Today's Readings and Stuff -- Tuesday, 01 July 2014

Hard to believe that the time is flying by so fast.  Or that I have so few accomplishments in that time to point to.  The meds I'm on are sapping my energy as I, slowly, become acclimated to them.    And it is legitimately hot here today, particularly by local standards where 80 degrees is considered to be hot, and it was around 90 today, with a high humidity.  And, as previously noted, we have no A/C.  Can't afford it in any event.  The fans we have standing around help.  A lot.  But there are limits to that help and what we can expect of them.  We're expecting storms, possibly some severe ones, to hit in a short while and to last well into tomorrow.  That should moderate the heat.  Not to forget, it is July.  Even for the area of the North Coast, it gets hot in July.  Not a surprise and shouldn't be.
Dear Wife has been pretty much horizontal all day.  She spent much of the morning "enjoying" the twin experiences of diarrhea and vomiting.  We think that there may have been some spices in the fish we ate last night that are a problem for her.  MSG is always suspect, it makes her quite ill, and some other preservatives and the like do so also.  She is doing a little bit better right now, but we'll see.
And Yours Truly had to run over to the doctor's office.  They started me on an additional Blood Pressure pill last week, and the combination of the two and the statin for the cholesterol thing, made the doc want to do a BP in office, in addition to the ones I take twice daily, and also to check some other properties, which means "blood work".  So I did.  BP readings were in keeping with what I've been recording, and a very nice improvement since I started the new pill.  The blood work was no fun, they had to stick me three times to get the sample.  They thought I might be a bit dehydrated, making it hard to "raise" a vessel to stick.  Seems unlikely, but I am sweating a lot in the heat.  Anyway, they got the samples.  The office called my place while I was still en route, let Dear Wife know that all looks OK and continue on this course until told otherwise.
Got word via the 'net that a former co-worker, from my days in Arkansas, the job -- and company -- that went South ten years ago this week, just got let go from his job in Florida.  Not including the operation we both worked at, this will be his second RIF in that period.  I'd feel bad, but I closed two plants too, before leaving the one last year on my own. Obama tells us the economy is improving.  I think he's on drugs or something.    So he'll be looking again.  Gets harder when you get to be on the "wrong" side of 47, and he's flirting with that now.
Tomorrow morning I have to take Dear Wife to physical therapy.   Then, perhaps, off to the neighboring town to arrange for my in-state driver license.  And her in-state I.D. card.  And, perhaps, a "disabled" hang tag for those times she's in the car.  Perhaps also one of those "senior citizen" discount cards the state issues, lets you get fishing license for free and some other perks.  Then off to the pharmacy.  We got word yesterday that a med that her rheumatologist has prescribed for her Sjogren's Syndrome has finally been approved by the insurance.  Helps that it's now available in generic form from two suppliers, which should help the cost issue.  At one time, when still employed at my most recent employer, the insurance  -- Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Alabama -- would not cover it at all, and we were paying $330 per month for it, out of our own very limited resources.  Now it runs $25 per month, and insurance should cover most or all of that.  thank You Lord.
A lot of running around.  She will also have therapy on Thursday.  And then the Independence Day holiday hubub will get underway.  Niece and husband who live next door are going "camping" as of Thursday night, and expect to be gone until Monday night.  We'll watch their dog, probably: they're still arguing about whether to take it or not.  We'll see.

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The Old Testament reading is chapters 21 and 22 of the book of Job.
Job can be tough reading, and there's no doubt of it.  Struggling with the questions of life, how you handle it when the world we create with ourselves at the center, all falls apart. It does.  None of us gets out of here alive.  Yet it also contains as clear a statement of faith as one could wish.  It was in yesterday's passage.

25	For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth:

You'll see that again as a notable part of Handel's Messiah.  Check here for an example.

Job 21  1 But Job answered and said, 2 Hear diligently my speech, and let this be your consolations. 3 Suffer me that I may speak; and after that I have spoken, mock on. 4 As for me, is my complaint to man? and if it were so, why should not my spirit be troubled? 5 Mark me, and be astonished, and lay your hand upon your mouth. 6 Even when I remember I am afraid, and trembling taketh hold on my flesh. 7 Wherefore do the wicked live, become old, yea, are mighty in power? 8 Their seed is established in their sight with them, and their offspring before their eyes. 9 Their houses are safe from fear, neither is the rod of God upon them. 10 Their bull gendereth, and faileth not; their cow calveth, and casteth not her calf. 11 They send forth their little ones like a flock, and their children dance. 12 They take the timbrel and harp, and rejoice at the sound of the organ. 13 They spend their days in wealth, and in a moment go down to the grave. 14 Therefore they say unto God, Depart from us; for we desire not the knowledge of thy ways. 15 What is the Almighty, that we should serve him? and what profit should we have, if we pray unto him? 16 Lo, their good is not in their hand: the counsel of the wicked is far from me. 17 How oft is the candle of the wicked put out! and how oft cometh their destruction upon them! God distributeth sorrows in his anger. 18 They are as stubble before the wind, and as chaff that the storm carrieth away. 19 God layeth up his iniquity for his children: he rewardeth him, and he shall know it. 20 His eyes shall see his destruction, and he shall drink of the wrath of the Almighty. 21 For what pleasure hath he in his house after him, when the number of his months is cut off in the midst? 22 Shall any teach God knowledge? seeing he judgeth those that are high. 23 One dieth in his full strength, being wholly at ease and quiet. 24 His breasts are full of milk, and his bones are moistened with marrow. 25 And another dieth in the bitterness of his soul, and never eateth with pleasure. 26 They shall lie down alike in the dust, and the worms shall cover them. 27 Behold, I know your thoughts, and the devices which ye wrongfully imagine against me. 28 For ye say, Where is the house of the prince? and where are the dwelling places of the wicked? 29 Have ye not asked them that go by the way? and do ye not know their tokens, 30 That the wicked is reserved to the day of destruction? they shall be brought forth to the day of wrath. 31 Who shall declare his way to his face? and who shall repay him what he hath done? 32 Yet shall he be brought to the grave, and shall remain in the tomb. 33 The clods of the valley shall be sweet unto him, and every man shall draw after him, as there are innumerable before him. 34 How then comfort ye me in vain, seeing in your answers there remaineth falsehood? Job 22  1 Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered and said, 2 Can a man be profitable unto God, as he that is wise may be profitable unto himself? 3 Is it any pleasure to the Almighty, that thou art righteous? or is it gain to him, that thou makest thy ways perfect? 4 Will he reprove thee for fear of thee? will he enter with thee into judgment? 5 Is not thy wickedness great? and thine iniquities infinite? 6 For thou hast taken a pledge from thy brother for nought, and stripped the naked of their clothing. 7 Thou hast not given water to the weary to drink, and thou hast withholden bread from the hungry. 8 But as for the mighty man, he had the earth; and the honourable man dwelt in it. 9 Thou hast sent widows away empty, and the arms of the fatherless have been broken. 10 Therefore snares are round about thee, and sudden fear troubleth thee; 11 Or darkness, that thou canst not see; and abundance of waters cover thee. 12 Is not God in the height of heaven? and behold the height of the stars, how high they are! 13 And thou sayest, How doth God know? can he judge through the dark cloud? 14 Thick clouds are a covering to him, that he seeth not; and he walketh in the circuit of heaven. 15 Hast thou marked the old way which wicked men have trodden? 16 Which were cut down out of time, whose foundation was overflown with a flood: 17 Which said unto God, Depart from us: and what can the Almighty do for them? 18 Yet he filled their houses with good things: but the counsel of the wicked is far from me. 19 The righteous see it, and are glad: and the innocent laugh them to scorn. 20 Whereas our substance is not cut down, but the remnant of them the fire consumeth. 21 Acquaint now thyself with him, and be at peace: thereby good shall come unto thee. 22 Receive, I pray thee, the law from his mouth, and lay up his words in thine heart. 23 If thou return to the Almighty, thou shalt be built up, thou shalt put away iniquity far from thy tabernacles. 24 Then shalt thou lay up gold as dust, and the gold of Ophir as the stones of the brooks. 25 Yea, the Almighty shall be thy defence, and thou shalt have plenty of silver. 26 For then shalt thou have thy delight in the Almighty, and shalt lift up thy face unto God. 27 Thou shalt make thy prayer unto him, and he shall hear thee, and thou shalt pay thy vows. 28 Thou shalt also decree a thing, and it shall be established unto thee: and the light shall shine upon thy ways. 29 When men are cast down, then thou shalt say, There is lifting up; and he shall save the humble person. 30 He shall deliver the island of the innocent: and it is delivered by the pureness of thine hands.
============================================= The New Testament reading is verses 1-23 in the 10th chapter of the book of the Acts.
Acts 10:1-23 1 There was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius, a centurion of the band called the Italian band, 2 A devout man, and one that feared God with all his house, which gave much alms to the people, and prayed to God alway. 3 He saw in a vision evidently about the ninth hour of the day an angel of God coming in to him, and saying unto him, Cornelius. 4 And when he looked on him, he was afraid, and said, What is it, Lord? And he said unto him, Thy prayers and thine alms are come up for a memorial before God. 5 And now send men to Joppa, and call for one Simon, whose surname is Peter: 6 He lodgeth with one Simon a tanner, whose house is by the sea side: he shall tell thee what thou oughtest to do. 7 And when the angel which spake unto Cornelius was departed, he called two of his household servants, and a devout soldier of them that waited on him continually; 8 And when he had declared all these things unto them, he sent them to Joppa. 9 On the morrow, as they went on their journey, and drew nigh unto the city, Peter went up upon the housetop to pray about the sixth hour: 10 And he became very hungry, and would have eaten: but while they made ready, he fell into a trance, 11 And saw heaven opened, and a certain vessel descending upon him, as it had been a great sheet knit at the four corners, and let down to the earth: 12 Wherein were all manner of fourfooted beasts of the earth, and wild beasts, and creeping things, and fowls of the air. 13 And there came a voice to him, Rise, Peter; kill, and eat. 14 But Peter said, Not so, Lord; for I have never eaten any thing that is common or unclean. 15 And the voice spake unto him again the second time, What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common. 16 This was done thrice: and the vessel was received up again into heaven. 17 Now while Peter doubted in himself what this vision which he had seen should mean, behold, the men which were sent from Cornelius had made enquiry for Simon's house, and stood before the gate, 18 And called, and asked whether Simon, which was surnamed Peter, were lodged there. 19 While Peter thought on the vision, the Spirit said unto him, Behold, three men seek thee. 20 Arise therefore, and get thee down, and go with them, doubting nothing: for I have sent them. 21 Then Peter went down to the men which were sent unto him from Cornelius; and said, Behold, I am he whom ye seek: what is the cause wherefore ye are come? 22 And they said, Cornelius the centurion, a just man, and one that feareth God, and of good report among all the nation of the Jews, was warned from God by an holy angel to send for thee into his house, and to hear words of thee. 23 Then called he them in, and lodged them. And on the morrow Peter went away with them, and certain brethren from Joppa accompanied him.