28 March 2015

Today's Readings and Stuff -- Saturday, 28 March 2015

1:00 p.m.  22 degrees outside, and there is a dusting of snow on the ground.  Not exactly what I hoped to see on the second weekend of Spring, not quite.  Friends of ours in Alabama are under a freeze warning for tonight, with lows in the 20's.  Must be more of that mythical "global warming".
Dear Wife is preparing the nebulizer in order to undergo yet another "breathing treatment", the administration of Albuterol down into her lungs in an attempt to make breathing easier.  She's having a rough time more often than not, these days.

She got up in the night, spent the night and since on the recliner chair.  It's more comfortable than the bed, as her head is elevated and so are her feet, and her presence in the room, the halfway point between the two ends of the hovel, keeps the twocats that take up presence in opposite ends, from meeting in the center to fight for dominance, or out of boredom, or whatever.  So I got some sleep, for once, without being roused every 90 minutes all night to break up the brawl
Once the weather truly breaks, two inside cats are going to become 100% outdooor cats.  I'm over it.

So a quiet day, apparently.

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The Old Testament reading is chapters 21 and 22 of the book of Joshua.  We are on schedule to complete the book of Joshua tomorrow.
Joshua began his life as a slave in Egypt.  Since then, he saw the Passover, left Egypt, crossed the Red Sea, watched Pharaoh's army drown, saw the presence of the Lord, saw the rebellion of the people, followed Moses in the wilderness for 40 years, crossed over Jordan, and has been spending a long time fighting the enemies in Canaan, the Promised Land.  The job of conquering the land is not complete, but they've made a big start of it.  Of course, that's the external enemies.  The internal problems are still there, and still are today.  But Joshua has, I think, earned a "well done".
By the way, the names of "Joshua" and "Jesus" are pretty much the same name.  We transliterate them a bit differently, but the original word is about the same.


1
Then came near the heads of the fathers of the Levites unto Eleazar the priest, and unto Joshua the son of Nun, and unto the heads of the fathers of the tribes of the children of Israel;
2
And they spake unto them at Shiloh in the land of Canaan, saying, The LORD commanded by the hand of Moses to give us cities to dwell in, with the suburbs thereof for our cattle.
3
And the children of Israel gave unto the Levites out of their inheritance, at the commandment of the LORD, these cities and their suburbs.
4
And the lot came out for the families of the Kohathites: and the children of Aaron the priest, which were of the Levites, had by lot out of the tribe of Judah, and out of the tribe of Simeon, and out of the tribe of Benjamin, thirteen cities.
5
And the rest of the children of Kohath had by lot out of the families of the tribe of Ephraim, and out of the tribe of Dan, and out of the half tribe of Manasseh, ten cities.
6
And the children of Gershon had by lot out of the families of the tribe of Issachar, and out of the tribe of Asher, and out of the tribe of Naphtali, and out of the half tribe of Manasseh in Bashan, thirteen cities.
7
The children of Merari by their families had out of the tribe of Reuben, and out of the tribe of Gad, and out of the tribe of Zebulun, twelve cities.
8
And the children of Israel gave by lot unto the Levites these cities with their suburbs, as the LORD commanded by the hand of Moses.
9
And they gave out of the tribe of the children of Judah, and out of the tribe of the children of Simeon, these cities which are here mentioned by name.
10
Which the children of Aaron, being of the families of the Kohathites, who were of the children of Levi, had: for theirs was the first lot.
11
And they gave them the city of Arba the father of Anak, which city is Hebron, in the hill country of Judah, with the suburbs thereof round about it.
12
But the fields of the city, and the villages thereof, gave they to Caleb the son of Jephunneh for his possession.
13
Thus they gave to the children of Aaron the priest Hebron with her suburbs, to be a city of refuge for the slayer; and Libnah with her suburbs,
14
And Jattir with her suburbs, and Eshtemoa with her suburbs,
15
And Holon with her suburbs, and Debir with her suburbs,
16
And Ain with her suburbs, and Juttah with her suburbs, and Bethshemesh with her suburbs; nine cities out of those two tribes.
17
And out of the tribe of Benjamin, Gibeon with her suburbs, Geba with her suburbs,
18
Anathoth with her suburbs, and Almon with her suburbs; four cities.
19
All the cities of the children of Aaron, the priests, were thirteen cities with their suburbs.
20
And the families of the children of Kohath, the Levites which remained of the children of Kohath, even they had the cities of their lot out of the tribe of Ephraim.
21
For they gave them Shechem with her suburbs in mount Ephraim, to be a city of refuge for the slayer; and Gezer with her suburbs,
22
And Kibzaim with her suburbs, and Bethhoron with her suburbs; four cities.
23
And out of the tribe of Dan, Eltekeh with her suburbs, Gibbethon with her suburbs,
24
Aijalon with her suburbs, Gathrimmon with her suburbs; four cities.
25
And out of the half tribe of Manasseh, Tanach with her suburbs, and Gathrimmon with her suburbs; two cities.
26
All the cities were ten with their suburbs for the families of the children of Kohath that remained.
27
And unto the children of Gershon, of the families of the Levites, out of the other half tribe of Manasseh they gave Golan in Bashan with her suburbs, to be a city of refuge for the slayer; and Beeshterah with her suburbs; two cities.
28
And out of the tribe of Issachar, Kishon with her suburbs, Dabareh with her suburbs,
29
Jarmuth with her suburbs, Engannim with her suburbs; four cities.
30
And out of the tribe of Asher, Mishal with her suburbs, Abdon with her suburbs,
31
Helkath with her suburbs, and Rehob with her suburbs; four cities.
32
And out of the tribe of Naphtali, Kedesh in Galilee with her suburbs, to be a city of refuge for the slayer; and Hammothdor with her suburbs, and Kartan with her suburbs; three cities.
33
All the cities of the Gershonites according to their families were thirteen cities with their suburbs.
34
And unto the families of the children of Merari, the rest of the Levites, out of the tribe of Zebulun, Jokneam with her suburbs, and Kartah with her suburbs,
35
Dimnah with her suburbs, Nahalal with her suburbs; four cities.
36
And out of the tribe of Reuben, Bezer with her suburbs, and Jahazah with her suburbs,
37
Kedemoth with her suburbs, and Mephaath with her suburbs; four cities.
38
And out of the tribe of Gad, Ramoth in Gilead with her suburbs, to be a city of refuge for the slayer; and Mahanaim with her suburbs,
39
Heshbon with her suburbs, Jazer with her suburbs; four cities in all.
40
So all the cities for the children of Merari by their families, which were remaining of the families of the Levites, were by their lot twelve cities.
41
All the cities of the Levites within the possession of the children of Israel were forty and eight cities with their suburbs.
42
These cities were every one with their suburbs round about them: thus were all these cities.
43
And the LORD gave unto Israel all the land which he sware to give unto their fathers; and they possessed it, and dwelt therein.
44
And the LORD gave them rest round about, according to all that he sware unto their fathers: and there stood not a man of all their enemies before them; the LORD delivered all their enemies into their hand.
45
There failed not ought of any good thing which the LORD had spoken unto the house of Israel; all came to pass.


1
Then Joshua called the Reubenites, and the Gadites, and the half tribe of Manasseh,
2
And said unto them, Ye have kept all that Moses the servant of the LORD commanded you, and have obeyed my voice in all that I commanded you:
3
Ye have not left your brethren these many days unto this day, but have kept the charge of the commandment of the LORD your God.
4
And now the LORD your God hath given rest unto your brethren, as he promised them: therefore now return ye, and get you unto your tents, and unto the land of your possession, which Moses the servant of the LORD gave you on the other side Jordan.
5
But take diligent heed to do the commandment and the law, which Moses the servant of the LORD charged you, to love the LORD your God, and to walk in all his ways, and to keep his commandments, and to cleave unto him, and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul.
6
So Joshua blessed them, and sent them away: and they went unto their tents.
7
Now to the one half of the tribe of Manasseh Moses had given possession in Bashan: but unto the other half thereof gave Joshua among their brethren on this side Jordan westward. And when Joshua sent them away also unto their tents, then he blessed them,
8
And he spake unto them, saying, Return with much riches unto your tents, and with very much cattle, with silver, and with gold, and with brass, and with iron, and with very much raiment: divide the spoil of your enemies with your brethren.
9
And the children of Reuben and the children of Gad and the half tribe of Manasseh returned, and departed from the children of Israel out of Shiloh, which is in the land of Canaan, to go unto the country of Gilead, to the land of their possession, whereof they were possessed, according to the word of the LORD by the hand of Moses.
10
And when they came unto the borders of Jordan, that are in the land of Canaan, the children of Reuben and the children of Gad and the half tribe of Manasseh built there an altar by Jordan, a great altar to see to.
11
And the children of Israel heard say, Behold, the children of Reuben and the children of Gad and the half tribe of Manasseh have built an altar over against the land of Canaan, in the borders of Jordan, at the passage of the children of Israel.
12
And when the children of Israel heard of it, the whole congregation of the children of Israel gathered themselves together at Shiloh, to go up to war against them.
13
And the children of Israel sent unto the children of Reuben, and to the children of Gad, and to the half tribe of Manasseh, into the land of Gilead, Phinehas the son of Eleazar the priest,
14
And with him ten princes, of each chief house a prince throughout all the tribes of Israel; and each one was an head of the house of their fathers among the thousands of Israel.
15
And they came unto the children of Reuben, and to the children of Gad, and to the half tribe of Manasseh, unto the land of Gilead, and they spake with them, saying,
16
Thus saith the whole congregation of the LORD, What trespass is this that ye have committed against the God of Israel, to turn away this day from following the LORD, in that ye have builded you an altar, that ye might rebel this day against the LORD?
17
Is the iniquity of Peor too little for us, from which we are not cleansed until this day, although there was a plague in the congregation of the LORD,
18
But that ye must turn away this day from following the LORD? and it will be, seeing ye rebel to day against the LORD, that to morrow he will be wroth with the whole congregation of Israel.
19
Notwithstanding, if the land of your possession be unclean, then pass ye over unto the land of the possession of the LORD, wherein the LORD's tabernacle dwelleth, and take possession among us: but rebel not against the LORD, nor rebel against us, in building you an altar beside the altar of the LORD our God.
20
Did not Achan the son of Zerah commit a trespass in the accursed thing, and wrath fell on all the congregation of Israel? and that man perished not alone in his iniquity.
21
Then the children of Reuben and the children of Gad and the half tribe of Manasseh answered, and said unto the heads of the thousands of Israel,
22
The LORD God of gods, the LORD God of gods, he knoweth, and Israel he shall know; if it be in rebellion, or if in transgression against the LORD, (save us not this day,)
23
That we have built us an altar to turn from following the LORD, or if to offer thereon burnt offering or meat offering, or if to offer peace offerings thereon, let the LORD himself require it;
24
And if we have not rather done it for fear of this thing, saying, In time to come your children might speak unto our children, saying, What have ye to do with the LORD God of Israel?
25
For the LORD hath made Jordan a border between us and you, ye children of Reuben and children of Gad; ye have no part in the LORD: so shall your children make our children cease from fearing the LORD.
26
Therefore we said, Let us now prepare to build us an altar, not for burnt offering, nor for sacrifice:
27
But that it may be a witness between us, and you, and our generations after us, that we might do the service of the LORD before him with our burnt offerings, and with our sacrifices, and with our peace offerings; that your children may not say to our children in time to come, Ye have no part in the LORD.
28
Therefore said we, that it shall be, when they should so say to us or to our generations in time to come, that we may say again, Behold the pattern of the altar of the LORD, which our fathers made, not for burnt offerings, nor for sacrifices; but it is a witness between us and you.
29
God forbid that we should rebel against the LORD, and turn this day from following the LORD, to build an altar for burnt offerings, for meat offerings, or for sacrifices, beside the altar of the LORD our God that is before his tabernacle.
30
And when Phinehas the priest, and the princes of the congregation and heads of the thousands of Israel which were with him, heard the words that the children of Reuben and the children of Gad and the children of Manasseh spake, it pleased them.
31
And Phinehas the son of Eleazar the priest said unto the children of Reuben, and to the children of Gad, and to the children of Manasseh, This day we perceive that the LORD is among us, because ye have not committed this trespass against the LORD: now ye have delivered the children of Israel out of the hand of the LORD.
32
And Phinehas the son of Eleazar the priest, and the princes, returned from the children of Reuben, and from the children of Gad, out of the land of Gilead, unto the land of Canaan, to the children of Israel, and brought them word again.
33
And the thing pleased the children of Israel; and the children of Israel blessed God, and did not intend to go up against them in battle, to destroy the land wherein the children of Reuben and Gad dwelt.
34
And the children of Reuben and the children of Gad called the altar Ed: for it shall be a witness between us that the LORD is God.






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The New Testament reading is verses 1-26 of Luke 6.
Things are moving right along.  Jesus aggravates the religious authorities by, among other things, healing a man in an unapproved manner.  Then He selects and commissions His apostles, and then goes on to get into the Beatitudes.  Not a bad morning's work.


1
And it came to pass on the second sabbath after the first, that he went through the corn fields; and his disciples plucked the ears of corn, and did eat, rubbing them in their hands.
2
And certain of the Pharisees said unto them, Why do ye that which is not lawful to do on the sabbath days?
3
And Jesus answering them said, Have ye not read so much as this, what David did, when himself was an hungred, and they which were with him;
4
How he went into the house of God, and did take and eat the shewbread, and gave also to them that were with him; which it is not lawful to eat but for the priests alone?
5
And he said unto them, That the Son of man is Lord also of the sabbath.
6
And it came to pass also on another sabbath, that he entered into the synagogue and taught: and there was a man whose right hand was withered.
7
And the scribes and Pharisees watched him, whether he would heal on the sabbath day; that they might find an accusation against him.
8
But he knew their thoughts, and said to the man which had the withered hand, Rise up, and stand forth in the midst. And he arose and stood forth.
9
Then said Jesus unto them, I will ask you one thing; Is it lawful on the sabbath days to do good, or to do evil? to save life, or to destroy it?
10
And looking round about upon them all, he said unto the man, Stretch forth thy hand. And he did so: and his hand was restored whole as the other.
11
And they were filled with madness; and communed one with another what they might do to Jesus.
12
And it came to pass in those days, that he went out into a mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God.
13
And when it was day, he called unto him his disciples: and of them he chose twelve, whom also he named apostles;
14
Simon, (whom he also named Peter,) and Andrew his brother, James and John, Philip and Bartholomew,
15
Matthew and Thomas, James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon called Zelotes,
16
And Judas the brother of James, and Judas Iscariot, which also was the traitor.
17
And he came down with them, and stood in the plain, and the company of his disciples, and a great multitude of people out of all Judaea and Jerusalem, and from the sea coast of Tyre and Sidon, which came to hear him, and to be healed of their diseases;
18
And they that were vexed with unclean spirits: and they were healed.
19
And the whole multitude sought to touch him: for there went virtue out of him, and healed them all.
20
And he lifted up his eyes on his disciples, and said, Blessed be ye poor: for yours is the kingdom of God.
21
Blessed are ye that hunger now: for ye shall be filled. Blessed are ye that weep now: for ye shall laugh.
22
Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man's sake.
23
Rejoice ye in that day, and leap for joy: for, behold, your reward is great in heaven: for in the like manner did their fathers unto the prophets.
24
But woe unto you that are rich! for ye have received your consolation.
25
Woe unto you that are full! for ye shall hunger. Woe unto you that laugh now! for ye shall mourn and weep.
26
Woe unto you, when all men shall speak well of you! for so did their fathers to the false prophets.



27 March 2015

Today's Radings and Stuff -- Friday, 27 March 2015

Spring began a week ago.  Singing birds and warm weather would have been nice.  But I can see, just outside, snow falling.  Not sticking, yet, but still falling as is the air temperature, meaning that the ground temperature is dropping as the flakes land.  We may yet see a visible accumulation.  In any event, it's enough to be somewhat discouraging.  Yes, we are inside, and there is a roof over our head, food in our bellies, and shoes on our feet.  We are grateful and thankful for all of that, as we should be.  But blue skies and warm would have been nice.  Tomorrow's weather is predicted to be much the same.  Now, by the following days, Sunday through a week from now, we are expecting highs in the high 40's and mid-50's even.  But also more than a few lows at or slightly below freezing.  Not warm by my measures, but better.

So we're pretty much huddled here in our darkened cave.  TV is on and we hear of the depredations of the Islamic heathens in places like Mogadishu, Pakistan, and Nigeria.  Also Germany, France, Britain, and the like.  Satan's army on the march.

Dear Wife is still in great pain in her feet.  She has an appointment with the podiatrist on Wednesday, following up on last week's appointment.  The cortisone given her then helped, some, temporarily.  Since she's already on a daily dose of prednisone, more and more steroids is something we've seen before.  Helps some, but at a cost of other aspects of her well-being.

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The Old Testament reading is chapters 19 and 20 in the book of Joshua.
Pay some attention to these place names.  These are areas, including towns, that are quite specifically listed as being assigned by the Lord to His people, and specific as to which group, tribe or family, was to get which area.  I think the land is His to distribute.  Remember that in today's wars with the descendants of the Canaanites and Hivites and such.  This is an OLD war.


1
And the second lot came forth to Simeon, even for the tribe of the children of Simeon according to their families: and their inheritance was within the inheritance of the children of Judah.
2
And they had in their inheritance Beersheba, and Sheba, and Moladah,
3
And Hazarshual, and Balah, and Azem,
4
And Eltolad, and Bethul, and Hormah,
5
And Ziklag, and Bethmarcaboth, and Hazarsusah,
6
And Bethlebaoth, and Sharuhen; thirteen cities and their villages:
7
Ain, Remmon, and Ether, and Ashan; four cities and their villages:
8
And all the villages that were round about these cities to Baalathbeer, Ramath of the south. This is the inheritance of the tribe of the children of Simeon according to their families.
9
Out of the portion of the children of Judah was the inheritance of the children of Simeon: for the part of the children of Judah was too much for them: therefore the children of Simeon had their inheritance within the inheritance of them.
10
And the third lot came up for the children of Zebulun according to their families: and the border of their inheritance was unto Sarid:
11
And their border went up toward the sea, and Maralah, and reached to Dabbasheth, and reached to the river that is before Jokneam;
12
And turned from Sarid eastward toward the sunrising unto the border of Chislothtabor, and then goeth out to Daberath, and goeth up to Japhia,
13
And from thence passeth on along on the east to Gittahhepher, to Ittahkazin, and goeth out to Remmonmethoar to Neah;
14
And the border compasseth it on the north side to Hannathon: and the outgoings thereof are in the valley of Jiphthahel:
15
And Kattath, and Nahallal, and Shimron, and Idalah, and Bethlehem: twelve cities with their villages.
16
This is the inheritance of the children of Zebulun according to their families, these cities with their villages.
17
And the fourth lot came out to Issachar, for the children of Issachar according to their families.
18
And their border was toward Jezreel, and Chesulloth, and Shunem,
19
And Haphraim, and Shihon, and Anaharath,
20
And Rabbith, and Kishion, and Abez,
21
And Remeth, and Engannim, and Enhaddah, and Bethpazzez;
22
And the coast reacheth to Tabor, and Shahazimah, and Bethshemesh; and the outgoings of their border were at Jordan: sixteen cities with their villages.
23
This is the inheritance of the tribe of the children of Issachar according to their families, the cities and their villages.
24
And the fifth lot came out for the tribe of the children of Asher according to their families.
25
And their border was Helkath, and Hali, and Beten, and Achshaph,
26
And Alammelech, and Amad, and Misheal; and reacheth to Carmel westward, and to Shihorlibnath;
27
And turneth toward the sunrising to Bethdagon, and reacheth to Zebulun, and to the valley of Jiphthahel toward the north side of Bethemek, and Neiel, and goeth out to Cabul on the left hand,
28
And Hebron, and Rehob, and Hammon, and Kanah, even unto great Zidon;
29
And then the coast turneth to Ramah, and to the strong city Tyre; and the coast turneth to Hosah; and the outgoings thereof are at the sea from the coast to Achzib:
30
Ummah also, and Aphek, and Rehob: twenty and two cities with their villages.
31
This is the inheritance of the tribe of the children of Asher according to their families, these cities with their villages.
32
The sixth lot came out to the children of Naphtali, even for the children of Naphtali according to their families.
33
And their coast was from Heleph, from Allon to Zaanannim, and Adami, Nekeb, and Jabneel, unto Lakum; and the outgoings thereof were at Jordan:
34
And then the coast turneth westward to Aznothtabor, and goeth out from thence to Hukkok, and reacheth to Zebulun on the south side, and reacheth to Asher on the west side, and to Judah upon Jordan toward the sunrising.
35
And the fenced cities are Ziddim, Zer, and Hammath, Rakkath, and Chinnereth,
36
And Adamah, and Ramah, and Hazor,
37
And Kedesh, and Edrei, and Enhazor,
38
And Iron, and Migdalel, Horem, and Bethanath, and Bethshemesh; nineteen cities with their villages.
39
This is the inheritance of the tribe of the children of Naphtali according to their families, the cities and their villages.
40
And the seventh lot came out for the tribe of the children of Dan according to their families.
41
And the coast of their inheritance was Zorah, and Eshtaol, and Irshemesh,
42
And Shaalabbin, and Ajalon, and Jethlah,
43
And Elon, and Thimnathah, and Ekron,
44
And Eltekeh, and Gibbethon, and Baalath,
45
And Jehud, and Beneberak, and Gathrimmon,
46
And Mejarkon, and Rakkon, with the border before Japho.
47
And the coast of the children of Dan went out too little for them: therefore the children of Dan went up to fight against Leshem, and took it, and smote it with the edge of the sword, and possessed it, and dwelt therein, and called Leshem, Dan, after the name of Dan their father.
48
This is the inheritance of the tribe of the children of Dan according to their families, these cities with their villages.
49
When they had made an end of dividing the land for inheritance by their coasts, the children of Israel gave an inheritance to Joshua the son of Nun among them:
50
According to the word of the LORD they gave him the city which he asked, even Timnathserah in mount Ephraim: and he built the city, and dwelt therein.
51
These are the inheritances, which Eleazar the priest, and Joshua the son of Nun, and the heads of the fathers of the tribes of the children of Israel, divided for an inheritance by lot in Shiloh before the LORD, at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation. So they made an end of dividing the country.


1
The LORD also spake unto Joshua, saying,
2
Speak to the children of Israel, saying, Appoint out for you cities of refuge, whereof I spake unto you by the hand of Moses:
3
That the slayer that killeth any person unawares and unwittingly may flee thither: and they shall be your refuge from the avenger of blood.
4
And when he that doth flee unto one of those cities shall stand at the entering of the gate of the city, and shall declare his cause in the ears of the elders of that city, they shall take him into the city unto them, and give him a place, that he may dwell among them.
5
And if the avenger of blood pursue after him, then they shall not deliver the slayer up into his hand; because he smote his neighbor unwittingly, and hated him not beforetime.
6
And he shall dwell in that city, until he stand before the congregation for judgment, and until the death of the high priest that shall be in those days: then shall the slayer return, and come unto his own city, and unto his own house, unto the city from whence he fled.
7
And they appointed Kedesh in Galilee in mount Naphtali, and Shechem in mount Ephraim, and Kirjatharba, which is Hebron, in the mountain of Judah.
8
And on the other side Jordan by Jericho eastward, they assigned Bezer in the wilderness upon the plain out of the tribe of Reuben, and Ramoth in Gilead out of the tribe of Gad, and Golan in Bashan out of the tribe of Manasseh.
9
These were the cities appointed for all the children of Israel, and for the stranger that sojourneth among them, that whosoever killeth any person at unawares might flee thither, and not die by the hand of the avenger of blood, until he stood before the congregation.




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The New Testament reading is verses 17-39 of the 5th chapter in the Gospel of Luke.
I've always been moved by the first account here, the man who was infirm and utterly helpless; his friends would let nothing, nothing at all,  to prevent them from bringing their friend to Jesus.  How many of us would do likewise?  All of us know people, some of them friends, who, if they were to die tonight, would be lost and in Hell forever.  Yet we refrain from telling them.  Is that the love of a friend?  Perhaps we should have the same "sense of urgency" (how I hate that term!!) as they did.
And then Jesus went on to scandalize the "religious" by keeping company with sinners, rather than clustering in the "holy huddle"..  We do the same, don't we?  Rather than kicking down the gates of Hell, we huddle up behind our church walls, avoiding contamination with the World.  I'm guilty too.


17
And it came to pass on a certain day, as he was teaching, that there were Pharisees and doctors of the law sitting by, which were come out of every town of Galilee, and Judaea, and Jerusalem: and the power of the Lord was present to heal them.
18
And, behold, men brought in a bed a man which was taken with a palsy: and they sought means to bring him in, and to lay him before him.
19
And when they could not find by what way they might bring him in because of the multitude, they went upon the housetop, and let him down through the tiling with his couch into the midst before Jesus.
20
And when he saw their faith, he said unto him, Man, thy sins are forgiven thee.
21
And the scribes and the Pharisees began to reason, saying, Who is this which speaketh blasphemies? Who can forgive sins, but God alone?
22
But when Jesus perceived their thoughts, he answering said unto them, What reason ye in your hearts?
23
Whether is easier, to say, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Rise up and walk?
24
But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power upon earth to forgive sins, (he said unto the sick of the palsy,) I say unto thee, Arise, and take up thy couch, and go into thine house.
25
And immediately he rose up before them, and took up that whereon he lay, and departed to his own house, glorifying God.
26
And they were all amazed, and they glorified God, and were filled with fear, saying, We have seen strange things to day.
27
And after these things he went forth, and saw a publican, named Levi, sitting at the receipt of custom: and he said unto him, Follow me.
28
And he left all, rose up, and followed him.
29
And Levi made him a great feast in his own house: and there was a great company of publicans and of others that sat down with them.
30
But their scribes and Pharisees murmured against his disciples, saying, Why do ye eat and drink with publicans and sinners?
31
And Jesus answering said unto them, They that are whole need not a physician; but they that are sick.
32
I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.
33
And they said unto him, Why do the disciples of John fast often, and make prayers, and likewise the disciples of the Pharisees; but thine eat and drink?
34
And he said unto them, Can ye make the children of the bridechamber fast, while the bridegroom is with them?
35
But the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken away from them, and then shall they fast in those days.
36
And he spake also a parable unto them; No man putteth a piece of a new garment upon an old; if otherwise, then both the new maketh a rent, and the piece that was taken out of the new agreeth not with the old.
37
And no man putteth new wine into old bottles; else the new wine will burst the bottles, and be spilled, and the bottles shall perish.
38
But new wine must be put into new bottles; and both are preserved.
39
No man also having drunk old wine straightway desireth new: for he saith, The old is better.



26 March 2015

Today's Readings and Stuff -- Thursday, 26 March 2015

5:30 p.m.  39 degrees.  Tomorrow's "high" to be 36 and Saturday's "high" predicted to be 30 degrees.  That's the so-called "high".  Our former neighbors are enduring 74 degrees today.  Which sounds better, somehow.  On the other hand:  we also have family and friends in northwest Arkansas and northeast Oklahoma.  Horrible storms came through yesterday evening, one possible tornado went right through a trailer park there, destroying 50 homes.  There has been loss of life and some awful injuries.  39 degrees isn't great. but it's better than death. 
Dear Wife was an EMT at one time and in Civil Air Patrol when younger than that.  Some may recall the horrible swarm of tornadoes that hit the area of Xenia, Ohio some years ago.  She was one of those persons detailed to seek survivors and casualties from those storms.  She had the unfortunate happening, to come across an entire family thrown into trees and such.  All dead, and not 'clean" deaths either.  A whole family.  Think that might just affect you in some ways?  I've come across dead people, didn't like it and don't recommend the experience.  But someone had to.
So we keep some things in perspective in order to keep going.

The cortisone that the doc shot her up with yesterday seems to be helping, some.  Still some pain, some of it bad, but it's less than a couple days ago.  The cold and damp probably isn't helping much.

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The Old Testament reading today is chapters 16, 17, and 18 of the book of Joshua


1
And the lot of the children of Joseph fell from Jordan by Jericho, unto the water of Jericho on the east, to the wilderness that goeth up from Jericho throughout mount Bethel,
2
And goeth out from Bethel to Luz, and passeth along unto the borders of Archi to Ataroth,
3
And goeth down westward to the coast of Japhleti, unto the coast of Bethhoron the nether, and to Gezer; and the goings out thereof are at the sea.
4
So the children of Joseph, Manasseh and Ephraim, took their inheritance.
5
And the border of the children of Ephraim according to their families was thus: even the border of their inheritance on the east side was Atarothaddar, unto Bethhoron the upper;
6
And the border went out toward the sea to Michmethah on the north side; and the border went about eastward unto Taanathshiloh, and passed by it on the east to Janohah;
7
And it went down from Janohah to Ataroth, and to Naarath, and came to Jericho, and went out at Jordan.
8
The border went out from Tappuah westward unto the river Kanah; and the goings out thereof were at the sea. This is the inheritance of the tribe of the children of Ephraim by their families.
9
And the separate cities for the children of Ephraim were among the inheritance of the children of Manasseh, all the cities with their villages.
10
And they drave not out the Canaanites that dwelt in Gezer: but the Canaanites dwell among the Ephraimites unto this day, and serve under tribute.


1
There was also a lot for the tribe of Manasseh; for he was the firstborn of Joseph; to wit, for Machir the firstborn of Manasseh, the father of Gilead: because he was a man of war, therefore he had Gilead and Bashan.
2
There was also a lot for the rest of the children of Manasseh by their families; for the children of Abiezer, and for the children of Helek, and for the children of Asriel, and for the children of Shechem, and for the children of Hepher, and for the children of Shemida: these were the male children of Manasseh the son of Joseph by their families.
3
But Zelophehad, the son of Hepher, the son of Gilead, the son of Machir, the son of Manasseh, had no sons, but daughters: and these are the names of his daughters, Mahlah, and Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah.
4
And they came near before Eleazar the priest, and before Joshua the son of Nun, and before the princes, saying, The LORD commanded Moses to give us an inheritance among our brethren. Therefore according to the commandment of the LORD he gave them an inheritance among the brethren of their father.
5
And there fell ten portions to Manasseh, beside the land of Gilead and Bashan, which were on the other side Jordan;
6
Because the daughters of Manasseh had an inheritance among his sons: and the rest of Manasseh's sons had the land of Gilead.
7
And the coast of Manasseh was from Asher to Michmethah, that lieth before Shechem; and the border went along on the right hand unto the inhabitants of Entappuah.
8
Now Manasseh had the land of Tappuah: but Tappuah on the border of Manasseh belonged to the children of Ephraim;
9
And the coast descended unto the river Kanah, southward of the river: these cities of Ephraim are among the cities of Manasseh: the coast of Manasseh also was on the north side of the river, and the outgoings of it were at the sea:
10
Southward it was Ephraim's, and northward it was Manasseh's, and the sea is his border; and they met together in Asher on the north, and in Issachar on the east.
11
And Manasseh had in Issachar and in Asher Bethshean and her towns, and Ibleam and her towns, and the inhabitants of Dor and her towns, and the inhabitants of Endor and her towns, and the inhabitants of Taanach and her towns, and the inhabitants of Megiddo and her towns, even three countries.
12
Yet the children of Manasseh could not drive out the inhabitants of those cities; but the Canaanites would dwell in that land.
13
Yet it came to pass, when the children of Israel were waxen strong, that they put the Canaanites to tribute, but did not utterly drive them out.
14
And the children of Joseph spake unto Joshua, saying, Why hast thou given me but one lot and one portion to inherit, seeing I am a great people, forasmuch as the LORD hath blessed me hitherto?
15
And Joshua answered them, If thou be a great people, then get thee up to the wood country, and cut down for thyself there in the land of the Perizzites and of the giants, if mount Ephraim be too narrow for thee.
16
And the children of Joseph said, The hill is not enough for us: and all the Canaanites that dwell in the land of the valley have chariots of iron, both they who are of Bethshean and her towns, and they who are of the valley of Jezreel.
17
And Joshua spake unto the house of Joseph, even to Ephraim and to Manasseh, saying, Thou art a great people, and hast great power: thou shalt not have one lot only:
18
But the mountain shall be thine; for it is a wood, and thou shalt cut it down: and the outgoings of it shall be thine: for thou shalt drive out the Canaanites, though they have iron chariots, and though they be strong.


1
And the whole congregation of the children of Israel assembled together at Shiloh, and set up the tabernacle of the congregation there. And the land was subdued before them.
2
And there remained among the children of Israel seven tribes, which had not yet received their inheritance.
3
And Joshua said unto the children of Israel, How long are ye slack to go to possess the land, which the LORD God of your fathers hath given you?
4
Give out from among you three men for each tribe: and I will send them, and they shall rise, and go through the land, and describe it according to the inheritance of them; and they shall come again to me.
5
And they shall divide it into seven parts: Judah shall abide in their coast on the south, and the house of Joseph shall abide in their coasts on the north.
6
Ye shall therefore describe the land into seven parts, and bring the description hither to me, that I may cast lots for you here before the LORD our God.
7
But the Levites have no part among you; for the priesthood of the LORD is their inheritance: and Gad, and Reuben, and half the tribe of Manasseh, have received their inheritance beyond Jordan on the east, which Moses the servant of the LORD gave them.
8
And the men arose, and went away: and Joshua charged them that went to describe the land, saying, Go and walk through the land, and describe it, and come again to me, that I may here cast lots for you before the LORD in Shiloh.
9
And the men went and passed through the land, and described it by cities into seven parts in a book, and came again to Joshua to the host at Shiloh.
10
And Joshua cast lots for them in Shiloh before the LORD: and there Joshua divided the land unto the children of Israel according to their divisions.
11
And the lot of the tribe of the children of Benjamin came up according to their families: and the coast of their lot came forth between the children of Judah and the children of Joseph.
12
And their border on the north side was from Jordan; and the border went up to the side of Jericho on the north side, and went up through the mountains westward; and the goings out thereof were at the wilderness of Bethaven.
13
And the border went over from thence toward Luz, to the side of Luz, which is Bethel, southward; and the border descended to Atarothadar, near the hill that lieth on the south side of the nether Bethhoron.
14
And the border was drawn thence, and compassed the corner of the sea southward, from the hill that lieth before Bethhoron southward; and the goings out thereof were at Kirjathbaal, which is Kirjathjearim, a city of the children of Judah: this was the west quarter.
15
And the south quarter was from the end of Kirjathjearim, and the border went out on the west, and went out to the well of waters of Nephtoah:
16
And the border came down to the end of the mountain that lieth before the valley of the son of Hinnom, and which is in the valley of the giants on the north, and descended to the valley of Hinnom, to the side of Jebusi on the south, and descended to Enrogel,
17
And was drawn from the north, and went forth to Enshemesh, and went forth toward Geliloth, which is over against the going up of Adummim, and descended to the stone of Bohan the son of Reuben,
18
And passed along toward the side over against Arabah northward, and went down unto Arabah:
19
And the border passed along to the side of Bethhoglah northward: and the outgoings of the border were at the north bay of the salt sea at the south end of Jordan: this was the south coast.
20
And Jordan was the border of it on the east side. This was the inheritance of the children of Benjamin, by the coasts thereof round about, according to their families.
21
Now the cities of the tribe of the children of Benjamin according to their families were Jericho, and Bethhoglah, and the valley of Keziz,
22
And Betharabah, and Zemaraim, and Bethel,
23
And Avim, and Pharah, and Ophrah,
24
And Chepharhaammonai, and Ophni, and Gaba; twelve cities with their villages:
25
Gibeon, and Ramah, and Beeroth,
26
And Mizpeh, and Chephirah, and Mozah,
27
And Rekem, and Irpeel, and Taralah,
28
And Zelah, Eleph, and Jebusi, which is Jerusalem, Gibeath, and Kirjath; fourteen cities with their villages. This is the inheritance of the children of Benjamin according to their families.





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The New Testament reading is verses 1-16 in the 5th chapter of the Gospel of Luke.

Peter, James, and John were "just" commercial fishermen going about their daily chores.  Lots like a lot of us have done.  And then, something happened.  That "something" was a "someone". Jesus.  They weren't looking for Him, though they needed Him, as all of us do.  He found them, and after that, nothing was ever the same.  The leper that He encountered later DID sense he needed Him.  He was right.  Jesus met him at his point of need.  Some of us can say we've been there too, we had to be desperate to reach for help, and He was there.  Just in time.


1
And it came to pass, that, as the people pressed upon him to hear the word of God, he stood by the lake of Gennesaret,
2
And saw two ships standing by the lake: but the fishermen were gone out of them, and were washing their nets.
3
And he entered into one of the ships, which was Simon's, and prayed him that he would thrust out a little from the land. And he sat down, and taught the people out of the ship.
4
Now when he had left speaking, he said unto Simon, Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught.
5
And Simon answering said unto him, Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing: nevertheless at thy word I will let down the net.
6
And when they had this done, they inclosed a great multitude of fishes: and their net brake.
7
And they beckoned unto their partners, which were in the other ship, that they should come and help them. And they came, and filled both the ships, so that they began to sink.
8
When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord.
9
For he was astonished, and all that were with him, at the draught of the fishes which they had taken:
10
And so was also James, and John, the sons of Zebedee, which were partners with Simon. And Jesus said unto Simon, Fear not; from henceforth thou shalt catch men.
11
And when they had brought their ships to land, they forsook all, and followed him.
12
And it came to pass, when he was in a certain city, behold a man full of leprosy: who seeing Jesus fell on his face, and besought him, saying, Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean.
13
And he put forth his hand, and touched him, saying, I will: be thou clean. And immediately the leprosy departed from him.
14
And he charged him to tell no man: but go, and shew thyself to the priest, and offer for thy cleansing, according as Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them.
15
But so much the more went there a fame abroad of him: and great multitudes came together to hear, and to be healed by him of their infirmities.
16
And he withdrew himself into the wilderness, and prayed.