Today's Readings and Stuff and Nonsense and Suchlike -- Tuesday, 19 July 2016

Things have been in disarray around here for most of the last two weeks, and I am running far behind.  Apologies.  No true catastrophes (close, but no) but a whole lot of the medium-sized and MANY of the smaller things all at once, matters that taken together just keep one from making headway.
It's now dark here, we went out shortly after sunset and, in the twilight pre-dark period, laid down a good soaking on the garden.  A bunch of tomatoes trying to form, we have several varieties.  A couple of zucchini that have achieve a plant size well above anything Wife nor I  have ever seen before.  Lots of flowers on them, but as of this point we've only had one fruit.  Which we wolfed down.  The pole bean plants are growing nicely, but not a hint of flowers or beans yet.  The potatoes which were put in on a lark (the last attempt, in 2014, was a horrid failure), are showing a whole lot of above-ground growth.  The dill is getting quite large, making a nice scent.  The cucumbers, which we put in late, and from seed, not starter plants, are FINALLY starting to show some growth.  A few flowers too, though no fruit.  And some cucamelon plants, which we did not plant but which are evidently "volunteers" from last year's single vine that nearly took over the place, are coming along.  We also have a bunch of "volunteer" tomato plants from last year.  We gave several plants away, and I transplanted at least half a dozen others.  Some have come up under the zucchini, and I just dare not disturb them as it might damage the zucchini.  We shall see.
A lot of other stuff going on, and Dear Wife's health is chancy right now.  Recovering from her weekly injection of the Humira, which has some good effects but knocks her around for the 36 hours immediately after the injection.  Has a migraine also -- she gets those full-spectrum attacks, not "just" the nasty headache, but weird auras, sounds, etc. Nasty.
And our little hovel is getting into worse shape daily.  We had (given to us) a small A/C unit for the bedroom.  (I have a pretty wide temperature tolerance.  She has none.)  Apparently, the condensate from it did not make it to the outside, it went into the window sill.  Damaging it.  And the wall.  And the floor. We have "soft spots" in the bedroom floor a good 2-1/2 feet from the wall now.  I put down some boards to make walking safe(r) than otherwise, but that's not a real fix.  We have food-long cracks in the tub floor and evidently no floor beneath them.  Makes showering difficult and bathing impossible.  We've been given a shower stall, but I haven't been able to scrape up the money needed for the plumbing and other hardware needed to install it.  We have several outer panes of the windows broken and I lack the funds to replace them.
Get the picture??
Working up a revision to the resume.  We'd been reluctant for me to go back to work, due to the vagaries and weird stuff associated with the medical coverage for her.  If I don't work, she gets some extra help on some very expensive meds that keep her alive.  If I work and make very much, she could lose that, but not have enough from that income to make the difference.  Now, if someone wants to pay me, say, around $70,000 (a figure I've made before), that might work.  Much below that, no.  And if I work part time at minimum wage, we might still be OK.  See the issue?

Got to meet an interesting guy.  Running an international Christian education operation, with several schools in places like eastern Africa, from a nondescript house in a down-at-the-heels neighborhood not far from her  He needed some help unloading a truck of donated Bibles, shoes, books, play equipment, etc. that came in.  He's suffered some illness and couldn't lift more than around 10 pounds.  The truck drive and I did most of the work, but I was the only volunteer to show.  Had some interesting discussion, believe me.

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The Old Testament passage is Psalms 28, 29, and 30.

Psalm 28

1	Unto thee will I cry, O LORD my rock; be not silent to me: lest, if thou be silent to me, I become like them that go down into the pit.
2	Hear the voice of my supplications, when I cry unto thee, when I lift up my hands toward thy holy oracle.
3	Draw me not away with the wicked, and with the workers of iniquity, which speak peace to their neighbours, but mischief is in their hearts.
4	Give them according to their deeds, and according to the wickedness of their endeavours: give them after the work of their hands; render to them their desert.
5	Because they regard not the works of the LORD, nor the operation of his hands, he shall destroy them, and not build them up.
6	Blessed be the LORD, because he hath heard the voice of my supplications.
7	The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in him, and I am helped: therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth; and with my song will I praise him.
8	The LORD is their strength, and he is the saving strength of his anointed.
9	Save thy people, and bless thine inheritance: feed them also, and lift them up for ever.

Psalm 29

1	Give unto the LORD, O ye mighty, give unto the LORD glory and strength.
2	Give unto the LORD the glory due unto his name; worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness.
3	The voice of the LORD is upon the waters: the God of glory thundereth: the LORD is upon many waters.
4	The voice of the LORD is powerful; the voice of the LORD is full of majesty.
5	The voice of the LORD breaketh the cedars; yea, the LORD breaketh the cedars of Lebanon.
6	He maketh them also to skip like a calf; Lebanon and Sirion like a young unicorn.
7	The voice of the LORD divideth the flames of fire.
8	The voice of the LORD shaketh the wilderness; the LORD shaketh the wilderness of Kadesh.
9	The voice of the LORD maketh the hinds to calve, and discovereth the forests: and in his temple doth every one speak of his glory.
10	The LORD sitteth upon the flood; yea, the LORD sitteth King for ever.
11	The LORD will give strength unto his people; the LORD will bless his people with peace.

Psalm 30

1	I will extol thee, O LORD; for thou hast lifted me up, and hast not made my foes to rejoice over me.
2	O LORD my God, I cried unto thee, and thou hast healed me.
3	O LORD, thou hast brought up my soul from the grave: thou hast kept me alive, that I should not go down to the pit.
4	Sing unto the LORD, O ye saints of his, and give thanks at the remembrance of his holiness.
5	For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favour is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.
6	And in my prosperity I said, I shall never be moved.
7	LORD, by thy favour thou hast made my mountain to stand strong: thou didst hide thy face, and I was troubled.
8	I cried to thee, O LORD; and unto the LORD I made supplication.
9	What profit is there in my blood, when I go down to the pit? Shall the dust praise thee? shall it declare thy truth?
10	Hear, O LORD, and have mercy upon me: LORD, be thou my helper.
11	Thou hast turned for me my mourning into dancing: thou hast put off my sackcloth, and girded me with gladness;
12	To the end that my glory may sing praise to thee, and not be silent. O LORD my God, I will give thanks unto thee for ever.

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The New Testament passage today is verses 1-14 of chapter 21 of the Acts.

Acts 21:1-14

1	And it came to pass, that after we were gotten from them, and had launched, we came with a straight course unto Coos, and the day following unto Rhodes, and from thence unto Patara:
2	And finding a ship sailing over unto Phenicia, we went aboard, and set forth.
3	Now when we had discovered Cyprus, we left it on the left hand, and sailed into Syria, and landed at Tyre: for there the ship was to unlade her burden.
4	And finding disciples, we tarried there seven days: who said to Paul through the Spirit, that he should not go up to Jerusalem.
5	And when we had accomplished those days, we departed and went our way; and they all brought us on our way, with wives and children, till we were out of the city: and we kneeled down on the shore, and prayed.
6	And when we had taken our leave one of another, we took ship; and they returned home again.
7	And when we had finished our course from Tyre, we came to Ptolemais, and saluted the brethren, and abode with them one day.
8	And the next day we that were of Paul's company departed, and came unto Caesarea: and we entered into the house of Philip the evangelist, which was one of the seven; and abode with him.
9	And the same man had four daughters, virgins, which did prophesy.
10	And as we tarried there many days, there came down from Judaea a certain prophet, named Agabus.
11	And when he was come unto us, he took Paul's girdle, and bound his own hands and feet, and said, Thus saith the Holy Ghost, So shall the Jews at Jerusalem bind the man that owneth this girdle, and shall deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles.
12	And when we heard these things, both we, and they of that place, besought him not to go up to Jerusalem.
13	Then Paul answered, What mean ye to weep and to break mine heart? for I am ready not to be bound only, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.
14	And when he would not be persuaded, we ceased, saying, The will of the Lord be done.