12 July 2014

Today's Readings and Stuff -- Saturday, 12 July 2014

things did not quite go as planned today.  We'd planned to get up early, eat heavy, go to the county fair for a few hours and come home early.  Didn't happen.  Dear Wife had a rough night, and did not get out of bed until after 10:00 a.m.  So much for an early start.  She had me make up the batter for waffles while she took a hot shower to try to deal with the nearly incredible pain in her joints:  rheumatoid arthritis is no fun.  We ate, and as we sat at the table she admitted that she wasn't up to a trip.  So I jumped in car and went off on our other errand of the day, going to the pharmacy to pick up prescription refills for both of us.  Managed that, and, knowing that we no didn't have to spend the money for fair entry, etc., I picked up a whole $4.68 in needed fill-in items.  She stretched out in recliner throughout and I tried to deal with a few around-the-house matters.

Next door niece was going off to the park with daughter and her brother's two kids that brother & wife had dumped on her so they could go off a few hours on their motorcycle.
Dear wife roused up after an hour or two, decided to make a late lunch, burgers on the charcoal grill/smoker.  So got that loaded up , dug out burgers, etc.  At which point nephew & spouse showed up from the cycle trip.  So Wife decided to feed them, add to the load.  Niece shows up, with 3 kids.  Add more to the load, and I'm hauling stuff in and out.  And finally niece's hubby shows up.  So the quiet lunch on the deck turned into A Production  Rather than for the two of us, it was for for nine.  Did serious damage to the pantry, I can tell you!  But this is the sort of thing that Dear Wife had so sorely missed all the years we lived so very far away.  Such moments mean much to her.

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The Old Testament passage for the day continues in the Psalms, chapters 7, 8, and 9

1
O LORD my God, in thee do I put my trust: save me from all them that persecute me, and deliver me:
2
Lest he tear my soul like a lion, rending it in pieces, while there is none to deliver.
3
O LORD my God, If I have done this; if there be iniquity in my hands;
4
If I have rewarded evil unto him that was at peace with me; (yea, I have delivered him that without cause is mine enemy:)
5
Let the enemy persecute my soul, and take it; yea, let him tread down my life upon the earth, and lay mine honour in the dust. Selah.
6
Arise, O LORD, in thine anger, lift up thyself because of the rage of mine enemies: and awake for me to the judgment that thou hast commanded.
7
So shall the congregation of the people compass thee about: for their sakes therefore return thou on high.
8
The LORD shall judge the people: judge me, O LORD, according to my righteousness, and according to mine integrity that is in me.
9
Oh let the wickedness of the wicked come to an end; but establish the just: for the righteous God trieth the hearts and reins.
10
My defence is of God, which saveth the upright in heart.
11
God judgeth the righteous, and God is angry with the wicked every day.
12
If he turn not, he will whet his sword; he hath bent his bow, and made it ready.
13
He hath also prepared for him the instruments of death; he ordaineth his arrows against the persecutors.
14
Behold, he travaileth with iniquity, and hath conceived mischief, and brought forth falsehood.
15
He made a pit, and digged it, and is fallen into the ditch which he made.
16
His mischief shall return upon his own head, and his violent dealing shall come down upon his own pate.
17
I will praise the LORD according to his righteousness: and will sing praise to the name of the LORD most high.


1
O LORD, our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth! who hast set thy glory above the heavens.
2
Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings hast thou ordained strength because of thine enemies, that thou mightest still the enemy and the avenger.
3
When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained;
4
What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him?
5
For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour.
6
Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands; thou hast put all things under his feet:
7
All sheep and oxen, yea, and the beasts of the field;
8
The fowl of the air, and the fish of the sea, and whatsoever passeth through the paths of the seas.
9
O LORD our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth!


1
I will praise thee, O LORD, with my whole heart; I will shew forth all thy marvellous works.
2
I will be glad and rejoice in thee: I will sing praise to thy name, O thou most High.
3
When mine enemies are turned back, they shall fall and perish at thy presence.
4
For thou hast maintained my right and my cause; thou satest in the throne judging right.
5
Thou hast rebuked the heathen, thou hast destroyed the wicked, thou hast put out their name for ever and ever.
6
O thou enemy, destructions are come to a perpetual end: and thou hast destroyed cities; their memorial is perished with them.
7
But the LORD shall endure for ever: he hath prepared his throne for judgment.
8
And he shall judge the world in righteousness, he shall minister judgment to the people in uprightness.
9
The LORD also will be a refuge for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble.
10
And they that know thy name will put their trust in thee: for thou, LORD, hast not forsaken them that seek thee.
11
Sing praises to the LORD, which dwelleth in Zion: declare among the people his doings.
12
When he maketh inquisition for blood, he remembereth them: he forgetteth not the cry of the humble.
13
Have mercy upon me, O LORD; consider my trouble which I suffer of them that hate me, thou that liftest me up from the gates of death:
14
That I may shew forth all thy praise in the gates of the daughter of Zion: I will rejoice in thy salvation.
15
The heathen are sunk down in the pit that they made: in the net which they hid is their own foot taken.
16
The LORD is known by the judgment which he executeth: the wicked is snared in the work of his own hands. Higgaion. Selah.
17
The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God.
18
For the needy shall not alway be forgotten: the expectation of the poor shall not perish for ever.
19
Arise, O LORD; let not man prevail: let the heathen be judged in thy sight.
20
Put them in fear, O LORD: that the nations may know themselves to be but men. Selah.


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The New Testament reading is verses 1-15 in the 17th chapter of the Acts.

1
Now when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where was a synagogue of the Jews:
2
And Paul, as his manner was, went in unto them, and three sabbath days reasoned with them out of the scriptures,
3
Opening and alleging, that Christ must needs have suffered, and risen again from the dead; and that this Jesus, whom I preach unto you, is Christ.
4
And some of them believed, and consorted with Paul and Silas; and of the devout Greeks a great multitude, and of the chief women not a few.
5
But the Jews which believed not, moved with envy, took unto them certain lewd fellows of the baser sort, and gathered a company, and set all the city on an uproar, and assaulted the house of Jason, and sought to bring them out to the people.
6
And when they found them not, they drew Jason and certain brethren unto the rulers of the city, crying, These that have turned the world upside down are come hither also;
7
Whom Jason hath received: and these all do contrary to the decrees of Caesar, saying that there is another king, one Jesus.
8
And they troubled the people and the rulers of the city, when they heard these things.
9
And when they had taken security of Jason, and of the other, they let them go.
10
And the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night unto Berea: who coming thither went into the synagogue of the Jews.
11
These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.
12
Therefore many of them believed; also of honourable women which were Greeks, and of men, not a few.
13
But when the Jews of Thessalonica had knowledge that the word of God was preached of Paul at Berea, they came thither also, and stirred up the people.
14
And then immediately the brethren sent away Paul to go as it were to the sea: but Silas and Timotheus abode there still.
15
And they that conducted Paul brought him unto Athens: and receiving a commandment unto Silas and Timotheus for to come to him with all speed, they departed.

11 July 2014

Today's Readings and Stuff -- Friday, 11 July 2014

Dear Wife is sick again, has been all day.  She had an appointment for Physical Therapy for this afternoon, but called to cancel.  Doing a little bit better as the day has progressed, bus is laying in the recliner beside me now, somewhat out of it.
I had a doctor appointment myself this morning.  All went well.  He gave the go-ahead to cut back on the BP monitoring, which is easy enough I guess.  And told me to go ahead with the refills on two of my prescriptions which are about to run out.  God is good.
Stopped by the gas station on the way home.  Had to -- the gauge was an eyelash above the red mark that says EMPTY.  Thought it would be a good idea to avoid being stranded alongside the road.  Put $20 in, which was about half our remaining funds.  But it makes it likely we'll make it until the retirement check hits Wednesday.  Got home to find we'd gotten a sewer bill, finally.  First one since we moved in back in October.  Can't complain about the amount, it comes to around $145, which works out to $17/month.  Not bad, but it would have been better to have been coming on a more frequent basis.  Around here, systems are not exactly world class, to steal on over-used term.  Water bill, for example, only comes out bi-monthly.  Neither the water nor the sewer bills can be paid in person.  And the employees are those who were deemed either too stupid or too rude to work for the DMV office, if that tells you anything.
The county fair is this week.  Dear Wife has been wanting to go, terribly.  We'd gone to one in one of our infrequent trips here, about four years ago.  Other than that, it was last seen around 1990-1991.  So she wants to go, and we may try in the morning.  Money is, as said above, pretty tight though we do get a senior citizen discount now.  And she's been mostly sick for over a week.  As of this minute, the idea is that we'll go in the morning, beating the heat and crowds, see the animals and a few 4-H exhibits, and come home before noon.  Best I can do.  We'll eat ahead of time so the inability to waste our substance in riotous living, a.k.a. eating fair food, won't be such an issue.  But we'll see what morning brings.

Continue to hear from the border.  We've received clandestine information that the rate of highly virulent deadly diseases there is FAR worse than publicly admitted, including drug-resistant tuberculosis.  I can remember living in a town that still had an old - unused - TB sanitarium in it.  Would hate to see those days return, but it could happen.

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The Old Testament reading is chapters 4, 5, and 6 of the Psalms.


1
Hear me when I call, O God of my righteousness: thou hast enlarged me when I was in distress; have mercy upon me, and hear my prayer.
2
O ye sons of men, how long will ye turn my glory into shame? how long will ye love vanity, and seek after leasing? Selah.
3
But know that the LORD hath set apart him that is godly for himself: the LORD will hear when I call unto him.
4
Stand in awe, and sin not: commune with your own heart upon your bed, and be still. Selah.
5
Offer the sacrifices of righteousness, and put your trust in the LORD.
6
There be many that say, Who will shew us any good? LORD, lift thou up the light of thy countenance upon us.
7
Thou hast put gladness in my heart, more than in the time that their corn and their wine increased.
8
I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for thou, LORD, only makest me dwell in safety.


1
Give ear to my words, O LORD, consider my meditation.
2
Hearken unto the voice of my cry, my King, and my God: for unto thee will I pray.
3
My voice shalt thou hear in the morning, O LORD; in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up.
4
For thou art not a God that hath pleasure in wickedness: neither shall evil dwell with thee.
5
The foolish shall not stand in thy sight: thou hatest all workers of iniquity.
6
Thou shalt destroy them that speak leasing: the LORD will abhor the bloody and deceitful man.
7
But as for me, I will come into thy house in the multitude of thy mercy: and in thy fear will I worship toward thy holy temple.
8
Lead me, O LORD, in thy righteousness because of mine enemies; make thy way straight before my face.
9
For there is no faithfulness in their mouth; their inward part is very wickedness; their throat is an open sepulchre; they flatter with their tongue.
10
Destroy thou them, O God; let them fall by their own counsels; cast them out in the multitude of their transgressions; for they have rebelled against thee.
11
But let all those that put their trust in thee rejoice: let them ever shout for joy, because thou defendest them: let them also that love thy name be joyful in thee.
12
For thou, LORD, wilt bless the righteous; with favour wilt thou compass him as with a shield.


1
O LORD, rebuke me not in thine anger, neither chasten me in thy hot displeasure.
2
Have mercy upon me, O LORD; for I am weak: O LORD, heal me; for my bones are vexed.
3
My soul is also sore vexed: but thou, O LORD, how long?
4
Return, O LORD, deliver my soul: oh save me for thy mercies' sake.
5
For in death there is no remembrance of thee: in the grave who shall give thee thanks?
6
I am weary with my groaning; all the night make I my bed to swim; I water my couch with my tears.
7
Mine eye is consumed because of grief; it waxeth old because of all mine enemies.
8
Depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity; for the LORD hath heard the voice of my weeping.
9
The LORD hath heard my supplication; the LORD will receive my prayer.
10
Let all mine enemies be ashamed and sore vexed: let them return and be ashamed suddenly.



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

The New Testament reading is verses 16-40 of Acts 16.


16
And it came to pass, as we went to prayer, a certain damsel possessed with a spirit of divination met us, which brought her masters much gain by soothsaying:
17
The same followed Paul and us, and cried, saying, These men are the servants of the most high God, which shew unto us the way of salvation.
18
And this did she many days. But Paul, being grieved, turned and said to the spirit, I command thee in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her. And he came out the same hour.
19
And when her masters saw that the hope of their gains was gone, they caught Paul and Silas, and drew them into the marketplace unto the rulers,
20
And brought them to the magistrates, saying, These men, being Jews, do exceedingly trouble our city,
21
And teach customs, which are not lawful for us to receive, neither to observe, being Romans.
22
And the multitude rose up together against them: and the magistrates rent off their clothes, and commanded to beat them.
23
And when they had laid many stripes upon them, they cast them into prison, charging the jailor to keep them safely:
24
Who, having received such a charge, thrust them into the inner prison, and made their feet fast in the stocks.
25
And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them.
26
And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one's bands were loosed.
27
And the keeper of the prison awaking out of his sleep, and seeing the prison doors open, he drew out his sword, and would have killed himself, supposing that the prisoners had been fled.
28
But Paul cried with a loud voice, saying, Do thyself no harm: for we are all here.
29
Then he called for a light, and sprang in, and came trembling, and fell down before Paul and Silas,
30
And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved?
31
And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.
32
And they spake unto him the word of the Lord, and to all that were in his house.
33
And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes; and was baptized, he and all his, straightway.
34
And when he had brought them into his house, he set meat before them, and rejoiced, believing in God with all his house.
35
And when it was day, the magistrates sent the serjeants, saying, Let those men go.
36
And the keeper of the prison told this saying to Paul, The magistrates have sent to let you go: now therefore depart, and go in peace.
37
But Paul said unto them, They have beaten us openly uncondemned, being Romans, and have cast us into prison; and now do they thrust us out privily? nay verily; but let them come themselves and fetch us out.
38
And the serjeants told these words unto the magistrates: and they feared, when they heard that they were Romans.
39
And they came and besought them, and brought them out, and desired them to depart out of the city.
40
And they went out of the prison, and entered into the house of Lydia: and when they had seen the brethren, they comforted them, and departed.


10 July 2014

Today's Readings and Stuff -- Thursday, 10 July 2014

up at 05:30 this morning after a too-short night.  Dear Wife had to be over next door to "watch" grand-niece in time for niece to be at work before 07:15, meaning wife had to be there by 06:30.  She hit the snooze button, so held on until 05:45.  Made her some toast and coffee and helped her get ready -- some items a full-figured woman can use help with.  I do it every morning and today the same.  Took her more coffee around 10:00 or so.  Came back over with intentions of getting some work done around here that I've just not had the energy to do for the last two months -- courtesy of some of the meds I'm on probably.  Started hearing noise outside -- wife and child were out enjoying sun and looking to play.  I helped move the Little Tikes sliding board niece had found for a song at a yard sale, and great fun was had.  Mail came, discovered a letter that was to have gone to someone several streets over.  Post office is only a few blocks away, an easy walk in this area, so I was going to take it back and let them deal with it.  Wife wanted to take the Little One for a walk anyway, which means a ride in a stroller that one of us pushes.  So we did, much to the dismay of the Dog, who is very protective and does not like Little One out of his sight.  And he said so.  Loudly.  For a good while until we were out of sight.  Down and back and all is OK now.
But now I am tired.  These meds really do get me down.  Rst a bit and nibble perhaps.  I've got a doc appointment tomorrow, about 25 minutes away, and she has one with a neurologist about another half hour off.  Gas gauge is at 1/4, we have about $45 until Wednesday next, and she'd wanted to go to the County Fair this week.  We may make it Saturday or Sunday, but neither of us is in good shape.  We shall see.

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

The Old Testament reading gets us into the Psalms, Psalms 1, 2, and 3.  Good ones to know, been some good songs written using these texts.  And we shall be in the Psalms for quite a while.

1
Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.
2
But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.
3
And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.
4
The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away.
5
Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous.
6
For the LORD knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish.


1
Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing?
2
The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD, and against his anointed, saying,
3
Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us.
4
He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh: the LORD shall have them in derision.
5
Then shall he speak unto them in his wrath, and vex them in his sore displeasure.
6
Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion.
7
I will declare the decree: the LORD hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee.
8
Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession.
9
Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel.
10
Be wise now therefore, O ye kings: be instructed, ye judges of the earth.
11
Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling.
12
Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all they that put their trust in him.


1
Lord, how are they increased that trouble me! many are they that rise up against me.
2
Many there be which say of my soul, There is no help for him in God. Selah.
3
But thou, O LORD, art a shield for me; my glory, and the lifter up of mine head.
4
I cried unto the LORD with my voice, and he heard me out of his holy hill. Selah.
5
I laid me down and slept; I awaked; for the LORD sustained me.
6
I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people, that have set themselves against me round about.
7
Arise, O LORD; save me, O my God: for thou hast smitten all mine enemies upon the cheek bone; thou hast broken the teeth of the ungodly.
8
Salvation belongeth unto the LORD: thy blessing is upon thy people. Sel

the music is here



  and here as well



I love them both
This is my song too.  For He has done great things for me.  I believe in miracles, I've seen some.  Look at the faces of the singers.  There are some people there who can testify to the same things.


===========

The New Testament reading is verses 1-15 in the 16th chapter of the Acts.

1
Then came he to Derbe and Lystra: and, behold, a certain disciple was there, named Timotheus, the son of a certain woman, which was a Jewess, and believed; but his father was a Greek:
2
Which was well reported of by the brethren that were at Lystra and Iconium.
3
Him would Paul have to go forth with him; and took and circumcised him because of the Jews which were in those quarters: for they knew all that his father was a Greek.
4
And as they went through the cities, they delivered them the decrees for to keep, that were ordained of the apostles and elders which were at Jerusalem.
5
And so were the churches established in the faith, and increased in number daily.
6
Now when they had gone throughout Phrygia and the region of Galatia, and were forbidden of the Holy Ghost to preach the word in Asia,
7
After they were come to Mysia, they assayed to go into Bithynia: but the Spirit suffered them not.
8
And they passing by Mysia came down to Troas.
9
And a vision appeared to Paul in the night; There stood a man of Macedonia, and prayed him, saying, Come over into Macedonia, and help us.
10
And after he had seen the vision, immediately we endeavoured to go into Macedonia, assuredly gathering that the Lord had called us for to preach the gospel unto them.
11
Therefore loosing from Troas, we came with a straight course to Samothracia, and the next day to Neapolis;
12
And from thence to Philippi, which is the chief city of that part of Macedonia, and a colony: and we were in that city abiding certain days.
13
And on the sabbath we went out of the city by a river side, where prayer was wont to be made; and we sat down, and spake unto the women which resorted thither.
14
And a certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple, of the city of Thyatira, which worshipped God, heard us: whose heart the Lord opened, that she attended unto the things which were spoken of Paul.
15
And when she was baptized, and her household, she besought us, saying, If ye have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come into my house, and abide there. And she constrained us.

09 July 2014

Today's Readings and Stuff -- Wednesday, 09 July 2014

been a bit of a day and I'm just exhausted. tuckered, played out.

Had to have Dear Wife to an ophthalmologist's office several towns away for on 08:30 appointment.  We made it in time.  And there we were until around 11:30.  Nothing bad on the doc or the office -- they were great.  The problem is that we've got several stages of mis-diagnoses and poor supply.
To take the latter first, the first thing they did was put her glasses, the ones we got just at the end of summer last year while I was still working for my last employer in Alabama, through a device to determine the prescription.  And came to discover that contrary to normal practice for her lenses, and contrary to what the optometrist in Alabama assured us, these lenses had NO prisms ground in to the lens.  None.  She's had lens prisms to adjust for her strabismus and other conditions, since she was about 5 years old.  So now we know why she couldn't see with them.  I'd be a bit more sympathetic, but very same optometrist, using the very same lab. provide me with a pair of bifocals as I've been wearing for the last 15 years or so.  I never could get acclimated to them, so when our coverage here kicked in, I got a new pair.  And we discovered that the upper portion of the lens on my left side was plain.  No work had been done on that section whatever.  Again, the fault of the lens lab, but the eye doctor in Montgomery had assured me that she had inspected them before dispensing them to me, and that they were correct.  She lied.  So both Wife and I have had problems for around a year due to someone else's deceit and/or incompetence.  Not happy.
But the diagnosis part of wife's eye exam isn't good either.  She went in for evaluation by the M.D. upon recommendation of the D.O. in the same practice, presenting with an existing diagnosis of cataracts and glaucoma.  She's legally blind and becoming functionally and totally so as well.  The doc did a whole lot of exam -- the three hours or so seems to indicate that, right?  Well, it's not glaucoma and cataracts.  Probably a bit of both.  But what we appear to have is damage to the cornea.  Here's where it gets ugly.  Wife has a hatful of medical issues.  One of them is called Sjogren's Syndrome.  It's an autoimmune condition, and it means among other things that she makes little saliva, which leads to dry mouth and gums, problems chewing and swallowing food, tooth problems, etc.; it means she normally doesn't not perspire, meaning she can't sweat to cool the body; and it means that the glands that make tears don't function at all or very well. So the eyelids stick to the cornea, and you get scratches and damage to the cornea, and the cornea thickens in response, affecting light transmission, but in the meantime you get scratches and gouges on the surface of the cornea which obscures and fuzzes the images incoming and everything becomes a dim blur.  Some years ago in Japan, a drug was developed to address the issue.  We had been getting it for her while living in Arkansas and Tennessee.  But it was not covered under any insurance program, and we were paying around $330 per month, every month, for it.  The docs in Alabama ordered her off of it, would not authorize a new prescription, and she's been suffering ever since.  The new rheumatologist here just put her back on it, and it's pretty much covered under our insurance, and just went generic anyway.  But the damage is done.  And at this point, very little can be done about it.  Some years down the road, she might fit the general guidelines for a cornea transplant, but the likelihood of that ever happening is slim. 
So, as I said, she will be suffering for a long time due to the incompetence and bad performance of so-called professionals.  I'm not in a mood to be real charitable towards some of them. 
So we got out of there.  Went back home, ate a bit (we'd had nothing whatever to eat since last night) and let her nap for an hour.  Went off to the pharmacy to pick up two of hers.  And back home. 
A very late dinner, and she's asleep now as I clean up from dinner and tap the keys a bit.

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

The Old Testament reading for today completes the book of Job, with chapters 40, 41, 42.
And the Lord is present.  The section ends with Job restored.  He has seven sons and three beautiful daughters.  His fortune is restored twice over, and lives to see his son's sons, even four generations.
Good so far.
But we always like to have things tied up neatly, don't we?  We want to understand, and that's not evil.
But there is no explanation given. We really don't know why Job has gone through all of this.
There is a strain of belief in the American church that the Lord's people will always do great.  And in the Eternal focus of things, I believe that is true.  But in the here and now, not so much  You need only to get the news of Christians persecuted in China.  India.  Pakistan. Vietnam.  Cuba.  Egypt.  Iraq.  Iran.  Sudan.  Libya.  Nigeria. Syria.  Arabia.  Yemen.  Turkey.  Uzbekistan.  And so very many more.  Hideous, ghastly, awful stuff.  Happening today.  The Lord allows it.  And I know of people in this country who have suffered terribly despite their faith, and sometimes because of it.  The Lord knows, and I believe that He allows it for reasons of His own.  I don't know those reasons, any more than I know why Job, and his children and servants suffered as well.  We trust the Lord despite the situations.  I know He cares, and sometimes that has to be enough.

1
Moreover the LORD answered Job, and said,
2
Shall he that contendeth with the Almighty instruct him? he that reproveth God, let him answer it.
3
Then Job answered the LORD, and said,
4
Behold, I am vile; what shall I answer thee? I will lay mine hand upon my mouth.
5
Once have I spoken; but I will not answer: yea, twice; but I will proceed no further.
6
Then answered the LORD unto Job out of the whirlwind, and said,
7
Gird up thy loins now like a man: I will demand of thee, and declare thou unto me.
8
Wilt thou also disannul my judgment? wilt thou condemn me, that thou mayest be righteous?
9
Hast thou an arm like God? or canst thou thunder with a voice like him?
10
Deck thyself now with majesty and excellency; and array thyself with glory and beauty.
11
Cast abroad the rage of thy wrath: and behold every one that is proud, and abase him.
12
Look on every one that is proud, and bring him low; and tread down the wicked in their place.
13
Hide them in the dust together; and bind their faces in secret.
14
Then will I also confess unto thee that thine own right hand can save thee.
15
Behold now behemoth, which I made with thee; he eateth grass as an ox.
16
Lo now, his strength is in his loins, and his force is in the navel of his belly.
17
He moveth his tail like a cedar: the sinews of his stones are wrapped together.
18
His bones are as strong pieces of brass; his bones are like bars of iron.
19
He is the chief of the ways of God: he that made him can make his sword to approach unto him.
20
Surely the mountains bring him forth food, where all the beasts of the field play.
21
He lieth under the shady trees, in the covert of the reed, and fens.
22
The shady trees cover him with their shadow; the willows of the brook compass him about.
23
Behold, he drinketh up a river, and hasteth not: he trusteth that he can draw up Jordan into his mouth.
24
He taketh it with his eyes: his nose pierceth through snares.


1
Canst thou draw out leviathan with an hook? or his tongue with a cord which thou lettest down?
2
Canst thou put an hook into his nose? or bore his jaw through with a thorn?
3
Will he make many supplications unto thee? will he speak soft words unto thee?
4
Will he make a covenant with thee? wilt thou take him for a servant for ever?
5
Wilt thou play with him as with a bird? or wilt thou bind him for thy maidens?
6
Shall the companions make a banquet of him? shall they part him among the merchants?
7
Canst thou fill his skin with barbed irons? or his head with fish spears?
8
Lay thine hand upon him, remember the battle, do no more.
9
Behold, the hope of him is in vain: shall not one be cast down even at the sight of him?
10
None is so fierce that dare stir him up: who then is able to stand before me?
11
Who hath prevented me, that I should repay him? whatsoever is under the whole heaven is mine.
12
I will not conceal his parts, nor his power, nor his comely proportion.
13
Who can discover the face of his garment? or who can come to him with his double bridle?
14
Who can open the doors of his face? his teeth are terrible round about.
15
His scales are his pride, shut up together as with a close seal.
16
One is so near to another, that no air can come between them.
17
They are joined one to another, they stick together, that they cannot be sundered.
18
By his neesings a light doth shine, and his eyes are like the eyelids of the morning.
19
Out of his mouth go burning lamps, and sparks of fire leap out.
20
Out of his nostrils goeth smoke, as out of a seething pot or caldron.
21
His breath kindleth coals, and a flame goeth out of his mouth.
22
In his neck remaineth strength, and sorrow is turned into joy before him.
23
The flakes of his flesh are joined together: they are firm in themselves; they cannot be moved.
24
His heart is as firm as a stone; yea, as hard as a piece of the nether millstone.
25
When he raiseth up himself, the mighty are afraid: by reason of breakings they purify themselves.
26
The sword of him that layeth at him cannot hold: the spear, the dart, nor the habergeon.
27
He esteemeth iron as straw, and brass as rotten wood.
28
The arrow cannot make him flee: slingstones are turned with him into stubble.
29
Darts are counted as stubble: he laugheth at the shaking of a spear.
30
Sharp stones are under him: he spreadeth sharp pointed things upon the mire.
31
He maketh the deep to boil like a pot: he maketh the sea like a pot of ointment.
32
He maketh a path to shine after him; one would think the deep to be hoary.
33
Upon earth there is not his like, who is made without fear.
34
He beholdeth all high things: he is a king over all the children of pride.


1
Then Job answered the LORD, and said,
2
I know that thou canst do every thing, and that no thought can be withholden from thee.
3
Who is he that hideth counsel without knowledge? therefore have I uttered that I understood not; things too wonderful for me, which I knew not.
4
Hear, I beseech thee, and I will speak: I will demand of thee, and declare thou unto me.
5
I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear: but now mine eye seeth thee.
6
Wherefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes.
7
And it was so, that after the LORD had spoken these words unto Job, the LORD said to Eliphaz the Temanite, My wrath is kindled against thee, and against thy two friends: for ye have not spoken of me the thing that is right, as my servant Job hath.
8
Therefore take unto you now seven bullocks and seven rams, and go to my servant Job, and offer up for yourselves a burnt offering; and my servant Job shall pray for you: for him will I accept: lest I deal with you after your folly, in that ye have not spoken of me the thing which is right, like my servant Job.
9
So Eliphaz the Temanite and Bildad the Shuhite and Zophar the Naamathite went, and did according as the LORD commanded them: the LORD also accepted Job.
10
And the LORD turned the captivity of Job, when he prayed for his friends: also the LORD gave Job twice as much as he had before.
11
Then came there unto him all his brethren, and all his sisters, and all they that had been of his acquaintance before, and did eat bread with him in his house: and they bemoaned him, and comforted him over all the evil that the LORD had brought upon him: every man also gave him a piece of money, and every one an earring of gold.
12
So the LORD blessed the latter end of Job more than his beginning: for he had fourteen thousand sheep, and six thousand camels, and a thousand yoke of oxen, and a thousand she asses.
13
He had also seven sons and three daughters.
14
And he called the name of the first, Jemima; and the name of the second, Kezia; and the name of the third, Kerenhappuch.
15
And in all the land were no women found so fair as the daughters of Job: and their father gave them inheritance among their brethren.
16
After this lived Job an hundred and forty years, and saw his sons, and his sons' sons, even four generations.
17
So Job died, being old and full of days.



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

The New Testament reading is verses 22-41 of Acts chapter 15.  These passage are important for many reasons, but one of those reasons is that here we see the New Testament Church, a term I've often heard from the pulpits and from the platforms and pamphlets. 

22
Then pleased it the apostles and elders with the whole church, to send chosen men of their own company to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas; namely, Judas surnamed Barsabas and Silas, chief men among the brethren:
23
And they wrote letters by them after this manner; The apostles and elders and brethren send greeting unto the brethren which are of the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia.
24
Forasmuch as we have heard, that certain which went out from us have troubled you with words, subverting your souls, saying, Ye must be circumcised, and keep the law: to whom we gave no such commandment:
25
It seemed good unto us, being assembled with one accord, to send chosen men unto you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul,
26
Men that have hazarded their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
27
We have sent therefore Judas and Silas, who shall also tell you the same things by mouth.
28
For it seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things;
29
That ye abstain from meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication: from which if ye keep yourselves, ye shall do well. Fare ye well.
30
So when they were dismissed, they came to Antioch: and when they had gathered the multitude together, they delivered the epistle:
31
Which when they had read, they rejoiced for the consolation.
32
And Judas and Silas, being prophets also themselves, exhorted the brethren with many words, and confirmed them.
33
And after they had tarried there a space, they were let go in peace from the brethren unto the apostles.
34
Notwithstanding it pleased Silas to abide there still.
35
Paul also and Barnabas continued in Antioch, teaching and preaching the word of the Lord, with many others also.
36
And some days after Paul said unto Barnabas, Let us go again and visit our brethren in every city where we have preached the word of the LORD, and see how they do.
37
And Barnabas determined to take with them John, whose surname was Mark.
38
But Paul thought not good to take him with them, who departed from them from Pamphylia, and went not with them to the work.
39
And the contention was so sharp between them, that they departed asunder one from the other: and so Barnabas took Mark, and sailed unto Cyprus;
40
And Paul chose Silas, and departed, being recommended by the brethren unto the grace of God.
41
And he went through Syria and Cilicia, confirming the churches.