Today's Readings and Stuff -- Sunday, 25 August 2013

Happy Sunday to all!
Today will be a bit tough for us, though nice.  We -- Dear Wife and I -- hare invited to a get-together at pastor's home along with the other deacons and wives.  This change we're planning is difficult for all of us.  I've been honored to be the primary adult Bible teacher in this small congregation since late 2006-early 2007.  It's spanned a time that's seen three pastors, two other worship leaders now gone, several deacons pass away as well as several of the older members, and a lot of  other things.  The deacon senior to me is in bad health and his wife is in worse shape than he.  All in all, a lot of highly stressful things  As well as the usual interpersonal frictions and issues.  So some of that will be the backdrop for the get-together.
Yet the Lord is still in charge, still in control, and knew about all of this long before we did.  I suspect he's smarter than we are, and His will shall  be accomplished.  We're just seeking to do his will.
So bear with us.  Lots going on, even if it may not seem that way.

The morning's reading continues in the Psalms with Psalms 124, 125, 126, 127.  I find that no matter what the circumstances, the Psalms are like a prayer book, and I can find one that is appropriate for the situation.  Our troubles are not unique to us, and neither are the victories.

Psalm 124  

1	If it had not been the LORD who was on our side, now may Israel say;
2	If it had not been the LORD who was on our side, when men rose up against us:
3	Then they had swallowed us up quick, when their wrath was kindled against us:
4	Then the waters had overwhelmed us, the stream had gone over our soul:
5	Then the proud waters had gone over our soul.
6	Blessed be the LORD, who hath not given us as a prey to their teeth.
7	Our soul is escaped as a bird out of the snare of the fowlers: the snare is broken, and we are escaped.
8	Our help is in the name of the LORD, who made heaven and earth.

Psalm 125  

1	They that trust in the LORD shall be as mount Zion, which cannot be removed, but abideth for ever.
2	As the mountains are round about Jerusalem, so the LORD is round about his people from henceforth even for ever.
3	For the rod of the wicked shall not rest upon the lot of the righteous; lest the righteous put forth their hands unto iniquity.
4	Do good, O LORD, unto those that be good, and to them that are upright in their hearts.
5	As for such as turn aside unto their crooked ways, the LORD shall lead them forth with the workers of iniquity: but peace shall be upon Israel.

Psalm 126 

1	When the LORD turned again the captivity of Zion, we were like them that dream.
2	Then was our mouth filled with laughter, and our tongue with singing: then said they among the heathen, The LORD hath done great things for them.
3	The LORD hath done great things for us; whereof we are glad.
4	Turn again our captivity, O LORD, as the streams in the south.
5	They that sow in tears shall reap in joy.
6	He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.

Psalm 127  

1	Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the LORD keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain.
2	It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows: for so he giveth his beloved sleep.
3	Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward.
4	As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so are children of the youth.
5	Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them: they shall not be ashamed, but they shall speak with the enemies in the gate.

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The evening reading in the New Testament is verse 1-24 from chapter 7 in 1st Corinthians.
Living the Christian life, especially for a new believer, can lead to a lot of questions and confusion.  Many of us, those who were raised in the faith, had a chance to see how those who had been there acted, had someone to ask, someone to be mentoring.  But Paul was dealing quite often with new churches, new believers, new situations.  Many, most of these had not come out of Judaism; many had been pagans up to the point of conversion, and most still lived in a pagan society.  The written Bible, at least the New Testament, really was still being written, and would not be widely available for a very long time.  Even if people could read, which was generally not the case.  Not surprising, then, that questions of the most basic sort came up.  Much of the Pauline letters were addressing such matters.  And some of the issues remain with us even today.

I Corinthians 7:1-24  

1	Now concerning the things whereof ye wrote unto me: It is good for a man not to touch a woman.
2	Nevertheless, to avoid fornication, let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband.
3	Let the husband render unto the wife due benevolence: and likewise also the wife unto the husband.
4	The wife hath not power of her own body, but the husband: and likewise also the husband hath not power of his own body, but the wife.
5	Defraud ye not one the other, except it be with consent for a time, that ye may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again, that Satan tempt you not for your incontinency.
6	But I speak this by permission, and not of commandment.
7	For I would that all men were even as I myself. But every man hath his proper gift of God, one after this manner, and another after that.
8	I say therefore to the unmarried and widows, It is good for them if they abide even as I.
9	But if they cannot contain, let them marry: for it is better to marry than to burn.
10	And unto the married I command, yet not I, but the Lord, Let not the wife depart from her husband:
11	But and if she depart, let her remain unmarried or be reconciled to her husband: and let not the husband put away his wife.
12	But to the rest speak I, not the Lord: If any brother hath a wife that believeth not, and she be pleased to dwell with him, let him not put her away.
13	And the woman which hath an husband that believeth not, and if he be pleased to dwell with her, let her not leave him.
14	For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband: else were your children unclean; but now are they holy.
15	But if the unbelieving depart, let him depart. A brother or a sister is not under bondage in such cases: but God hath called us to peace.
16	For what knowest thou, O wife, whether thou shalt save thy husband? or how knowest thou, O man, whether thou shalt save thy wife?
17	But as God hath distributed to every man, as the Lord hath called every one, so let him walk. And so ordain I in all churches.
18	Is any man called being circumcised? let him not become uncircumcised. Is any called in uncircumcision? let him not be circumcised.
19	Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing, but the keeping of the commandments of God.
20	Let every man abide in the same calling wherein he was called.
21	Art thou called being a servant? care not for it: but if thou mayest be made free, use it rather.
22	For he that is called in the Lord, being a servant, is the Lord's freeman: likewise also he that is called, being free, is Christ's servant.
23	Ye are bought with a price; be not ye the servants of men.
24	Brethren, let every man, wherein he is called, therein abide with God.