24 May 2014

Today's Readings and Stuff -- Saturday, 24 May, 2014

Happy Saturday to all.
Woke up to 41 degrees outside, a hungry grey cat "washing" my nose in an effort to get me awake to feed him, and a need to go next door to take care of niece's dog.    All of which I did   Managing, in the process, to lock my key to niece's house inside that house.  Dear Wife called sister-in-law, who  will come by later and open the door for me.  For now, dog is outside and supplier with food and water.
Dear Wife has a BP cuff on me as I sit at keyboard,  the high reading is 163, which Is Not Good, and she suggests that drinking two or three of those 4-cup pots of coffee per day is probably not the best approach, and I might be well advise to drink water instead.  "And she's probably right", he said, sipping from another full 12-ounce mug of the stuff, a mug with a Waffle House logo on the side.
This is the weekend of Memorial Day.  Means many things, and the unofficial first day of summer is just one of them.  As a kid, it marked the last week of school, we'd go back Monday, and the Friday was The Last Day. 
But it is also a day to remember those who have gone before, those who made this life possible.  My father-in-law died in 1992.  We've not been able to visit the grave site not to place a flag or flower in the last 22  years.  Hope to do so this week.  My mother died in 2007, and, except for my dad's funeral in 2011, haven't been back since.  Hope to do so soon.  Found that my mother-in-law, who passed in 2007 also (just weeks after my mom) and who was cremated, still has her ashes with no resting place, unless you count sister-in-law's china cupboard.   May see about that as well.  May not be able to visit any parades or large-scale patriotic efforts.  Possibly on Independence Day. 
We'd intended to get up in the middle of the night to view the meteor display.  Alarm went off at 02:00, we saw the temperature outside, and went back to bed.  39-40 degrees in late May is just not that appealing.

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

The Old Testament reading today is chapters 11, 12, and 13 of 1st Chronicles


1
Then all Israel gathered themselves to David unto Hebron, saying, Behold, we are thy bone and thy flesh.
2
And moreover in time past, even when Saul was king, thou wast he that leddest out and broughtest in Israel: and the LORD thy God said unto thee, Thou shalt feed my people Israel, and thou shalt be ruler over my people Israel.
3
Therefore came all the elders of Israel to the king to Hebron; and David made a covenant with them in Hebron before the LORD; and they anointed David king over Israel, according to the word of the LORD by Samuel.
4
And David and all Israel went to Jerusalem, which is Jebus; where the Jebusites were, the inhabitants of the land.
5
And the inhabitants of Jebus said to David, Thou shalt not come hither. Nevertheless David took the castle of Zion, which is the city of David.
6
And David said, Whosoever smiteth the Jebusites first shall be chief and captain. So Joab the son of Zeruiah went first up, and was chief.
7
And David dwelt in the castle; therefore they called it the city of David.
8
And he built the city round about, even from Millo round about: and Joab repaired the rest of the city.
9
So David waxed greater and greater: for the LORD of hosts was with him.
10
These also are the chief of the mighty men whom David had, who strengthened themselves with him in his kingdom, and with all Israel, to make him king, according to the word of the LORD concerning Israel.
11
And this is the number of the mighty men whom David had; Jashobeam, an Hachmonite, the chief of the captains: he lifted up his spear against three hundred slain by him at one time.
12
And after him was Eleazar the son of Dodo, the Ahohite, who was one of the three mighties.
13
He was with David at Pasdammim, and there the Philistines were gathered together to battle, where was a parcel of ground full of barley; and the people fled from before the Philistines.
14
And they set themselves in the midst of that parcel, and delivered it, and slew the Philistines; and the LORD saved them by a great deliverance.
15
Now three of the thirty captains went down to the rock to David, into the cave of Adullam; and the host of the Philistines encamped in the valley of Rephaim.
16
And David was then in the hold, and the Philistines' garrison was then at Bethlehem.
17
And David longed, and said, Oh that one would give me drink of the water of the well of Bethlehem, that is at the gate!
18
And the three brake through the host of the Philistines, and drew water out of the well of Bethlehem, that was by the gate, and took it, and brought it to David: but David would not drink of it, but poured it out to the LORD.
19
And said, My God forbid it me, that I should do this thing: shall I drink the blood of these men that have put their lives in jeopardy? for with the jeopardy of their lives they brought it. Therefore he would not drink it. These things did these three mightiest.
20
And Abishai the brother of Joab, he was chief of the three: for lifting up his spear against three hundred, he slew them, and had a name among the three.
21
Of the three, he was more honorable than the two; for he was their captain: howbeit he attained not to the first three.
22
Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, the son of a valiant man of Kabzeel, who had done many acts; he slew two lionlike men of Moab: also he went down and slew a lion in a pit in a snowy day.
23
And he slew an Egyptian, a man of great stature, five cubits high; and in the Egyptian's hand was a spear like a weaver's beam; and he went down to him with a staff, and plucked the spear out of the Egyptian's hand, and slew him with his own spear.
24
These things did Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and had the name among the three mighties.
25
Behold, he was honorable among the thirty, but attained not to the first three: and David set him over his guard.
26
Also the valiant men of the armies were, Asahel the brother of Joab, Elhanan the son of Dodo of Bethlehem,
27
Shammoth the Harorite, Helez the Pelonite,
28
Ira the son of Ikkesh the Tekoite, Abiezer the Antothite,
29
Sibbecai the Hushathite, Ilai the Ahohite,
30
Maharai the Netophathite, Heled the son of Baanah the Netophathite,
31
Ithai the son of Ribai of Gibeah, that pertained to the children of Benjamin, Benaiah the Pirathonite,
32
Hurai of the brooks of Gaash, Abiel the Arbathite,
33
Azmaveth the Baharumite, Eliahba the Shaalbonite,
34
The sons of Hashem the Gizonite, Jonathan the son of Shage the Hararite,
35
Ahiam the son of Sacar the Hararite, Eliphal the son of Ur,
36
Hepher the Mecherathite, Ahijah the Pelonite,
37
Hezro the Carmelite, Naarai the son of Ezbai,
38
Joel the brother of Nathan, Mibhar the son of Haggeri,
39
Zelek the Ammonite, Naharai the Berothite, the armourbearer of Joab the son of Zeruiah,
40
Ira the Ithrite, Gareb the Ithrite,
41
Uriah the Hittite, Zabad the son of Ahlai,
42
Adina the son of Shiza the Reubenite, a captain of the Reubenites, and thirty with him,
43
Hanan the son of Maachah, and Joshaphat the Mithnite,
44
Uzzia the Ashterathite, Shama and Jehiel the sons of Hothan the Aroerite,
45
Jediael the son of Shimri, and Joha his brother, the Tizite,
46
Eliel the Mahavite, and Jeribai, and Joshaviah, the sons of Elnaam, and Ithmah the Moabite,
47
Eliel, and Obed, and Jasiel the Mesobaite.


1
Now these are they that came to David to Ziklag, while he yet kept himself close because of Saul the son of Kish: and they were among the mighty men, helpers of the war.
2
They were armed with bows, and could use both the right hand and the left in hurling stones and shooting arrows out of a bow, even of Saul's brethren of Benjamin.
3
The chief was Ahiezer, then Joash, the sons of Shemaah the Gibeathite; and Jeziel, and Pelet, the sons of Azmaveth; and Berachah, and Jehu the Antothite.
4
And Ismaiah the Gibeonite, a mighty man among the thirty, and over the thirty; and Jeremiah, and Jahaziel, and Johanan, and Josabad the Gederathite,
5
Eluzai, and Jerimoth, and Bealiah, and Shemariah, and Shephatiah the Haruphite,
6
Elkanah, and Jesiah, and Azareel, and Joezer, and Jashobeam, the Korhites,
7
And Joelah, and Zebadiah, the sons of Jeroham of Gedor.
8
And of the Gadites there separated themselves unto David into the hold to the wilderness men of might, and men of war fit for the battle, that could handle shield and buckler, whose faces were like the faces of lions, and were as swift as the roes upon the mountains;
9
Ezer the first, Obadiah the second, Eliab the third,
10
Mishmannah the fourth, Jeremiah the fifth,
11
Attai the sixth, Eliel the seventh,
12
Johanan the eighth, Elzabad the ninth,
13
Jeremiah the tenth, Machbanai the eleventh.
14
These were of the sons of Gad, captains of the host: one of the least was over an hundred, and the greatest over a thousand.
15
These are they that went over Jordan in the first month, when it had overflown all his banks; and they put to flight all them of the valleys, both toward the east, and toward the west.
16
And there came of the children of Benjamin and Judah to the hold unto David.
17
And David went out to meet them, and answered and said unto them, If ye be come peaceably unto me to help me, mine heart shall be knit unto you: but if ye be come to betray me to mine enemies, seeing there is no wrong in mine hands, the God of our fathers look thereon, and rebuke it.
18
Then the spirit came upon Amasai, who was chief of the captains, and he said, Thine are we, David, and on thy side, thou son of Jesse: peace, peace be unto thee, and peace be to thine helpers; for thy God helpeth thee. Then David received them, and made them captains of the band.
19
And there fell some of Manasseh to David, when he came with the Philistines against Saul to battle: but they helped them not: for the lords of the Philistines upon advisement sent him away, saying, He will fall to his master Saul to the jeopardy of our heads.
20
As he went to Ziklag, there fell to him of Manasseh, Adnah, and Jozabad, and Jediael, and Michael, and Jozabad, and Elihu, and Zilthai, captains of the thousands that were of Manasseh.
21
And they helped David against the band of the rovers: for they were all mighty men of valor, and were captains in the host.
22
For at that time day by day there came to David to help him, until it was a great host, like the host of God.
23
And these are the numbers of the bands that were ready armed to the war, and came to David to Hebron, to turn the kingdom of Saul to him, according to the word of the LORD.
24
The children of Judah that bare shield and spear were six thousand and eight hundred, ready armed to the war.
25
Of the children of Simeon, mighty men of valor for the war, seven thousand and one hundred.
26
Of the children of Levi four thousand and six hundred.
27
And Jehoiada was the leader of the Aaronites, and with him were three thousand and seven hundred;
28
And Zadok, a young man mighty of valor, and of his father's house twenty and two captains.
29
And of the children of Benjamin, the kindred of Saul, three thousand: for hitherto the greatest part of them had kept the ward of the house of Saul.
30
And of the children of Ephraim twenty thousand and eight hundred, mighty men of valor, famous throughout the house of their fathers.
31
And of the half tribe of Manasseh eighteen thousand, which were expressed by name, to come and make David king.
32
And of the children of Issachar, which were men that had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do; the heads of them were two hundred; and all their brethren were at their commandment.
33
Of Zebulun, such as went forth to battle, expert in war, with all instruments of war, fifty thousand, which could keep rank: they were not of double heart.
34
And of Naphtali a thousand captains, and with them with shield and spear thirty and seven thousand.
35
And of the Danites expert in war twenty and eight thousand and six hundred.
36
And of Asher, such as went forth to battle, expert in war, forty thousand.
37
And on the other side of Jordan, of the Reubenites, and the Gadites, and of the half tribe of Manasseh, with all manner of instruments of war for the battle, an hundred and twenty thousand.
38
All these men of war, that could keep rank, came with a perfect heart to Hebron, to make David king over all Israel: and all the rest also of Israel were of one heart to make David king.
39
And there they were with David three days, eating and drinking: for their brethren had prepared for them.
40
Moreover they that were nigh them, even unto Issachar and Zebulun and Naphtali, brought bread on asses, and on camels, and on mules, and on oxen, and meat, meal, cakes of figs, and bunches of raisins, and wine, and oil, and oxen, and sheep abundantly: for there was joy in Israel.


1
And David consulted with the captains of thousands and hundreds, and with every leader.
2
And David said unto all the congregation of Israel, If it seem good unto you, and that it be of the LORD our God, let us send abroad unto our brethren every where, that are left in all the land of Israel, and with them also to the priests and Levites which are in their cities and suburbs, that they may gather themselves unto us:
3
And let us bring again the ark of our God to us: for we inquired not at it in the days of Saul.
4
And all the congregation said that they would do so: for the thing was right in the eyes of all the people.
5
So David gathered all Israel together, from Shihor of Egypt even unto the entering of Hemath, to bring the ark of God from Kirjathjearim.
6
And David went up, and all Israel, to Baalah, that is, to Kirjathjearim, which belonged to Judah, to bring up thence the ark of God the LORD, that dwelleth between the cherubim, whose name is called on it.
7
And they carried the ark of God in a new cart out of the house of Abinadab: and Uzza and Ahio drave the cart.
8
And David and all Israel played before God with all their might, and with singing, and with harps, and with psalteries, and with timbrels, and with cymbals, and with trumpets.
9
And when they came unto the threshingfloor of Chidon, Uzza put forth his hand to hold the ark; for the oxen stumbled.
10
And the anger of the LORD was kindled against Uzza, and he smote him, because he put his hand to the ark: and there he died before God.
11
And David was displeased, because the LORD had made a breach upon Uzza: wherefore that place is called Perezuzza to this day.
12
And David was afraid of God that day, saying, How shall I bring the ark of God home to me?
13
So David brought not the ark home to himself to the city of David, but carried it aside into the house of Obededom the Gittite.
14
And the ark of God remained with the family of Obededom in his house three months. And the LORD blessed the house of Obededom, and all that he had.




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The New Testament passage is verses 1-23 in the 9th chapter of the Gospel of John.

1
And as Jesus passed by, he saw a man which was blind from his birth.
2
And his disciples asked him, saying, Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind?
3
Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him.
4
I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work.
5
As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.
6
When he had thus spoken, he spat on the ground, and made clay of the spittle, and he anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay,
7
And said unto him, Go, wash in the pool of Siloam, (which is by interpretation, Sent.) He went his way therefore, and washed, and came seeing.
8
The neighbours therefore, and they which before had seen him that he was blind, said, Is not this he that sat and begged?
9
Some said, This is he: others said, He is like him: but he said, I am he.
10
Therefore said they unto him, How were thine eyes opened?
11
He answered and said, A man that is called Jesus made clay, and anointed mine eyes, and said unto me, Go to the pool of Siloam, and wash: and I went and washed, and I received sight.
12
Then said they unto him, Where is he? He said, I know not.
13
They brought to the Pharisees him that aforetime was blind.
14
And it was the sabbath day when Jesus made the clay, and opened his eyes.
15
Then again the Pharisees also asked him how he had received his sight. He said unto them, He put clay upon mine eyes, and I washed, and do see.
16
Therefore said some of the Pharisees, This man is not of God, because he keepeth not the sabbath day. Others said, How can a man that is a sinner do such miracles? And there was a division among them.
17
They say unto the blind man again, What sayest thou of him, that he hath opened thine eyes? He said, He is a prophet.
18
But the Jews did not believe concerning him, that he had been blind, and received his sight, until they called the parents of him that had received his sight.
19
And they asked them, saying, Is this your son, who ye say was born blind? how then doth he now see?
20
His parents answered them and said, We know that this is our son, and that he was born blind:
21
But by what means he now seeth, we know not; or who hath opened his eyes, we know not: he is of age; ask him: he shall speak for himself.
22
These words spake his parents, because they feared the Jews: for the Jews had agreed already, that if any man did confess that he was Christ, he should be put out of the synagogue.
23
Therefore said his parents, He is of age; ask him.

23 May 2014

Today's Readings and Stuff - Friday, 23 May, 2014

Friday has found us.  Or something like that.  Had small gray cat walking back and forth over me beginning around 05:25, augmenting the "waske up and feed me!" alarm with an effort at "washing" my nose with a raspy tongue.  There are reasons, good ones and extensive too, why I am not a "pet person".  But Dear Wife is.  And, in my working days, the last several years of them, I was generally on a ghastly night shift that had me walking in the door right around 05:30, so the cats (we have three) grew to expect that one of my very first acts would be to put down one of those small cans of cat food.  Didn't matter that most of their diet was dry food, that can was part of the routine and one better not forget it.  And that expectation has continued during the last eight or so months as I entered a period of retirement and relocation.  Still have to do it, and it has to be me and it has to be at that time.  Better alarm clock than several I've owned.  And it's more so this week.  We're taking care of niece's dog next door, which means in practice that after feeding cats and perhaps starting a pot of coffee, I "get" to go next door and let the dog out on his lead, making certain he has food and water enough, and that the three indoor cats there are also supplied and haven't destroyed anything much.
At which point, I might as well drink the coffee in the pot I just started, since I won't be going back to bed, and it's past time for reveille anyway.  I thought retirement was supposed to be restful.
We did get word that niece & company are returning Sunday, not Wednesday as Dear Wife had thought.  Seems several of the party have to go back to work Monday, holiday or no, and great-nephew has to be in school Tuesday. 
So this "tend the dog" thing ends soon.  I hope.  Which is good.  I hate dogs as a class.  Feel about them about the same affection as I have towards spiders and aphids.

We have had to go buy a new flag and mounting brackets, etc.  We have a few flags actually, one of which was part of the patrimony of Wife's late father, a former military officer who was also a POW in two wars of this nation.  But it is in no condition to fly, and there is of course a lot of sentimental value.  So we bought a new one, made in the USA (I checked) and I put up the brackets and pole and such yesterday.   Will be in place for Memorial Day. Picked up some small ones to place on graves of father-in-law and his close friend in cemetery of town of wife's youth, and two more to be placed on two other graves in another town about 20 miles from there.  I hope to get down to be able to do similar for my mom and dad and grandparents and uncle, about 40 miles in a separate direction, but that may wait until later in the week, they would have liked flowers but not the flags.  And My other grandparents are buried in yet another cemetery in another state (we live about 2 miles from state line) about 20 miles in yet another direction, in a church cemetery I list was in around 1969.  Need to call the church and see if there's any map to the plots.  So we may be involved in a good bit of that sort of remembrance over the next two weeks.  I have cousins on both my mom's and dad's sides that I have not seen in more than 30 years, more actually.  And one I only saw at Dad's funeral several years ago, not a great time for get-together that was not somber.  This is part of this whole "coming home" endeavor of ours.  catching back up, if you can.  Have one cousin living in California I last saw around 1972 or so.  Another whose whereabouts are a complete mystery.

Good news is that we heard this afternoon from Beloved Older Daughter.  They've removed the last of the staples from her major surgery just last week, and the pathologist's report shows no sign of cancer, the whole thing was a HUGE but benign fibrous tumor.   Daughter is actually my step-daughter, and recent info was that a step-sister of hers (by a man who was a whole lot less honorable than his position in the community would normally presume) had a nearly-identical issue.  As did the man's sisters.  Apparently a genetic issue there.  But the benign finding was most welcome.

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

The Old Testament reading this morning is chapters 8, 9, and 10 of 1st Chronicles.
Lots of names here, odd ones to our ears, and perhaps we wonder why the record.  There is a hint of it in the 1st verse of chapter 9.  This was in part to maintain the record during the Babylonian Captivity period.  The Hebrews were organized into tribes and further into families and such.  Marriage was within a tribe, only.  And families had their assigned places and roles.  This plot of land belonged to this person in this family, clan, and tribe.  The members of this group of this tribe had these assigned roles, which could be quite specific.  It was important to know, and therefore the records.
And it was important, because they had faith that, despite being enslaved into Babylon, they were going back and these matters would be important then.  As they were.  Failure isn't permanent, unless the Lord says so, or unless we give up.  He didn't and they didn't either.
You have role too.  So do I.  We just generally did not grow up knowing what it was.  And, for those who like me have moved around a LOT, knowing what plot of land was assigned to you, seems quite foreign.  


1
Now Benjamin begat Bela his firstborn, Ashbel the second, and Aharah the third,
2
Nohah the fourth, and Rapha the fifth.
3
And the sons of Bela were, Addar, and Gera, and Abihud,
4
And Abishua, and Naaman, and Ahoah,
5
And Gera, and Shephuphan, and Huram.
6
And these are the sons of Ehud: these are the heads of the fathers of the inhabitants of Geba, and they removed them to Manahath:
7
And Naaman, and Ahiah, and Gera, he removed them, and begat Uzza, and Ahihud.
8
And Shaharaim begat children in the country of Moab, after he had sent them away; Hushim and Baara were his wives.
9
And he begat of Hodesh his wife, Jobab, and Zibia, and Mesha, and Malcham,
10
And Jeuz, and Shachia, and Mirma. These were his sons, heads of the fathers.
11
And of Hushim he begat Abitub, and Elpaal.
12
The sons of Elpaal; Eber, and Misham, and Shamed, who built Ono, and Lod, with the towns thereof:
13
Beriah also, and Shema, who were heads of the fathers of the inhabitants of Aijalon, who drove away the inhabitants of Gath:
14
And Ahio, Shashak, and Jeremoth,
15
And Zebadiah, and Arad, and Ader,
16
And Michael, and Ispah, and Joha, the sons of Beriah;
17
And Zebadiah, and Meshullam, and Hezeki, and Heber,
18
Ishmerai also, and Jezliah, and Jobab, the sons of Elpaal;
19
And Jakim, and Zichri, and Zabdi,
20
And Elienai, and Zilthai, and Eliel,
21
And Adaiah, and Beraiah, and Shimrath, the sons of Shimhi;
22
And Ishpan, and Heber, and Eliel,
23
And Abdon, and Zichri, and Hanan,
24
And Hananiah, and Elam, and Antothijah,
25
And Iphedeiah, and Penuel, the sons of Shashak;
26
And Shamsherai, and Shehariah, and Athaliah,
27
And Jaresiah, and Eliah, and Zichri, the sons of Jeroham.
28
These were heads of the fathers, by their generations, chief men. These dwelt in Jerusalem.
29
And at Gibeon dwelt the father of Gibeon; whose wife's name was Maachah:
30
And his firstborn son Abdon, and Zur, and Kish, and Baal, and Nadab,
31
And Gedor, and Ahio, and Zacher.
32
And Mikloth begat Shimeah. And these also dwelt with their brethren in Jerusalem, over against them.
33
And Ner begat Kish, and Kish begat Saul, and Saul begat Jonathan, and Malchishua, and Abinadab, and Eshbaal.
34
And the son of Jonathan was Meribbaal; and Meribbaal begat Micah.
35
And the sons of Micah were, Pithon, and Melech, and Tarea, and Ahaz.
36
And Ahaz begat Jehoadah; and Jehoadah begat Alemeth, and Azmaveth, and Zimri; and Zimri begat Moza,
37
And Moza begat Binea: Rapha was his son, Eleasah his son, Azel his son:
38
And Azel had six sons, whose names are these, Azrikam, Bocheru, and Ishmael, and Sheariah, and Obadiah, and Hanan. All these were the sons of Azel.
39
And the sons of Eshek his brother were, Ulam his firstborn, Jehush the second, and Eliphelet the third.
40
And the sons of Ulam were mighty men of valor, archers, and had many sons, and sons' sons, an hundred and fifty. All these are of the sons of Benjamin.


1
So all Israel were reckoned by genealogies; and, behold, they were written in the book of the kings of Israel and Judah, who were carried away to Babylon for their transgression.
2
Now the first inhabitants that dwelt in their possessions in their cities were, the Israelites, the priests, Levites, and the Nethinims.
3
And in Jerusalem dwelt of the children of Judah, and of the children of Benjamin, and of the children of Ephraim, and Manasseh;
4
Uthai the son of Ammihud, the son of Omri, the son of Imri, the son of Bani, of the children of Pharez the son of Judah.
5
And of the Shilonites; Asaiah the firstborn, and his sons.
6
And of the sons of Zerah; Jeuel, and their brethren, six hundred and ninety.
7
And of the sons of Benjamin; Sallu the son of Meshullam, the son of Hodaviah, the son of Hasenuah,
8
And Ibneiah the son of Jeroham, and Elah the son of Uzzi, the son of Michri, and Meshullam the son of Shephathiah, the son of Reuel, the son of Ibnijah;
9
And their brethren, according to their generations, nine hundred and fifty and six. All these men were chief of the fathers in the house of their fathers.
10
And of the priests; Jedaiah, and Jehoiarib, and Jachin,
11
And Azariah the son of Hilkiah, the son of Meshullam, the son of Zadok, the son of Meraioth, the son of Ahitub, the ruler of the house of God;
12
And Adaiah the son of Jeroham, the son of Pashur, the son of Malchijah, and Maasiai the son of Adiel, the son of Jahzerah, the son of Meshullam, the son of Meshillemith, the son of Immer;
13
And their brethren, heads of the house of their fathers, a thousand and seven hundred and threescore; very able men for the work of the service of the house of God.
14
And of the Levites; Shemaiah the son of Hasshub, the son of Azrikam, the son of Hashabiah, of the sons of Merari;
15
And Bakbakkar, Heresh, and Galal, and Mattaniah the son of Micah, the son of Zichri, the son of Asaph;
16
And Obadiah the son of Shemaiah, the son of Galal, the son of Jeduthun, and Berechiah the son of Asa, the son of Elkanah, that dwelt in the villages of the Netophathites.
17
And the porters were, Shallum, and Akkub, and Talmon, and Ahiman, and their brethren: Shallum was the chief;
18
Who hitherto waited in the king's gate eastward: they were porters in the companies of the children of Levi.
19
And Shallum the son of Kore, the son of Ebiasaph, the son of Korah, and his brethren, of the house of his father, the Korahites, were over the work of the service, keepers of the gates of the tabernacle: and their fathers, being over the host of the LORD, were keepers of the entry.
20
And Phinehas the son of Eleazar was the ruler over them in time past, and the LORD was with him.
21
And Zechariah the son of Meshelemiah was porter of the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.
22
All these which were chosen to be porters in the gates were two hundred and twelve. These were reckoned by their genealogy in their villages, whom David and Samuel the seer did ordain in their set office.
23
So they and their children had the oversight of the gates of the house of the LORD, namely, the house of the tabernacle, by wards.
24
In four quarters were the porters, toward the east, west, north, and south.
25
And their brethren, which were in their villages, were to come after seven days from time to time with them.
26
For these Levites, the four chief porters, were in their set office, and were over the chambers and treasuries of the house of God.
27
And they lodged round about the house of God, because the charge was upon them, and the opening thereof every morning pertained to them.
28
And certain of them had the charge of the ministering vessels, that they should bring them in and out by tale.
29
Some of them also were appointed to oversee the vessels, and all the instruments of the sanctuary, and the fine flour, and the wine, and the oil, and the frankincense, and the spices.
30
And some of the sons of the priests made the ointment of the spices.
31
And Mattithiah, one of the Levites, who was the firstborn of Shallum the Korahite, had the set office over the things that were made in the pans.
32
And other of their brethren, of the sons of the Kohathites, were over the shewbread, to prepare it every sabbath.
33
And these are the singers, chief of the fathers of the Levites, who remaining in the chambers were free: for they were employed in that work day and night.
34
These chief fathers of the Levites were chief throughout their generations; these dwelt at Jerusalem.
35
And in Gibeon dwelt the father of Gibeon, Jehiel, whose wife's name was Maachah:
36
And his firstborn son Abdon, then Zur, and Kish, and Baal, and Ner, and Nadab.
37
And Gedor, and Ahio, and Zechariah, and Mikloth.
38
And Mikloth begat Shimeam. And they also dwelt with their brethren at Jerusalem, over against their brethren.
39
And Ner begat Kish; and Kish begat Saul; and Saul begat Jonathan, and Malchishua, and Abinadab, and Eshbaal.
40
And the son of Jonathan was Meribbaal: and Meribbaal begat Micah.
41
And the sons of Micah were, Pithon, and Melech, and Tahrea, and Ahaz.
42
And Ahaz begat Jarah; and Jarah begat Alemeth, and Azmaveth, and Zimri; and Zimri begat Moza;
43
And Moza begat Binea; and Rephaiah his son, Eleasah his son, Azel his son.
44
And Azel had six sons, whose names are these, Azrikam, Bocheru, and Ishmael, and Sheariah, and Obadiah, and Hanan: these were the sons of Azel.


1
Now the Philistines fought against Israel; and the men of Israel fled from before the Philistines, and fell down slain in mount Gilboa.
2
And the Philistines followed hard after Saul, and after his sons; and the Philistines slew Jonathan, and Abinadab, and Malchishua, the sons of Saul.
3
And the battle went sore against Saul, and the archers hit him, and he was wounded of the archers.
4
Then said Saul to his armourbearer, Draw thy sword, and thrust me through therewith; lest these uncircumcised come and abuse me. But his armourbearer would not; for he was sore afraid. So Saul took a sword, and fell upon it.
5
And when his armourbearer saw that Saul was dead, he fell likewise on the sword, and died.
6
So Saul died, and his three sons, and all his house died together.
7
And when all the men of Israel that were in the valley saw that they fled, and that Saul and his sons were dead, then they forsook their cities, and fled: and the Philistines came and dwelt in them.
8
And it came to pass on the morrow, when the Philistines came to strip the slain, that they found Saul and his sons fallen in mount Gilboa.
9
And when they had stripped him, they took his head, and his armor, and sent into the land of the Philistines round about, to carry tidings unto their idols, and to the people.
10
And they put his armor in the house of their gods, and fastened his head in the temple of Dagon.
11
And when all Jabeshgilead heard all that the Philistines had done to Saul,
12
They arose, all the valiant men, and took away the body of Saul, and the bodies of his sons, and brought them to Jabesh, and buried their bones under the oak in Jabesh, and fasted seven days.
13
So Saul died for his transgression which he committed against the LORD, even against the word of the LORD, which he kept not, and also for asking counsel of one that had a familiar spirit, to enquire of it;
14
And inquired not of the LORD: therefore he slew him, and turned the kingdom unto David the son of Jesse.




++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++


The New Testament reading is verses 37-59 of John chapter 8.


John 8:37-59
37
I know that ye are Abraham's seed; but ye seek to kill me, because my word hath no place in you.
38
I speak that which I have seen with my Father: and ye do that which ye have seen with your father.
39
They answered and said unto him, Abraham is our father. Jesus saith unto them, If ye were Abraham's children, ye would do the works of Abraham.
40
But now ye seek to kill me, a man that hath told you the truth, which I have heard of God: this did not Abraham.
41
Ye do the deeds of your father. Then said they to him, We be not born of fornication; we have one Father, even God.
42
Jesus said unto them, If God were your Father, ye would love me: for I proceeded forth and came from God; neither came I of myself, but he sent me.
43
Why do ye not understand my speech? even because ye cannot hear my word.
44
Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.
45
And because I tell you the truth, ye believe me not.
46
Which of you convinceth me of sin? And if I say the truth, why do ye not believe me?
47
He that is of God heareth God's words: ye therefore hear them not, because ye are not of God.
48
Then answered the Jews, and said unto him, Say we not well that thou art a Samaritan, and hast a devil?
49
Jesus answered, I have not a devil; but I honour my Father, and ye do dishonour me.
50
And I seek not mine own glory: there is one that seeketh and judgeth.
51
Verily, verily, I say unto you, If a man keep my saying, he shall never see death.
52
Then said the Jews unto him, Now we know that thou hast a devil. Abraham is dead, and the prophets; and thou sayest, If a man keep my saying, he shall never taste of death.
53
Art thou greater than our father Abraham, which is dead? and the prophets are dead: whom makest thou thyself?
54
Jesus answered, If I honour myself, my honour is nothing: it is my Father that honoureth me; of whom ye say, that he is your God:
55
Yet ye have not known him; but I know him: and if I should say, I know him not, I shall be a liar like unto you: but I know him, and keep his saying.
56
Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad.
57
Then said the Jews unto him, Thou art not yet fifty years old, and hast thou seen Abraham?
58
Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am.
59
Then took they up stones to cast at him: but Jesus hid himself, and went out of the temple, going through the midst of them, and so passed by.



22 May 2014

Today's Readings and Stuff - Thursday, 22 May, 2014

yesterday was a bit of a "day".   Dear Wife became sick Tuesday night after all the excitement of seeing niece and nephews and spouses and kids off on The Great Vacation Adventure.  Headed on the 600-odd mile from NE Ohio to Gatlinburg, Tennessee.  It's near, quite near, to places we've lived twice in the last 22 years, certainly one of the most beautiful areas of North America.  Great stuff.
We came home and ate and an hour later she was throwing it back up, along with about everything that she'd eaten all day.  So when we got up yesterday she moped and ached and starting blowing yucky green stuff out of the nose.  We called doctor office and went in.  Serious sinus infection, both sides, which she is prone to develop anyway.  So doctor, then off to the WallyWorld to hit the pharamcy there for antibiotics and FloNase and fluids.  A whole LOT of money involved, fortunately covered by our insurance coverage.  Thank you Lord.  Back home and pour some chicken soup down, which seems like Old Country remedy for about anything that ails you. 
I'd gotten a little bit of outside work done before she'd gotten up, which was just as well since as we were heading to doctor office, the skies opened and a pretty good rain hit.  So it worked out.

Got word from the niece and nephew that they'd made it to their destination.  They'd stopped for the night in lower West Virginia somewhere on the Interstate.  We're taking care of three cats, a dog, and half a dozen chickens.  As well as our three cats.  Starting to feel like I'm into animal husbandry.  Oh well.

Still casting about for direction.  Song came into mind as I was lying half-awake during the night.  "For Such A Time As This".  Title and message comes from the Old Testament, the story of Esther.  The Jews call her Hadassah.  She was cast into a situation she did not understand, and the advice she got - and acted upon too - was from Mordecai and went "Who knows, perhaps you have come to your royal position for such a time as this." .  {Esther 4:14}.  So that is a word to me, perhaps.  No matter what it appears, perhaps the Lord put us here for a reason, a specific reason for it if we are faithful to carry out His will even when we don't understand.

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

The Old Testament reading is chapters 6 and 7 of 1st Chronicles.  More names, more records, more genealogy.  More reason to know that there is a heritage going on, good or bad.  Some of these names we find elsewhere in the Bible.  The Lord knew all of them by name.  Yours too, and mine.  We are not forgotten, no matter how it may seem.


1
The sons of Levi; Gershon, Kohath, and Merari.
2
And the sons of Kohath; Amram, Izhar, and Hebron, and Uzziel.
3
And the children of Amram; Aaron, and Moses, and Miriam. The sons also of Aaron; Nadab, and Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar.
4
Eleazar begat Phinehas, Phinehas begat Abishua,
5
And Abishua begat Bukki, and Bukki begat Uzzi,
6
And Uzzi begat Zerahiah, and Zerahiah begat Meraioth,
7
Meraioth begat Amariah, and Amariah begat Ahitub,
8
And Ahitub begat Zadok, and Zadok begat Ahimaaz,
9
And Ahimaaz begat Azariah, and Azariah begat Johanan,
10
And Johanan begat Azariah, (he it is that executed the priest's office in the temple that Solomon built in Jerusalem:)
11
And Azariah begat Amariah, and Amariah begat Ahitub,
12
And Ahitub begat Zadok, and Zadok begat Shallum,
13
And Shallum begat Hilkiah, and Hilkiah begat Azariah,
14
And Azariah begat Seraiah, and Seraiah begat Jehozadak,
15
And Jehozadak went into captivity, when the LORD carried away Judah and Jerusalem by the hand of Nebuchadnezzar.
16
The sons of Levi; Gershom, Kohath, and Merari.
17
And these be the names of the sons of Gershom; Libni, and Shimei.
18
And the sons of Kohath were, Amram, and Izhar, and Hebron, and Uzziel.
19
The sons of Merari; Mahli, and Mushi. And these are the families of the Levites according to their fathers.
20
Of Gershom; Libni his son, Jahath his son, Zimmah his son,
21
Joah his son, Iddo his son, Zerah his son, Jeaterai his son.
22
The sons of Kohath; Amminadab his son, Korah his son, Assir his son,
23
Elkanah his son, and Ebiasaph his son, and Assir his son,
24
Tahath his son, Uriel his son, Uzziah his son, and Shaul his son.
25
And the sons of Elkanah; Amasai, and Ahimoth.
26
As for Elkanah: the sons of Elkanah; Zophai his son, and Nahath his son,
27
Eliab his son, Jeroham his son, Elkanah his son.
28
And the sons of Samuel; the firstborn Vashni, and Abiah.
29
The sons of Merari; Mahli, Libni his son, Shimei his son, Uzza his son,
30
Shimea his son, Haggiah his son, Asaiah his son.
31
And these are they whom David set over the service of song in the house of the LORD, after that the ark had rest.
32
And they ministered before the dwelling place of the tabernacle of the congregation with singing, until Solomon had built the house of the LORD in Jerusalem: and then they waited on their office according to their order.
33
And these are they that waited with their children. Of the sons of the Kohathites: Heman a singer, the son of Joel, the son of Shemuel,
34
The son of Elkanah, the son of Jeroham, the son of Eliel, the son of Toah,
35
The son of Zuph, the son of Elkanah, the son of Mahath, the son of Amasai,
36
The son of Elkanah, the son of Joel, the son of Azariah, the son of Zephaniah,
37
The son of Tahath, the son of Assir, the son of Ebiasaph, the son of Korah,
38
The son of Izhar, the son of Kohath, the son of Levi, the son of Israel.
39
And his brother Asaph, who stood on his right hand, even Asaph the son of Berachiah, the son of Shimea,
40
The son of Michael, the son of Baaseiah, the son of Malchiah,
41
The son of Ethni, the son of Zerah, the son of Adaiah,
42
The son of Ethan, the son of Zimmah, the son of Shimei,
43
The son of Jahath, the son of Gershom, the son of Levi.
44
And their brethren the sons of Merari stood on the left hand: Ethan the son of Kishi, the son of Abdi, the son of Malluch,
45
The son of Hashabiah, the son of Amaziah, the son of Hilkiah,
46
The son of Amzi, the son of Bani, the son of Shamer,
47
The son of Mahli, the son of Mushi, the son of Merari, the son of Levi.
48
Their brethren also the Levites were appointed unto all manner of service of the tabernacle of the house of God.
49
But Aaron and his sons offered upon the altar of the burnt offering, and on the altar of incense, and were appointed for all the work of the place most holy, and to make an atonement for Israel, according to all that Moses the servant of God had commanded.
50
And these are the sons of Aaron; Eleazar his son, Phinehas his son, Abishua his son,
51
Bukki his son, Uzzi his son, Zerahiah his son,
52
Meraioth his son, Amariah his son, Ahitub his son,
53
Zadok his son, Ahimaaz his son.
54
Now these are their dwelling places throughout their castles in their coasts, of the sons of Aaron, of the families of the Kohathites: for theirs was the lot.
55
And they gave them Hebron in the land of Judah, and the suburbs thereof round about it.
56
But the fields of the city, and the villages thereof, they gave to Caleb the son of Jephunneh.
57
And to the sons of Aaron they gave the cities of Judah, namely, Hebron, the city of refuge, and Libnah with her suburbs, and Jattir, and Eshtemoa, with their suburbs,
58
And Hilen with her suburbs, Debir with her suburbs,
59
And Ashan with her suburbs, and Bethshemesh with her suburbs:
60
And out of the tribe of Benjamin; Geba with her suburbs, and Alemeth with her suburbs, and Anathoth with her suburbs. All their cities throughout their families were thirteen cities.
61
And unto the sons of Kohath, which were left of the family of that tribe, were cities given out of the half tribe, namely, out of the half tribe of Manasseh, by lot, ten cities.
62
And to the sons of Gershom throughout their families out of the tribe of Issachar, and out of the tribe of Asher, and out of the tribe of Naphtali, and out of the tribe of Manasseh in Bashan, thirteen cities.
63
Unto the sons of Merari were given by lot, throughout their families, out of the tribe of Reuben, and out of the tribe of Gad, and out of the tribe of Zebulun, twelve cities.
64
And the children of Israel gave to the Levites these cities with their suburbs.
65
And they gave by lot out of the tribe of the children of Judah, and out of the tribe of the children of Simeon, and out of the tribe of the children of Benjamin, these cities, which are called by their names.
66
And the residue of the families of the sons of Kohath had cities of their coasts out of the tribe of Ephraim.
67
And they gave unto them, of the cities of refuge, Shechem in mount Ephraim with her suburbs; they gave also Gezer with her suburbs,
68
And Jokmeam with her suburbs, and Bethhoron with her suburbs,
69
And Aijalon with her suburbs, and Gathrimmon with her suburbs:
70
And out of the half tribe of Manasseh; Aner with her suburbs, and Bileam with her suburbs, for the family of the remnant of the sons of Kohath.
71
Unto the sons of Gershom were given out of the family of the half tribe of Manasseh, Golan in Bashan with her suburbs, and Ashtaroth with her suburbs:
72
And out of the tribe of Issachar; Kedesh with her suburbs, Daberath with her suburbs,
73
And Ramoth with her suburbs, and Anem with her suburbs:
74
And out of the tribe of Asher; Mashal with her suburbs, and Abdon with her suburbs,
75
And Hukok with her suburbs, and Rehob with her suburbs:
76
And out of the tribe of Naphtali; Kedesh in Galilee with her suburbs, and Hammon with her suburbs, and Kirjathaim with her suburbs.
77
Unto the rest of the children of Merari were given out of the tribe of Zebulun, Rimmon with her suburbs, Tabor with her suburbs:
78
And on the other side Jordan by Jericho, on the east side of Jordan, were given them out of the tribe of Reuben, Bezer in the wilderness with her suburbs, and Jahzah with her suburbs,
79
Kedemoth also with her suburbs, and Mephaath with her suburbs:
80
And out of the tribe of Gad; Ramoth in Gilead with her suburbs, and Mahanaim with her suburbs,
81
And Heshbon with her suburbs, and Jazer with her suburbs.


1
Now the sons of Issachar were, Tola, and Puah, Jashub, and Shimrom, four.
2
And the sons of Tola; Uzzi, and Rephaiah, and Jeriel, and Jahmai, and Jibsam, and Shemuel, heads of their father's house, to wit, of Tola: they were valiant men of might in their generations; whose number was in the days of David two and twenty thousand and six hundred.
3
And the sons of Uzzi; Izrahiah: and the sons of Izrahiah; Michael, and Obadiah, and Joel, Ishiah, five: all of them chief men.
4
And with them, by their generations, after the house of their fathers, were bands of soldiers for war, six and thirty thousand men: for they had many wives and sons.
5
And their brethren among all the families of Issachar were valiant men of might, reckoned in all by their genealogies fourscore and seven thousand.
6
The sons of Benjamin; Bela, and Becher, and Jediael, three.
7
And the sons of Bela; Ezbon, and Uzzi, and Uzziel, and Jerimoth, and Iri, five; heads of the house of their fathers, mighty men of valor; and were reckoned by their genealogies twenty and two thousand and thirty and four.
8
And the sons of Becher; Zemira, and Joash, and Eliezer, and Elioenai, and Omri, and Jerimoth, and Abiah, and Anathoth, and Alameth. All these are the sons of Becher.
9
And the number of them, after their genealogy by their generations, heads of the house of their fathers, mighty men of valor, was twenty thousand and two hundred.
10
The sons also of Jediael; Bilhan: and the sons of Bilhan; Jeush, and Benjamin, and Ehud, and Chenaanah, and Zethan, and Tharshish, and Ahishahar.
11
All these the sons of Jediael, by the heads of their fathers, mighty men of valor, were seventeen thousand and two hundred soldiers, fit to go out for war and battle.
12
Shuppim also, and Huppim, the children of Ir, and Hushim, the sons of Aher.
13
The sons of Naphtali; Jahziel, and Guni, and Jezer, and Shallum, the sons of Bilhah.
14
The sons of Manasseh; Ashriel, whom she bare: (but his concubine the Aramitess bare Machir the father of Gilead:
15
And Machir took to wife the sister of Huppim and Shuppim, whose sister's name was Maachah;) and the name of the second was Zelophehad: and Zelophehad had daughters.
16
And Maachah the wife of Machir bare a son, and she called his name Peresh; and the name of his brother was Sheresh; and his sons were Ulam and Rakem.
17
And the sons of Ulam; Bedan. These were the sons of Gilead, the son of Machir, the son of Manasseh.
18
And his sister Hammoleketh bare Ishod, and Abiezer, and Mahalah.
19
And the sons of Shemidah were, Ahian, and Shechem, and Likhi, and Aniam.
20
And the sons of Ephraim; Shuthelah, and Bered his son, and Tahath his son, and Eladah his son, and Tahath his son,
21
And Zabad his son, and Shuthelah his son, and Ezer, and Elead, whom the men of Gath that were born in that land slew, because they came down to take away their cattle.
22
And Ephraim their father mourned many days, and his brethren came to comfort him.
23
And when he went in to his wife, she conceived, and bare a son, and he called his name Beriah, because it went evil with his house.
24
(And his daughter was Sherah, who built Bethhoron the nether, and the upper, and Uzzensherah.)
25
And Rephah was his son, also Resheph, and Telah his son, and Tahan his son.
26
Laadan his son, Ammihud his son, Elishama his son.
27
Non his son, Jehoshuah his son.
28
And their possessions and habitations were, Bethel and the towns thereof, and eastward Naaran, and westward Gezer, with the towns thereof; Shechem also and the towns thereof, unto Gaza and the towns thereof:
29
And by the borders of the children of Manasseh, Bethshean and her towns, Taanach and her towns, Megiddo and her towns, Dor and her towns. In these dwelt the children of Joseph the son of Israel.
30
The sons of Asher; Imnah, and Isuah, and Ishuai, and Beriah, and Serah their sister.
31
And the sons of Beriah; Heber, and Malchiel, who is the father of Birzavith.
32
And Heber begat Japhlet, and Shomer, and Hotham, and Shua their sister.
33
And the sons of Japhlet; Pasach, and Bimhal, and Ashvath. These are the children of Japhlet.
34
And the sons of Shamer; Ahi, and Rohgah, Jehubbah, and Aram.
35
And the sons of his brother Helem; Zophah, and Imna, and Shelesh, and Amal.
36
The sons of Zophah; Suah, and Harnepher, and Shual, and Beri, and Imrah,
37
Bezer, and Hod, and Shamma, and Shilshah, and Ithran, and Beera.
38
And the sons of Jether; Jephunneh, and Pispah, and Ara.
39
And the sons of Ulla; Arah, and Haniel, and Rezia.
40
All these were the children of Asher, heads of their father's house, choice and mighty men of valor, chief of the princes. And the number throughout the genealogy of them that were apt to the war and to battle was twenty and six thousand men.



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

The New Testament reading is verses 21-36 in the 8th chapter of the Gospel of John.  

21
Then said Jesus again unto them, I go my way, and ye shall seek me, and shall die in your sins: whither I go, ye cannot come.
22
Then said the Jews, Will he kill himself? because he saith, Whither I go, ye cannot come.
23
And he said unto them, Ye are from beneath; I am from above: ye are of this world; I am not of this world.
24
I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins.
25
Then said they unto him, Who art thou? And Jesus saith unto them, Even the same that I said unto you from the beginning.
26
I have many things to say and to judge of you: but he that sent me is true; and I speak to the world those things which I have heard of him.
27
They understood not that he spake to them of the Father.
28
Then said Jesus unto them, When ye have lifted up the Son of man, then shall ye know that I am he, and that I do nothing of myself; but as my Father hath taught me, I speak these things.
29
And he that sent me is with me: the Father hath not left me alone; for I do always those things that please him.
30
As he spake these words, many believed on him.
31
Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed;
32
And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
33
They answered him, We be Abraham's seed, and were never in bondage to any man: how sayest thou, Ye shall be made free?
34
Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin.
35
And the servant abideth not in the house for ever: but the Son abideth ever.
36
If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.