Out of the night that covers me, Black as the pit from pole to pole, I thank whatever gods may be For my unconquerable soul. In the fell clutch of circumstance I have not winced nor cried aloud. Under the bludgeonings of chance My head is bloody, but unbowed. Beyond this place of wrath and tears Looms but the Horror of the shade, And yet the menace of the years Finds and shall find me unafraid. It matters not how strait the gate, How charged with punishments the scroll, I am the master of my fate, I am the captain of my soul.

To whom is he thankful?

Joshua prayers

Not giving thanks: Ignoring the obvious (the background stuff): Romans 1:18-20

“The year that is drawing towards its close, has been filled with the blessings of fruitful fields and healthful skies. To these bounties, which are so constantly enjoyed that we are prone to forget the source from which they come, others have been added, which are of so extraordinary a nature, that they cannot fail to penetrate and soften even the heart which is habitually insensible to the ever watchful providence of Almighty God.”

Not giving thanks: Ignoring the obvious (the background stuff): Romans 1:18-20 Tympanic membranes / the shape of blood cells the iris / alveoli

Not giving thanks: Ignoring the obvious (the background stuff): Romans 1:18-20 Psalm 8:3-5; 19:1-4; Job This begins the decline: liberal theology

Not giving thanks: Ignoring the obvious (the background stuff): Romans 1:18-20 Lack of interest in the giver: God doesn’t really matter: 21a like the child who fails to appreciate their good parents neglect of relationship avoidance of accountability

Not giving thanks: Ignoring the obvious (the background stuff): Romans 1:18-20 Lack of interest in the giver: God doesn’t really matter: 21a Rationality becomes faulty: 21b-22 The mental disconnect must be reinforced with further faulty logic / evidence. Jeremiah 2:13 It is a rebellious thing, to intentionally choose and pursue that which you know to be false, wanting it to be true.

Not giving thanks: Ignoring the obvious (the background stuff): Romans 1:18-20 Lack of interest in the giver: God doesn’t really matter: 21a Rationality becomes faulty: 21b-22 Credit goes else where (or no where) 1:23 Genesis 11 / Jeremiah 2:27-28

Not giving thanks: Ignoring the obvious (the background stuff): Romans 1:18-20 Lack of interest in the giver: God doesn’t really matter: 21a Rationality becomes faulty: 21b-22 Credit goes else where (or no where) 1:23 Social and moral decay because there is no base, no anchor 1:24-32

Not giving thanks: Ignoring the obvious (the background stuff): Romans 1:18-20 Lack of interest in the giver: God doesn’t really matter: 21a Rationality becomes faulty: 21b-22 Credit goes else where (or no where) 1:23 Social and moral decay because there is no base, no anchor 1: Complete moral relativity where the only sin is to say “wrong”.

Psalm 100 ~ A psalm. For giving thanks. Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth. Worship the LORD with gladness; come before him with joyful songs. Know that the LORD is God. It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture. Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name. For the LORD is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations.

Psalm 100 ~ A psalm. For giving thanks. Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth. Worship the LORD with gladness; come before him with joyful songs. ~~~~~~~~~~ Shout Shout ~ literally: to mar; figuratively: to split the ears with sound in the context of joy or alarm It is a pretty loud shout, seeing that it is supposed to be heard by all the earth...

Psalm 100 ~ A psalm. For giving thanks. Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth. Worship the LORD with gladness; come before him with joyful songs. ~~~~~~~~~~ Shout ~ We don’t do this very often... (not that it should be normative, but once in a while...) (not that it should be normative, but once in a while...)

Psalm 100 ~ A psalm. For giving thanks. Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth. Worship the LORD with gladness; come before him with joyful songs. ~~~~~~~~~~ Shout ~ Worship ~ literally: serve ~ an event and a lifestyle Romans 12:1-2

Psalm 100 ~ A psalm. For giving thanks. Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth. Worship the LORD with gladness; come before him with joyful songs. ~~~~~~~~~~ Shout ~ Worship ~ literally: serve gladness ~ rejoicing Why rejoice or be glad? Any suggestions?

Psalm 100 ~ A psalm. For giving thanks. Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth. Worship the LORD with gladness; come before him with joyful songs. ~~~~~~~~~~ Shout ~ Worship ~ literally: serve gladness ~ rejoicing joyful songs ~ sounds of triumph Sort of sounds like a party...

Psalm 100 ~ A psalm. For giving thanks. Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth. Worship the LORD with gladness; come before him with joyful songs. Know that the LORD is God. It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture. ~~~~~~~~~~ Have your theology straight In Jewish theology, God is described by what he does and who else has followed him. Rahab’s testimony “I am the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.” “Our God is the God who brought us out of Egypt.” “For what god is there in heaven or on earth who can do the deeds and mighty works you do?” Deuteronomy 10:14-22 / Psalm 136

Psalm 100 ~ A psalm. For giving thanks. Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth. Worship the LORD with gladness; come before him with joyful songs. Know that the LORD is God. It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture. ~~~~~~~~~~ Have your theology straight If we were to define God in terms of what he has done, how would we define him?

Psalm 100 ~ A psalm. For giving thanks. Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth. Worship the LORD with gladness; come before him with joyful songs. Know that the LORD is God. It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture. ~~~~~~~~~~ Have your theology straight Have you anthropology straight We are created to be like him on the earth. (Accountability) We aren’t measuring up... We aren’t measuring up... As sheep belongs to the shepherd, so we belong to God We are to serve him, not visa-versa. We are to be set apart, to exemplify his love and mercy. Purpose.

Psalm 100 ~ A psalm. For giving thanks. Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth. Worship the LORD with gladness; come before him with joyful songs. Know that the LORD is God. It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture. ~~~~~~~~~~ Have your theology straight Have you anthropology straight Walk in tight relationship to him Like sheep need a shepherd, we need him. Like sheep need a shepherd, we need him. We are incapable of self sufficiency: sheep know this. We are incapable of self sufficiency: sheep know this. Psalm 23; John 10 Psalm 23; John 10

Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name. For the LORD is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations. Psalm 100 ~ A psalm. For giving thanks. Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth. Worship the LORD with gladness; come before him with joyful songs. Know that the LORD is God. It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture. ~~~~~~~~~~ This speaks of the extension of the hands, singing and kneeling. Our bodies are to be involved in praise and worship at his place. “Holy rolling” might be a bit over the edge... Baptists aren’t usually very good at this...

Psalm 100 ~ A psalm. For giving thanks. Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name. For the LORD is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations. ~~~~~~~~~~ “good” ~ kindly disposed toward us “love” here includes the idea of faithfulness “forever” is the idea of “vanishing point”, as far as one can see and beyond. “faithfulness” ~ we are secure in him. Understand the need to pass on the life/teaching

Being thankful Acknowledges God’s place in our life and the universe (keeps our world view right) Admits your place in God’s universe (humility & accountability) Anticipates future provision (less worry) Advances our relationship (living loved)