Today's Readings and Stuff -- Friday, 10 April 2015

rain again.  but 65 degrees today, not tropical, but not the bitter sub-zero stuff we were getting about a month ago.  I'll take it, and we don't have to shovel or plow rain.

Had a doctor appointment at 08:00, was a couple minutes early for it (of course) but that meant I "got" to "enjoy" the last-minute traffic of people rushing to the two schools (public and parochial) along the way and those rushing to be at work by 08:00.  Dodging horrible roads, and traffic signal systems designed by mentally-challenged swamp rats.    But it was OK, I knew to plan ahead, a trait clearly in short supply.  Doc looked at the vitals, stared at the screen of readings of last week's blood sample and this morning's BP, and told me to come back in six months. 

Drove home and finally got to get some coffee and something to eat.  Oatmeal with a few cranberries and pecans tossed in for protein.  Or at least that's the excuse Dear Wife uses, which is fine by me.  The oats are good for the blood and heart anyway, and all-in-all is a good day starter.

Hoping to get some work done around the place today, but we shall see.

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The Old Testament reading today is chapters 4, 5, and 6 of 1st Samuel.  And except for the 1st verse, Samuel himself isn't mentioned here.  What is mentioned is the ongoing wars between the Hebrews and their unfriendly neighbors.  Sound familiar?  Anyway, they decided to use the Ark of the Covenant as a good luck charm or something, figuring that it would bring them success.  Wrong!  The Ark was captured as a trophy of war, and a whole LOT of the Hebrews died too.  Like around 30,000, and that doesn't include old Eli's sons, or Eli himself.  So the Philistines captured the Ark.  Lot of good it did them:  like plagues and pestilence and misery.  They finally gave up and sent it back, with an offering.







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The New Testament reading is verses 35-59 of Luke chapter 12

Luke 12:35-59

35	Let your loins be girded about, and your lights burning;
36	And ye yourselves like unto men that wait for their lord, when he will return from the wedding; that when he cometh and knocketh, they may open unto him immediately.
37	Blessed are those servants, whom the lord when he cometh shall find watching: verily I say unto you, that he shall gird himself, and make them to sit down to meat, and will come forth and serve them.
38	And if he shall come in the second watch, or come in the third watch, and find them so, blessed are those servants.
39	And this know, that if the goodman of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched, and not have suffered his house to be broken through.
40	Be ye therefore ready also: for the Son of man cometh at an hour when ye think not.
41	Then Peter said unto him, Lord, speakest thou this parable unto us, or even to all?
42	And the Lord said, Who then is that faithful and wise steward, whom his lord shall make ruler over his household, to give them their portion of meat in due season?
43	Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing.
44	Of a truth I say unto you, that he will make him ruler over all that he hath.
45	But and if that servant say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming; and shall begin to beat the menservants and maidens, and to eat and drink, and to be drunken;
46	The lord of that servant will come in a day when he looketh not for him, and at an hour when he is not aware, and will cut him in sunder, and will appoint him his portion with the unbelievers.
47	And that servant, which knew his lord's will, and prepared not himself, neither did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes.
48	But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more.
49	I am come to send fire on the earth; and what will I, if it be already kindled?
50	But I have a baptism to be baptized with; and how am I straitened till it be accomplished!
51	Suppose ye that I am come to give peace on earth? I tell you, Nay; but rather division:
52	For from henceforth there shall be five in one house divided, three against two, and two against three.
53	The father shall be divided against the son, and the son against the father; the mother against the daughter, and the daughter against the mother; the mother in law against her daughter in law, and the daughter in law against her mother in law.
54	And he said also to the people, When ye see a cloud rise out of the west, straightway ye say, There cometh a shower; and so it is.
55	And when ye see the south wind blow, ye say, There will be heat; and it cometh to pass.
56	Ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky and of the earth; but how is it that ye do not discern this time?
57	Yea, and why even of yourselves judge ye not what is right?
58	When thou goest with thine adversary to the magistrate, as thou art in the way, give diligence that thou mayest be delivered from him; lest he hale thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and the officer cast thee into prison.
59	I tell thee, thou shalt not depart thence, till thou hast paid the very last mite.