in recession. But if it does, I don't think it will be the rise in VAT that puts us there. Just as it was in Japan, it will be the next leg of the banking crisis."
● So that was the Budget. But while Britain's eyes were focused on Mr Osborne, the nation's broad mood of cautious optimism (no doubt helped by England's football win) was at odds with the rest of the world.
China got the week off to a good start with its revaluation of the yuan. However, investors rapidly realised that a tiny relaxation in the dollar peg wasn't going to cure all the world's ills.
Indeed, as Merryn blogged, China has plenty of its own problems. In fact, the renminbi might even be massively overvalued, rather than undervalued, as everyone assumes. "Let's not forget that while it has been pegged to the dollar it has nonetheless already appreciated massively against the euro and the pound this year. And in trade-weighted terms it has risen 13% or so since the peg was first loosened back in 2005."
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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● Meanwhile, investors are starting to worry about the impact of all this austerity. Government stimulus is the only thing that's kept much of the global economy afloat. Now that it's being pulled away, everything is starting to look rather bleak.
But at the same time, governments can't just keep spending indefinitely. European governments in particular have run out of ammo. The cost of insuring against a Greek default hit another high this week, apparently for no specific reason other than that it was a 'risk-off' week. And in the US, the pulling of support for the housing market there has absolutely hammered home sales: The US housing horror story is about to get even worse.
● Another worrying sign comes from the technical analysis side of things. I know a lot of you are sceptical about charting. I don't blame you. But it's worth paying attention. Certainly all the best investors and fund managers I know consult charts as at least part of their analysis.
In any case, what's got the chartists worrying now is the rather grimly-named 'death cross'. You can see for yourself and read all about it in my colleague David Stevenson's blog. But in short, it suggests the FTSE 100 could be heading for another big downturn. You might be inclined to blame that on BP's horrible performance. But a 'death cross' is forming in the copper chart too, which suggests it's about more than just oil.
● Getting away from charts and back to fundamentals - one investment cliché that's also pretty good advice is to "buy what you know." Our Asia expert Cris Sholto Heaton agrees wholeheartedly. Of course, Cris being Cris, what he knows includes a whole range of things that most of us rarely encounter - such as obscure Asian soft drinks.
And in the latest edition of his Asia Investor newsletter, I reckon he's come out with the most exciting share tip he's recommended yet. "In its home market, this company has the same kind of profile you might associate with Coca-Cola or Pepsi." The big news is that it's starting to expand - but the market hasn't noticed yet.
Now I'm quite wary about the stock markets in general at the moment. I certainly don't think the recession is done with the West, and I suspect China is heading for harder times than anyone imagines too.
But if you're offered the chance to buy the next potential Asian multinational, you take it. Because what matters isn't what the market or the economy might do next month or next year. It's where we'll be in ten, maybe 20 years' time. And by then, however you cut it, Asia's populations as a whole are almost certain to be healthier, wealthier and consuming a lot more than they are now.
I'll be sending you an email with more on Asia Investor later today - look out for it, it's already created quite a buzz among Money Morning readers.
● Another investment cliché that's worth listening to is - "Never catch a falling knife." I'm talking, of course, about BP. Earlier this month, I thought it was worth a gamble at around 350p. Merryn disagreed with me, and I have to take my hat off to her, she was absolutely right: Why buying BP now is incredibly risky. The oil major had another shocker of a week this week, and even plunged below 300p at one point.
Well, it's certainly another useful reminder as to the importance of setting a stop-loss when you're gambling. David will have an update on what it all means in Monday's Money Morning.
Until next week,
John Stepek
Editor, MoneyWeek
New Business Editor of the Year, BSME Awards 2009
PS. If you're interested in any of the newsletters mentioned above, you should take a look at the deal Toby Bray, MoneyWeek's publisher, has put together. I sent you an email about it yesterday. But if you missed it, the bottom line is that you can get MoneyWeek's top newsletters plus the magazine - for life. It's a great offer, probably the best we've done. But it has to end on Thursday at midnight. So take some time to look at the offer and see if it's for you - it's a massive deal and there may not be another chance to get on board.
Until next week,
John Stepek
Editor, MoneyWeek
New Business Editor of the Year, BSME Awards 2009
MONEY MORNING™ is the free daily email service brought to you by MoneyWeek. For a 3-week FREE trial of the MoneyWeek magazine & website, click here now:
Sign up for a 3-week FREE trial of MoneyWeek
* Watch out for the death cross...
* Profiting from obscure Asian soft drinks...
Welcome back to your weekend edition of Money Morning.
This is where we highlight some of the best bits from our free emails, newsletters, blog and MoneyWeek magazine that we’ve published in the past week.
● What a week. The emergency Budget took up all the headlines, and most of the column inches on this side of the Atlantic. We were broadly happy with it. But of course, it's easy for George Osborne to stand up there and talk about huge cuts. Now they need to be pushed through.
As Tim Price put it in his Price Report newsletter: "to the extent that it imposed a degree of fiscal prudence where under Labour we had flatulence, this was 'Mission Accomplished'. We will now have to wait and see whether the savagery of the cuts to the public sector is greeted with continental-style social disunity."
● Of course, the neo-Keynesians, who think the answer to everything is to print more money, didn't like the Budget. As I noted in Wednesday's Money Morning, we'll never have a definitive answer about who's right, because these stances are often based more on personal politics than anything else - which just shows that economics really is a poor excuse for a science.
I've seen the case made that the Depression in the 1930s was caused by too much government interference, rather than too little. And I'm sure we'll see the same arguments rage over the "Great Recession" of the early 2000s in the future.
Our sympathies are with the austerity camp - although we don't think taking either path could save us from a double-dip. My colleague Merryn Somerset Webb explains in an excellent blog on the VAT hike: VAT rise won't create a Japan-style slump - but the banks might. "One of the things that most worries the 'must-have-more-stimulus' crowd about the Budget is the rise in VAT from January. It will, they say, tip the economy over the edge. Next thing we know, we'll be back in recession.
"The critics point to Japan as an example of how the nightmare of rising consumption taxes unfolds. There, in 1997, the tax rose from a mere 3% to 5%. The economy subsequently shrank in four of the next five quarters.
"I say subsequently rather than consequently for the simple reason that there is little evidence the two were particularly connected. As Graham Turner of GFC Economics points out, the Japanese economy had been slowing for some time before the tax actually rose. And the country's financial crisis was already "palpably intensifying", with a number of finance companies having just failed or being publicly on the verge of failure.
"At the same time, a big land auction in Tokyo had just failed (falling land and property prices were at the core of the Japanese financial collapse, just as they have been in ours). Worst of all, one of Japan's big insurers had just defaulted - the first to do so.
"All this 'arguably had a far greater impact on consumer confidence than the hike in consumption tax.' The UK may well end up back in recession. But if it does, I don't think it will be the rise in VAT that puts us there. Just as it was in Japan, it will be the next leg of the banking crisis."
● So that was the Budget. But while Britain's eyes were focused on Mr Osborne, the nation's broad mood of cautious optimism (no doubt helped by England's football win) was at odds with the rest of the world.
China got the week off to a good start with its revaluation of the yuan. However, investors rapidly realised that a tiny relaxation in the dollar peg wasn't going to cure all the world's ills.
Indeed, as Merryn blogged, China has plenty of its own problems. In fact, the renminbi might even be massively overvalued, rather than undervalued, as everyone assumes. "Let's not forget that while it has been pegged to the dollar it has nonetheless already appreciated massively against the euro and the pound this year. And in trade-weighted terms it has risen 13% or so since the peg was first loosened back in 2005."
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ADVERTISEMENT
SHOCK announcement from the publisher of MoneyWeek:
“I’m ‘giving away’ our best research!”
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An offer that could make – and save – you thousands of pounds.
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● Meanwhile, investors are starting to worry about the impact of all this austerity. Government stimulus is the only thing that's kept much of the global economy afloat. Now that it's being pulled away, everything is starting to look rather bleak.
But at the same time, governments can't just keep spending indefinitely. European governments in particular have run out of ammo. The cost of insuring against a Greek default hit another high this week, apparently for no specific reason other than that it was a 'risk-off' week. And in the US, the pulling of support for the housing market there has absolutely hammered home sales: The US housing horror story is about to get even worse.
● Another worrying sign comes from the technical analysis side of things. I know a lot of you are sceptical about charting. I don't blame you. But it's worth paying attention. Certainly all the best investors and fund managers I know consult charts as at least part of their analysis.
In any case, what's got the chartists worrying now is the rather grimly-named 'death cross'. You can see for yourself and read all about it in my colleague David Stevenson's blog. But in short, it suggests the FTSE 100 could be heading for another big downturn. You might be inclined to blame that on BP's horrible performance. But a 'death cross' is forming in the copper chart too, which suggests it's about more than just oil.
● Getting away from charts and back to fundamentals - one investment cliché that's also pretty good advice is to "buy what you know." Our Asia expert Cris Sholto Heaton agrees wholeheartedly. Of course, Cris being Cris, what he knows includes a whole range of things that most of us rarely encounter - such as obscure Asian soft drinks.
And in the latest edition of his Asia Investor newsletter, I reckon he's come out with the most exciting share tip he's recommended yet. "In its home market, this company has the same kind of profile you might associate with Coca-Cola or Pepsi." The big news is that it's starting to expand - but the market hasn't noticed yet.
Now I'm quite wary about the stock markets in general at the moment. I certainly don't think the recession is done with the West, and I suspect China is heading for harder times than anyone imagines too.
But if you're offered the chance to buy the next potential Asian multinational, you take it. Because what matters isn't what the market or the economy might do next month or next year. It's where we'll be in ten, maybe 20 years' time. And by then, however you cut it, Asia's populations as a whole are almost certain to be healthier, wealthier and consuming a lot more than they are now.
I'll be sending you an email with more on Asia Investor later today - look out for it, it's already created quite a buzz among Money Morning readers.
● Another investment cliché that's worth listening to is - "Never catch a falling knife." I'm talking, of course, about BP. Earlier this month, I thought it was worth a gamble at around 350p. Merryn disagreed with me, and I have to take my hat off to her, she was absolutely right: Why buying BP now is incredibly risky. The oil major had another shocker of a week this week, and even plunged below 300p at one point.
Well, it's certainly another useful reminder as to the importance of setting a stop-loss when you're gambling. David will have an update on what it all means in Monday's Money Morning.
Until next week,
John Stepek
Editor, MoneyWeek
New Business Editor of the Year, BSME Awards 2009
PS. If you're interested in any of the newsletters mentioned above, you should take a look at the deal Toby Bray, MoneyWeek's publisher, has put together. I sent you an email about it yesterday. But if you missed it, the bottom line is that you can get MoneyWeek's top newsletters plus the magazine - for life. It's a great offer, probably the best we've done. But it has to end on Thursday at midnight. So take some time to look at the offer and see if it's for you - it's a massive deal and there may not be another chance to get on board.
Until next week,
John Stepek
Editor, MoneyWeek
New Business Editor of the Year, BSME Awards 2009
MONEY MORNING™ is the free daily email service brought to you by MoneyWeek. For a 3-week FREE trial of the MoneyWeek magazine & website, click here now:
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The week according to TEN
The Government announced that the FSA would be dismantled with many of its duties transferred to the BoE.
BP scrapped its dividend and agreed to put $20bn into a fund to pay compensation claims.
Morgan Stanley warned that taxpayers should brace themselves for up to £10bn worth of tax increases in the emergency budget.
Nationwide said that UK consumers confidence was at its lowest for a year. Spanish banks borrowed €86bn from the ECB.
News Corp made an indicative £12.3bn, or 700p a share, bid for the 61% of BSkyB it doesn’t already own.
How to increase sales through cold calling: In this era of social media and web-based marketing tools, it's easy to assume the cold call is dead. But especially in the B2B market, it is still a very popular - and effective - way to make sales. Here are three ways to convert a phone call into a sale:
(1) Find a direct line. Calling the direct number for the person you are trying to reach doubles your chances of getting him on the phone.
(2) Utilise online resources. Use sites such as LinkedIn to get more information about your targets or to make contact.
(3) Know the difference between persistence and annoyance. Annoying someone will not make him buy what you're selling. Be professional when reaching out: personalise each message, alternate between voicemail and email so you don't inundate, and add value or provide more information each time you call.
BP scrapped its dividend and agreed to put $20bn into a fund to pay compensation claims.
Morgan Stanley warned that taxpayers should brace themselves for up to £10bn worth of tax increases in the emergency budget.
Nationwide said that UK consumers confidence was at its lowest for a year. Spanish banks borrowed €86bn from the ECB.
News Corp made an indicative £12.3bn, or 700p a share, bid for the 61% of BSkyB it doesn’t already own.
How to increase sales through cold calling: In this era of social media and web-based marketing tools, it's easy to assume the cold call is dead. But especially in the B2B market, it is still a very popular - and effective - way to make sales. Here are three ways to convert a phone call into a sale:
(1) Find a direct line. Calling the direct number for the person you are trying to reach doubles your chances of getting him on the phone.
(2) Utilise online resources. Use sites such as LinkedIn to get more information about your targets or to make contact.
(3) Know the difference between persistence and annoyance. Annoying someone will not make him buy what you're selling. Be professional when reaching out: personalise each message, alternate between voicemail and email so you don't inundate, and add value or provide more information each time you call.
10 ways to create raving fans for your business
Recommendations are best - work as a trusted source for quality recommendations.
Under promise and always over deliver - wow you clients and go the extra mile by over delivering every time. Add value to your offering.
Build relationships - you need to keep in touch with your network so that they know what you are doing, what's new, what's coming up but also, find out what's going on in their world.
Always follow up - Meet, like, follow up! Always follow up. You've sat next to 10 people for at least one hour over lunch and heard their 'elevator pitches'. There must be something you can talk about to make your own contact with them remarkable and memorable.
Do what you say you will - don't under deliver. If you say that you'll put someone in contact with the best electrician that you know, please do it. If something has been promised to you, you then look forward to receiving it.
Get testimonials - your customers are your biggest fans especially if you've done a great job. Apply the testimonials regularly to your marketing material and website. Keep it fresh!
Provide masses of additional value - what more could you do for your existing clients? You are getting to know their business, bit by bit, they like what you do, what more could you pull 'out of the bag' to help them?
Treat all of your clients like VIP's - because they are VIP's and they will keep working with you if you love them, care for them, add value and go the extra mile.
Say "thank you" - if someone refers you to another business then please say "thank you". It means a great deal and they will remember you for saying thank you.
Provide a very proactive service - this will enable you to gain more business from existing clients, it adds value to your offering and it's so helpful. You will be remembered for being helpful.
Oh! One more thing - "Is there anything else I can help you with?" usually produces a "yes, actually there is".
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Last week in the city: According to Ten
Wall Street hit its lowest level this year following disappointing employment data indicating that just 41,000 private sector jobs where created in May.
BP looks set to set aside sufficient cash to meet all legitimate claims, which analysts say could range from $5bn to $40bn.
American regulators are planning to investigate Apple’s business practices to see if it is harming the developing market for software that runs on mobile phones and the iPad.
Sir Terry Leahy announced his retirement from Tesco after 14 years at the top. Philip Clark, his successor, is only the sixth boss in the company’s 80-year history.
How to change careers within your existing company: Making a lateral move inside an organisation can be challenging. If leaders see you as an "IT person" it can be hard to convince them you are a "marketing person." Here are three ways to combat pigeonholing and convince your bosses that you're ready for a new challenge:
(1) Make it a win-win. Position your proposal in terms of the value it will bring the company. For example, explain that you have under-utilised skills or capacity that could be used in a different division or for an important task.
(2) Cover your current position. Offer to train your successor or to continue to do the job part-time.
(3) Think of others. Focusing on what you stand to gain will get you nowhere. Emphasise the learning and development opportunities the move will create, such as for the junior person who can take on some of your previous responsibilities.
The Money Week week
BP – good value or value trap?
...Profit from peckish Asians
... One way to incentivise the England squad
From John Stepek, across the river from the City
Welcome back to your weekend edition of Money Morning.
This is where we highlight some of the best bits from our free emails, newsletters, blog and MoneyWeek magazine that we’ve published in the past week.
● The week began with stock markets plunging. Fears of a double-dip recession reared their heads again as US payrolls data for last month proved very disappointing (The recovery is fizzling out – and there's worse to come). By the end of the week, a jump in Chinese exports had brought some cheer back to the markets, before a fall in US retail sales dented hopes again.
However, BP remained the big story. It's a miserable situation for all involved, not least the families of the 11 people who died in the accident, the environment, and anyone whose livelihood has been destroyed by the spill.
But that's all rather being forgotten amid the blame-throwing going on. The British media is getting increasingly fed up with the flak being tossed our way by the US government and Barack Obama. It wasn't long before unfavourable comparisons with America's attitude towards the 1984 Bhopal disaster, where a leak at a US-owned factory caused the deaths of at least 15,000 people in India, were being bandied about. And as our own Tim Price wrote in his Price Report newsletter, "God help Obama if Exxon Mobil is involved in another high profile public disaster – anywhere."
The political mud-slinging will no doubt continue. But what about the investment case? Well, almost all of our writers have had a crack at giving their views on BP since the spill – my colleague David Stevenson pretty much summed them up last week.
I'll throw in my tuppence here. As the share price tanked this week, I asked our editor-in-chief Merryn Somerset Webb whether she reckoned it was time to buy. I felt BP had probably hit bottom – she was less sure. She blogged on both our views here.
But her main point, which I agree with, is that even if BP is a buy down here, it's certainly not the stock it once was. The funds that hold BP do so for the dividend yield, and the promise of safe exposure to global demand for energy. Now it's very much a short-term punt on whether or not the share will rebound once all the bad news on the spill has come out – I reckon you can probably forget about a dividend being paid, at least for a couple of quarters.
● Shareholders in BP obviously aren't too happy about this mess. But Stephen Bland tells readers of his newsletter, The Dividend Letter, that there's really only one big reason to be angry at BP, and it's nothing to do with the oil spill.
"What really irks me about BP is the stupendous sum they have wasted over the years in share buybacks, which they claim to be a form of return to shareholders. I don't know about you, but I ain't seen none of that money. But we would have if they had increased the dividends instead.
"The figures are absolutely staggering – and scandalous. For the years from 2000 to 2008 they spent in total over $51 billion, yes billion, on buying their own shares. A cash spill that would have paid for a hell of a lot of oil spills. In 2009 they spent nothing, though I suspect that owes more to the credit crunch than a change of heart about this foul practice that so shafts the private shareholder in favour of their institutional mates."
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
● Getting back to those weak US retail sales – the truth, says Cris Sholto Heaton in his Asia Investor newsletter, is that the best days of the US consumer are in the past. "The US consumer defined the last few decades. And the Asian consumer will define the next. That's why you're already reading about which handbag is most popular in Beijing. And how bottled tea has become a craze among young Vietnamese."
But as Cris points out, lots of people already know this. That's why "I want to get away from the familiar stories you know about Asia's middle class: The car sales. The luxury shopping malls. The new television set in every home."
I've worked with Cris for a while. If there's one thing that makes him a good analyst, it's his nigh-on obsessive attention to detail (you'll already know all about this if you read his free email, MoneyWeek Asia). He's studied what really happens when a society starts being driven by consumerism, rather than simply jumping on the tedious and simplistic "look how many BMWs rich Chinese people are buying" bandwagon.
And that's led him to look into the market for something rather ordinary – snacks. "If you're buying a quick snack on-the-go in Britain, you might grab a chocolate bar from a supermarket or convenience store. But in most parts of emerging Asia, you're more likely to buy a steamed bun or fried tofu from a street vendor."
But this is changing. As consumers get wealthier and modern retail chains more widespread, they are consuming more shop-bought "processed, packaged snacks". And this is an important trend for investors to buy into. Why?
"Because when you begin selling more packaged, prepared food, you also sell more branding. While one street stall may be better than its neighbours, they are all selling more-or-less the same product at the same price. Their pricing power is very limited.
"But a company that can build a brand around its product is the only producer of that product. And so it can earn margins far in excess of an unbranded commodity snack. And that means that they profit much more from growing wealth and millions of people's willingness to spend a few pence more on the branded product."
It makes sense to me. And Cris reckons he's found the perfect stock to play the sector. You can find out more about Asia Investor and Cris's investment rationale here.
● One of the dangers of being a small investor is boiler rooms. These scam merchants are particularly fond of cold-calling penny share investors. That's because they assume they'll be easy targets – adventurous, and with a bit of spare cash. But one made the mistake of calling our penny share expert Tom Bulford the other day. Says Tom:
"I had a call from a girl called Melanie claiming to be from a wine merchant in Mayfair. It went something like this:
"Melanie: "Hello Mr Bulford, I am Melanie and I am offering you the chance to make tax-free gains by investing in vintage wines…"
"Me: "I am not interested."
"Melanie: "But you have not even listened to what I have to say."
"Me: "Go away."
"Melanie: "Is that because you have never thought of investing in wine?"
"Me: Words to the effect of "get lost".
"Melanie: "But…"
"Sound of phone slamming."
Now, as far as I'm concerned, that's pretty much a textbook way to deal with these people – just hang up right away. And that's what the Financial Services Authority (FSA) told Tom when he called them to report the scam.
They also suggested the Telephone Preference Service. It's a free service that allows you to opt out of receiving unsolicited sales or marketing calls – just register your phone number. You can find all the details on www.tpsonline.org.uk.
"But," says Tom, "the main thing to remember is this. Never ever agree to part with your money on the basis of a telephone conversation. Just put the phone down straight away. Or, if you find you are being drawn into a conversation, be as rude as you like and then slam down the receiver. And report these sharks to the FSA. The phone number is 0845 602 2185. Alternatively, you can file a report on http://www.fsa.gov.uk/Pages/Doing/Regulated/Law/Alerts/form.shtml."
● And I suppose I can't really finish off this weekend round-up without at least nodding to the World Cup.
One reader replied to Merryn's blog on BP: "No idea whether BP is a buy at these levels but if the England football players' wealth managers have invested their millions in high dividend UK oil majors, then Rooney and co have every incentive to counter Obama's nasty populism and humiliate the USA on Saturday."
It's one way to incentivise the team I suppose. If it works, we can only hope that the rest of their money has been shovelled into euros – the pain of that loss might give them a fighting chance if they get far enough to play Spain...
Until next week,
John Stepek
Editor, MoneyWeek
New Business Editor of the Year, BSME Awards 2009
MONEY MORNING™ is the free daily email service brought to you by MoneyWeek. For a 3-week FREE trial of the MoneyWeek magazine & website, just call 0207 633 3780 and one of our Customer Service representatives will take your order for you. Please quote reference number EMYK L502 to get your special discount and free issues.
...Profit from peckish Asians
... One way to incentivise the England squad
From John Stepek, across the river from the City
Welcome back to your weekend edition of Money Morning.
This is where we highlight some of the best bits from our free emails, newsletters, blog and MoneyWeek magazine that we’ve published in the past week.
● The week began with stock markets plunging. Fears of a double-dip recession reared their heads again as US payrolls data for last month proved very disappointing (The recovery is fizzling out – and there's worse to come). By the end of the week, a jump in Chinese exports had brought some cheer back to the markets, before a fall in US retail sales dented hopes again.
However, BP remained the big story. It's a miserable situation for all involved, not least the families of the 11 people who died in the accident, the environment, and anyone whose livelihood has been destroyed by the spill.
But that's all rather being forgotten amid the blame-throwing going on. The British media is getting increasingly fed up with the flak being tossed our way by the US government and Barack Obama. It wasn't long before unfavourable comparisons with America's attitude towards the 1984 Bhopal disaster, where a leak at a US-owned factory caused the deaths of at least 15,000 people in India, were being bandied about. And as our own Tim Price wrote in his Price Report newsletter, "God help Obama if Exxon Mobil is involved in another high profile public disaster – anywhere."
The political mud-slinging will no doubt continue. But what about the investment case? Well, almost all of our writers have had a crack at giving their views on BP since the spill – my colleague David Stevenson pretty much summed them up last week.
I'll throw in my tuppence here. As the share price tanked this week, I asked our editor-in-chief Merryn Somerset Webb whether she reckoned it was time to buy. I felt BP had probably hit bottom – she was less sure. She blogged on both our views here.
But her main point, which I agree with, is that even if BP is a buy down here, it's certainly not the stock it once was. The funds that hold BP do so for the dividend yield, and the promise of safe exposure to global demand for energy. Now it's very much a short-term punt on whether or not the share will rebound once all the bad news on the spill has come out – I reckon you can probably forget about a dividend being paid, at least for a couple of quarters.
● Shareholders in BP obviously aren't too happy about this mess. But Stephen Bland tells readers of his newsletter, The Dividend Letter, that there's really only one big reason to be angry at BP, and it's nothing to do with the oil spill.
"What really irks me about BP is the stupendous sum they have wasted over the years in share buybacks, which they claim to be a form of return to shareholders. I don't know about you, but I ain't seen none of that money. But we would have if they had increased the dividends instead.
"The figures are absolutely staggering – and scandalous. For the years from 2000 to 2008 they spent in total over $51 billion, yes billion, on buying their own shares. A cash spill that would have paid for a hell of a lot of oil spills. In 2009 they spent nothing, though I suspect that owes more to the credit crunch than a change of heart about this foul practice that so shafts the private shareholder in favour of their institutional mates."
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ADVERTISEMENT
World’s first “15% Pension Fund”, now taking new investors
That’s potentially 15% per year for the rest of your life.
Not only that – you pay NO performance fees... NO hidden charges... and you can cash out WHENEVER you like!
The only question is: Do YOU qualify?
-----------------------------------------
Forecasts are not a reliable indicator of future results. Your capital is at risk when you invest in shares, never risk more than you can afford to lose. Please seek independent financial advice if necessary. MoneyWeek Ltd. Customer Services: 0207 633 3780.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
● Getting back to those weak US retail sales – the truth, says Cris Sholto Heaton in his Asia Investor newsletter, is that the best days of the US consumer are in the past. "The US consumer defined the last few decades. And the Asian consumer will define the next. That's why you're already reading about which handbag is most popular in Beijing. And how bottled tea has become a craze among young Vietnamese."
But as Cris points out, lots of people already know this. That's why "I want to get away from the familiar stories you know about Asia's middle class: The car sales. The luxury shopping malls. The new television set in every home."
I've worked with Cris for a while. If there's one thing that makes him a good analyst, it's his nigh-on obsessive attention to detail (you'll already know all about this if you read his free email, MoneyWeek Asia). He's studied what really happens when a society starts being driven by consumerism, rather than simply jumping on the tedious and simplistic "look how many BMWs rich Chinese people are buying" bandwagon.
And that's led him to look into the market for something rather ordinary – snacks. "If you're buying a quick snack on-the-go in Britain, you might grab a chocolate bar from a supermarket or convenience store. But in most parts of emerging Asia, you're more likely to buy a steamed bun or fried tofu from a street vendor."
But this is changing. As consumers get wealthier and modern retail chains more widespread, they are consuming more shop-bought "processed, packaged snacks". And this is an important trend for investors to buy into. Why?
"Because when you begin selling more packaged, prepared food, you also sell more branding. While one street stall may be better than its neighbours, they are all selling more-or-less the same product at the same price. Their pricing power is very limited.
"But a company that can build a brand around its product is the only producer of that product. And so it can earn margins far in excess of an unbranded commodity snack. And that means that they profit much more from growing wealth and millions of people's willingness to spend a few pence more on the branded product."
It makes sense to me. And Cris reckons he's found the perfect stock to play the sector. You can find out more about Asia Investor and Cris's investment rationale here.
● One of the dangers of being a small investor is boiler rooms. These scam merchants are particularly fond of cold-calling penny share investors. That's because they assume they'll be easy targets – adventurous, and with a bit of spare cash. But one made the mistake of calling our penny share expert Tom Bulford the other day. Says Tom:
"I had a call from a girl called Melanie claiming to be from a wine merchant in Mayfair. It went something like this:
"Melanie: "Hello Mr Bulford, I am Melanie and I am offering you the chance to make tax-free gains by investing in vintage wines…"
"Me: "I am not interested."
"Melanie: "But you have not even listened to what I have to say."
"Me: "Go away."
"Melanie: "Is that because you have never thought of investing in wine?"
"Me: Words to the effect of "get lost".
"Melanie: "But…"
"Sound of phone slamming."
Now, as far as I'm concerned, that's pretty much a textbook way to deal with these people – just hang up right away. And that's what the Financial Services Authority (FSA) told Tom when he called them to report the scam.
They also suggested the Telephone Preference Service. It's a free service that allows you to opt out of receiving unsolicited sales or marketing calls – just register your phone number. You can find all the details on www.tpsonline.org.uk.
"But," says Tom, "the main thing to remember is this. Never ever agree to part with your money on the basis of a telephone conversation. Just put the phone down straight away. Or, if you find you are being drawn into a conversation, be as rude as you like and then slam down the receiver. And report these sharks to the FSA. The phone number is 0845 602 2185. Alternatively, you can file a report on http://www.fsa.gov.uk/Pages/Doing/Regulated/Law/Alerts/form.shtml."
● And I suppose I can't really finish off this weekend round-up without at least nodding to the World Cup.
One reader replied to Merryn's blog on BP: "No idea whether BP is a buy at these levels but if the England football players' wealth managers have invested their millions in high dividend UK oil majors, then Rooney and co have every incentive to counter Obama's nasty populism and humiliate the USA on Saturday."
It's one way to incentivise the team I suppose. If it works, we can only hope that the rest of their money has been shovelled into euros – the pain of that loss might give them a fighting chance if they get far enough to play Spain...
Until next week,
John Stepek
Editor, MoneyWeek
New Business Editor of the Year, BSME Awards 2009
MONEY MORNING™ is the free daily email service brought to you by MoneyWeek. For a 3-week FREE trial of the MoneyWeek magazine & website, just call 0207 633 3780 and one of our Customer Service representatives will take your order for you. Please quote reference number EMYK L502 to get your special discount and free issues.
Money Morning
....Don't buy BP until it hits 420p
... Small cap stocks on the rebound
...Gold v Property, Round II
From David Stevenson, across the river from the City
Welcome back to your weekend edition of Money Morning.
This is where we highlight some of the best bits from our free emails, newsletters, blog and MoneyWeek magazine that we’ve published in the past week.
● 'Shortened' Bank Holiday weeks can often be a bit quieter – unless you've been wrestling with the joys of half term, that is.
In the markets, it was much the same this week. There wasn't too much to see on the company results front. But share prices were still bouncing around and there's been plenty of other stuff going on.
For example, a couple of Britain's biggest names, BP (LSE: BP/) and Prudential (LSE: PRU) have been very much in the news. We talked about them both in Thursday's Money Morning, so I'll not repeat all the details here.
Since then, BP hasn't been prepared to commit to maintaining its dividend. The oil giant's shares have bounced a bit on hopes it might succeed this time in plugging its Gulf of Mexico leak. But with the longer-term payout still under threat, I'd like to see the price back down at around 420p before buying.
After all, BP is still surrounded by risks, as we explained last week. Yet for many oil companies, in particular at the smaller end of the scale, the risks are of a very different kind. In a nutshell, the oil 'minnows' worry about not finding any of the stuff. But the flipside is that if a minnow hits the jackpot, its investors can really coin it. So it's well worth having a look at this week's cover story in the magazine:
"Nothing kick starts a share price like a major oil find", says author Tom Bulford. "Last August investors in Gulf Keystone Petroleum (AIM: GKP) saw the value of their shares soar by 592% in just 20 days. Last month, investors in Rockhopper Exploration (Aim: RKH) had the same thrill ride, as the share price raced from 37p to 220p in less than a week. Each had struck black gold – Gulf Keystone in Kurdistan, Rockhopper close to the Falkland Islands".
"If you're happy to take the risk involved – and do be aware that it's risky, so don't invest money you can't afford to lose – if you back the right minnow today, you could land tomorrow's oil major."
If you're already a subscriber to the magazine, here's the link: Hunting for oil in the world's six most promising frontiers. If you're not, you can still see the story by taking up our offer of a 3-week free trial.
● Tom has been a very busy bee recently. He's also been scouring round for turnaround stocks for his free Penny Sleuth email. This does exactly what is says on the tin, aiming to find penny shares that could soon be worth much more.
"Three men have been bending my ear recently", he says. These are "Wayne Money of Eruma (LSE:ERU), Barrie Whip of Crimson Tide (LSE: TIDE) and Miles Hunt of Empresaria (LSE: EMR). All have interesting stories to tell. All have had a tough time during the recession but I get the sense they're turning things around and are poised to deliver some good news."
If you haven't heard of any of these stocks, you're in similar company. Until reading Tom's piece, I hadn't either. Empresaria is a recruitment agency, Crimson Tide does software and Eruma is in, of all things, counter-terrorism. But if Tom believes they're worth looking at, that's enough for me. Here's the link to his piece about them: Three turnaround penny shares to watch.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ADVERTISEMENT
World’s first “15% Pension Fund”, now taking new investors
That’s potentially 15% per year for the rest of your life.
Not only that – you pay NO performance fees... NO hidden charges... and you can cash out WHENEVER you like!
The only question is: Do YOU qualify?
-----------------------------------------
Forecasts are not a reliable indicator of future results. Your capital is at risk when you invest in shares, never risk more than you can afford to lose. Please seek independent financial advice if necessary. MoneyWeek Ltd. Customer Services: 0207 633 3780.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
● Tom also reckons that investors are missing out on big opportunities in biotech. In this week's magazine sector column, James McKeigue agrees. Or to be more exact, he believes there's money to be made from "genetically modified organisms".
"Global food demand is set to keep growing strongly", says James. "The UN predicts that demand for food will increase by 50% by 2030. Rising living standards in developing countries, especially in Asia, are also a key factor. So agriculture has to use all the resources at its disposal more efficiently. That means investing in so-called "Frankenfoods" could prove very profitable".
And as he explains, (GM foods: an unexpected European growth story), he's just found a cheap, 'pure play' in the sector that's well placed to cash in on all this long-term growth.
● In fact, there's a bit of a 'big numbers' theme here. Dr Mike Tubbs, who writes the Research Investments newsletter has been pondering how mankind will be able to cope with the fallout from millions more vehicles on the roads.
"Take China's pollution problems for a start. There are already four million private cars clogging the streets of Beijing. Each day 2,000 new drivers become part of the capital's grim crawl of traffic. The city is choked with smog. And all the new coal-fired power stations are making their pollution problems much worse".
"But then traffic is also increasing rapidly in Mexico City, Bangkok and Shanghai. Worldwide, transport is responsible for 14% of the carbon dioxide emitted each year, according to the MIT Technology Review. And with vehicle ownership in developing countries growing at 30% a year, cutting fuel emissions will be a major priority for governments for decades to come. It's the same story with power. Most developed economies are far too dependent on dirty energy sources – whether it be coal, oil or natural gas".
"How are governments cutting down on emissions? By introducing tougher regulation on transport and power generation. They know that building massive solar and wind farms won't be enough. And nuclear stations take a long time to bring into service. We have to cut down on the emissions we are generating at the moment".
The good news for the planet is that Dr Mike has found, if not the complete answer, at least a metals-related stock that will do very well out of cutting emissions. Here's where you can find out more about Research Investments.
● Talking of metals, we couldn't let this edition of the round-up pass without another mention of Dominic Frisby's piece last week. For those that missed it, here it is: In real money, British house prices are down by 70%.
To recap, he was talking about the link between gold and UK house prices. Now clearly, for MoneyWeek and its devotees, these topics are very close to the heart. No prizes for guessing what specialist subjects we'd select if we went onto Mastermind.
But the response from readers has been absolutely unprecedented. It's now well into three figures. And it's great to see so many of you getting involved in the conversation. What's more, there were very widely differing views, ranging between those who think it's a top-notch article to those who think Mr F has taken leave of his senses!
Anyway, on Monday Dominic published a follow-up, to "address one or two concerns" called "Why I still prefer gold to houses".
In fact, the title rather speaks for itself. But it's worth repeating the conclusion:
"These are incredibly frustrating times. A whole generation has been alienated by the absurdly out-of-reach property prices in this country. Many, having rightly identified that property was in a bubble, either stayed out or got out, only for the long-overdue correction never to fully materialise. Meanwhile, they see the purchasing power of their money evaporate, and it seems they'll never be able to buy anything unless they cripple themselves with debt".
"This is all an unfortunate consequence of the modern fiat system of money and credit. It causes 'malinvestment', it creates rampant asset price inflation, booms, bubbles and, eventually, busts. In response to all this there isn't much we can do other than move our wealth into stronger foreign currencies or an asset, such as gold, that a government can't debase."
"And there might be another opportunity to do that in the next few months. There's a lot of turbulence dead ahead in global markets. Gold may well sell off in the carnage. If it does, and we get our usual summer low, take advantage".
Amen to that! But replies to 'Gold and Houses Round II' are still coming in, so if you haven't had your say yet and would like to, feel free to do so.
● Before I go, just one more thing.
Last Saturday we sent out a very special invitation. This gave Money Morning readers the first chance to get hold of a groundbreaking 'hidden seam' investment report. The response has been incredible so far…and here's why…
My colleague and MoneyWeek contributor Cris Sholto Heaton has unearthed a 'hidden seam' of companies in Asia. He believes these have more potential than any other type of shares anywhere in the world. And you can still get in on the action. On Tuesday afternoon the first issue of his new Asia Investor newsletter, including the identity of his latest 'hidden seam' tip goes out live. To get in on this you have to put your name down by midnight Sunday – at the latest. Find out how here.
Until next week,
David Stevenson
Associate editor, MoneyWeek
MONEY MORNING™ is the free daily email service brought to you by MoneyWeek. For a 3-week FREE trial of the MoneyWeek magazine & website. To place your order over the phone, just call 0207 633 3780 and one of our Customer Service representatives will take your order for you. Please quote reference number EMYK L502 to get your special discount and free issues
... Small cap stocks on the rebound
...Gold v Property, Round II
From David Stevenson, across the river from the City
Welcome back to your weekend edition of Money Morning.
This is where we highlight some of the best bits from our free emails, newsletters, blog and MoneyWeek magazine that we’ve published in the past week.
● 'Shortened' Bank Holiday weeks can often be a bit quieter – unless you've been wrestling with the joys of half term, that is.
In the markets, it was much the same this week. There wasn't too much to see on the company results front. But share prices were still bouncing around and there's been plenty of other stuff going on.
For example, a couple of Britain's biggest names, BP (LSE: BP/) and Prudential (LSE: PRU) have been very much in the news. We talked about them both in Thursday's Money Morning, so I'll not repeat all the details here.
Since then, BP hasn't been prepared to commit to maintaining its dividend. The oil giant's shares have bounced a bit on hopes it might succeed this time in plugging its Gulf of Mexico leak. But with the longer-term payout still under threat, I'd like to see the price back down at around 420p before buying.
After all, BP is still surrounded by risks, as we explained last week. Yet for many oil companies, in particular at the smaller end of the scale, the risks are of a very different kind. In a nutshell, the oil 'minnows' worry about not finding any of the stuff. But the flipside is that if a minnow hits the jackpot, its investors can really coin it. So it's well worth having a look at this week's cover story in the magazine:
"Nothing kick starts a share price like a major oil find", says author Tom Bulford. "Last August investors in Gulf Keystone Petroleum (AIM: GKP) saw the value of their shares soar by 592% in just 20 days. Last month, investors in Rockhopper Exploration (Aim: RKH) had the same thrill ride, as the share price raced from 37p to 220p in less than a week. Each had struck black gold – Gulf Keystone in Kurdistan, Rockhopper close to the Falkland Islands".
"If you're happy to take the risk involved – and do be aware that it's risky, so don't invest money you can't afford to lose – if you back the right minnow today, you could land tomorrow's oil major."
If you're already a subscriber to the magazine, here's the link: Hunting for oil in the world's six most promising frontiers. If you're not, you can still see the story by taking up our offer of a 3-week free trial.
● Tom has been a very busy bee recently. He's also been scouring round for turnaround stocks for his free Penny Sleuth email. This does exactly what is says on the tin, aiming to find penny shares that could soon be worth much more.
"Three men have been bending my ear recently", he says. These are "Wayne Money of Eruma (LSE:ERU), Barrie Whip of Crimson Tide (LSE: TIDE) and Miles Hunt of Empresaria (LSE: EMR). All have interesting stories to tell. All have had a tough time during the recession but I get the sense they're turning things around and are poised to deliver some good news."
If you haven't heard of any of these stocks, you're in similar company. Until reading Tom's piece, I hadn't either. Empresaria is a recruitment agency, Crimson Tide does software and Eruma is in, of all things, counter-terrorism. But if Tom believes they're worth looking at, that's enough for me. Here's the link to his piece about them: Three turnaround penny shares to watch.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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Forecasts are not a reliable indicator of future results. Your capital is at risk when you invest in shares, never risk more than you can afford to lose. Please seek independent financial advice if necessary. MoneyWeek Ltd. Customer Services: 0207 633 3780.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
● Tom also reckons that investors are missing out on big opportunities in biotech. In this week's magazine sector column, James McKeigue agrees. Or to be more exact, he believes there's money to be made from "genetically modified organisms".
"Global food demand is set to keep growing strongly", says James. "The UN predicts that demand for food will increase by 50% by 2030. Rising living standards in developing countries, especially in Asia, are also a key factor. So agriculture has to use all the resources at its disposal more efficiently. That means investing in so-called "Frankenfoods" could prove very profitable".
And as he explains, (GM foods: an unexpected European growth story), he's just found a cheap, 'pure play' in the sector that's well placed to cash in on all this long-term growth.
● In fact, there's a bit of a 'big numbers' theme here. Dr Mike Tubbs, who writes the Research Investments newsletter has been pondering how mankind will be able to cope with the fallout from millions more vehicles on the roads.
"Take China's pollution problems for a start. There are already four million private cars clogging the streets of Beijing. Each day 2,000 new drivers become part of the capital's grim crawl of traffic. The city is choked with smog. And all the new coal-fired power stations are making their pollution problems much worse".
"But then traffic is also increasing rapidly in Mexico City, Bangkok and Shanghai. Worldwide, transport is responsible for 14% of the carbon dioxide emitted each year, according to the MIT Technology Review. And with vehicle ownership in developing countries growing at 30% a year, cutting fuel emissions will be a major priority for governments for decades to come. It's the same story with power. Most developed economies are far too dependent on dirty energy sources – whether it be coal, oil or natural gas".
"How are governments cutting down on emissions? By introducing tougher regulation on transport and power generation. They know that building massive solar and wind farms won't be enough. And nuclear stations take a long time to bring into service. We have to cut down on the emissions we are generating at the moment".
The good news for the planet is that Dr Mike has found, if not the complete answer, at least a metals-related stock that will do very well out of cutting emissions. Here's where you can find out more about Research Investments.
● Talking of metals, we couldn't let this edition of the round-up pass without another mention of Dominic Frisby's piece last week. For those that missed it, here it is: In real money, British house prices are down by 70%.
To recap, he was talking about the link between gold and UK house prices. Now clearly, for MoneyWeek and its devotees, these topics are very close to the heart. No prizes for guessing what specialist subjects we'd select if we went onto Mastermind.
But the response from readers has been absolutely unprecedented. It's now well into three figures. And it's great to see so many of you getting involved in the conversation. What's more, there were very widely differing views, ranging between those who think it's a top-notch article to those who think Mr F has taken leave of his senses!
Anyway, on Monday Dominic published a follow-up, to "address one or two concerns" called "Why I still prefer gold to houses".
In fact, the title rather speaks for itself. But it's worth repeating the conclusion:
"These are incredibly frustrating times. A whole generation has been alienated by the absurdly out-of-reach property prices in this country. Many, having rightly identified that property was in a bubble, either stayed out or got out, only for the long-overdue correction never to fully materialise. Meanwhile, they see the purchasing power of their money evaporate, and it seems they'll never be able to buy anything unless they cripple themselves with debt".
"This is all an unfortunate consequence of the modern fiat system of money and credit. It causes 'malinvestment', it creates rampant asset price inflation, booms, bubbles and, eventually, busts. In response to all this there isn't much we can do other than move our wealth into stronger foreign currencies or an asset, such as gold, that a government can't debase."
"And there might be another opportunity to do that in the next few months. There's a lot of turbulence dead ahead in global markets. Gold may well sell off in the carnage. If it does, and we get our usual summer low, take advantage".
Amen to that! But replies to 'Gold and Houses Round II' are still coming in, so if you haven't had your say yet and would like to, feel free to do so.
● Before I go, just one more thing.
Last Saturday we sent out a very special invitation. This gave Money Morning readers the first chance to get hold of a groundbreaking 'hidden seam' investment report. The response has been incredible so far…and here's why…
My colleague and MoneyWeek contributor Cris Sholto Heaton has unearthed a 'hidden seam' of companies in Asia. He believes these have more potential than any other type of shares anywhere in the world. And you can still get in on the action. On Tuesday afternoon the first issue of his new Asia Investor newsletter, including the identity of his latest 'hidden seam' tip goes out live. To get in on this you have to put your name down by midnight Sunday – at the latest. Find out how here.
Until next week,
David Stevenson
Associate editor, MoneyWeek
MONEY MORNING™ is the free daily email service brought to you by MoneyWeek. For a 3-week FREE trial of the MoneyWeek magazine & website. To place your order over the phone, just call 0207 633 3780 and one of our Customer Service representatives will take your order for you. Please quote reference number EMYK L502 to get your special discount and free issues
Last week in the city - according to 10
The euro continued to slide as fears about the region’s banking system persisted. Marks and Spencer revealed a near 5% increase in profits to £632m.
Apple launched the iPad in Britain. More than £6bn was wiped from the market value of BP after the oil giant’s latest failure to control its oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico provoked mounting anger in the US. The OECD urged the Bank of England to tackle rising inflation by lifting its interest rate to 3.5% by the end of 2011 – well above the current 0.5%.
App od the week
PressReader: 1,500+ full content newspapers and magazines available for iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch! The application is FREE along with your first 7 current day issues!
Leadership tip of the week: How to speak from a podium:
The podium can be an intimidating place. Even seasoned public speakers feel anxious when standing in front of a microphone. Here are four tips for making your next speech from the podium hum with confidence:
(1) Keep your feet planted and stand up straight. This will convey poise and strength, even if that's not what you're feeling.
(2) Don't memorise. Unless the speech is very short, the anxiety of trying to remember your lines will only make your task harder.
(3) Find a place for your hands. Put your hands in one place — for example, on the sides of the podium — and then forget about them. You will bring them up naturally to gesture as long as they have a place to return to.
(4) Practice, practice, practice. Rehearse as many times as you can, in an environment as close to the real experience as possible.
Quote of the week:
"Respect your efforts, respect yourself. Self-respect leads to self-discipline. When you have both firmly under your belt, that's real power." Clint Eastwood who is 80 years
Only Connect: TEN is proud to be sponsoring The West Country’s leading business and social networking event.
Apple launched the iPad in Britain. More than £6bn was wiped from the market value of BP after the oil giant’s latest failure to control its oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico provoked mounting anger in the US. The OECD urged the Bank of England to tackle rising inflation by lifting its interest rate to 3.5% by the end of 2011 – well above the current 0.5%.
App od the week
PressReader: 1,500+ full content newspapers and magazines available for iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch! The application is FREE along with your first 7 current day issues!
Leadership tip of the week: How to speak from a podium:
The podium can be an intimidating place. Even seasoned public speakers feel anxious when standing in front of a microphone. Here are four tips for making your next speech from the podium hum with confidence:
(1) Keep your feet planted and stand up straight. This will convey poise and strength, even if that's not what you're feeling.
(2) Don't memorise. Unless the speech is very short, the anxiety of trying to remember your lines will only make your task harder.
(3) Find a place for your hands. Put your hands in one place — for example, on the sides of the podium — and then forget about them. You will bring them up naturally to gesture as long as they have a place to return to.
(4) Practice, practice, practice. Rehearse as many times as you can, in an environment as close to the real experience as possible.
Quote of the week:
"Respect your efforts, respect yourself. Self-respect leads to self-discipline. When you have both firmly under your belt, that's real power." Clint Eastwood who is 80 years
Only Connect: TEN is proud to be sponsoring The West Country’s leading business and social networking event.
IT Update from Geeks-on-Wheels
Apple iPad – Friday 28th May is the first day UK buyers will be able to buy Apple’s new iPad tablet PC. The units will be sold through Apple stores, Apple’s website and authorised resellers. For prices expect to pay around £429 for the 16GB, £499 for the 32GB and £599 for the 64GB Wi-Fi only models. If you want the iPad with Wi-Fi and 3G then expect to pay £529 for the 16GB, £599 for 32GB and £699 for the 64GB model. Mobile operators, including O2, will also be supplying the units with data plan deals.
What is DuckDuckGo? – It’s another search engine (https://duckduckgo.com/ ) but with a major difference, and one that is upsetting a lot of web analysts. DuckDuckGo provides encrypted searches, utilising SSL (Geek language = Secure Socket Layer). This means any searches you make, along with the result pages, cannot be intercepted by a third party. Though good news for privacy-conscious surfers the web analytics industry is not happy. As far we know this is the first search engine using SSL as a default. Having tested DuckDuckGo it is quick and provides ad-free results.
Microsoft SkyDrive – If you’ve not heard of it before don’t be surprised. SkyDrive is Microsoft’s new online storage service providing up to 25GB of online storage. To use it you’ll need a Windows Live ID (sign up here if you do not have one - https://signup.live.com/). Once you have logged into your Windows Live ID account click the ‘More’ link at the top of your homepage and select ‘SkyDrive’ from the menu. By default you have four folders (My Documents, Favourites, Shared Favourites and Public). You can create additional folders using the ‘Create folder’ button. To upload files click the ‘Add files’ button and add up to five at a time – which is a bit of pain. To add loads of files at once try compressing multiple files into a compressed file.
How to Create A Compressed File (s) in Windows 7 – Place the files you want to compress into the same folder. Select all the files (a shortcut is press the ctrl button and the letter a), right click and select ‘Send to’ and ‘Compress (zipped) folder’ from the pop-up menu. That’s it, no need to download any third party software and simple to use – we like that.
More Windows 7 Keyboard Shortcuts
To use these you will need to hold down the Windows key (that’s usually the one on the bottom row of your keyboard, on the left hand side between the ctrl and Alt keys).
Windows – Open the Start menu
Windows + L - Locks your PC
Windows + F – Advance Search
Windows + D – Minimise all open Windows
Windows + E – Displays Windows Explorer
Windows + T – Cycles through all programs on your taskbar
Windows + U – Opens the Ease of Access Centre
Windows + Tab – Applies the Windows Aero Flip 3D effect
Commercial Wi-Fi For Your Business – Do you run a business, (pub, restaurant, café, club, vehicle showroom etc) community or charity and want to give your customers free wireless broadband? It makes sense and will certainly attract more customers to your premises. If yes then take a look at Freerunner (http://www.freerunr.com). Freerunner not only put Wi-Fi hotspots in big brand locations, but in schools, community centres and outside of city centres with the help of regional development funding. Freerunner provide their services in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
Award Winning Geeks
Geeks-on-Wheels Europe won the PC Retail Awards 2010 ‘Service and Support’ category. Our IT support services really are second to none for consumers and businesses.
We support home and small business customers across the South East of England.
http://www.geeks-on-wheels.com/
The Money Week that was
Germany terrifies the global markets...
Why you must watch your inbox this afternoon...
Are we heading back to the 1980s?
From John Stepek, across the river from the City
Welcome back to your weekend edition of Money Morning.
This is where we highlight some of the best bits from our free emails, newsletters, blog and MoneyWeek magazine that we’ve published in the past week.
● This week, it's been all about the euro again. Just as Greece was successfully rolling over the dodgy debts that caused all the trouble in the first place, Germany decided to ban "naked" short-selling without any warning whatsoever. As one wag put it, it's a surprise to see the Germans ban naked anything – and the financial markets were certainly rattled by the decision.
Clearly the ban was a political move to distract German voters from the fact that they are paying to save Greece, as I noted in Money Morning last week. As if to confirm it, the German parliament passed the Greek bailout package with a comfortable majority on Friday.
But it panicked traders, who wondered what the Germans knew that everyone else didn't, and where the next regulatory blow might come from. Political risk is now one of the biggest worries for investors everywhere, as we point out in this week's MoneyWeek cover story: The rally's over - so what's spooked the markets?
● The fall-out has left most of the world's major stock markets well into 'correction' territory for the year – down 10% or more. And China is in a fully-fledged bear market. One man who's been preparing his readers for this is Tim Price. Tim, who writes The Price Report newsletter, is a respected City analyst and regularly writes for MoneyWeek.
Let me just say, I get lots of emails and analyst reports sent to me everyday – literally hundreds in a typical week. Tim is one of the very few people on my 'priority' list. I always make time to read his stuff. He's put together a report on the three investments you need to buy before this correction turns into a fully-fledged crash. It'll be winging its way to your inbox this afternoon – don't miss it.
● Ironically, while the world's stock markets tanked on fears about its longevity, the euro bounced back strongly against the dollar this week. It's a good reason to make sure you always use a stop-loss when spread betting – as my colleague Tim Bennett pointed out earlier this week.
However, we can't see the rebound lasting. We're not optimistic about the future of the euro, at least, not in its current form. Indeed, Merryn Somerset Webb, our editor-in-chief, suggested that Greece's best way out now is to both default on its debt, and ditch the single currency. Why? Well, the population is going to face a lower standard of living whatever happens. However you add it up, "running Greece costs more than Greece currently charges its taxpayers."
So why not just go for the nuclear option and be done with it? By abandoning the euro as well as its debts, Greece would "dispose of the worst of its debt burden and get its monetary flexibility (along with any growth this might encourage) back at the same time. And it will at least own the process, getting out before either Germany forces it out or leaves itself. The rest of Europe might not be keen (their banks may find coping with the fallout tricky) but I can't imagine the Greeks are in any mood to care."
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● Meanwhile, back in Blighty, the pound didn't get much of a helping hand from the latest batch of promises from Cameron, Clegg & co. All the speculation over capital gains tax (CGT) isn't doing much for their popularity with investors. You can read Merryn's take on it here: Capital gains tax hike was inevitable – but it must be done fairly.
My main problem with messing around with CGT is the fact that, in terms of government money-spinners, it's small change. Last year it raised less than £3bn. That's less than the tax on beer alone. Even in 2008/09, the peak of the last ten years, it only raised £7.9bn. Compare that to VAT, at £67bn last year. So CGT – a tax on the 'rich' – is mainly going up for political reasons. It's largely to try to compensate for the fact that we can only sort our finances out by hiking VAT – a tax on everyone.
● I'm already heartily sick of one aspect of the 'new politics' – the whole '80s revival that it's inspired. The '80s were bad enough the first time round – I'd rather be spared the reruns.
But Paul Hill thinks investors should brace themselves for the return of something far worse than mullets and day-glo legwarmers – he means riots. In the latest edition of his Precision Guided Investments newsletter, he takes a trip down memory lane…
"As a kid I grew up in Walsall. And every morning I would catch a bus across Birmingham that went right through some of the toughest neighbourhoods in the UK. Normally this wasn't a problem. But after Margaret Thatcher came to power in 1979, she dished out some economic medicine that sparked serious rioting across the city.
"I remember on several occasions, the bus driver having to tell the passengers that the doors were locked and the bus would not be stopping as it travelled through Handsworth and Lozells – where passing traffic was being used as target practise for bricks and even petrol-bombs.
"Why am I telling you this? Because I am convinced that the savage cuts about to be introduced by the Lib-Con coalition will be met with the same furious backlash we saw in 1979. For two years now, most people have been insulated from the full effects of this recession by colossal government borrowing and near zero interest rates.
"Now those comforts will be stripped from them. And anger will ferment as months of unemployment stretch out ahead of Britain's 2.5 million unemployed. We've already seen Athens over-run by angry public sector workers. I fear that could be a taster of what is to come in this country."
● It's a grim prospect. But Paul's not just looking at potential social trends for the sake of depressing his readers. He's hoping to profit from them. You should have got a note from him on Thursday detailing how he's been using what he calls Barack Obama's personal government "tip sheet" to pick up on hot sectors before the rest of the world cottons on. If you missed it, you can access the report here.
● Enough gloom and doom. For all that the world's finances don't look too healthy, the march of technology continues at a blinding pace. This week, Craig Venter and Hamilton Smith, two American biologists who were the first scientists to sequence the DNA of a living organism, created the world's first artificial life.
We'll have more about on the topic in the next issue of MoneyWeek. But while the investment implications of artificial life are probably some way off in the future, there are plenty of other innovations we can make money from.
Tom Bulford for example, told readers of his free Penny Sleuth email all about the 'imop' this week. As Tom says, it's not a cleaning app for your iPhone – in fact it's "a smart little electrical component that could cut your electricity bill by up to 25%." The company behind the imop, Advanced Power Components (APC) "is on the recovery trail" after a tough recession. I don't have time to go into the science of this gadget, but you can read Tom's full piece here: This penny share could slash the UK's energy usage.
● What else before I go? A reader, commenting on a Money Morning last week, suggested we're a bit hard on Europe: "What makes you so sure you're the ones who "get it"? Reading MoneyWeek on the subject, you'd think that the entire continent is made up of half-wits and 3-year olds. There are phenomenal brains on the other side of the argument, at the ECB, at the IMF et al, who I'll wager have a deeper understanding of the crisis than do MoneyWeek… and who yet don't see Europe and the euro's demise as a foregone conclusion."
Let me quickly answer that. We don't have an ideological bias against Europe. We just don't think the single currency is practical in its current form. The cards are stacked against it. And while I'm sure there are plenty of smart people at the European Central Bank, they're hardly neutral on the topic. Jean-Claude Trichet can't turn around tomorrow and say: "Ah well, the euro's a waste of time – back to the drawing board…".
But if you want to see a couple of proper intellectual heavyweights debate the issue, check out this video. It shows Nobel economist Joseph Stiglitz squaring up to everyone's favourite 'evil' speculator, Hugh Hendry on Newsnight in February, over whether Greece's debt problems are an issue or not. With hindsight, you'd have been better off putting your money on Hendry. And Merryn's just been interviewing him for next week's magazine, so you can find out his latest thoughts next Friday (and if you're not yet a subscriber, what are you waiting for? The first three issue are free, after all… click here to subscribe).
● That's it for this week. I'll be back on Monday. But don't forget to keep an eye out for Tim Price's report later today!
Paul Hill's newsletter, Precision Guided Investments
Tom Bulford's newsletter, Red Hot Penny Shares
If you have any other comments, please feel free to email me at editor@moneyweek.com.
Until next week,
John Stepek
Editor, MoneyWeek
New Business Editor of the Year, BSME Awards 2009
MONEY MORNING™ is the free daily email service brought to you by MoneyWeek. For a 3-week FREE trial of the MoneyWeek magazine & website,
Place your order over the phone, just call 0207 633 3780 and one of our Customer Service representatives will take your order for you. Please quote reference number EMYK L502 to get your special discount and free issues.
Why you must watch your inbox this afternoon...
Are we heading back to the 1980s?
From John Stepek, across the river from the City
Welcome back to your weekend edition of Money Morning.
This is where we highlight some of the best bits from our free emails, newsletters, blog and MoneyWeek magazine that we’ve published in the past week.
● This week, it's been all about the euro again. Just as Greece was successfully rolling over the dodgy debts that caused all the trouble in the first place, Germany decided to ban "naked" short-selling without any warning whatsoever. As one wag put it, it's a surprise to see the Germans ban naked anything – and the financial markets were certainly rattled by the decision.
Clearly the ban was a political move to distract German voters from the fact that they are paying to save Greece, as I noted in Money Morning last week. As if to confirm it, the German parliament passed the Greek bailout package with a comfortable majority on Friday.
But it panicked traders, who wondered what the Germans knew that everyone else didn't, and where the next regulatory blow might come from. Political risk is now one of the biggest worries for investors everywhere, as we point out in this week's MoneyWeek cover story: The rally's over - so what's spooked the markets?
● The fall-out has left most of the world's major stock markets well into 'correction' territory for the year – down 10% or more. And China is in a fully-fledged bear market. One man who's been preparing his readers for this is Tim Price. Tim, who writes The Price Report newsletter, is a respected City analyst and regularly writes for MoneyWeek.
Let me just say, I get lots of emails and analyst reports sent to me everyday – literally hundreds in a typical week. Tim is one of the very few people on my 'priority' list. I always make time to read his stuff. He's put together a report on the three investments you need to buy before this correction turns into a fully-fledged crash. It'll be winging its way to your inbox this afternoon – don't miss it.
● Ironically, while the world's stock markets tanked on fears about its longevity, the euro bounced back strongly against the dollar this week. It's a good reason to make sure you always use a stop-loss when spread betting – as my colleague Tim Bennett pointed out earlier this week.
However, we can't see the rebound lasting. We're not optimistic about the future of the euro, at least, not in its current form. Indeed, Merryn Somerset Webb, our editor-in-chief, suggested that Greece's best way out now is to both default on its debt, and ditch the single currency. Why? Well, the population is going to face a lower standard of living whatever happens. However you add it up, "running Greece costs more than Greece currently charges its taxpayers."
So why not just go for the nuclear option and be done with it? By abandoning the euro as well as its debts, Greece would "dispose of the worst of its debt burden and get its monetary flexibility (along with any growth this might encourage) back at the same time. And it will at least own the process, getting out before either Germany forces it out or leaves itself. The rest of Europe might not be keen (their banks may find coping with the fallout tricky) but I can't imagine the Greeks are in any mood to care."
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● Meanwhile, back in Blighty, the pound didn't get much of a helping hand from the latest batch of promises from Cameron, Clegg & co. All the speculation over capital gains tax (CGT) isn't doing much for their popularity with investors. You can read Merryn's take on it here: Capital gains tax hike was inevitable – but it must be done fairly.
My main problem with messing around with CGT is the fact that, in terms of government money-spinners, it's small change. Last year it raised less than £3bn. That's less than the tax on beer alone. Even in 2008/09, the peak of the last ten years, it only raised £7.9bn. Compare that to VAT, at £67bn last year. So CGT – a tax on the 'rich' – is mainly going up for political reasons. It's largely to try to compensate for the fact that we can only sort our finances out by hiking VAT – a tax on everyone.
● I'm already heartily sick of one aspect of the 'new politics' – the whole '80s revival that it's inspired. The '80s were bad enough the first time round – I'd rather be spared the reruns.
But Paul Hill thinks investors should brace themselves for the return of something far worse than mullets and day-glo legwarmers – he means riots. In the latest edition of his Precision Guided Investments newsletter, he takes a trip down memory lane…
"As a kid I grew up in Walsall. And every morning I would catch a bus across Birmingham that went right through some of the toughest neighbourhoods in the UK. Normally this wasn't a problem. But after Margaret Thatcher came to power in 1979, she dished out some economic medicine that sparked serious rioting across the city.
"I remember on several occasions, the bus driver having to tell the passengers that the doors were locked and the bus would not be stopping as it travelled through Handsworth and Lozells – where passing traffic was being used as target practise for bricks and even petrol-bombs.
"Why am I telling you this? Because I am convinced that the savage cuts about to be introduced by the Lib-Con coalition will be met with the same furious backlash we saw in 1979. For two years now, most people have been insulated from the full effects of this recession by colossal government borrowing and near zero interest rates.
"Now those comforts will be stripped from them. And anger will ferment as months of unemployment stretch out ahead of Britain's 2.5 million unemployed. We've already seen Athens over-run by angry public sector workers. I fear that could be a taster of what is to come in this country."
● It's a grim prospect. But Paul's not just looking at potential social trends for the sake of depressing his readers. He's hoping to profit from them. You should have got a note from him on Thursday detailing how he's been using what he calls Barack Obama's personal government "tip sheet" to pick up on hot sectors before the rest of the world cottons on. If you missed it, you can access the report here.
● Enough gloom and doom. For all that the world's finances don't look too healthy, the march of technology continues at a blinding pace. This week, Craig Venter and Hamilton Smith, two American biologists who were the first scientists to sequence the DNA of a living organism, created the world's first artificial life.
We'll have more about on the topic in the next issue of MoneyWeek. But while the investment implications of artificial life are probably some way off in the future, there are plenty of other innovations we can make money from.
Tom Bulford for example, told readers of his free Penny Sleuth email all about the 'imop' this week. As Tom says, it's not a cleaning app for your iPhone – in fact it's "a smart little electrical component that could cut your electricity bill by up to 25%." The company behind the imop, Advanced Power Components (APC) "is on the recovery trail" after a tough recession. I don't have time to go into the science of this gadget, but you can read Tom's full piece here: This penny share could slash the UK's energy usage.
● What else before I go? A reader, commenting on a Money Morning last week, suggested we're a bit hard on Europe: "What makes you so sure you're the ones who "get it"? Reading MoneyWeek on the subject, you'd think that the entire continent is made up of half-wits and 3-year olds. There are phenomenal brains on the other side of the argument, at the ECB, at the IMF et al, who I'll wager have a deeper understanding of the crisis than do MoneyWeek… and who yet don't see Europe and the euro's demise as a foregone conclusion."
Let me quickly answer that. We don't have an ideological bias against Europe. We just don't think the single currency is practical in its current form. The cards are stacked against it. And while I'm sure there are plenty of smart people at the European Central Bank, they're hardly neutral on the topic. Jean-Claude Trichet can't turn around tomorrow and say: "Ah well, the euro's a waste of time – back to the drawing board…".
But if you want to see a couple of proper intellectual heavyweights debate the issue, check out this video. It shows Nobel economist Joseph Stiglitz squaring up to everyone's favourite 'evil' speculator, Hugh Hendry on Newsnight in February, over whether Greece's debt problems are an issue or not. With hindsight, you'd have been better off putting your money on Hendry. And Merryn's just been interviewing him for next week's magazine, so you can find out his latest thoughts next Friday (and if you're not yet a subscriber, what are you waiting for? The first three issue are free, after all… click here to subscribe).
● That's it for this week. I'll be back on Monday. But don't forget to keep an eye out for Tim Price's report later today!
Paul Hill's newsletter, Precision Guided Investments
Tom Bulford's newsletter, Red Hot Penny Shares
If you have any other comments, please feel free to email me at editor@moneyweek.com.
Until next week,
John Stepek
Editor, MoneyWeek
New Business Editor of the Year, BSME Awards 2009
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Place your order over the phone, just call 0207 633 3780 and one of our Customer Service representatives will take your order for you. Please quote reference number EMYK L502 to get your special discount and free issues.
British Internet usuage explodes!
UK web users are spending 65% more time online than three years ago. The average web user spends 22 hours and 15 minutes on the net each month, according to the UK Online Measurement company (UKOM).
Social networks/blogs - 22.7%
E-mail - 7.2%
Games - 6.9%
Instant Messaging - 4.9%
Classified/Auctions - 4.7% Portals - 4%
Search - 4%
Software info/products - 3.4%
News - 2.8%
Adult - 2.7%
Source: UKOM
Social networks/blogs - 22.7%
E-mail - 7.2%
Games - 6.9%
Instant Messaging - 4.9%
Classified/Auctions - 4.7% Portals - 4%
Search - 4%
Software info/products - 3.4%
News - 2.8%
Adult - 2.7%
Source: UKOM
10 things you didn’t know last week - according to 10
The EU Commission provided an emergency loan facility of €260bn for trouble euro zone economics. $3.7bn was wiped off of stocks worldwide and the euro hits its lowest levels against the dollar in for years.
Markets gave a cautious welcome to the new UK coalition government: bond prices rose although sterling weakened.
RBS announced a further 2600 job cuts bringing the total to 22,600 since the start of the financial crisis.
Toyota the world's biggest carmaker announced a return to profitability, despite spending billions on recalling faulty cars.
The new chancellor set 22 June as the date for his first budget, with cuts and potential tax rises on the agenda.
The UK jobless total rose by 53,000 to 2.51 million during the three months to March.
Leadership tip of the week:
Quote of the week:
How to avoid the classic strategy mistakes: With the recovery under way, many companies are starting to feel less defensive and more strategic. As you gear up for what's next, be careful to avoid these common strategy mistakes that have hindered many a company in good times and bad: (1) Keeping under-performing businesses. Most companies have businesses that they should not be in. Put these under-performers out of their misery so you can focus on more promising prospects. (2) Pushing growth. More promising prospects, however, may not mean new businesses. Rather than focusing on expansion and growth, think about how you can shore up your existing business and strengthen your position. (3) Cutting back on cost-cutting. When things improve, many companies start thinking less about the economy and some even raise prices. Don't stop being frugal just because it's no longer necessary to survive. Simplicity is an asset in any market.
Markets gave a cautious welcome to the new UK coalition government: bond prices rose although sterling weakened.
RBS announced a further 2600 job cuts bringing the total to 22,600 since the start of the financial crisis.
Toyota the world's biggest carmaker announced a return to profitability, despite spending billions on recalling faulty cars.
The new chancellor set 22 June as the date for his first budget, with cuts and potential tax rises on the agenda.
The UK jobless total rose by 53,000 to 2.51 million during the three months to March.
Leadership tip of the week:
Quote of the week:
How to avoid the classic strategy mistakes: With the recovery under way, many companies are starting to feel less defensive and more strategic. As you gear up for what's next, be careful to avoid these common strategy mistakes that have hindered many a company in good times and bad: (1) Keeping under-performing businesses. Most companies have businesses that they should not be in. Put these under-performers out of their misery so you can focus on more promising prospects. (2) Pushing growth. More promising prospects, however, may not mean new businesses. Rather than focusing on expansion and growth, think about how you can shore up your existing business and strengthen your position. (3) Cutting back on cost-cutting. When things improve, many companies start thinking less about the economy and some even raise prices. Don't stop being frugal just because it's no longer necessary to survive. Simplicity is an asset in any market.
Money Morning
2 September, 2010
- Why you should ignore the market's mood swings
- Recommended article: Join the rush for rare earth metals
- Yesterday's close: FTSE 100 up 2.7% to 5,366... Gold down 0.25% to $1,244.30/oz... £/$ - 1.5455
Investors can be forgiven for feeling a tad confused.
A couple of days ago, the world was ending. Economic news from the US was grim. We were mere inches away from the entire Western world turning Japanese.
Yet now it seems that everything's hunky-dory again. Manufacturing data released yesterday was less awful than expected in the US. And the same went for China's manufacturing sector.
Cue a massive rebound in the markets. Stocks leaped. 'Safe havens' such as Treasuries, the dollar, the yen and the Swiss franc, all sold off.
You can see why my colleague Dominic Frisby calls these 'traders' markets'. That's a polite way of saying that only gamblers need apply. But you don't have to bail-out of stocks altogether. You just need to focus on what's important…
What was behind yesterday's market rally?
So what was behind the massive rally in the markets yesterday?
Let's start with China's manufacturing boost. The purchasing managers' index rose from 51.2 in July to 51.7 last month. A similar index from HSBC also rose, from 49.4 to 51.9. On these sorts of indices, a number below 50 indicates that a sector is shrinking – above 50, and it is growing.
August is seasonally a good month for the index. But investors were relieved all the same. They've been worried that Chinese officials would tighten too hard and derail the global economy.
Perhaps they were worrying too much. As my colleague Cris Sholto Heaton pointed out recently in his free MoneyWeek Asia email, there's no doubt that activity in China has slowed this year. But equally, the government is unlikely to keep blithely tightening policy if it thinks it'll drive the economy into a slump.
That's not to say that China doesn't have any problems – it has plenty, from its bad-debt laden banking system to its over-dependence on infrastructure spending. But these are basically the same problems it had before the credit crunch. China may well face an economic crisis of some sort in the future, but unlike the Western world, it's not currently trying to dig itself out of a deep hole.
The US is still in poor shape
The US, on the other hand, is. The big fear this week – and it hasn't really gone away, despite the rebound – is that the Fed can't do much more to help the economy out. And even if he wants to pump more money into the system, Ben Bernanke is facing resistance from his more wary colleagues on the Fed's interest-rate setting Open Market Committee.
So the news that the US manufacturing sector did better than expected in August provided some welcome respite. The PMI rose from 55.5 in July to 56.3 last month. Most analysts had expected a fall.
But for all that, there was also rather a lot of miserable news out yesterday. For one thing, US car sales fell by more than had been expected. Indeed, it was the worst August for car sales in 28 years.
Of course, the year-on-year figures were bound to be bad. This time last year, the US government and many others around the world were paying people to scrap their perfectly serviceable old cars and buy new ones. But sales were still below expectations, coming in at an annual rate of 11.5m, compared to 14.2m last year.
"Cash-for-clunkers" schemes were the kind of nonsense idea that only governments can really get away with – to boost consumption by prematurely destroying existing goods so that people have to replace them.
It was only ever going to be a short-term sugar rush. Because if you replaced your car last year, you don't need to buy a new one this year. (Unless of course someone offers you even more money to trash that one and swap it for a new one). So arguably, you'd expect car sales to be generally weaker in the coming months.
But perhaps of more concern was a survey suggesting that US private-sector employment fell for the first time this year in August. 10,000 jobs were lost, according to ADP Employer Services. Manufacturing and construction were the hardest-hit industries.
How to invest in times like these
Investors were happy to ignore this data – for now. Following the August slump in stock markets, people were no doubt looking for reasons to buy in. So how do you invest for times like these? My advice hasn't changed since Tuesday's Money Morning: Let the market have its mood swings. For example, the all-important monthly non-farm payrolls data comes out tomorrow. The forecast is for a 41,000 or so rise in private sector jobs in August. Depending on whether that beats or misses, and by how much, we could see another surge or fall in the market.
So if you want to be able to sleep at night through all the ups and downs still to come, we'd stick with the stocks of big, solid companies that will at least pay you a decent dividend income as you hold on to them. My colleague David Stevenson had more to say on the importance of dividends in Money Morning on Friday.
Got a comment on this article? Leave a comment on the MoneyWeek website, here.
Until tomorrow,
John Stepek
Editor, MoneyWeek
New Business Editor of the Year, BSME Awards 2009
Our recommended article for today...
Join the rush for rare earth metals
– Rare earth metals are an invaluable industrial resource. And with consumption far outstripping supply, their price has shot up. Eoin Gleeson considers the case for investment, and tips two of the best bets in the sector: Join the rush for rare earth metals.
And for yesterday's market update, see below...
Market update
Click here for the latest stock market news and charts.
The FTSE 100 made its biggest gain in almost two months yesterday as markets were fuelled by merger rumours. The index climbed 2.7% to close at 5,366.
Miners were among the best performing stocks. Kazakhmys rose 6.9%, Xstrata and Rio Tinto both added 6.1% and Antofagasta gained 6%. But the only faller of the day was Randgold Resources, which shed 1.2%
Banks were also strong. Barclays rose 4.3%, Lloyds rose 2.9%, RBS added 2.7% and HSBC was 1.3% higher.
Top climber was TUI Travel, which gained 7.5% after rumours that its parent company intends to buy the shares it doesn't already own.
In Europe yesterday, the Paris CAC 40 rose 103 points to 3,623; and the German Xetra Dax was 158 points higher at 6,083.
In the US, the Dow Jones Industrial Average added 2.5% to 10,269; the S&P 500 and the Nasdaq Composite both gained 3% to close at 1,080 and 2,176 respectively.
Overnight in Asia, Japan's Nikkei 225 rose 1.5% to 9,062, and the broader Topix index was 1% higher at 819. In China, the Shanghai Composite gained 1.1% to 2,652, and the CSI 300 was up 1.2% to 2,917.
Brent spot was trading at $75.49 early today, and in New York, crude oil was at $73.85. Spot gold was trading at $1,248 an ounce, silver was at $19.45 and platinum was at $1,539.
In the forex markets this morning, sterling was trading against the US dollar at 1.54 and against the euro at 1.2022. The dollar was trading at 0.7809 against the euro and 84.16 against the Japanese yen.
And in the UK, house prices have fallen for the second month in a row, according to the Nationwide Building Society's House Price Index. August saw a fall of 0.9% compared to July, which itself saw a 0.5% fall. Year on year, prices are up 3.9%.
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© 2010 MoneyWeek Ltd. All Rights Reserved. The content of this email may not be reproduced without the written consent of MoneyWeek Ltd. Registered Office: Sea Containers House, 7th Floor, 20 Upper Ground, London, SE1 9JD. Registered in England No. 04016750. VAT No. GB 629 7287 94. MoneyWeek and Money Morning are registered trade marks owned by MoneyWeek Limited.
1 September, 2010
- Don't bet against sterling
- Recommended article: Seven reasons to buy into South Korea
- Yesterday's close: FTSE 100 up 0.5% to 5,225... Gold up 0.85% to $1,247.45/oz... £/$ - 1.5348
"The British pound's biggest rally in 14 months is in jeopardy as Prime Minister David Cameron's budget cuts begin to curb economic growth." So read a headline on Bloomberg last week.
Let's ignore the annoying assumptions behind this remark for a moment. (I would argue that Cameron's cuts will lay the foundations for economic growth, not curb it.) We'll focus on the main thrust of the story, which is that sterling is set to fall.
In a Bloomberg survey of strategists, the sterling bears outnumber the bulls by well over two to one.
Guess what? I think they've got it wrong…
Forecasters are extremely pessimistic on the pound
According to data compiled by Bloomberg, foreign-exchange forecasters are the most pessimistic on the pound since May 2009. Back then, credit rating agency Standard & Poor's had said that Britain was at risk of losing its AAA credit rating.
Sounds pretty grim, eh? But actually, when you look back, of the 21 trading days in May 2009, the pound rose against the dollar for 16 of them. It began the month at $1.48 and ended the month at $1.64. It then traded in a range between around $1.60 and $1.70 for six months or so, until fears over a hung parliament sent it heading back towards the $1.43 area.
So let's hope, for the sake of their yachts, that these foreign-exchange forecasters didn't put their money where their mouths were. Or, if they did, let's hope they had their stops in tight. If they're as pessimistic now as they were then, then the pound is due a pretty strong rally.
One of the bears, Ian Stannard at BNP Paribas, says: "Sterling is extremely vulnerable and is likely to start moving lower." His team believe it could fall as low as $1.32. But barring a stock market crash or a stand-off between the government and the public sector, I just don't see this happening.
Why sterling isn't as weak as many people think
Why not? Well, if you look at the last 20 years, sterling has only fallen below $1.43 four times. Once was during the sterling crisis of 1992-93. Then there was the slump following the dotcom crash in 2000-01.
The other two instances came during the credit crisis crash of 2008-09, and then again in May of this year, when it wasn't clear who was in charge of the country. In other words, we've only seen such lows at major extremes. And even then, there is extremely strong, long-term support just below $1.40. Indeed, we haven't been down there since 1985, when the UK had rampant unemployment and Margaret Thatcher was still fighting the miners' unions.
Now, such a confrontation is not beyond the realms of possibility for this government, as the public sector starts to get laid off in the coming months. And such lay-offs could be more painful if the inflationary impact of £200bn of quantitative easing finally reaches the man on the street. But, even in this extreme environment, I would still expect $1.38 to hold. 
I should stress I am not wildly bullish about the pound, either. We still have too much debt in our system and many other problems to do with the excess spending of the last ten years to work through. But given the policies of the current government, I just don't see disaster lurking around the corner any more.
We have had an extremely sharp rally in the pound since May, as it became clear that the coalition government was by no means going to be a disaster. It rose from $1.43 to $1.60, where it hit a wall. The current correction (the pound is at $1.54 as I write) is perfectly normal. It is not, in my view, the beginning of a major leg down.
We could slip back to $1.50 or so quite easily. But much further, I would say is unlikely, barring, as I say, a stock market crash or a major confrontation with the unions. Sticking my neck out and making a prediction, I would expect sterling to trade in a range over the next year or two, with a cap at about $1.75 and a bottom around $1.47.
The pound has problems - but fewer than many other currencies
As I say, the pound has problems, but so do many of the alternatives. The dollar is undermined by the fiscally insane policy-makers currently in charge. The yen is wildly overbought. The euro survived the spring but the structural problems have not gone away. Another crisis lurks, as sure as eggs are eggs. I do like the commodity currencies, (the Canadian dollar, the Aussie dollar and the Norwegian krona), but they too have their problems, with the Aussie dollar looking particularly vulnerable.
Of course, as you probably already know, the only currency that I have any real faith in is gold. I've just put together a new report on the subject for MoneyWeek. As well as my thoughts on gold bullion and gold stocks, with details on how to buy both, there are some exciting microcap junior explorer tips. There's also a detailed report on how to trade silver, gold's badly behaved little sister. You should have received details about this over the weekend, but if you missed it, you can find out more here.
Got a comment on this article? Leave a comment on the MoneyWeek website, here.
Until tomorrow,
Dominic Frisby
The Gold Profit Plan is a regulated product issued by MoneyWeek Ltd. Your capital is at risk when you invest in shares, never risk more than you can afford to lose. Please seek independent financial advice if necessary. MoneyWeek Ltd. 0207 633 3780.
Our recommended article for today...
Seven reasons to buy into South Korea
- South Korea is the world's most developed emerging market, with cheap stocks and a solid economy. Here, Louis Basenese gives seven reasons why you should put your money there, and tips the easiest way in: Seven reasons to buy into South Korea.
And for yesterday's market update, see below...
Market update
Click here for the latest stock market news and charts.
The FTSE 100 rose again yesterday, closing up 0.5% at 5,225.
Miners saw some good performances. Leading the sector up were Fresnillo, which gained 3.2%, and Rio Tinto, which added 2.4%. Vedanta, Anglo American and BHP Billiton rose between 2.1% and 1.9%.
Banks were also in demand. RBS climbed 2.5%, Lloyds added 1.3%, Standard Chartered gained 0.8% and HSBC rose 0.5%. But Barclays failed to make any headway, losing 1.1%.
Highest climber of the day was chip-maker Arm Holdings, which gained 8.6%, while the biggest faller was Intercontinental Hotels, down 3%.
In Europe, the Paris CAC 40 rose three points to 3,490; and the German Xetra Dax was 13 points higher at 5,925.
In the US, the Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 0.1% to 10,014; the S&P 500 added one point to 1,049; and the Nasdaq Composite was 0.3% lower at 2,114.
Overnight in Asia, Japan's Nikkei 225 added 1.2% to 8,927 and the broader Topix index gained 0.8% to 811. In China, the Shanghai Composite was 0.6% lower at 2,622 and the CSI 300 slipped 0.7% to 2,884.
Brent spot was trading at $74.78 early today, and in New York, crude oil was at $72.09. Spot gold was trading at $1,250 an ounce, silver was at $19.39 and platinum was at $1,524.
In the forex markets this morning, sterling was trading against the US dollar at 1.5406 and against the euro at 1.21. The dollar was trading at 0.7857 against the euro and 84.14 against the Japanese yen.
And in the UK, fund manager Hargreaves Lansdown reported an 18% rise in pre-tax profits to £86.3m for the year to 30 June. The company is to raise its dividend by 18% to 11.88p per share.
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Thought for 2day
Gathering clouds
http://www.wordlive.org
Prayer : Prepare
Is God not picking up the other end of the phone? Listen with your ears, mind and heart open to his answer.
1 Samuel 28:3-25
'When Saul saw the Philistine army, he was afraid; terror filled his heart. He inquired of the LORD, but the LORD did not answer him by dreams or Urim or prophets.'
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Bible passage: 1 Samuel 28:3-25
3 Samuel had died. The whole nation of Israel was filled with sorrow because he was dead. They had buried his body in his own town of Ramah.
Saul had gotten rid of people who get messages from those who have died. He had also gotten rid of people who talk to the spirits of the dead. He had thrown all of them out of the land.
4 The Philistines gathered together and set up camp at Shunem. At the same time, Saul gathered all of the fighting men of Israel together. They set up camp at Gilboa.
5 When Saul saw the Philistine army, he was afraid. Terror filled his heart. 6 He asked the Lord for advice. But the Lord didn't answer him through dreams or prophets. He didn't answer him when Saul had the priest use the Urim.
7 Saul spoke to his attendants. He said, "Find me a woman who gets messages from those who have died. Then I can go and ask her some questions."
"There's a woman like that in Endor," they said.
8 Saul put on different clothes so people wouldn't know who he was. At night he and two of his men went to see the woman. "I want you to talk to a spirit for me," he said. "Bring up the spirit of the dead person I choose."
9 But the woman said to him, "By now you must know what Saul has done. He has cut off everyone who gets messages from those who have died. He has also cut off everyone who talks to the spirits of the dead. He has thrown all of them out of the land. Why are you trying to trap me? Why do you want to have me put to death?"
10 Saul took an oath in the name of the Lord. He promised the woman, "You can be sure that the Lord lives. And you can be just as sure that you won't be punished for helping me."
11 Then the woman asked, "Whose spirit should I bring up for you?"
"Bring Samuel up," he said.
12 When the woman saw Samuel, she let out a loud scream. She said to Saul, "Why have you tricked me? You are King Saul!"
13 He said to her, "Don't be afraid. Tell me what you see."
The woman said, "I see a spirit. He's coming up out of the ground."
14 "What does he look like?" Saul asked.
"An old man wearing a robe is coming up," she said.
Then Saul knew it was Samuel. He bowed down. He lay down flat with his face toward the ground.
15 Samuel said to Saul, "Why have you troubled me by bringing me up from the dead?"
"I'm having big problems," Saul said. "The Philistines are fighting against me. God has turned away from me. He doesn't answer me anymore. He doesn't speak to me through prophets or dreams. So I've called on you to tell me what to do."
16 Samuel said, "The Lord has turned away from you. He has become your enemy. So why are you asking me what you should do? 17 The Lord has spoken through me and has done what he said he would do. He has torn the kingdom out of your hands. He has given it to one of your neighbors. He has given it to David. 18 You didn't obey the Lord. You didn't carry out his burning anger against the Amalekites. So he's punishing you today.
19 "He will hand both Israel and you over to the Philistines. Tomorrow you and your sons will be down here with me. The Lord will also hand Israel's army over to the Philistines."
20 Immediately Saul fell flat on the ground. What Samuel had said filled Saul with fear. His strength was gone. He hadn't eaten anything all that day and night.
21 The woman went over to Saul because she saw that he was very upset. She said, "Look, I've obeyed you. I put my own life in danger by doing what you told me to do. 22 So please listen to me. Let me give you some food. Eat it. Then you will have the strength to go on your way."
23 But he refused. He said, "I don't want anything to eat."
Then his men joined the woman in begging him to eat. Finally, he paid attention to them. He got up from the ground and sat on a couch.
24 The woman had a fat calf at her house. She killed it at once. She got some flour. She mixed it and baked some bread that didn't have any yeast in it. 25 Then she set the food in front of Saul and his men. They ate it. That same night they got up and left.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Text: Main point: Gathering clouds
Crisis point
I am sometimes relieved when the young people I work with reach a crisis. A crisis can arrest slow decline. Failing life props can be abandoned and new possibilities considered. In a crisis, intervention comes running and things change.
Saul and Israel have reached such a crisis. Times are grim. The Philistines gather like ominous grey clouds. A sense of doom prevails over Saul's desperate search for help.
Bad news
He seeks God too late. Samuel is dead. No message of consolation through dreams or prophets. Finally, through the very mediums he previously banished, Saul hears the bad news. The end of his dynasty looms.
Whether by trickery or sorcery, the woman's vision of Samuel is unnerving. With God unreachable, Saul crosses a line that leaves him at the mercy of dark forces (v 8). No wonder Saul loses zest for living! Finally, through the crisis, God intervenes and a new and faithful king is anointed.
Look to God
We live with crises. New threats of conflict, disease, disasters and greed cloud our future. People are scrambling, grabbing on to wealth, leaders, medical breakthroughs, new age spirituality and even the stock exchange for security. People in crisis always look to something.
This passage is a warning. Many today have largely rejected God. God's faithful people must be praying for our world: that through crisis God will intervene and call people to reconsider their life and come to know him; that faith will not lie in godless leaders and personal empires, but with the Lord Jesus.
Glenda Trist
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Prayer : Respond
Lay your life before God. Allow the Spirit to search you and point out anything which grieves him. Then resolve with his help to deal with it.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Choose from today's activities...
Audio Bible passage: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=15014&activityid=81442
Deeper study: Saul consults a medium: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=15014&activityid=81445
Background: Magic and witchcraft: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=15014&activityid=81446
Endor: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=15014&activityid=81447
Vox pops: Hearing from God: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=15014&activityid=81448
Podcast: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=15014&activityid=81449
Bible in a year: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=15014&activityid=81028
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Choose from this week's activities...
Welcome: Testing leaders: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=15010&activityid=81416
WordLive for small groups: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=15010&activityid=81417
WordLive Forum: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=15010&activityid=77078
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Support WordLive
We'd love you to support WordLive. If you'd like to make a donation, please visit http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/91202.id?in=WLDEP
Prayer : Prepare
Is God not picking up the other end of the phone? Listen with your ears, mind and heart open to his answer.
1 Samuel 28:3-25
'When Saul saw the Philistine army, he was afraid; terror filled his heart. He inquired of the LORD, but the LORD did not answer him by dreams or Urim or prophets.'
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Bible passage: 1 Samuel 28:3-25
3 Samuel had died. The whole nation of Israel was filled with sorrow because he was dead. They had buried his body in his own town of Ramah.
Saul had gotten rid of people who get messages from those who have died. He had also gotten rid of people who talk to the spirits of the dead. He had thrown all of them out of the land.
4 The Philistines gathered together and set up camp at Shunem. At the same time, Saul gathered all of the fighting men of Israel together. They set up camp at Gilboa.
5 When Saul saw the Philistine army, he was afraid. Terror filled his heart. 6 He asked the Lord for advice. But the Lord didn't answer him through dreams or prophets. He didn't answer him when Saul had the priest use the Urim.
7 Saul spoke to his attendants. He said, "Find me a woman who gets messages from those who have died. Then I can go and ask her some questions."
"There's a woman like that in Endor," they said.
8 Saul put on different clothes so people wouldn't know who he was. At night he and two of his men went to see the woman. "I want you to talk to a spirit for me," he said. "Bring up the spirit of the dead person I choose."
9 But the woman said to him, "By now you must know what Saul has done. He has cut off everyone who gets messages from those who have died. He has also cut off everyone who talks to the spirits of the dead. He has thrown all of them out of the land. Why are you trying to trap me? Why do you want to have me put to death?"
10 Saul took an oath in the name of the Lord. He promised the woman, "You can be sure that the Lord lives. And you can be just as sure that you won't be punished for helping me."
11 Then the woman asked, "Whose spirit should I bring up for you?"
"Bring Samuel up," he said.
12 When the woman saw Samuel, she let out a loud scream. She said to Saul, "Why have you tricked me? You are King Saul!"
13 He said to her, "Don't be afraid. Tell me what you see."
The woman said, "I see a spirit. He's coming up out of the ground."
14 "What does he look like?" Saul asked.
"An old man wearing a robe is coming up," she said.
Then Saul knew it was Samuel. He bowed down. He lay down flat with his face toward the ground.
15 Samuel said to Saul, "Why have you troubled me by bringing me up from the dead?"
"I'm having big problems," Saul said. "The Philistines are fighting against me. God has turned away from me. He doesn't answer me anymore. He doesn't speak to me through prophets or dreams. So I've called on you to tell me what to do."
16 Samuel said, "The Lord has turned away from you. He has become your enemy. So why are you asking me what you should do? 17 The Lord has spoken through me and has done what he said he would do. He has torn the kingdom out of your hands. He has given it to one of your neighbors. He has given it to David. 18 You didn't obey the Lord. You didn't carry out his burning anger against the Amalekites. So he's punishing you today.
19 "He will hand both Israel and you over to the Philistines. Tomorrow you and your sons will be down here with me. The Lord will also hand Israel's army over to the Philistines."
20 Immediately Saul fell flat on the ground. What Samuel had said filled Saul with fear. His strength was gone. He hadn't eaten anything all that day and night.
21 The woman went over to Saul because she saw that he was very upset. She said, "Look, I've obeyed you. I put my own life in danger by doing what you told me to do. 22 So please listen to me. Let me give you some food. Eat it. Then you will have the strength to go on your way."
23 But he refused. He said, "I don't want anything to eat."
Then his men joined the woman in begging him to eat. Finally, he paid attention to them. He got up from the ground and sat on a couch.
24 The woman had a fat calf at her house. She killed it at once. She got some flour. She mixed it and baked some bread that didn't have any yeast in it. 25 Then she set the food in front of Saul and his men. They ate it. That same night they got up and left.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Text: Main point: Gathering clouds
Crisis point
I am sometimes relieved when the young people I work with reach a crisis. A crisis can arrest slow decline. Failing life props can be abandoned and new possibilities considered. In a crisis, intervention comes running and things change.
Saul and Israel have reached such a crisis. Times are grim. The Philistines gather like ominous grey clouds. A sense of doom prevails over Saul's desperate search for help.
Bad news
He seeks God too late. Samuel is dead. No message of consolation through dreams or prophets. Finally, through the very mediums he previously banished, Saul hears the bad news. The end of his dynasty looms.
Whether by trickery or sorcery, the woman's vision of Samuel is unnerving. With God unreachable, Saul crosses a line that leaves him at the mercy of dark forces (v 8). No wonder Saul loses zest for living! Finally, through the crisis, God intervenes and a new and faithful king is anointed.
Look to God
We live with crises. New threats of conflict, disease, disasters and greed cloud our future. People are scrambling, grabbing on to wealth, leaders, medical breakthroughs, new age spirituality and even the stock exchange for security. People in crisis always look to something.
This passage is a warning. Many today have largely rejected God. God's faithful people must be praying for our world: that through crisis God will intervene and call people to reconsider their life and come to know him; that faith will not lie in godless leaders and personal empires, but with the Lord Jesus.
Glenda Trist
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Prayer : Respond
Lay your life before God. Allow the Spirit to search you and point out anything which grieves him. Then resolve with his help to deal with it.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Choose from today's activities...
Audio Bible passage: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=15014&activityid=81442
Deeper study: Saul consults a medium: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=15014&activityid=81445
Background: Magic and witchcraft: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=15014&activityid=81446
Endor: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=15014&activityid=81447
Vox pops: Hearing from God: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=15014&activityid=81448
Podcast: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=15014&activityid=81449
Bible in a year: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=15014&activityid=81028
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Choose from this week's activities...
Welcome: Testing leaders: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=15010&activityid=81416
WordLive for small groups: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=15010&activityid=81417
WordLive Forum: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=15010&activityid=77078
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Support WordLive
We'd love you to support WordLive. If you'd like to make a donation, please visit http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/91202.id?in=WLDEP
Character study
http://www.wordlive.org
Prayer : Prepare
An eye for an eye, and the whole world ends up blind. Stop revenge in its tracks, bring peace to the table.
1 Samuel 26:1-25
'So David and Abishai went to the army by night, and there was Saul, lying asleep inside the camp with his spear stuck in the ground near his head. Abner and the soldiers were lying around him.'
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Bible passage: 1 Samuel 26:1-25
1 Samuel 26
David Spares Saul's Life Again
1 Some people from Ziph went to Saul at Gibeah. They said, "David is hiding on the hill of Hakilah. It faces Jeshimon."
2 So Saul went down to the Desert of Ziph. He took 3,000 of the best soldiers in Israel with him. They went to the desert to look for David. 3 Saul set up his camp beside the road. It was on the hill of Hakilah facing Jeshimon.
But David stayed in the desert. He saw that Saul had followed him there. 4 So he sent out scouts. From them he learned that Saul had arrived.
5 Then David started out. He went to the place where Saul had camped. He saw where Saul and Abner were lying down. Saul was lying inside the camp. The army was camped all around him. Abner was commander of the army. He was the son of Ner.
6 Then David spoke to Ahimelech, the Hittite. He also spoke to Joab's brother Abishai, the son of Zeruiah. He asked them, "Who will go down with me into the camp to Saul?"
"I'll go with you," said Abishai.
7 So that night David and Abishai went into the camp. They found Saul lying asleep inside the camp. His spear was stuck in the ground near his head. Abner and the soldiers were lying asleep around him.
8 Abishai said to David, "Today God has handed your enemy over to you. So let me pin him to the ground. I can do it with one jab of my spear. I won't even have to strike him twice."
9 But David said to Abishai, "Don't destroy him! No one can lay a hand on the Lord's anointed king and not be guilty. 10 You can be sure that the Lord lives," he said. "And you can be just as sure that the Lord himself will strike Saul down. Perhaps he'll die a natural death. Or perhaps he'll go into battle and be killed. 11 May the Lord keep me from laying a hand on his anointed king. Now get the spear and water jug that are near his head. Then let's leave."
12 So David took the spear and water jug that were near Saul's head. Then he and Abishai left. No one saw them. No one knew about what they had done. In fact, no one even woke up. Everyone was sleeping. That's because the Lord had put them into a deep sleep.
13 David went across to the other side of the valley. He stood on top of a hill far away from Saul's camp. There was a wide space between them. 14 He called out to the army and to Abner, the son of Ner. He said, "Abner! Aren't you going to answer me?"
Abner replied, "Who is calling out to the king?"
15 David said, "You are a great soldier, aren't you? There isn't anyone else like you in Israel. So why didn't you guard the king? He's your master, isn't he? Someone came into the camp to destroy him. 16 You didn't guard him. And that isn't good. You can be sure that the Lord lives. And you can be just as sure that you and your men are worthy of death. That's because you didn't guard your master. He's the Lord's anointed king. Look around you. Where are the king's spear and water jug that were near his head?"
17 Saul recognized David's voice. He said, "My son David, is that your voice?"
David replied, "Yes it is, King Saul, my master." 18 He continued, "Why are you chasing me? What evil thing have I done? What am I guilty of?
19 "King Saul, please listen to what I'm saying. Was it the Lord who made you angry with me? If it was, may he accept my offering. Was it people who made you angry at me? If it was, may the Lord send down a curse on them. They have now driven me from my share of the Lord's land. By doing that, they might as well have said, 'Go and serve other gods.'
20 "Don't spill my blood on the ground far away from where the Lord lives. King Saul, you have come out to look for nothing but a flea. It's as if you were hunting a partridge in the mountains."
21 Then Saul said, "I have sinned. My son David, come back. Today you thought my life was very special. So I won't try to harm you again. I've really acted like a foolish person. I've made a huge mistake."
22 "Here's your spear," David answered. "Send one of your young men over to get it.
23 "The Lord rewards everyone for doing what is right and being faithful. He handed you over to me today. But I wouldn't lay a hand on you. You are the Lord's anointed king. 24 Today I thought your life had great value. In the same way, may the Lord think of my life as having great value. May he save me from all trouble."
25 Then Saul said to David, "My son David, may the Lord bless you. You will do great things. You will also have great success."
So David went on his way. And Saul returned home.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Text: Main point: Character study
Discerning God's will
This passage invites us to review how we use circumstances to discern God's will. Abishai certainly sees God's hand in allowing David to stand beside a sleeping Saul (vs 7,8). Even the spear was supplied!
Surely God had delivered Saul to David once again. Surely it was now confirmed that David was to kill Saul. How tempting for David.
Trusting God's sovereignty
Perhaps God delivered Saul to David to grow David's trust in God's sovereignty. For God this was essential in Israel's king. But by killing Saul, David would have usurped God and God's leader.
Would you and I have understood God's will here? Would we have merely acted opportunely? David understood. He resolutely refused to harm Saul.
David upheld God's sovereign right to anoint kingship and orchestrate his plans. He trusted God by letting Saul live. How then do we discern how to act? Such questions are often difficult.
Knowing God's character
David's decisions were informed not only by circumstances but also by a deep knowledge of and trust in God's character. He believed God would only require him to act consistently with God's character and purposes.
If ultimately God is concerned about our character and our relationship with him, perhaps it is more likely that he creates circumstances to grow these, than simply to direct our movements.
Glenda Trist
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Prayer : Respond
What aspects of your character would concern God?
Thank God for his continuing work in your life.
Ask for wisdom to partner with him in this growth.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Choose from today's activities...
Audio Bible passage: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=15013&activityid=81433
Deeper study: A man after God's own heart (2): http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=15013&activityid=81436
Background: Abigail: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=15013&activityid=81437
Vox pops: Decisions?: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=15013&activityid=81438
Podcast: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=15013&activityid=81439
Bible in a year: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=15013&activityid=81027
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Choose from this week's activities...
Welcome: Testing leaders: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=15010&activityid=81416
WordLive for small groups: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=15010&activityid=81417
WordLive Forum: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=15010&activityid=77078
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Support WordLive
We'd love you to support WordLive. If you'd like to make a donation, please visit http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/91202.id?in=WLDEP
Prayer : Prepare
An eye for an eye, and the whole world ends up blind. Stop revenge in its tracks, bring peace to the table.
1 Samuel 26:1-25
'So David and Abishai went to the army by night, and there was Saul, lying asleep inside the camp with his spear stuck in the ground near his head. Abner and the soldiers were lying around him.'
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Bible passage: 1 Samuel 26:1-25
1 Samuel 26
David Spares Saul's Life Again
1 Some people from Ziph went to Saul at Gibeah. They said, "David is hiding on the hill of Hakilah. It faces Jeshimon."
2 So Saul went down to the Desert of Ziph. He took 3,000 of the best soldiers in Israel with him. They went to the desert to look for David. 3 Saul set up his camp beside the road. It was on the hill of Hakilah facing Jeshimon.
But David stayed in the desert. He saw that Saul had followed him there. 4 So he sent out scouts. From them he learned that Saul had arrived.
5 Then David started out. He went to the place where Saul had camped. He saw where Saul and Abner were lying down. Saul was lying inside the camp. The army was camped all around him. Abner was commander of the army. He was the son of Ner.
6 Then David spoke to Ahimelech, the Hittite. He also spoke to Joab's brother Abishai, the son of Zeruiah. He asked them, "Who will go down with me into the camp to Saul?"
"I'll go with you," said Abishai.
7 So that night David and Abishai went into the camp. They found Saul lying asleep inside the camp. His spear was stuck in the ground near his head. Abner and the soldiers were lying asleep around him.
8 Abishai said to David, "Today God has handed your enemy over to you. So let me pin him to the ground. I can do it with one jab of my spear. I won't even have to strike him twice."
9 But David said to Abishai, "Don't destroy him! No one can lay a hand on the Lord's anointed king and not be guilty. 10 You can be sure that the Lord lives," he said. "And you can be just as sure that the Lord himself will strike Saul down. Perhaps he'll die a natural death. Or perhaps he'll go into battle and be killed. 11 May the Lord keep me from laying a hand on his anointed king. Now get the spear and water jug that are near his head. Then let's leave."
12 So David took the spear and water jug that were near Saul's head. Then he and Abishai left. No one saw them. No one knew about what they had done. In fact, no one even woke up. Everyone was sleeping. That's because the Lord had put them into a deep sleep.
13 David went across to the other side of the valley. He stood on top of a hill far away from Saul's camp. There was a wide space between them. 14 He called out to the army and to Abner, the son of Ner. He said, "Abner! Aren't you going to answer me?"
Abner replied, "Who is calling out to the king?"
15 David said, "You are a great soldier, aren't you? There isn't anyone else like you in Israel. So why didn't you guard the king? He's your master, isn't he? Someone came into the camp to destroy him. 16 You didn't guard him. And that isn't good. You can be sure that the Lord lives. And you can be just as sure that you and your men are worthy of death. That's because you didn't guard your master. He's the Lord's anointed king. Look around you. Where are the king's spear and water jug that were near his head?"
17 Saul recognized David's voice. He said, "My son David, is that your voice?"
David replied, "Yes it is, King Saul, my master." 18 He continued, "Why are you chasing me? What evil thing have I done? What am I guilty of?
19 "King Saul, please listen to what I'm saying. Was it the Lord who made you angry with me? If it was, may he accept my offering. Was it people who made you angry at me? If it was, may the Lord send down a curse on them. They have now driven me from my share of the Lord's land. By doing that, they might as well have said, 'Go and serve other gods.'
20 "Don't spill my blood on the ground far away from where the Lord lives. King Saul, you have come out to look for nothing but a flea. It's as if you were hunting a partridge in the mountains."
21 Then Saul said, "I have sinned. My son David, come back. Today you thought my life was very special. So I won't try to harm you again. I've really acted like a foolish person. I've made a huge mistake."
22 "Here's your spear," David answered. "Send one of your young men over to get it.
23 "The Lord rewards everyone for doing what is right and being faithful. He handed you over to me today. But I wouldn't lay a hand on you. You are the Lord's anointed king. 24 Today I thought your life had great value. In the same way, may the Lord think of my life as having great value. May he save me from all trouble."
25 Then Saul said to David, "My son David, may the Lord bless you. You will do great things. You will also have great success."
So David went on his way. And Saul returned home.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Text: Main point: Character study
Discerning God's will
This passage invites us to review how we use circumstances to discern God's will. Abishai certainly sees God's hand in allowing David to stand beside a sleeping Saul (vs 7,8). Even the spear was supplied!
Surely God had delivered Saul to David once again. Surely it was now confirmed that David was to kill Saul. How tempting for David.
Trusting God's sovereignty
Perhaps God delivered Saul to David to grow David's trust in God's sovereignty. For God this was essential in Israel's king. But by killing Saul, David would have usurped God and God's leader.
Would you and I have understood God's will here? Would we have merely acted opportunely? David understood. He resolutely refused to harm Saul.
David upheld God's sovereign right to anoint kingship and orchestrate his plans. He trusted God by letting Saul live. How then do we discern how to act? Such questions are often difficult.
Knowing God's character
David's decisions were informed not only by circumstances but also by a deep knowledge of and trust in God's character. He believed God would only require him to act consistently with God's character and purposes.
If ultimately God is concerned about our character and our relationship with him, perhaps it is more likely that he creates circumstances to grow these, than simply to direct our movements.
Glenda Trist
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Prayer : Respond
What aspects of your character would concern God?
Thank God for his continuing work in your life.
Ask for wisdom to partner with him in this growth.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Choose from today's activities...
Audio Bible passage: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=15013&activityid=81433
Deeper study: A man after God's own heart (2): http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=15013&activityid=81436
Background: Abigail: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=15013&activityid=81437
Vox pops: Decisions?: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=15013&activityid=81438
Podcast: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=15013&activityid=81439
Bible in a year: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=15013&activityid=81027
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Choose from this week's activities...
Welcome: Testing leaders: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=15010&activityid=81416
WordLive for small groups: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=15010&activityid=81417
WordLive Forum: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=15010&activityid=77078
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Support WordLive
We'd love you to support WordLive. If you'd like to make a donation, please visit http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/91202.id?in=WLDEP
Evil do, evil be
http://www.wordlive.org
Prayer : Prepare
Here's your chance: the opportunity you've been waiting for all along. Will you do the right thing?
1 Samuel 24:1-22
'The men said, "This is the day the LORD spoke of when he said to you, 'I will give your enemy into your hands for you to deal with as you wish.' " Then David crept up unnoticed and cut off a corner of Saul's robe.'
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Bible passage: 1 Samuel 24:1-22
1 Samuel 24
David Spares Saul's Life
1 Saul returned from chasing the Philistines. Then he was told, "David is in the Desert of En Gedi." 2 So Saul took 3,000 of the best soldiers from the whole nation of Israel. He started out to look for David and his men. He planned to look near the Rocky Cliffs of the Wild Goats.
3 He came to some sheep pens along the way. A cave was there. Saul went in to go to the toilet. David and his men were far back in the cave.
4 David's men said, "This is the day the Lord told you about. He said to you, 'I will hand your enemy over to you. Then you can deal with him as you want to.' "
So David came up close to Saul without being seen. He cut off a corner of Saul's robe.
5 Later, David felt sorry that he had cut off a corner of Saul's robe. 6 He said to his men, "May the Lord keep me from doing a thing like that to my master again. He is the Lord's anointed king. So I promise that I will never lift my hand to strike him down. The Lord has anointed him."
7 David said that to warn his men. He didn't allow them to attack Saul. So Saul left the cave and went on his way.
8 Then David went out of the cave. He called out to Saul, "King Saul! My master!" When Saul looked behind him, David bowed down. He lay down flat with his face toward the ground.
9 He said to Saul, "Why do you listen when men say, 'David is trying to harm you'? 10 This very day you have seen with your own eyes how the Lord handed you over to me in the cave. Some of my men begged me to kill you. But I spared you. I said, 'I will never lift my hand to strike my master down. He is the Lord's anointed king.'
11 "Look, my father! Look at this piece of your robe in my hand! I cut off the corner of your robe. But I didn't kill you. I want you to know and understand that I'm not guilty of doing anything wrong. I haven't turned against you. I haven't done anything to harm you. But you are hunting me down. You want to kill me.
12 "May the Lord judge between you and me. And may the Lord pay you back because of the wrong things you have done to me. But I won't lay a hand on you. 13 People say, 'Evil acts come from those who do evil.' So I won't lay a hand on you.
14 "King Saul, who are you trying to catch? Who do you think you are chasing? I'm nothing but a dead dog or a flea! 15 May the Lord be our judge. May he decide between us. May he consider my case and stand up for me. May he show that I'm not guilty of doing anything wrong. May he save me from your powerful hand."
16 When David finished speaking, Saul asked him a question. He said, "My son David, is that your voice?" And Saul sobbed out loud. 17 "You are a better person than I am," he said. "You have treated me well. But I've treated you badly. 18 You have just now told me about the good things you did to me. The Lord handed me over to you. But you didn't kill me. 19 Suppose a man finds his enemy. He doesn't let him get away without harming him. May the Lord reward you with many good things. May he do it because of the way you treated me today. 20 I know for sure that you will be king. I know that the kingdom of Israel will be made secure under your control. 21 Now take an oath in the name of the Lord. Promise me that you won't cut off my children from my family. Also promise me that you won't wipe out my name from my family line."
22 So David took an oath and made that promise to Saul. Then Saul returned home. But David and his men went up to his usual place of safety.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Text: Main point: Evil do, evil be
Tension
God's humour is at play here! Tension is high as Saul pursues David. He stops to relieve himself in the very cave David has hidden in - and misses him! But David is well aware of Saul's presence.
A common defence at the school I work in is: 'They did it to me first.' Bad behaviour is justified because of the other person's actions. Essentially a similar decision is being contemplated here. But David chooses differently. And that is so powerful!
Choosing wisely
Whilst clearly aware of Saul's deadly intentions, David refuses his men's urgings to kill Saul. David will not allow Saul's bad behaviour to dictate his own standards. Instead David's actions are dictated by his honour of God. He chooses to leave retaliation to him.
David's actions demonstrate his beliefs and consequently his identity as God's servant. It is the choice we all face, in or out of the school playground!
Reflecting God
Retaliation is increasingly accepted in human behaviour and even excused in law. However, when we choose out of retaliation, we demonstrate a heart that is far from God. As David says, 'From evildoers come evil deeds' (v 13).
As God's people we cannot afford to let the worst of another's behaviour dictate our behaviour and identity. Our choices are to reflect God to those around us (see 1 John 3:7,8).
Glenda Trist
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Prayer : Respond
What choices face you in the coming day? Consider how best your decisions might reflect God to those around you. Pray for wisdom.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Choose from today's activities...
Audio Bible passage: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=15012&activityid=81424
Deeper study: A man after God's own heart (1): http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=15012&activityid=81427
Infographic: David and Saul: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=15012&activityid=81428
Mercy: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=15012&activityid=81429
Podcast: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=15012&activityid=81430
Bible in a year: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=15012&activityid=80011
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Choose from this week's activities...
Welcome: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=15010&activityid=81416
WordLive for small groups: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=15010&activityid=81417
WordLive Forum: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=15010&activityid=77078
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Support WordLive
We'd love you to support WordLive. If you'd like to make a donation, please visit http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/91202.id?in=WLDEP
Prayer : Prepare
Here's your chance: the opportunity you've been waiting for all along. Will you do the right thing?
1 Samuel 24:1-22
'The men said, "This is the day the LORD spoke of when he said to you, 'I will give your enemy into your hands for you to deal with as you wish.' " Then David crept up unnoticed and cut off a corner of Saul's robe.'
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Bible passage: 1 Samuel 24:1-22
1 Samuel 24
David Spares Saul's Life
1 Saul returned from chasing the Philistines. Then he was told, "David is in the Desert of En Gedi." 2 So Saul took 3,000 of the best soldiers from the whole nation of Israel. He started out to look for David and his men. He planned to look near the Rocky Cliffs of the Wild Goats.
3 He came to some sheep pens along the way. A cave was there. Saul went in to go to the toilet. David and his men were far back in the cave.
4 David's men said, "This is the day the Lord told you about. He said to you, 'I will hand your enemy over to you. Then you can deal with him as you want to.' "
So David came up close to Saul without being seen. He cut off a corner of Saul's robe.
5 Later, David felt sorry that he had cut off a corner of Saul's robe. 6 He said to his men, "May the Lord keep me from doing a thing like that to my master again. He is the Lord's anointed king. So I promise that I will never lift my hand to strike him down. The Lord has anointed him."
7 David said that to warn his men. He didn't allow them to attack Saul. So Saul left the cave and went on his way.
8 Then David went out of the cave. He called out to Saul, "King Saul! My master!" When Saul looked behind him, David bowed down. He lay down flat with his face toward the ground.
9 He said to Saul, "Why do you listen when men say, 'David is trying to harm you'? 10 This very day you have seen with your own eyes how the Lord handed you over to me in the cave. Some of my men begged me to kill you. But I spared you. I said, 'I will never lift my hand to strike my master down. He is the Lord's anointed king.'
11 "Look, my father! Look at this piece of your robe in my hand! I cut off the corner of your robe. But I didn't kill you. I want you to know and understand that I'm not guilty of doing anything wrong. I haven't turned against you. I haven't done anything to harm you. But you are hunting me down. You want to kill me.
12 "May the Lord judge between you and me. And may the Lord pay you back because of the wrong things you have done to me. But I won't lay a hand on you. 13 People say, 'Evil acts come from those who do evil.' So I won't lay a hand on you.
14 "King Saul, who are you trying to catch? Who do you think you are chasing? I'm nothing but a dead dog or a flea! 15 May the Lord be our judge. May he decide between us. May he consider my case and stand up for me. May he show that I'm not guilty of doing anything wrong. May he save me from your powerful hand."
16 When David finished speaking, Saul asked him a question. He said, "My son David, is that your voice?" And Saul sobbed out loud. 17 "You are a better person than I am," he said. "You have treated me well. But I've treated you badly. 18 You have just now told me about the good things you did to me. The Lord handed me over to you. But you didn't kill me. 19 Suppose a man finds his enemy. He doesn't let him get away without harming him. May the Lord reward you with many good things. May he do it because of the way you treated me today. 20 I know for sure that you will be king. I know that the kingdom of Israel will be made secure under your control. 21 Now take an oath in the name of the Lord. Promise me that you won't cut off my children from my family. Also promise me that you won't wipe out my name from my family line."
22 So David took an oath and made that promise to Saul. Then Saul returned home. But David and his men went up to his usual place of safety.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Text: Main point: Evil do, evil be
Tension
God's humour is at play here! Tension is high as Saul pursues David. He stops to relieve himself in the very cave David has hidden in - and misses him! But David is well aware of Saul's presence.
A common defence at the school I work in is: 'They did it to me first.' Bad behaviour is justified because of the other person's actions. Essentially a similar decision is being contemplated here. But David chooses differently. And that is so powerful!
Choosing wisely
Whilst clearly aware of Saul's deadly intentions, David refuses his men's urgings to kill Saul. David will not allow Saul's bad behaviour to dictate his own standards. Instead David's actions are dictated by his honour of God. He chooses to leave retaliation to him.
David's actions demonstrate his beliefs and consequently his identity as God's servant. It is the choice we all face, in or out of the school playground!
Reflecting God
Retaliation is increasingly accepted in human behaviour and even excused in law. However, when we choose out of retaliation, we demonstrate a heart that is far from God. As David says, 'From evildoers come evil deeds' (v 13).
As God's people we cannot afford to let the worst of another's behaviour dictate our behaviour and identity. Our choices are to reflect God to those around us (see 1 John 3:7,8).
Glenda Trist
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Prayer : Respond
What choices face you in the coming day? Consider how best your decisions might reflect God to those around you. Pray for wisdom.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Choose from today's activities...
Audio Bible passage: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=15012&activityid=81424
Deeper study: A man after God's own heart (1): http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=15012&activityid=81427
Infographic: David and Saul: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=15012&activityid=81428
Mercy: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=15012&activityid=81429
Podcast: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=15012&activityid=81430
Bible in a year: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=15012&activityid=80011
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Choose from this week's activities...
Welcome: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=15010&activityid=81416
WordLive for small groups: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=15010&activityid=81417
WordLive Forum: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=15010&activityid=77078
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Support WordLive
We'd love you to support WordLive. If you'd like to make a donation, please visit http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/91202.id?in=WLDEP
Never-changing
http://www.wordlive.org
Prayer : Prepare
Whether you're dodging pitfalls or being chased by troubles, stop - know that God watches over every step.
Psalm 142
'I cry aloud to the LORD; I lift up my voice to the LORD for mercy. I pour out before him my complaint; before him I tell my trouble.'
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Bible passage: Psalm 142
Psalm 142
A prayer of David when he was in the cave. A maskil.
1 I call out to the Lord.
I pray to him for his favor.
2 I pour out my problem to him.
I tell him about my trouble.
3 When I grow weak,
you know what I'm going through.
In the path where I walk,
people have hidden a trap to catch me.
4 Look around me, and you will see
that no one is concerned about me.
I have no place of safety.
No one cares whether I live or die.
5 Lord, I cry out to you.
I say, "You are my place of safety.
You are everything I need in this life."
6 Listen to my cry.
I am in great need.
Save me from those who are chasing me.
They are too strong for me.
7 My troubles are like a prison.
Set me free so I can praise your name.
Then those who do what is right will gather around me
because you have been good to me.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Text: Main point: Never-changing
Today's psalm is attributed to David when he fled to the cave of Adullam (see 1 Samuel 22).
David was in a really hard place. He was on the run for his life and had left behind him his closest friend. Imagine how he would have felt!
As with so many psalms, David is totally honest with God about his feelings: 'I pour out before him my complaint; before him I tell my trouble' (v 2).
Even in the depths of his despair, however, he acknowledges God's presence, his good character, and his ability to help. He prays in faith and trusts that help will come in response.
Rachel Taylor
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Choose from today's activities...
Respond: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=15009&activityid=81385
Deeper study: Free and safe: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=15009&activityid=81386
Dungeon prayer: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=15009&activityid=81387
Bible in a year: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=15009&activityid=80009
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Choose from this week's activities...
Welcome: Friends forever?: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=15003&activityid=81411
WordLive for small groups: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=15003&activityid=81412
WordLive Forum: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=15003&activityid=77078
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Support WordLive
We'd love you to support WordLive. If you'd like to make a donation, please visit http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/91202.id?in=WLDEP
Prayer : Prepare
Whether you're dodging pitfalls or being chased by troubles, stop - know that God watches over every step.
Psalm 142
'I cry aloud to the LORD; I lift up my voice to the LORD for mercy. I pour out before him my complaint; before him I tell my trouble.'
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Bible passage: Psalm 142
Psalm 142
A prayer of David when he was in the cave. A maskil.
1 I call out to the Lord.
I pray to him for his favor.
2 I pour out my problem to him.
I tell him about my trouble.
3 When I grow weak,
you know what I'm going through.
In the path where I walk,
people have hidden a trap to catch me.
4 Look around me, and you will see
that no one is concerned about me.
I have no place of safety.
No one cares whether I live or die.
5 Lord, I cry out to you.
I say, "You are my place of safety.
You are everything I need in this life."
6 Listen to my cry.
I am in great need.
Save me from those who are chasing me.
They are too strong for me.
7 My troubles are like a prison.
Set me free so I can praise your name.
Then those who do what is right will gather around me
because you have been good to me.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Text: Main point: Never-changing
Today's psalm is attributed to David when he fled to the cave of Adullam (see 1 Samuel 22).
David was in a really hard place. He was on the run for his life and had left behind him his closest friend. Imagine how he would have felt!
As with so many psalms, David is totally honest with God about his feelings: 'I pour out before him my complaint; before him I tell my trouble' (v 2).
Even in the depths of his despair, however, he acknowledges God's presence, his good character, and his ability to help. He prays in faith and trusts that help will come in response.
Rachel Taylor
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Choose from today's activities...
Respond: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=15009&activityid=81385
Deeper study: Free and safe: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=15009&activityid=81386
Dungeon prayer: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=15009&activityid=81387
Bible in a year: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=15009&activityid=80009
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Choose from this week's activities...
Welcome: Friends forever?: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=15003&activityid=81411
WordLive for small groups: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=15003&activityid=81412
WordLive Forum: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=15003&activityid=77078
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Support WordLive
We'd love you to support WordLive. If you'd like to make a donation, please visit http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/91202.id?in=WLDEP
Place of refuge
http://www.wordlive.org
Prayer : Prepare
Alone? On the run? In trouble? Has your mission gone wrong? God welcomes all - you are safe in his presence.
1 Samuel 21:1-15
'David went to Nob, to Ahimelek the priest. Ahimelek trembled when he met him, and asked, "Why are you alone? Why is no one with you?"'
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Bible passage: 1 Samuel 21:1-15
1 Samuel 21
Ahimelech Helps David
1 David went to the priest Ahimelech at Nob. Ahimelech trembled with fear when he met him. He asked David, "Why are you alone? Why isn't anyone with you?"
2 David answered the priest Ahimelech, "The king gave me a special job to do. He said to me, 'I don't want anyone to know what I'm sending you to do. So don't say anything about it.' I've told my men to meet me at a certain place. 3 Do you have anything for us to eat? Give me five loaves of bread, or anything else you can find."
4 But the priest answered David, "I don't have any bread that isn't holy. I only have some holy bread here. But it's for men who haven't made love to women recently."
5 David replied, "Well, we haven't made love to women recently. That's the way it is every time I lead my men out to battle. We keep ourselves holy even when we do jobs that aren't holy. And that's even more true today."
6 So the priest gave him the holy bread. It was the only bread he had. It had been removed from the table that was in front of the Lord. On the same day, hot bread had been put in its place.
7 One of Saul's servants was there that day. He had been made to stay at the holy tent for a while. He was Doeg from Edom. He was Saul's chief shepherd.
8 David asked Ahimelech, "Don't you have a spear or sword here? I haven't brought my sword or any other weapon. That's because the king's business had to be done right away."
9 The priest replied, "The sword of Goliath, the Philistine, is here. You killed him in the Valley of Elah. His sword is wrapped in a cloth. It's behind the sacred linen apron. If you want it, take it. It's the only sword here."
David said, "There isn't any sword like it. Give it to me."
David Meets a Philistine King
10 That day David ran away from Saul. He went to Achish, the king of Gath. 11 But the servants of Achish spoke to him. They said, "Isn't this David, the king of the land? Isn't he the one the Israelites sing about when they dance? They sing,
" 'Saul has killed thousands of men.
David has killed tens of thousands.' "
12 David paid close attention to what the servants were saying. He became very much afraid of what Achish, the king of Gath, might do. 13 So he pretended to be out of his mind when he was with them. As long as he was in Gath, he acted like someone who was crazy. He made marks on the doors of the city gate. He let spit run down his beard.
14 Achish said to his servants, "Just look at the man! He's out of his mind! Why are you bringing him to me? 15 Don't I have enough crazy people around me already? So why do you have to bring this fellow here? Just look at how he's carrying on in front of me! Why do you have to bring this man into my house?"
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Text: Main point: Place of refuge
First point of call
David sought help from the priestly community at Nob. He knew that they would help him. Do you feel like this about your church?
I recently visited a friend's church in Florida and was totally inspired and excited by the amazing work they do during hurricane season. Their team is known by many in the local area as a first point of call for help.
God's hand
In today's passage we once again see God's hand of protection caring for David. He finds temporary refuge and sustenance in the priestly community, and Achish is convinced by David's pretend insanity after he is recognised in Gath.
David is not found by Saul and therefore continues to live another day. God works through the situation, circumstances and people to keep David safe from harm.
Rachel Taylor
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Text: Respond
There are so many broken people in this world needing to know Jesus' love. What can your church do to be a place where people go to get help in times of trouble?
Have a think about the needs of your local area and consider how your church might be able to reach out in love to your community. Are homeless people, young mothers and drug addicts welcomed and given help and support in your church?
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Choose from today's activities...
Audio Bible passage: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=15007&activityid=81370
Deeper study: On the run: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=15007&activityid=81373
My place of refuge?: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=15007&activityid=81374
Podcast: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=15007&activityid=81375
Bible in a year: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=15007&activityid=80005
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Choose from this week's activities...
Welcome: Friends forever?: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=15003&activityid=81411
WordLive for small groups: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=15003&activityid=81412
WordLive Forum: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=15003&activityid=77078
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Support WordLive
We'd love you to support WordLive. If you'd like to make a donation, please visit http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/91202.id?in=WLDEP
Prayer : Prepare
Alone? On the run? In trouble? Has your mission gone wrong? God welcomes all - you are safe in his presence.
1 Samuel 21:1-15
'David went to Nob, to Ahimelek the priest. Ahimelek trembled when he met him, and asked, "Why are you alone? Why is no one with you?"'
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Bible passage: 1 Samuel 21:1-15
1 Samuel 21
Ahimelech Helps David
1 David went to the priest Ahimelech at Nob. Ahimelech trembled with fear when he met him. He asked David, "Why are you alone? Why isn't anyone with you?"
2 David answered the priest Ahimelech, "The king gave me a special job to do. He said to me, 'I don't want anyone to know what I'm sending you to do. So don't say anything about it.' I've told my men to meet me at a certain place. 3 Do you have anything for us to eat? Give me five loaves of bread, or anything else you can find."
4 But the priest answered David, "I don't have any bread that isn't holy. I only have some holy bread here. But it's for men who haven't made love to women recently."
5 David replied, "Well, we haven't made love to women recently. That's the way it is every time I lead my men out to battle. We keep ourselves holy even when we do jobs that aren't holy. And that's even more true today."
6 So the priest gave him the holy bread. It was the only bread he had. It had been removed from the table that was in front of the Lord. On the same day, hot bread had been put in its place.
7 One of Saul's servants was there that day. He had been made to stay at the holy tent for a while. He was Doeg from Edom. He was Saul's chief shepherd.
8 David asked Ahimelech, "Don't you have a spear or sword here? I haven't brought my sword or any other weapon. That's because the king's business had to be done right away."
9 The priest replied, "The sword of Goliath, the Philistine, is here. You killed him in the Valley of Elah. His sword is wrapped in a cloth. It's behind the sacred linen apron. If you want it, take it. It's the only sword here."
David said, "There isn't any sword like it. Give it to me."
David Meets a Philistine King
10 That day David ran away from Saul. He went to Achish, the king of Gath. 11 But the servants of Achish spoke to him. They said, "Isn't this David, the king of the land? Isn't he the one the Israelites sing about when they dance? They sing,
" 'Saul has killed thousands of men.
David has killed tens of thousands.' "
12 David paid close attention to what the servants were saying. He became very much afraid of what Achish, the king of Gath, might do. 13 So he pretended to be out of his mind when he was with them. As long as he was in Gath, he acted like someone who was crazy. He made marks on the doors of the city gate. He let spit run down his beard.
14 Achish said to his servants, "Just look at the man! He's out of his mind! Why are you bringing him to me? 15 Don't I have enough crazy people around me already? So why do you have to bring this fellow here? Just look at how he's carrying on in front of me! Why do you have to bring this man into my house?"
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Text: Main point: Place of refuge
First point of call
David sought help from the priestly community at Nob. He knew that they would help him. Do you feel like this about your church?
I recently visited a friend's church in Florida and was totally inspired and excited by the amazing work they do during hurricane season. Their team is known by many in the local area as a first point of call for help.
God's hand
In today's passage we once again see God's hand of protection caring for David. He finds temporary refuge and sustenance in the priestly community, and Achish is convinced by David's pretend insanity after he is recognised in Gath.
David is not found by Saul and therefore continues to live another day. God works through the situation, circumstances and people to keep David safe from harm.
Rachel Taylor
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Text: Respond
There are so many broken people in this world needing to know Jesus' love. What can your church do to be a place where people go to get help in times of trouble?
Have a think about the needs of your local area and consider how your church might be able to reach out in love to your community. Are homeless people, young mothers and drug addicts welcomed and given help and support in your church?
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Choose from today's activities...
Audio Bible passage: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=15007&activityid=81370
Deeper study: On the run: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=15007&activityid=81373
My place of refuge?: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=15007&activityid=81374
Podcast: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=15007&activityid=81375
Bible in a year: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=15007&activityid=80005
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Choose from this week's activities...
Welcome: Friends forever?: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=15003&activityid=81411
WordLive for small groups: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=15003&activityid=81412
WordLive Forum: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=15003&activityid=77078
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Support WordLive
We'd love you to support WordLive. If you'd like to make a donation, please visit http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/91202.id?in=WLDEP
Sacrificial love
http://www.wordlive.org
Prayer : Prepare
Secret languages shared by best friends - spend time talking to God as a friend and thanking him for your relationship.
1 Samuel 20:18-42
'Jonathan said to David, "Go in peace, for we have sworn friendship with each other in the name of the LORD, saying, 'The LORD is witness between you and me, and between your descendants and my descendants forever.' " Then David left, and Jonathan went back to the town.'
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Bible passage: 1 Samuel 20:18-42
18 Then Jonathan said to David, "Tomorrow is the time for the New Moon Feast. You will be missed, because your seat at the table will be empty. 19 Go to the place where you hid when all of this trouble began. Go there the day after tomorrow, when evening is approaching. There's a stone out there called Ezel. 20 Wait by it.
"I'll shoot three arrows to one side of the stone. I'll pretend I'm practicing my shooting. 21 Then I'll send a boy out there. I'll tell him, 'Go and find the arrows.' Suppose I say to him, 'The arrows are on this side of you. Bring them here.' Then come. That will mean you are safe. You won't be in any danger. And that's just as sure as the Lord is alive. 22 But suppose I tell the boy, 'The arrows are far beyond you.' Then go. That will mean the Lord is sending you away.
23 "And remember what we talked about. Remember that the Lord is a witness between you and me forever."
24 So David hid in the field. When the time for the New Moon Feast came, the king sat down to eat. 25 He sat in his usual place by the wall. Jonathan sat across from him. Abner sat next to Saul. But David's place was empty.
26 Saul didn't say anything that day. He said to himself, "Something must have happened to David to make him 'unclean.' That must be why he isn't here."
27 But the next day, David's place was empty again. It was the second day of the month.
Finally, Saul spoke to his son Jonathan. He said, "Why hasn't the son of Jesse come to the meal? He hasn't been here yesterday or today."
28 Jonathan replied, "David begged me to let him go to Bethlehem. 29 He said, 'Let me go. Our family is offering a sacrifice in the town. My brother has ordered me to be there. Are you pleased with me? If you are, let me go and see my brothers.' That's why he hasn't come to eat at your table."
30 Saul burned with anger against Jonathan. He said to him, "You are an evil son. You have refused to obey me. I know that you are on the side of Jesse's son. You should be ashamed of that. And your mother should be ashamed of having a son like you. 31 You will never be king as long as Jesse's son lives on this earth. And you will never have a kingdom either. So send for the son of Jesse. Bring him to me. He must die!"
32 "Why do you want to put him to death?" Jonathan asked his father. "What has he done?"
33 But Saul threw his spear at Jonathan to kill him. Then Jonathan knew that his father wanted to kill David.
34 So Jonathan got up from the table. He was burning with anger. On that second day of the month, he refused to eat. He was very sad that his father was treating David so badly.
35 The next morning Jonathan went out to the field to meet David. He took a young boy with him. 36 He said to the boy, "Run and find the arrows I shoot." As the boy ran, Jonathan shot an arrow far beyond him. 37 The boy came to the place where Jonathan's arrow had fallen.
Then Jonathan shouted to him, "The arrow went far beyond you, didn't it?" 38 He continued, "Hurry up! Run fast! Don't stop!"
The boy picked up the arrow and returned to his master. 39 The boy didn't know what was going on. Only Jonathan and David knew. 40 Jonathan gave his weapons to the boy. He told him, "Go back to town. Take the weapons with you."
41 After the boy had gone, David got up from the south side of the stone. He bowed down in front of Jonathan with his face to the ground. He did it three times. Then they kissed each other and cried. But David cried more than Jonathan did.
42 Jonathan said to David, "Go in peace. In the name of the Lord we have taken an oath. We've promised to be friends. We've said, 'The Lord is a witness between you and me. He's a witness between your children and my children forever.' "
Then David left, and Jonathan went back to the town.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Text: Main point: Sacrificial love
Jonathan risked his life for David. The famous verse, 'Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one's life for one's friends' (John 15:13) rings true for both Jesus' sacrifice and for the price Jonathan was willing to pay to save his friend's life. Sacrificial loves speaks louder than any words ever could.
Saying goodbye
I think most people have had to say goodbye to someone important in their life at some point. Someone they won't see for a long time - perhaps a friend moving house, a sibling leaving home, a church member going away on a long-term mission.
It hurts to say goodbye to someone you love. But surely such pain as David and Jonathan experienced (v 41) is worth it for the depth and meaning of their close friendship.
God was clearly at the centre of David and Jonathan's relationship. Their greatest comfort in saying goodbye is their promise of loyalty to each other and the constant presence of the Lord who would watch over them both.
Rachel Taylor
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Text: Respond
David and Jonathan had a strong friendship founded on their love for one another and their faith in the Lord.
Do you have this aspect in your close friendships? What can you do practically to make Christ the centre of your relationships?
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Choose from today's activities...
Audio Bible passage: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=15006&activityid=81359
Deeper study: The Lord is watching: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=15006&activityid=81363
Background: New moon festival: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=15006&activityid=81364
Good shot: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=15006&activityid=81365
Worship song: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=15006&activityid=81366
Podcast: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=15006&activityid=81367
Bible in a year: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=15006&activityid=80004
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Choose from this week's activities...
Welcome: Friends forever?: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=15003&activityid=81411
WordLive for small groups: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=15003&activityid=81412
WordLive Forum: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=15003&activityid=77078
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Support WordLive
We'd love you to support WordLive. If you'd like to make a donation, please visit http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/91202.id?in=WLDEP
Prayer : Prepare
Secret languages shared by best friends - spend time talking to God as a friend and thanking him for your relationship.
1 Samuel 20:18-42
'Jonathan said to David, "Go in peace, for we have sworn friendship with each other in the name of the LORD, saying, 'The LORD is witness between you and me, and between your descendants and my descendants forever.' " Then David left, and Jonathan went back to the town.'
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Bible passage: 1 Samuel 20:18-42
18 Then Jonathan said to David, "Tomorrow is the time for the New Moon Feast. You will be missed, because your seat at the table will be empty. 19 Go to the place where you hid when all of this trouble began. Go there the day after tomorrow, when evening is approaching. There's a stone out there called Ezel. 20 Wait by it.
"I'll shoot three arrows to one side of the stone. I'll pretend I'm practicing my shooting. 21 Then I'll send a boy out there. I'll tell him, 'Go and find the arrows.' Suppose I say to him, 'The arrows are on this side of you. Bring them here.' Then come. That will mean you are safe. You won't be in any danger. And that's just as sure as the Lord is alive. 22 But suppose I tell the boy, 'The arrows are far beyond you.' Then go. That will mean the Lord is sending you away.
23 "And remember what we talked about. Remember that the Lord is a witness between you and me forever."
24 So David hid in the field. When the time for the New Moon Feast came, the king sat down to eat. 25 He sat in his usual place by the wall. Jonathan sat across from him. Abner sat next to Saul. But David's place was empty.
26 Saul didn't say anything that day. He said to himself, "Something must have happened to David to make him 'unclean.' That must be why he isn't here."
27 But the next day, David's place was empty again. It was the second day of the month.
Finally, Saul spoke to his son Jonathan. He said, "Why hasn't the son of Jesse come to the meal? He hasn't been here yesterday or today."
28 Jonathan replied, "David begged me to let him go to Bethlehem. 29 He said, 'Let me go. Our family is offering a sacrifice in the town. My brother has ordered me to be there. Are you pleased with me? If you are, let me go and see my brothers.' That's why he hasn't come to eat at your table."
30 Saul burned with anger against Jonathan. He said to him, "You are an evil son. You have refused to obey me. I know that you are on the side of Jesse's son. You should be ashamed of that. And your mother should be ashamed of having a son like you. 31 You will never be king as long as Jesse's son lives on this earth. And you will never have a kingdom either. So send for the son of Jesse. Bring him to me. He must die!"
32 "Why do you want to put him to death?" Jonathan asked his father. "What has he done?"
33 But Saul threw his spear at Jonathan to kill him. Then Jonathan knew that his father wanted to kill David.
34 So Jonathan got up from the table. He was burning with anger. On that second day of the month, he refused to eat. He was very sad that his father was treating David so badly.
35 The next morning Jonathan went out to the field to meet David. He took a young boy with him. 36 He said to the boy, "Run and find the arrows I shoot." As the boy ran, Jonathan shot an arrow far beyond him. 37 The boy came to the place where Jonathan's arrow had fallen.
Then Jonathan shouted to him, "The arrow went far beyond you, didn't it?" 38 He continued, "Hurry up! Run fast! Don't stop!"
The boy picked up the arrow and returned to his master. 39 The boy didn't know what was going on. Only Jonathan and David knew. 40 Jonathan gave his weapons to the boy. He told him, "Go back to town. Take the weapons with you."
41 After the boy had gone, David got up from the south side of the stone. He bowed down in front of Jonathan with his face to the ground. He did it three times. Then they kissed each other and cried. But David cried more than Jonathan did.
42 Jonathan said to David, "Go in peace. In the name of the Lord we have taken an oath. We've promised to be friends. We've said, 'The Lord is a witness between you and me. He's a witness between your children and my children forever.' "
Then David left, and Jonathan went back to the town.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Text: Main point: Sacrificial love
Jonathan risked his life for David. The famous verse, 'Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one's life for one's friends' (John 15:13) rings true for both Jesus' sacrifice and for the price Jonathan was willing to pay to save his friend's life. Sacrificial loves speaks louder than any words ever could.
Saying goodbye
I think most people have had to say goodbye to someone important in their life at some point. Someone they won't see for a long time - perhaps a friend moving house, a sibling leaving home, a church member going away on a long-term mission.
It hurts to say goodbye to someone you love. But surely such pain as David and Jonathan experienced (v 41) is worth it for the depth and meaning of their close friendship.
God was clearly at the centre of David and Jonathan's relationship. Their greatest comfort in saying goodbye is their promise of loyalty to each other and the constant presence of the Lord who would watch over them both.
Rachel Taylor
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Text: Respond
David and Jonathan had a strong friendship founded on their love for one another and their faith in the Lord.
Do you have this aspect in your close friendships? What can you do practically to make Christ the centre of your relationships?
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Choose from today's activities...
Audio Bible passage: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=15006&activityid=81359
Deeper study: The Lord is watching: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=15006&activityid=81363
Background: New moon festival: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=15006&activityid=81364
Good shot: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=15006&activityid=81365
Worship song: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=15006&activityid=81366
Podcast: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=15006&activityid=81367
Bible in a year: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=15006&activityid=80004
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Choose from this week's activities...
Welcome: Friends forever?: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=15003&activityid=81411
WordLive for small groups: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=15003&activityid=81412
WordLive Forum: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=15003&activityid=77078
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Support WordLive
We'd love you to support WordLive. If you'd like to make a donation, please visit http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/91202.id?in=WLDEP
Significant friends
http://www.wordlive.org
Prayer : Prepare
Thank God for friends who are always there to look out for you - they'll save your life one day!
1 Samuel 19:1-24
'Saul told his son Jonathan and all the attendants to kill David. But Jonathan had taken a great liking to David and warned him, "My father Saul is looking for a chance to kill you. Be on your guard tomorrow morning; go into hiding and stay there.'
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Bible passage: 1 Samuel 19:1-24
1 Samuel 19
Michal Helps David Get Away
1 Saul told his son Jonathan and all of the attendants to kill David. But Jonathan liked David very much. 2 So Jonathan warned him, "My father Saul is looking for a chance to kill you. Be very careful tomorrow morning. Find a place to hide and stay there. 3 My father and I will come and stand in the field where you are hiding. I'll speak to him about you. Then I'll tell you what I find out."
4 Jonathan told his father Saul some good things about David. He said to him, "Please don't do anything to harm David. He hasn't done anything to harm you. And what he's done has helped you a lot. 5 He put his own life in danger when he killed Goliath. The Lord used him to win a great battle for the whole nation of Israel. When you saw it, you were glad. So why would you do anything to harm a man like David? He isn't guilty of doing anything to harm you. Why would you want to kill him without any reason?"
6 Saul paid attention to Jonathan. He took an oath and made a promise. He said, "You can be sure that the Lord lives. And you can be just as sure that David will not be put to death."
7 So Jonathan sent for David and told him everything he and Saul had said. Then he brought David to Saul. David served Saul as he had done before.
8 Once more war broke out. So David went out and fought against the Philistines. He struck them down with so much force that they ran away from him.
9 But an evil spirit that was sent by the Lord came on Saul. It happened as he was sitting in his house and holding his spear. While David was playing the harp, 10 Saul tried to pin him to the wall with his spear. But David got away from him just as Saul drove the spear into the wall. That night David escaped.
11 Saul sent some men to watch David's house. He told them to kill David the next morning.
But David's wife Michal warned him. She said, "You must run for your life tonight. If you don't, tomorrow you will be killed." 12 So Michal helped David escape through a window. He ran and got away.
13 Then Michal got a statue of a god. She laid it on David's bed. She covered it with clothes. And she put some goat hair at the place where David's head would have been.
14 Saul sent the men to capture David. But Michal told them, "He's sick."
15 Then Saul sent the men back to see David. He told them, "Bring him up here to me in his bed. Then I'll kill him."
16 But when the men entered, they found nothing but the statue in the bed. Some goat hair was at the place where David's head would have been.
17 Saul said to Michal, "Why did you trick me like this? Why did you help my enemy escape?"
Michal told him, "He said to me, 'Help me get away. If you don't, I'll kill you.' "
18 After David had run away and escaped, he went to Samuel at Ramah. He told him everything Saul had done to him. Then David and Samuel went to Naioth and stayed there.
19 Saul was told, "David is in Naioth at Ramah." 20 So Saul sent some men to capture him. When they got there, they saw a group of prophets who were prophesying. Samuel was standing there as their leader. Then the Spirit of God came on Saul's men. So they also began to prophesy. 21 Saul was told about it. So he sent some more men. They began to prophesy too. Saul sent some men a third time. And they also began to prophesy.
22 Finally, Saul decided to go to Ramah himself. He went to the large well at Secu. He asked some people, "Where are Samuel and David?"
"Over in Naioth at Ramah," they said.
23 So Saul went to Naioth at Ramah. But the Spirit of God even came on him. He walked along and prophesied until he came to Naioth. 24 There he took off his royal robes. Then he prophesied in front of Samuel. He lay there without his robes on all that day and night. That's why people say, "Is Saul also one of the prophets?"
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Text: Main point: Significant friends
Both David's closest friend and his wife help to save his life when Saul decides to try and kill him. He used them to warn and protect him.
Has God been trying to speak words of encouragement, challenges or warnings to you through a friend or relative recently? God places people in our lives to help us.
Sometimes it can be hardest to take advice from those closest to us, but they are often the ones who are right! I know I certainly don't thank my friends and family enough for being there for me as a source of comfort, advice, encouragement and companionship.
Why not go out of your way to acknowledge and be grateful for what they do for you? Thank God for bringing them into your life.
Rachel Taylor
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Text: Respond
Jonathan acted as an ambassador for and protector of David.
Think about something practical you can do to help out one of your friends who is finding life difficult at this time, such as:
● doing some household chores for them
● babysitting their children
● inviting them over for dinner
● calling them for a chat
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Choose from today's activities...
Audio Bible passage: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=15004&activityid=81339
Deeper study: Help from strange sources: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=15004&activityid=81342
Background: Michal: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=15004&activityid=81343
Worship song: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=15004&activityid=81344
Praying for good luck: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=15004&activityid=81345
Podcast: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=15004&activityid=81346
Bible in a year: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=15004&activityid=80002
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Choose from this week's activities...
Welcome: Friends forever?: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=15003&activityid=81411
WordLive for small groups: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=15003&activityid=81412
WordLive Forum: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=15003&activityid=77078
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Support WordLive
We'd love you to support WordLive. If you'd like to make a donation, please visit http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/91202.id?in=WLDEP
Prayer : Prepare
Thank God for friends who are always there to look out for you - they'll save your life one day!
1 Samuel 19:1-24
'Saul told his son Jonathan and all the attendants to kill David. But Jonathan had taken a great liking to David and warned him, "My father Saul is looking for a chance to kill you. Be on your guard tomorrow morning; go into hiding and stay there.'
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Bible passage: 1 Samuel 19:1-24
1 Samuel 19
Michal Helps David Get Away
1 Saul told his son Jonathan and all of the attendants to kill David. But Jonathan liked David very much. 2 So Jonathan warned him, "My father Saul is looking for a chance to kill you. Be very careful tomorrow morning. Find a place to hide and stay there. 3 My father and I will come and stand in the field where you are hiding. I'll speak to him about you. Then I'll tell you what I find out."
4 Jonathan told his father Saul some good things about David. He said to him, "Please don't do anything to harm David. He hasn't done anything to harm you. And what he's done has helped you a lot. 5 He put his own life in danger when he killed Goliath. The Lord used him to win a great battle for the whole nation of Israel. When you saw it, you were glad. So why would you do anything to harm a man like David? He isn't guilty of doing anything to harm you. Why would you want to kill him without any reason?"
6 Saul paid attention to Jonathan. He took an oath and made a promise. He said, "You can be sure that the Lord lives. And you can be just as sure that David will not be put to death."
7 So Jonathan sent for David and told him everything he and Saul had said. Then he brought David to Saul. David served Saul as he had done before.
8 Once more war broke out. So David went out and fought against the Philistines. He struck them down with so much force that they ran away from him.
9 But an evil spirit that was sent by the Lord came on Saul. It happened as he was sitting in his house and holding his spear. While David was playing the harp, 10 Saul tried to pin him to the wall with his spear. But David got away from him just as Saul drove the spear into the wall. That night David escaped.
11 Saul sent some men to watch David's house. He told them to kill David the next morning.
But David's wife Michal warned him. She said, "You must run for your life tonight. If you don't, tomorrow you will be killed." 12 So Michal helped David escape through a window. He ran and got away.
13 Then Michal got a statue of a god. She laid it on David's bed. She covered it with clothes. And she put some goat hair at the place where David's head would have been.
14 Saul sent the men to capture David. But Michal told them, "He's sick."
15 Then Saul sent the men back to see David. He told them, "Bring him up here to me in his bed. Then I'll kill him."
16 But when the men entered, they found nothing but the statue in the bed. Some goat hair was at the place where David's head would have been.
17 Saul said to Michal, "Why did you trick me like this? Why did you help my enemy escape?"
Michal told him, "He said to me, 'Help me get away. If you don't, I'll kill you.' "
18 After David had run away and escaped, he went to Samuel at Ramah. He told him everything Saul had done to him. Then David and Samuel went to Naioth and stayed there.
19 Saul was told, "David is in Naioth at Ramah." 20 So Saul sent some men to capture him. When they got there, they saw a group of prophets who were prophesying. Samuel was standing there as their leader. Then the Spirit of God came on Saul's men. So they also began to prophesy. 21 Saul was told about it. So he sent some more men. They began to prophesy too. Saul sent some men a third time. And they also began to prophesy.
22 Finally, Saul decided to go to Ramah himself. He went to the large well at Secu. He asked some people, "Where are Samuel and David?"
"Over in Naioth at Ramah," they said.
23 So Saul went to Naioth at Ramah. But the Spirit of God even came on him. He walked along and prophesied until he came to Naioth. 24 There he took off his royal robes. Then he prophesied in front of Samuel. He lay there without his robes on all that day and night. That's why people say, "Is Saul also one of the prophets?"
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Text: Main point: Significant friends
Both David's closest friend and his wife help to save his life when Saul decides to try and kill him. He used them to warn and protect him.
Has God been trying to speak words of encouragement, challenges or warnings to you through a friend or relative recently? God places people in our lives to help us.
Sometimes it can be hardest to take advice from those closest to us, but they are often the ones who are right! I know I certainly don't thank my friends and family enough for being there for me as a source of comfort, advice, encouragement and companionship.
Why not go out of your way to acknowledge and be grateful for what they do for you? Thank God for bringing them into your life.
Rachel Taylor
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Text: Respond
Jonathan acted as an ambassador for and protector of David.
Think about something practical you can do to help out one of your friends who is finding life difficult at this time, such as:
● doing some household chores for them
● babysitting their children
● inviting them over for dinner
● calling them for a chat
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Choose from today's activities...
Audio Bible passage: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=15004&activityid=81339
Deeper study: Help from strange sources: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=15004&activityid=81342
Background: Michal: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=15004&activityid=81343
Worship song: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=15004&activityid=81344
Praying for good luck: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=15004&activityid=81345
Podcast: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=15004&activityid=81346
Bible in a year: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=15004&activityid=80002
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Choose from this week's activities...
Welcome: Friends forever?: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=15003&activityid=81411
WordLive for small groups: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=15003&activityid=81412
WordLive Forum: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=15003&activityid=77078
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Support WordLive
We'd love you to support WordLive. If you'd like to make a donation, please visit http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/91202.id?in=WLDEP
Reason for success
http://www.wordlive.org
Prayer : Prepare
Exclusive! Read on to find the secret of success with our One Simple Rule To Being Successful, Popular And Loved.
1 Samuel 17:55 - 18:16
'Whatever mission Saul sent him on, David was so successful that Saul gave him a high rank in the army. This pleased all the troops, and Saul's officers as well.'
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Bible passage: 1 Samuel 17:55 - 18:16
55 Saul had been watching David as he went out to meet the Philistine. He spoke to Abner, the commander of the army. He said to him, "Abner, whose son is that young man?"
Abner replied, "King Saul, I don't know. And that's just as sure as you are alive."
56 The king said, "Find out whose son that young man is."
57 After David killed Goliath, he returned to the camp. Then Abner brought him to Saul. David was still carrying Goliath's head.
58 "Young man, whose son are you?" Saul asked him.
David said, "I'm the son of Jesse from Bethlehem."
1 Samuel 18
Saul Becomes Jealous of David
1 David finished talking with Saul. After that, Jonathan and David became close friends. Jonathan loved David just as he loved himself.
2 From that time on, Saul kept David with him. He didn't let him return to his father's home.
3 Jonathan made a covenant with David because he loved him just as he loved himself. 4 Jonathan took off the robe he was wearing and gave it to David. He also gave him his military clothes. He even gave him his sword, his bow and his belt.
5 David did everything Saul sent him to do. He did it so well that Saul gave him a high rank in the army. That pleased Saul's whole army, including his officers.
6 After David had killed Goliath, the men of Israel returned home. The women came out of all of the towns of Israel to meet King Saul. They danced and sang joyful songs. They played lutes and tambourines. 7 As they danced, they sang,
"Saul has killed thousands of men.
David has killed tens of thousands."
8 That song made Saul very angry. It really upset him. He said to himself, "They are saying David has killed tens of thousands of men. But they are saying I've killed only thousands. The only thing left for him to get is the kingdom itself." 9 From that time on, Saul became very jealous of David. So he watched him closely.
10 The next day an evil spirit that was sent by God came on Saul with power. Saul began to prophesy in his house. At that same time David began to play the harp, just as he usually did. Saul was holding a spear. 11 He threw it at David. As he did, he said to himself, "I'll pin David to the wall." But David got away from him twice.
12 The Lord had left Saul and was with David. So Saul was afraid of David. 13 He sent David away. He put him in command of 1,000 men. David led the troops in battle. 14 In everything he did, he was very successful. That's because the Lord was with him.
15 When Saul saw how successful David was, he became afraid of him. 16 But all of the troops of Israel and Judah loved David. That's because he led them in battle.
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Text: Main point: Reason for success
Are you rich? Are you beautiful? Are you popular? Do you have people who love you?
These are the sorts of questions one might ask to discover if a person is successful by the world's standards. But is this all it means to be successful?
God was with him
Today's passage says of David that, 'In everything he did he had great success, because the LORD was with him' (18:14). That meant:
● he brought honour to his family (17:58)
● he had a best friend who loved him (18:1)
● he was victorious in battle (18:7)
David's faithfulness and devotion to God did not go unrewarded. It is obvious that by worldly standards David was successful.
Firm foundations
There is another more important level to David's success, however. The reason for it: God was with him.
The courage he gained to fight Goliath and the inner strength we continue to see as David loses favour with Saul is due to one constant in David's life - his foundations in the Lord. Without this, he would not have had success in the first place, and without this he would not survive the difficult times.
Rachel Taylor
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Prayer : Respond
What are you striving after? Is it success in the world's eyes or the presence of God in your life?
Take some time to ask God for more of his presence and blessing on you and your family.
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Choose from today's activities...
Audio Bible passage: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=15003&activityid=81330
Deeper study: Friendly fire: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=15003&activityid=81333
Background: An evil spirit from God?: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=15003&activityid=81334
Vox pops: Jealousy?: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=15003&activityid=81335
Podcast: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=15003&activityid=81336
Bible in a year: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=15003&activityid=80001
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Choose from this week's activities...
Welcome: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=15003&activityid=81411
WordLive for small groups: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=15003&activityid=81412
WordLive Forum: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=15003&activityid=77078
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Support WordLive
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Prayer : Prepare
Exclusive! Read on to find the secret of success with our One Simple Rule To Being Successful, Popular And Loved.
1 Samuel 17:55 - 18:16
'Whatever mission Saul sent him on, David was so successful that Saul gave him a high rank in the army. This pleased all the troops, and Saul's officers as well.'
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Bible passage: 1 Samuel 17:55 - 18:16
55 Saul had been watching David as he went out to meet the Philistine. He spoke to Abner, the commander of the army. He said to him, "Abner, whose son is that young man?"
Abner replied, "King Saul, I don't know. And that's just as sure as you are alive."
56 The king said, "Find out whose son that young man is."
57 After David killed Goliath, he returned to the camp. Then Abner brought him to Saul. David was still carrying Goliath's head.
58 "Young man, whose son are you?" Saul asked him.
David said, "I'm the son of Jesse from Bethlehem."
1 Samuel 18
Saul Becomes Jealous of David
1 David finished talking with Saul. After that, Jonathan and David became close friends. Jonathan loved David just as he loved himself.
2 From that time on, Saul kept David with him. He didn't let him return to his father's home.
3 Jonathan made a covenant with David because he loved him just as he loved himself. 4 Jonathan took off the robe he was wearing and gave it to David. He also gave him his military clothes. He even gave him his sword, his bow and his belt.
5 David did everything Saul sent him to do. He did it so well that Saul gave him a high rank in the army. That pleased Saul's whole army, including his officers.
6 After David had killed Goliath, the men of Israel returned home. The women came out of all of the towns of Israel to meet King Saul. They danced and sang joyful songs. They played lutes and tambourines. 7 As they danced, they sang,
"Saul has killed thousands of men.
David has killed tens of thousands."
8 That song made Saul very angry. It really upset him. He said to himself, "They are saying David has killed tens of thousands of men. But they are saying I've killed only thousands. The only thing left for him to get is the kingdom itself." 9 From that time on, Saul became very jealous of David. So he watched him closely.
10 The next day an evil spirit that was sent by God came on Saul with power. Saul began to prophesy in his house. At that same time David began to play the harp, just as he usually did. Saul was holding a spear. 11 He threw it at David. As he did, he said to himself, "I'll pin David to the wall." But David got away from him twice.
12 The Lord had left Saul and was with David. So Saul was afraid of David. 13 He sent David away. He put him in command of 1,000 men. David led the troops in battle. 14 In everything he did, he was very successful. That's because the Lord was with him.
15 When Saul saw how successful David was, he became afraid of him. 16 But all of the troops of Israel and Judah loved David. That's because he led them in battle.
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Text: Main point: Reason for success
Are you rich? Are you beautiful? Are you popular? Do you have people who love you?
These are the sorts of questions one might ask to discover if a person is successful by the world's standards. But is this all it means to be successful?
God was with him
Today's passage says of David that, 'In everything he did he had great success, because the LORD was with him' (18:14). That meant:
● he brought honour to his family (17:58)
● he had a best friend who loved him (18:1)
● he was victorious in battle (18:7)
David's faithfulness and devotion to God did not go unrewarded. It is obvious that by worldly standards David was successful.
Firm foundations
There is another more important level to David's success, however. The reason for it: God was with him.
The courage he gained to fight Goliath and the inner strength we continue to see as David loses favour with Saul is due to one constant in David's life - his foundations in the Lord. Without this, he would not have had success in the first place, and without this he would not survive the difficult times.
Rachel Taylor
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Prayer : Respond
What are you striving after? Is it success in the world's eyes or the presence of God in your life?
Take some time to ask God for more of his presence and blessing on you and your family.
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Choose from today's activities...
Audio Bible passage: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=15003&activityid=81330
Deeper study: Friendly fire: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=15003&activityid=81333
Background: An evil spirit from God?: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=15003&activityid=81334
Vox pops: Jealousy?: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=15003&activityid=81335
Podcast: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=15003&activityid=81336
Bible in a year: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=15003&activityid=80001
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Choose from this week's activities...
Welcome: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=15003&activityid=81411
WordLive for small groups: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=15003&activityid=81412
WordLive Forum: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=15003&activityid=77078
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Support WordLive
We'd love you to support WordLive. If you'd like to make a donation, please visit http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/91202.id?in=WLDEP
Help when it's hard
http://www.wordlive.org
Prayer : Prepare
God is the rock of strength, fortress of refuge, shield and deliverer. Stand on his foundations and feel secure.
Psalm 18:1-29
'You, LORD, keep my lamp burning; my God turns my darkness into light. With your help I can advance against a troop; with my God I can scale a wall.'
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Bible passage: Psalm 18:1-29
15 Because I do what is right, I will enjoy your blessing.
When I wake up, I will be satisfied because I will see you.
For the director of music. A psalm of David, the servant of the Lord. He sang the words of this song to the Lord. He sang them when the Lord saved him from the powerful hand of all of his enemies and of Saul. He said,
Psalm 18
1 I love you, Lord.
You give me strength.
2 The Lord is my rock and my fort. He is the One who saves me.
My God is my rock. I go to him for safety.
He is like a shield to me. He's the power that saves me. He's my place of safety.
3 I call out to the Lord. He is worthy of praise.
He saves me from my enemies.
4 The ropes of death were almost wrapped around me.
A destroying flood swept over me.
5 The ropes of the grave were tight around me.
Death set its trap in front of me.
6 When I was in trouble, I called out to the Lord.
I cried to my God for help.
From his temple he heard my voice.
My cry for help reached his ears.
7 The earth trembled and shook.
The base of the mountains rocked back and forth.
It trembled because the Lord was angry.
8 Smoke came out of his nose.
Flames of fire came out of his mouth.
Burning coals blazed out of it.
9 He opened the heavens and came down.
Dark clouds were under his feet.
10 He got on the cherubim and flew.
The wings of the wind lifted him up.
11 He covered himself with darkness.
The dark rain clouds of the sky were like a tent around him.
12 Clouds came out of the brightness that was all around him.
They came with hailstones and flashes of lightning.
13 The Lord thundered from heaven.
The voice of the Most High God was heard.
14 He shot his arrows and scattered our enemies.
He sent great flashes of lightning and chased the enemies away.
15 The bottom of the sea could be seen.
The foundations of the earth were uncovered.
Lord, it happened when your anger blazed out.
It came like a blast of breath from your nose.
16 He reached down from heaven. He took hold of me.
He lifted me out of deep waters.
17 He saved me from my powerful enemies.
He set me free from those who were too strong for me.
18 They stood up to me when I was in trouble.
But the Lord helped me.
19 He brought me out into a wide and safe place.
He saved me because he was pleased with me.
20 The Lord has been good to me because I do what is right.
He has rewarded me because I lead a pure life.
21 I have lived the way the Lord wanted me to.
I haven't done evil by turning away from my God.
22 I keep all of his laws in mind.
I haven't turned away from his commands.
23 He knows that I am without blame.
He knows I've kept myself from sinning.
24 The Lord has rewarded me for doing what is right.
He has rewarded me because I haven't done anything wrong.
25 Lord, to those who are faithful you show that you are faithful.
To those who are without blame you show that you are without blame.
26 To those who are pure you show that you are pure.
But to those whose paths are crooked you show that you are clever.
27 You save those who aren't proud.
But you bring down those whose eyes are proud.
28 Lord, you keep the lamp of my life burning brightly.
You are my God. You bring light into my darkness.
29 With your help I can attack a troop of soldiers.
With the help of my God I can climb over a wall.
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Text: Main point: Help when it's hard
David's witness
Hearing or reading someone else's declaration of faith, their testimony, and their witness to God's faithfulness during difficult times is an inspiring and faith-building exercise. Let's be encouraged today by David's witness of God's faithfulness during the tough times!
This psalm appears to be a congregational adaptation of a more personal version composed by David (see 2 Samuel 22). Just as this psalm was adapted for use by a congregation, so you can personalise it for your own use.
Reminders
Go through the passage and pick out three statements which ring true and are relevant to your current situation. Write out three sentences: eg 'I believe God is my fortress because.' Write them in your journal or somewhere where you will read them again.
You can look back on these as David looked back on God's faithfulness before fighting Goliath. Remind yourself of God's work in your life!
Rachel Taylor
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Choose from today's activities...
Respond: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=15002&activityid=81325
Deeper study: So great salvation!: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=15002&activityid=81326
Worship song: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=15002&activityid=81327
Bible in a year: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=15002&activityid=79999
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Choose from this week's activities...
Welcome: Who'd be a leader?: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=14995&activityid=81409
WordLive for small groups: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=14995&activityid=81410
WordLive Forum: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=14995&activityid=77078
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Support WordLive
We'd love you to support WordLive. If you'd like to make a donation, please visit http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/91202.id?in=WLDEP
Prayer : Prepare
God is the rock of strength, fortress of refuge, shield and deliverer. Stand on his foundations and feel secure.
Psalm 18:1-29
'You, LORD, keep my lamp burning; my God turns my darkness into light. With your help I can advance against a troop; with my God I can scale a wall.'
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Bible passage: Psalm 18:1-29
15 Because I do what is right, I will enjoy your blessing.
When I wake up, I will be satisfied because I will see you.
For the director of music. A psalm of David, the servant of the Lord. He sang the words of this song to the Lord. He sang them when the Lord saved him from the powerful hand of all of his enemies and of Saul. He said,
Psalm 18
1 I love you, Lord.
You give me strength.
2 The Lord is my rock and my fort. He is the One who saves me.
My God is my rock. I go to him for safety.
He is like a shield to me. He's the power that saves me. He's my place of safety.
3 I call out to the Lord. He is worthy of praise.
He saves me from my enemies.
4 The ropes of death were almost wrapped around me.
A destroying flood swept over me.
5 The ropes of the grave were tight around me.
Death set its trap in front of me.
6 When I was in trouble, I called out to the Lord.
I cried to my God for help.
From his temple he heard my voice.
My cry for help reached his ears.
7 The earth trembled and shook.
The base of the mountains rocked back and forth.
It trembled because the Lord was angry.
8 Smoke came out of his nose.
Flames of fire came out of his mouth.
Burning coals blazed out of it.
9 He opened the heavens and came down.
Dark clouds were under his feet.
10 He got on the cherubim and flew.
The wings of the wind lifted him up.
11 He covered himself with darkness.
The dark rain clouds of the sky were like a tent around him.
12 Clouds came out of the brightness that was all around him.
They came with hailstones and flashes of lightning.
13 The Lord thundered from heaven.
The voice of the Most High God was heard.
14 He shot his arrows and scattered our enemies.
He sent great flashes of lightning and chased the enemies away.
15 The bottom of the sea could be seen.
The foundations of the earth were uncovered.
Lord, it happened when your anger blazed out.
It came like a blast of breath from your nose.
16 He reached down from heaven. He took hold of me.
He lifted me out of deep waters.
17 He saved me from my powerful enemies.
He set me free from those who were too strong for me.
18 They stood up to me when I was in trouble.
But the Lord helped me.
19 He brought me out into a wide and safe place.
He saved me because he was pleased with me.
20 The Lord has been good to me because I do what is right.
He has rewarded me because I lead a pure life.
21 I have lived the way the Lord wanted me to.
I haven't done evil by turning away from my God.
22 I keep all of his laws in mind.
I haven't turned away from his commands.
23 He knows that I am without blame.
He knows I've kept myself from sinning.
24 The Lord has rewarded me for doing what is right.
He has rewarded me because I haven't done anything wrong.
25 Lord, to those who are faithful you show that you are faithful.
To those who are without blame you show that you are without blame.
26 To those who are pure you show that you are pure.
But to those whose paths are crooked you show that you are clever.
27 You save those who aren't proud.
But you bring down those whose eyes are proud.
28 Lord, you keep the lamp of my life burning brightly.
You are my God. You bring light into my darkness.
29 With your help I can attack a troop of soldiers.
With the help of my God I can climb over a wall.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Text: Main point: Help when it's hard
David's witness
Hearing or reading someone else's declaration of faith, their testimony, and their witness to God's faithfulness during difficult times is an inspiring and faith-building exercise. Let's be encouraged today by David's witness of God's faithfulness during the tough times!
This psalm appears to be a congregational adaptation of a more personal version composed by David (see 2 Samuel 22). Just as this psalm was adapted for use by a congregation, so you can personalise it for your own use.
Reminders
Go through the passage and pick out three statements which ring true and are relevant to your current situation. Write out three sentences: eg 'I believe God is my fortress because.' Write them in your journal or somewhere where you will read them again.
You can look back on these as David looked back on God's faithfulness before fighting Goliath. Remind yourself of God's work in your life!
Rachel Taylor
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Choose from today's activities...
Respond: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=15002&activityid=81325
Deeper study: So great salvation!: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=15002&activityid=81326
Worship song: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=15002&activityid=81327
Bible in a year: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=15002&activityid=79999
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Choose from this week's activities...
Welcome: Who'd be a leader?: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=14995&activityid=81409
WordLive for small groups: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=14995&activityid=81410
WordLive Forum: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=14995&activityid=77078
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Support WordLive
We'd love you to support WordLive. If you'd like to make a donation, please visit http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/91202.id?in=WLDEP
Struggle and success
http://www.wordlive.org
Prayer : Prepare
There's a lot of work to be done. are you ready to leave the sofa behind, roll up your sleeves and muck in?
Luke 10:1-20
'After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them two by two ahead of him to every town and place where he was about to go.'
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Bible passage: Luke 10:1-20
Luke 10
Jesus Sends Out the Seventy?two
1 After this the Lord appointed 72 others. He sent them out two by two ahead of him. They went to every town and place where he was about to go.
2 He told them, "The harvest is huge, but the workers are few. So ask the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into his harvest field.
3 "Go! I am sending you out like lambs among wolves. 4 Do not take a purse or bag or sandals. And don't greet anyone on the road.
5 "When you enter a house, first say, 'May this house be blessed with peace.' 6 If someone there loves peace, your blessing of peace will rest on him. If not, it will return to you. 7 Stay in that house. Eat and drink anything they give you. Workers are worthy of their pay. Do not move around from house to house.
8 "When you enter a town and are welcomed, eat what is set down in front of you. 9 Heal the sick people who are there. Tell them, 'God's kingdom is near you.'
10 "But what if you enter a town and are not welcomed? Then go into its streets and say, 11 'We wipe off even the dust of your town that sticks to our feet. We do it to show that God isn't pleased with you. But here is what you can be sure of. God's kingdom is near.'
12 "I tell you this. On judgment day it will be easier for Sodom than for that town.
13 "How terrible it will be for you, Korazin! How terrible for you, Bethsaida! Suppose the miracles done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon. They would have turned away from their sins long ago. They would have put on black clothes. They would have sat down in ashes. 14 On judgment day it will be easier for Tyre and Sidon than for you.
15 "And what about you, Capernaum? Will you be lifted up to heaven? No! You will go down to the place of the dead.
16 "Anyone who listens to you listens to me. Anyone who does not accept you does not accept me. And anyone who does not accept me does not accept the One who sent me."
17 The 72 returned with joy. They said, "Lord, even the demons obey us when we speak in your name."
18 Jesus replied, "I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. 19 I have given you authority to walk all over snakes and scorpions. You will be able to destroy all the power of the enemy. Nothing will harm you. 20 But do not be glad when the evil spirits obey you. Instead, be glad that your names are written in heaven."
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Text: Main point: Struggle and success
World mission
When I visit other churches I'm always struck by the sense of community I instinctively feel and the fact that almost anywhere you go around the world you will find Christians (probably one of whom knows people you know!).
It is thought that the number 72 in today's passage represents all the known nations of the world (see Genesis 10). The task isn't finished yet, but I'm encouraged at just how far the gospel has spread!
Coping with rejection
While there is encouragement to be found, the realistic picture is that revivals, successful churches and successful ministries experience hard times. In the spiritual battle for souls there is both struggle and success.
The hardest thing about mission - whether it's to your work colleagues or across the globe - is the rejection we often experience. We will not always find favour in the eyes of people; we are sent out as lambs in the midst of wolves.
Doing God's work we must have an eternal perspective. We need to focus not on our temporary hardships or achievements, but on the reality that our names are written in heaven (v 20).
Rachel Taylor
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Choose from today's activities...
Respond: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=15001&activityid=81319
Deeper study: Names written in heaven: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=15001&activityid=81320
Lord of the harvest: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=15001&activityid=81321
Bible in a year: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=15001&activityid=79998
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Choose from this week's activities...
Welcome: Who'd be a leader?: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=14995&activityid=81409
WordLive for small groups: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=14995&activityid=81410
WordLive Forum: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=14995&activityid=77078
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Support WordLive
We'd love you to support WordLive. If you'd like to make a donation, please visit http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/91202.id?in=WLDEP
Prayer : Prepare
There's a lot of work to be done. are you ready to leave the sofa behind, roll up your sleeves and muck in?
Luke 10:1-20
'After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them two by two ahead of him to every town and place where he was about to go.'
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Bible passage: Luke 10:1-20
Luke 10
Jesus Sends Out the Seventy?two
1 After this the Lord appointed 72 others. He sent them out two by two ahead of him. They went to every town and place where he was about to go.
2 He told them, "The harvest is huge, but the workers are few. So ask the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into his harvest field.
3 "Go! I am sending you out like lambs among wolves. 4 Do not take a purse or bag or sandals. And don't greet anyone on the road.
5 "When you enter a house, first say, 'May this house be blessed with peace.' 6 If someone there loves peace, your blessing of peace will rest on him. If not, it will return to you. 7 Stay in that house. Eat and drink anything they give you. Workers are worthy of their pay. Do not move around from house to house.
8 "When you enter a town and are welcomed, eat what is set down in front of you. 9 Heal the sick people who are there. Tell them, 'God's kingdom is near you.'
10 "But what if you enter a town and are not welcomed? Then go into its streets and say, 11 'We wipe off even the dust of your town that sticks to our feet. We do it to show that God isn't pleased with you. But here is what you can be sure of. God's kingdom is near.'
12 "I tell you this. On judgment day it will be easier for Sodom than for that town.
13 "How terrible it will be for you, Korazin! How terrible for you, Bethsaida! Suppose the miracles done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon. They would have turned away from their sins long ago. They would have put on black clothes. They would have sat down in ashes. 14 On judgment day it will be easier for Tyre and Sidon than for you.
15 "And what about you, Capernaum? Will you be lifted up to heaven? No! You will go down to the place of the dead.
16 "Anyone who listens to you listens to me. Anyone who does not accept you does not accept me. And anyone who does not accept me does not accept the One who sent me."
17 The 72 returned with joy. They said, "Lord, even the demons obey us when we speak in your name."
18 Jesus replied, "I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. 19 I have given you authority to walk all over snakes and scorpions. You will be able to destroy all the power of the enemy. Nothing will harm you. 20 But do not be glad when the evil spirits obey you. Instead, be glad that your names are written in heaven."
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Text: Main point: Struggle and success
World mission
When I visit other churches I'm always struck by the sense of community I instinctively feel and the fact that almost anywhere you go around the world you will find Christians (probably one of whom knows people you know!).
It is thought that the number 72 in today's passage represents all the known nations of the world (see Genesis 10). The task isn't finished yet, but I'm encouraged at just how far the gospel has spread!
Coping with rejection
While there is encouragement to be found, the realistic picture is that revivals, successful churches and successful ministries experience hard times. In the spiritual battle for souls there is both struggle and success.
The hardest thing about mission - whether it's to your work colleagues or across the globe - is the rejection we often experience. We will not always find favour in the eyes of people; we are sent out as lambs in the midst of wolves.
Doing God's work we must have an eternal perspective. We need to focus not on our temporary hardships or achievements, but on the reality that our names are written in heaven (v 20).
Rachel Taylor
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Choose from today's activities...
Respond: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=15001&activityid=81319
Deeper study: Names written in heaven: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=15001&activityid=81320
Lord of the harvest: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=15001&activityid=81321
Bible in a year: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=15001&activityid=79998
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Choose from this week's activities...
Welcome: Who'd be a leader?: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=14995&activityid=81409
WordLive for small groups: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=14995&activityid=81410
WordLive Forum: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=14995&activityid=77078
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Support WordLive
We'd love you to support WordLive. If you'd like to make a donation, please visit http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/91202.id?in=WLDEP
Living testimony
http://www.wordlive.org
Prayer : Prepare
Your entire life has been preparing you for this moment. Think about the toolbag of skills and experiences God has given you.
1 Samuel 17:28-54
'David said to the Philistine, "You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the LORD Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied.'
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Bible passage: 1 Samuel 17:28-54
28 David's oldest brother Eliab heard him speaking with the men. So he burned with anger at him. He asked him, "Why have you come down here? Who did you leave those few sheep in the desert with? I know how proud you are. I know how evil your heart is. The only reason you came down here was to watch the battle."
29 "What have I done now?" said David. "Can't I even speak?"
30 Then he turned away to speak to some other men. He asked them the same question he had asked before. And they gave him the same answer.
31 Someone heard what David said and reported it to Saul. So Saul sent for him.
32 David said to Saul, "Don't let anyone lose hope because of that Philistine. I'll go out and fight him."
33 Saul replied, "You aren't able to go out there and fight that Philistine. You are too young. He's been a fighting man ever since he was a boy."
34 But David said to Saul, "I've been taking care of my father's sheep. Sometimes a lion or a bear would come and carry off a sheep from the flock. 35 Then I would go after it and hit it. I would save the sheep it was carrying in its mouth. If it turned around to attack me, I would grab hold of its hair. I would strike it down and kill it. 36 In fact, I've killed both a lion and a bear. I'll do the same thing to this Philistine. He isn't even circumcised. He has dared the armies of the living God to fight him.
37 "The Lord saved me from the paw of the lion. He saved me from the paw of the bear. And he'll save me from the powerful hand of this Philistine too."
Saul said to David, "Go. And may the Lord be with you."
38 Then Saul dressed David in his own military clothes. He put a coat of armor on him. He put a bronze helmet on his head. 39 David put on Saul's sword over his clothes. He walked around for a while in all of that armor because he wasn't used to it.
"I can't go out there in all of this armor," he said to Saul. "I'm not used to it." So he took it off.
40 Then David picked up his wooden staff. He went down to a stream and chose five smooth stones. He put them in the pocket of his shepherd's bag. Then he took his sling in his hand and approached Goliath.
41 At that same time, the Philistine kept coming closer to David. The man who was carrying Goliath's shield walked along in front of him.
42 Goliath looked David over. He saw how young he was. He also saw how tanned and handsome he was. And he hated him. 43 He said to David, "Why are you coming at me with sticks? Do you think I'm only a dog?" The Philistine called down curses on David in the name of his god. 44 "Come over here," he said. "I'll feed your body to the birds of the air! I'll feed it to the wild animals!"
45 David said to Goliath, "You are coming to fight against me with a sword, a spear and a javelin. But I'm coming against you in the name of the Lord who rules over all. He is the God of the armies of Israel. He's the one you have dared to fight against.
46 "This very day the Lord will hand you over to me. I'll strike you down. I'll cut your head off. This very day I'll feed the bodies of the Philistine army to the birds of the air. I'll feed them to the wild animals. Then the whole world will know there is a God in Israel.
47 "The Lord doesn't save by using a sword or a spear. And everyone who is here will know it. The battle belongs to the Lord. He will hand all of you over to us."
48 As the Philistine moved closer to attack him, David ran quickly to the battle line to meet him. 49 He reached into his bag. He took out a stone. He put it in his sling. He slung it at Goliath. The stone hit him on the forehead and sank into it. He fell to the ground on his face.
50 So David won the fight against Goliath with a sling and a stone. He struck the Philistine down and killed him. He did it without even using a sword.
51 David ran and stood over him. He took hold of Goliath's sword and pulled it out. After he killed him, he cut off his head with the sword.
The Philistines saw that their hero was dead. So they turned around and ran away.
52 Then the men of Israel and Judah shouted and rushed forward. They chased the Philistines to the entrance of Gath. They chased them to the gates of Ekron. The dead bodies of the Philistines were scattered all along the road to Gath and Ekron. That's the road that leads to Shaaraim.
53 Israel's army returned from chasing the Philistines. They had taken everything from the Philistine camp.
54 David picked up Goliath's head. He brought it to Jerusalem. He put Goliath's weapons in his own tent.
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Text: Main point: Living testimony
God's presence
This passage reiterates some of the themes previously seen this week. Once again we can learn that what matters for God's work is not age or appearance, but his presence: 'The LORD . will rescue me' (v 37).
Both Saul and Goliath see David as merely a boy, and yet he is the one who provides an example of courage, bravery and trust in God's power.
This story outlines the fact that God doesn't need human strength and weaponry to protect David: '. it is not by sword or spear that the LORD saves; for the battle is the LORD's' (v 47).
Bringing glory to God
Like all the best stories of heroism, David puts his life on the line - in this case, to bring God the glory in battle. David actively trusts that God will grant victory and makes himself vulnerable for God's power to be shown through him.
Would you be willing to trust God with your life?
Rachel Taylor
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Prayer : Respond
● What is your 'Goliath'?
● What 'armour' are you tempted to wear?
● What would be the apparently 'small stones' (actions) you could take?
● Can you accept who you are and who God is as you face 'Goliath' together?
The size of a problem as God sees it is always very different from the way we see it. Ask God to help you see the challenges you face through his eyes.
Sheila Pritchard
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Choose from today's activities...
Audio Bible passage: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=14999&activityid=81307
Deeper study: No easy ride: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=14999&activityid=81311
Background: How big was Goliath?: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=14999&activityid=81312
Infographic: David and Goliath: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=14999&activityid=81313
Worship song: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=14999&activityid=81314
Podcast: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=14999&activityid=81315
Bible in a year: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=14999&activityid=79997
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Choose from this week's activities...
Welcome: Who'd be a leader?: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=14995&activityid=81409
WordLive for small groups: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=14995&activityid=81410
WordLive Forum: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=14995&activityid=77078
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Support WordLive
We'd love you to support WordLive. If you'd like to make a donation, please visit http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/91202.id?in=WLDEP
Prayer : Prepare
Your entire life has been preparing you for this moment. Think about the toolbag of skills and experiences God has given you.
1 Samuel 17:28-54
'David said to the Philistine, "You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the LORD Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied.'
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Bible passage: 1 Samuel 17:28-54
28 David's oldest brother Eliab heard him speaking with the men. So he burned with anger at him. He asked him, "Why have you come down here? Who did you leave those few sheep in the desert with? I know how proud you are. I know how evil your heart is. The only reason you came down here was to watch the battle."
29 "What have I done now?" said David. "Can't I even speak?"
30 Then he turned away to speak to some other men. He asked them the same question he had asked before. And they gave him the same answer.
31 Someone heard what David said and reported it to Saul. So Saul sent for him.
32 David said to Saul, "Don't let anyone lose hope because of that Philistine. I'll go out and fight him."
33 Saul replied, "You aren't able to go out there and fight that Philistine. You are too young. He's been a fighting man ever since he was a boy."
34 But David said to Saul, "I've been taking care of my father's sheep. Sometimes a lion or a bear would come and carry off a sheep from the flock. 35 Then I would go after it and hit it. I would save the sheep it was carrying in its mouth. If it turned around to attack me, I would grab hold of its hair. I would strike it down and kill it. 36 In fact, I've killed both a lion and a bear. I'll do the same thing to this Philistine. He isn't even circumcised. He has dared the armies of the living God to fight him.
37 "The Lord saved me from the paw of the lion. He saved me from the paw of the bear. And he'll save me from the powerful hand of this Philistine too."
Saul said to David, "Go. And may the Lord be with you."
38 Then Saul dressed David in his own military clothes. He put a coat of armor on him. He put a bronze helmet on his head. 39 David put on Saul's sword over his clothes. He walked around for a while in all of that armor because he wasn't used to it.
"I can't go out there in all of this armor," he said to Saul. "I'm not used to it." So he took it off.
40 Then David picked up his wooden staff. He went down to a stream and chose five smooth stones. He put them in the pocket of his shepherd's bag. Then he took his sling in his hand and approached Goliath.
41 At that same time, the Philistine kept coming closer to David. The man who was carrying Goliath's shield walked along in front of him.
42 Goliath looked David over. He saw how young he was. He also saw how tanned and handsome he was. And he hated him. 43 He said to David, "Why are you coming at me with sticks? Do you think I'm only a dog?" The Philistine called down curses on David in the name of his god. 44 "Come over here," he said. "I'll feed your body to the birds of the air! I'll feed it to the wild animals!"
45 David said to Goliath, "You are coming to fight against me with a sword, a spear and a javelin. But I'm coming against you in the name of the Lord who rules over all. He is the God of the armies of Israel. He's the one you have dared to fight against.
46 "This very day the Lord will hand you over to me. I'll strike you down. I'll cut your head off. This very day I'll feed the bodies of the Philistine army to the birds of the air. I'll feed them to the wild animals. Then the whole world will know there is a God in Israel.
47 "The Lord doesn't save by using a sword or a spear. And everyone who is here will know it. The battle belongs to the Lord. He will hand all of you over to us."
48 As the Philistine moved closer to attack him, David ran quickly to the battle line to meet him. 49 He reached into his bag. He took out a stone. He put it in his sling. He slung it at Goliath. The stone hit him on the forehead and sank into it. He fell to the ground on his face.
50 So David won the fight against Goliath with a sling and a stone. He struck the Philistine down and killed him. He did it without even using a sword.
51 David ran and stood over him. He took hold of Goliath's sword and pulled it out. After he killed him, he cut off his head with the sword.
The Philistines saw that their hero was dead. So they turned around and ran away.
52 Then the men of Israel and Judah shouted and rushed forward. They chased the Philistines to the entrance of Gath. They chased them to the gates of Ekron. The dead bodies of the Philistines were scattered all along the road to Gath and Ekron. That's the road that leads to Shaaraim.
53 Israel's army returned from chasing the Philistines. They had taken everything from the Philistine camp.
54 David picked up Goliath's head. He brought it to Jerusalem. He put Goliath's weapons in his own tent.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Text: Main point: Living testimony
God's presence
This passage reiterates some of the themes previously seen this week. Once again we can learn that what matters for God's work is not age or appearance, but his presence: 'The LORD . will rescue me' (v 37).
Both Saul and Goliath see David as merely a boy, and yet he is the one who provides an example of courage, bravery and trust in God's power.
This story outlines the fact that God doesn't need human strength and weaponry to protect David: '. it is not by sword or spear that the LORD saves; for the battle is the LORD's' (v 47).
Bringing glory to God
Like all the best stories of heroism, David puts his life on the line - in this case, to bring God the glory in battle. David actively trusts that God will grant victory and makes himself vulnerable for God's power to be shown through him.
Would you be willing to trust God with your life?
Rachel Taylor
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Prayer : Respond
● What is your 'Goliath'?
● What 'armour' are you tempted to wear?
● What would be the apparently 'small stones' (actions) you could take?
● Can you accept who you are and who God is as you face 'Goliath' together?
The size of a problem as God sees it is always very different from the way we see it. Ask God to help you see the challenges you face through his eyes.
Sheila Pritchard
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Choose from today's activities...
Audio Bible passage: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=14999&activityid=81307
Deeper study: No easy ride: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=14999&activityid=81311
Background: How big was Goliath?: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=14999&activityid=81312
Infographic: David and Goliath: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=14999&activityid=81313
Worship song: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=14999&activityid=81314
Podcast: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=14999&activityid=81315
Bible in a year: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=14999&activityid=79997
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Choose from this week's activities...
Welcome: Who'd be a leader?: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=14995&activityid=81409
WordLive for small groups: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=14995&activityid=81410
WordLive Forum: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=14995&activityid=77078
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Support WordLive
We'd love you to support WordLive. If you'd like to make a donation, please visit http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/91202.id?in=WLDEP
Giant fears
l http://www.wordlive.org
Prayer : Prepare
What are you most afraid of? On God's side, even the smallest of us can become giant killers.
1 Samuel 17:1-27
'Goliath stood and shouted to the ranks of Israel, "Why do you come out and line up for battle? Am I not a Philistine, and are you not the servants of Saul? Choose a man and have him come down to me.'
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Bible passage: 1 Samuel 17:1-27
1 Samuel 17
David Kills Goliath
1 The Philistines gathered their army together for war. They came to Socoh in Judah. They set up camp at Ephes Dammim. It was between Socoh and Azekah. 2 Saul and the army of Israel gathered together. They camped in the Valley of Elah. They lined up their men to fight against the Philistines. 3 The Philistine army was camped on one hill. Israel's army was on another. The valley was between them.
4 A mighty hero named Goliath came out of the Philistine camp. He was from Gath. He was more than nine feet tall. 5 He had a bronze helmet on his head. He wore a coat of bronze armor. It weighed 125 pounds. 6 On his legs he wore bronze guards. He carried a bronze javelin on his back. 7 His spear was as big as a weaver's rod. Its iron point weighed 15 pounds. The man who carried his shield walked along in front of him.
8 Goliath stood and shouted to the soldiers of Israel. He said, "Why do you come out and line up for battle? I'm a Philistine. You are servants of Saul. Choose one of your men. Have him come down and face me. 9 If he's able to fight and kill me, we'll become your slaves. But if I win and kill him, you will become our slaves and serve us." 10 Goliath continued, "This very day I dare the soldiers of Israel to send a man down to fight against me."
11 Saul and the whole army of Israel heard what the Philistine said. They were terrified.
12 David was the son of an Ephrathite. His name was Jesse. He was from Bethlehem in Judah. Jesse had eight sons. When Saul was king, Jesse was already very old. 13 Jesse's three oldest sons had followed Saul into battle. The oldest son was Eliab. The second was Abinadab. The third was Shammah. 14 David was the youngest. The three oldest sons followed Saul. 15 But David went back and forth from Saul's camp to Bethlehem. He went to Bethlehem to take care of his father's sheep.
16 Every morning and evening Goliath came forward and stood there. He did it for 40 days.
17 Jesse said to his son David, "Get at least half a bushel of grain that has been cooked. Also get ten loaves of bread. Take all of it to your brothers. Hurry to their camp. 18 Take along these ten chunks of cheese to the commander of their company. Find out how your brothers are doing. Bring me back some word about them. 19 They are with Saul and all of the men of Israel. They are in the Valley of Elah. They are fighting against the Philistines."
20 Early in the morning David left his father's flock in the care of a shepherd. David loaded up the food and started out, just as Jesse had directed.
David reached the camp as the army was going out to its battle positions. The soldiers were shouting the war cry. 21 Israel and the Philistines were lining up their armies for battle. The armies were facing each other.
22 David left what he had brought with the man who took care of the supplies. He ran to the battle lines and greeted his brothers. 23 As David was talking with them, Goliath stepped forward from his line. Goliath was a mighty Philistine hero from Gath. He again dared someone to fight him, and David heard it.
24 When Israel's army saw Goliath, all of them ran away from him. That's because they were filled with fear.
25 The men of Israel had been saying, "Just look at how this man keeps stepping forward! Again and again he dares Israel to fight him. The king will make the man who kills him very wealthy. He will also give him his daughter to be his wife. He won't require anyone in his family to pay any taxes in Israel."
26 David spoke to the men who were standing near him. He asked them, "What will be done for the man who kills this Philistine? Goliath is bringing shame on Israel. What will be done for the one who removes it? This Philistine isn't even circumcised. He dares the armies of the living God to fight him. Who does he think he is?"
27 The men told David what Israel's soldiers had been saying. The men told him what would be done for the man who killed Goliath.
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Text: Main point: Giant fears
Faith not fear
There is such a contrast of attitudes in this passage! The Israelites see Goliath and are 'dismayed and terrified' (v 11). But David is more concerned that Goliath has dared to challenge God's people to fight.
He is an example of faith to the Israelites, who react in fear. While the Israelites focus on Goliath, David sees the 'army of the living God' (v 26).
What is your initial reaction to problems? Do you usually react in fear or trust?
Trust in God
It is so easy to get caught up in the fear of man rather than the fear of God. It's easy to worry and to be paralysed by fear of another person's opinions or feelings, especially if that person is someone in authority over you, or someone who gets offended easily.
Proverbs 29:25 has some words of wisdom here. Whatever your fear, you need to surrender it to God and replace it with faith and trust in him.
Rachel Taylor
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Text: Respond
If we wait until we feel no fear we will wait a long time and live a very restricted life. On the other hand Jesus said 'Don't be afraid' more times than any other single phrase. There's a challenging paradox here!
Ask God to show you how to live this paradox. Next time you are afraid, acknowledge the fear and pray for the courage to step out anyway. Then you will discover that to face your fear is to overcome it and experience freedom from its hold over you.
Visit the WordLive forum to share your fears, and how you've overcome them with God's help.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Choose from today's activities...
Audio Bible passage: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=14998&activityid=81298
Deeper study: Know your enemy: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=14998&activityid=81301
Infographic: David and Goliath: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=14998&activityid=81302
Search for the hero: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=14998&activityid=81303
Podcast: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=14998&activityid=81304
Bible in a year: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=14998&activityid=79995
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Choose from this week's activities...
Welcome: Who'd be a leader?: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=14995&activityid=81409
WordLive for small groups: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=14995&activityid=81410
WordLive Forum: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=14995&activityid=77078
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Support WordLive
We'd love you to support WordLive. If you'd like to make a donation, please visit http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/91202.id?in=WLDEP
Prayer : Prepare
What are you most afraid of? On God's side, even the smallest of us can become giant killers.
1 Samuel 17:1-27
'Goliath stood and shouted to the ranks of Israel, "Why do you come out and line up for battle? Am I not a Philistine, and are you not the servants of Saul? Choose a man and have him come down to me.'
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Bible passage: 1 Samuel 17:1-27
1 Samuel 17
David Kills Goliath
1 The Philistines gathered their army together for war. They came to Socoh in Judah. They set up camp at Ephes Dammim. It was between Socoh and Azekah. 2 Saul and the army of Israel gathered together. They camped in the Valley of Elah. They lined up their men to fight against the Philistines. 3 The Philistine army was camped on one hill. Israel's army was on another. The valley was between them.
4 A mighty hero named Goliath came out of the Philistine camp. He was from Gath. He was more than nine feet tall. 5 He had a bronze helmet on his head. He wore a coat of bronze armor. It weighed 125 pounds. 6 On his legs he wore bronze guards. He carried a bronze javelin on his back. 7 His spear was as big as a weaver's rod. Its iron point weighed 15 pounds. The man who carried his shield walked along in front of him.
8 Goliath stood and shouted to the soldiers of Israel. He said, "Why do you come out and line up for battle? I'm a Philistine. You are servants of Saul. Choose one of your men. Have him come down and face me. 9 If he's able to fight and kill me, we'll become your slaves. But if I win and kill him, you will become our slaves and serve us." 10 Goliath continued, "This very day I dare the soldiers of Israel to send a man down to fight against me."
11 Saul and the whole army of Israel heard what the Philistine said. They were terrified.
12 David was the son of an Ephrathite. His name was Jesse. He was from Bethlehem in Judah. Jesse had eight sons. When Saul was king, Jesse was already very old. 13 Jesse's three oldest sons had followed Saul into battle. The oldest son was Eliab. The second was Abinadab. The third was Shammah. 14 David was the youngest. The three oldest sons followed Saul. 15 But David went back and forth from Saul's camp to Bethlehem. He went to Bethlehem to take care of his father's sheep.
16 Every morning and evening Goliath came forward and stood there. He did it for 40 days.
17 Jesse said to his son David, "Get at least half a bushel of grain that has been cooked. Also get ten loaves of bread. Take all of it to your brothers. Hurry to their camp. 18 Take along these ten chunks of cheese to the commander of their company. Find out how your brothers are doing. Bring me back some word about them. 19 They are with Saul and all of the men of Israel. They are in the Valley of Elah. They are fighting against the Philistines."
20 Early in the morning David left his father's flock in the care of a shepherd. David loaded up the food and started out, just as Jesse had directed.
David reached the camp as the army was going out to its battle positions. The soldiers were shouting the war cry. 21 Israel and the Philistines were lining up their armies for battle. The armies were facing each other.
22 David left what he had brought with the man who took care of the supplies. He ran to the battle lines and greeted his brothers. 23 As David was talking with them, Goliath stepped forward from his line. Goliath was a mighty Philistine hero from Gath. He again dared someone to fight him, and David heard it.
24 When Israel's army saw Goliath, all of them ran away from him. That's because they were filled with fear.
25 The men of Israel had been saying, "Just look at how this man keeps stepping forward! Again and again he dares Israel to fight him. The king will make the man who kills him very wealthy. He will also give him his daughter to be his wife. He won't require anyone in his family to pay any taxes in Israel."
26 David spoke to the men who were standing near him. He asked them, "What will be done for the man who kills this Philistine? Goliath is bringing shame on Israel. What will be done for the one who removes it? This Philistine isn't even circumcised. He dares the armies of the living God to fight him. Who does he think he is?"
27 The men told David what Israel's soldiers had been saying. The men told him what would be done for the man who killed Goliath.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Text: Main point: Giant fears
Faith not fear
There is such a contrast of attitudes in this passage! The Israelites see Goliath and are 'dismayed and terrified' (v 11). But David is more concerned that Goliath has dared to challenge God's people to fight.
He is an example of faith to the Israelites, who react in fear. While the Israelites focus on Goliath, David sees the 'army of the living God' (v 26).
What is your initial reaction to problems? Do you usually react in fear or trust?
Trust in God
It is so easy to get caught up in the fear of man rather than the fear of God. It's easy to worry and to be paralysed by fear of another person's opinions or feelings, especially if that person is someone in authority over you, or someone who gets offended easily.
Proverbs 29:25 has some words of wisdom here. Whatever your fear, you need to surrender it to God and replace it with faith and trust in him.
Rachel Taylor
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Text: Respond
If we wait until we feel no fear we will wait a long time and live a very restricted life. On the other hand Jesus said 'Don't be afraid' more times than any other single phrase. There's a challenging paradox here!
Ask God to show you how to live this paradox. Next time you are afraid, acknowledge the fear and pray for the courage to step out anyway. Then you will discover that to face your fear is to overcome it and experience freedom from its hold over you.
Visit the WordLive forum to share your fears, and how you've overcome them with God's help.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Choose from today's activities...
Audio Bible passage: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=14998&activityid=81298
Deeper study: Know your enemy: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=14998&activityid=81301
Infographic: David and Goliath: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=14998&activityid=81302
Search for the hero: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=14998&activityid=81303
Podcast: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=14998&activityid=81304
Bible in a year: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=14998&activityid=79995
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Choose from this week's activities...
Welcome: Who'd be a leader?: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=14995&activityid=81409
WordLive for small groups: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=14995&activityid=81410
WordLive Forum: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=14995&activityid=77078
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Support WordLive
We'd love you to support WordLive. If you'd like to make a donation, please visit http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/91202.id?in=WLDEP
Seeing the heart
http://www.wordlive.org
Prayer : Prepare
Stop worrying about your hair! When was the last time you took a look in the mirror at the state of your heart?
1 Samuel 16:1-13
'The LORD said to Samuel, "How long will you mourn for Saul, since I have rejected him as king over Israel? Fill your horn with oil and be on your way; I am sending you to Jesse of Bethlehem. I have chosen one of his sons to be king."'
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Bible passage: 1 Samuel 16:1-13
1 Samuel 16
Samuel Anoints David to Be Israel's King
1 The Lord said to Samuel, "How long will you be filled with sorrow because of Saul? I have refused to have him as king over Israel. Fill your animal horn with olive oil and go on your way. I am sending you to Jesse in Bethlehem. I have chosen one of his sons to be king."
2 But Samuel said, "How can I go? Saul will hear about it. Then he'll kill me."
The Lord said, "Take a young cow with you. Tell the elders of Bethlehem, 'I've come to offer a sacrifice to the Lord.' 3 Invite Jesse to the sacrifice. Then I will show you what to do. You must anoint for me the one I point out to you."
4 Samuel did what the Lord said. He arrived at Bethlehem. The elders of the town met him. They were trembling with fear. They asked, "Have you come in peace?"
5 Samuel replied, "Yes, I've come in peace. I've come to offer a sacrifice to the Lord. Set yourselves apart to him and come to the sacrifice with me."
Then he set Jesse and his sons apart to the Lord. He invited them to the sacrifice.
6 When they arrived, Samuel saw Eliab. He thought, "This has to be the one the Lord wants me to anoint for him."
7 But the Lord said to Samuel, "Do not consider how handsome or tall he is. I have not chosen him. I do not look at the things people look at. Man looks at how someone appears on the outside. But I look at what is in the heart."
8 Then Jesse called for Abinadab. He had him walk in front of Samuel. But Samuel said, "The Lord hasn't chosen him either."
9 Then Jesse had Shammah walk by. But Samuel said, "The Lord hasn't chosen him either."
10 Jesse had seven of his sons walk in front of Samuel. But Samuel said to him, "The Lord hasn't chosen any of them." 11 So he asked Jesse, "Are these the only sons you have?"
"No," Jesse answered. "My youngest son is taking care of the sheep."
Samuel said, "Send for him. We won't sit down to eat until he arrives."
12 So Jesse sent for his son and had him brought in. His skin was tanned. He had a fine appearance and handsome features.
Then the Lord said, "Get up and anoint him. He is the one."
13 So Samuel got the animal horn that was filled with olive oil. He anointed David in front of his brothers. From that day on, the Spirit of the Lord came on David with power. Samuel went back to Ramah.
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Text: Main point: Seeing the heart
God's requirements
This passage has spoken to me in different ways in the past. It is both a comfort and a challenge to know that God sees my heart and doesn't judge in the way others might.
It's easy to end up feeling small or inadequate when we measure ourselves against the world's definition of popularity, or beauty, or success. But God's requirements are drastically different.
It's ironic that in today's passage even the prophet Samuel assumed God would choose Jesse's eldest son to be the anointed king. Why do you think God liked what he saw in David's heart?
Surrendered to God
Something to be noted from today's passage is the providence of God. We see an honest account of the humble beginnings of a figure who later becomes Israel's most esteemed king. God provides success for whoever he chooses to use.
The presence of the Spirit (v 13) clearly indicates God's blessing upon David. Imagine what God can do with your life if you were totally surrendered to him!
Rachel Taylor
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Text: Respond
'The LORD does not look at the things human beings look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart' (v 7b).
Challenge yourself to think about how you see people. Do you see people's hearts or do you judge by appearances?
Why not encourage your closest Christian friend by telling them about godly characteristics you see in them.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Choose from today's activities...
Audio Bible passage: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=14997&activityid=81288
Deeper study: Decisions, decisions: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=14997&activityid=81291
Background: David: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=14997&activityid=81292
Infographic: David's anointing: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=14997&activityid=81293
Vox pops: First impressions?: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=14997&activityid=81294
Podcast: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=14997&activityid=81295
Bible in a year: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=14997&activityid=79994
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Choose from this week's activities...
Welcome: Who'd be a leader?: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=14995&activityid=81409
WordLive for small groups: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=14995&activityid=81410
WordLive Forum: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=14995&activityid=77078
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Support WordLive
We'd love you to support WordLive. If you'd like to make a donation, please visit http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/91202.id?in=WLDEP
Prayer : Prepare
Stop worrying about your hair! When was the last time you took a look in the mirror at the state of your heart?
1 Samuel 16:1-13
'The LORD said to Samuel, "How long will you mourn for Saul, since I have rejected him as king over Israel? Fill your horn with oil and be on your way; I am sending you to Jesse of Bethlehem. I have chosen one of his sons to be king."'
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Bible passage: 1 Samuel 16:1-13
1 Samuel 16
Samuel Anoints David to Be Israel's King
1 The Lord said to Samuel, "How long will you be filled with sorrow because of Saul? I have refused to have him as king over Israel. Fill your animal horn with olive oil and go on your way. I am sending you to Jesse in Bethlehem. I have chosen one of his sons to be king."
2 But Samuel said, "How can I go? Saul will hear about it. Then he'll kill me."
The Lord said, "Take a young cow with you. Tell the elders of Bethlehem, 'I've come to offer a sacrifice to the Lord.' 3 Invite Jesse to the sacrifice. Then I will show you what to do. You must anoint for me the one I point out to you."
4 Samuel did what the Lord said. He arrived at Bethlehem. The elders of the town met him. They were trembling with fear. They asked, "Have you come in peace?"
5 Samuel replied, "Yes, I've come in peace. I've come to offer a sacrifice to the Lord. Set yourselves apart to him and come to the sacrifice with me."
Then he set Jesse and his sons apart to the Lord. He invited them to the sacrifice.
6 When they arrived, Samuel saw Eliab. He thought, "This has to be the one the Lord wants me to anoint for him."
7 But the Lord said to Samuel, "Do not consider how handsome or tall he is. I have not chosen him. I do not look at the things people look at. Man looks at how someone appears on the outside. But I look at what is in the heart."
8 Then Jesse called for Abinadab. He had him walk in front of Samuel. But Samuel said, "The Lord hasn't chosen him either."
9 Then Jesse had Shammah walk by. But Samuel said, "The Lord hasn't chosen him either."
10 Jesse had seven of his sons walk in front of Samuel. But Samuel said to him, "The Lord hasn't chosen any of them." 11 So he asked Jesse, "Are these the only sons you have?"
"No," Jesse answered. "My youngest son is taking care of the sheep."
Samuel said, "Send for him. We won't sit down to eat until he arrives."
12 So Jesse sent for his son and had him brought in. His skin was tanned. He had a fine appearance and handsome features.
Then the Lord said, "Get up and anoint him. He is the one."
13 So Samuel got the animal horn that was filled with olive oil. He anointed David in front of his brothers. From that day on, the Spirit of the Lord came on David with power. Samuel went back to Ramah.
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Text: Main point: Seeing the heart
God's requirements
This passage has spoken to me in different ways in the past. It is both a comfort and a challenge to know that God sees my heart and doesn't judge in the way others might.
It's easy to end up feeling small or inadequate when we measure ourselves against the world's definition of popularity, or beauty, or success. But God's requirements are drastically different.
It's ironic that in today's passage even the prophet Samuel assumed God would choose Jesse's eldest son to be the anointed king. Why do you think God liked what he saw in David's heart?
Surrendered to God
Something to be noted from today's passage is the providence of God. We see an honest account of the humble beginnings of a figure who later becomes Israel's most esteemed king. God provides success for whoever he chooses to use.
The presence of the Spirit (v 13) clearly indicates God's blessing upon David. Imagine what God can do with your life if you were totally surrendered to him!
Rachel Taylor
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Text: Respond
'The LORD does not look at the things human beings look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart' (v 7b).
Challenge yourself to think about how you see people. Do you see people's hearts or do you judge by appearances?
Why not encourage your closest Christian friend by telling them about godly characteristics you see in them.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Choose from today's activities...
Audio Bible passage: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=14997&activityid=81288
Deeper study: Decisions, decisions: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=14997&activityid=81291
Background: David: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=14997&activityid=81292
Infographic: David's anointing: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=14997&activityid=81293
Vox pops: First impressions?: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=14997&activityid=81294
Podcast: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=14997&activityid=81295
Bible in a year: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=14997&activityid=79994
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Choose from this week's activities...
Welcome: Who'd be a leader?: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=14995&activityid=81409
WordLive for small groups: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=14995&activityid=81410
WordLive Forum: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=14995&activityid=77078
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Support WordLive
We'd love you to support WordLive. If you'd like to make a donation, please visit http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/91202.id?in=WLDEP
Finish the job!
http://www.wordlive.org
Prayer : Prepare
Listen up! Who or what has God sent to challenge you recently? Now is not the time for avoidance tactics.
1 Samuel 15:1-31
'Samuel said to Saul, "I am the one the LORD sent to anoint you king over his people Israel; so listen now to the message from the LORD.'
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Bible passage: 1 Samuel 15:1-31
1 Samuel 15
The Lord Is Sorry He Has Made Saul King
1 Samuel said to Saul, "The Lord sent me to anoint you as king over his people Israel. So listen now to a message from him. 2 The Lord who rules over all says, 'I will punish the Amalekites because of what they did to Israel. As the people of Israel came up from Egypt, the Amalekites attacked them.
3 " 'Now go. Attack the Amalekites. Set everything apart that belongs to them. Set it apart to me in a special way to be destroyed. Do not spare the Amalekites. Put the men and women to death. Put the children and babies to death. Also kill the cattle, sheep, camels and donkeys.' "
4 So Saul brought his men together at Telaim. The total number was 200,000 soldiers on foot from Israel and 10,000 men from Judah. 5 He went to the city of Amalek. He had some of his men hide and wait in the valley.
6 Then Saul said to the Kenites, "You were kind to all of the people of Israel when they came up out of Egypt. Get away from the Amalekites. Then I won't have to destroy you along with them." So the Kenites moved away from the Amalekites.
7 Saul attacked the Amalekites. He struck them down all the way from Havilah to Shur. Shur was near the eastern border of Egypt. 8 He took Agag, the king of the Amalekites, alive. He and his men totally destroyed all of Agag's people with swords.
9 But Saul and the army spared Agag. They spared the best of the sheep and cattle. They spared the fat calves and lambs. They spared everything that was valuable. They weren't willing to completely destroy any of those things. But they totally destroyed everything that was worthless and weak.
10 Then the Lord gave Samuel a message. He said, 11 "I am very sorry I have made Saul king. He has turned away from me. He has not done what I directed him to do."
When Samuel heard that, he was troubled. He cried out to the Lord during that whole night.
12 Early the next morning Samuel got up. He went to see Saul. But Samuel was told, "Saul went to Carmel. There he set up a monument in his own honor. Now he has gone on down to Gilgal."
13 When Samuel got there, Saul said, "May the Lord bless you. I've done what he directed me to do."
14 But Samuel said, "Then why do I hear the baaing of sheep? Why do I hear the mooing of cattle?"
15 Saul answered, "The soldiers brought them from the Amalekites. They spared the best of the sheep and cattle. They did it to sacrifice them to the Lord your God. But we totally destroyed everything else."
16 "Stop!" Samuel said to Saul. "Let me tell you what the Lord said to me last night."
"Tell me," Saul replied.
17 Samuel said, "There was a time when you didn't think you were important. But you became the leader of the tribes of Israel. The Lord anointed you to be king over Israel. 18 He sent you to do something for him. He said, 'Go and set the Amalekites apart. Set those sinful people apart to me in a special way to be destroyed. Fight against them until you have wiped them out.'
19 "Why didn't you obey the Lord? Why did you grab what you had taken from your enemies? Why did you do what is evil in the sight of the Lord?"
20 "But I did obey the Lord," Saul said. "I went to do what he sent me to do. I totally destroyed the Amalekites. I brought back Agag, their king.
21 "The soldiers took sheep and cattle from what had been taken from our enemies. They took the best of what had been set apart to God. They wanted to sacrifice them to the Lord your God at Gilgal."
22 But Samuel replied,
"What pleases the Lord more?
Burnt offerings and sacrifices, or obeying him?
It is better to obey than to offer a sacrifice.
It is better to do what he says than to offer the fat of rams.
23 Refusing to obey him is as sinful as using evil magic.
Being proud is as evil as worshiping statues of gods.
You have refused to do what the Lord told you to do.
So he has refused to have you as king."
24 Then Saul said to Samuel, "I have sinned. I've broken the Lord's command. I haven't done what you directed me to do. I was afraid of the people. So I did what they said I should do. 25 Now I beg you, forgive my sin. Come back into town with me so I can worship the Lord."
26 But Samuel said to him, "I won't go back with you. You have refused to do what the Lord told you to do. So he has refused to have you as king over Israel!"
27 Samuel turned to leave. But Saul grabbed hold of the hem of his robe, and it tore.
28 Samuel said to Saul, "The Lord has torn the kingdom of Israel away from you today. He has given it to one of your neighbors. He has given it to someone who is better than you. 29 The One who is the Glory of Israel does not lie. He doesn't change his mind. That's because he isn't a mere man. If he were, he might change his mind."
30 Saul replied, "I have sinned. But please honor me in front of the elders of my people and in front of Israel. Come back with me so I can worship the Lord your God."
31 So Samuel went back with Saul. And Saul worshiped the Lord.
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Text: Main point: Finish the job!
Disobedience again
Most people who like working in a team know if they are the sort of person who's great at starting off a task, encouraging people along the way, or finishing it off. We are all good at different things. But when you've been given a task, it's rarely any good if it is left incomplete, regardless of whether you have a 'finisher' on your team!
Today we see Saul once again disobeying a command. It is obvious that he does not 'totally destroy all that belongs to them' (v 3; see v 9). While this is admittedly a difficult example, the point is clear: Saul did not obey the command he was given. Once again he makes excuses; he blames other people.
Facing up to reality
What makes Saul's sin even worse is his status as anointed king. There is a hint that Saul has excused his sin as minor and unimportant (v 17).
We too need to stop making excuses for our sins and face up to their reality and our responsibility as examples for other people. We need to act in complete obedience, not half-hearted acquiescence.
Rachel Taylor
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Choose from today's activities...
Audio Bible passage: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=14996&activityid=81278
Respond: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=14996&activityid=81280
Deeper study: What God wants: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=14996&activityid=81281
Background: Amalekites and Kenites: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=14996&activityid=81282
Making amends: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=14996&activityid=81283
Worship song: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=14996&activityid=81284
Podcast: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=14996&activityid=81285
Bible in a year: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=14996&activityid=79993
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Choose from this week's activities...
Welcome: Who'd be a leader?: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=14995&activityid=81409
WordLive for small groups: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=14995&activityid=81410
WordLive Forum: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=14995&activityid=77078
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Support WordLive
We'd love you to support WordLive. If you'd like to make a donation, please visit http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/91202.id?in=WLDEP
Prayer : Prepare
Listen up! Who or what has God sent to challenge you recently? Now is not the time for avoidance tactics.
1 Samuel 15:1-31
'Samuel said to Saul, "I am the one the LORD sent to anoint you king over his people Israel; so listen now to the message from the LORD.'
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Bible passage: 1 Samuel 15:1-31
1 Samuel 15
The Lord Is Sorry He Has Made Saul King
1 Samuel said to Saul, "The Lord sent me to anoint you as king over his people Israel. So listen now to a message from him. 2 The Lord who rules over all says, 'I will punish the Amalekites because of what they did to Israel. As the people of Israel came up from Egypt, the Amalekites attacked them.
3 " 'Now go. Attack the Amalekites. Set everything apart that belongs to them. Set it apart to me in a special way to be destroyed. Do not spare the Amalekites. Put the men and women to death. Put the children and babies to death. Also kill the cattle, sheep, camels and donkeys.' "
4 So Saul brought his men together at Telaim. The total number was 200,000 soldiers on foot from Israel and 10,000 men from Judah. 5 He went to the city of Amalek. He had some of his men hide and wait in the valley.
6 Then Saul said to the Kenites, "You were kind to all of the people of Israel when they came up out of Egypt. Get away from the Amalekites. Then I won't have to destroy you along with them." So the Kenites moved away from the Amalekites.
7 Saul attacked the Amalekites. He struck them down all the way from Havilah to Shur. Shur was near the eastern border of Egypt. 8 He took Agag, the king of the Amalekites, alive. He and his men totally destroyed all of Agag's people with swords.
9 But Saul and the army spared Agag. They spared the best of the sheep and cattle. They spared the fat calves and lambs. They spared everything that was valuable. They weren't willing to completely destroy any of those things. But they totally destroyed everything that was worthless and weak.
10 Then the Lord gave Samuel a message. He said, 11 "I am very sorry I have made Saul king. He has turned away from me. He has not done what I directed him to do."
When Samuel heard that, he was troubled. He cried out to the Lord during that whole night.
12 Early the next morning Samuel got up. He went to see Saul. But Samuel was told, "Saul went to Carmel. There he set up a monument in his own honor. Now he has gone on down to Gilgal."
13 When Samuel got there, Saul said, "May the Lord bless you. I've done what he directed me to do."
14 But Samuel said, "Then why do I hear the baaing of sheep? Why do I hear the mooing of cattle?"
15 Saul answered, "The soldiers brought them from the Amalekites. They spared the best of the sheep and cattle. They did it to sacrifice them to the Lord your God. But we totally destroyed everything else."
16 "Stop!" Samuel said to Saul. "Let me tell you what the Lord said to me last night."
"Tell me," Saul replied.
17 Samuel said, "There was a time when you didn't think you were important. But you became the leader of the tribes of Israel. The Lord anointed you to be king over Israel. 18 He sent you to do something for him. He said, 'Go and set the Amalekites apart. Set those sinful people apart to me in a special way to be destroyed. Fight against them until you have wiped them out.'
19 "Why didn't you obey the Lord? Why did you grab what you had taken from your enemies? Why did you do what is evil in the sight of the Lord?"
20 "But I did obey the Lord," Saul said. "I went to do what he sent me to do. I totally destroyed the Amalekites. I brought back Agag, their king.
21 "The soldiers took sheep and cattle from what had been taken from our enemies. They took the best of what had been set apart to God. They wanted to sacrifice them to the Lord your God at Gilgal."
22 But Samuel replied,
"What pleases the Lord more?
Burnt offerings and sacrifices, or obeying him?
It is better to obey than to offer a sacrifice.
It is better to do what he says than to offer the fat of rams.
23 Refusing to obey him is as sinful as using evil magic.
Being proud is as evil as worshiping statues of gods.
You have refused to do what the Lord told you to do.
So he has refused to have you as king."
24 Then Saul said to Samuel, "I have sinned. I've broken the Lord's command. I haven't done what you directed me to do. I was afraid of the people. So I did what they said I should do. 25 Now I beg you, forgive my sin. Come back into town with me so I can worship the Lord."
26 But Samuel said to him, "I won't go back with you. You have refused to do what the Lord told you to do. So he has refused to have you as king over Israel!"
27 Samuel turned to leave. But Saul grabbed hold of the hem of his robe, and it tore.
28 Samuel said to Saul, "The Lord has torn the kingdom of Israel away from you today. He has given it to one of your neighbors. He has given it to someone who is better than you. 29 The One who is the Glory of Israel does not lie. He doesn't change his mind. That's because he isn't a mere man. If he were, he might change his mind."
30 Saul replied, "I have sinned. But please honor me in front of the elders of my people and in front of Israel. Come back with me so I can worship the Lord your God."
31 So Samuel went back with Saul. And Saul worshiped the Lord.
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Text: Main point: Finish the job!
Disobedience again
Most people who like working in a team know if they are the sort of person who's great at starting off a task, encouraging people along the way, or finishing it off. We are all good at different things. But when you've been given a task, it's rarely any good if it is left incomplete, regardless of whether you have a 'finisher' on your team!
Today we see Saul once again disobeying a command. It is obvious that he does not 'totally destroy all that belongs to them' (v 3; see v 9). While this is admittedly a difficult example, the point is clear: Saul did not obey the command he was given. Once again he makes excuses; he blames other people.
Facing up to reality
What makes Saul's sin even worse is his status as anointed king. There is a hint that Saul has excused his sin as minor and unimportant (v 17).
We too need to stop making excuses for our sins and face up to their reality and our responsibility as examples for other people. We need to act in complete obedience, not half-hearted acquiescence.
Rachel Taylor
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Choose from today's activities...
Audio Bible passage: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=14996&activityid=81278
Respond: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=14996&activityid=81280
Deeper study: What God wants: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=14996&activityid=81281
Background: Amalekites and Kenites: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=14996&activityid=81282
Making amends: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=14996&activityid=81283
Worship song: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=14996&activityid=81284
Podcast: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=14996&activityid=81285
Bible in a year: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=14996&activityid=79993
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Choose from this week's activities...
Welcome: Who'd be a leader?: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=14995&activityid=81409
WordLive for small groups: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=14995&activityid=81410
WordLive Forum: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=14995&activityid=77078
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Support WordLive
We'd love you to support WordLive. If you'd like to make a donation, please visit http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/91202.id?in=WLDEP
Dire consequences
http://www.wordlive.org
Prayer : Prepare
Stuck between a rock and another rock? Hard pressed from every side? You're not the only one.
1 Samuel 13:1-22
'When the Israelites saw that their situation was critical and that their army was hard pressed, they hid in caves and thickets, among the rocks, and in pits and cisterns.'
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Bible passage: 1 Samuel 13:1-22
1 Samuel 13
Saul Refuses to Obey the Lord's Command
1 Saul was 30 years old when he became king. He ruled over Israel for 42 years.
2 He chose 3,000 of Israel's men. Two thousand of them were with him at Micmash and in the hill country of Bethel. One thousand were with Jonathan at Gibeah in the land of Benjamin. Saul sent the rest back to their homes.
3 Some Philistine soldiers were stationed at Geba. Jonathan attacked them. The other Philistines heard about it.
Saul announced, "Let the Hebrew people hear about what has happened!" He had trumpets blown all through the land. 4 So all of the people of Israel heard the news. They were told, "Saul has attacked the Philistine army camp at Geba. He has made Israel smell very bad to the Philistines." The people of Israel were called out to join Saul at Gilgal.
5 The Philistines gathered together to fight against Israel. They had 3,000 chariots and 6,000 chariot drivers. Their soldiers were as many as the grains of sand on the seashore. They went up and camped at Micmash. It was east of Beth Aven.
6 The men of Israel saw that their army was in deep trouble. So they hid in caves and bushes. They hid among the rocks. They hid in pits and empty wells. 7 Some of them even went across the Jordan River. They went to the lands of Gad and Gilead.
Saul remained at Gilgal. All of the troops who were with him were shaking with fear. 8 He waited seven days, just as Samuel had told him to. But Samuel didn't come to Gilgal. And Saul's men began to scatter. 9 So he said, "Bring me the burnt offering and the friendship offerings." Then he offered up the burnt offering.
10 Just as Saul finished offering the sacrifice, Samuel arrived. Saul went out to greet him.
11 "What have you done?" asked Samuel.
Saul replied, "I saw that the men were scattering. I saw that the Philistines were gathering together at Micmash. You didn't come when you said you would. 12 So I thought, 'Now the Philistines will come down to attack me at Gilgal. And I haven't asked the Lord to show us his favor.' So I felt I had to sacrifice the burnt offering."
13 "You did a foolish thing," Samuel said. "You haven't obeyed the command the Lord your God gave you. If you had, he would have made your kingdom secure over Israel for all time to come. 14 But now your kingdom won't last. The Lord has already looked for a man who is dear to his heart. He has appointed him leader of his people. That's because you haven't obeyed the Lord's command."
15 Then Samuel left Gilgal and went up to Gibeah in the land of Benjamin. Saul counted the men who stayed with him. The total number was about 600.
Israel Doesn't Have Swords or Spears
16 Saul and his son Jonathan were staying in Gibeah in the land of Benjamin. What was left of the army was there with them. At the same time, the Philistines camped at Micmash.
17 Three groups of soldiers went out from the Philistine camp to attack Israel. One group turned and went toward Ophrah in the area of Shual. 18 Another went toward Beth Horon. The third went toward the border that looked out over the Valley of Zeboim. That valley faces the desert.
19 There weren't any blacksmiths in the whole land of Israel. That's because the Philistines had said, "The Hebrews might hire them to make swords or spears!"
20 So all of the people of Israel had to go down to the Philistines. They had to go to them to get their plows, hoes, axes and sickles sharpened. 21 It cost a fourth of an ounce of silver to sharpen a plow or a hoe. It cost an eighth of an ounce to sharpen a pitchfork or an axe. That's also what it cost to put new tips on large sticks that were used to drive oxen.
22 So not one of Saul's or Jonathan's soldiers had a sword or spear in his hand when he went out to battle. Only Saul and his son Jonathan had those weapons.
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Text: Main point: Dire consequences
Waiting
I can think of many times when I have given up waiting. standing in long supermarket queues, waiting in line for a theme park ride. But what about waiting when it's an act of trust in God? How many times do we give up waiting for God to keep promises he's made to us and take things into our own hands?
Making excuses
Saul is told, 'You didn't obey the LORD your God' (v 13). This could either refer to 10:8 where Saul was told he should wait seven days for Samuel to come, or it could simply be that only priests were allowed to offer sacrifices (see Numbers 18:7). Whatever the original command, Saul knew he had been disobedient, for he started to make excuses.
Obedience
His disobedience came at a great price - his kingdom ceased. On several occasions Saul refused to listen to the prophet Samuel who brought the word of God to him. This passage highlights the incredible importance of obedience to God's word and the severe consequences for repetitive sin for which we fail to repent.
Rachel Taylor
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Choose from today's activities...
Audio Bible passage: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=14995&activityid=81268
Respond: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=14995&activityid=81270
Deeper study: Trust and obey: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=14995&activityid=81271
Background: Saul: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=14995&activityid=81272
Trust and see.: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=14995&activityid=81273
Trust not in your own understanding.: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=14995&activityid=81274
Podcast: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=14995&activityid=81275
Bible in a year: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=14995&activityid=79992
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Choose from this week's activities...
Welcome: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=14995&activityid=81409
WordLive for small groups: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=14995&activityid=81410
WordLive Forum: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=14995&activityid=77078
--------------------------------------------------------------------
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Prayer : Prepare
Stuck between a rock and another rock? Hard pressed from every side? You're not the only one.
1 Samuel 13:1-22
'When the Israelites saw that their situation was critical and that their army was hard pressed, they hid in caves and thickets, among the rocks, and in pits and cisterns.'
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Bible passage: 1 Samuel 13:1-22
1 Samuel 13
Saul Refuses to Obey the Lord's Command
1 Saul was 30 years old when he became king. He ruled over Israel for 42 years.
2 He chose 3,000 of Israel's men. Two thousand of them were with him at Micmash and in the hill country of Bethel. One thousand were with Jonathan at Gibeah in the land of Benjamin. Saul sent the rest back to their homes.
3 Some Philistine soldiers were stationed at Geba. Jonathan attacked them. The other Philistines heard about it.
Saul announced, "Let the Hebrew people hear about what has happened!" He had trumpets blown all through the land. 4 So all of the people of Israel heard the news. They were told, "Saul has attacked the Philistine army camp at Geba. He has made Israel smell very bad to the Philistines." The people of Israel were called out to join Saul at Gilgal.
5 The Philistines gathered together to fight against Israel. They had 3,000 chariots and 6,000 chariot drivers. Their soldiers were as many as the grains of sand on the seashore. They went up and camped at Micmash. It was east of Beth Aven.
6 The men of Israel saw that their army was in deep trouble. So they hid in caves and bushes. They hid among the rocks. They hid in pits and empty wells. 7 Some of them even went across the Jordan River. They went to the lands of Gad and Gilead.
Saul remained at Gilgal. All of the troops who were with him were shaking with fear. 8 He waited seven days, just as Samuel had told him to. But Samuel didn't come to Gilgal. And Saul's men began to scatter. 9 So he said, "Bring me the burnt offering and the friendship offerings." Then he offered up the burnt offering.
10 Just as Saul finished offering the sacrifice, Samuel arrived. Saul went out to greet him.
11 "What have you done?" asked Samuel.
Saul replied, "I saw that the men were scattering. I saw that the Philistines were gathering together at Micmash. You didn't come when you said you would. 12 So I thought, 'Now the Philistines will come down to attack me at Gilgal. And I haven't asked the Lord to show us his favor.' So I felt I had to sacrifice the burnt offering."
13 "You did a foolish thing," Samuel said. "You haven't obeyed the command the Lord your God gave you. If you had, he would have made your kingdom secure over Israel for all time to come. 14 But now your kingdom won't last. The Lord has already looked for a man who is dear to his heart. He has appointed him leader of his people. That's because you haven't obeyed the Lord's command."
15 Then Samuel left Gilgal and went up to Gibeah in the land of Benjamin. Saul counted the men who stayed with him. The total number was about 600.
Israel Doesn't Have Swords or Spears
16 Saul and his son Jonathan were staying in Gibeah in the land of Benjamin. What was left of the army was there with them. At the same time, the Philistines camped at Micmash.
17 Three groups of soldiers went out from the Philistine camp to attack Israel. One group turned and went toward Ophrah in the area of Shual. 18 Another went toward Beth Horon. The third went toward the border that looked out over the Valley of Zeboim. That valley faces the desert.
19 There weren't any blacksmiths in the whole land of Israel. That's because the Philistines had said, "The Hebrews might hire them to make swords or spears!"
20 So all of the people of Israel had to go down to the Philistines. They had to go to them to get their plows, hoes, axes and sickles sharpened. 21 It cost a fourth of an ounce of silver to sharpen a plow or a hoe. It cost an eighth of an ounce to sharpen a pitchfork or an axe. That's also what it cost to put new tips on large sticks that were used to drive oxen.
22 So not one of Saul's or Jonathan's soldiers had a sword or spear in his hand when he went out to battle. Only Saul and his son Jonathan had those weapons.
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Text: Main point: Dire consequences
Waiting
I can think of many times when I have given up waiting. standing in long supermarket queues, waiting in line for a theme park ride. But what about waiting when it's an act of trust in God? How many times do we give up waiting for God to keep promises he's made to us and take things into our own hands?
Making excuses
Saul is told, 'You didn't obey the LORD your God' (v 13). This could either refer to 10:8 where Saul was told he should wait seven days for Samuel to come, or it could simply be that only priests were allowed to offer sacrifices (see Numbers 18:7). Whatever the original command, Saul knew he had been disobedient, for he started to make excuses.
Obedience
His disobedience came at a great price - his kingdom ceased. On several occasions Saul refused to listen to the prophet Samuel who brought the word of God to him. This passage highlights the incredible importance of obedience to God's word and the severe consequences for repetitive sin for which we fail to repent.
Rachel Taylor
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Choose from today's activities...
Audio Bible passage: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=14995&activityid=81268
Respond: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=14995&activityid=81270
Deeper study: Trust and obey: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=14995&activityid=81271
Background: Saul: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=14995&activityid=81272
Trust and see.: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=14995&activityid=81273
Trust not in your own understanding.: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=14995&activityid=81274
Podcast: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=14995&activityid=81275
Bible in a year: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=14995&activityid=79992
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Choose from this week's activities...
Welcome: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=14995&activityid=81409
WordLive for small groups: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=14995&activityid=81410
WordLive Forum: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=14995&activityid=77078
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Why, O God?
http://www.wordlive.org
Prayer : Prepare
Let go of your rebellion, rejoin God's flock. Unite as we proclaim praise for our Shepherd and Saviour.
Psalm 79
'Help us, God our Saviour, for the glory of your name; deliver us and forgive our sins for your name's sake.'
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Bible passage: Psalm 79
Psalm 79
A psalm of Asaph.
1 God, an army from the nations has attacked your land.
They have polluted your holy temple.
They have completely destroyed Jerusalem.
2 They have given the dead bodies of your people
as food to the birds of the air.
They have given the bodies of your faithful people
to the animals of the earth.
3 They have poured out the blood of your people like water
all around Jerusalem.
No one is left to bury the dead.
4 We are something our neighbors joke about.
The nations around us laugh at us and make fun of us.
5 Lord, how long will you be angry with us? Will it be forever?
How long will your jealousy burn like fire?
6 Pour out your burning anger on the nations
that don't pay any attention to you.
Pour it out on the kingdoms
that don't worship you.
7 They have swallowed up the people of Jacob.
They have destroyed Israel's homeland.
8 Don't hold against us the sins of our people who lived before us.
May you be quick to show us your tender love.
We are in great need.
9 God our Savior, help us.
Then glory will come to you.
Be true to your name.
Save us and forgive our sins.
10 Why should the nations say,
"Where is their God?"
Show the nations that you punish those who kill your people.
We want to see it happen.
11 Listen to the groans of the prisoners.
Use your powerful arm
to save the lives of those who have been sentenced to death.
12 Lord, our neighbors have laughed at you.
Pay them back seven times for what they have done.
13 We are your people. We are your very own sheep.
We will praise you forever.
For all time to come
we will keep on praising you.
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Text: Main point: Why, O God?
Mockers getting away with it
There are times when you wonder why the world reveres the wheeler dealers, the schemers and those who mock faith.
Perhaps you have even indulged in a bit of 'Give our jeering neighbours what they've got coming to them' dialogue with God (v 12, The Message), even wishing that God would 'go public and show the godless world that they can't kill your servants and get by with it' (v 10, The Message). After all, it's his reputation that is at stake (v 9).
God sends us
But maybe it's not that simple. Maybe it's not God's reputation we are concerned about, but ours? Perhaps we feel hard done by when God doesn't act in big ways and prove who he is to the world - a world that is endlessly encroaching on his territory (v 1) and ridiculing us when he fails to intervene (v 4).
God doesn't need to prove he is God to anyone, much less to a fallen humanity. What he does is qualitatively different: he sends us into the world as living witnesses to his love. Righteous anger may be an appropriate response in some situations, but we are called to praise him for ever (v 13) and share him unceasingly.
Michael Wardlow
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Prayer : Respond
'Lord, you know me intimately. Let me draw strength from you to face with love those who mock you and scorn me.'
Decide to take this seriously and take a risk for God this week.
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Choose from today's activities...
Deeper study: Yet there is hope: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=14994&activityid=81264
Glory to God: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=14994&activityid=81265
Bible in a year: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=14994&activityid=79989
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Choose from this week's activities...
Welcome: Dark days: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=14988&activityid=81407
WordLive for small groups: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=14988&activityid=81408
WordLive Forum: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=14988&activityid=77078
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Support WordLive
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Prayer : Prepare
Let go of your rebellion, rejoin God's flock. Unite as we proclaim praise for our Shepherd and Saviour.
Psalm 79
'Help us, God our Saviour, for the glory of your name; deliver us and forgive our sins for your name's sake.'
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Bible passage: Psalm 79
Psalm 79
A psalm of Asaph.
1 God, an army from the nations has attacked your land.
They have polluted your holy temple.
They have completely destroyed Jerusalem.
2 They have given the dead bodies of your people
as food to the birds of the air.
They have given the bodies of your faithful people
to the animals of the earth.
3 They have poured out the blood of your people like water
all around Jerusalem.
No one is left to bury the dead.
4 We are something our neighbors joke about.
The nations around us laugh at us and make fun of us.
5 Lord, how long will you be angry with us? Will it be forever?
How long will your jealousy burn like fire?
6 Pour out your burning anger on the nations
that don't pay any attention to you.
Pour it out on the kingdoms
that don't worship you.
7 They have swallowed up the people of Jacob.
They have destroyed Israel's homeland.
8 Don't hold against us the sins of our people who lived before us.
May you be quick to show us your tender love.
We are in great need.
9 God our Savior, help us.
Then glory will come to you.
Be true to your name.
Save us and forgive our sins.
10 Why should the nations say,
"Where is their God?"
Show the nations that you punish those who kill your people.
We want to see it happen.
11 Listen to the groans of the prisoners.
Use your powerful arm
to save the lives of those who have been sentenced to death.
12 Lord, our neighbors have laughed at you.
Pay them back seven times for what they have done.
13 We are your people. We are your very own sheep.
We will praise you forever.
For all time to come
we will keep on praising you.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Text: Main point: Why, O God?
Mockers getting away with it
There are times when you wonder why the world reveres the wheeler dealers, the schemers and those who mock faith.
Perhaps you have even indulged in a bit of 'Give our jeering neighbours what they've got coming to them' dialogue with God (v 12, The Message), even wishing that God would 'go public and show the godless world that they can't kill your servants and get by with it' (v 10, The Message). After all, it's his reputation that is at stake (v 9).
God sends us
But maybe it's not that simple. Maybe it's not God's reputation we are concerned about, but ours? Perhaps we feel hard done by when God doesn't act in big ways and prove who he is to the world - a world that is endlessly encroaching on his territory (v 1) and ridiculing us when he fails to intervene (v 4).
God doesn't need to prove he is God to anyone, much less to a fallen humanity. What he does is qualitatively different: he sends us into the world as living witnesses to his love. Righteous anger may be an appropriate response in some situations, but we are called to praise him for ever (v 13) and share him unceasingly.
Michael Wardlow
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Prayer : Respond
'Lord, you know me intimately. Let me draw strength from you to face with love those who mock you and scorn me.'
Decide to take this seriously and take a risk for God this week.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Choose from today's activities...
Deeper study: Yet there is hope: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=14994&activityid=81264
Glory to God: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=14994&activityid=81265
Bible in a year: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=14994&activityid=79989
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Choose from this week's activities...
Welcome: Dark days: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=14988&activityid=81407
WordLive for small groups: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=14988&activityid=81408
WordLive Forum: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=14988&activityid=77078
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Called to be responsible
http://www.wordlive.org
Prayer : Prepare
Don't let your relationship with God disappear like a morning mist. Hold on to something solid.
Hosea 13:1-16
'An east wind from the LORD will come, blowing in from the desert; his spring will fail and his well dry up. His storehouse will be plundered of all its treasures.'
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Bible passage: Hosea 13:1-16
Hosea 13
The Lord Is Angry With Israel
1 When the tribe of Ephraim spoke,
the other tribes trembled with fear.
Ephraim was honored in Israel.
But its people sinned by worshiping Baal.
So they were as good as dead.
2 Now they sin more and more.
They use their silver
to make statues of gods for themselves.
The statues come from their own clever ideas.
Skilled workers make all of them.
The people pray to those gods.
They offer human sacrifices to them.
They kiss the gods that look like calves.
3 So those people will vanish like the morning mist.
They will soon disappear like the early dew.
They will be like straw
that the wind blows around on a threshing floor.
They will be like smoke
that escapes through a window.
4 The Lord says,
"People of Israel, I am the Lord your God.
I brought you out of Egypt.
You must not recognize any God but me.
You must not have any Savior except me.
5 I took care of you in the desert.
It was a land of burning heat.
6 I fed you until you were satisfied.
Then you became proud.
You forgot all about me.
7 So I will leap on you like a lion.
I will hide and wait
beside the road like a leopard.
8 I will attack you like a bear
that is robbed of her cubs.
I will rip you wide open.
Like a lion I will eat you up.
Like a wild animal I will tear you apart.
9 "Israel, you will be destroyed.
I helped you. But you turned against me.
10 Where is your king?
Wasn't he supposed to save you?
Where are the rulers in all of your towns?
You said, 'Give us a king and princes.'
11 So I became angry and gave you a king.
Then I took him away from you.
12 Ephraim, your guilt is piling up.
I am keeping a record of all of your sins.
13 You will suffer pain like a woman having a baby.
You are like a foolish child.
It is time for you to be born.
But you refuse to come out of your mother's body.
14 "I will set you free from the power of the grave.
I will save you from death.
Death, where are your plagues?
Grave, where is your power to destroy?
"Ephraim, I will no longer pity you.
15 Even though you are doing well among the other tribes,
trouble will come to you.
I will send a hot and dry wind from the east.
It will blow in from the desert.
Your springs will not have any water.
Your wells will dry up.
All of your treasures
will be taken out of your storerooms.
16 People of Samaria, you must pay for your sins.
You have refused to obey me.
You will be killed with swords.
Your little children will be smashed on the ground.
Your pregnant women will be ripped wide open."
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Text: Main point: Called to be responsible
Don't be complacent
Past greatness is no guarantee of future blessing (v 1), for we cannot store up grace and favour with God as we do money in a bank. We cannot live off our past experiences of God, however fantastic they were, but rather we are called to enjoy new and greater experiences. This is our responsibility.
God is angered by Israel's complacency, as this leaves little room for him in their thoughts, indeed it allows for worship of false gods (v 2). As responsible disciples, we should not attempt to square a God of love with a God who appears to permit the death of babies (v 16), but ask instead what we can do to limit human suffering.
Holy God
What we see here is the outworking of irresponsibility, wherein people reap the whirlwind of what they sowed. God does not take pleasure in the death of anyone, much less children (see Luke 17:2), but he is holy and must punish sin wherever it is found.
We must take up our responsibility to share his love so that few will be lost. We know the one true God and have the responsibility to ensure that others do not become complacent, as we have seen the consequences of that today.
Michael Wardlow
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Choose from today's activities...
Respond: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=14993&activityid=81257
Deeper study: Hear love's call: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=14993&activityid=81258
Visualisation: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=14993&activityid=81259
Bible in a year: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=14993&activityid=79988
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Choose from this week's activities...
Welcome: Dark days: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=14988&activityid=81407
WordLive for small groups: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=14988&activityid=81408
WordLive Forum: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=14988&activityid=77078
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Support WordLive
We'd love you to support WordLive. If you'd like to make a donation, please visit http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/91202.id?in=WLDEP
Prayer : Prepare
Don't let your relationship with God disappear like a morning mist. Hold on to something solid.
Hosea 13:1-16
'An east wind from the LORD will come, blowing in from the desert; his spring will fail and his well dry up. His storehouse will be plundered of all its treasures.'
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Bible passage: Hosea 13:1-16
Hosea 13
The Lord Is Angry With Israel
1 When the tribe of Ephraim spoke,
the other tribes trembled with fear.
Ephraim was honored in Israel.
But its people sinned by worshiping Baal.
So they were as good as dead.
2 Now they sin more and more.
They use their silver
to make statues of gods for themselves.
The statues come from their own clever ideas.
Skilled workers make all of them.
The people pray to those gods.
They offer human sacrifices to them.
They kiss the gods that look like calves.
3 So those people will vanish like the morning mist.
They will soon disappear like the early dew.
They will be like straw
that the wind blows around on a threshing floor.
They will be like smoke
that escapes through a window.
4 The Lord says,
"People of Israel, I am the Lord your God.
I brought you out of Egypt.
You must not recognize any God but me.
You must not have any Savior except me.
5 I took care of you in the desert.
It was a land of burning heat.
6 I fed you until you were satisfied.
Then you became proud.
You forgot all about me.
7 So I will leap on you like a lion.
I will hide and wait
beside the road like a leopard.
8 I will attack you like a bear
that is robbed of her cubs.
I will rip you wide open.
Like a lion I will eat you up.
Like a wild animal I will tear you apart.
9 "Israel, you will be destroyed.
I helped you. But you turned against me.
10 Where is your king?
Wasn't he supposed to save you?
Where are the rulers in all of your towns?
You said, 'Give us a king and princes.'
11 So I became angry and gave you a king.
Then I took him away from you.
12 Ephraim, your guilt is piling up.
I am keeping a record of all of your sins.
13 You will suffer pain like a woman having a baby.
You are like a foolish child.
It is time for you to be born.
But you refuse to come out of your mother's body.
14 "I will set you free from the power of the grave.
I will save you from death.
Death, where are your plagues?
Grave, where is your power to destroy?
"Ephraim, I will no longer pity you.
15 Even though you are doing well among the other tribes,
trouble will come to you.
I will send a hot and dry wind from the east.
It will blow in from the desert.
Your springs will not have any water.
Your wells will dry up.
All of your treasures
will be taken out of your storerooms.
16 People of Samaria, you must pay for your sins.
You have refused to obey me.
You will be killed with swords.
Your little children will be smashed on the ground.
Your pregnant women will be ripped wide open."
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Text: Main point: Called to be responsible
Don't be complacent
Past greatness is no guarantee of future blessing (v 1), for we cannot store up grace and favour with God as we do money in a bank. We cannot live off our past experiences of God, however fantastic they were, but rather we are called to enjoy new and greater experiences. This is our responsibility.
God is angered by Israel's complacency, as this leaves little room for him in their thoughts, indeed it allows for worship of false gods (v 2). As responsible disciples, we should not attempt to square a God of love with a God who appears to permit the death of babies (v 16), but ask instead what we can do to limit human suffering.
Holy God
What we see here is the outworking of irresponsibility, wherein people reap the whirlwind of what they sowed. God does not take pleasure in the death of anyone, much less children (see Luke 17:2), but he is holy and must punish sin wherever it is found.
We must take up our responsibility to share his love so that few will be lost. We know the one true God and have the responsibility to ensure that others do not become complacent, as we have seen the consequences of that today.
Michael Wardlow
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Choose from today's activities...
Respond: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=14993&activityid=81257
Deeper study: Hear love's call: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=14993&activityid=81258
Visualisation: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=14993&activityid=81259
Bible in a year: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=14993&activityid=79988
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Choose from this week's activities...
Welcome: Dark days: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=14988&activityid=81407
WordLive for small groups: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=14988&activityid=81408
WordLive Forum: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=14988&activityid=77078
--------------------------------------------------------------------
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Enter the dragon
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Prayer : Prepare
There's a place, prepared for you, where you can find care and safety. Go there now: seek God's refuge.
Revelation 12:1-17
'A great and wondrous sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet and a crown of twelve stars on her head.'
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Bible passage: Revelation 12:1-17
Revelation 12
The Woman and the Dragon
1 A great and miraculous sign appeared in heaven. It was a woman wearing the sun like clothes. The moon was under her feet. On her head she wore a crown of 12 stars. 2 She was pregnant. She cried out in pain because she was about to have a baby.
3 Then another sign appeared in heaven. It was a huge red dragon. He had seven heads and ten horns. On his seven heads he wore seven crowns. 4 His tail swept a third of the stars out of the sky. It threw them down to earth.
The dragon stood in front of the woman who was about to have a baby. He wanted to eat her child the moment it was born.
5 She gave birth to a son. He will rule all the nations with an iron rod. Her child was taken up to God and to his throne.
6 The woman escaped into the desert where God had a place prepared for her. There she would be taken care of for 1,260 days.
7 There was war in heaven. Michael and his angels fought against the dragon. And the dragon and his angels fought back. 8 But the dragon wasn't strong enough. He and his angels lost their place in heaven.
9 The great dragon was thrown down to the earth, and his angels with him. The dragon is that old serpent called the devil, or Satan. He leads the whole world down the wrong path.
10 Then I heard a loud voice in heaven. It said,
"Now the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God have come.
The authority of his Christ has come.
Satan, who brings charges against our brothers and sisters,
has been thrown down.
He brings charges against them before our God day and night.
11 They overcame him
because the Lamb gave his life's blood for them.
They overcame him
by giving witness about Jesus to others.
They were willing to risk their lives,
even if it led to death.
12 So be joyful, you heavens!
Be glad, all you who live there!
But how terrible it will be for the earth and the sea!
The devil has come down to you.
He is very angry.
He knows his time is short."
13 The dragon saw that he had been thrown down to the earth. So he chased the woman who had given birth to the boy.
14 The woman was given the two wings of a great eagle so that she could fly away. She could fly to the place prepared for her in the desert. There she would be taken care of for three and a half years. She would be out of the serpent's reach.
15 Then the serpent spit water like a river out of his mouth. He wanted to catch her and sweep her away in the flood. 16 But the earth helped the woman. It opened its mouth and swallowed the river that the dragon had spit out.
17 The dragon was very angry with the woman. He went off to make war against the rest of her children. They obey God's commands and hold firmly to what Jesus has said.
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Text: Main point: Enter the dragon
God's work
You may recognise biblical parallels in today's reading, reminding you perhaps of:
● the fall (v 15)
● the exodus (v 6)
● Joseph's dream (v 1; see Genesis 37:9)
● Jesus' birth (v 5) and ascension
● maybe even Paul's teaching on the second coming (v 2a)
John is reminded of the history of God's work among his people, as his vision moves swiftly towards the final consummation.
The witness
The heavenly battle scene (vs 7-9) is new and, whether or not this refers back to Satan's attempt to overthrow God in the beginning, or whether it refers to the prelude to the final days, should not concern us too much. The fact is that God has overcome (v 10b) and through Jesus' death (v 11a) has achieved a victory which empowers a witness (v 11b) able to face death without fear (v 11c).
Indeed our English word 'martyr' is a transliteration of a Greek verb meaning 'to witness'. Certainly witnessing for God in the early church era sometimes carried with it the possibility of martyrdom.
God's people will face trouble for sure (v 17), and even martyrdom in some countries today, but our God is able to sustain us (v 10).
Michael Wardlow
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Choose from today's activities...
Audio Bible passage: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=14991&activityid=81236
Respond: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=14991&activityid=81238
Deeper study: Victory assured: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=14991&activityid=81239
Background: Who is the angel Michael? : http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=14991&activityid=81240
The dragon: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=14991&activityid=81241
Safe: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=14991&activityid=81242
Podcast: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=14991&activityid=81243
Bible in a year: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=14991&activityid=79986
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Choose from this week's activities...
Welcome: Dark days: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=14988&activityid=81407
WordLive for small groups: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=14988&activityid=81408
WordLive Forum: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=14988&activityid=77078
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Support WordLive
We'd love you to support WordLive. If you'd like to make a donation, please visit http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/91202.id?in=WLDEP
Prayer : Prepare
There's a place, prepared for you, where you can find care and safety. Go there now: seek God's refuge.
Revelation 12:1-17
'A great and wondrous sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet and a crown of twelve stars on her head.'
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Bible passage: Revelation 12:1-17
Revelation 12
The Woman and the Dragon
1 A great and miraculous sign appeared in heaven. It was a woman wearing the sun like clothes. The moon was under her feet. On her head she wore a crown of 12 stars. 2 She was pregnant. She cried out in pain because she was about to have a baby.
3 Then another sign appeared in heaven. It was a huge red dragon. He had seven heads and ten horns. On his seven heads he wore seven crowns. 4 His tail swept a third of the stars out of the sky. It threw them down to earth.
The dragon stood in front of the woman who was about to have a baby. He wanted to eat her child the moment it was born.
5 She gave birth to a son. He will rule all the nations with an iron rod. Her child was taken up to God and to his throne.
6 The woman escaped into the desert where God had a place prepared for her. There she would be taken care of for 1,260 days.
7 There was war in heaven. Michael and his angels fought against the dragon. And the dragon and his angels fought back. 8 But the dragon wasn't strong enough. He and his angels lost their place in heaven.
9 The great dragon was thrown down to the earth, and his angels with him. The dragon is that old serpent called the devil, or Satan. He leads the whole world down the wrong path.
10 Then I heard a loud voice in heaven. It said,
"Now the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God have come.
The authority of his Christ has come.
Satan, who brings charges against our brothers and sisters,
has been thrown down.
He brings charges against them before our God day and night.
11 They overcame him
because the Lamb gave his life's blood for them.
They overcame him
by giving witness about Jesus to others.
They were willing to risk their lives,
even if it led to death.
12 So be joyful, you heavens!
Be glad, all you who live there!
But how terrible it will be for the earth and the sea!
The devil has come down to you.
He is very angry.
He knows his time is short."
13 The dragon saw that he had been thrown down to the earth. So he chased the woman who had given birth to the boy.
14 The woman was given the two wings of a great eagle so that she could fly away. She could fly to the place prepared for her in the desert. There she would be taken care of for three and a half years. She would be out of the serpent's reach.
15 Then the serpent spit water like a river out of his mouth. He wanted to catch her and sweep her away in the flood. 16 But the earth helped the woman. It opened its mouth and swallowed the river that the dragon had spit out.
17 The dragon was very angry with the woman. He went off to make war against the rest of her children. They obey God's commands and hold firmly to what Jesus has said.
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Text: Main point: Enter the dragon
God's work
You may recognise biblical parallels in today's reading, reminding you perhaps of:
● the fall (v 15)
● the exodus (v 6)
● Joseph's dream (v 1; see Genesis 37:9)
● Jesus' birth (v 5) and ascension
● maybe even Paul's teaching on the second coming (v 2a)
John is reminded of the history of God's work among his people, as his vision moves swiftly towards the final consummation.
The witness
The heavenly battle scene (vs 7-9) is new and, whether or not this refers back to Satan's attempt to overthrow God in the beginning, or whether it refers to the prelude to the final days, should not concern us too much. The fact is that God has overcome (v 10b) and through Jesus' death (v 11a) has achieved a victory which empowers a witness (v 11b) able to face death without fear (v 11c).
Indeed our English word 'martyr' is a transliteration of a Greek verb meaning 'to witness'. Certainly witnessing for God in the early church era sometimes carried with it the possibility of martyrdom.
God's people will face trouble for sure (v 17), and even martyrdom in some countries today, but our God is able to sustain us (v 10).
Michael Wardlow
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Choose from today's activities...
Audio Bible passage: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=14991&activityid=81236
Respond: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=14991&activityid=81238
Deeper study: Victory assured: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=14991&activityid=81239
Background: Who is the angel Michael? : http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=14991&activityid=81240
The dragon: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=14991&activityid=81241
Safe: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=14991&activityid=81242
Podcast: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=14991&activityid=81243
Bible in a year: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=14991&activityid=79986
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Choose from this week's activities...
Welcome: Dark days: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=14988&activityid=81407
WordLive for small groups: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=14988&activityid=81408
WordLive Forum: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=14988&activityid=77078
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Support WordLive
We'd love you to support WordLive. If you'd like to make a donation, please visit http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/91202.id?in=WLDEP
Our God reigns
http://www.wordlive.org
Prayer : Prepare
Feeling shaken, overwhelmed, defeated? Receive God's breath of life; enjoy his victory and his presence.
Revelation 11:1-19
'I was given a reed like a measuring rod and was told, "Go and measure the temple of God and the altar, with its worshippers.'
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Bible passage: Revelation 11:1-19
Revelation 11
The Two Witnesses
1 I was given a long stick that looked like a measuring rod. I was told, "Go and measure the temple of God and the altar. Count the worshipers who are there. 2 But do not measure the outer courtyard. It has been given to those who aren't Jews. They will overrun the holy city for 42 months.
3 "I will give power to my two witnesses. They will prophesy for 1,260 days. They will be dressed in black clothes to show how sad they are."
4 The witnesses are the two olive trees and the two lampstands that stand in front of the Lord of the earth. 5 If anyone tries to harm them, fire comes from their mouths and eats up their enemies. This is how anyone who wants to harm them must die.
6 These witnesses have power to close up the sky. Then it will not rain while they are prophesying. They also have power to turn the waters into blood. And they can strike the earth with every kind of plague as often as they want to.
7 When they have finished giving their witness, the beast that comes up from the Abyss will attack them. He will overpower them and kill them. 8 Their bodies will lie in the street of the great city where their Lord was nailed to the cross. The city is sometimes pictured as Sodom, or as Egypt.
9 For three and a half days, people from every tribe, language and nation will stare at their bodies. They will refuse to bury them. 10 Those who live on the earth will be happy about this and will celebrate. They will send each other gifts, because these two prophets had made them suffer.
11 But after the three and a half days, a breath of life from God entered the two witnesses. They stood up. Terror struck those who saw them.
12 Then the two witnesses heard a loud voice from heaven. It said to them, "Come up here." They went up to heaven in a cloud. Their enemies watched it happen.
13 At that very hour there was a powerful earthquake. A tenth of the city crumbled and fell. In the earthquake, 7,000 people were killed. Those who lived through it were terrified. They gave glory to the God of heaven.
14 The second terrible judgment has passed. The third is coming soon.
The Seventh Trumpet
15 The seventh angel blew his trumpet. There were loud voices in heaven. They said,
"The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ.
He will rule for ever and ever."
16 The 24 elders were sitting on their thrones in front of God. They fell on their faces and worshiped God. 17 They said,
"Lord God who rules over all, we give thanks to you.
You are the One who is and who was.
We give you thanks because you have taken your great power
and have begun to rule.
18 The nations were angry,
and the time for your anger has come.
The time has come to judge the dead.
It is time to reward your servants the prophets
and your own people and those who honor you.
There is a reward for all your people,
both great and small.
It is time to destroy
those who destroy the earth."
19 Then God's temple in heaven was opened. Inside it the wooden chest called the ark of his covenant could be seen. There were flashes of lightning, rumblings and thunder, an earthquake and a great hailstorm.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Text: Main point: Our God reigns
Understanding the message
Despite the fact that hundreds of books have been written on this passage, we are still unable to say with any authority that we know the identity of the Beast of Revelation! But this lack of knowledge does not hinder us in understanding the core of the message.
God allows John to measure the temple (probably symbolising the Church), demonstrating that God alone is its architect and protector (v 5).
God's power
Despite the emergence of the beast who represents all that is evil and depraved, and who eventually causes the death of God's witnesses (v 7), God demonstrates his greater power when he raises the witnesses to life again, before taking them to be with him in glory (v 12).
Their resurrection was only possible because of the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ, who reigns with his Father in heaven (v 15).
What the Beast falsely claimed as his kingdom is now revealed as God's kingdom in a very visible and powerful way (v 13). And while God's show of power strikes terror into the hearts of those who have mocked the Church and abused God's children, it is celebrated in heaven by the saints (v 17) with a remarkable hymn of praise.
Michael Wardlow
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Choose from today's activities...
Audio Bible passage: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=14990&activityid=81226
Respond: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=14990&activityid=81228
Deeper study: Go and tell: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=14990&activityid=81229
Background: The two witnesses? : http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=14990&activityid=81230
The time is now: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=14990&activityid=81231
Worship song: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=14990&activityid=81232
Podcast: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=14990&activityid=81233
Bible in a year: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=14990&activityid=79985
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Choose from this week's activities...
Welcome: Dark days: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=14988&activityid=81407
WordLive for small groups: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=14988&activityid=81408
WordLive Forum: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=14988&activityid=77078
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Support WordLive
We'd love you to support WordLive. If you'd like to make a donation, please visit http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/91202.id?in=WLDEP
Prayer : Prepare
Feeling shaken, overwhelmed, defeated? Receive God's breath of life; enjoy his victory and his presence.
Revelation 11:1-19
'I was given a reed like a measuring rod and was told, "Go and measure the temple of God and the altar, with its worshippers.'
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Bible passage: Revelation 11:1-19
Revelation 11
The Two Witnesses
1 I was given a long stick that looked like a measuring rod. I was told, "Go and measure the temple of God and the altar. Count the worshipers who are there. 2 But do not measure the outer courtyard. It has been given to those who aren't Jews. They will overrun the holy city for 42 months.
3 "I will give power to my two witnesses. They will prophesy for 1,260 days. They will be dressed in black clothes to show how sad they are."
4 The witnesses are the two olive trees and the two lampstands that stand in front of the Lord of the earth. 5 If anyone tries to harm them, fire comes from their mouths and eats up their enemies. This is how anyone who wants to harm them must die.
6 These witnesses have power to close up the sky. Then it will not rain while they are prophesying. They also have power to turn the waters into blood. And they can strike the earth with every kind of plague as often as they want to.
7 When they have finished giving their witness, the beast that comes up from the Abyss will attack them. He will overpower them and kill them. 8 Their bodies will lie in the street of the great city where their Lord was nailed to the cross. The city is sometimes pictured as Sodom, or as Egypt.
9 For three and a half days, people from every tribe, language and nation will stare at their bodies. They will refuse to bury them. 10 Those who live on the earth will be happy about this and will celebrate. They will send each other gifts, because these two prophets had made them suffer.
11 But after the three and a half days, a breath of life from God entered the two witnesses. They stood up. Terror struck those who saw them.
12 Then the two witnesses heard a loud voice from heaven. It said to them, "Come up here." They went up to heaven in a cloud. Their enemies watched it happen.
13 At that very hour there was a powerful earthquake. A tenth of the city crumbled and fell. In the earthquake, 7,000 people were killed. Those who lived through it were terrified. They gave glory to the God of heaven.
14 The second terrible judgment has passed. The third is coming soon.
The Seventh Trumpet
15 The seventh angel blew his trumpet. There were loud voices in heaven. They said,
"The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ.
He will rule for ever and ever."
16 The 24 elders were sitting on their thrones in front of God. They fell on their faces and worshiped God. 17 They said,
"Lord God who rules over all, we give thanks to you.
You are the One who is and who was.
We give you thanks because you have taken your great power
and have begun to rule.
18 The nations were angry,
and the time for your anger has come.
The time has come to judge the dead.
It is time to reward your servants the prophets
and your own people and those who honor you.
There is a reward for all your people,
both great and small.
It is time to destroy
those who destroy the earth."
19 Then God's temple in heaven was opened. Inside it the wooden chest called the ark of his covenant could be seen. There were flashes of lightning, rumblings and thunder, an earthquake and a great hailstorm.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Text: Main point: Our God reigns
Understanding the message
Despite the fact that hundreds of books have been written on this passage, we are still unable to say with any authority that we know the identity of the Beast of Revelation! But this lack of knowledge does not hinder us in understanding the core of the message.
God allows John to measure the temple (probably symbolising the Church), demonstrating that God alone is its architect and protector (v 5).
God's power
Despite the emergence of the beast who represents all that is evil and depraved, and who eventually causes the death of God's witnesses (v 7), God demonstrates his greater power when he raises the witnesses to life again, before taking them to be with him in glory (v 12).
Their resurrection was only possible because of the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ, who reigns with his Father in heaven (v 15).
What the Beast falsely claimed as his kingdom is now revealed as God's kingdom in a very visible and powerful way (v 13). And while God's show of power strikes terror into the hearts of those who have mocked the Church and abused God's children, it is celebrated in heaven by the saints (v 17) with a remarkable hymn of praise.
Michael Wardlow
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Choose from today's activities...
Audio Bible passage: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=14990&activityid=81226
Respond: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=14990&activityid=81228
Deeper study: Go and tell: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=14990&activityid=81229
Background: The two witnesses? : http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=14990&activityid=81230
The time is now: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=14990&activityid=81231
Worship song: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=14990&activityid=81232
Podcast: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=14990&activityid=81233
Bible in a year: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=14990&activityid=79985
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Choose from this week's activities...
Welcome: Dark days: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=14988&activityid=81407
WordLive for small groups: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=14988&activityid=81408
WordLive Forum: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=14988&activityid=77078
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Support WordLive
We'd love you to support WordLive. If you'd like to make a donation, please visit http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/91202.id?in=WLDEP
Sweet and sour
WordLive Daily Email http://www.wordlive.org
Prayer : Prepare
When did you last get a personal letter? Hear God's message, hand-delivered by angel, especially for you.
Revelation 10:1-11
'Then I saw another mighty angel coming down from heaven. He was robed in a cloud, with a rainbow above his head; his face was like the sun, and his legs were like fiery pillars.'
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Bible passage: Revelation 10:1-11
Revelation 10
The Angel and the Little Scroll
1 Then I saw another mighty angel coming down from heaven. He was wearing a cloud like a robe. There was a rainbow above his head. His face was like the sun. His legs were like pillars of fire.
2 He was holding a little scroll. It was lying open in his hand. The angel put his right foot on the sea and his left foot on the land. 3 Then he gave a loud shout like the roar of a lion. When he shouted, the voices of the seven thunders spoke.
4 When they had spoken, I was getting ready to write. But I heard a voice from heaven say, "Seal up what the seven thunders have said. Do not write it down."
5 Then the angel I had seen standing on the sea and on the land raised his right hand to heaven. 6 He made a promise in the name of the One who lives for ever and ever. He took an oath in the name of the One who created the sky, earth and sea and all that is in them. He said, "There will be no more waiting! 7 But in the days when the seventh angel is ready to blow his trumpet, the last part of God's plan will be carried out. God told all this to the prophets who served him long ago."
8 Then the voice I had heard from heaven spoke to me again. It said, "Go and take the scroll from the angel standing on the sea and on the land. It is lying open in his hand."
9 So I went to the angel and asked him to give me the little scroll. He said to me, "Take it and eat it. It will become sour in your stomach. But in your mouth it will taste as sweet as honey." 10 I took the little scroll from the angel's hand and ate it. In my mouth it tasted as sweet as honey. But when I had eaten it, it became sour in my stomach. 11 Then I was told, "You must prophesy again about many peoples, nations, languages and kings."
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Text: Main point: Sweet and sour
Angels
Angels are back in style. There are angel cards, angel guides, shops selling angel merchandise, websites offering advice on how to understand their roles, and films in which they are leading protagonists.
Our views on the world are moulded through images, media and what we hear others say. So it is with angels.
No ordinary angel
Our concept is probably that they are human sized, shiny white, with wings and a harp and are, in the main, fairly innocuous. If this is so, then yesterday's passage perhaps threw us, as angels appeared to be leading a host of armies that murdered thousands.
And today, well, this is certainly no ordinary angel. He is huge, straddling land and sea as he demonstrates God's rule over all. He roars like a lion and is surrounded by rainbows and clouds.
God's word
The show of strength, however, is not designed to draw attention to the messenger, but to the message. It is a reminder of God's sovereignty (v 7b), for time is short (v 6b).
The scroll John receives is God's word - sweet tasting to those who believe, but a sour flavour for those who reject him. John's duty is to preach this word however unpalatable it might be. So it is with us.
Michael Wardlow
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Prayer : Respond
● List the people close to you who don't yet know Christ. Bring each one to him in prayer.
● Share what concerns you have for them. Tell the Lord what you think they need most of all.
● Ask him how you can love them best.
● Give him time to tell you something you can do. It might seem to be nothing dramatic, but be willing to do whatever he tells you.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Choose from today's activities...
Audio Bible passage: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=14989&activityid=81215
Deeper study: Taste and speak: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=14989&activityid=81218
Background: The magnificent seven: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=14989&activityid=81219
Scratch and sniff: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=14989&activityid=81220
Over the rainbow: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=14989&activityid=81221
Podcast: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=14989&activityid=81223
Bible in a year: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=14989&activityid=79984
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Choose from this week's activities...
Welcome: Dark days: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=14988&activityid=81407
WordLive for small groups: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=14988&activityid=81408
WordLive Forum: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=14988&activityid=77078
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Support WordLive
We'd love you to support WordLive. If you'd like to make a donation, please visit http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/91202.id?in=WLDEP
Prayer : Prepare
When did you last get a personal letter? Hear God's message, hand-delivered by angel, especially for you.
Revelation 10:1-11
'Then I saw another mighty angel coming down from heaven. He was robed in a cloud, with a rainbow above his head; his face was like the sun, and his legs were like fiery pillars.'
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Bible passage: Revelation 10:1-11
Revelation 10
The Angel and the Little Scroll
1 Then I saw another mighty angel coming down from heaven. He was wearing a cloud like a robe. There was a rainbow above his head. His face was like the sun. His legs were like pillars of fire.
2 He was holding a little scroll. It was lying open in his hand. The angel put his right foot on the sea and his left foot on the land. 3 Then he gave a loud shout like the roar of a lion. When he shouted, the voices of the seven thunders spoke.
4 When they had spoken, I was getting ready to write. But I heard a voice from heaven say, "Seal up what the seven thunders have said. Do not write it down."
5 Then the angel I had seen standing on the sea and on the land raised his right hand to heaven. 6 He made a promise in the name of the One who lives for ever and ever. He took an oath in the name of the One who created the sky, earth and sea and all that is in them. He said, "There will be no more waiting! 7 But in the days when the seventh angel is ready to blow his trumpet, the last part of God's plan will be carried out. God told all this to the prophets who served him long ago."
8 Then the voice I had heard from heaven spoke to me again. It said, "Go and take the scroll from the angel standing on the sea and on the land. It is lying open in his hand."
9 So I went to the angel and asked him to give me the little scroll. He said to me, "Take it and eat it. It will become sour in your stomach. But in your mouth it will taste as sweet as honey." 10 I took the little scroll from the angel's hand and ate it. In my mouth it tasted as sweet as honey. But when I had eaten it, it became sour in my stomach. 11 Then I was told, "You must prophesy again about many peoples, nations, languages and kings."
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Text: Main point: Sweet and sour
Angels
Angels are back in style. There are angel cards, angel guides, shops selling angel merchandise, websites offering advice on how to understand their roles, and films in which they are leading protagonists.
Our views on the world are moulded through images, media and what we hear others say. So it is with angels.
No ordinary angel
Our concept is probably that they are human sized, shiny white, with wings and a harp and are, in the main, fairly innocuous. If this is so, then yesterday's passage perhaps threw us, as angels appeared to be leading a host of armies that murdered thousands.
And today, well, this is certainly no ordinary angel. He is huge, straddling land and sea as he demonstrates God's rule over all. He roars like a lion and is surrounded by rainbows and clouds.
God's word
The show of strength, however, is not designed to draw attention to the messenger, but to the message. It is a reminder of God's sovereignty (v 7b), for time is short (v 6b).
The scroll John receives is God's word - sweet tasting to those who believe, but a sour flavour for those who reject him. John's duty is to preach this word however unpalatable it might be. So it is with us.
Michael Wardlow
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Prayer : Respond
● List the people close to you who don't yet know Christ. Bring each one to him in prayer.
● Share what concerns you have for them. Tell the Lord what you think they need most of all.
● Ask him how you can love them best.
● Give him time to tell you something you can do. It might seem to be nothing dramatic, but be willing to do whatever he tells you.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Choose from today's activities...
Audio Bible passage: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=14989&activityid=81215
Deeper study: Taste and speak: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=14989&activityid=81218
Background: The magnificent seven: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=14989&activityid=81219
Scratch and sniff: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=14989&activityid=81220
Over the rainbow: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=14989&activityid=81221
Podcast: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=14989&activityid=81223
Bible in a year: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=14989&activityid=79984
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Choose from this week's activities...
Welcome: Dark days: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=14988&activityid=81407
WordLive for small groups: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=14988&activityid=81408
WordLive Forum: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=14988&activityid=77078
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