01 July 2017

Today's Readings and Stuff -- Saturday, 01 July 2017

Happy Saturday.  Happy July.

Storms last night and into the early morning.  Some people can sleep like the dead during that.  Not me.  The cats (HER cats, I hasten to note) get all upset during storms, and do their best to communicate that to us.  But also, based  on some things I know and some things I've been around and through, the noise and "stuff" that goes with loud storms can conceal the sounds of an attacking force (don't ask), so it puts me into a defense mode.  Not conducive to extended REM sleep.
The storms (not the rain) finally stopped.  And I could sleep a bit.  Then, around 04:00 a small black kitten decided it was time for me to wake up.  After muttering a few less-than-complimentary things in Cantonese, I rose, put her out of the bedroom, and closed the door.  Great!  Sleep!  Until around 05:00 at which point a grey cat, evidently had been hiding in the corner, decided to be an alarm clock.  This time, the "blessings" were, I think, in German.  And the door was re-opened and he was allowed out.  Not chased out, allowed out, so I didn't block the door.  Meaning that around 06:20 I had both of them on me, demanding their morning repast.  Which I did, but at around the same Wife decided she was awake.  Meaning I was getting up as well.  Sigh.  I've had worse problems.

At least she got some good sleep, the new antibiotics have proved to be very good at reducing the infection, swelling, and horrid pain in that abscess in her jaw by the bad tooth.  A very good thing.

So we're getting by.  Another night behind us, another month behind us.  Been MANY times I wouldn't have expected to live to see this day, or quite a few behind it.  Must be a reason for that.


Two nominees for "song of the day".
"To God Be The Glory".  Appropriate for any time and any day, of course. 
By the way, this was brought to us by Fanny Crosby, back in 1875.  For those who didn't know, Fanny was struck blind at an early age.  Rather than mope about the unfairness and misery of it all, she turned her attention to hymns and songs of praise to the Lord.  Look in the back of  your hymnal some time.  You will be astonished at the amount of our hymnbooks that list her name as the author.  She was able to do this, she had the time, because she didn't take up her days with the "urgent" things of "normal" duties for a woman of that time, and concentrated on the important things.  A good lesson there in itself.

And,
"Through It All".  Andrae Crouch brought us this one, and I love it. 
The line, "... if I never had a problem, I'd never know that He could solve it .." is quite correct.  As another singer put it, "if the mountain was smooth,  you couldn't climb it!" True.  Very.  Those who the Lord has brought THROUGH the storms rather than AROUND them , as most of use would prefer, understand things that others can not.  This is a testimony in song.  This link displays the words.  Consider them.  Andrae had been through it.

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Our reading in the Old Testament is chapters 21 and 22 of Job.
What do you do when God just doesn't make sense?

Job 21
1 But Job answered and said, 2 Hear diligently my speech, and let this be your consolations. 3 Suffer me that I may speak; and after that I have spoken, mock on. 4 As for me, is my complaint to man? and if it were so, why should not my spirit be troubled? 5 Mark me, and be astonished, and lay your hand upon your mouth. 6 Even when I remember I am afraid, and trembling taketh hold on my flesh. 7 Wherefore do the wicked live, become old, yea, are mighty in power? 8 Their seed is established in their sight with them, and their offspring before their eyes. 9 Their houses are safe from fear, neither is the rod of God upon them. 10 Their bull gendereth, and faileth not; their cow calveth, and casteth not her calf. 11 They send forth their little ones like a flock, and their children dance. 12 They take the timbrel and harp, and rejoice at the sound of the organ. 13 They spend their days in wealth, and in a moment go down to the grave. 14 Therefore they say unto God, Depart from us; for we desire not the knowledge of thy ways. 15 What is the Almighty, that we should serve him? and what profit should we have, if we pray unto him? 16 Lo, their good is not in their hand: the counsel of the wicked is far from me. 17 How oft is the candle of the wicked put out! and how oft cometh their destruction upon them! God distributeth sorrows in his anger. 18 They are as stubble before the wind, and as chaff that the storm carrieth away. 19 God layeth up his iniquity for his children: he rewardeth him, and he shall know it. 20 His eyes shall see his destruction, and he shall drink of the wrath of the Almighty. 21 For what pleasure hath he in his house after him, when the number of his months is cut off in the midst? 22 Shall any teach God knowledge? seeing he judgeth those that are high. 23 One dieth in his full strength, being wholly at ease and quiet. 24 His breasts are full of milk, and his bones are moistened with marrow. 25 And another dieth in the bitterness of his soul, and never eateth with pleasure. 26 They shall lie down alike in the dust, and the worms shall cover them. 27 Behold, I know your thoughts, and the devices which ye wrongfully imagine against me. 28 For ye say, Where is the house of the prince? and where are the dwelling places of the wicked? 29 Have ye not asked them that go by the way? and do ye not know their tokens, 30 That the wicked is reserved to the day of destruction? they shall be brought forth to the day of wrath. 31 Who shall declare his way to his face? and who shall repay him what he hath done? 32 Yet shall he be brought to the grave, and shall remain in the tomb. 33 The clods of the valley shall be sweet unto him, and every man shall draw after him, as there are innumerable before him. 34 How then comfort ye me in vain, seeing in your answers there remaineth falsehood?

Job 22
1 Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered and said, 2 Can a man be profitable unto God, as he that is wise may be profitable unto himself? 3 Is it any pleasure to the Almighty, that thou art righteous? or is it gain to him, that thou makest thy ways perfect? 4 Will he reprove thee for fear of thee? will he enter with thee into judgment? 5 Is not thy wickedness great? and thine iniquities infinite? 6 For thou hast taken a pledge from thy brother for nought, and stripped the naked of their clothing. 7 Thou hast not given water to the weary to drink, and thou hast withholden bread from the hungry. 8 But as for the mighty man, he had the earth; and the honourable man dwelt in it. 9 Thou hast sent widows away empty, and the arms of the fatherless have been broken. 10 Therefore snares are round about thee, and sudden fear troubleth thee; 11 Or darkness, that thou canst not see; and abundance of waters cover thee. 12 Is not God in the height of heaven? and behold the height of the stars, how high they are! 13 And thou sayest, How doth God know? can he judge through the dark cloud? 14 Thick clouds are a covering to him, that he seeth not; and he walketh in the circuit of heaven. 15 Hast thou marked the old way which wicked men have trodden? 16 Which were cut down out of time, whose foundation was overflown with a flood: 17 Which said unto God, Depart from us: and what can the Almighty do for them? 18 Yet he filled their houses with good things: but the counsel of the wicked is far from me. 19 The righteous see it, and are glad: and the innocent laugh them to scorn. 20 Whereas our substance is not cut down, but the remnant of them the fire consumeth. 21 Acquaint now thyself with him, and be at peace: thereby good shall come unto thee. 22 Receive, I pray thee, the law from his mouth, and lay up his words in thine heart. 23 If thou return to the Almighty, thou shalt be built up, thou shalt put away iniquity far from thy tabernacles. 24 Then shalt thou lay up gold as dust, and the gold of Ophir as the stones of the brooks. 25 Yea, the Almighty shall be thy defence, and thou shalt have plenty of silver. 26 For then shalt thou have thy delight in the Almighty, and shalt lift up thy face unto God. 27 Thou shalt make thy prayer unto him, and he shall hear thee, and thou shalt pay thy vows. 28 Thou shalt also decree a thing, and it shall be established unto thee: and the light shall shine upon thy ways. 29 When men are cast down, then thou shalt say, There is lifting up; and he shall save the humble person. 30 He shall deliver the island of the innocent: and it is delivered by the pureness of thine hands.



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The New Testament reading is verses 1-23 in chapter 10 of the Acts of the Apostles.
Another change, and a major one.  Up to now, the Gospel has pretty much only conveyed to the Jews.  A change here, and a controversial one as we will see.  Some of that "in-group" stuff goes on today.  Unfortunately.

Acts 10:1-23
1 There was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius, a centurion of the band called the Italian band, 2 A devout man, and one that feared God with all his house, which gave much alms to the people, and prayed to God alway. 3 He saw in a vision evidently about the ninth hour of the day an angel of God coming in to him, and saying unto him, Cornelius. 4 And when he looked on him, he was afraid, and said, What is it, Lord? And he said unto him, Thy prayers and thine alms are come up for a memorial before God. 5 And now send men to Joppa, and call for one Simon, whose surname is Peter: 6 He lodgeth with one Simon a tanner, whose house is by the sea side: he shall tell thee what thou oughtest to do. 7 And when the angel which spake unto Cornelius was departed, he called two of his household servants, and a devout soldier of them that waited on him continually; 8 And when he had declared all these things unto them, he sent them to Joppa. 9 On the morrow, as they went on their journey, and drew nigh unto the city, Peter went up upon the housetop to pray about the sixth hour: 10 And he became very hungry, and would have eaten: but while they made ready, he fell into a trance, 11 And saw heaven opened, and a certain vessel descending upon him, as it had been a great sheet knit at the four corners, and let down to the earth: 12 Wherein were all manner of fourfooted beasts of the earth, and wild beasts, and creeping things, and fowls of the air. 13 And there came a voice to him, Rise, Peter; kill, and eat. 14 But Peter said, Not so, Lord; for I have never eaten any thing that is common or unclean. 15 And the voice spake unto him again the second time, What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common. 16 This was done thrice: and the vessel was received up again into heaven. 17 Now while Peter doubted in himself what this vision which he had seen should mean, behold, the men which were sent from Cornelius had made enquiry for Simon's house, and stood before the gate, 18 And called, and asked whether Simon, which was surnamed Peter, were lodged there. 19 While Peter thought on the vision, the Spirit said unto him, Behold, three men seek thee. 20 Arise therefore, and get thee down, and go with them, doubting nothing: for I have sent them. 21 Then Peter went down to the men which were sent unto him from Cornelius; and said, Behold, I am he whom ye seek: what is the cause wherefore ye are come? 22 And they said, Cornelius the centurion, a just man, and one that feareth God, and of good report among all the nation of the Jews, was warned from God by an holy angel to send for thee into his house, and to hear words of thee. 23 Then called he them in, and lodged them. And on the morrow Peter went away with them, and certain brethren from Joppa accompanied him.

30 June 2017

Today's Readings and Stuff -- Friday, 30 June 2017

Very last hours of June, and they are slipping away.  June, and the first half of the year, near enough.  And entering the last of the months with short names.  I realize it's weird, probably, but I do not like and have never liked the months with long names.  The names that end in -ber (reminds me of "brrrr") or -ary.   Just don't.  Probably never will.  Don't like March much either.  I'm a Spring person, and always will be, even now in the autumn of my life.  Not much to harvest, which is a bitterness and a reproach on me and a generally wasted life.  But I still have it, life, for a while at least.

Wife made the phone calls looking for a decent-at-low-cost dental surgeon.  About three years ago, right after her Disability FINALLY kicked in, she was to a dental surgeon who removed almost all of her teeth in both jaws, leaving five in the lower jaw, front.  One -- at least -- is bad and Must come out.  Now we wish we'd had all of them out back then, we'd not have this issue now.  But we didn't know that at the time.
She was, finally, able to find the oral surgeon who was both on our insurance plan AND had an opening before September.  It is, in fact, the same one who did her work back in 2014.  As a "returning patient', she did/does have a bit of an "in".  So, they got a spot for us.  July 18th.  NOT exactly "today", but certainly an improvement over September.  So we have that on the schedule.
Bad thing, is that we were scheduled to go that very day to our first appointment with what we hope will be our new Primary Care doctor, to succeed the one who scrammed  out of town.  The appointments would have been about 45 minutes apart and 10 miles apart (not counting the delays exacted by traffic signals orchestrated by rabid cockroaches which can confidently be estimated to add roughly 40% to that travel time, and often more).  So we then had to re-schedule the Primary Care visit to later that same week.  So, on Tuesday, the oral surgeon.  On Wednesday, the rheumatologist.  On Friday, the Primary Care.  The following Tuesday, the new enocrinologist.
And I am the chauffeur throughout.  I dearly want to go back to work.  This sort of thing is what prevents it. 


Rain last night, with storms.  Rain today, ditto.  Guess I won't be painting that table outside today after all.  Might be this coming Wednesday before I can.


Two songs of the day, both came to mind during the night and the early pre-dawn hours
Abide With Me. 
Need I say more?  Yes, "I need Thy presence every passing hour" as it says.  Not something we can argue, is it?  Abide with me, no matter what.  As this other version (sorry for the ad at the start) shows on the screen, this was written as the author was dying of tuberculosis, and watching a sunset, not only of the day but of his life on this earth.  This is a song of those who have walked with the Lord and are intimate with him, through it all.
This is, by the way, one of the most loved and best-known hymns.  It was even a favorite of Mahatma Ghandi.  And has been played and sung at quite a few funeral services.

and

Rock of Ages
 I break a lot of the songs and hymns of the faith into two groups.  The one group is songs about the Lord.  The other is songs and praises TO the Lord.  These two fall primarily in that second group.

Both are, of course, old favorites, the ones that sometimes become part of us, and are there to come to mind when needed.  Both of them, in their own ways, cries of the heart, which is what many of our favorites are.

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Our reading from the Old Testament is chapters 19 and 20 of Job.

Job 19
1 Then Job answered and said, 2 How long will ye vex my soul, and break me in pieces with words? 3 These ten times have ye reproached me: ye are not ashamed that ye make yourselves strange to me. 4 And be it indeed that I have erred, mine error remaineth with myself. 5 If indeed ye will magnify yourselves against me, and plead against me my reproach: 6 Know now that God hath overthrown me, and hath compassed me with his net. 7 Behold, I cry out of wrong, but I am not heard: I cry aloud, but there is no judgment. 8 He hath fenced up my way that I cannot pass, and he hath set darkness in my paths. 9 He hath stripped me of my glory, and taken the crown from my head. 10 He hath destroyed me on every side, and I am gone: and mine hope hath he removed like a tree. 11 He hath also kindled his wrath against me, and he counteth me unto him as one of his enemies. 12 His troops come together, and raise up their way against me, and encamp round about my tabernacle. 13 He hath put my brethren far from me, and mine acquaintance are verily estranged from me. 14 My kinsfolk have failed, and my familiar friends have forgotten me. 15 They that dwell in mine house, and my maids, count me for a stranger: I am an alien in their sight. 16 I called my servant, and he gave me no answer; I intreated him with my mouth. 17 My breath is strange to my wife, though I intreated for the children's sake of mine own body. 18 Yea, young children despised me; I arose, and they spake against me. 19 All my inward friends abhorred me: and they whom I loved are turned against me. 20 My bone cleaveth to my skin and to my flesh, and I am escaped with the skin of my teeth. 21 Have pity upon me, have pity upon me, O ye my friends; for the hand of God hath touched me. 22 Why do ye persecute me as God, and are not satisfied with my flesh? 23 Oh that my words were now written! oh that they were printed in a book! 24 That they were graven with an iron pen and lead in the rock for ever! 25 For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: 26 And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God: 27 Whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another; though my reins be consumed within me. 28 But ye should say, Why persecute we him, seeing the root of the matter is found in me? 29 Be ye afraid of the sword: for wrath bringeth the punishments of the sword, that ye may know there is a judgment.


Job 20
1 Then answered Zophar the Naamathite, and said, 2 Therefore do my thoughts cause me to answer, and for this I make haste. 3 I have heard the check of my reproach, and the spirit of my understanding causeth me to answer. 4 Knowest thou not this of old, since man was placed upon earth, 5 That the triumphing of the wicked is short, and the joy of the hypocrite but for a moment? 6 Though his excellency mount up to the heavens, and his head reach unto the clouds; 7 Yet he shall perish for ever like his own dung: they which have seen him shall say, Where is he? 8 He shall fly away as a dream, and shall not be found: yea, he shall be chased away as a vision of the night. 9 The eye also which saw him shall see him no more; neither shall his place any more behold him. 10 His children shall seek to please the poor, and his hands shall restore their goods. 11 His bones are full of the sin of his youth, which shall lie down with him in the dust. 12 Though wickedness be sweet in his mouth, though he hide it under his tongue; 13 Though he spare it, and forsake it not; but keep it still within his mouth: 14 Yet his meat in his bowels is turned, it is the gall of asps within him. 15 He hath swallowed down riches, and he shall vomit them up again: God shall cast them out of his belly. 16 He shall suck the poison of asps: the viper's tongue shall slay him. 17 He shall not see the rivers, the floods, the brooks of honey and butter. 18 That which he laboured for shall he restore, and shall not swallow it down: according to his substance shall the restitution be, and he shall not rejoice therein. 19 Because he hath oppressed and hath forsaken the poor; because he hath violently taken away an house which he builded not; 20 Surely he shall not feel quietness in his belly, he shall not save of that which he desired. 21 There shall none of his meat be left; therefore shall no man look for his goods. 22 In the fulness of his sufficiency he shall be in straits: every hand of the wicked shall come upon him. 23 When he is about to fill his belly, God shall cast the fury of his wrath upon him, and shall rain it upon him while he is eating. 24 He shall flee from the iron weapon, and the bow of steel shall strike him through. 25 It is drawn, and cometh out of the body; yea, the glittering sword cometh out of his gall: terrors are upon him. 26 All darkness shall be hid in his secret places: a fire not blown shall consume him; it shall go ill with him that is left in his tabernacle. 27 The heaven shall reveal his iniquity; and the earth shall rise up against him. 28 The increase of his house shall depart, and his goods shall flow away in the day of his wrath. 29 This is the portion of a wicked man from God, and the heritage appointed unto him by God.




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Our New Testament passage is verses 23-43 in chapter 9 of the Acts of the Apostles.
I've heard TV preachers tell the viewers that a decision for Christ (or at least support of that preacher) will inevitably make  you wealthy and happy and health and all of that.  It's a lie, and has always been a lie.  A "go along to get along" with the world may be many things, but Christianity it's not.
And we do wrong to seek happiness.  JOY is another matter, but one can have joy in the midst of miserable circumstances.

By the way, get into some maps.  These places being named cover quite an area, and travel was by no means fast, easy, or safe.  Tarsus, for example, is now in Turkey, about 24 kilometers from the Mediterranean Sea.  Lydda is now called Lod, and is about 15 km from Tel Aviv, Israel.  Joppa is a port city in Israel now called Jaffa.
These are places generally reached on foot, over bad roads infested with bandits, and there's no Motel 6 hand, and, as carriers of a foreign and controversial religion, probably wouldn't be lodging overnight in the homes of believers nor of member of far-flung synagogues.  Yet they not only persevered, they grew!

Acts 9:23-43
23 And after that many days were fulfilled, the Jews took counsel to kill him: 24 But their laying await was known of Saul. And they watched the gates day and night to kill him. 25 Then the disciples took him by night, and let him down by the wall in a basket. 26 And when Saul was come to Jerusalem, he assayed to join himself to the disciples: but they were all afraid of him, and believed not that he was a disciple. 27 But Barnabas took him, and brought him to the apostles, and declared unto them how he had seen the Lord in the way, and that he had spoken to him, and how he had preached boldly at Damascus in the name of Jesus. 28 And he was with them coming in and going out at Jerusalem. 29 And he spake boldly in the name of the Lord Jesus, and disputed against the Grecians: but they went about to slay him. 30 Which when the brethren knew, they brought him down to Caesarea, and sent him forth to Tarsus. 31 Then had the churches rest throughout all Judaea and Galilee and Samaria, and were edified; and walking in the fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost, were multiplied. 32 And it came to pass, as Peter passed throughout all quarters, he came down also to the saints which dwelt at Lydda. 33 And there he found a certain man named Aeneas, which had kept his bed eight years, and was sick of the palsy. 34 And Peter said unto him, Aeneas, Jesus Christ maketh thee whole: arise, and make thy bed. And he arose immediately. 35 And all that dwelt at Lydda and Saron saw him, and turned to the Lord. 36 Now there was at Joppa a certain disciple named Tabitha, which by interpretation is called Dorcas: this woman was full of good works and almsdeeds which she did. 37 And it came to pass in those days, that she was sick, and died: whom when they had washed, they laid her in an upper chamber. 38 And forasmuch as Lydda was nigh to Joppa, and the disciples had heard that Peter was there, they sent unto him two men, desiring him that he would not delay to come to them. 39 Then Peter arose and went with them. When he was come, they brought him into the upper chamber: and all the widows stood by him weeping, and shewing the coats and garments which Dorcas made, while she was with them. 40 But Peter put them all forth, and kneeled down, and prayed; and turning him to the body said, Tabitha, arise. And she opened her eyes: and when she saw Peter, she sat up. 41 And he gave her his hand, and lifted her up, and when he had called the saints and widows, presented her alive. 42 And it was known throughout all Joppa; and many believed in the Lord. 43 And it came to pass, that he tarried many days in Joppa with one Simon a tanner.


29 June 2017

Today's Readings and Stuff -- Thursday, 29 June, 2017 =====>> updated

Last Thursday in June.  Next-to-last day in June.  I hate to see it go.

Brief and quick today.  In a short while, we're to head off to Wife's dentist appointment.  Where, Lord willing, at least some of her problem can be fixed, at least as well as human hands can accomplish.  It's been a very very rough couple of weeks, far too long to have to endure the agony of dental issues.  So we're hopeful.

It does mean that I've not been able to do the grinding and painting stuff on that outdoor furniture, but I guess that table can wait a few more hours or days even.


=====>>>>>>  UPDATE  😓
Well, that did not go well.
Dentist got her numbed up and started tugging on the tooth, and it began to crack.  About the strength of chalk, was how she put it.
SO.  Tooth still in.  They gave us several names for referral, but now we have to go see a dental SURGEON.  We just got home, so probably the offices for same are closed for the day, and will work no more on Friday than they must.  Soooo   Friday morning will be occupied with phone calls seeking a dental surgeon that will

  • take our insurance and
  • be within our VERY limited price range
sound like fun to you?  If so, you have an odd sense of such things.
Color us less than overjoyed.  We're now approaching three weeks of this stuff.  NOT a good time, not at all. 

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The Old Testament reading is chapters 16, 17, and 18 of Job.

Job 16
1 Then Job answered and said, 2 I have heard many such things: miserable comforters are ye all. 3 Shall vain words have an end? or what emboldeneth thee that thou answerest? 4 I also could speak as ye do: if your soul were in my soul's stead, I could heap up words against you, and shake mine head at you. 5 But I would strengthen you with my mouth, and the moving of my lips should asswage your grief. 6 Though I speak, my grief is not asswaged: and though I forbear, what am I eased? 7 But now he hath made me weary: thou hast made desolate all my company. 8 And thou hast filled me with wrinkles, which is a witness against me: and my leanness rising up in me beareth witness to my face. 9 He teareth me in his wrath, who hateth me: he gnasheth upon me with his teeth; mine enemy sharpeneth his eyes upon me. 10 They have gaped upon me with their mouth; they have smitten me upon the cheek reproachfully; they have gathered themselves together against me. 11 God hath delivered me to the ungodly, and turned me over into the hands of the wicked. 12 I was at ease, but he hath broken me asunder: he hath also taken me by my neck, and shaken me to pieces, and set me up for his mark. 13 His archers compass me round about, he cleaveth my reins asunder, and doth not spare; he poureth out my gall upon the ground. 14 He breaketh me with breach upon breach, he runneth upon me like a giant. 15 I have sewed sackcloth upon my skin, and defiled my horn in the dust. 16 My face is foul with weeping, and on my eyelids is the shadow of death; 17 Not for any injustice in mine hands: also my prayer is pure. 18 O earth, cover not thou my blood, and let my cry have no place. 19 Also now, behold, my witness is in heaven, and my record is on high. 20 My friends scorn me: but mine eye poureth out tears unto God. 21 O that one might plead for a man with God, as a man pleadeth for his neighbour! 22 When a few years are come, then I shall go the way whence I shall not return.


Job 17
1 My breath is corrupt, my days are extinct, the graves are ready for me. 2 Are there not mockers with me? and doth not mine eye continue in their provocation? 3 Lay down now, put me in a surety with thee; who is he that will strike hands with me? 4 For thou hast hid their heart from understanding: therefore shalt thou not exalt them. 5 He that speaketh flattery to his friends, even the eyes of his children shall fail. 6 He hath made me also a byword of the people; and aforetime I was as a tabret. 7 Mine eye also is dim by reason of sorrow, and all my members are as a shadow. 8 Upright men shall be astonied at this, and the innocent shall stir up himself against the hypocrite. 9 The righteous also shall hold on his way, and he that hath clean hands shall be stronger and stronger. 10 But as for you all, do ye return, and come now: for I cannot find one wise man among you. 11 My days are past, my purposes are broken off, even the thoughts of my heart. 12 They change the night into day: the light is short because of darkness. 13 If I wait, the grave is mine house: I have made my bed in the darkness. 14 I have said to corruption, Thou art my father: to the worm, Thou art my mother, and my sister. 15 And where is now my hope? as for my hope, who shall see it? 16 They shall go down to the bars of the pit, when our rest together is in the dust.


Job 18
1 Then answered Bildad the Shuhite, and said, 2 How long will it be ere ye make an end of words? mark, and afterwards we will speak. 3 Wherefore are we counted as beasts, and reputed vile in your sight? 4 He teareth himself in his anger: shall the earth be forsaken for thee? and shall the rock be removed out of his place? 5 Yea, the light of the wicked shall be put out, and the spark of his fire shall not shine. 6 The light shall be dark in his tabernacle, and his candle shall be put out with him. 7 The steps of his strength shall be straitened, and his own counsel shall cast him down. 8 For he is cast into a net by his own feet, and he walketh upon a snare. 9 The gin shall take him by the heel, and the robber shall prevail against him. 10 The snare is laid for him in the ground, and a trap for him in the way. 11 Terrors shall make him afraid on every side, and shall drive him to his feet. 12 His strength shall be hungerbitten, and destruction shall be ready at his side. 13 It shall devour the strength of his skin: even the firstborn of death shall devour his strength. 14 His confidence shall be rooted out of his tabernacle, and it shall bring him to the king of terrors. 15 It shall dwell in his tabernacle, because it is none of his: brimstone shall be scattered upon his habitation. 16 His roots shall be dried up beneath, and above shall his branch be cut off. 17 His remembrance shall perish from the earth, and he shall have no name in the street. 18 He shall be driven from light into darkness, and chased out of the world. 19 He shall neither have son nor nephew among his people, nor any remaining in his dwellings. 20 They that come after him shall be astonied at his day, as they that went before were affrighted. 21 Surely such are the dwellings of the wicked, and this is the place of him that knoweth not God.




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The New Testament reading is verses 1-22 of chapter 9 in the Acts of the Apostles.
This is the account of Saul, a prominent persecutor of the church, and his encounter with the Angel of the Lord.  One of the biggest turn-arounds in history, and the beginning of the ministry of Paul.
A very interesting account, miraculous of course, and one of those utterly improbable events that changed the course of history right through the present time.
We remember Saul-turned-Paul.  And should.
But what of the others?  The Lord sent Ananias to see him, the the big persecutor.  Ananias carried out the pretty scary mission assigned to him.  After that, what happened to him?  No books in the Bible with him as author.  No churches named after him.  No streets or colleges.  But he was faithful, no matter what.  That's worth honor and a memory.  What did he do later?  What series of events led to him being the kind of person that had heard the Gospel, and believed, and was willing to do the Lord's will?  Who brought the Gospel to him?  These are fair questions.  Who brought the Gospel to each of us, and shaped us in ways we never noticed or honored?  Who have we done those things for?  We may not be called to be a Paul, but we're all called to be an Ananias..
And what of those who were with Saul that day on the Damascus road?  What of them?

Acts 9:1-22
1 And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest, 2 And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem. 3 And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven: 4 And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? 5 And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks. 6 And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do. 7 And the men which journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice, but seeing no man. 8 And Saul arose from the earth; and when his eyes were opened, he saw no man: but they led him by the hand, and brought him into Damascus. 9 And he was three days without sight, and neither did eat nor drink. 10 And there was a certain disciple at Damascus, named Ananias; and to him said the Lord in a vision, Ananias. And he said, Behold, I am here, Lord. 11 And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the street which is called Straight, and enquire in the house of Judas for one called Saul, of Tarsus: for, behold, he prayeth, 12 And hath seen in a vision a man named Ananias coming in, and putting his hand on him, that he might receive his sight. 13 Then Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard by many of this man, how much evil he hath done to thy saints at Jerusalem: 14 And here he hath authority from the chief priests to bind all that call on thy name. 15 But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel: 16 For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name's sake. 17 And Ananias went his way, and entered into the house; and putting his hands on him said, Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, that appeared unto thee in the way as thou camest, hath sent me, that thou mightest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost. 18 And immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales: and he received sight forthwith, and arose, and was baptized. 19 And when he had received meat, he was strengthened. Then was Saul certain days with the disciples which were at Damascus. 20 And straightway he preached Christ in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God. 21 But all that heard him were amazed, and said; Is not this he that destroyed them which called on this name in Jerusalem, and came hither for that intent, that he might bring them bound unto the chief priests? 22 But Saul increased the more in strength, and confounded the Jews which dwelt at Damascus, proving that this is very Christ.



28 June 2017

Today's Readings and Stuff -- Wednesday, 28 June 2017

Bit of a difference between yesterday and today, which is all to the good.

Oh, and tomorrow is the scheduled appointment for Wife and the dentist office to, we  hope, deal finally and completely with that bad tooth.

And some of the things that I'd intended for yesterday are now in the works.  Taking a break now from sanding and repainting some metal chairs intended for outdoor use.  Sister-in-law saw a notice for them on some "buy-sell" site under the "FREE!" logo, so she grabbed them and they brought them over.  "Somewhat the worse for wear" certainly, but we have some Rustoleum-type spray paint and had picked up some sandpaper and steel wool, so I've been busy.  Two of the four chairs are done & drying now.  Two more to go.  Then the glass-topped table, which could accomodate two more chairs.  As Wife said, if we get a year out of it, we're ahead of the game.  Hoping for more, of course.  She has hopes of some sort of "family barbecue/cookout" here, one of those sorts of things that our long absence from the area had prevented.  She (and I) may not have many years left, of course, so have these events while we can, and perhaps leave some good memories in the hearts of the next few generations, among other things.
And, as we used to say, being busy with such things keeps me off the streets and out of the poolrooms.  Something like that, anyway.

But there are some other things around that I had not missed, and speak volumes of the culture in the area.  Divers are out right this minute at a local lake looking for clues after the body of a murdered man was found in that lake.  The deceased was not from the immediate area, but from about halfway across the state.  That particular lake is about halfway between that city (Akron) and this area, and was for MANY years a "dumping ground" for persons murdered by the Mob, yes the real live Mafia, from that city.  Wife and I, for several reasons, have some knowledge of such things in this part of the country, and so we're not surprised, really.  What's discouraging and part of the reason I didn't mind our absence, is the casual acceptance of such things, including the occasional active assistance rendered by local politicians and "law enforcement", by the people around here.  I don't accept that and never ever will.  But saying anything will either get a shrug, or, as actually happened in a church here about 3 years ago, angry shouts and strident denial of the most obvious corruption.

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The reading from the Old Testament is chapters 13, 14, and 15 of the book of Job.
Some very memorable verses here.
like 13:15:  "Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him:"  Now THAT is trust!



Job 13
1 Lo, mine eye hath seen all this, mine ear hath heard and understood it. 2 What ye know, the same do I know also: I am not inferior unto you. 3 Surely I would speak to the Almighty, and I desire to reason with God. 4 But ye are forgers of lies, ye are all physicians of no value. 5 O that ye would altogether hold your peace! and it should be your wisdom. 6 Hear now my reasoning, and hearken to the pleadings of my lips. 7 Will ye speak wickedly for God? and talk deceitfully for him? 8 Will ye accept his person? will ye contend for God? 9 Is it good that he should search you out? or as one man mocketh another, do ye so mock him? 10 He will surely reprove you, if ye do secretly accept persons. 11 Shall not his excellency make you afraid? and his dread fall upon you? 12 Your remembrances are like unto ashes, your bodies to bodies of clay. 13 Hold your peace, let me alone, that I may speak, and let come on me what will. 14 Wherefore do I take my flesh in my teeth, and put my life in mine hand? 15 Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain mine own ways before him. 16 He also shall be my salvation: for an hypocrite shall not come before him. 17 Hear diligently my speech, and my declaration with your ears. 18 Behold now, I have ordered my cause; I know that I shall be justified. 19 Who is he that will plead with me? for now, if I hold my tongue, I shall give up the ghost. 20 Only do not two things unto me: then will I not hide myself from thee. 21 Withdraw thine hand far from me: and let not thy dread make me afraid. 22 Then call thou, and I will answer: or let me speak, and answer thou me. 23 How many are mine iniquities and sins? make me to know my transgression and my sin. 24 Wherefore hidest thou thy face, and holdest me for thine enemy? 25 Wilt thou break a leaf driven to and fro? and wilt thou pursue the dry stubble? 26 For thou writest bitter things against me, and makest me to possess the iniquities of my youth. 27 Thou puttest my feet also in the stocks, and lookest narrowly unto all my paths; thou settest a print upon the heels of my feet. 28 And he, as a rotten thing, consumeth, as a garment that is moth eaten.


Job 14
1 Man that is born of a woman is of few days and full of trouble. 2 He cometh forth like a flower, and is cut down: he fleeth also as a shadow, and continueth not. 3 And doth thou open thine eyes upon such an one, and bringest me into judgment with thee? 4 Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean? not one. 5 Seeing his days are determined, the number of his months are with thee, thou hast appointed his bounds that he cannot pass; 6 Turn from him, that he may rest, till he shall accomplish, as an hireling, his day. 7 For there is hope of a tree, if it be cut down, that it will sprout again, and that the tender branch thereof will not cease. 8 Though the root thereof wax old in the earth, and the stock thereof die in the ground; 9 Yet through the scent of water it will bud, and bring forth boughs like a plant. 10 But man dieth, and wasteth away: yea, man giveth up the ghost, and where is he? 11 As the waters fail from the sea, and the flood decayeth and drieth up: 12 So man lieth down, and riseth not: till the heavens be no more, they shall not awake, nor be raised out of their sleep. 13 O that thou wouldest hide me in the grave, that thou wouldest keep me secret, until thy wrath be past, that thou wouldest appoint me a set time, and remember me! 14 If a man die, shall he live again? all the days of my appointed time will I wait, till my change come. 15 Thou shalt call, and I will answer thee: thou wilt have a desire to the work of thine hands. 16 For now thou numberest my steps: dost thou not watch over my sin? 17 My transgression is sealed up in a bag, and thou sewest up mine iniquity. 18 And surely the mountains falling cometh to nought, and the rock is removed out of his place. 19 The waters wear the stones: thou washest away the things which grow out of the dust of the earth; and thou destroyest the hope of man. 20 Thou prevailest for ever against him, and he passeth: thou changest his countenance, and sendest him away. 21 His sons come to honour, and he knoweth it not; and they are brought low, but he perceiveth it not of them. 22 But his flesh upon him shall have pain, and his soul within him shall mourn.


Job 15
1 Then answered Eliphaz the Temanite, and said, 2 Should a wise man utter vain knowledge, and fill his belly with the east wind? 3 Should he reason with unprofitable talk? or with speeches wherewith he can do no good? 4 Yea, thou castest off fear, and restrainest prayer before God. 5 For thy mouth uttereth thine iniquity, and thou choosest the tongue of the crafty. 6 Thine own mouth condemneth thee, and not I: yea, thine own lips testify against thee. 7 Art thou the first man that was born? or wast thou made before the hills? 8 Hast thou heard the secret of God? and dost thou restrain wisdom to thyself? 9 What knowest thou, that we know not? what understandest thou, which is not in us? 10 With us are both the grayheaded and very aged men, much elder than thy father. 11 Are the consolations of God small with thee? is there any secret thing with thee? 12 Why doth thine heart carry thee away? and what do thy eyes wink at, 13 That thou turnest thy spirit against God, and lettest such words go out of thy mouth? 14 What is man, that he should be clean? and he which is born of a woman, that he should be righteous? 15 Behold, he putteth no trust in his saints; yea, the heavens are not clean in his sight. 16 How much more abominable and filthy is man, which drinketh iniquity like water? 17 I will shew thee, hear me; and that which I have seen I will declare; 18 Which wise men have told from their fathers, and have not hid it: 19 Unto whom alone the earth was given, and no stranger passed among them. 20 The wicked man travaileth with pain all his days, and the number of years is hidden to the oppressor. 21 A dreadful sound is in his ears: in prosperity the destroyer shall come upon him. 22 He believeth not that he shall return out of darkness, and he is waited for of the sword. 23 He wandereth abroad for bread, saying, Where is it? he knoweth that the day of darkness is ready at his hand. 24 Trouble and anguish shall make him afraid; they shall prevail against him, as a king ready to the battle. 25 For he stretcheth out his hand against God, and strengtheneth himself against the Almighty. 26 He runneth upon him, even on his neck, upon the thick bosses of his bucklers: 27 Because he covereth his face with his fatness, and maketh collops of fat on his flanks. 28 And he dwelleth in desolate cities, and in houses which no man inhabiteth, which are ready to become heaps. 29 He shall not be rich, neither shall his substance continue, neither shall he prolong the perfection thereof upon the earth. 30 He shall not depart out of darkness; the flame shall dry up his branches, and by the breath of his mouth shall he go away. 31 Let not him that is deceived trust in vanity: for vanity shall be his recompence. 32 It shall be accomplished before his time, and his branch shall not be green. 33 He shall shake off his unripe grape as the vine, and shall cast off his flower as the olive. 34 For the congregation of hypocrites shall be desolate, and fire shall consume the tabernacles of bribery. 35 They conceive mischief, and bring forth vanity, and their belly prepareth deceit.




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The reading in the New Testament is verses 25-40 in chapter 8 of the Acts of the Apostles.
This is a snapshot of the spread of the Gospel, including into some pretty unlikely places.
I like something that Matthew Henry commented on the passage:
"Philip was directed to go to a desert. Sometimes God opens a door of opportunity to his ministers in very unlikely places."  (see here )

As another commentator noted, Azotus is another rendering for the city named Ashdod, one of those "bad" places that was dedicated to the worship of Dagon.  See comment here, scrolling down to verse 40.
By the way, the eunuch that Philip spoke the Gospel to?  Remember that under the Mosaic Law, such were to be refused entry to the things of the Lord.  New rules applying now.



Acts 8:26-40
26 And the angel of the Lord spake unto Philip, saying, Arise, and go toward the south unto the way that goeth down from Jerusalem unto Gaza, which is desert. 27 And he arose and went: and, behold, a man of Ethiopia, an eunuch of great authority under Candace queen of the Ethiopians, who had the charge of all her treasure, and had come to Jerusalem for to worship, 28 Was returning, and sitting in his chariot read Esaias the prophet. 29 Then the Spirit said unto Philip, Go near, and join thyself to this chariot. 30 And Philip ran thither to him, and heard him read the prophet Esaias, and said, Understandest thou what thou readest? 31 And he said, How can I, except some man should guide me? And he desired Philip that he would come up and sit with him. 32 The place of the scripture which he read was this, He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; and like a lamb dumb before his shearer, so opened he not his mouth: 33 In his humiliation his judgment was taken away: and who shall declare his generation? for his life is taken from the earth. 34 And the eunuch answered Philip, and said, I pray thee, of whom speaketh the prophet this? of himself, or of some other man? 35 Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus. 36 And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized? 37 And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. 38 And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him. 39 And when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip, that the eunuch saw him no more: and he went on his way rejoicing. 40 But Philip was found at Azotus: and passing through he preached in all the cities, till he came to Caesarea.

27 June 2017

Today's Readings and Stuff -- Tuesday, 27 June 2017

End of June, almost.  A predicted "high" today of 68° and we have a light rain falling right now.  I had some outside work planned for today  (and yesterday as well) but circumstances, including weather, seem to be working against that determination.  And I wanted to take one of those long long walks that I enjoy and that are good for me.  But not in the rain.  No thanks.  Done that, yes, but was either 30 years younger or getting paid for it.  Neither applies here.
Wife had a relatively good night.  Until, beginning around 05:15, two cats embarked on an increasingly intrusive effort to rouse one or both of us to get their morning repast.  No matter that they had a 2/3 full bowl of dry cat food, they wanted that small scrap of wet food that officially starts their day, and often mine as well.  So I held off until nearly 06:00 and finally did the deed.  Went back hoping for a few more winks:  one of the very few benefits of retirement is that you normally don't have to answer to an alarm clock nor be somewhere at a particular time.  But the 4-legged alarms haven't fully grasped the changed situation, unfortunately.  I stretched out for a few minutes, but the hour, the movement, and the light coming through the curtains in the bedroom conspired to wake Wife, and she doesn't go back to sleep very well.  And she was hungry.  I very rarely get hungry, and don't wake ravenous.  She normally does, and the fact that she was this morning we regard as a very good sign that the new meds may be helping.  So she got up, which meant that I had to do so also.  And she summoned the energy to make some home made biscuits, so I had to get stuff down for her and all of that, so I skipped the shower and got dressed.
After we ate, I ran a few of the biscuits next door: the Great-Niece loves them and they like that we try to do these little things for them.
Came back, and we'd gotten the mail (quite early today), which included the new "sharps box" where the used Humira pens are supposed to go.  The arrangement is that they send us a "new" (or at least empty) box, we put the old, full one in the packaging and send it right back for disposition.  So we did that. And I walked the box, with the "BioHazard" label prominently displayed, down to the Post Office for shipment back.  Clerk saw the label, gulped, made sure everything was in order, and gave me a receipt which I will hang on to, just in case.

She wants me to go to the store later, one is having a "deal" on Greek yogurt, and with all the antibiotics she's taking, she needs to be restoring the "good" biota in her digestive tract.  The active culture yogurts do a good job of that, and she's almost always either calcium deficient, or seriously so, as a result of the combination of some of her meds and her underlying complex conditions.  The yogurt helps with that also, some anyway.
No, nothing around here is simple.  Lord willing, we'll be celebrating our 29th wedding anniversary later this summer.  God has been very good to us, no matter what bumps there are in the road.

Sing along with "In Times Like These"
 and this, "Near To The Heart of God"
and also, "Till the Storm Passes By"

oh, and "God On the Mountain".

that's where I am today

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The Old Testament reading is chapters 10, 11, and 12 of Job.
The story of Job doesn't come to us all neatly packaged.  He suffered. For a LONG time: by some commentators, that suffering lasted some 120 years!  We don't really know why, and in fact he never did get a real answer.  He cried out to God, and tried to understand.  I know that there was a reason, but don't know what it was.
And we don't know all of it.  Job suffered, surely.  So did his children.  So did his servants.  Again, we don't know why.  What we do know, and have to hang on to, is that the Lord thought it worth it.  And that suffering and loss in this life does not necessarily mean eternal condemnation.  Indeed, we see more than a few cases around us where the wicked flourish, in this life, but the Hereafter is likely to be unpleasant, while there are those who suffer in the here and now, but whose mansion in Glory is waiting.  How strong is our trust in Him, no matter what?  It's a good if hard question.

Job 10
1 My soul is weary of my life; I will leave my complaint upon myself; I will speak in the bitterness of my soul. 2 I will say unto God, Do not condemn me; shew me wherefore thou contendest with me. 3 Is it good unto thee that thou shouldest oppress, that thou shouldest despise the work of thine hands, and shine upon the counsel of the wicked? 4 Hast thou eyes of flesh? or seest thou as man seeth? 5 Are thy days as the days of man? are thy years as man's days, 6 That thou enquirest after mine iniquity, and searchest after my sin? 7 Thou knowest that I am not wicked; and there is none that can deliver out of thine hand. 8 Thine hands have made me and fashioned me together round about; yet thou dost destroy me. 9 Remember, I beseech thee, that thou hast made me as the clay; and wilt thou bring me into dust again? 10 Hast thou not poured me out as milk, and curdled me like cheese? 11 Thou hast clothed me with skin and flesh, and hast fenced me with bones and sinews. 12 Thou hast granted me life and favour, and thy visitation hath preserved my spirit. 13 And these things hast thou hid in thine heart: I know that this is with thee. 14 If I sin, then thou markest me, and thou wilt not acquit me from mine iniquity. 15 If I be wicked, woe unto me; and if I be righteous, yet will I not lift up my head. I am full of confusion; therefore see thou mine affliction; 16 For it increaseth. Thou huntest me as a fierce lion: and again thou shewest thyself marvellous upon me. 17 Thou renewest thy witnesses against me, and increasest thine indignation upon me; changes and war are against me. 18 Wherefore then hast thou brought me forth out of the womb? Oh that I had given up the ghost, and no eye had seen me! 19 I should have been as though I had not been; I should have been carried from the womb to the grave. 20 Are not my days few? cease then, and let me alone, that I may take comfort a little, 21 Before I go whence I shall not return, even to the land of darkness and the shadow of death; 22 A land of darkness, as darkness itself; and of the shadow of death, without any order, and where the light is as darkness.


Job 11
1 Then answered Zophar the Naamathite, and said, 2 Should not the multitude of words be answered? and should a man full of talk be justified? 3 Should thy lies make men hold their peace? and when thou mockest, shall no man make thee ashamed? 4 For thou hast said, My doctrine is pure, and I am clean in thine eyes. 5 But oh that God would speak, and open his lips against thee; 6 And that he would shew thee the secrets of wisdom, that they are double to that which is! Know therefore that God exacteth of thee less than thine iniquity deserveth. 7 Canst thou by searching find out God? canst thou find out the Almighty unto perfection? 8 It is as high as heaven; what canst thou do? deeper than hell; what canst thou know? 9 The measure thereof is longer than the earth, and broader than the sea. 10 If he cut off, and shut up, or gather together, then who can hinder him? 11 For he knoweth vain men: he seeth wickedness also; will he not then consider it? 12 For vain men would be wise, though man be born like a wild ass's colt. 13 If thou prepare thine heart, and stretch out thine hands toward him; 14 If iniquity be in thine hand, put it far away, and let not wickedness dwell in thy tabernacles. 15 For then shalt thou lift up thy face without spot; yea, thou shalt be stedfast, and shalt not fear: 16 Because thou shalt forget thy misery, and remember it as waters that pass away: 17 And thine age shall be clearer than the noonday: thou shalt shine forth, thou shalt be as the morning. 18 And thou shalt be secure, because there is hope; yea, thou shalt dig about thee, and thou shalt take thy rest in safety. 19 Also thou shalt lie down, and none shall make thee afraid; yea, many shall make suit unto thee. 20 But the eyes of the wicked shall fail, and they shall not escape, and their hope shall be as the giving up of the ghost.


Job 12
1 And Job answered and said, 2 No doubt but ye are the people, and wisdom shall die with you. 3 But I have understanding as well as you; I am not inferior to you: yea, who knoweth not such things as these? 4 I am as one mocked of his neighbour, who calleth upon God, and he answereth him: the just upright man is laughed to scorn. 5 He that is ready to slip with his feet is as a lamp despised in the thought of him that is at ease. 6 The tabernacles of robbers prosper, and they that provoke God are secure; into whose hand God bringeth abundantly. 7 But ask now the beasts, and they shall teach thee; and the fowls of the air, and they shall tell thee: 8 Or speak to the earth, and it shall teach thee: and the fishes of the sea shall declare unto thee. 9 Who knoweth not in all these that the hand of the LORD hath wrought this? 10 In whose hand is the soul of every living thing, and the breath of all mankind. 11 Doth not the ear try words? and the mouth taste his meat? 12 With the ancient is wisdom; and in length of days understanding. 13 With him is wisdom and strength, he hath counsel and understanding. 14 Behold, he breaketh down, and it cannot be built again: he shutteth up a man, and there can be no opening. 15 Behold, he withholdeth the waters, and they dry up: also he sendeth them out, and they overturn the earth. 16 With him is strength and wisdom: the deceived and the deceiver are his. 17 He leadeth counsellors away spoiled, and maketh the judges fools. 18 He looseth the bond of kings, and girdeth their loins with a girdle. 19 He leadeth princes away spoiled, and overthroweth the mighty. 20 He removeth away the speech of the trusty, and taketh away the understanding of the aged. 21 He poureth contempt upon princes, and weakeneth the strength of the mighty. 22 He discovereth deep things out of darkness, and bringeth out to light the shadow of death. 23 He increaseth the nations, and destroyeth them: he enlargeth the nations, and straiteneth them again. 24 He taketh away the heart of the chief of the people of the earth, and causeth them to wander in a wilderness where there is no way. 25 They grope in the dark without light, and he maketh them to stagger like a drunken man.





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Today's reading from the Old Testament is verses 1-25 from chapter 8 in the Acts of the Apostles.
Steven was put to death.  Yet that death led to some remarkable things.  Utterly unexpected and improbable ones, but the Lord often works like that.
We see the name Saul here.  He was, at the very least, complicit in the martyrdom of Steven, which he will not forget.  And we'll see him often, under a new name.
We see the breakout of persecution.  But we see that, rather than shut up and "go along" as some today might recommend, those suffering fled to all sorts of places, carrying the Gospel message with them, and thus spreading the Good News!  Wouldn't have happened without that persecution.  Yes, they broke out of the "Holy Huddle", and began, as was foretold, kicking down the gates of Hell.
I suspect that Steven would say it was worth it.
By the way, we also get a mention of what we call the sin of "simony".  The purchase of spiritual things by transfer of earthly goods or services.  It's still a crime in Britain, to this day, part of the connection of the Anglican Church to the British Crown.  But at one time, I used to get regular offers of an ordination certificate from some "church" for a "nominal fee".  I guess that it was so one could get the legal authorization to perform marriages (and to be paid for that service).  Some things haven't changed much.


Acts 8:1-25
1 And Saul was consenting unto his death. And at that time there was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judaea and Samaria, except the apostles.  
2 And devout men carried Stephen to his burial, and made great lamentation over him.  
3 As for Saul, he made havock of the church, entering into every house, and haling men and women committed them to prison.  
4 Therefore they that were scattered abroad went every where preaching the word.  
5 Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and preached Christ unto them.  
6 And the people with one accord gave heed unto those things which Philip spake, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did.  
7 For unclean spirits, crying with loud voice, came out of many that were possessed with them: and many taken with palsies, and that were lame, were healed. 
8 And there was great joy in that city.  
9 But there was a certain man, called Simon, which beforetime in the same city used sorcery, and bewitched the people of Samaria, giving out that himself was some great one:  
10 To whom they all gave heed, from the least to the greatest, saying, This man is the great power of God.  
11 And to him they had regard, because that of long time he had bewitched them with sorceries.  
12 But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.  
13 Then Simon himself believed also: and when he was baptized, he continued with Philip, and wondered, beholding the miracles and signs which were done.  
14 Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John:  
15 Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost:  
16 (For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.)  
17 Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost.  
18 And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles' hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money,  
19 Saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost. 
20 But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money.  
21 Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter: for thy heart is not right in the sight of God.  
22 Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee.  
23 For I perceive that thou art in the gall of bitterness, and in the bond of iniquity.  
24 Then answered Simon, and said, Pray ye to the LORD for me, that none of these things which ye have spoken come upon me.  
25 And they, when they had testified and preached the word of the Lord, returned to Jerusalem, and preached the gospel in many villages of the Samaritans.


26 June 2017

Today's Readings and Stuff -- Monday, 26 June 2017

Happy Monday! to all.  This is the last Monday in June.  Lord willing, a week from today we will have embarked upon July.  😕  Some may like this.  Wife doesn't, she prefers the cooler weather.  My morose nature causes me to realize that the days are getting progressively, if slowly at first, shorter and shorter, a lousy condition that will extend into late December and the bitter cold of NE Ohio.  But we'll accept it as we have little choice.

She slept pretty well.  And, first thing she did today, while still in bed, was to call the dentist office and advise of the VERY painful boil on her gum by the bad tooth, and to inquire/suggest about different antibiotics to deal with the very obvious infection.  Dentist agreed, and was to call in a  prescription for a more specialized antibiotic to the pharmacy.  So, after eating a bit and getting her situated, I headed out to the pharmacy.  Only to discover that they hadn't gotten around to checking all their voicemails (the dentist office opened before the pharmacy did) so they didn't have it yet.  I waited.  20 minutes later, I was told that they had gotten the message, but only had enough of the drug to partially fill the prescription.  "half a loaf" I thought, and told them to go ahead.  Half an  hour later, they let me know it was ready, two days' worth anyway, and the rest would be delivered to them tomorrow so I have to go back.  So all that is done and I finally made it home.  All of which pretty well ate up the morning.  So much for all of the stuff on my personal "to-do" list. 

But while there and waiting, I was able to use the "Blue Letter Bible" app on my phone, and to read the days' passages in several other versions, in addition to my "normal" KJV and NKJV version, at least one does a better job on today's.

Today's "high" temperature is supposed to be 67°.  Yes.  In the 60's in late June. That is 20° colder than our former home in central Alabama, 14° lower than our former home in East Tennessee, and 20° below our former home in western Arkansas.  Oh, well.



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Today's reading in the Old Testament is chapters 7, 8, and 9 of the book of Job.
Lots of us can "identify" with Job.  Most of us have had Bad Things happen with no apparent good reason.  Most of us have looked towards Heaven and cried "WHY?????".  Job was not the last.  So, to an extent, his plight is universal.
But, sadly, many of us, and I include myself, have also been like his "friends".  Full of "wise" words that are both unhelpful and unloving.  Full of .... well, something.  I've been guilty, certainly. 
And it is certainly possible to be both honest and wrong.  Examples are not hard to find.

As noted above, I really think that this passage, at the least, is better rendered in the Holman version than in the KJV, at least so it seems to me.
(by the way, there are some great and free, Bible study links available on-line here).

Job 7 

1 Isn't mankind consigned to forced labor on earth? Are not his days like those of a hired hand?
2 Like a slave he longs for shade; like a hired man he waits for his pay.
3 So I have been made to inherit months of futility, and troubled nights have been assigned to me.
4 When I lie down I think: When will I get up? But the evening drags on endlessly, and I toss and turn until dawn.
5 My flesh is clothed with maggots and encrusted with dirt. My skin forms scabs and then oozes.
6 My days pass more swiftly than a weaver's shuttle; they come to an end without hope.
7 Remember that my life is [but] a breath. My eye will never again see anything good.
8 The eye of anyone who looks on me will no longer see me. Your eyes will look for me, but I will be gone.
9 As a cloud fades away and vanishes, so the one who goes down to Sheol will never rise again.
10 He will never return to his house; his hometown will no longer remember him.
11 Therefore I will not restrain my mouth. I will speak in the anguish of my spirit; I will complain in the bitterness of my soul.
12 Am I the sea or a sea monster, that You keep me under guard?
13 When I say: My bed will comfort me, and my couch will ease my complaint,
14 then You frighten me with dreams, and terrify me with visions,
15 so that I prefer strangling, death rather than life in this body.
16 I give up! I will not live forever. Leave me alone, for my days are a breath.
17 What is man, that You think so highly of him and pay so much attention to him?
18 You inspect him every morning, and put him to the test every moment.
19 Will You ever look away from me, or leave me alone until I swallow my saliva?
20 [If] I have sinned, what have I done to You, Watcher of mankind? Why have You made me Your target, so that I have become a burden to You?
21 Why not forgive my sin and pardon my transgression? For soon I will lie down in the grave. You will eagerly seek me, but I will be gone.

Job 8

 Bildad Speaks

1 Then Bildad the Shuhite replied:
2 How long will you go on saying these things? Your words are a blast of wind.
3 Does God pervert justice? Does the Almighty pervert what is right?
4 Since your children sinned against Him, He gave them over to their rebellion.
5 But if you earnestly seek God and ask the Almighty for mercy,
6 if you are pure and upright, then He will move even now on your behalf and restore the home where your righteousness dwells.
7 Then, even if your beginnings were modest, your final days will be full of prosperity.
8 For ask the previous generation, and pay attention to what their fathers discovered,
9 since we were [born only] yesterday and know nothing. Our days on earth are but a shadow.
10 Will they not teach you and tell you and speak from their understanding?
11 Does papyrus grow where there is no marsh? Do reeds flourish without water?
12 While still uncut shoots, they would dry up quicker than any [other] plant.
13 Such is the destiny of all who forget God; the hope of the godless will perish.
14 His source of confidence is fragile; what he trusts in is a spider's web.
15 He leans on his web, but it doesn't stand firm. He grabs it, but it does not hold up.
16 He is an amply watered plant in the sunshine; his shoots spread out over his garden.
17 His roots are intertwined around a pile of rocks. He looks for a home among the stones.
18 If he is uprooted from his place, it will deny [knowing] him, saying, "I never saw you."
19 Surely this is the joy of his way of life; yet others will sprout from the dust.
20 Look, God does not reject a person of integrity, and He will not support evildoers.
21 He will yet fill your mouth with laughter and your lips with a shout of joy.
22 Your enemies will be clothed with shame; the tent of the wicked will exist no longer.

 Job 9

Job's Reply to Bildad

1 Then Job answered:
2 Yes, I know what you've said is true, but how can a person be justified before God?
3 If one wanted to take Him to court, he could not answer God once in a thousand [times].
4 God is wise and all-powerful. Who has opposed Him and come out unharmed?
5 He removes mountains without their knowledge, overturning them in His anger.
6 He shakes the earth from its place so that its pillars tremble.
7 He commands the sun not to shine and seals off the stars.
8 He alone stretches out the heavens and treads on the waves of the sea.
9 He makes [the stars]: the Bear, Orion, the Pleiades, and the constellations of the southern sky.
10 He performs great and unsearchable things, wonders without number.
11 If He passes by me, I wouldn't see Him; [if] He goes right by, I wouldn't recognize Him.
12 If He snatches [something], who can stop Him? Who can ask Him, "What are You doing?"
13 God does not hold back His anger; Rahab's assistants cringe in fear beneath Him!
14 How then can I answer Him or choose my arguments against Him?
15 Even if I were in the right, I could not answer. I could only beg my judge for mercy.
16 If I summoned [Him] and He answered me, I do not believe He would pay attention to what I said.
17 He batters me with a whirlwind and multiplies my wounds without cause.
18 He doesn't let me catch my breath but soaks me with bitter experiences.
19 If it is a matter of strength, look, He is the Mighty One! If it is a matter of justice, who can summon Him?
20 Even if I were in the right, my own mouth would condemn me; if I were blameless, my mouth would declare me guilty.
21 Though I am blameless, I no longer care about myself; I renounce my life.
22 It is all the same. Therefore I say, "He destroys both the blameless and the wicked."
23 When disaster brings sudden death, He mocks the despair of the innocent.
24 The earth is handed over to the wicked; He blindfolds its judges. If it isn't He, then who is it?
25 My days fly by faster than a runner; they flee without seeing any good.
26 They sweep by like boats made of papyrus, like an eagle swooping down on [its] prey.
27 If I said, "I will forget my complaint, change my expression, and smile,"
28 I would still live in terror of all my pains. I know You will not acquit me.
29 Since I will be found guilty, why should I labor in vain?
30 If I wash myself with snow, and cleanse my hands with lye,
31 then You dip me in a pit [of mud], and my own clothes despise me!
32 For He is not a man like me, that I can answer Him, that we can take each other to court.
33 There is no one to judge between us, to lay his hand on both of us.
34 Let Him take His rod away from me so His terror will no longer frighten me.
35 Then I would speak and not fear Him. But that is not the case; I am on my own. 
 
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Our New Testament reading (KJV by the way) is verses 44-60 from chapter 7 in the Acts of the Apostles.  This is the completion of Steven's address to the religious authorities, and his (earthly) death.  He was faithful to the end. 

Acts 7:44-60
 
44 Our fathers had the tabernacle of witness in the wilderness, as he had appointed, speaking unto Moses, that he should make it according to the fashion that he had seen.  
45 Which also our fathers that came after brought in with Jesus into the possession of the Gentiles, whom God drave out before the face of our fathers, unto the days of David;  
46 Who found favour before God, and desired to find a tabernacle for the God of Jacob. 
47 But Solomon built him an house.  
48 Howbeit the most High dwelleth not in temples made with hands; as saith the prophet,  
49 Heaven is my throne, and earth is my footstool: what house will ye build me? saith the Lord: or what is the place of my rest?  
50 Hath not my hand made all these things?  
51 Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do ye.  
52 Which of the prophets have not your fathers persecuted? and they have slain them which shewed before of the coming of the Just One; of whom ye have been now the betrayers and murderers:  
53 Who have received the law by the disposition of angels, and have not kept it.  
54 When they heard these things, they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed on him with their teeth. 55 But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God, 
56 And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God.  
57 Then they cried out with a loud voice, and stopped their ears, and ran upon him with one accord,  
58 And cast him out of the city, and stoned him: and the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man's feet, whose name was Saul.  
59 And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.  
60 And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep.