Today's Reading July 24

Sorry for the delay - I was traveling again, and it appears that the LaQuinta Inn on South Acadian in Baton Rouge, Louisiana has neither WiFi or a hi-speed direct Internet connection. So, having had a job interview that ran from 0900 until 1155, and then 6-1/2 hours of driving, I have come home, kissed my beloved, fed two cats, and sat down to the desk. Makes for a long long long day. Oh, and I spent an hour on the cell phone with a recruiter on the way home, might as well use that windshield time for something. At least we were done before my very near miss with some lout. I like Alabama. I don't always love Alabama drivers - this guy decided to squeeze between me and the car that just passed me, then he wanted to pull me over and get into a fistfight over it. I saw exactly ZERO Alabama state troopers on either leg of the trip and a person, who, like myself, pays even a tiny bit of attention to the speed limit is evidently an offense against the operator of the vehicle bearing Alabama registration 59J10H. He had to be doing well over 90mph when he pulled that squeeze play. I don' object to fast driving, if safe. But I-65 ain't Talladega, and most of us have neither the vehicle nor the skill set to be driving as if it were. But I guess it's not a priority here.
Tomorrow I go on another interview trip but it's ''only'' 3 hours each way and I don't have to leave out early.
Anyway ...
We continue today in the Psalms, 41, 42, and 43. As I've said before, these have some variety to them. Some are cries from the hear, intensely personal and written while something was going on. Some are more formal, intended I think for a worship service. This is of the first kind, but we'll be into the second kind soon.

Chapter 42
1 As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God.
2 My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God: when shall I come and appear before God?
3 My tears have been my meat day and night, while they continually say unto me, Where is thy God?
4 When I remember these things, I pour out my soul in me: for I had gone with the multitude, I went with them to the house of God, with the voice of joy and praise, with a multitude that kept holyday.
5 Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted in me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance.
6 O my God, my soul is cast down within me: therefore will I remember thee from the land of Jordan, and of the Hermonites, from the hill Mizar.
7 Deep calleth unto deep at the noise of thy waterspouts: all thy waves and thy billows are gone over me.
8 Yet the LORD will command his lovingkindness in the day time, and in the night his song shall be with me, and my prayer unto the God of my life.
9 I will say unto God my rock, Why hast thou forgotten me? why go I mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?
10 As with a sword in my bones, mine enemies reproach me; while they say daily unto me, Where is thy God?
11 Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God.

Our New Testament reading is from Acts 24. Paul is hauled before the Roman ruler to answer to charges relating to disturbances in Jerusalem. And so, he proclaims the Gospel to them as well. Start of a pattern here.

24 And after certain days, when Felix came with his wife Drusilla, which was a Jewess, he sent for Paul, and heard him concerning the faith in Christ.
25 And as he reasoned of righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come, Felix trembled, and answered, Go thy way for this time; when I have a convenient season, I will call for thee.