16 January 2016

Today's Readings and Stuff -- Saturday, 16 January 2016

Happy Saturday, all.
Snow here, 30 degrees and falling.  Tonight's low predicted to hit 23, which is roughly tomorrow's predicted "high".  With lows for the next three days in single digits, and the next chance to hit above the freezing mark to be a week from today.  But at least no predicted sub-zero temps.  And we are now more than half-way through January, with the first official day of Spring about 60-odd days from now.  Little by little we hope to get through it.  Yes, I hate Winter and cold.

Wife is able to move around a little bit today, which is a GREAT improvement.  I've been extremely worried about her health condition(s), which are rarely good.  Lupus is no fun whatsoever.  We are getting into "that age" where we are increasingly aware that we're much closer to the finish line than the start of this race.  Could end today, or go another 30 years.  I presume that our continued presence here means the Lord isn't done with us, and still has some purpose, even if it is only to serve as a horrible example.

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The Old Testament reading is chapters 38, 39, and 40 of the Genesis.
Isaac's family situation is getting awful.  Joseph is a slave in Egypt.  And Judah, his son, the founder of the tribe of Judah which we'll be seeing through most of the rest of the Bible, is off the deep end.


1
And it came to pass at that time, that Judah went down from his brethren, and turned in to a certain Adullamite, whose name was Hirah.
2
And Judah saw there a daughter of a certain Canaanite, whose name was Shuah; and he took her, and went in unto her.
3
And she conceived, and bare a son; and he called his name Er.
4
And she conceived again, and bare a son; and she called his name Onan.
5
And she yet again conceived, and bare a son; and called his name Shelah: and he was at Chezib, when she bare him.
6
And Judah took a wife for Er his firstborn, whose name was Tamar.
7
And Er, Judah's firstborn, was wicked in the sight of the LORD; and the LORD slew him.
8
And Judah said unto Onan, Go in unto thy brother's wife, and marry her, and raise up seed to thy brother.
9
And Onan knew that the seed should not be his; and it came to pass, when he went in unto his brother's wife, that he spilled it on the ground, lest that he should give seed to his brother.
10
And the thing which he did displeased the LORD: wherefore he slew him also.
11
Then said Judah to Tamar his daughter in law, Remain a widow at thy father's house, till Shelah my son be grown: for he said, Lest peradventure he die also, as his brethren did. And Tamar went and dwelt in her father's house.
12
And in process of time the daughter of Shuah Judah's wife died; and Judah was comforted, and went up unto his sheepshearers to Timnath, he and his friend Hirah the Adullamite.
13
And it was told Tamar, saying, Behold thy father in law goeth up to Timnath to shear his sheep.
14
And she put her widow's garments off from her, and covered her with a vail, and wrapped herself, and sat in an open place, which is by the way to Timnath; for she saw that Shelah was grown, and she was not given unto him to wife.
15
When Judah saw her, he thought her to be an harlot; because she had covered her face.
16
And he turned unto her by the way, and said, Go to, I pray thee, let me come in unto thee; (for he knew not that she was his daughter in law.) And she said, What wilt thou give me, that thou mayest come in unto me?
17
And he said, I will send thee a kid from the flock. And she said, Wilt thou give me a pledge, till thou send it?
18
And he said, What pledge shall I give thee? And she said, Thy signet, and thy bracelets, and thy staff that is in thine hand. And he gave it her, and came in unto her, and she conceived by him.
19
And she arose, and went away, and laid by her vail from her, and put on the garments of her widowhood.
20
And Judah sent the kid by the hand of his friend the Adullamite, to receive his pledge from the woman's hand: but he found her not.
21
Then he asked the men of that place, saying, Where is the harlot, that was openly by the way side? And they said, There was no harlot in this place.
22
And he returned to Judah, and said, I cannot find her; and also the men of the place said, that there was no harlot in this place.
23
And Judah said, Let her take it to her, lest we be shamed: behold, I sent this kid, and thou hast not found her.
24
And it came to pass about three months after, that it was told Judah, saying, Tamar thy daughter in law hath played the harlot; and also, behold, she is with child by whoredom. And Judah said, Bring her forth, and let her be burnt.
25
When she was brought forth, she sent to her father in law, saying, By the man, whose these are, am I with child: and she said, Discern, I pray thee, whose are these, the signet, and bracelets, and staff.
26
And Judah acknowledged them, and said, She hath been more righteous than I; because that I gave her not to Shelah my son. And he knew her again no more.
27
And it came to pass in the time of her travail, that, behold, twins were in her womb.
28
And it came to pass, when she travailed, that the one put out his hand: and the midwife took and bound upon his hand a scarlet thread, saying, This came out first.
29
And it came to pass, as he drew back his hand, that, behold, his brother came out: and she said, How hast thou broken forth? this breach be upon thee: therefore his name was called Pharez.
30
And afterward came out his brother, that had the scarlet thread upon his hand: and his name was called Zarah.


1
And Joseph was brought down to Egypt; and Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh, captain of the guard, an Egyptian, bought him of the hands of the Ishmaelites, which had brought him down thither.
2
And the LORD was with Joseph, and he was a prosperous man; and he was in the house of his master the Egyptian.
3
And his master saw that the LORD was with him, and that the LORD made all that he did to prosper in his hand.
4
And Joseph found grace in his sight, and he served him: and he made him overseer over his house, and all that he had he put into his hand.
5
And it came to pass from the time that he had made him overseer in his house, and over all that he had, that the LORD blessed the Egyptian's house for Joseph's sake; and the blessing of the LORD was upon all that he had in the house, and in the field.
6
And he left all that he had in Joseph's hand; and he knew not ought he had, save the bread which he did eat. And Joseph was a goodly person, and well favored.
7
And it came to pass after these things, that his master's wife cast her eyes upon Joseph; and she said, Lie with me.
8
But he refused, and said unto his master's wife, Behold, my master wotteth not what is with me in the house, and he hath committed all that he hath to my hand;
9
There is none greater in this house than I; neither hath he kept back any thing from me but thee, because thou art his wife: how then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?
10
And it came to pass, as she spake to Joseph day by day, that he hearkened not unto her, to lie by her, or to be with her.
11
And it came to pass about this time, that Joseph went into the house to do his business; and there was none of the men of the house there within.
12
And she caught him by his garment, saying, Lie with me: and he left his garment in her hand, and fled, and got him out.
13
And it came to pass, when she saw that he had left his garment in her hand, and was fled forth,
14
That she called unto the men of her house, and spake unto them, saying, See, he hath brought in an Hebrew unto us to mock us; he came in unto me to lie with me, and I cried with a loud voice:
15
And it came to pass, when he heard that I lifted up my voice and cried, that he left his garment with me, and fled, and got him out.
16
And she laid up his garment by her, until his lord came home.
17
And she spake unto him according to these words, saying, The Hebrew servant, which thou hast brought unto us, came in unto me to mock me:
18
And it came to pass, as I lifted up my voice and cried, that he left his garment with me, and fled out.
19
And it came to pass, when his master heard the words of his wife, which she spake unto him, saying, After this manner did thy servant to me; that his wrath was kindled.
20
And Joseph's master took him, and put him into the prison, a place where the king's prisoners were bound: and he was there in the prison.
21
But the LORD was with Joseph, and showed him mercy, and gave him favor in the sight of the keeper of the prison.
22
And the keeper of the prison committed to Joseph's hand all the prisoners that were in the prison; and whatsoever they did there, he was the doer of it.
23
The keeper of the prison looked not to any thing that was under his hand; because the LORD was with him, and that which he did, the LORD made it to prosper.


1
And it came to pass after these things, that the butler of the king of Egypt and his baker had offended their lord the king of Egypt.
2
And Pharaoh was wroth against two of his officers, against the chief of the butlers, and against the chief of the bakers.
3
And he put them in ward in the house of the captain of the guard, into the prison, the place where Joseph was bound.
4
And the captain of the guard charged Joseph with them, and he served them: and they continued a season in ward.
5
And they dreamed a dream both of them, each man his dream in one night, each man according to the interpretation of his dream, the butler and the baker of the king of Egypt, which were bound in the prison.
6
And Joseph came in unto them in the morning, and looked upon them, and, behold, they were sad.
7
And he asked Pharaoh's officers that were with him in the ward of his lord's house, saying, Wherefore look ye so sadly to day?
8
And they said unto him, We have dreamed a dream, and there is no interpreter of it. And Joseph said unto them, Do not interpretations belong to God? tell me them, I pray you.
9
And the chief butler told his dream to Joseph, and said to him, In my dream, behold, a vine was before me;
10
And in the vine were three branches: and it was as though it budded, and her blossoms shot forth; and the clusters thereof brought forth ripe grapes:
11
And Pharaoh's cup was in my hand: and I took the grapes, and pressed them into Pharaoh's cup, and I gave the cup into Pharaoh's hand.
12
And Joseph said unto him, This is the interpretation of it: The three branches are three days:
13
Yet within three days shall Pharaoh lift up thine head, and restore thee unto thy place: and thou shalt deliver Pharaoh's cup into his hand, after the former manner when thou wast his butler.
14
But think on me when it shall be well with thee, and show kindness, I pray thee, unto me, and make mention of me unto Pharaoh, and bring me out of this house:
15
For indeed I was stolen away out of the land of the Hebrews: and here also have I done nothing that they should put me into the dungeon.
16
When the chief baker saw that the interpretation was good, he said unto Joseph, I also was in my dream, and, behold, I had three white baskets on my head:
17
And in the uppermost basket there was of all manner of bakemeats for Pharaoh; and the birds did eat them out of the basket upon my head.
18
And Joseph answered and said, This is the interpretation thereof: The three baskets are three days:
19
Yet within three days shall Pharaoh lift up thy head from off thee, and shall hang thee on a tree; and the birds shall eat thy flesh from off thee.
20
And it came to pass the third day, which was Pharaoh's birthday, that he made a feast unto all his servants: and he lifted up the head of the chief butler and of the chief baker among his servants.
21
And he restored the chief butler unto his butlership again; and he gave the cup into Pharaoh's hand:
22
But he hanged the chief baker: as Joseph had interpreted to them.
23
Yet did not the chief butler remember Joseph, but forgat him.





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The New Testament reading is verses 22-50 in Matthew chapter 12


22
Then was brought unto him one possessed with a devil, blind, and dumb: and he healed him, insomuch that the blind and dumb both spake and saw.
23
And all the people were amazed, and said, Is not this the son of David?
24
But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, This fellow doth not cast out devils, but by Beelzebub the prince of the devils.
25
And Jesus knew their thoughts, and said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand:
26
And if Satan cast out Satan, he is divided against himself; how shall then his kingdom stand?
27
And if I by Beelzebub cast out devils, by whom do your children cast them out? therefore they shall be your judges.
28
But if I cast out devils by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God is come unto you.
29
Or else how can one enter into a strong man's house, and spoil his goods, except he first bind the strong man? and then he will spoil his house.
30
He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathereth not with me scattereth abroad.
31
Wherefore I say unto you, All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men.
32
And whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the world to come.
33
Either make the tree good, and his fruit good; or else make the tree corrupt, and his fruit corrupt: for the tree is known by his fruit.
34
O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.
35
A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things.
36
But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.
37
For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.
38
Then certain of the scribes and of the Pharisees answered, saying, Master, we would see a sign from thee.
39
But he answered and said unto them, An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas:
40
For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale's belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.
41
The men of Nineveh shall rise in judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: because they repented at the preaching of Jonas; and, behold, a greater than Jonas is here.
42
The queen of the south shall rise up in the judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: for she came from the uttermost parts of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and, behold, a greater than Solomon is here.
43
When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest, and findeth none.
44
Then he saith, I will return into my house from whence I came out; and when he is come, he findeth it empty, swept, and garnished.
45
Then goeth he, and taketh with himself seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter in and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first. Even so shall it be also unto this wicked generation.
46
While he yet talked to the people, behold, his mother and his brethren stood without, desiring to speak with him.
47
Then one said unto him, Behold, thy mother and thy brethren stand without, desiring to speak with thee.
48
But he answered and said unto him that told him, Who is my mother? and who are my brethren?
49
And he stretched forth his hand toward his disciples, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren!
50
For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother.


15 January 2016

Today's Readings and Stuff -- Friday, 15 January 2016

a bit reserved today.  Dear Wife is still sick, has been for some weeks.  We were thinking lupus "flare", combined with a bad cold and/or sinus problems and/or the "gunk" that is "going around" right now, aggravated by all the weird weather.  And that may be the case.  It may bee pnemonia, also.  Or something else  Or "just" the "flare": they get pretty nasty some times, and she has not fully recovered from that surgery back in mid-September.  Autoimmune diseases are no fun, not for the patient and not for the caregivers either.
It's been two whole days with the "high" temperatures being above freezing.  We are grateful for it: our place is poorly insulated, there are some bad water leaks here and there, and I was not able to completely block all of the air leaks.  Just found a few today, in fact.  So a temp of, say, 38, isn't warm, not by any means, but it beats the heck out of the -5 that is not unknown in this area at this time of year.  I keep reminding myself that the shortest day of the year is more than three weeks behind us, that we are gaining about 95 seconds of daylight every single day, which should give us just over ten hours of daylight by the end of the month, which is just over two weeks away.  The first day of spring is just over two months away.  Doesn't mean flip-flops and swimming, not at all, but it does generally signal the end of sub-zero temperatures, and heralds the end of sub-freezing ones as well.  Not a guarantee, but a helpful milestone. 
Dear Wife's cascade of health issues mean that she is not able to handle much in the way of temperature variations.  How weather is hard on her.  So is cold.  And the "comfort range" is only a few degrees.

I kep having the reminder that I should be seeking the Lord's direction for something too big and improbable for it to be anything but His doing, but with our involvement.  Not sure yet, and heavy-duty intense prayer time is called for.

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The Old Testament reading is chapters 36 and 37 of the Genesis.  Now we see Joseph, son of Israel.


1
Now these are the generations of Esau, who is Edom.
2
Esau took his wives of the daughters of Canaan; Adah the daughter of Elon the Hittite, and Aholibamah the daughter of Anah the daughter of Zibeon the Hivite;
3
And Bashemath Ishmael's daughter, sister of Nebajoth.
4
And Adah bare to Esau Eliphaz; and Bashemath bare Reuel;
5
And Aholibamah bare Jeush, and Jaalam, and Korah: these are the sons of Esau, which were born unto him in the land of Canaan.
6
And Esau took his wives, and his sons, and his daughters, and all the persons of his house, and his cattle, and all his beasts, and all his substance, which he had got in the land of Canaan; and went into the country from the face of his brother Jacob.
7
For their riches were more than that they might dwell together; and the land wherein they were strangers could not bear them because of their cattle.
8
Thus dwelt Esau in mount Seir: Esau is Edom.
9
And these are the generations of Esau the father of the Edomites in mount Seir:
10
These are the names of Esau's sons; Eliphaz the son of Adah the wife of Esau, Reuel the son of Bashemath the wife of Esau.
11
And the sons of Eliphaz were Teman, Omar, Zepho, and Gatam, and Kenaz.
12
And Timna was concubine to Eliphaz Esau's son; and she bare to Eliphaz Amalek: these were the sons of Adah Esau's wife.
13
And these are the sons of Reuel; Nahath, and Zerah, Shammah, and Mizzah: these were the sons of Bashemath Esau's wife.
14
And these were the sons of Aholibamah, the daughter of Anah the daughter of Zibeon, Esau's wife: and she bare to Esau Jeush, and Jaalam, and Korah.
15
These were dukes of the sons of Esau: the sons of Eliphaz the firstborn son of Esau; duke Teman, duke Omar, duke Zepho, duke Kenaz,
16
Duke Korah, duke Gatam, and duke Amalek: these are the dukes that came of Eliphaz in the land of Edom; these were the sons of Adah.
17
And these are the sons of Reuel Esau's son; duke Nahath, duke Zerah, duke Shammah, duke Mizzah: these are the dukes that came of Reuel in the land of Edom; these are the sons of Bashemath Esau's wife.
18
And these are the sons of Aholibamah Esau's wife; duke Jeush, duke Jaalam, duke Korah: these were the dukes that came of Aholibamah the daughter of Anah, Esau's wife.
19
These are the sons of Esau, who is Edom, and these are their dukes.
20
These are the sons of Seir the Horite, who inhabited the land; Lotan, and Shobal, and Zibeon, and Anah,
21
And Dishon, and Ezer, and Dishan: these are the dukes of the Horites, the children of Seir in the land of Edom.
22
And the children of Lotan were Hori and Hemam; and Lotan's sister was Timna.
23
And the children of Shobal were these; Alvan, and Manahath, and Ebal, Shepho, and Onam.
24
And these are the children of Zibeon; both Ajah, and Anah: this was that Anah that found the mules in the wilderness, as he fed the asses of Zibeon his father.
25
And the children of Anah were these; Dishon, and Aholibamah the daughter of Anah.
26
And these are the children of Dishon; Hemdan, and Eshban, and Ithran, and Cheran.
27
The children of Ezer are these; Bilhan, and Zaavan, and Akan.
28
The children of Dishan are these; Uz, and Aran.
29
These are the dukes that came of the Horites; duke Lotan, duke Shobal, duke Zibeon, duke Anah,
30
Duke Dishon, duke Ezer, duke Dishan: these are the dukes that came of Hori, among their dukes in the land of Seir.
31
And these are the kings that reigned in the land of Edom, before there reigned any king over the children of Israel.
32
And Bela the son of Beor reigned in Edom: and the name of his city was Dinhabah.
33
And Bela died, and Jobab the son of Zerah of Bozrah reigned in his stead.
34
And Jobab died, and Husham of the land of Temani reigned in his stead.
35
And Husham died, and Hadad the son of Bedad, who smote Midian in the field of Moab, reigned in his stead: and the name of his city was Avith.
36
And Hadad died, and Samlah of Masrekah reigned in his stead.
37
And Samlah died, and Saul of Rehoboth by the river reigned in his stead.
38
And Saul died, and Baalhanan the son of Achbor reigned in his stead.
39
And Baalhanan the son of Achbor died, and Hadar reigned in his stead: and the name of his city was Pau; and his wife's name was Mehetabel, the daughter of Matred, the daughter of Mezahab.
40
And these are the names of the dukes that came of Esau, according to their families, after their places, by their names; duke Timnah, duke Alvah, duke Jetheth,
41
Duke Aholibamah, duke Elah, duke Pinon,
42
Duke Kenaz, duke Teman, duke Mibzar,
43
Duke Magdiel, duke Iram: these be the dukes of Edom, according to their habitations in the land of their possession: he is Esau the father of the Edomites.


1
And Jacob dwelt in the land wherein his father was a stranger, in the land of Canaan.
2
These are the generations of Jacob. Joseph, being seventeen years old, was feeding the flock with his brethren; and the lad was with the sons of Bilhah, and with the sons of Zilpah, his father's wives: and Joseph brought unto his father their evil report.
3
Now Israel loved Joseph more than all his children, because he was the son of his old age: and he made him a coat of many colors.
4
And when his brethren saw that their father loved him more than all his brethren, they hated him, and could not speak peaceably unto him.
5
And Joseph dreamed a dream, and he told it his brethren: and they hated him yet the more.
6
And he said unto them, Hear, I pray you, this dream which I have dreamed:
7
For, behold, we were binding sheaves in the field, and, lo, my sheaf arose, and also stood upright; and, behold, your sheaves stood round about, and made obeisance to my sheaf.
8
And his brethren said to him, Shalt thou indeed reign over us? or shalt thou indeed have dominion over us? And they hated him yet the more for his dreams, and for his words.
9
And he dreamed yet another dream, and told it his brethren, and said, Behold, I have dreamed a dream more; and, behold, the sun and the moon and the eleven stars made obeisance to me.
10
And he told it to his father, and to his brethren: and his father rebuked him, and said unto him, What is this dream that thou hast dreamed? Shall I and thy mother and thy brethren indeed come to bow down ourselves to thee to the earth?
11
And his brethren envied him; but his father observed the saying.
12
And his brethren went to feed their father's flock in Shechem.
13
And Israel said unto Joseph, Do not thy brethren feed the flock in Shechem? come, and I will send thee unto them. And he said to him, Here am I.
14
And he said to him, Go, I pray thee, see whether it be well with thy brethren, and well with the flocks; and bring me word again. So he sent him out of the vale of Hebron, and he came to Shechem.
15
And a certain man found him, and, behold, he was wandering in the field: and the man asked him, saying, What seekest thou?
16
And he said, I seek my brethren: tell me, I pray thee, where they feed their flocks.
17
And the man said, They are departed hence; for I heard them say, Let us go to Dothan. And Joseph went after his brethren, and found them in Dothan.
18
And when they saw him afar off, even before he came near unto them, they conspired against him to slay him.
19
And they said one to another, Behold, this dreamer cometh.
20
Come now therefore, and let us slay him, and cast him into some pit, and we will say, Some evil beast hath devoured him: and we shall see what will become of his dreams.
21
And Reuben heard it, and he delivered him out of their hands; and said, Let us not kill him.
22
And Reuben said unto them, Shed no blood, but cast him into this pit that is in the wilderness, and lay no hand upon him; that he might rid him out of their hands, to deliver him to his father again.
23
And it came to pass, when Joseph was come unto his brethren, that they stripped Joseph out of his coat, his coat of many colors that was on him;
24
And they took him, and cast him into a pit: and the pit was empty, there was no water in it.
25
And they sat down to eat bread: and they lifted up their eyes and looked, and, behold, a company of Ishmaelites came from Gilead with their camels bearing spicery and balm and myrrh, going to carry it down to Egypt.
26
And Judah said unto his brethren, What profit is it if we slay our brother, and conceal his blood?
27
Come, and let us sell him to the Ishmaelites, and let not our hand be upon him; for he is our brother and our flesh. And his brethren were content.
28
Then there passed by Midianites merchantmen; and they drew and lifted up Joseph out of the pit, and sold Joseph to the Ishmaelites for twenty pieces of silver: and they brought Joseph into Egypt.
29
And Reuben returned unto the pit; and, behold, Joseph was not in the pit; and he rent his clothes.
30
And he returned unto his brethren, and said, The child is not; and I, whither shall I go?
31
And they took Joseph's coat, and killed a kid of the goats, and dipped the coat in the blood;
32
And they sent the coat of many colors, and they brought it to their father; and said, This have we found: know now whether it be thy son's coat or no.
33
And he knew it, and said, It is my son's coat; an evil beast hath devoured him; Joseph is without doubt rent in pieces.
34
And Jacob rent his clothes, and put sackcloth upon his loins, and mourned for his son many days.
35
And all his sons and all his daughters rose up to comfort him; but he refused to be comforted; and he said, For I will go down into the grave unto my son mourning. Thus his father wept for him.
36
And the Midianites sold him into Egypt unto Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh's, and captain of the guard.





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The New Testament reading is verses 1-21 in the 12th chapter of the Gospel of Matthew.

1
At that time Jesus went on the sabbath day through the corn; and his disciples were an hungred, and began to pluck the ears of corn and to eat.
2
But when the Pharisees saw it, they said unto him, Behold, thy disciples do that which is not lawful to do upon the sabbath day.
3
But he said unto them, Have ye not read what David did, when he was an hungred, and they that were with him;
4
How he entered into the house of God, and did eat the shewbread, which was not lawful for him to eat, neither for them which were with him, but only for the priests?
5
Or have ye not read in the law, how that on the sabbath days the priests in the temple profane the sabbath, and are blameless?
6
But I say unto you, That in this place is one greater than the temple.
7
But if ye had known what this meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice, ye would not have condemned the guiltless.
8
For the Son of man is Lord even of the sabbath day.
9
And when he was departed thence, he went into their synagogue:
10
And, behold, there was a man which had his hand withered. And they asked him, saying, Is it lawful to heal on the sabbath days? that they might accuse him.
11
And he said unto them, What man shall there be among you, that shall have one sheep, and if it fall into a pit on the sabbath day, will he not lay hold on it, and lift it out?
12
How much then is a man better than a sheep? Wherefore it is lawful to do well on the sabbath days.
13
Then saith he to the man, Stretch forth thine hand. And he stretched it forth; and it was restored whole, like as the other.
14
Then the Pharisees went out, and held a council against him, how they might destroy him.
15
But when Jesus knew it, he withdrew himself from thence: and great multitudes followed him, and he healed them all;
16
And charged them that they should not make him known:
17
That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying,
18
Behold my servant, whom I have chosen; my beloved, in whom my soul is well pleased: I will put my spirit upon him, and he shall shew judgment to the Gentiles.
19
He shall not strive, nor cry; neither shall any man hear his voice in the streets.
20
A bruised reed shall he not break, and smoking flax shall he not quench, till he send forth judgment unto victory.
21
And in his name shall the Gentiles trust.

14 January 2016

Today's Readings and Stuff -- Thursday, 14 January 2016

Another day.  As I type this,  we are -- FINALLY -- showing a temperature outside of above freezing.  39 degrees, to be precise.  I had to go back to doctor today, a repeat of the "blood work" that was done the other day.  It appears that my cholesterol is on the high side, despite a year's worth of statins, and my sugar (A1-C) is also high.  I REALLY don't want to have to get into the diabetes routine.  Among other things, we really can't afford the drugs and test strips and all of that.  The dollars simply aren't there.  Sister-in-law's husband is in a similar fix.  We'll await a confirmation of the labs, but it would appear that some major diet and life choice issues are before us.

So I got up and cleaned up as best I could.  Frozen hot water pipes in bathroom.  Sink and tub, both.  So, about as soon as I got done and dressed, the trickle in the bathroom sink began.  Less than 20 minutes later, we had hot water in the tub.  So I delayed my departure until water heater recovered and Dear Wive could take a REAL shower.  Of course, we discovered along the way that while we have hot water supply, the drains are still somewhat frozen, at least from the tub.  Water did eventually go down, but that's an indicator of the weather here.  And, of course, of the condition of our poor hovel.  We're grateful for the roof and a place to sleep and all that, but grand it's not. I will have  a lot of work ahead of me in the Spring, and the dollars aren't stretching very well.

Oh well.  It's not great, but I've been through far worse.  So has Dear Wife.

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The Old Testament reading is chapters 33, 34, and 35 of the Genesis.

Jacob is back home.  A lot of changes, and some strife.
And then the Lord calls upon him, and he responds.


1
And Jacob lifted up his eyes, and looked, and, behold, Esau came, and with him four hundred men. And he divided the children unto Leah, and unto Rachel, and unto the two handmaids.
2
And he put the handmaids and their children foremost, and Leah and her children after, and Rachel and Joseph hindermost.
3
And he passed over before them, and bowed himself to the ground seven times, until he came near to his brother.
4
And Esau ran to meet him, and embraced him, and fell on his neck, and kissed him: and they wept.
5
And he lifted up his eyes, and saw the women and the children; and said, Who are those with thee? And he said, The children which God hath graciously given thy servant.
6
Then the handmaidens came near, they and their children, and they bowed themselves.
7
And Leah also with her children came near, and bowed themselves: and after came Joseph near and Rachel, and they bowed themselves.
8
And he said, What meanest thou by all this drove which I met? And he said, These are to find grace in the sight of my lord.
9
And Esau said, I have enough, my brother; keep that thou hast unto thyself.
10
And Jacob said, Nay, I pray thee, if now I have found grace in thy sight, then receive my present at my hand: for therefore I have seen thy face, as though I had seen the face of God, and thou wast pleased with me.
11
Take, I pray thee, my blessing that is brought to thee; because God hath dealt graciously with me, and because I have enough. And he urged him, and he took it.
12
And he said, Let us take our journey, and let us go, and I will go before thee.
13
And he said unto him, My lord knoweth that the children are tender, and the flocks and herds with young are with me: and if men should overdrive them one day, all the flock will die.
14
Let my lord, I pray thee, pass over before his servant: and I will lead on softly, according as the cattle that goeth before me and the children be able to endure, until I come unto my lord unto Seir.
15
And Esau said, Let me now leave with thee some of the folk that are with me. And he said, What needeth it? let me find grace in the sight of my lord.
16
So Esau returned that day on his way unto Seir.
17
And Jacob journeyed to Succoth, and built him an house, and made booths for his cattle: therefore the name of the place is called Succoth.
18
And Jacob came to Shalem, a city of Shechem, which is in the land of Canaan, when he came from Padanaram; and pitched his tent before the city.
19
And he bought a parcel of a field, where he had spread his tent, at the hand of the children of Hamor, Shechem's father, for an hundred pieces of money.
20
And he erected there an altar, and called it EleloheIsrael.


1
And Dinah the daughter of Leah, which she bare unto Jacob, went out to see the daughters of the land.
2
And when Shechem the son of Hamor the Hivite, prince of the country, saw her, he took her, and lay with her, and defiled her.
3
And his soul clave unto Dinah the daughter of Jacob, and he loved the damsel, and spake kindly unto the damsel.
4
And Shechem spake unto his father Hamor, saying, Get me this damsel to wife.
5
And Jacob heard that he had defiled Dinah his daughter: now his sons were with his cattle in the field: and Jacob held his peace until they were come.
6
And Hamor the father of Shechem went out unto Jacob to commune with him.
7
And the sons of Jacob came out of the field when they heard it: and the men were grieved, and they were very wroth, because he had wrought folly in Israel in lying with Jacob's daughter: which thing ought not to be done.
8
And Hamor communed with them, saying, The soul of my son Shechem longeth for your daughter: I pray you give her him to wife.
9
And make ye marriages with us, and give your daughters unto us, and take our daughters unto you.
10
And ye shall dwell with us: and the land shall be before you; dwell and trade ye therein, and get you possessions therein.
11
And Shechem said unto her father and unto her brethren, Let me find grace in your eyes, and what ye shall say unto me I will give.
12
Ask me never so much dowry and gift, and I will give according as ye shall say unto me: but give me the damsel to wife.
13
And the sons of Jacob answered Shechem and Hamor his father deceitfully, and said, because he had defiled Dinah their sister:
14
And they said unto them, We cannot do this thing, to give our sister to one that is uncircumcised; for that were a reproach unto us:
15
But in this will we consent unto you: If ye will be as we be, that every male of you be circumcised;
16
Then will we give our daughters unto you, and we will take your daughters to us, and we will dwell with you, and we will become one people.
17
But if ye will not hearken unto us, to be circumcised; then will we take our daughter, and we will be gone.
18
And their words pleased Hamor, and Shechem Hamor's son.
19
And the young man deferred not to do the thing, because he had delight in Jacob's daughter: and he was more honorable than all the house of his father.
20
And Hamor and Shechem his son came unto the gate of their city, and communed with the men of their city, saying,
21
These men are peaceable with us; therefore let them dwell in the land, and trade therein; for the land, behold, it is large enough for them; let us take their daughters to us for wives, and let us give them our daughters.
22
Only herein will the men consent unto us for to dwell with us, to be one people, if every male among us be circumcised, as they are circumcised.
23
Shall not their cattle and their substance and every beast of theirs be ours? only let us consent unto them, and they will dwell with us.
24
And unto Hamor and unto Shechem his son hearkened all that went out of the gate of his city; and every male was circumcised, all that went out of the gate of his city.
25
And it came to pass on the third day, when they were sore, that two of the sons of Jacob, Simeon and Levi, Dinah's brethren, took each man his sword, and came upon the city boldly, and slew all the males.
26
And they slew Hamor and Shechem his son with the edge of the sword, and took Dinah out of Shechem's house, and went out.
27
The sons of Jacob came upon the slain, and spoiled the city, because they had defiled their sister.
28
They took their sheep, and their oxen, and their asses, and that which was in the city, and that which was in the field,
29
And all their wealth, and all their little ones, and their wives took they captive, and spoiled even all that was in the house.
30
And Jacob said to Simeon and Levi, Ye have troubled me to make me to stink among the inhabitants of the land, among the Canaanites and the Perizzites: and I being few in number, they shall gather themselves together against me, and slay me; and I shall be destroyed, I and my house.
31
And they said, Should he deal with our sister as with an harlot?


1
And God said unto Jacob, Arise, go up to Bethel, and dwell there: and make there an altar unto God, that appeared unto thee when thou fleddest from the face of Esau thy brother.
2
Then Jacob said unto his household, and to all that were with him, Put away the strange gods that are among you, and be clean, and change your garments:
3
And let us arise, and go up to Bethel; and I will make there an altar unto God, who answered me in the day of my distress, and was with me in the way which I went.
4
And they gave unto Jacob all the strange gods which were in their hand, and all their earrings which were in their ears; and Jacob hid them under the oak which was by Shechem.
5
And they journeyed: and the terror of God was upon the cities that were round about them, and they did not pursue after the sons of Jacob.
6
So Jacob came to Luz, which is in the land of Canaan, that is, Bethel, he and all the people that were with him.
7
And he built there an altar, and called the place Elbethel: because there God appeared unto him, when he fled from the face of his brother.
8
But Deborah Rebekah's nurse died, and she was buried beneath Bethel under an oak: and the name of it was called Allonbachuth.
9
And God appeared unto Jacob again, when he came out of Padanaram, and blessed him.
10
And God said unto him, Thy name is Jacob: thy name shall not be called any more Jacob, but Israel shall be thy name: and he called his name Israel.
11
And God said unto him, I am God Almighty: be fruitful and multiply; a nation and a company of nations shall be of thee, and kings shall come out of thy loins;
12
And the land which I gave Abraham and Isaac, to thee I will give it, and to thy seed after thee will I give the land.
13
And God went up from him in the place where he talked with him.
14
And Jacob set up a pillar in the place where he talked with him, even a pillar of stone: and he poured a drink offering thereon, and he poured oil thereon.
15
And Jacob called the name of the place where God spake with him, Bethel.
16
And they journeyed from Bethel; and there was but a little way to come to Ephrath: and Rachel travailed, and she had hard labor.
17
And it came to pass, when she was in hard labor, that the midwife said unto her, Fear not; thou shalt have this son also.
18
And it came to pass, as her soul was in departing, (for she died) that she called his name Benoni: but his father called him Benjamin.
19
And Rachel died, and was buried in the way to Ephrath, which is Bethlehem.
20
And Jacob set a pillar upon her grave: that is the pillar of Rachel's grave unto this day.
21
And Israel journeyed, and spread his tent beyond the tower of Edar.
22
And it came to pass, when Israel dwelt in that land, that Reuben went and lay with Bilhah his father's concubine: and Israel heard it. Now the sons of Jacob were twelve:
23
The sons of Leah; Reuben, Jacob's firstborn, and Simeon, and Levi, and Judah, and Issachar, and Zebulun:
24
The sons of Rachel; Joseph, and Benjamin:
25
And the sons of Bilhah, Rachel's handmaid; Dan, and Naphtali:
26
And the sons of Zilpah, Leah's handmaid: Gad, and Asher: these are the sons of Jacob, which were born to him in Padanaram.
27
And Jacob came unto Isaac his father unto Mamre, unto the city of Arba, which is Hebron, where Abraham and Isaac sojourned.
28
And the days of Isaac were an hundred and fourscore years.
29
And Isaac gave up the ghost, and died, and was gathered unto his people, being old and full of days: and his sons Esau and Jacob buried him.






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The New Testament reading is chapter 11 from the Gospel of Matthew.  Jesus is talking, originally, about His earthly cousin, John the Baptizer.

1
And it came to pass, when Jesus had made an end of commanding his twelve disciples, he departed thence to teach and to preach in their cities.
2
Now when John had heard in the prison the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples,
3
And said unto him, Art thou he that should come, or do we look for another?
4
Jesus answered and said unto them, Go and shew John again those things which ye do hear and see:
5
The blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them.
6
And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me.
7
And as they departed, Jesus began to say unto the multitudes concerning John, What went ye out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken with the wind?
8
But what went ye out for to see? A man clothed in soft raiment? behold, they that wear soft clothing are in kings' houses.
9
But what went ye out for to see? A prophet? yea, I say unto you, and more than a prophet.
10
For this is he, of whom it is written, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee.
11
Verily I say unto you, Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist: notwithstanding he that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.
12
And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force.
13
For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John.
14
And if ye will receive it, this is Elias, which was for to come.
15
He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.
16
But whereunto shall I liken this generation? It is like unto children sitting in the markets, and calling unto their fellows,
17
And saying, We have piped unto you, and ye have not danced; we have mourned unto you, and ye have not lamented.
18
For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, He hath a devil.
19
The Son of man came eating and drinking, and they say, Behold a man gluttonous, and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners. But wisdom is justified of her children.
20
Then began he to upbraid the cities wherein most of his mighty works were done, because they repented not:
21
Woe unto thee, Chorazin! woe unto thee, Bethsaida! for if the mighty works, which were done in you, had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes.
22
But I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the day of judgment, than for you.
23
And thou, Capernaum, which art exalted unto heaven, shalt be brought down to hell: for if the mighty works, which have been done in thee, had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day.
24
But I say unto you, That it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment, than for thee.
25
At that time Jesus answered and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes.
26
Even so, Father: for so it seemed good in thy sight.
27
All things are delivered unto me of my Father: and no man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him.
28
Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
29
Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
30
For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.