12 September 2014

Today's Readings and Stuff -- Friday, 12 September 2014

Happy Friday.  Temps her in the low 60's, not what we'd become accustomed to while living in Lower Alabama all those  years.  Within the week, lows will be in the low 40's, and "highs" in the low 60's, if that.  I hate cold weather, yet I know that it is coming.  Yuck.
Dear Wife took her weekly dose of  the chemotherapy drug last night, so she'll be in tough shape today and probably tomorrow as well. At least.  Niece next door is hosting her brother's 30th birthday party tomorrow, so the place will a bit over-run.
Not a great mood around here.  Next-door nephew and family were at calling hours last night and funeral today for a cousin, his age, who committed suicide over the weekend.  He'd "cleaned up" from the drugs after girlfriend OD'd and died over the Christmas period, but he'd Lost Hope and did himself in.  Not easy.  And got word that other son-in-law's cousin also committed suicide this last week.  Had been deployed, again, into Afghanistan, couldn't get away from the PTSD, and so is another casualty.  Leaves a wife and child.  Military is treating it as a service-related death, so she's getting some help, for what that's worth.  Makes for a tough period.  The latter case is up around the Kansas-Arkansas region, quite a long way from here, so there's little we can do.  And the first case is one where we have really no involvement with niece's husband's cousin, so little we can do there either.  Suicide is tough on all the survivors.

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The Old Testament reading today is Proverbs 21 and 22.  I draw particular attention to verse 2 of Proverbs 21.  Can't count the variations on the totally erroneous statement that "it can't be wrong when it feels so right".  Not a new thing, not by any measure.  Yet we never seem to get to far from it.  Sadly, we see the extent to which that attitude has overtaken the Church, particularly in America.  I don't think that turns out very well, not in any direction.

1
The king's heart is in the hand of the LORD, as the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will.
2
Every way of a man is right in his own eyes: but the LORD pondereth the hearts.
3
To do justice and judgment is more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice.
4
An high look, and a proud heart, and the plowing of the wicked, is sin.
5
The thoughts of the diligent tend only to plenteousness; but of every one that is hasty only to want.
6
The getting of treasures by a lying tongue is a vanity tossed to and fro of them that seek death.
7
The robbery of the wicked shall destroy them; because they refuse to do judgment.
8
The way of man is froward and strange: but as for the pure, his work is right.
9
It is better to dwell in a corner of the housetop, than with a brawling woman in a wide house.
10
The soul of the wicked desireth evil: his neighbour findeth no favour in his eyes.
11
When the scorner is punished, the simple is made wise: and when the wise is instructed, he receiveth knowledge.
12
The righteous man wisely considereth the house of the wicked: but God overthroweth the wicked for their wickedness.
13
Whoso stoppeth his ears at the cry of the poor, he also shall cry himself, but shall not be heard.
14
A gift in secret pacifieth anger: and a reward in the bosom strong wrath.
15
It is joy to the just to do judgment: but destruction shall be to the workers of iniquity.
16
The man that wandereth out of the way of understanding shall remain in the congregation of the dead.
17
He that loveth pleasure shall be a poor man: he that loveth wine and oil shall not be rich.
18
The wicked shall be a ransom for the righteous, and the transgressor for the upright.
19
It is better to dwell in the wilderness, than with a contentious and an angry woman.
20
There is treasure to be desired and oil in the dwelling of the wise; but a foolish man spendeth it up.
21
He that followeth after righteousness and mercy findeth life, righteousness, and honour.
22
A wise man scaleth the city of the mighty, and casteth down the strength of the confidence thereof.
23
Whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue keepeth his soul from troubles.
24
Proud and haughty scorner is his name, who dealeth in proud wrath.
25
The desire of the slothful killeth him; for his hands refuse to labour.
26
He coveteth greedily all the day long: but the righteous giveth and spareth not.
27
The sacrifice of the wicked is abomination: how much more, when he bringeth it with a wicked mind?
28
A false witness shall perish: but the man that heareth speaketh constantly.
29
A wicked man hardeneth his face: but as for the upright, he directeth his way.
30
There is no wisdom nor understanding nor counsel against the LORD.
31
The horse is prepared against the day of battle: but safety is of the LORD.


1
A GOOD name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favour rather than silver and gold.
2
The rich and poor meet together: the LORD is the maker of them all.
3
A prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself: but the simple pass on, and are punished.
4
By humility and the fear of the LORD are riches, and honour, and life.
5
Thorns and snares are in the way of the froward: he that doth keep his soul shall be far from them.
6
Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.
7
The rich ruleth over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender.
8
He that soweth iniquity shall reap vanity: and the rod of his anger shall fail.
9
He that hath a bountiful eye shall be blessed; for he giveth of his bread to the poor.
10
Cast out the scorner, and contention shall go out; yea, strife and reproach shall cease.
11
He that loveth pureness of heart, for the grace of his lips the king shall be his friend.
12
The eyes of the LORD preserve knowledge, and he overthroweth the words of the transgressor.
13
The slothful man saith, There is a lion without, I shall be slain in the streets.
14
The mouth of strange women is a deep pit: he that is abhorred of the LORD shall fall therein.
15
Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child; but the rod of correction shall drive it far from him.
16
He that oppresseth the poor to increase his riches, and he that giveth to the rich, shall surely come to want.
17
Bow down thine ear, and hear the words of the wise, and apply thine heart unto my knowledge.
18
For it is a pleasant thing if thou keep them within thee; they shall withal be fitted in thy lips.
19
That thy trust may be in the LORD, I have made known to thee this day, even to thee.
20
Have not I written to thee excellent things in counsels and knowledge,
21
That I might make thee know the certainty of the words of truth; that thou mightest answer the words of truth to them that send unto thee?
22
Rob not the poor, because he is poor: neither oppress the afflicted in the gate:
23
For the LORD will plead their cause, and spoil the soul of those that spoiled them.
24
Make no friendship with an angry man; and with a furious man thou shalt not go:
25
Lest thou learn his ways, and get a snare to thy soul.
26
Be not thou one of them that strike hands, or of them that are sureties for debts.
27
If thou hast nothing to pay, why should he take away thy bed from under thee?
28
Remove not the ancient landmark, which thy fathers have set.
29
Seest thou a man diligent in his business? he shall stand before kings; he shall not stand before mean men.



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The New Testament reading is chapter 4 of 2nd Corinthians.


1
Therefore seeing we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we faint not;
2
But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God.
3
But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost:
4
In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.
5
For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake.
6
For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
7
But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.
8
We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair;
9
Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed;
10
Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body.
11
For we which live are alway delivered unto death for Jesus' sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh.
12
So then death worketh in us, but life in you.
13
We having the same spirit of faith, according as it is written, I believed, and therefore have I spoken; we also believe, and therefore speak;
14
Knowing that he which raised up the Lord Jesus shall raise up us also by Jesus, and shall present us with you.
15
For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God.
16
For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.
17
For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;
18
While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.



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