Today's Readings and Stuff -- Tuesday, 06 September 2016

Things I might never have known .....
I am -- or was -- an engineer by trade.  A lot of the jokes about geeky engineers and nerdy people in general are often just that, jokes and teasing and a lot of that.  Some 30+ years ago, I was working at an operation of General Motors, an operation that got dragged into the mess that is Delphi now, in an engineering department.  Some of those, and I include several of the (few) women there, seemed to be determined to undo the teasing they'd undergone when younger, with interest.  So more than a few of them indulged in heavy use  of alcohol (if there were drugs of any kind involved, I never saw signs of it and I knew very well the signs) and sexual encounters of all sorts, often in the parking lots (and restrooms) of various clubs and bars.  I could write several books on the subject, and never stray from actual cases.
But anyway, some of the jokes about we engineers are a bit inaccurate.  But some of the jokes are accurate.   Fashion sense being one of them.  Now, I am admittedly an extreme case.  Much of my extended family is either Amish or from a variety of conservative spectrum Mennonite or related groups.  Fashion sense is definitely NOT a part of the culture, though some do get quite exercised in distinctions about size, shape, and sometimes even color of the head "covering", the "kepp" that many of the women did and still do wear.  But hemlines and "decolletage" are not subject to revision.  At all.  And men's attire is even less variable.
But Dear Wife, like daughters, has some sense of style propriety.  Part of which is the proper attire in that period between Memorial Day and Labor Day.  One is supposed to wear white (or near to it) during that time.  And ONLY during that time.  After Labor Day, the white goes in the storage and the black, or at least dark and subdued tones, are required.  So I've been wearing a white shirt and white pants to church services, which is about the only somewhat formal gatherings I get to.  Fine with me, but it makes no sense.  And, other than the few and dwindling pairs of blue jeans I own, most of my pants are khaki, meaning both type and color.  A few dark tan  or dark green, and a few black.  That's it, and ALL of those non-jeans are what I was using for daily wear in my last few jobs.  Several of them have been with me since around 2001 or so.  A bit the worse for the experience.  But wearing the contingent of very light colors is forbidden as of yesterday, and even the light tan ones get a bit of disapproval.  Perhaps I should chuck it all and get some bib overalls.  I've seen people wear them to church!

Fortunately, she's not reading this.  Right now, at least.  By the time she does, the matter will (I hope) be stale.

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The Old Testament reading for today is chapters 9 and 10 of the Proverbs.

Proverbs 9

1 Wisdom hath builded her house, she hath hewn out her seven pillars: 2 She hath killed her beasts; she hath mingled her wine; she hath also furnished her table. 3 She hath sent forth her maidens: she crieth upon the highest places of the city, 4 Whoso is simple, let him turn in hither: as for him that wanteth understanding, she saith to him, 5 Come, eat of my bread, and drink of the wine which I have mingled. 6 Forsake the foolish, and live; and go in the way of understanding. 7 He that reproveth a scorner getteth to himself shame: and he that rebuketh a wicked man getteth himself a blot. 8 Reprove not a scorner, lest he hate thee: rebuke a wise man, and he will love thee. 9 Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be yet wiser: teach a just man, and he will increase in learning. 10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding. 11 For by me thy days shall be multiplied, and the years of thy life shall be increased. 12 If thou be wise, thou shalt be wise for thyself: but if thou scornest, thou alone shalt bear it. 13 A foolish woman is clamorous: she is simple, and knoweth nothing. 14 For she sitteth at the door of her house, on a seat in the high places of the city, 15 To call passengers who go right on their ways: 16 Whoso is simple, let him turn in hither: and as for him that wanteth understanding, she saith to him, 17 Stolen waters are sweet, and bread eaten in secret is pleasant. 18 But he knoweth not that the dead are there; and that her guests are in the depths of hell.

Proverbs 10

1 The proverbs of Solomon. A wise son maketh a glad father: but a foolish son is the heaviness of his mother. 2 Treasures of wickedness profit nothing: but righteousness delivereth from death. 3 The LORD will not suffer the soul of the righteous to famish: but he casteth away the substance of the wicked. 4 He becometh poor that dealeth with a slack hand: but the hand of the diligent maketh rich. 5 He that gathereth in summer is a wise son: but he that sleepeth in harvest is a son that causeth shame. 6 Blessings are upon the head of the just: but violence covereth the mouth of the wicked. 7 The memory of the just is blessed: but the name of the wicked shall rot. 8 The wise in heart will receive commandments: but a prating fool shall fall. 9 He that walketh uprightly walketh surely: but he that perverteth his ways shall be known. 10 He that winketh with the eye causeth sorrow: but a prating fool shall fall. 11 The mouth of a righteous man is a well of life: but violence covereth the mouth of the wicked. 12 Hatred stirreth up strifes: but love covereth all sins. 13 In the lips of him that hath understanding wisdom is found: but a rod is for the back of him that is void of understanding. 14 Wise men lay up knowledge: but the mouth of the foolish is near destruction. 15 The rich man's wealth is his strong city: the destruction of the poor is their poverty. 16 The labour of the righteous tendeth to life: the fruit of the wicked to sin. 17 He is in the way of life that keepeth instruction: but he that refuseth reproof erreth. 18 He that hideth hatred with lying lips, and he that uttereth a slander, is a fool. 19 In the multitude of words there wanteth not sin: but he that refraineth his lips is wise. 20 The tongue of the just is as choice silver: the heart of the wicked is little worth. 21 The lips of the righteous feed many: but fools die for want of wisdom. 22 The blessing of the LORD, it maketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow with it. 23 It is as sport to a fool to do mischief: but a man of understanding hath wisdom. 24 The fear of the wicked, it shall come upon him: but the desire of the righteous shall be granted. 25 As the whirlwind passeth, so is the wicked no more: but the righteous is an everlasting foundation. 26 As vinegar to the teeth, and as smoke to the eyes, so is the sluggard to them that send him. 27 The fear of the LORD prolongeth days: but the years of the wicked shall be shortened. 28 The hope of the righteous shall be gladness: but the expectation of the wicked shall perish. 29 The way of the LORD is strength to the upright: but destruction shall be to the workers of iniquity. 30 The righteous shall never be removed: but the wicked shall not inhabit the earth. 31 The mouth of the just bringeth forth wisdom: but the froward tongue shall be cut out. 32 The lips of the righteous know what is acceptable: but the mouth of the wicked speaketh frowardness.

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The evening's New Testament section is verses 1-32 of 1st Corinthians 15

I Corinthians 15:1-32

1 Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;  

2 By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.  

3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;  

4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures: 

5 And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve: 

6 After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep.  

7 After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles.  

8 And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time. 

9 For I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.  

10 But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.  

11 Therefore whether it were I or they, so we preach, and so ye believed.  

12 Now if Christ be preached that he rose from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead? 

13 But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen: 

14 And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain.  

15 Yea, and we are found false witnesses of God; because we have testified of God that he raised up Christ: whom he raised not up, if so be that the dead rise not.  

16 For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised:  

17 And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins. 

18 Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished.  

19 If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable. 

20 But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept. 

21 For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead.  

22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. 

23 But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming.  

24 Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power.  

25 For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet.  

26 The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death. 

27 For he hath put all things under his feet. But when he saith all things are put under him, it is manifest that he is excepted, which did put all things under him.  

28 And when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God may be all in all.  

29 Else what shall they do which are baptized for the dead, if the dead rise not at all? why are they then baptized for the dead?  

30 And why stand we in jeopardy every hour? 

31 I protest by your rejoicing which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily.  

32 If after the manner of men I have fought with beasts at Ephesus, what advantageth it me, if the dead rise not? let us eat and drink; for to morrow we die.