Today's Readings and Stuff -- Sunday, 31 July 2016

Getting a substantial rain event right this minute.  Had other rain last night.  And some yesterday morning.  And more the night before.  The "esteemed, elite" weather prognosticators, had assured us that this summer in these parts would be much hotter than normal and under a severe drought condition.  WRONG!  Again.  Probably learned their craft from the same sort of "elite" types who, back in the 1980's, confidently assured us that New York City and Washington, D.C., would be under water as a result of the rising seas caused by CAGW, "Catastrophic Anthropogenic Global Warming" that all the "smart kids", like the imbecile Al Gore, just knew was coming.  Oh, that underwater thing?  Was supposed to be by the year 2000.  Did I blink and miss it?  That was part of the same bunch, perhaps a splinter group, who loudly told us that snow in England would cease after 2004.  Also hasn't happened.  At all.

We still have the waif kitten, she's on the floor by my chair, mewing plaintively.  The adult male cats, both of them, who have been with us for years, are hiding under our bed and not coming out.  Since yesterday morning.  The came up on the bed in the middle of the night to have their ears and chins scratched, etc., but did not even come out for the early morning feeding.  And still haven't.  I've heard of being, ah, "whipped", but this is ridiculous.  Anyone want a 3-4 week old kitten?  Please??

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The Old Testament reading is Psalms 62, 63, and 64

Psalm 62

1 Truly my soul waiteth upon God: from him cometh my salvation. 2 He only is my rock and my salvation; he is my defence; I shall not be greatly moved. 3 How long will ye imagine mischief against a man? ye shall be slain all of you: as a bowing wall shall ye be, and as a tottering fence. 4 They only consult to cast him down from his excellency: they delight in lies: they bless with their mouth, but they curse inwardly. Selah. 5 My soul, wait thou only upon God; for my expectation is from him. 6 He only is my rock and my salvation: he is my defence; I shall not be moved. 7 In God is my salvation and my glory: the rock of my strength, and my refuge, is in God. 8 Trust in him at all times; ye people, pour out your heart before him: God is a refuge for us. Selah. 9 Surely men of low degree are vanity, and men of high degree are a lie: to be laid in the balance, they are altogether lighter than vanity. 10 Trust not in oppression, and become not vain in robbery: if riches increase, set not your heart upon them. 11 God hath spoken once; twice have I heard this; that power belongeth unto God. 12 Also unto thee, O Lord, belongeth mercy: for thou renderest to every man according to his work.

Psalm 63

1 O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee: my soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is; 2 To see thy power and thy glory, so as I have seen thee in the sanctuary. 3 Because thy lovingkindness is better than life, my lips shall praise thee. 4 Thus will I bless thee while I live: I will lift up my hands in thy name. 5 My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness; and my mouth shall praise thee with joyful lips: 6 When I remember thee upon my bed, and meditate on thee in the night watches. 7 Because thou hast been my help, therefore in the shadow of thy wings will I rejoice. 8 My soul followeth hard after thee: thy right hand upholdeth me. 9 But those that seek my soul, to destroy it, shall go into the lower parts of the earth. 10 They shall fall by the sword: they shall be a portion for foxes. 11 But the king shall rejoice in God; every one that sweareth by him shall glory: but the mouth of them that speak lies shall be stopped.

Psalm 64

1 Hear my voice, O God, in my prayer: preserve my life from fear of the enemy. 2 Hide me from the secret counsel of the wicked; from the insurrection of the workers of iniquity: 3 Who whet their tongue like a sword, and bend their bows to shoot their arrows, even bitter words: 4 That they may shoot in secret at the perfect: suddenly do they shoot at him, and fear not. 5 They encourage themselves in an evil matter: they commune of laying snares privily; they say, Who shall see them? 6 They search out iniquities; they accomplish a diligent search: both the inward thought of every one of them, and the heart, is deep. 7 But God shall shoot at them with an arrow; suddenly shall they be wounded. 8 So they shall make their own tongue to fall upon themselves: all that see them shall flee away. 9 And all men shall fear, and shall declare the work of God; for they shall wisely consider of his doing. 10 The righteous shall be glad in the LORD, and shall trust in him; and all the upright in heart shall glory.

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The New Testament reading is chapter 1 of Paul's letter to the Romans.  This is good stuff!!

Romans 1

1 Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God, 

2 (Which he had promised afore by his prophets in the holy scriptures,)  

3 Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh; 

4 And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead:  

5 By whom we have received grace and apostleship, for obedience to the faith among all nations, for his name: 

 6 Among whom are ye also the called of Jesus Christ: 

 7 To all that be in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ. 

8 First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world. 

 9 For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his Son, that without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers; 

10 Making request, if by any means now at length I might have a prosperous journey by the will of God to come unto you.  

11 For I long to see you, that I may impart unto you some spiritual gift, to the end ye may be established;  

12 That is, that I may be comforted together with you by the mutual faith both of you and me. 

13 Now I would not have you ignorant, brethren, that oftentimes I purposed to come unto you, (but was let hitherto,) that I might have some fruit among you also, even as among other Gentiles.  

14 I am debtor both to the Greeks, and to the Barbarians; both to the wise, and to the unwise.  

15 So, as much as in me is, I am ready to preach the gospel to you that are at Rome also. 

 16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.  

17 For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith. 

 18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; 

 19 Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. 

20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: 

 21 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.  

22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,  

23 And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.  

24 Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: 

 25 Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen. 

 26 For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature:  

27 And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet. 

28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;  

29 Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers,  

30 Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,  

31 Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful:  

32 Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.