Today's Readings and Stuff -- Saturday, 17 May 2014

stormy here again.  As it was all night.  Tmps were in the mid-to-upper 30's last night.  We covered the tomato and pepper plants outside, trying to protect from incidents of localized frost.  Appears that it worked.  I got up and took the covers off.  An hour later, a hail storm hit.  Not long and not too terrible, but did the plants no particular good.  And it is now, well into the afternoon, only 48 degrees outside.  That's roughly 30 degrees below the current temperature in the city we lived in last year.  Big difference.
We were scheduled to attend a ball game with great-nephew's team of 7-year-olds, but the Word came aournd about 9:00 that the game, set for 11:00 had been cancelled due to flooding and saturation of the ball fields.  Just as well, we've had 3 more periods of rain since, one of which was pretty intense.  Just as well we stayed home.
Got very little sleep during the night.  One of the cats, male, un-fixed, decided to spend much of the night serenading us.  The term "caterwauling" has new meaning for me.  If I had been able to catch him, he'd be compost, or at least landfill volume, this morning.  Couldn't catch him and he's been in hiding all day.
Dear Wife is feeling poorly, and I'm not too great myself.  Not horrible, feels like a combination of seasonal allergies and a cold.  Trying out the effervescent cold tabs, watching it fizz right now.  Ating warmed-up leftovers -- rice and chicken - washed down with Sam's cola (WalMart brand), not real great but cheap and a brief break from semi-sweet iced tea and the quart of coffee I've had since around 07:00


Retirement check set to hit this week which will be nice.  I've still got $20 which is an unusually large amount for us.  The gas bill hit yesterday, runs about $240 which actually covers from the end of February which is when our small gas heater went in, immediately improving the livability of the place and reducing usage considerably.  So it's good, but it's still a visible chunk of the check.

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The Old Testament reading today is chapters 18 and 19 in 2nd Kings
This is the period of Hezekiah as king of Judah.  He was a good king, one of the very few, and his reign was not without challenges.

II Kings 18

1	Now it came to pass in the third year of Hoshea son of Elah king of Israel, that Hezekiah the son of Ahaz king of Judah began to reign.
2	Twenty and five years old was he when he began to reign; and he reigned twenty and nine years in Jerusalem. His mother's name also was Abi, the daughter of Zachariah.
3	And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, according to all that David his father did.
4	He removed the high places, and brake the images, and cut down the groves, and brake in pieces the brazen serpent that Moses had made: for unto those days the children of Israel did burn incense to it: and he called it Nehushtan.
5	He trusted in the LORD God of Israel; so that after him was none like him among all the kings of Judah, nor any that were before him.
6	For he clave to the LORD, and departed not from following him, but kept his commandments, which the LORD commanded Moses.
7	And the LORD was with him; and he prospered whithersoever he went forth: and he rebelled against the king of Assyria, and served him not.
8	He smote the Philistines, even unto Gaza, and the borders thereof, from the tower of the watchmen to the fenced city.
9	And it came to pass in the fourth year of king Hezekiah, which was the seventh year of Hoshea son of Elah king of Israel, that Shalmaneser king of Assyria came up against Samaria, and besieged it.
10	And at the end of three years they took it: even in the sixth year of Hezekiah, that is in the ninth year of Hoshea king of Israel, Samaria was taken.
11	And the king of Assyria did carry away Israel unto Assyria, and put them in Halah and in Habor by the river of Gozan, and in the cities of the Medes:
12	Because they obeyed not the voice of the LORD their God, but transgressed his covenant, and all that Moses the servant of the LORD commanded, and would not hear them, nor do them.
13	Now in the fourteenth year of king Hezekiah did Sennacherib king of Assyria come up against all the fenced cities of Judah, and took them.
14	And Hezekiah king of Judah sent to the king of Assyria to Lachish, saying, I have offended; return from me: that which thou puttest on me will I bear. And the king of Assyria appointed unto Hezekiah king of Judah three hundred talents of silver and thirty talents of gold.
15	And Hezekiah gave him all the silver that was found in the house of the LORD, and in the treasures of the king's house.
16	At that time did Hezekiah cut off the gold from the doors of the temple of the LORD, and from the pillars which Hezekiah king of Judah had overlaid, and gave it to the king of Assyria.
17	And the king of Assyria sent Tartan and Rabsaris and Rabshakeh from Lachish to king Hezekiah with a great host against Jerusalem. And they went up and came to Jerusalem. And when they were come up, they came and stood by the conduit of the upper pool, which is in the highway of the fuller's field.
18	And when they had called to the king, there came out to them Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, which was over the household, and Shebna the scribe, and Joah the son of Asaph the recorder.
19	And Rabshakeh said unto them, Speak ye now to Hezekiah, Thus saith the great king, the king of Assyria, What confidence is this wherein thou trustest?
20	Thou sayest, (but they are but vain words,) I have counsel and strength for the war. Now on whom dost thou trust, that thou rebellest against me?
21	Now, behold, thou trustest upon the staff of this bruised reed, even upon Egypt, on which if a man lean, it will go into his hand, and pierce it: so is Pharaoh king of Egypt unto all that trust on him.
22	But if ye say unto me, We trust in the LORD our God: is not that he, whose high places and whose altars Hezekiah hath taken away, and hath said to Judah and Jerusalem, Ye shall worship before this altar in Jerusalem?
23	Now therefore, I pray thee, give pledges to my lord the king of Assyria, and I will deliver thee two thousand horses, if thou be able on thy part to set riders upon them.
24	How then wilt thou turn away the face of one captain of the least of my master's servants, and put thy trust on Egypt for chariots and for horsemen?
25	Am I now come up without the LORD against this place to destroy it? The LORD said to me, Go up against this land, and destroy it.
26	Then said Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, and Shebna, and Joah, unto Rabshakeh, Speak, I pray thee, to thy servants in the Syrian language; for we understand it: and talk not with us in the Jews' language in the ears of the people that are on the wall.
27	But Rabshakeh said unto them, Hath my master sent me to thy master, and to thee, to speak these words? hath he not sent me to the men which sit on the wall, that they may eat their own dung, and drink their own piss with you?
28	Then Rabshakeh stood and cried with a loud voice in the Jews' language, and spake, saying, Hear the word of the great king, the king of Assyria:
29	Thus saith the king, Let not Hezekiah deceive you: for he shall not be able to deliver you out of his hand:
30	Neither let Hezekiah make you trust in the LORD, saying, The LORD will surely deliver us, and this city shall not be delivered into the hand of the king of Assyria.
31	Hearken not to Hezekiah: for thus saith the king of Assyria, Make an agreement with me by a present, and come out to me, and then eat ye every man of his own vine, and every one of his fig tree, and drink ye every one the waters of his cistern:
32	Until I come and take you away to a land like your own land, a land of corn and wine, a land of bread and vineyards, a land of oil olive and of honey, that ye may live, and not die: and hearken not unto Hezekiah, when he persuadeth you, saying, The LORD will deliver us.
33	Hath any of the gods of the nations delivered at all his land out of the hand of the king of Assyria?
34	Where are the gods of Hamath, and of Arpad? where are the gods of Sepharvaim, Hena, and Ivah? have they delivered Samaria out of mine hand?
35	Who are they among all the gods of the countries, that have delivered their country out of mine hand, that the LORD should deliver Jerusalem out of mine hand?
36	But the people held their peace, and answered him not a word: for the king's commandment was, saying, Answer him not.
37	Then came Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, which was over the household, and Shebna the scribe, and Joah the son of Asaph the recorder, to Hezekiah with their clothes rent, and told him the words of Rabshakeh.

II Kings 19

1	And it came to pass, when king Hezekiah heard it, that he rent his clothes, and covered himself with sackcloth, and went into the house of the LORD.
2	And he sent Eliakim, which was over the household, and Shebna the scribe, and the elders of the priests, covered with sackcloth, to Isaiah the prophet the son of Amoz.
3	And they said unto him, Thus saith Hezekiah, This day is a day of trouble, and of rebuke, and blasphemy; for the children are come to the birth, and there is not strength to bring forth.
4	It may be the LORD thy God will hear all the words of Rabshakeh, whom the king of Assyria his master hath sent to reproach the living God; and will reprove the words which the LORD thy God hath heard: wherefore lift up thy prayer for the remnant that are left.
5	So the servants of king Hezekiah came to Isaiah.
6	And Isaiah said unto them, Thus shall ye say to your master, Thus saith the LORD, Be not afraid of the words which thou hast heard, with which the servants of the king of Assyria have blasphemed me.
7	Behold, I will send a blast upon him, and he shall hear a rumor, and shall return to his own land; and I will cause him to fall by the sword in his own land.
8	So Rabshakeh returned, and found the king of Assyria warring against Libnah: for he had heard that he was departed from Lachish.
9	And when he heard say of Tirhakah king of Ethiopia, Behold, he is come out to fight against thee: he sent messengers again unto Hezekiah, saying,
10	Thus shall ye speak to Hezekiah king of Judah, saying, Let not thy God in whom thou trustest deceive thee, saying, Jerusalem shall not be delivered into the hand of the king of Assyria.
11	Behold, thou hast heard what the kings of Assyria have done to all lands, by destroying them utterly: and shalt thou be delivered?
12	Have the gods of the nations delivered them which my fathers have destroyed; as Gozan, and Haran, and Rezeph, and the children of Eden which were in Thelasar?
13	Where is the king of Hamath, and the king of Arpad, and the king of the city of Sepharvaim, of Hena, and Ivah?
14	And Hezekiah received the letter of the hand of the messengers, and read it: and Hezekiah went up into the house of the LORD, and spread it before the LORD.
15	And Hezekiah prayed before the LORD, and said, O LORD God of Israel, which dwellest between the cherubim, thou art the God, even thou alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth; thou hast made heaven and earth.
16	LORD, bow down thine ear, and hear: open, LORD, thine eyes, and see: and hear the words of Sennacherib, which hath sent him to reproach the living God.
17	Of a truth, LORD, the kings of Assyria have destroyed the nations and their lands,
18	And have cast their gods into the fire: for they were no gods, but the work of men's hands, wood and stone: therefore they have destroyed them.
19	Now therefore, O LORD our God, I beseech thee, save thou us out of his hand, that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that thou art the LORD God, even thou only.
20	Then Isaiah the son of Amoz sent to Hezekiah, saying, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, That which thou hast prayed to me against Sennacherib king of Assyria I have heard.
21	This is the word that the LORD hath spoken concerning him; The virgin the daughter of Zion hath despised thee, and laughed thee to scorn; the daughter of Jerusalem hath shaken her head at thee.
22	Whom hast thou reproached and blasphemed? and against whom hast thou exalted thy voice, and lifted up thine eyes on high? even against the Holy One of Israel.
23	By thy messengers thou hast reproached the LORD, and hast said, With the multitude of my chariots I am come up to the height of the mountains, to the sides of Lebanon, and will cut down the tall cedar trees thereof, and the choice fir trees thereof: and I will enter into the lodgings of his borders, and into the forest of his Carmel.
24	I have digged and drunk strange waters, and with the sole of my feet have I dried up all the rivers of besieged places.
25	Hast thou not heard long ago how I have done it, and of ancient times that I have formed it? now have I brought it to pass, that thou shouldest be to lay waste fenced cities into ruinous heaps.
26	Therefore their inhabitants were of small power, they were dismayed and confounded; they were as the grass of the field, and as the green herb, as the grass on the house tops, and as corn blasted before it be grown up.
27	But I know thy abode, and thy going out, and thy coming in, and thy rage against me.
28	Because thy rage against me and thy tumult is come up into mine ears, therefore I will put my hook in thy nose, and my bridle in thy lips, and I will turn thee back by the way by which thou camest.
29	And this shall be a sign unto thee, Ye shall eat this year such things as grow of themselves, and in the second year that which springeth of the same; and in the third year sow ye, and reap, and plant vineyards, and eat the fruits thereof.
30	And the remnant that is escaped of the house of Judah shall yet again take root downward, and bear fruit upward.
31	For out of Jerusalem shall go forth a remnant, and they that escape out of mount Zion: the zeal of the LORD of hosts shall do this.
32	Therefore thus saith the LORD concerning the king of Assyria, He shall not come into this city, nor shoot an arrow there, nor come before it with shield, nor cast a bank against it.
33	By the way that he came, by the same shall he return, and shall not come into this city, saith the LORD.
34	For I will defend this city, to save it, for mine own sake, and for my servant David's sake.
35	And it came to pass that night, that the angel of the LORD went out, and smote in the camp of the Assyrians an hundred fourscore and five thousand: and when they arose early in the morning, behold, they were all dead corpses.
36	So Sennacherib king of Assyria departed, and went and returned, and dwelt at Nineveh.
37	And it came to pass, as he was worshipping in the house of Nisroch his god, that Adrammelech and Sharezer his sons smote him with the sword: and they escaped into the land of Armenia. And Esarhaddon his son reigned in his stead.

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The New Testament reading is verses 22-44 of the 6th chapter in the Gospel of John.

John 6:22-44

22	The day following, when the people which stood on the other side of the sea saw that there was none other boat there, save that one whereinto his disciples were entered, and that Jesus went not with his disciples into the boat, but that his disciples were gone away alone;
23	(Howbeit there came other boats from Tiberias nigh unto the place where they did eat bread, after that the Lord had given thanks:)
24	When the people therefore saw that Jesus was not there, neither his disciples, they also took shipping, and came to Capernaum, seeking for Jesus.
25	And when they had found him on the other side of the sea, they said unto him, Rabbi, when camest thou hither?
26	Jesus answered them and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Ye seek me, not because ye saw the miracles, but because ye did eat of the loaves, and were filled.
27	Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed.
28	Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God?
29	Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.
30	They said therefore unto him, What sign shewest thou then, that we may see, and believe thee? what dost thou work?
31	Our fathers did eat manna in the desert; as it is written, He gave them bread from heaven to eat.
32	Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Moses gave you not that bread from heaven; but my Father giveth you the true bread from heaven.
33	For the bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world.
34	Then said they unto him, Lord, evermore give us this bread.
35	And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.
36	But I said unto you, That ye also have seen me, and believe not.
37	All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.
38	For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me.
39	And this is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day.
40	And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.
41	The Jews then murmured at him, because he said, I am the bread which came down from heaven.
42	And they said, Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? how is it then that he saith, I came down from heaven?
43	Jesus therefore answered and said unto them, Murmur not among yourselves.
44	No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.

Today's Readings and Stuff -- Friday, 16 May 2014

a good day to all.  And it is a good day, at least so far.  Yesterday, Beloved Older Daughter was in surgery for several hours for removal of a LARGE tumor that had appeared behind the uterus.  Wasn't there five months ago, but grew in a short time to a size the docs referred to as around a honeydew melon.  Caused her a whole lot of pain, kept her out of work (she's a teacher) far too much, and scared all of us.  Beloved Younger Daughter and Esteemed Younger Son-in-Law made a long 650-mile drive to join Esteemed Older Son-in-Law to help out and lend moral support, as we simply couldn't.  Got the word from Younger Daughter let us know late in the afternoon that surgery was successful and it all looked good.  Son-in-Law let us know that the tumor appears to be fibroid, meaning benign, meaning apparently no cancer.  God is good.  Been a worry day, a worry week, a worry month.

Wife went over next door this morning to "watch" dear great-niece while niece was at work.  Hour or so later, niece came home.  Whoever had given her the work schedule had messed up, she was to be off work yesterday but work today.  Grump.  And to make it better, got pulled over en route for tail light out.  Got a warning, not a ticket, and the bulb's been changed out.  But not a great way to start the day.  So Dear Wife is next door with the darling great-niece.  I'll be off to the pharmacy shortly to pick up a prescription for her.  Intended to do so yesterday, but with everything going, it got pushed back.  Do it today.

Storms in the area for the last few days, more due today and the next several.  Lows in the mid-30's, in the last half of May.  Not quite Alabama weather.  All the windows are closed and we had an extra blanket on the bed.

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The Old Testament reading is chapters 15, 16, and 17 of 2nd Kings.  Just gets worse and worse.  Parallels to our own land are uncomfortably close.  Several more days of this, and it doesn't get good.

II Kings 15

1	In the twenty and seventh year of Jeroboam king of Israel began Azariah son of Amaziah king of Judah to reign.
2	Sixteen years old was he when he began to reign, and he reigned two and fifty years in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Jecholiah of Jerusalem.
3	And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, according to all that his father Amaziah had done;
4	Save that the high places were not removed: the people sacrificed and burnt incense still on the high places.
5	And the LORD smote the king, so that he was a leper unto the day of his death, and dwelt in a several house. And Jotham the king's son was over the house, judging the people of the land.
6	And the rest of the acts of Azariah, and all that he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?
7	So Azariah slept with his fathers; and they buried him with his fathers in the city of David: and Jotham his son reigned in his stead.
8	In the thirty and eighth year of Azariah king of Judah did Zachariah the son of Jeroboam reign over Israel in Samaria six months.
9	And he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD, as his fathers had done: he departed not from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel to sin.
10	And Shallum the son of Jabesh conspired against him, and smote him before the people, and slew him, and reigned in his stead.
11	And the rest of the acts of Zachariah, behold, they are written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel.
12	This was the word of the LORD which he spake unto Jehu, saying, Thy sons shall sit on the throne of Israel unto the fourth generation. And so it came to pass.
13	Shallum the son of Jabesh began to reign in the nine and thirtieth year of Uzziah king of Judah; and he reigned a full month in Samaria.
14	For Menahem the son of Gadi went up from Tirzah, and came to Samaria, and smote Shallum the son of Jabesh in Samaria, and slew him, and reigned in his stead.
15	And the rest of the acts of Shallum, and his conspiracy which he made, behold, they are written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel.
16	Then Menahem smote Tiphsah, and all that were therein, and the coasts thereof from Tirzah: because they opened not to him, therefore he smote it; and all the women therein that were with child he ripped up.
17	In the nine and thirtieth year of Azariah king of Judah began Menahem the son of Gadi to reign over Israel, and reigned ten years in Samaria.
18	And he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD: he departed not all his days from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel to sin.
19	And Pul the king of Assyria came against the land: and Menahem gave Pul a thousand talents of silver, that his hand might be with him to confirm the kingdom in his hand.
20	And Menahem exacted the money of Israel, even of all the mighty men of wealth, of each man fifty shekels of silver, to give to the king of Assyria. So the king of Assyria turned back, and stayed not there in the land.
21	And the rest of the acts of Menahem, and all that he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?
22	And Menahem slept with his fathers; and Pekahiah his son reigned in his stead.
23	In the fiftieth year of Azariah king of Judah Pekahiah the son of Menahem began to reign over Israel in Samaria, and reigned two years.
24	And he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD: he departed not from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel to sin.
25	But Pekah the son of Remaliah, a captain of his, conspired against him, and smote him in Samaria, in the palace of the king's house, with Argob and Arieh, and with him fifty men of the Gileadites: and he killed him, and reigned in his room.
26	And the rest of the acts of Pekahiah, and all that he did, behold, they are written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel.
27	In the two and fiftieth year of Azariah king of Judah Pekah the son of Remaliah began to reign over Israel in Samaria, and reigned twenty years.
28	And he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD: he departed not from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel to sin.
29	In the days of Pekah king of Israel came Tiglathpileser king of Assyria, and took Ijon, and Abelbethmaachah, and Janoah, and Kedesh, and Hazor, and Gilead, and Galilee, all the land of Naphtali, and carried them captive to Assyria.
30	And Hoshea the son of Elah made a conspiracy against Pekah the son of Remaliah, and smote him, and slew him, and reigned in his stead, in the twentieth year of Jotham the son of Uzziah.
31	And the rest of the acts of Pekah, and all that he did, behold, they are written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel.
32	In the second year of Pekah the son of Remaliah king of Israel began Jotham the son of Uzziah king of Judah to reign.
33	Five and twenty years old was he when he began to reign, and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Jerusha, the daughter of Zadok.
34	And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD: he did according to all that his father Uzziah had done.
35	Howbeit the high places were not removed: the people sacrificed and burned incense still in the high places. He built the higher gate of the house of the LORD.
36	Now the rest of the acts of Jotham, and all that he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?
37	In those days the LORD began to send against Judah Rezin the king of Syria, and Pekah the son of Remaliah.
38	And Jotham slept with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in the city of David his father: and Ahaz his son reigned in his stead.

II Kings 16

1	In the seventeenth year of Pekah the son of Remaliah Ahaz the son of Jotham king of Judah began to reign.
2	Twenty years old was Ahaz when he began to reign, and reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem, and did not that which was right in the sight of the LORD his God, like David his father.
3	But he walked in the way of the kings of Israel, yea, and made his son to pass through the fire, according to the abominations of the heathen, whom the LORD cast out from before the children of Israel.
4	And he sacrificed and burnt incense in the high places, and on the hills, and under every green tree.
5	Then Rezin king of Syria and Pekah son of Remaliah king of Israel came up to Jerusalem to war: and they besieged Ahaz, but could not overcome him.
6	At that time Rezin king of Syria recovered Elath to Syria, and drave the Jews from Elath: and the Syrians came to Elath, and dwelt there unto this day.
7	So Ahaz sent messengers to Tiglathpileser king of Assyria, saying, I am thy servant and thy son: come up, and save me out of the hand of the king of Syria, and out of the hand of the king of Israel, which rise up against me.
8	And Ahaz took the silver and gold that was found in the house of the LORD, and in the treasures of the king's house, and sent it for a present to the king of Assyria.
9	And the king of Assyria hearkened unto him: for the king of Assyria went up against Damascus, and took it, and carried the people of it captive to Kir, and slew Rezin.
10	And king Ahaz went to Damascus to meet Tiglathpileser king of Assyria, and saw an altar that was at Damascus: and king Ahaz sent to Urijah the priest the fashion of the altar, and the pattern of it, according to all the workmanship thereof.
11	And Urijah the priest built an altar according to all that king Ahaz had sent from Damascus: so Urijah the priest made it against king Ahaz came from Damascus.
12	And when the king was come from Damascus, the king saw the altar: and the king approached to the altar, and offered thereon.
13	And he burnt his burnt offering and his meat offering, and poured his drink offering, and sprinkled the blood of his peace offerings, upon the altar.
14	And he brought also the brazen altar, which was before the LORD, from the forefront of the house, from between the altar and the house of the LORD, and put it on the north side of the altar.
15	And king Ahaz commanded Urijah the priest, saying, Upon the great altar burn the morning burnt offering, and the evening meat offering, and the king's burnt sacrifice, and his meat offering, with the burnt offering of all the people of the land, and their meat offering, and their drink offerings; and sprinkle upon it all the blood of the burnt offering, and all the blood of the sacrifice: and the brazen altar shall be for me to enquire by.
16	Thus did Urijah the priest, according to all that king Ahaz commanded.
17	And king Ahaz cut off the borders of the bases, and removed the laver from off them; and took down the sea from off the brazen oxen that were under it, and put it upon the pavement of stones.
18	And the covert for the sabbath that they had built in the house, and the king's entry without, turned he from the house of the LORD for the king of Assyria.
19	Now the rest of the acts of Ahaz which he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?
20	And Ahaz slept with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in the city of David: and Hezekiah his son reigned in his stead.

II Kings 17

1	In the twelfth year of Ahaz king of Judah began Hoshea the son of Elah to reign in Samaria over Israel nine years.
2	And he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD, but not as the kings of Israel that were before him.
3	Against him came up Shalmaneser king of Assyria; and Hoshea became his servant, and gave him presents.
4	And the king of Assyria found conspiracy in Hoshea: for he had sent messengers to So king of Egypt, and brought no present to the king of Assyria, as he had done year by year: therefore the king of Assyria shut him up, and bound him in prison.
5	Then the king of Assyria came up throughout all the land, and went up to Samaria, and besieged it three years.
6	In the ninth year of Hoshea the king of Assyria took Samaria, and carried Israel away into Assyria, and placed them in Halah and in Habor by the river of Gozan, and in the cities of the Medes.
7	For so it was, that the children of Israel had sinned against the LORD their God, which had brought them up out of the land of Egypt, from under the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt, and had feared other gods,
8	And walked in the statutes of the heathen, whom the LORD cast out from before the children of Israel, and of the kings of Israel, which they had made.
9	And the children of Israel did secretly those things that were not right against the LORD their God, and they built them high places in all their cities, from the tower of the watchmen to the fenced city.
10	And they set them up images and groves in every high hill, and under every green tree:
11	And there they burnt incense in all the high places, as did the heathen whom the LORD carried away before them; and wrought wicked things to provoke the LORD to anger:
12	For they served idols, whereof the LORD had said unto them, Ye shall not do this thing.
13	Yet the LORD testified against Israel, and against Judah, by all the prophets, and by all the seers, saying, Turn ye from your evil ways, and keep my commandments and my statutes, according to all the law which I commanded your fathers, and which I sent to you by my servants the prophets.
14	Notwithstanding they would not hear, but hardened their necks, like to the neck of their fathers, that did not believe in the LORD their God.
15	And they rejected his statutes, and his covenant that he made with their fathers, and his testimonies which he testified against them; and they followed vanity, and became vain, and went after the heathen that were round about them, concerning whom the LORD had charged them, that they should not do like them.
16	And they left all the commandments of the LORD their God, and made them molten images, even two calves, and made a grove, and worshipped all the host of heaven, and served Baal.
17	And they caused their sons and their daughters to pass through the fire, and used divination and enchantments, and sold themselves to do evil in the sight of the LORD, to provoke him to anger.
18	Therefore the LORD was very angry with Israel, and removed them out of his sight: there was none left but the tribe of Judah only.
19	Also Judah kept not the commandments of the LORD their God, but walked in the statutes of Israel which they made.
20	And the LORD rejected all the seed of Israel, and afflicted them, and delivered them into the hand of spoilers, until he had cast them out of his sight.
21	For he rent Israel from the house of David; and they made Jeroboam the son of Nebat king: and Jeroboam drave Israel from following the LORD, and made them sin a great sin.
22	For the children of Israel walked in all the sins of Jeroboam which he did; they departed not from them;
23	Until the LORD removed Israel out of his sight, as he had said by all his servants the prophets. So was Israel carried away out of their own land to Assyria unto this day.
24	And the king of Assyria brought men from Babylon, and from Cuthah, and from Ava, and from Hamath, and from Sepharvaim, and placed them in the cities of Samaria instead of the children of Israel: and they possessed Samaria, and dwelt in the cities thereof.
25	And so it was at the beginning of their dwelling there, that they feared not the LORD: therefore the LORD sent lions among them, which slew some of them.
26	Wherefore they spake to the king of Assyria, saying, The nations which thou hast removed, and placed in the cities of Samaria, know not the manner of the God of the land: therefore he hath sent lions among them, and, behold, they slay them, because they know not the manner of the God of the land.
27	Then the king of Assyria commanded, saying, Carry thither one of the priests whom ye brought from thence; and let them go and dwell there, and let him teach them the manner of the God of the land.
28	Then one of the priests whom they had carried away from Samaria came and dwelt in Bethel, and taught them how they should fear the LORD.
29	Howbeit every nation made gods of their own, and put them in the houses of the high places which the Samaritans had made, every nation in their cities wherein they dwelt.
30	And the men of Babylon made Succothbenoth, and the men of Cuth made Nergal, and the men of Hamath made Ashima,
31	And the Avites made Nibhaz and Tartak, and the Sepharvites burnt their children in fire to Adrammelech and Anammelech, the gods of Sepharvaim.
32	So they feared the LORD, and made unto themselves of the lowest of them priests of the high places, which sacrificed for them in the houses of the high places.
33	They feared the LORD, and served their own gods, after the manner of the nations whom they carried away from thence.
34	Unto this day they do after the former manners: they fear not the LORD, neither do they after their statutes, or after their ordinances, or after the law and commandment which the LORD commanded the children of Jacob, whom he named Israel;
35	With whom the LORD had made a covenant, and charged them, saying, Ye shall not fear other gods, nor bow yourselves to them, nor serve them, nor sacrifice to them:
36	But the LORD, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt with great power and a stretched out arm, him shall ye fear, and him shall ye worship, and to him shall ye do sacrifice.
37	And the statutes, and the ordinances, and the law, and the commandment, which he wrote for you, ye shall observe to do for evermore; and ye shall not fear other gods.
38	And the covenant that I have made with you ye shall not forget; neither shall ye fear other gods.
39	But the LORD your God ye shall fear; and he shall deliver you out of the hand of all your enemies.
40	Howbeit they did not hearken, but they did after their former manner.
41	So these nations feared the LORD, and served their graven images, both their children, and their children's children: as did their fathers, so do they unto this day.

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The New Testament reading is verses 1-21 in the 6th chapter of the Gospel of John.

John 6:1-21

1	After these things Jesus went over the sea of Galilee, which is the sea of Tiberias.
2	And a great multitude followed him, because they saw his miracles which he did on them that were diseased.
3	And Jesus went up into a mountain, and there he sat with his disciples.
4	And the passover, a feast of the Jews, was nigh.
5	When Jesus then lifted up his eyes, and saw a great company come unto him, he saith unto Philip, Whence shall we buy bread, that these may eat?
6	And this he said to prove him: for he himself knew what he would do.
7	Philip answered him, Two hundred pennyworth of bread is not sufficient for them, that every one of them may take a little.
8	One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, saith unto him,
9	There is a lad here, which hath five barley loaves, and two small fishes: but what are they among so many?
10	And Jesus said, Make the men sit down. Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, in number about five thousand.
11	And Jesus took the loaves; and when he had given thanks, he distributed to the disciples, and the disciples to them that were set down; and likewise of the fishes as much as they would.
12	When they were filled, he said unto his disciples, Gather up the fragments that remain, that nothing be lost.
13	Therefore they gathered them together, and filled twelve baskets with the fragments of the five barley loaves, which remained over and above unto them that had eaten.
14	Then those men, when they had seen the miracle that Jesus did, said, This is of a truth that prophet that should come into the world.
15	When Jesus therefore perceived that they would come and take him by force, to make him a king, he departed again into a mountain himself alone.
16	And when even was now come, his disciples went down unto the sea,
17	And entered into a ship, and went over the sea toward Capernaum. And it was now dark, and Jesus was not come to them.
18	And the sea arose by reason of a great wind that blew.
19	So when they had rowed about five and twenty or thirty furlongs, they see Jesus walking on the sea, and drawing nigh unto the ship: and they were afraid.
20	But he saith unto them, It is I; be not afraid.
21	Then they willingly received him into the ship: and immediately the ship was at the land whither they went.

Today's Readings and Stuff -- Thursday, 15 May 2014

another day  Had some awful storms through here last night.  Hail, damaging winds, tornado watches, HEAVY rain, all of that.  I see that a tree fell onto the roof of the mayor of a nearby city - Youngstown - in the midst of all of it.  He had a bad day already: he'd just been indicted by a grand jury on multiple charges of official corruption.  If you know the area at all, you probably are not surprised.  It's been a wholly-owned fiefdom of the Democrat Party, augmented with assistance from the unions and the Mafia. No, not a  joke, the Cosa Nostra.is alive and well.  The only interesting part is that it's on the contested line between the families in Buffalo and the families in Chicago.  Corruption is a way of life.  Place looks like a cross between Chicago and Detroit, the worse parts of either, just on a smaller scale.
We were spared much damage, but the storms around us didn't make for a restful night.  Once the storms left and we just had lots of rain, got some rest.  Not much, but some.
Dear Wife is next door "watching" the great-niece.  Good for both of them.  Wife was at the appointment with the arthopod (OK, for completeness, that means Orthopedic Surgeon) yesterday.  He examined her, looked at the previous day's X-rays, confirmed her knees are in bad shape, that she has a torn rotator cuff on the one arm, that the knee surgery done on her some years back (Maquet Procedure) was A Bad Idea, but that she;s not currently a good candidate for surgery.  And is setting up a visit with a physical therapist.  Turns out she knows the therapist, I think they were in college together or something.
Last night, we were part of the onlookers at great-nephew's school "concert.  First graders in a 10-minute long production.  Celebrating Cinqo de Mayo.  Now, other than the fact that May 5 was 10 days ago, what is the point of this?  I might note, incidentally, that this is NE Ohio.  Lake Erie is not far from here, and Canada is across the lake.  You can drive to Quebec in about 500 miles, while a drive to Mexico is about 1700 miles.  If we were to be celebrating another culture, it would seem that the French one in Quebec would be more appropriate.  Matter of fact, when I was in high school in this area, a TINY high school at that, there were two foreign languages taught.  Latin, in part because that was considered to be a mark of an educated person (and, also, some of the Roman Catholic parishes in the area still celebrated the Mass in Latin).  And French, because we could pick up the French-language radio stations coming over the lake from Montreal, etc.  But we had no involvement with Mexico, and still don't.  So I do not understand.  I had some people hint that it might be due to that worthless abomination known as "Common Core", which is barely possible, I suppose.  Stupid enough, probably.  By the way, my daughter's mother-in-law was born in Mexico, near Queretaro, and she tells us that nobody in Mexico celebrates Cinqo de Mayo, it's a bogus notion, not quite as made-up as Kwanzaa, but close.
strange world.

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as I write this, our older daughter is in surgery a long, long way from here, for removal of a tumor behind her uterus, a tumor not found in late Thanksgiving but now the size of a honeydew melon.  A tough morning for all.  Prayers all around.


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The Old Testament reading is chapters 12, 13, and 14 of 2nd Kings.  Just gets worse and worse and worse. And Elisha dies.

II Kings 12

1	In the seventh year of Jehu Jehoash began to reign; and forty years reigned he in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Zibiah of Beersheba.
2	And Jehoash did that which was right in the sight of the LORD all his days wherein Jehoiada the priest instructed him.
3	But the high places were not taken away: the people still sacrificed and burnt incense in the high places.
4	And Jehoash said to the priests, All the money of the dedicated things that is brought into the house of the LORD, even the money of every one that passeth the account, the money that every man is set at, and all the money that cometh into any man's heart to bring into the house of the LORD,
5	Let the priests take it to them, every man of his acquaintance: and let them repair the breaches of the house, wheresoever any breach shall be found.
6	But it was so, that in the three and twentieth year of king Jehoash the priests had not repaired the breaches of the house.
7	Then king Jehoash called for Jehoiada the priest, and the other priests, and said unto them, Why repair ye not the breaches of the house? now therefore receive no more money of your acquaintance, but deliver it for the breaches of the house.
8	And the priests consented to receive no more money of the people, neither to repair the breaches of the house.
9	But Jehoiada the priest took a chest, and bored a hole in the lid of it, and set it beside the altar, on the right side as one cometh into the house of the LORD: and the priests that kept the door put therein all the money that was brought into the house of the LORD.
10	And it was so, when they saw that there was much money in the chest, that the king's scribe and the high priest came up, and they put up in bags, and told the money that was found in the house of the LORD.
11	And they gave the money, being told, into the hands of them that did the work, that had the oversight of the house of the LORD: and they laid it out to the carpenters and builders, that wrought upon the house of the LORD,
12	And to masons, and hewers of stone, and to buy timber and hewed stone to repair the breaches of the house of the LORD, and for all that was laid out for the house to repair it.
13	Howbeit there were not made for the house of the LORD bowls of silver, snuffers, basins, trumpets, any vessels of gold, or vessels of silver, of the money that was brought into the house of the LORD:
14	But they gave that to the workmen, and repaired therewith the house of the LORD.
15	Moreover they reckoned not with the men, into whose hand they delivered the money to be bestowed on workmen: for they dealt faithfully.
16	The trespass money and sin money was not brought into the house of the LORD: it was the priests'.
17	Then Hazael king of Syria went up, and fought against Gath, and took it: and Hazael set his face to go up to Jerusalem.
18	And Jehoash king of Judah took all the hallowed things that Jehoshaphat, and Jehoram, and Ahaziah, his fathers, kings of Judah, had dedicated, and his own hallowed things, and all the gold that was found in the treasures of the house of the LORD, and in the king's house, and sent it to Hazael king of Syria: and he went away from Jerusalem.
19	And the rest of the acts of Joash, and all that he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?
20	And his servants arose, and made a conspiracy, and slew Joash in the house of Millo, which goeth down to Silla.
21	For Jozachar the son of Shimeath, and Jehozabad the son of Shomer, his servants, smote him, and he died; and they buried him with his fathers in the city of David: and Amaziah his son reigned in his stead.

II Kings 13

1	In the three and twentieth year of Joash the son of Ahaziah king of Judah Jehoahaz the son of Jehu began to reign over Israel in Samaria, and reigned seventeen years.
2	And he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD, and followed the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, which made Israel to sin; he departed not therefrom.
3	And the anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel, and he delivered them into the hand of Hazael king of Syria, and into the hand of Benhadad the son of Hazael, all their days.
4	And Jehoahaz besought the LORD, and the LORD hearkened unto him: for he saw the oppression of Israel, because the king of Syria oppressed them.
5	(And the LORD gave Israel a saviour, so that they went out from under the hand of the Syrians: and the children of Israel dwelt in their tents, as beforetime.
6	Nevertheless they departed not from the sins of the house of Jeroboam, who made Israel sin, but walked therein: and there remained the grove also in Samaria.)
7	Neither did he leave of the people to Jehoahaz but fifty horsemen, and ten chariots, and ten thousand footmen; for the king of Syria had destroyed them, and had made them like the dust by threshing.
8	Now the rest of the acts of Jehoahaz, and all that he did, and his might, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?
9	And Jehoahaz slept with his fathers; and they buried him in Samaria: and Joash his son reigned in his stead.
10	In the thirty and seventh year of Joash king of Judah began Jehoash the son of Jehoahaz to reign over Israel in Samaria, and reigned sixteen years.
11	And he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD; he departed not from all the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel sin: but he walked therein.
12	And the rest of the acts of Joash, and all that he did, and his might wherewith he fought against Amaziah king of Judah, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?
13	And Joash slept with his fathers; and Jeroboam sat upon his throne: and Joash was buried in Samaria with the kings of Israel.
14	Now Elisha was fallen sick of his sickness whereof he died. And Joash the king of Israel came down unto him, and wept over his face, and said, O my father, my father, the chariot of Israel, and the horsemen thereof.
15	And Elisha said unto him, Take bow and arrows. And he took unto him bow and arrows.
16	And he said to the king of Israel, Put thine hand upon the bow. And he put his hand upon it: and Elisha put his hands upon the king's hands.
17	And he said, Open the window eastward. And he opened it. Then Elisha said, Shoot. And he shot. And he said, The arrow of the LORD's deliverance, and the arrow of deliverance from Syria: for thou shalt smite the Syrians in Aphek, till thou have consumed them.
18	And he said, Take the arrows. And he took them. And he said unto the king of Israel, Smite upon the ground. And he smote thrice, and stayed.
19	And the man of God was wroth with him, and said, Thou shouldest have smitten five or six times; then hadst thou smitten Syria till thou hadst consumed it: whereas now thou shalt smite Syria but thrice.
20	And Elisha died, and they buried him. And the bands of the Moabites invaded the land at the coming in of the year.
21	And it came to pass, as they were burying a man, that, behold, they spied a band of men; and they cast the man into the sepulchre of Elisha: and when the man was let down, and touched the bones of Elisha, he revived, and stood up on his feet.
22	But Hazael king of Syria oppressed Israel all the days of Jehoahaz.
23	And the LORD was gracious unto them, and had compassion on them, and had respect unto them, because of his covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and would not destroy them, neither cast he them from his presence as yet.
24	So Hazael king of Syria died; and Benhadad his son reigned in his stead.
25	And Jehoash the son of Jehoahaz took again out of the hand of Benhadad the son of Hazael the cities, which he had taken out of the hand of Jehoahaz his father by war. Three times did Joash beat him, and recovered the cities of Israel.

II Kings 14

1	In the second year of Joash son of Jehoahaz king of Israel reigned Amaziah the son of Joash king of Judah.
2	He was twenty and five years old when he began to reign, and reigned twenty and nine years in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Jehoaddan of Jerusalem.
3	And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, yet not like David his father: he did according to all things as Joash his father did.
4	Howbeit the high places were not taken away: as yet the people did sacrifice and burnt incense on the high places.
5	And it came to pass, as soon as the kingdom was confirmed in his hand, that he slew his servants which had slain the king his father.
6	But the children of the murderers he slew not: according unto that which is written in the book of the law of Moses, wherein the LORD commanded, saying, The fathers shall not be put to death for the children, nor the children be put to death for the fathers; but every man shall be put to death for his own sin.
7	He slew of Edom in the valley of salt ten thousand, and took Selah by war, and called the name of it Joktheel unto this day.
8	Then Amaziah sent messengers to Jehoash, the son of Jehoahaz son of Jehu, king of Israel, saying, Come, let us look one another in the face.
9	And Jehoash the king of Israel sent to Amaziah king of Judah, saying, The thistle that was in Lebanon sent to the cedar that was in Lebanon, saying, Give thy daughter to my son to wife: and there passed by a wild beast that was in Lebanon, and trode down the thistle.
10	Thou hast indeed smitten Edom, and thine heart hath lifted thee up: glory of this, and tarry at home: for why shouldest thou meddle to thy hurt, that thou shouldest fall, even thou, and Judah with thee?
11	But Amaziah would not hear. Therefore Jehoash king of Israel went up; and he and Amaziah king of Judah looked one another in the face at Bethshemesh, which belongeth to Judah.
12	And Judah was put to the worse before Israel; and they fled every man to their tents.
13	And Jehoash king of Israel took Amaziah king of Judah, the son of Jehoash the son of Ahaziah, at Bethshemesh, and came to Jerusalem, and brake down the wall of Jerusalem from the gate of Ephraim unto the corner gate, four hundred cubits.
14	And he took all the gold and silver, and all the vessels that were found in the house of the LORD, and in the treasures of the king's house, and hostages, and returned to Samaria.
15	Now the rest of the acts of Jehoash which he did, and his might, and how he fought with Amaziah king of Judah, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?
16	And Jehoash slept with his fathers, and was buried in Samaria with the kings of Israel; and Jeroboam his son reigned in his stead.
17	And Amaziah the son of Joash king of Judah lived after the death of Jehoash son of Jehoahaz king of Israel fifteen years.
18	And the rest of the acts of Amaziah, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?
19	Now they made a conspiracy against him in Jerusalem: and he fled to Lachish; but they sent after him to Lachish, and slew him there.
20	And they brought him on horses: and he was buried at Jerusalem with his fathers in the city of David.
21	And all the people of Judah took Azariah, which was sixteen years old, and made him king instead of his father Amaziah.
22	He built Elath, and restored it to Judah, after that the king slept with his fathers.
23	In the fifteenth year of Amaziah the son of Joash king of Judah Jeroboam the son of Joash king of Israel began to reign in Samaria, and reigned forty and one years.
24	And he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD: he departed not from all the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel to sin.
25	He restored the coast of Israel from the entering of Hamath unto the sea of the plain, according to the word of the LORD God of Israel, which he spake by the hand of his servant Jonah, the son of Amittai, the prophet, which was of Gathhepher.
26	For the LORD saw the affliction of Israel, that it was very bitter: for there was not any shut up, nor any left, nor any helper for Israel.
27	And the LORD said not that he would blot out the name of Israel from under heaven: but he saved them by the hand of Jeroboam the son of Joash.
28	Now the rest of the acts of Jeroboam, and all that he did, and his might, how he warred, and how he recovered Damascus, and Hamath, which belonged to Judah, for Israel, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?
29	And Jeroboam slept with his fathers, even with the kings of Israel; and Zachariah his son reigned in his stead.

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The New Testament reading is verses 25-47 in chapter 5 of John's Gospel.

John 5:25-47

25	Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live.
26	For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself;
27	And hath given him authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of man.
28	Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice,
29	And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.
30	I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me.
31	If I bear witness of myself, my witness is not true.
32	There is another that beareth witness of me; and I know that the witness which he witnesseth of me is true.
33	Ye sent unto John, and he bare witness unto the truth.
34	But I receive not testimony from man: but these things I say, that ye might be saved.
35	He was a burning and a shining light: and ye were willing for a season to rejoice in his light.
36	But I have greater witness than that of John: for the works which the Father hath given me to finish, the same works that I do, bear witness of me, that the Father hath sent me.
37	And the Father himself, which hath sent me, hath borne witness of me. Ye have neither heard his voice at any time, nor seen his shape.
38	And ye have not his word abiding in you: for whom he hath sent, him ye believe not.
39	Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.
40	And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life.
41	I receive not honour from men.
42	But I know you, that ye have not the love of God in you.
43	I am come in my Father's name, and ye receive me not: if another shall come in his own name, him ye will receive.
44	How can ye believe, which receive honour one of another, and seek not the honour that cometh from God only?
45	Do not think that I will accuse you to the Father: there is one that accuseth you, even Moses, in whom ye trust.
46	For had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed me; for he wrote of me.
47	But if ye believe not his writings, how shall ye believe my words?