To Be or Not To Be... Circumcised, That Is.

Ethiopia-
African country with so many people groups that there are 88 languages recognized.  Parts of the country are fertile mountain plateau, surrounded by dessert.  Agriculture is the main economic resource.  In 1974 a Marxist government took control until 1991.  There was also a war with Eritrea in 1998-2000 that was very draining on the country.  Ethiopia was one of the first Christian nations, but the Marxist era brought much persecution.  Since 1991 there has been freedom of religion.  Some Islamist groups are starting to be very active and ambitious.  There has been sustained and remarkable growth of evangelicals, and the Bible is increasingly distributed.

1 Chronicles 19-21
David defeats the Philistines.  Then he takes a count of the people that the Lord did not command and so God brings his wrath.  He sent an angel to destroy many people.  Finally, He told the angel to stop when it reached the threshing floor of Ornan.  So David went to Ornan's place and asked to buy it so he could build an altar to the Lord.  Ornan offers him everything he has for the sake of serving the Lord.  David insists on paying him, and then built the altar and offered sacrifices to the Lord.

Romans 2:25-3:8
Outward circumcision does not mean much if you do not keep the law.  Those who are uncircumcised, yet keep the law will be regarded as circumcised.  It is "a matter of the heart." v. 29  Paul asks why we should be condemned if our bad choices still bring about God's truth.  He says that it is God's righteous choice to "inflict wrath on us." v. 5

Psalm 11
When our refuge is in the Lord, we need not fear the plans of the enemy.  The Lord is righteous and He loves righteous deeds.

Proverbs 19:10-12
v. 11 "Good sense makes one slow to anger, and it is his glory to overlook an offense."