14 December 2013

Today's Readings and Stuff -- Saturday, 14 December 2013

this will be brief
Cold here and in the middle of a snowstorm that began in the middle of the night and is expected to last all day long, and dump around a foot of snow on us.  And Dear Wife is not doing well, I should take her to a doctor or something but -- in part due to the "collateral damage" of Obamacare -- I have left my job and we have neither money nor medical insurance.  My information is that my former co-workers are losing theirs as well, the company is seeing it as financially preferable to drop it for all. And we were part of the cohort that was using more resources than the 19-year-olds they prefer so I was being pushed out anyway.  Result is that Dear Wife is miserable and sick and there's not a thing I can do.  You REALLY don't want to know what's in my heart towards Obumble or the national Democrap Party right now.  Gets real up close and personal and yes, I'm bitter. Trying to be Christlike and charitable, but it's not easy.  The phrase "Liberal Fascism" that was the title of a book by Jonah Goldberg is one that raises the ire of many of the liberals, but the facts pretty well support his thesis.  And, people like us are just some of those eggs that some argue need to be broken in order to make the omelet of a New World Order.  Yes, I'm bitter.

I also know that a hundred years from now it won't matter and that this situation, like the rest of our lives, is in full view of the King of the Universe and that it has not escaped His attention.  And He loves us.  Doesn't make it easy.  Possible, yes.  Just.  And hoping for relief from worry and pain soon.

==============

The Old Testament passage is chapters 1, 2, 3 of Amos.  This is another of the "Minor Prophets:".  The Lord chose him and sent him and that should count for a lot.

1
The words of Amos, who was among the herdmen of Tekoa, which he saw concerning Israel in the days of Uzziah king of Judah, and in the days of Jeroboam the son of Joash king of Israel, two years before the earthquake.
2
And he said, The LORD will roar from Zion, and utter his voice from Jerusalem; and the habitations of the shepherds shall mourn, and the top of Carmel shall wither.
3
Thus saith the LORD; For three transgressions of Damascus, and for four, I will not turn away the punishment thereof; because they have threshed Gilead with threshing instruments of iron:
4
But I will send a fire into the house of Hazael, which shall devour the palaces of Benhadad.
5
I will break also the bar of Damascus, and cut off the inhabitant from the plain of Aven, and him that holdeth the sceptre from the house of Eden: and the people of Syria shall go into captivity unto Kir, saith the LORD.
6
Thus saith the LORD; For three transgressions of Gaza, and for four, I will not turn away the punishment thereof; because they carried away captive the whole captivity, to deliver them up to Edom:
7
But I will send a fire on the wall of Gaza, which shall devour the palaces thereof:
8
And I will cut off the inhabitant from Ashdod, and him that holdeth the sceptre from Ashkelon, and I will turn mine hand against Ekron: and the remnant of the Philistines shall perish, saith the Lord GOD.
9
Thus saith the LORD; For three transgressions of Tyrus, and for four, I will not turn away the punishment thereof; because they delivered up the whole captivity to Edom, and remembered not the brotherly covenant:
10
But I will send a fire on the wall of Tyrus, which shall devour the palaces thereof.
11
Thus saith the LORD; For three transgressions of Edom, and for four, I will not turn away the punishment thereof; because he did pursue his brother with the sword, and did cast off all pity, and his anger did tear perpetually, and he kept his wrath for ever:
12
But I will send a fire upon Teman, which shall devour the palaces of Bozrah.
13
Thus saith the LORD; For three transgressions of the children of Ammon, and for four, I will not turn away the punishment thereof; because they have ripped up the women with child of Gilead, that they might enlarge their border:
14
But I will kindle a fire in the wall of Rabbah, and it shall devour the palaces thereof, with shouting in the day of battle, with a tempest in the day of the whirlwind:
15
And their king shall go into captivity, he and his princes together, saith the LORD.


1
Thus saith the LORD; For three transgressions of Moab, and for four, I will not turn away the punishment thereof; because he burned the bones of the king of Edom into lime:
2
But I will send a fire upon Moab, and it shall devour the palaces of Kirioth: and Moab shall die with tumult, with shouting, and with the sound of the trumpet:
3
And I will cut off the judge from the midst thereof, and will slay all the princes thereof with him, saith the LORD.
4
Thus saith the LORD; For three transgressions of Judah, and for four, I will not turn away the punishment thereof; because they have despised the law of the LORD, and have not kept his commandments, and their lies caused them to err, after the which their fathers have walked:
5
But I will send a fire upon Judah, and it shall devour the palaces of Jerusalem.
6
Thus saith the LORD; For three transgressions of Israel, and for four, I will not turn away the punishment thereof; because they sold the righteous for silver, and the poor for a pair of shoes;
7
That pant after the dust of the earth on the head of the poor, and turn aside the way of the meek: and a man and his father will go in unto the same maid, to profane my holy name:
8
And they lay themselves down upon clothes laid to pledge by every altar, and they drink the wine of the condemned in the house of their god.
9
Yet destroyed I the Amorite before them, whose height was like the height of the cedars, and he was strong as the oaks; yet I destroyed his fruit from above, and his roots from beneath.
10
Also I brought you up from the land of Egypt, and led you forty years through the wilderness, to possess the land of the Amorite.
11
And I raised up of your sons for prophets, and of your young men for Nazarites. Is it not even thus, O ye children of Israel? saith the LORD.
12
But ye gave the Nazarites wine to drink; and commanded the prophets, saying, Prophesy not.
13
Behold, I am pressed under you, as a cart is pressed that is full of sheaves.
14
Therefore the flight shall perish from the swift, and the strong shall not strengthen his force, neither shall the mighty deliver himself:
15
Neither shall he stand that handleth the bow; and he that is swift of foot shall not deliver himself: neither shall he that rideth the horse deliver himself.
16
And he that is courageous among the mighty shall flee away naked in that day, saith the LORD.


1
Hear this word that the LORD hath spoken against you, O children of Israel, against the whole family which I brought up from the land of Egypt, saying,
2
You only have I known of all the families of the earth: therefore I will punish you for all your iniquities.
3
Can two walk together, except they be agreed?
4
Will a lion roar in the forest, when he hath no prey? will a young lion cry out of his den, if he have taken nothing?
5
Can a bird fall in a snare upon the earth, where no gin is for him? shall one take up a snare from the earth, and have taken nothing at all?
6
Shall a trumpet be blown in the city, and the people not be afraid? shall there be evil in a city, and the LORD hath not done it?
7
Surely the Lord GOD will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets.
8
The lion hath roared, who will not fear? the Lord GOD hath spoken, who can but prophesy?
9
Publish in the palaces at Ashdod, and in the palaces in the land of Egypt, and say, Assemble yourselves upon the mountains of Samaria, and behold the great tumults in the midst thereof, and the oppressed in the midst thereof.
10
For they know not to do right, saith the LORD, who store up violence and robbery in their palaces.
11
Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; An adversary there shall be even round about the land; and he shall bring down thy strength from thee, and thy palaces shall be spoiled.
12
Thus saith the LORD; As the shepherd taketh out of the mouth of the lion two legs, or a piece of an ear; so shall the children of Israel be taken out that dwell in Samaria in the corner of a bed, and in Damascus in a couch.
13
Hear ye, and testify in the house of Jacob, saith the Lord GOD, the God of hosts,
14
That in the day that I shall visit the transgressions of Israel upon him I will also visit the altars of Bethel: and the horns of the altar shall be cut off, and fall to the ground.
15
And I will smite the winter house with the summer house; and the houses of ivory shall perish, and the great houses shall have an end, saith the LORD.


=================

The New Testament reading is chapter 5 of the Revelation.

1
And I saw in the right hand of him that sat on the throne a book written within and on the backside, sealed with seven seals.
2
And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, Who is worthy to open the book, and to loose the seals thereof?
3
And no man in heaven, nor in earth, neither under the earth, was able to open the book, neither to look thereon.
4
And I wept much, because no man was found worthy to open and to read the book, neither to look thereon.
5
And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof.
6
And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth.
7
And he came and took the book out of the right hand of him that sat upon the throne.
8
And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints.
9
And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation;
10
And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.
11
And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the beasts and the elders: and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands;
12
Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing.
13
And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever.
14
And the four beasts said, Amen. And the four and twenty elders fell down and worshipped him that liveth for ever and ever.

13 December 2013

Today's Readings and Stuff -- Friday, 13 December 2013

another cold day.  Local weathercasters say that this is a bitter spell, some 20 degrees below normal, even for here, some 900 miles north of where we've been living for the last seven years.  I just wish (selfish, I know) that the cold snap had occurred LAST year, before we got here.  Our place is not well sealed or well insulated and, while I did the best I could, time, skill, and mostly money (or the lack of all the above) greatly limited the amount of improvement I could do.  Helped.  Helped a LOT in fact.  But the floors are still cold and there are cold spots and drafts in places that are unwelcome.  Developing quite a to-do list for Spring.  When it gets here in 3-1/2 months.  Officially, that is, that doesn't necessarily translate to warm weather.  Can recall one occasion as a child in which we had snow in the first week of the month of May.  That was unusual, really.  But proves the potential.  Scary.
Dear Wife was able to get with the Social Security people yesterday about her case.  As I've mentioned, we got a call nearly two weeks ago from the office of the attorneys who are pushing her case.  The gist of the call was that a determination had been made in favor of her case.  Fine.  But nearly two weeks later, we have not yet received OUR copy of the same letter.  Nor have we been advised of the amount of the award, nor been given any indication of when we may expect to receive any kind of a check.  Nothing, nada, zilch, zero. So she called them, finally.  And, after experiencing all the joy of dealing with Federal Civil Service functionaries, learned that:

  • the amount of the award has not been determined
  • related to that is that, acting as her primary caregiver, I might also receive a (very) modest monthly stipend
  • determination of this might take as much as 60 days
Not to poor mouth, but we need the money now.  We've been huddled inside for the last month, primarily because we really don't have the money to do much of anything else.  We'd hoped to have these funds heading our way before Christmas.  Doesn't appear that is going to happen.
Well,
Got some "headhunter" calls yesterday.  Two of them wanted me to consider positions, one very highly compensated, in northern Alabama, an hour or two north of where we had been living for the last seven years.  Would have been interesting if they'd called six months ago, but that's not the way it turned out.
Another headhunter wanted someone with some specialized experience that I don't have, and to be located somewhere between Cincinnati and Dayton.  Sorry.
Finally, I got one that might be very interesting, and the pay is nice too.  Be a bit north of here (ethics requires me to be a bit vague, though I know the name of the company and the location.  The company is A Very Good One.).  We talked for the better part of an hour.  My name and general info is going to be put in front of them and I should know something more in about a week.  Be a bit more than an hour's drive each way and into a snow area this time of year, but for the pay they're talking, it would be worth it.  If -- and there is a big if -- this would work, I could come out of retirement, repay the amounts already paid to m, and put in a couple years of higher pay, which would increase my calculated average AND delay the onset to a point at which the payout would be larger AND allow me to set some aside in a new 401-K.  But let's not get ahead of the matter.  It would address our current money issues, that is true.  We shall see.

==========

The Old Testament reading is all three chapters of the book of Joel.

This is one of the so-called minor prophets.  Not an indication of the importance of the message, but of the length of the document here.  Like so many of the other prophets, it is a call to repentance, with warnings of future judgment and future blessings.  Came true, also.

1
The word of the LORD that came to Joel the son of Pethuel.
2
Hear this, ye old men, and give ear, all ye inhabitants of the land. Hath this been in your days, or even in the days of your fathers?
3
Tell ye your children of it, and let your children tell their children, and their children another generation.
4
That which the palmerworm hath left hath the locust eaten; and that which the locust hath left hath the cankerworm eaten; and that which the cankerworm hath left hath the caterpiller eaten.
5
Awake, ye drunkards, and weep; and howl, all ye drinkers of wine, because of the new wine; for it is cut off from your mouth.
6
For a nation is come up upon my land, strong, and without number, whose teeth are the teeth of a lion, and he hath the cheek teeth of a great lion.
7
He hath laid my vine waste, and barked my fig tree: he hath made it clean bare, and cast it away; the branches thereof are made white.
8
Lament like a virgin girded with sackcloth for the husband of her youth.
9
The meat offering and the drink offering is cut off from the house of the LORD; the priests, the LORD's ministers, mourn.
10
The field is wasted, the land mourneth; for the corn is wasted: the new wine is dried up, the oil languisheth.
11
Be ye ashamed, O ye husbandmen; howl, O ye vinedressers, for the wheat and for the barley; because the harvest of the field is perished.
12
The vine is dried up, and the fig tree languisheth; the pomegranate tree, the palm tree also, and the apple tree, even all the trees of the field, are withered: because joy is withered away from the sons of men.
13
Gird yourselves, and lament, ye priests: howl, ye ministers of the altar: come, lie all night in sackcloth, ye ministers of my God: for the meat offering and the drink offering is withholden from the house of your God.
14
Sanctify ye a fast, call a solemn assembly, gather the elders and all the inhabitants of the land into the house of the LORD your God, and cry unto the LORD,
15
Alas for the day! for the day of the LORD is at hand, and as a destruction from the Almighty shall it come.
16
Is not the meat cut off before our eyes, yea, joy and gladness from the house of our God?
17
The seed is rotten under their clods, the garners are laid desolate, the barns are broken down; for the corn is withered.
18
How do the beasts groan! the herds of cattle are perplexed, because they have no pasture; yea, the flocks of sheep are made desolate.
19
O LORD, to thee will I cry: for the fire hath devoured the pastures of the wilderness, and the flame hath burned all the trees of the field.
20
The beasts of the field cry also unto thee: for the rivers of waters are dried up, and the fire hath devoured the pastures of the wilderness.


1
Blow ye the trumpet in Zion, and sound an alarm in my holy mountain: let all the inhabitants of the land tremble: for the day of the LORD cometh, for it is nigh at hand;
2
A day of darkness and of gloominess, a day of clouds and of thick darkness, as the morning spread upon the mountains: a great people and a strong; there hath not been ever the like, neither shall be any more after it, even to the years of many generations.
3
A fire devoureth before them; and behind them a flame burneth: the land is as the garden of Eden before them, and behind them a desolate wilderness; yea, and nothing shall escape them.
4
The appearance of them is as the appearance of horses; and as horsemen, so shall they run.
5
Like the noise of chariots on the tops of mountains shall they leap, like the noise of a flame of fire that devoureth the stubble, as a strong people set in battle array.
6
Before their face the people shall be much pained: all faces shall gather blackness.
7
They shall run like mighty men; they shall climb the wall like men of war; and they shall march every one on his ways, and they shall not break their ranks:
8
Neither shall one thrust another; they shall walk every one in his path: and when they fall upon the sword, they shall not be wounded.
9
They shall run to and fro in the city; they shall run upon the wall, they shall climb up upon the houses; they shall enter in at the windows like a thief.
10
The earth shall quake before them; the heavens shall tremble: the sun and the moon shall be dark, and the stars shall withdraw their shining:
11
And the LORD shall utter his voice before his army: for his camp is very great: for he is strong that executeth his word: for the day of the LORD is great and very terrible; and who can abide it?
12
Therefore also now, saith the LORD, turn ye even to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning:
13
And rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the LORD your God: for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil.
14
Who knoweth if he will return and repent, and leave a blessing behind him; even a meat offering and a drink offering unto the LORD your God?
15
Blow the trumpet in Zion, sanctify a fast, call a solemn assembly:
16
Gather the people, sanctify the congregation, assemble the elders, gather the children, and those that suck the breasts: let the bridegroom go forth of his chamber, and the bride out of her closet.
17
Let the priests, the ministers of the LORD, weep between the porch and the altar, and let them say, Spare thy people, O LORD, and give not thine heritage to reproach, that the heathen should rule over them: wherefore should they say among the people, Where is their God?
18
Then will the LORD be jealous for his land, and pity his people.
19
Yea, the LORD will answer and say unto his people, Behold, I will send you corn, and wine, and oil, and ye shall be satisfied therewith: and I will no more make you a reproach among the heathen:
20
But I will remove far off from you the northern army, and will drive him into a land barren and desolate, with his face toward the east sea, and his hinder part toward the utmost sea, and his stink shall come up, and his ill savour shall come up, because he hath done great things.
21
Fear not, O land; be glad and rejoice: for the LORD will do great things.
22
Be not afraid, ye beasts of the field: for the pastures of the wilderness do spring, for the tree beareth her fruit, the fig tree and the vine do yield their strength.
23
Be glad then, ye children of Zion, and rejoice in the LORD your God: for he hath given you the former rain moderately, and he will cause to come down for you the rain, the former rain, and the latter rain in the first month.
24
And the floors shall be full of wheat, and the vats shall overflow with wine and oil.
25
And I will restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten, the cankerworm, and the caterpiller, and the palmerworm, my great army which I sent among you.
26
And ye shall eat in plenty, and be satisfied, and praise the name of the LORD your God, that hath dealt wondrously with you: and my people shall never be ashamed.
27
And ye shall know that I am in the midst of Israel, and that I am the LORD your God, and none else: and my people shall never be ashamed.
28
And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions:
29
And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my spirit.
30
And I will shew wonders in the heavens and in the earth, blood, and fire, and pillars of smoke.
31
The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and terrible day of the LORD come.
32
And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the LORD shall be delivered: for in mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance, as the LORD hath said, and in the remnant whom the LORD shall call.


1
For, behold, in those days, and in that time, when I shall bring again the captivity of Judah and Jerusalem,
2
I will also gather all nations, and will bring them down into the valley of Jehoshaphat, and will plead with them there for my people and for my heritage Israel, whom they have scattered among the nations, and parted my land.
3
And they have cast lots for my people; and have given a boy for an harlot, and sold a girl for wine, that they might drink.
4
Yea, and what have ye to do with me, O Tyre, and Zidon, and all the coasts of Palestine? will ye render me a recompence? and if ye recompense me, swiftly and speedily will I return your recompence upon your own head;
5
Because ye have taken my silver and my gold, and have carried into your temples my goodly pleasant things:
6
The children also of Judah and the children of Jerusalem have ye sold unto the Grecians, that ye might remove them far from their border.
7
Behold, I will raise them out of the place whither ye have sold them, and will return your recompence upon your own head:
8
And I will sell your sons and your daughters into the hand of the children of Judah, and they shall sell them to the Sabeans, to a people far off: for the LORD hath spoken it.
9
Proclaim ye this among the Gentiles; Prepare war, wake up the mighty men, let all the men of war draw near; let them come up:
10
Beat your plowshares into swords and your pruninghooks into spears: let the weak say, I am strong.
11
Assemble yourselves, and come, all ye heathen, and gather yourselves together round about: thither cause thy mighty ones to come down, O LORD.
12
Let the heathen be wakened, and come up to the valley of Jehoshaphat: for there will I sit to judge all the heathen round about.
13
Put ye in the sickle, for the harvest is ripe: come, get you down; for the press is full, the fats overflow; for their wickedness is great.
14
Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision: for the day of the LORD is near in the valley of decision.
15
The sun and the moon shall be darkened, and the stars shall withdraw their shining.
16
The LORD also shall roar out of Zion, and utter his voice from Jerusalem; and the heavens and the earth shall shake: but the LORD will be the hope of his people, and the strength of the children of Israel.
17
So shall ye know that I am the LORD your God dwelling in Zion, my holy mountain: then shall Jerusalem be holy, and there shall no strangers pass through her any more.
18
And it shall come to pass in that day, that the mountains shall drop down new wine, and the hills shall flow with milk, and all the rivers of Judah shall flow with waters, and a fountain shall come forth out of the house of the LORD, and shall water the valley of Shittim.
19
Egypt shall be a desolation, and Edom shall be a desolate wilderness, for the violence against the children of Judah, because they have shed innocent blood in their land.
20
But Judah shall dwell for ever, and Jerusalem from generation to generation.
21
For I will cleanse their blood that I have not cleansed: for the LORD dwelleth in Zion.

===========

The New Testament reading is chapter 4 of the Revelation


1
After this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven: and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, Come up hither, and I will shew thee things which must be hereafter.
2
And immediately I was in the spirit: and, behold, a throne was set in heaven, and one sat on the throne.
3
And he that sat was to look upon like a jasper and a sardine stone: and there was a rainbow round about the throne, in sight like unto an emerald.
4
And round about the throne were four and twenty seats: and upon the seats I saw four and twenty elders sitting, clothed in white raiment; and they had on their heads crowns of gold.
5
And out of the throne proceeded lightnings and thunderings and voices: and there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God.
6
And before the throne there was a sea of glass like unto crystal: and in the midst of the throne, and round about the throne, were four beasts full of eyes before and behind.
7
And the first beast was like a lion, and the second beast like a calf, and the third beast had a face as a man, and the fourth beast was like a flying eagle.
8
And the four beasts had each of them six wings about him; and they were full of eyes within: and they rest not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, LORD God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come.
9
And when those beasts give glory and honour and thanks to him that sat on the throne, who liveth for ever and ever,
10
The four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying,
11
Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.

12 December 2013

Today's Readings and Stuff - Thursday, 12 December 2013

"Another day older and deeper in debt", was how the song went.  Older, yeah, that's so.  Deeper in debt, not so sure but certainly no less so either.  As of around 9:00 p.m. last night, we still see nothing on the Social Security site about Dear Wife's Disability award.  Lawyer was notified by mail on Monday the 2nd by Social Security office that the application has been approved - after a wait of WELL over a year.  For someone who is legally blind and, frankly, slowly dying of advanced autoimmune diseases.  While the attorney's receive a written notice, we have yet to receive any such notification, nor an estimate of the amount of the award, nor any hint of an effective date.  My retirement check is still nearly a week off, and we're sitting on a vast fortune of about $11.32 or so, depending if we find any more loose pennies.  Utility bills are due, meds need refilled, and the mile in the fridge went out of date code a week ago.  The assurances given us by SS and the attorneys were part, a large part, of our calculations that we could afford to make the relocation and for me to enter into what amounts to at least a temporary retirement in one of the most hard-hit employment areas of the nation.  Getting just a bit tight in the finances, to say the least.  What's aggravating is that I had two phone calls just yesterday from executive recruiters asking my interest/availability/suitability for positions, both paying about twice what I had been pulling down before the recent retirement and relocation.  Had they called six months ago, I would have jumped at either one of them.  I believe firmly that the Lord has put us here for His own reasons, ones that I do not yet perceive.  But the cupboard is getting a bit more bar than we like to see.  Hope something changes for the better, and soon too.
Beloved Older Daughter called yesterday afternoon on her way home from work.  This was her first day back - she's a school teacher - in more than two weeks after a serious illness punctuated by emergency gall bladder surgery.  The awful weather they've had in that area was a blessing for her, the snow days don't count against her sick days, and the schools had been closed since last Thursday.  I heard today from some of our friends back in that area near where she and Esteemed Son-in-Law have their house and there are people there who are STILL without electricity and their roads are impassible with more than an inch and a half of ice covered with half a foot or snow, or more.  Not happy, to say the least.  We can get out, here, at least, or could if we had need and somewhere to go.  We have neither, right now.
Dear Wife was sick all day and essentially transitioned between the bed and the recliner with frequent side trips to the bathroom.  Just as well that I was home with her for any Just In Case situations that might arise: this was always an issue and becoming more of one when I was off working all those 11-hour-long nights the better part of an hour away. Again, this was part of the calculation behind the retirement.  Being up here around family, it's a bit less of a concern.  Down there, we really had no support system.  Here, we do.  So we shall persevere.  Somehow.

====

The morning's Old Testament reading is Hosea, chapters 12, 13, and 14, concluding it.

1
Ephraim feedeth on wind, and followeth after the east wind: he daily increaseth lies and desolation; and they do make a covenant with the Assyrians, and oil is carried into Egypt.
2
The LORD hath also a controversy with Judah, and will punish Jacob according to his ways; according to his doings will he recompense him.
3
He took his brother by the heel in the womb, and by his strength he had power with God:
4
Yea, he had power over the angel, and prevailed: he wept, and made supplication unto him: he found him in Bethel, and there he spake with us;
5
Even the LORD God of hosts; the LORD is his memorial.
6
Therefore turn thou to thy God: keep mercy and judgment and wait on thy God continually.
7
He is a merchant, the balances of deceit are in his hand: he loveth to oppress.
8
And Ephraim said, Yet I am become rich, I have found me out substance: in all my labours they shall find none iniquity in me that were sin.
9
And I that am the LORD thy God from the land of Egypt will yet make thee to dwell in tabernacles, as in the days of the solemn feast.
10
I have also spoken by the prophets, and I have multiplied visions, and used similitudes, by the ministry of the prophets.
11
Is there iniquity in Gilead? surely they are vanity: they sacrifice bullocks in Gilgal; yea, their altars are as heaps in the furrows of the fields.
12
And Jacob fled into the country of Syria, and Israel served for a wife, and for a wife he kept sheep.
13
And by a prophet the LORD brought Israel out of Egypt, and by a prophet was he preserved.
14
Ephraim provoked him to anger most bitterly: therefore shall he leave his blood upon him, and his reproach shall his LORD return unto him.


1
When Ephraim spake trembling, he exalted himself in Israel; but when he offended in Baal, he died.
2
And now they sin more and more, and have made them molten images of their silver, and idols according to their own understanding, all of it the work of the craftsmen: they say of them, Let the men that sacrifice kiss the calves.
3
Therefore they shall be as the morning cloud and as the early dew that passeth away, as the chaff that is driven with the whirlwind out of the floor, and as the smoke out of the chimney.
4
Yet I am the LORD thy God from the land of Egypt, and thou shalt know no god but me: for there is no saviour beside me.
5
I did know thee in the wilderness, in the land of great drought.
6
According to their pasture, so were they filled; they were filled, and their heart was exalted; therefore have they forgotten me.
7
Therefore I will be unto them as a lion: as a leopard by the way will I observe them:
8
I will meet them as a bear that is bereaved of her whelps, and will rend the caul of their heart, and there will I devour them like a lion: the wild beast shall tear them.
9
O Israel, thou hast destroyed thyself; but in me is thine help.
10
I will be thy king: where is any other that may save thee in all thy cities? and thy judges of whom thou saidst, Give me a king and princes?
11
I gave thee a king in mine anger, and took him away in my wrath.
12
The iniquity of Ephraim is bound up; his sin is hid.
13
The sorrows of a travailing woman shall come upon him: he is an unwise son; for he should not stay long in the place of the breaking forth of children.
14
I will ransom them from the power of the grave; I will redeem them from death: O death, I will be thy plagues; O grave, I will be thy destruction: repentance shall be hid from mine eyes.
15
Though he be fruitful among his brethren, an east wind shall come, the wind of the LORD shall come up from the wilderness, and his spring shall become dry, and his fountain shall be dried up: he shall spoil the treasure of all pleasant vessels.
16
Samaria shall become desolate; for she hath rebelled against her God: they shall fall by the sword: their infants shall be dashed in pieces, and their women with child shall be ripped up.


1
O israel, return unto the LORD thy God; for thou hast fallen by thine iniquity.
2
Take with you words, and turn to the LORD: say unto him, Take away all iniquity, and receive us graciously: so will we render the calves of our lips.
3
Asshur shall not save us; we will not ride upon horses: neither will we say any more to the work of our hands, Ye are our gods: for in thee the fatherless findeth mercy.
4
I will heal their backsliding, I will love them freely: for mine anger is turned away from him.
5
I will be as the dew unto Israel: he shall grow as the lily, and cast forth his roots as Lebanon.
6
His branches shall spread, and his beauty shall be as the olive tree, and his smell as Lebanon.
7
They that dwell under his shadow shall return; they shall revive as the corn, and grow as the vine: the scent thereof shall be as the wine of Lebanon.
8
Ephraim shall say, What have I to do any more with idols? I have heard him, and observed him: I am like a green fir tree. From me is thy fruit found.
9
Who is wise, and he shall understand these things? prudent, and he shall know them? for the ways of the LORD are right, and the just shall walk in them: but the transgressors shall fall therein.





=====

The New Testament reading is chapter 3 of the Revelation.

1
And unto the angel of the church in Sardis write; These things saith he that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars; I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead.
2
Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found thy works perfect before God.
3
Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee.
4
Thou hast a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with me in white: for they are worthy.
5
He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.
6
He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.
7
And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write; These things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth;
8
I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name.
9
Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee.
10
Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.
11
Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.
12
Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name.
13
He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.
14
And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God;
15
I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot.
16
So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.
17
Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:
18
I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.
19
As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.
20
Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.
21
To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.
22
He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.





11 December 2013

Today's Readings and Stuff == Wednesday, 11 December 2013

For those who gt up in the morning to go off to work, today is the middle of the "standard work week", whatever that is.  Until my recent semi-retirement, I spent 44 years in the work world, chasing a paycheck beginning in 1969.  A whole lot of people weren't born in 1969 yet.  That's not when I started working for money:  mowing lawns and picking fruit, both paid in cash as "casual labor" began well before that but doesn't show up on an IRS or Social Security record.  That was legal then, not sure about now.  Then again, lots of what we did then is now being done by illegal aliens, and the work habits we developed by these means are no longer open.  And it shows in the workforce, believe me it does.  I miss working, and am tired already of my four-month-long retirement and am in serious talks with several recruiters, a.k.a. known as "headhunters", looking for something to turn my hands to.  Just not willing to go back to 6 days per week of 11 and 12 hour days for 40 hours' pay as I was doing for the previous 5-1/2 years.  Would rather push carts around at Wal-Mart or the like.
     Dear Wife likes having me around to be a reassuring presence when, like now, she is not feeling well.  That counts for quite a lot, but we're also in bad shape financially and more income would be a very big help.  She was notified Monday that Social Security has -- FINALLY -- approved her application for Disability, but as of last evening that fact was still not posted to the on-line site and, while the attorney has received written notice, we have not received anything whatever.  So the amount, or the effective date, or the first CHECK is in limbo somewhere.  We could surely use the money right now, heating bills, medicine refills, gasoline, Christmas, and so forth, are issues staring at us at close range.
    It's colder than a pawnbroker's heart around here.  Going ot be worse over the next week, with lows in the single digits and many days predicted to have a high temperature below freezing.  Not quite my every dream come true.  The Lord has a purpose for all of this, I am convinced of that.  But the details or even the broad outlines of the matter are not appearing to me.  Yet.  Still.

==== 

The Old Testament reading today is chapters 9, 10, and 11 from Hosea.  You may find verse 1 of chapter 11 familiar, we will see it again in the New Testament.  It applies both to Jesus, as Joseph and Mary leave their temporary exile in Egypt to escape Herod, but it also points back to the Exodus of the people led by Moses.


1
Rejoice not, O Israel, for joy, as other people: for thou hast gone a whoring from thy God, thou hast loved a reward upon every cornfloor.
2
The floor and the winepress shall not feed them, and the new wine shall fail in her.
3
They shall not dwell in the LORD's land; but Ephraim shall return to Egypt, and they shall eat unclean things in Assyria.
4
They shall not offer wine offerings to the LORD, neither shall they be pleasing unto him: their sacrifices shall be unto them as the bread of mourners; all that eat thereof shall be polluted: for their bread for their soul shall not come into the house of the LORD.
5
What will ye do in the solemn day, and in the day of the feast of the LORD?
6
For, lo, they are gone because of destruction: Egypt shall gather them up, Memphis shall bury them: the pleasant places for their silver, nettles shall possess them: thorns shall be in their tabernacles.
7
The days of visitation are come, the days of recompence are come; Israel shall know it: the prophet is a fool, the spiritual man is mad, for the multitude of thine iniquity, and the great hatred.
8
The watchman of Ephraim was with my God: but the prophet is a snare of a fowler in all his ways, and hatred in the house of his God.
9
They have deeply corrupted themselves, as in the days of Gibeah: therefore he will remember their iniquity, he will visit their sins.
10
I found Israel like grapes in the wilderness; I saw your fathers as the firstripe in the fig tree at her first time: but they went to Baalpeor, and separated themselves unto that shame; and their abominations were according as they loved.
11
As for Ephraim, their glory shall fly away like a bird, from the birth, and from the womb, and from the conception.
12
Though they bring up their children, yet will I bereave them, that there shall not be a man left: yea, woe also to them when I depart from them!
13
Ephraim, as I saw Tyrus, is planted in a pleasant place: but Ephraim shall bring forth his children to the murderer.
14
Give them, O LORD: what wilt thou give? give them a miscarrying womb and dry breasts.
15
All their wickedness is in Gilgal: for there I hated them: for the wickedness of their doings I will drive them out of mine house, I will love them no more: all their princes are revolters.
16
Ephraim is smitten, their root is dried up, they shall bear no fruit: yea, though they bring forth, yet will I slay even the beloved fruit of their womb.
17
My God will cast them away, because they did not hearken unto him: and they shall be wanderers among the nations.


1
Israel is an empty vine, he bringeth forth fruit unto himself: according to the multitude of his fruit he hath increased the altars; according to the goodness of his land they have made goodly images.
2
Their heart is divided; now shall they be found faulty: he shall break down their altars, he shall spoil their images.
3
For now they shall say, We have no king, because we feared not the LORD; what then should a king do to us?
4
They have spoken words, swearing falsely in making a covenant: thus judgment springeth up as hemlock in the furrows of the field.
5
The inhabitants of Samaria shall fear because of the calves of Bethaven: for the people thereof shall mourn over it, and the priests thereof that rejoiced on it, for the glory thereof, because it is departed from it.
6
It shall be also carried unto Assyria for a present to king Jareb: Ephraim shall receive shame, and Israel shall be ashamed of his own counsel.
7
As for Samaria, her king is cut off as the foam upon the water.
8
The high places also of Aven, the sin of Israel, shall be destroyed: the thorn and the thistle shall come up on their altars; and they shall say to the mountains, Cover us; and to the hills, Fall on us.
9
O Israel, thou hast sinned from the days of Gibeah: there they stood: the battle in Gibeah against the children of iniquity did not overtake them.
10
It is in my desire that I should chastise them; and the people shall be gathered against them, when they shall bind themselves in their two furrows.
11
And Ephraim is as an heifer that is taught, and loveth to tread out the corn; but I passed over upon her fair neck: I will make Ephraim to ride; Judah shall plow, and Jacob shall break his clods.
12
Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap in mercy; break up your fallow ground: for it is time to seek the LORD, till he come and rain righteousness upon you.
13
Ye have plowed wickedness, ye have reaped iniquity; ye have eaten the fruit of lies: because thou didst trust in thy way, in the multitude of thy mighty men.
14
Therefore shall a tumult arise among thy people, and all thy fortresses shall be spoiled, as Shalman spoiled Betharbel in the day of battle: the mother was dashed in pieces upon her children.
15
So shall Bethel do unto you because of your great wickedness: in a morning shall the king of Israel utterly be cut off.


1
When Israel was a child, then I loved him, and called my son out of Egypt.
2
As they called them, so they went from them: they sacrificed unto Baalim, and burned incense to graven images.
3
I taught Ephraim also to go, taking them by their arms; but they knew not that I healed them.
4
I drew them with cords of a man, with bands of love: and I was to them as they that take off the yoke on their jaws, and I laid meat unto them.
5
He shall not return into the land of Egypt, and the Assyrian shall be his king, because they refused to return.
6
And the sword shall abide on his cities, and shall consume his branches, and devour them, because of their own counsels.
7
And my people are bent to backsliding from me: though they called them to the most High, none at all would exalt him.
8
How shall I give thee up, Ephraim? how shall I deliver thee, Israel? how shall I make thee as Admah? how shall I set thee as Zeboim? mine heart is turned within me, my repentings are kindled together.
9
I will not execute the fierceness of mine anger, I will not return to destroy Ephraim: for I am God, and not man; the Holy One in the midst of thee: and I will not enter into the city.
10
They shall walk after the LORD: he shall roar like a lion: when he shall roar, then the children shall tremble from the west.
11
They shall tremble as a bird out of Egypt, and as a dove out of the land of Assyria: and I will place them in their houses, saith the LORD.
12
Ephraim compasseth me about with lies, and the house of Israel with deceit: but Judah yet ruleth with God, and is faithful with the saints.





====

The New Testament reading is chapter 2 of the Revelation.  Again, I do not wish to comment on this.

1
Unto the angel of the church of Ephesus write; These things saith he that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand, who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks;
2
I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars:
3
And hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name's sake hast laboured, and hast not fainted.
4
Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love.
5
Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.
6
But this thou hast, that thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitanes, which I also hate.
7
He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.
8
And unto the angel of the church in Smyrna write; These things saith the first and the last, which was dead, and is alive;
9
I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but thou art rich) and I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan.
10
Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.
11
He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death.
12
And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write; These things saith he which hath the sharp sword with two edges;
13
I know thy works, and where thou dwellest, even where Satan's seat is: and thou holdest fast my name, and hast not denied my faith, even in those days wherein Antipas was my faithful martyr, who was slain among you, where Satan dwelleth.
14
But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication.
15
So hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitanes, which thing I hate.
16
Repent; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth.
17
He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it.
18
And unto the angel of the church in Thyatira write; These things saith the Son of God, who hath his eyes like unto a flame of fire, and his feet are like fine brass;
19
I know thy works, and charity, and service, and faith, and thy patience, and thy works; and the last to be more than the first.
20
Notwithstanding I have a few things against thee, because thou sufferest that woman Jezebel, which calleth herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols.
21
And I gave her space to repent of her fornication; and she repented not.
22
Behold, I will cast her into a bed, and them that commit adultery with her into great tribulation, except they repent of their deeds.
23
And I will kill her children with death; and all the churches shall know that I am he which searcheth the reins and hearts: and I will give unto every one of you according to your works.
24
But unto you I say, and unto the rest in Thyatira, as many as have not this doctrine, and which have not known the depths of Satan, as they speak; I will put upon you none other burden.
25
But that which ye have already hold fast till I come.
26
And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations:
27
And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father.
28
And I will give him the morning star.
29
He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.