22 July 2017

Today's Readings and Stuff -- Saturday, 22 July 2017 slight update

Raining here now.  It started sometime in the night, after the point at which we could -- finally -- fall asleep after a long and tough couple of days.  So it seems to be destined to be a "stay indoors and read" sort of day.  Oh, and "drink coffee" at the same time, which I think we can organize.  Barely.
I need to "make" coffee creamer in a few minutes.  We save money by not buying liquid creamer at all.  We get the dry powdered non-dairy stuff, BIG jugs from Wally Mart or Sams Club, mix with hot water in a 1 part dry to 2 parts water, and voila!  liquid creamer.  Works, cheap too.

After all the running around yesterday, Wife came home and took her "weekly" Humira.  The scare quotes are because, due to the tooth and jaw infections, taking drugs that suppress the immune system are a very poor idea, so she's been foregoing the matter for well over a month, and it makes a very great difference.  So, as of yesterday afternoon, she's back on it again.  Of course, today is the "day after" so she won't be up to much until, probably, late tomorrow afternoon.  But it's a desired step forward, and we'll be grateful for it.  And are.

I haven't yet troubled to go through all the news, local  or otherwise.  It gets tiresome eventually.  Friday nights, at least around here, are the time for drunken misbehavior, with the predictable results, and  probably last night's results, including the body counts, are in keeping with that.  Been going on for as long as I can remember, surely.  And we saw similar, sometimes worse, patterns of conduct in several of our homes during our many years living elsewhere in the country.  Specifics vary, somewhat, but the overall paths are pretty similar.  Worse, sometimes, in periods of economic upheaval:  those who claim the inability to pay the rent or buy food, still seem able to buy beer, whiskey, marijuana, etc. or to go out "clubbing" looking for a "meaningful overnight relationship".  Need I interpret that last?  No?
When we give up the prospect of real joy, and substitute a pattern of seeking happiness, even momentary happiness, a lot of things can happen, and often do.  Not always, of course: there's probably nothing wrong with watching your nephew's kid get a hit in the Little League outing or in enjoying a good burger or watching your favorite team score the touchdown.  It that sort of thing becomes the focus of our whole lives, then trouble is probably not far away.  If our attitude depends purely on our circumstances, it's easy to become discouraged and to seek to alter those circumstances, or our perceptions of them at least, in whatever way seem to be most convenient at the moment.  I've done it, I'm prone to it in fact.  Probably, based upon police reports and other information, am not alone in that.

     (added):  after I originally posted this, I was reminded of a country song from "several" years ago.  No, not with a Christian theme, but one that somewhat fits.  Remember "Looking for love in all the wrong places"?  It's linked here if you need the reminder.   There are a whole lot of people around us in a similar mind-set.  With generally bad results.

Joy is not to be found in our immediate circumstances.  We're cheating ourselves, and those around us too, when we look only there in the circumstances that may, and often do, change abruptly.  Joy, true joy, eternal joy, is to be found only in our walk with the Lord.  Anything else is simply counterfeit.  Yes, we feel joy when we also walk with Him in concert with others, like our wives and children and other believers near and far.

We see some of that in our readings today, both in the Old and New Testaments.
In Psalms 36 and 37, we see David in trouble, yet looking to the Lord.
In Acts 23:1-11, we see Paul, surrounded by those who really really did not like him and despised his message, nevertheless confident and determined, walking in the joy of the Lord.

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Psalm 36
1 The transgression of the wicked saith within my heart, that there is no fear of God before his eyes. 2 For he flattereth himself in his own eyes, until his iniquity be found to be hateful. 3 The words of his mouth are iniquity and deceit: he hath left off to be wise, and to do good. 4 He deviseth mischief upon his bed; he setteth himself in a way that is not good; he abhorreth not evil. 5 Thy mercy, O LORD, is in the heavens; and thy faithfulness reacheth unto the clouds. 6 Thy righteousness is like the great mountains; thy judgments are a great deep: O LORD, thou preservest man and beast. 7 How excellent is thy lovingkindness, O God! therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of thy wings. 8 They shall be abundantly satisfied with the fatness of thy house; and thou shalt make them drink of the river of thy pleasures. 9 For with thee is the fountain of life: in thy light shall we see light. 10 O continue thy lovingkindness unto them that know thee; and thy righteousness to the upright in heart. 11 Let not the foot of pride come against me, and let not the hand of the wicked remove me. 12 There are the workers of iniquity fallen: they are cast down, and shall not be able to rise.


Psalm 37
1 Fret not thyself because of evildoers, neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity. 2 For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, and wither as the green herb. 3 Trust in the LORD, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed. 4 Delight thyself also in the LORD: and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart. 5 Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass. 6 And he shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light, and thy judgment as the noonday. 7 Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass. 8 Cease from anger, and forsake wrath: fret not thyself in any wise to do evil. 9 For evildoers shall be cut off: but those that wait upon the LORD, they shall inherit the earth. 10 For yet a little while, and the wicked shall not be: yea, thou shalt diligently consider his place, and it shall not be. 11 But the meek shall inherit the earth; and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace. 12 The wicked plotteth against the just, and gnasheth upon him with his teeth. 13 The LORD shall laugh at him: for he seeth that his day is coming. 14 The wicked have drawn out the sword, and have bent their bow, to cast down the poor and needy, and to slay such as be of upright conversation. 15 Their sword shall enter into their own heart, and their bows shall be broken. 16 A little that a righteous man hath is better than the riches of many wicked. 17 For the arms of the wicked shall be broken: but the LORD upholdeth the righteous. 18 The LORD knoweth the days of the upright: and their inheritance shall be for ever. 19 They shall not be ashamed in the evil time: and in the days of famine they shall be satisfied. 20 But the wicked shall perish, and the enemies of the LORD shall be as the fat of lambs: they shall consume; into smoke shall they consume away. 21 The wicked borroweth, and payeth not again: but the righteous sheweth mercy, and giveth. 22 For such as be blessed of him shall inherit the earth; and they that be cursed of him shall be cut off. 23 The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way. 24 Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the LORD upholdeth him with his hand. 25 I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread. 26 He is ever merciful, and lendeth; and his seed is blessed. 27 Depart from evil, and do good; and dwell for evermore. 28 For the LORD loveth judgment, and forsaketh not his saints; they are preserved for ever: but the seed of the wicked shall be cut off. 29 The righteous shall inherit the land, and dwell therein for ever. 30 The mouth of the righteous speaketh wisdom, and his tongue talketh of judgment. 31 The law of his God is in his heart; none of his steps shall slide. 32 The wicked watcheth the righteous, and seeketh to slay him. 33 The LORD will not leave him in his hand, nor condemn him when he is judged. 34 Wait on the LORD, and keep his way, and he shall exalt thee to inherit the land: when the wicked are cut off, thou shalt see it. 35 I have seen the wicked in great power, and spreading himself like a green bay tree. 36 Yet he passed away, and, lo, he was not: yea, I sought him, but he could not be found. 37 Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright: for the end of that man is peace. 38 But the transgressors shall be destroyed together: the end of the wicked shall be cut off. 39 But the salvation of the righteous is of the LORD: he is their strength in the time of trouble. 40 And the LORD shall help them, and deliver them: he shall deliver them from the wicked, and save them, because they trust in him.




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Acts 23:1-11
1 And Paul, earnestly beholding the council, said, Men and brethren, I have lived in all good conscience before God until this day. 2 And the high priest Ananias commanded them that stood by him to smite him on the mouth. 3 Then said Paul unto him, God shall smite thee, thou whited wall: for sittest thou to judge me after the law, and commandest me to be smitten contrary to the law? 4 And they that stood by said, Revilest thou God's high priest? 5 Then said Paul, I wist not, brethren, that he was the high priest: for it is written, Thou shalt not speak evil of the ruler of thy people. 6 But when Paul perceived that the one part were Sadducees, and the other Pharisees, he cried out in the council, Men and brethren, I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee: of the hope and resurrection of the dead I am called in question. 7 And when he had so said, there arose a dissension between the Pharisees and the Sadducees: and the multitude was divided. 8 For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, neither angel, nor spirit: but the Pharisees confess both. 9 And there arose a great cry: and the scribes that were of the Pharisees' part arose, and strove, saying, We find no evil in this man: but if a spirit or an angel hath spoken to him, let us not fight against God. 10 And when there arose a great dissension, the chief captain, fearing lest Paul should have been pulled in pieces of them, commanded the soldiers to go down, and to take him by force from among them, and to bring him into the castle. 11 And the night following the Lord stood by him, and said, Be of good cheer, Paul: for as thou hast testified of me in Jerusalem, so must thou bear witness also at Rome.

21 July 2017

Today's Readings and Stuff -- Friday, 21 July, 2017

short and sweet.  Well, short anyway.
Been a long morning.  Neither of us slept much at all last night.  Hot in this place, and both of us concerned about the morning.
Alarms off at 06:00 and the preps underway for doctor appointments, for both of us this time, in another town (same county, at least) about 15 miles distant.  Appointments set of 08:30, and we wanted to be early just in case paperwork and records needed to be updated.  and New doctors for her are always stressful: with her "complex conditions" and now having to have a first visit with what we hope will be our new Primary Care physician, replacing the excellent one we had, who had suddenly decamped.  Among other things, Wife was either about to run out of, or had already run out of, a couple of the meds that keep her alive.  We'd stretched the string as far as we could, but the prescriptions were out of authorized refills, and none of the other docs could authorize the refills.
Visit went well.  It's pretty new facility, a doc in his first practice, but --  for once -- the records, etc. transferred pretty seamlessly.  Blood tests and all that stuff, urine test for her as she has a nasty UTI going on. 
And then, having been assured that refill orders had been sent, we headed back and past, another 20 mile leg on an old and overheating car, to the pharmacy at the Big Box store across the state line.  They had all but one of her meds, the other is on order -- an "orphan drug" -- and is expected to be in on Tuesday.
Back home.  Got out of car and could hear the coolant boiling under the hood.  NOT what you want to hear.  Not at all.  But we made it home.
We both took our "mornng" meds, had a thing of yogurt to hold them down.  She's going to take a nap, and the idea doesn't sound bad at all

A lot of thoughts and things in the night.  The Lord is dealing with me on several issues.  Won't get into it now, there's more to come on the matter I do believe.

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Our Old Testament portion for today is Psalms 34 and 35

Psalm 34
1 I will bless the LORD at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth. 2 My soul shall make her boast in the LORD: the humble shall hear thereof, and be glad. 3 O magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together. 4 I sought the LORD, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears. 5 They looked unto him, and were lightened: and their faces were not ashamed. 6 This poor man cried, and the LORD heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles. 7 The angel of the LORD encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them. 8 O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him. 9 O fear the LORD, ye his saints: for there is no want to them that fear him. 10 The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger: but they that seek the LORD shall not want any good thing. 11 Come, ye children, hearken unto me: I will teach you the fear of the LORD. 12 What man is he that desireth life, and loveth many days, that he may see good? 13 Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile. 14 Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it. 15 The eyes of the LORD are upon the righteous, and his ears are open unto their cry. 16 The face of the LORD is against them that do evil, to cut off the remembrance of them from the earth. 17 The righteous cry, and the LORD heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles. 18 The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit. 19 Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivereth him out of them all. 20 He keepeth all his bones: not one of them is broken. 21 Evil shall slay the wicked: and they that hate the righteous shall be desolate. 22 The LORD redeemeth the soul of his servants: and none of them that trust in him shall be desolate.

Psalm 35
1 Plead my cause, O LORD, with them that strive with me: fight against them that fight against me. 2 Take hold of shield and buckler, and stand up for mine help. 3 Draw out also the spear, and stop the way against them that persecute me: say unto my soul, I am thy salvation. 4 Let them be confounded and put to shame that seek after my soul: let them be turned back and brought to confusion that devise my hurt. 5 Let them be as chaff before the wind: and let the angel of the LORD chase them. 6 Let their way be dark and slippery: and let the angel of the LORD persecute them. 7 For without cause have they hid for me their net in a pit, which without cause they have digged for my soul. 8 Let destruction come upon him at unawares; and let his net that he hath hid catch himself: into that very destruction let him fall. 9 And my soul shall be joyful in the LORD: it shall rejoice in his salvation. 10 All my bones shall say, LORD, who is like unto thee, which deliverest the poor from him that is too strong for him, yea, the poor and the needy from him that spoileth him? 11 False witnesses did rise up; they laid to my charge things that I knew not. 12 They rewarded me evil for good to the spoiling of my soul. 13 But as for me, when they were sick, my clothing was sackcloth: I humbled my soul with fasting; and my prayer returned into mine own bosom. 14 I behaved myself as though he had been my friend or brother: I bowed down heavily, as one that mourneth for his mother. 15 But in mine adversity they rejoiced, and gathered themselves together: yea, the abjects gathered themselves together against me, and I knew it not; they did tear me, and ceased not: 16 With hypocritical mockers in feasts, they gnashed upon me with their teeth. 17 Lord, how long wilt thou look on? rescue my soul from their destructions, my darling from the lions. 18 I will give thee thanks in the great congregation: I will praise thee among much people. 19 Let not them that are mine enemies wrongfully rejoice over me: neither let them wink with the eye that hate me without a cause. 20 For they speak not peace: but they devise deceitful matters against them that are quiet in the land. 21 Yea, they opened their mouth wide against me, and said, Aha, aha, our eye hath seen it. 22 This thou hast seen, O LORD: keep not silence: O Lord, be not far from me. 23 Stir up thyself, and awake to my judgment, even unto my cause, my God and my Lord. 24 Judge me, O LORD my God, according to thy righteousness; and let them not rejoice over me. 25 Let them not say in their hearts, Ah, so would we have it: let them not say, We have swallowed him up. 26 Let them be ashamed and brought to confusion together that rejoice at mine hurt: let them be clothed with shame and dishonour that magnify themselves against me. 27 Let them shout for joy, and be glad, that favour my righteous cause: yea, let them say continually, Let the LORD be magnified, which hath pleasure in the prosperity of his servant. 28 And my tongue shall speak of thy righteousness and of thy praise all the day long.



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Our reading in the New Testament is chapter 22 in the Acts of the Apostles.
Sometimes, we hear "wiser heads" telling us that we need to avoid strife and controversy in presenting the Gospel, to avoid offending those we encounter, and all of that. 
I don't think that Paul would have agreed.  Seems to me, that everywhere that he, and the rest of the Apostles and evangelists of the early church went, strife and controversy erupted, including city-wide riots and calling out the Guard.  And the world was changed in the process.  Now, it seems that the world is changing the church, and not for the better, either.

Acts 22
1 Men, brethren, and fathers, hear ye my defence which I make now unto you. 2 (And when they heard that he spake in the Hebrew tongue to them, they kept the more silence: and he saith,) 3 I am verily a man which am a Jew, born in Tarsus, a city in Cilicia, yet brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, and taught according to the perfect manner of the law of the fathers, and was zealous toward God, as ye all are this day. 4 And I persecuted this way unto the death, binding and delivering into prisons both men and women. 5 As also the high priest doth bear me witness, and all the estate of the elders: from whom also I received letters unto the brethren, and went to Damascus, to bring them which were there bound unto Jerusalem, for to be punished. 6 And it came to pass, that, as I made my journey, and was come nigh unto Damascus about noon, suddenly there shone from heaven a great light round about me. 7 And I fell unto the ground, and heard a voice saying unto me, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? 8 And I answered, Who art thou, Lord? And he said unto me, I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom thou persecutest. 9 And they that were with me saw indeed the light, and were afraid; but they heard not the voice of him that spake to me. 10 And I said, What shall I do, LORD? And the Lord said unto me, Arise, and go into Damascus; and there it shall be told thee of all things which are appointed for thee to do. 11 And when I could not see for the glory of that light, being led by the hand of them that were with me, I came into Damascus. 12 And one Ananias, a devout man according to the law, having a good report of all the Jews which dwelt there, 13 Came unto me, and stood, and said unto me, Brother Saul, receive thy sight. And the same hour I looked up upon him. 14 And he said, The God of our fathers hath chosen thee, that thou shouldest know his will, and see that Just One, and shouldest hear the voice of his mouth. 15 For thou shalt be his witness unto all men of what thou hast seen and heard. 16 And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord. 17 And it came to pass, that, when I was come again to Jerusalem, even while I prayed in the temple, I was in a trance; 18 And saw him saying unto me, Make haste, and get thee quickly out of Jerusalem: for they will not receive thy testimony concerning me. 19 And I said, Lord, they know that I imprisoned and beat in every synagogue them that believed on thee: 20 And when the blood of thy martyr Stephen was shed, I also was standing by, and consenting unto his death, and kept the raiment of them that slew him. 21 And he said unto me, Depart: for I will send thee far hence unto the Gentiles. 22 And they gave him audience unto this word, and then lifted up their voices, and said, Away with such a fellow from the earth: for it is not fit that he should live. 23 And as they cried out, and cast off their clothes, and threw dust into the air, 24 The chief captain commanded him to be brought into the castle, and bade that he should be examined by scourging; that he might know wherefore they cried so against him. 25 And as they bound him with thongs, Paul said unto the centurion that stood by, Is it lawful for you to scourge a man that is a Roman, and uncondemned? 26 When the centurion heard that, he went and told the chief captain, saying, Take heed what thou doest: for this man is a Roman. 27 Then the chief captain came, and said unto him, Tell me, art thou a Roman? He said, Yea. 28 And the chief captain answered, With a great sum obtained I this freedom. And Paul said, But I was free born. 29 Then straightway they departed from him which should have examined him: and the chief captain also was afraid, after he knew that he was a Roman, and because he had bound him. 30 On the morrow, because he would have known the certainty wherefore he was accused of the Jews, he loosed him from his bands, and commanded the chief priests and all their council to appear, and brought Paul down, and set him before them.



20 July 2017

Today's Readings and Stuff -- Thursday, 20 July, 2017

Yesterday was a very long day.  Very.
Doctor appointment for Wife early.  Rheumatologist, office along the southern portion of the county south of us.  A trip made far worse by quite a lot of poorly-organized road construction along several of the legs of our route.  And made dangerous by some of the other drivers.  The ones allocating more of their attention to their cell phones and text messages than to the road and road conditions around them.  The ones who seemed intent on 70+ mph in construction zones marked a MAX of 55 or less.  That to include several large trucks, including a FedEx Freight tandem unit who nearly killed us.  And then when getting off the interstates, having to deal with traffic signal arrangements evidently intended to PREVENT the smooth and efficient flow of traffic.  The state dept of transportation here has chronically been staffed and mis-managed by some incredibly incompetent people, many of whom seem to have been hired out of family and political connections.  Fortunately, we left in enough time that we were on time, but it was a near thing, and even that was possible only because I knew some short cuts from long ago.

Took alternate route going home, and managed it in about half the time.

And then , a funeral.  Those are always tough.  This was tough in no small part, because the deceased's half-brother was Dear Wife's ex-husband.  (she'd come home early from work to find him in bed with her best friend).  But the deceased was for a long time married to a dear cousin of Wife's, I  think he was her third husband and she his second wife.  But I could be off a bit.  She's been through quite a lot, truly.  So some serious family tensions there, all too common with some of the "serial monogamy" that seems to have become part of the local "culture".
Funeral was in a "store front church", and I still haven't figured the link between them and the family.  None seemed to be part of it, but some of the extended family were, so perhaps the message that was presented there will, like a seed, sprout and grow.  It's happened before.

Then a very quick stop at a WallyMart to get a few things that we needed Right Now, and home.  Then to make dinner and all that.  We got up from table at 10:40, and I still had to do dishes and get stuff ready for bed.  LONG day, as I said.
So the sun was already up when we rose.  I'd had to kick the cats, actually the little one, out of the bedroom around 03:00 when she decided to do her "I'm starving, feed me NOW" dance and chant on top of us.  It did NOT move me to obedience.  More like thoughts of "felineocide",  or the like.

And yet ...
During the night and in that period of the morning, when you're not quite asleep and not quite awake, the "song of the day" came into my heart and it is still there;
We need the Lord, desperately and at every moment and hour.  We are blessed to be in communion with Him, and it is something that we, certainly including me, need desperately and enjoy the time we spend with Him.  Too easily we let that go by the wayside as we turn our attention to other things.  And, yes, I realize that the "stone in the shoe" things will always come about, walking with the Lord fully still requires us to not walk out in front of a bus.
But what we sometimes lose sight of, is that, miraculously, He enjoys the time we are in communion with Him.  I don't understand that, but I believe it.  It's as big a miracle as any other.  But it is He who sought us out, and only that makes it possible.
So our song is "I Come To The Garden Alone".  There are many good recordings of this, some more intent on being "performances" than anything else, but some being from the heart, even from those we might not expect.  This is one such.  I just can't let go of this.  Can't.  Don't want to try either.

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Our Old Testament reading today is  Psalms 31, 32, and 33.
Psalm 32 in particular resonates with me today.  Confession to the Lord is good for us.  Better yet, not repeating  our sins afterwards.  Yes, confession is hard.  It should be, perhaps: our sins are not trivial matters as they distance  us from perfect communion with the Lord.  If we're not interested in that in this life, why should He welcome us into full communion with Him in the next?

Psalm 31
1 In thee, O LORD, do I put my trust; let me never be ashamed: deliver me in thy righteousness. 2 Bow down thine ear to me; deliver me speedily: be thou my strong rock, for an house of defence to save me. 3 For thou art my rock and my fortress; therefore for thy name's sake lead me, and guide me. 4 Pull me out of the net that they have laid privily for me: for thou art my strength. 5 Into thine hand I commit my spirit: thou hast redeemed me, O LORD God of truth. 6 I have hated them that regard lying vanities: but I trust in the LORD. 7 I will be glad and rejoice in thy mercy: for thou hast considered my trouble; thou hast known my soul in adversities; 8 And hast not shut me up into the hand of the enemy: thou hast set my feet in a large room. 9 Have mercy upon me, O LORD, for I am in trouble: mine eye is consumed with grief, yea, my soul and my belly. 10 For my life is spent with grief, and my years with sighing: my strength faileth because of mine iniquity, and my bones are consumed. 11 I was a reproach among all mine enemies, but especially among my neighbours, and a fear to mine acquaintance: they that did see me without fled from me. 12 I am forgotten as a dead man out of mind: I am like a broken vessel. 13 For I have heard the slander of many: fear was on every side: while they took counsel together against me, they devised to take away my life. 14 But I trusted in thee, O LORD: I said, Thou art my God. 15 My times are in thy hand: deliver me from the hand of mine enemies, and from them that persecute me. 16 Make thy face to shine upon thy servant: save me for thy mercies' sake. 17 Let me not be ashamed, O LORD; for I have called upon thee: let the wicked be ashamed, and let them be silent in the grave. 18 Let the lying lips be put to silence; which speak grievous things proudly and contemptuously against the righteous. 19 Oh how great is thy goodness, which thou hast laid up for them that fear thee; which thou hast wrought for them that trust in thee before the sons of men! 20 Thou shalt hide them in the secret of thy presence from the pride of man: thou shalt keep them secretly in a pavilion from the strife of tongues. 21 Blessed be the LORD: for he hath shewed me his marvellous kindness in a strong city. 22 For I said in my haste, I am cut off from before thine eyes: nevertheless thou heardest the voice of my supplications when I cried unto thee. 23 O love the LORD, all ye his saints: for the LORD preserveth the faithful, and plentifully rewardeth the proud doer. 24 Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the LORD.


Psalm 32
1 Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. 2 Blessed is the man unto whom the LORD imputeth not iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no guile. 3 When I kept silence, my bones waxed old through my roaring all the day long. 4 For day and night thy hand was heavy upon me: my moisture is turned into the drought of summer. Selah. 5 I acknowledge my sin unto thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid. I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the LORD; and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin. Selah. 6 For this shall every one that is godly pray unto thee in a time when thou mayest be found: surely in the floods of great waters they shall not come nigh unto him. 7 Thou art my hiding place; thou shalt preserve me from trouble; thou shalt compass me about with songs of deliverance. Selah. 8 I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye. 9 Be ye not as the horse, or as the mule, which have no understanding: whose mouth must be held in with bit and bridle, lest they come near unto thee. 10 Many sorrows shall be to the wicked: but he that trusteth in the LORD, mercy shall compass him about. 11 Be glad in the LORD, and rejoice, ye righteous: and shout for joy, all ye that are upright in heart.


Psalm 33
1 Rejoice in the LORD, O ye righteous: for praise is comely for the upright. 2 Praise the LORD with harp: sing unto him with the psaltery and an instrument of ten strings. 3 Sing unto him a new song; play skilfully with a loud noise. 4 For the word of the LORD is right; and all his works are done in truth. 5 He loveth righteousness and judgment: the earth is full of the goodness of the LORD. 6 By the word of the LORD were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth. 7 He gathereth the waters of the sea together as an heap: he layeth up the depth in storehouses. 8 Let all the earth fear the LORD: let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him. 9 For he spake, and it was done; he commanded, and it stood fast. 10 The LORD bringeth the counsel of the heathen to nought: he maketh the devices of the people of none effect. 11 The counsel of the LORD standeth for ever, the thoughts of his heart to all generations. 12 Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD; and the people whom he hath chosen for his own inheritance. 13 The LORD looketh from heaven; he beholdeth all the sons of men. 14 From the place of his habitation he looketh upon all the inhabitants of the earth. 15 He fashioneth their hearts alike; he considereth all their works. 16 There is no king saved by the multitude of an host: a mighty man is not delivered by much strength. 17 An horse is a vain thing for safety: neither shall he deliver any by his great strength. 18 Behold, the eye of the LORD is upon them that fear him, upon them that hope in his mercy; 19 To deliver their soul from death, and to keep them alive in famine. 20 Our soul waiteth for the LORD: he is our help and our shield. 21 For our heart shall rejoice in him, because we have trusted in his holy name. 22 Let thy mercy, O LORD, be upon us, according as we hope in thee.





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Our New Testament reading is verses 15-40 of chapter 21 in the Acts of the Apostles.  Most of us in the church today have little or no experience with Jewish believers.  Yes, they certainly exist.  But not equally found in all parts of the country or of the world.  At the time of the early Church, many expected that all Christian would either be Jews or Jewish acolytes first, and Christians afterward.  So followers of the stricter of the Jewish beliefs and customs had reactions.  When that expectation was violated, there was considerable backlash, both within the Church and also among traditional Jews.  The path of the evangelist and apostle was seldom a smooth and easy one, opposition, including physically violent opposition, was more often the case.  We don't know how easy we have things in the Western church.  Try preaching the Gospel in Iran or Chechnya or central China, or even in Mexico!  They did, and we've been blessed thereby.

Acts 21:15-40
15 And after those days we took up our carriages, and went up to Jerusalem. 16 There went with us also certain of the disciples of Caesarea, and brought with them one Mnason of Cyprus, an old disciple, with whom we should lodge. 17 And when we were come to Jerusalem, the brethren received us gladly. 18 And the day following Paul went in with us unto James; and all the elders were present. 19 And when he had saluted them, he declared particularly what things God had wrought among the Gentiles by his ministry. 20 And when they heard it, they glorified the Lord, and said unto him, Thou seest, brother, how many thousands of Jews there are which believe; and they are all zealous of the law: 21 And they are informed of thee, that thou teachest all the Jews which are among the Gentiles to forsake Moses, saying that they ought not to circumcise their children, neither to walk after the customs. 22 What is it therefore? the multitude must needs come together: for they will hear that thou art come. 23 Do therefore this that we say to thee: We have four men which have a vow on them; 24 Them take, and purify thyself with them, and be at charges with them, that they may shave their heads: and all may know that those things, whereof they were informed concerning thee, are nothing; but that thou thyself also walkest orderly, and keepest the law. 25 As touching the Gentiles which believe, we have written and concluded that they observe no such thing, save only that they keep themselves from things offered to idols, and from blood, and from strangled, and from fornication. 26 Then Paul took the men, and the next day purifying himself with them entered into the temple, to signify the accomplishment of the days of purification, until that an offering should be offered for every one of them. 27 And when the seven days were almost ended, the Jews which were of Asia, when they saw him in the temple, stirred up all the people, and laid hands on him, 28 Crying out, Men of Israel, help: This is the man, that teacheth all men every where against the people, and the law, and this place: and further brought Greeks also into the temple, and hath polluted this holy place. 29 (For they had seen before with him in the city Trophimus an Ephesian, whom they supposed that Paul had brought into the temple.) 30 And all the city was moved, and the people ran together: and they took Paul, and drew him out of the temple: and forthwith the doors were shut. 31 And as they went about to kill him, tidings came unto the chief captain of the band, that all Jerusalem was in an uproar. 32 Who immediately took soldiers and centurions, and ran down unto them: and when they saw the chief captain and the soldiers, they left beating of Paul. 33 Then the chief captain came near, and took him, and commanded him to be bound with two chains; and demanded who he was, and what he had done. 34 And some cried one thing, some another, among the multitude: and when he could not know the certainty for the tumult, he commanded him to be carried into the castle. 35 And when he came upon the stairs, so it was, that he was borne of the soldiers for the violence of the people. 36 For the multitude of the people followed after, crying, Away with him. 37 And as Paul was to be led into the castle, he said unto the chief captain, May I speak unto thee? Who said, Canst thou speak Greek? 38 Art not thou that Egyptian, which before these days madest an uproar, and leddest out into the wilderness four thousand men that were murderers? 39 But Paul said, I am a man which am a Jew of Tarsus, a city in Cilicia, a citizen of no mean city: and, I beseech thee, suffer me to speak unto the people. 40 And when he had given him licence, Paul stood on the stairs, and beckoned with the hand unto the people. And when there was made a great silence, he spake unto them in the Hebrew tongue, saying,




19 July 2017

Today's Readings and Stuff -- Wednesday, 19 July 2017

Another of "those" days is upon us.
In a short while, we intend to depart, headed out on a trip, another doctor's appointment for her.  It's not a horrible drive, not like driving from Cleveland to Columbus or from Gary, IN to Evansville, or the like.  But it's a good 35 minutes under the best of conditions.  And we won't have the best of conditions.  In NE Ohio, the joke is that there are four seasons:

  1. Almost Winter
  2. Winter
  3. Still Winter
  4. Road construction
Well, we're definitely into the 4th of these.  Our journey yesterday wasn't awful, but we were in and out of numerous of these road construction locations.  The law, as well as good sense, mandates that you slow down and be aware of workers and construction equipment in addition to the road and lanes and other drivers.  Some of our fellow citizens haven't gotten the word on any of that, so it gets scary.  Not far from here, about 15 miles west on I-76, on one afternoon alone they had three bad wrecks, with injuries involving ambulances and at least one helicopter.  One of those wrecks involved EIGHT vehicles.  Another had an SUV drive up under the back of a semi trailer.  Wasn't good.
Doesn't help that the state DOT is not and has never been known for good project planning or even half-decent engineering, so there's plenty of blame to go around.
And today, we'll have to go through several of these truly awful zones.  NOT looking forward to it.
The appointment on Friday morning will also route us through some of the worst of it.  Same for the appointments next Tuesday and Wednesday.  Yes, it's the month of doctor's offices for us.

Then, about 2 hours after we should get back home, off again.  This time to a funeral.  Road should be clear enough, but the circumstances and old bitter agendas will probably be on display as is too often the case.  I had met the deceased.  Once or twice, the last time probably being around 25 years ago or so.  I can't speak about the man with any certainty whatever.  I know that there are a lot, a whole lot, of long-standing issues with lots of bitterness and hidden issues.   Seems to be pretty common around here.  Not much to be said about the love of Christ or the faith that transforms us by the Lord's power.  Mostly hopelessness and sorrow and old issues with some bitterness.  And no hope.  No knowledge of the Lord, so that's not surprising.

Yes, it gets to a person.  Perhaps it should, perhaps it should motivate us to point to the real hope, that is in Jesus.

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Our reading in the Old Testament is Psalms 28, 29, and 30

Psalm 28
1 Unto thee will I cry, O LORD my rock; be not silent to me: lest, if thou be silent to me, I become like them that go down into the pit. 2 Hear the voice of my supplications, when I cry unto thee, when I lift up my hands toward thy holy oracle. 3 Draw me not away with the wicked, and with the workers of iniquity, which speak peace to their neighbours, but mischief is in their hearts. 4 Give them according to their deeds, and according to the wickedness of their endeavours: give them after the work of their hands; render to them their desert. 5 Because they regard not the works of the LORD, nor the operation of his hands, he shall destroy them, and not build them up. 6 Blessed be the LORD, because he hath heard the voice of my supplications. 7 The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in him, and I am helped: therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth; and with my song will I praise him. 8 The LORD is their strength, and he is the saving strength of his anointed. 9 Save thy people, and bless thine inheritance: feed them also, and lift them up for ever.


Psalm 29
1 Give unto the LORD, O ye mighty, give unto the LORD glory and strength. 2 Give unto the LORD the glory due unto his name; worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness. 3 The voice of the LORD is upon the waters: the God of glory thundereth: the LORD is upon many waters. 4 The voice of the LORD is powerful; the voice of the LORD is full of majesty. 5 The voice of the LORD breaketh the cedars; yea, the LORD breaketh the cedars of Lebanon. 6 He maketh them also to skip like a calf; Lebanon and Sirion like a young unicorn. 7 The voice of the LORD divideth the flames of fire. 8 The voice of the LORD shaketh the wilderness; the LORD shaketh the wilderness of Kadesh. 9 The voice of the LORD maketh the hinds to calve, and discovereth the forests: and in his temple doth every one speak of his glory. 10 The LORD sitteth upon the flood; yea, the LORD sitteth King for ever. 11 The LORD will give strength unto his people; the LORD will bless his people with peace.


Psalm 30
1 I will extol thee, O LORD; for thou hast lifted me up, and hast not made my foes to rejoice over me. 2 O LORD my God, I cried unto thee, and thou hast healed me. 3 O LORD, thou hast brought up my soul from the grave: thou hast kept me alive, that I should not go down to the pit. 4 Sing unto the LORD, O ye saints of his, and give thanks at the remembrance of his holiness. 5 For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favour is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning. 6 And in my prosperity I said, I shall never be moved. 7 LORD, by thy favour thou hast made my mountain to stand strong: thou didst hide thy face, and I was troubled. 8 I cried to thee, O LORD; and unto the LORD I made supplication. 9 What profit is there in my blood, when I go down to the pit? Shall the dust praise thee? shall it declare thy truth? 10 Hear, O LORD, and have mercy upon me: LORD, be thou my helper. 11 Thou hast turned for me my mourning into dancing: thou hast put off my sackcloth, and girded me with gladness; 12 To the end that my glory may sing praise to thee, and not be silent. O LORD my God, I will give thanks unto thee for ever.



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Our reading in the New Testament is verses 1-14 in chapter 21 of the Acts of the Apostles.
The road of a dedicated follower of Christ is often hard.

Acts 21:1-14
1 And it came to pass, that after we were gotten from them, and had launched, we came with a straight course unto Coos, and the day following unto Rhodes, and from thence unto Patara: 2 And finding a ship sailing over unto Phenicia, we went aboard, and set forth. 3 Now when we had discovered Cyprus, we left it on the left hand, and sailed into Syria, and landed at Tyre: for there the ship was to unlade her burden. 4 And finding disciples, we tarried there seven days: who said to Paul through the Spirit, that he should not go up to Jerusalem. 5 And when we had accomplished those days, we departed and went our way; and they all brought us on our way, with wives and children, till we were out of the city: and we kneeled down on the shore, and prayed. 6 And when we had taken our leave one of another, we took ship; and they returned home again. 7 And when we had finished our course from Tyre, we came to Ptolemais, and saluted the brethren, and abode with them one day. 8 And the next day we that were of Paul's company departed, and came unto Caesarea: and we entered into the house of Philip the evangelist, which was one of the seven; and abode with him. 9 And the same man had four daughters, virgins, which did prophesy. 10 And as we tarried there many days, there came down from Judaea a certain prophet, named Agabus. 11 And when he was come unto us, he took Paul's girdle, and bound his own hands and feet, and said, Thus saith the Holy Ghost, So shall the Jews at Jerusalem bind the man that owneth this girdle, and shall deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles. 12 And when we heard these things, both we, and they of that place, besought him not to go up to Jerusalem. 13 Then Paul answered, What mean ye to weep and to break mine heart? for I am ready not to be bound only, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus. 14 And when he would not be persuaded, we ceased, saying, The will of the Lord be done.

18 July 2017

Today's Readings and Stuff - Tuesday, 18 July 2017

Today was the day for Dear Wife's oral surgery.  We left the house before 09:30 and just got back.  She's recuperating in the recliner, I'm at the desk.  She's on a diet of soup and smoothies, etc. for at least three days.  So I made some soup for her (from a can, OK?) and she had one of those yogurt smoothie things, and is trying to recuperate from the painkillers, etc.  (It's after 2 p.m. and I haven't eaten at all since last night, but I've always been one of "those" who doesn't get hungry until well into the second or third day. Used to drive my mom nuts).  I'll make sandwich or something in a few minutes.
The procedure went well, she wasn't in their more than half an hour. This guy is GOOD!  Fortunately, the antibiotics had worked well and he didn't see any remaining signs of infection, so that's a good thing.  And, also real good, our co-pay on this is about $300 LESS than what would have been the case had our dentist done it!  I don't understand that, but am grateful for it.

Tomorrow around noon, we have to set out on another trek to the lower edge of the county just south of us, so she can make the appointment with the rheumatologist.  Hopefully, he will OK the refills on several prescriptions she is out of.  And then, Friday morning, we get back on the road and head a good 15 miles west of here to see our new (we hope) Primary Care doctor, the one to replace the one who up and left the area on short notice.  With any luck, he'll OK the refills on the other meds she is out of.  We'd strung along, cutting pills in half, etc. to stretch them, but several are now empty bottles.  So we shall see.  And then, next week, the gastroenterologist and the endocrinologist, separate days, but a good haul in both cases.

Tomorrow night, as mentioned before, yet another funeral / memorial service for someone she once knew   Getting to be quite a few of these.

Last evening, we spent time outside with Niece, great-niece, and great nephew. Great Niece as having a Great Time on the "bounce house" in the yard between their place and ours.  Niece had gotten the thing at a garage sale for a song, maybe $30 or so, she's an eagle-eyed shopper.  I learned for the first time that we had paid for the blower to inflate the thing, also bought at some yard sale / garage sale / flea market.  The kids enjoy it and haven't managed to hurt themselves in it, so it's good deal.  The amount of time in the year that kids can run around outside without freezing to death is altogether too short by my standards,  so let them enjoy the few months of it that they get, before they're too old to play like this or there is half a foot of snow on the ground.

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Our reading from the Old Testament is Psalms 25, 26, and 27
From Psalm 27 we get our "song of the day"  "The Lord Is The Strength Of My Life".  Amen!  Ain't it the truth?  This, like some others, is one I've been blessed to sing while part of moderately large choral groups in several states.  It means much to me.  Not least because it is true.

Psalm 25
1 Unto thee, O LORD, do I lift up my soul. 2 O my God, I trust in thee: let me not be ashamed, let not mine enemies triumph over me. 3 Yea, let none that wait on thee be ashamed: let them be ashamed which transgress without cause. 4 Shew me thy ways, O LORD; teach me thy paths. 5 Lead me in thy truth, and teach me: for thou art the God of my salvation; on thee do I wait all the day. 6 Remember, O LORD, thy tender mercies and thy lovingkindnesses; for they have been ever of old. 7 Remember not the sins of my youth, nor my transgressions: according to thy mercy remember thou me for thy goodness' sake, O LORD. 8 Good and upright is the LORD: therefore will he teach sinners in the way. 9 The meek will he guide in judgment: and the meek will he teach his way. 10 All the paths of the LORD are mercy and truth unto such as keep his covenant and his testimonies. 11 For thy name's sake, O LORD, pardon mine iniquity; for it is great. 12 What man is he that feareth the LORD? him shall he teach in the way that he shall choose. 13 His soul shall dwell at ease; and his seed shall inherit the earth. 14 The secret of the LORD is with them that fear him; and he will shew them his covenant. 15 Mine eyes are ever toward the LORD; for he shall pluck my feet out of the net. 16 Turn thee unto me, and have mercy upon me; for I am desolate and afflicted. 17 The troubles of my heart are enlarged: O bring thou me out of my distresses. 18 Look upon mine affliction and my pain; and forgive all my sins. 19 Consider mine enemies; for they are many; and they hate me with cruel hatred. 20 O keep my soul, and deliver me: let me not be ashamed; for I put my trust in thee. 21 Let integrity and uprightness preserve me; for I wait on thee. 22 Redeem Israel, O God, out of all his troubles.

Psalm 26
1 Judge me, O LORD; for I have walked in mine integrity: I have trusted also in the LORD; therefore I shall not slide. 2 Examine me, O LORD, and prove me; try my reins and my heart. 3 For thy lovingkindness is before mine eyes: and I have walked in thy truth. 4 I have not sat with vain persons, neither will I go in with dissemblers. 5 I have hated the congregation of evil doers; and will not sit with the wicked. 6 I will wash mine hands in innocency: so will I compass thine altar, O LORD: 7 That I may publish with the voice of thanksgiving, and tell of all thy wondrous works. 8 LORD, I have loved the habitation of thy house, and the place where thine honour dwelleth. 9 Gather not my soul with sinners, nor my life with bloody men: 10 In whose hands is mischief, and their right hand is full of bribes. 11 But as for me, I will walk in mine integrity: redeem me, and be merciful unto me. 12 My foot standeth in an even place: in the congregations will I bless the LORD.

Psalm 27
1 The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? 2 When the wicked, even mine enemies and my foes, came upon me to eat up my flesh, they stumbled and fell. 3 Though an host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear: though war should rise against me, in this will I be confident. 4 One thing have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to enquire in his temple. 5 For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion: in the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me; he shall set me up upon a rock. 6 And now shall mine head be lifted up above mine enemies round about me: therefore will I offer in his tabernacle sacrifices of joy; I will sing, yea, I will sing praises unto the LORD. 7 Hear, O LORD, when I cry with my voice: have mercy also upon me, and answer me. 8 When thou saidst, Seek ye my face; my heart said unto thee, Thy face, LORD, will I seek. 9 Hide not thy face far from me; put not thy servant away in anger: thou hast been my help; leave me not, neither forsake me, O God of my salvation. 10 When my father and my mother forsake me, then the LORD will take me up. 11 Teach me thy way, O LORD, and lead me in a plain path, because of mine enemies. 12 Deliver me not over unto the will of mine enemies: for false witnesses are risen up against me, and such as breathe out cruelty. 13 I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living. 14 Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.





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The day's reading from the New Testament is verses 17-38 in chapter 20 of the Acts of the Apostles.  Paul is setting off once again on a tough journey.  Nearly as tough, is saying farewell to those to whom he had ministered and discipled, knowing that he would never see them again on this earth.  A hard thing, some of us have reason to know.  Very hard.  But duty called.

Acts 20:17-38
17 And from Miletus he sent to Ephesus, and called the elders of the church. 18 And when they were come to him, he said unto them, Ye know, from the first day that I came into Asia, after what manner I have been with you at all seasons, 19 Serving the LORD with all humility of mind, and with many tears, and temptations, which befell me by the lying in wait of the Jews: 20 And how I kept back nothing that was profitable unto you, but have shewed you, and have taught you publickly, and from house to house, 21 Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ. 22 And now, behold, I go bound in the spirit unto Jerusalem, not knowing the things that shall befall me there: 23 Save that the Holy Ghost witnesseth in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions abide me. 24 But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God. 25 And now, behold, I know that ye all, among whom I have gone preaching the kingdom of God, shall see my face no more. 26 Wherefore I take you to record this day, that I am pure from the blood of all men. 27 For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God. 28 Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood. 29 For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. 30 Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them. 31 Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears. 32 And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified. 33 I have coveted no man's silver, or gold, or apparel. 34 Yea, ye yourselves know, that these hands have ministered unto my necessities, and to them that were with me. 35 I have shewed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive. 36 And when he had thus spoken, he kneeled down, and prayed with them all. 37 And they all wept sore, and fell on Paul's neck, and kissed him, 38 Sorrowing most of all for the words which he spake, that they should see his face no more. And they accompanied him unto the ship.



17 July 2017

Today's Readings and Stuff -- Monday, 17 July 2017

A good day is wished to all who stop in this off-the-beaten-path place.  Hope that all is well and getting even better.

It's quiet here right now.  Wife slept poorly last night, but having taken a long nap in the late afternoon to early evening may have had something to do with that.  She was up before I was awake, had her coffee and banana (for the potassium that she needs) and a leftover biscuit.  When I got up and had half a cup of coffee down and a bowl of instant low-sugar oatmeal down, she wanted to go outside and pick some cucumbers off the vines, and to take "little kitty", a.k.a. "Princess Squeak" out on the leash arrangement she has acquired.  What that meant was they watched as I picked half a dozen 4 inch long cucumber and also pulled more weeds, a never ending chore.  And then we went inside.  And, in short order, she wanted lunch, it having been a good while since she had her breakfast.  So we ate big salads, employing one of the cucumbers.  She's passed out on the recliner, with feet elevated, and an overweight orange cat laying on her legs.  I just finished doing dishes and have one load of laundry in the drier and another in the washer. Just did  the cat pans as well.  Isn't that exciting??
In a bit, I'll finish the disconnection and removal effort of the cable  TV box, etc. from the stand, and be ready to haul the lot to the cable "service" provider.  No more cable TV, which we very rarely watched and hadn't wanted, but the pre-merger provider insisted we take in order to get the Internet connection.  No more cable, no more "land line" phone either.  Small loss.

 We've been informed that someone broke into next-door niece's car the other night.  Got a little loose change and rearranged stuff.  She normally is rigidly one who always locks the car, so that is curious.  But Wife spotted a device that is available on-line, that acts like a wide-spectrum remote control and is designed to electronically "pop" the locks on GM vehicle , late model ones, and you don't need to be real close to do it either.  "Progress" some call it.  I'm not so sure.  Anyway, we are seeing some "interesting" characters hanging out at a house down the street, one of those that has a registered Sex Offender living there, and some other "interesting" types as well.  Most of the neighbors have been informed.  There's a "navigable waterway" less than a mile from here, and I suspect that anyone found breaking into cars will be found, what's left of him anyway, floating down that river at a later point.  People around here, NONE of them wealthy or even middle class actually, are not big on the forgiveness thing, and while everyone deserves a second chance, some around here are already on their 19th chance and the good will account is overdrawn.

We have appointment in the morning with the oral surgeon, FINALLY!  Hopefully she will get some relief from it.  It's been a very rough six weeks or so.  Very.
And Wednesday, an appointment with the rheumatologist.
Wednesday night will be the tough one.  A funeral / memorial service about 15 miles from here.  I get confused with some of the relationships, but I believe that it is Wife's cousin's husband or something like that.  What will be tricky is that the deceased was also the brother of Dear Wife's ex-husband.  Something like that.  Said "ex" will be there.  So there will be some delicate moments. 
We've been to quite a few funerals since we came back into the area, too many actually.  And there were quite a few that we missed while living far away, some, like some aunts and uncles and cousins of mine, that I wasn't even told about until years after the fact.

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Our Old Testament reading for the day is Psalms 22, 23, and 24.
Psalm 23 is probably the best known of all the Psalms, a favorite of many, and I like it as well.
But don't neglect the others.  For example, Psalm 24 is one of those that I was "encouraged" to memorize when around 10 years old or so, and it stuck with me.
Don't overlook Psalm 22 either.  You should recognize the first verse, Jesus cried it out from the Cross.  Read the whole thing. 

Psalm 22
1 My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? why art thou so far from helping me, and from the words of my roaring? 2 O my God, I cry in the day time, but thou hearest not; and in the night season, and am not silent. 3 But thou art holy, O thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel. 4 Our fathers trusted in thee: they trusted, and thou didst deliver them. 5 They cried unto thee, and were delivered: they trusted in thee, and were not confounded. 6 But I am a worm, and no man; a reproach of men, and despised of the people. 7 All they that see me laugh me to scorn: they shoot out the lip, they shake the head, saying, 8 He trusted on the LORD that he would deliver him: let him deliver him, seeing he delighted in him. 9 But thou art he that took me out of the womb: thou didst make me hope when I was upon my mother's breasts. 10 I was cast upon thee from the womb: thou art my God from my mother's belly. 11 Be not far from me; for trouble is near; for there is none to help. 12 Many bulls have compassed me: strong bulls of Bashan have beset me round. 13 They gaped upon me with their mouths, as a ravening and a roaring lion. 14 I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint: my heart is like wax; it is melted in the midst of my bowels. 15 My strength is dried up like a potsherd; and my tongue cleaveth to my jaws; and thou hast brought me into the dust of death. 16 For dogs have compassed me: the assembly of the wicked have inclosed me: they pierced my hands and my feet. 17 I may tell all my bones: they look and stare upon me. 18 They part my garments among them, and cast lots upon my vesture. 19 But be not thou far from me, O LORD: O my strength, haste thee to help me. 20 Deliver my soul from the sword; my darling from the power of the dog. 21 Save me from the lion's mouth: for thou hast heard me from the horns of the unicorns. 22 I will declare thy name unto my brethren: in the midst of the congregation will I praise thee. 23 Ye that fear the LORD, praise him; all ye the seed of Jacob, glorify him; and fear him, all ye the seed of Israel. 24 For he hath not despised nor abhorred the affliction of the afflicted; neither hath he hid his face from him; but when he cried unto him, he heard. 25 My praise shall be of thee in the great congregation: I will pay my vows before them that fear him. 26 The meek shall eat and be satisfied: they shall praise the LORD that seek him: your heart shall live for ever. 27 All the ends of the world shall remember and turn unto the LORD: and all the kindreds of the nations shall worship before thee. 28 For the kingdom is the LORD's: and he is the governor among the nations. 29 All they that be fat upon earth shall eat and worship: all they that go down to the dust shall bow before him: and none can keep alive his own soul. 30 A seed shall serve him; it shall be accounted to the Lord for a generation. 31 They shall come, and shall declare his righteousness unto a people that shall be born, that he hath done this.

Psalm 23
1 The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. 2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. 3 He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. 4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. 5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. 6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.

Psalm 24
1 The earth is the LORD's, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein. 2 For he hath founded it upon the seas, and established it upon the floods. 3 Who shall ascend into the hill of the LORD? or who shall stand in his holy place? 4 He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully. 5 He shall receive the blessing from the LORD, and righteousness from the God of his salvation. 6 This is the generation of them that seek him, that seek thy face, O Jacob. Selah. 7 Lift up your heads, O ye gates; and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in. 8 Who is this King of glory? The LORD strong and mighty, the LORD mighty in battle. 9 Lift up your heads, O ye gates; even lift them up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in. 10 Who is this King of glory? The LORD of hosts, he is the King of glory. Selah.




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The reading in the New Testament is verses 1-16 in chapter 20 of the Acts of the Apostles.

Acts 20:1-16
1 And after the uproar was ceased, Paul called unto him the disciples, and embraced them, and departed for to go into Macedonia. 2 And when he had gone over those parts, and had given them much exhortation, he came into Greece, 3 And there abode three months. And when the Jews laid wait for him, as he was about to sail into Syria, he purposed to return through Macedonia. 4 And there accompanied him into Asia Sopater of Berea; and of the Thessalonians, Aristarchus and Secundus; and Gaius of Derbe, and Timotheus; and of Asia, Tychicus and Trophimus. 5 These going before tarried for us at Troas. 6 And we sailed away from Philippi after the days of unleavened bread, and came unto them to Troas in five days; where we abode seven days. 7 And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them, ready to depart on the morrow; and continued his speech until midnight. 8 And there were many lights in the upper chamber, where they were gathered together. 9 And there sat in a window a certain young man named Eutychus, being fallen into a deep sleep: and as Paul was long preaching, he sunk down with sleep, and fell down from the third loft, and was taken up dead. 10 And Paul went down, and fell on him, and embracing him said, Trouble not yourselves; for his life is in him. 11 When he therefore was come up again, and had broken bread, and eaten, and talked a long while, even till break of day, so he departed. 12 And they brought the young man alive, and were not a little comforted. 13 And we went before to ship, and sailed unto Assos, there intending to take in Paul: for so had he appointed, minding himself to go afoot. 14 And when he met with us at Assos, we took him in, and came to Mitylene. 15 And we sailed thence, and came the next day over against Chios; and the next day we arrived at Samos, and tarried at Trogyllium; and the next day we came to Miletus. 16 For Paul had determined to sail by Ephesus, because he would not spend the time in Asia: for he hasted, if it were possible for him, to be at Jerusalem the day of Pentecost.



16 July 2017

Today's Readings and Stuff -- Sunday, 16 July 2017

Well, we are now in the second half of the month of July.  August is only a few weeks away, and September, the first of the hated months ending in "-ber", rhyming with BRRRR! follows thereafter.  Color me somewhat less joyful than I should be at that thought.  But it's not an issue settled by a vote.  We shall see what the future holds for us all.
Wife is back in bed.  Shortly before I got home from church, she had stuck her head outside,and got stung by "something".  We don't know what.  Evidently not a wasp or a bee, or we'd have been using the Epi-pen, she is extremely reactive to their stings to the point of stopped breathing, so the Epi-pen and a fast trip to the ER would have been in order.  Probably a sweat bee or the like.  Made her hand, the area stung, all numb and such.  She had me give her two of the off-brand Benadryl that we keep around here.  That would have knocked most people out, but not her.  Several hours later, she chose to go take a nap, and is busy at that right now.

I'm spending a little while disconnecting some things.  When we moved here, we wanted Internet access, as good as a deal combining cost and speed as we could get or at least afford.  And a phone line: where we'd lived before, the flood of promises from AT&T of improved tower placement and signal strength were assiduously dishonored.  We had to be 1/4 mile or more from home for the cell phones to work at all.  So we HAD to have a "land line", and we presumed the same would be needed here.  Time-Warner made a number of promises, broke almost all of them, gave lousy service and skyrocketing prices.  We really didn't want the TV package, we're not TV people, really, but they told us it was only with a TV+ internet package that we could get the internet speed we wanted.  And the phone was part of that.  Service has been wretched, promises made unkept, and we're tired of talking to service reps for whom English is a second or third language.  The merger that created Spectrum has dropped that package requirement.  So, effective yesterday, we have no cable TV (rarely watched anyway) and no "land line" phones either.  Inasmuch as that same "organization" has been the ones at fault for numerous cases of 911 lines down to numerous police and fire departments in the area, it's a small loss. So I've got loose cables and cable boxes, etc., stacked around and will haul the lot to their office tomorrow.  And good riddance to them.  Heartily UN-recommended.

Niece and great-niece and sister-in-law are still at the county fair, the last day of it.  Sister-in-law and husband are members of an antique tractor club that displays there, and it's a Big Deal to them, although the club will have some sort of show at their club grounds in a month or so, I guess.

I really didn''t want to check the news.  Seems more and more like being on the ground during the times of King Ahab or another of the Old Testament kings just before the nation fell to the Assyrians.  There are those who think that could never happen.  I wish that I could agree, but it seems more possible every day.  After that, well, it 's in the Lord's hands.   We've told him to get lost, so perhaps he will remove His hand of protection.  Would be only fair.

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Our reading in the Old Testament today is Psalms 19, 20, and 21
Psalm 19 is a personal favorite of mine.  Yes, indeed.  The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork.
David, especially in his younger years, spent a lot of time outside, and more than a few nights out there with the sheep.  No "light pollution" to distract from the night sky.  And some spectacular sights in the day.  He saw most of the world as the Lord had created it, before humans built cities and towns.

Psalm 19
1 The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork. 2 Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge. 3 There is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard. 4 Their line is gone out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In them hath he set a tabernacle for the sun, 5 Which is as a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, and rejoiceth as a strong man to run a race. 6 His going forth is from the end of the heaven, and his circuit unto the ends of it: and there is nothing hid from the heat thereof. 7 The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple. 8 The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes. 9 The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether. 10 More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb. 11 Moreover by them is thy servant warned: and in keeping of them there is great reward. 12 Who can understand his errors? cleanse thou me from secret faults. 13 Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me: then shall I be upright, and I shall be innocent from the great transgression. 14 Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer.

Psalm 20
1 The LORD hear thee in the day of trouble; the name of the God of Jacob defend thee; 2 Send thee help from the sanctuary, and strengthen thee out of Zion; 3 Remember all thy offerings, and accept thy burnt sacrifice; Selah. 4 Grant thee according to thine own heart, and fulfil all thy counsel. 5 We will rejoice in thy salvation, and in the name of our God we will set up our banners: the LORD fulfil all thy petitions. 6 Now know I that the LORD saveth his anointed; he will hear him from his holy heaven with the saving strength of his right hand. 7 Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the LORD our God. 8 They are brought down and fallen: but we are risen, and stand upright. 9 Save, LORD: let the king hear us when we call.

Psalm 21
1 The king shall joy in thy strength, O LORD; and in thy salvation how greatly shall he rejoice! 2 Thou hast given him his heart's desire, and hast not withholden the request of his lips. Selah. 3 For thou preventest him with the blessings of goodness: thou settest a crown of pure gold on his head. 4 He asked life of thee, and thou gavest it him, even length of days for ever and ever. 5 His glory is great in thy salvation: honour and majesty hast thou laid upon him. 6 For thou hast made him most blessed for ever: thou hast made him exceeding glad with thy countenance. 7 For the king trusteth in the LORD, and through the mercy of the most High he shall not be moved. 8 Thine hand shall find out all thine enemies: thy right hand shall find out those that hate thee. 9 Thou shalt make them as a fiery oven in the time of thine anger: the LORD shall swallow them up in his wrath, and the fire shall devour them. 10 Their fruit shalt thou destroy from the earth, and their seed from among the children of men. 11 For they intended evil against thee: they imagined a mischievous device, which they are not able to perform. 12 Therefore shalt thou make them turn their back, when thou shalt make ready thine arrows upon thy strings against the face of them. 13 Be thou exalted, LORD, in thine own strength: so will we sing and praise thy power.



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Our reading from the New Testament continues in the 19th chapter of the Acts of the Apostles, with verses 21-41

There are those who would counsel that the  Gospel message be "massaged" in order to be acceptable to the World, and not "upset people", or, to use the current in-term, be "triggering".  WRONG!! 
The Gospel message, then and now, is inherently upsetting to many, it goes against all they believe and are comfortable with.  Preaching it will, and always has, drawn opposition and anger.  Always will, until the Lord returns.

Acts 19:21-41
21 After these things were ended, Paul purposed in the spirit, when he had passed through Macedonia and Achaia, to go to Jerusalem, saying, After I have been there, I must also see Rome. 22 So he sent into Macedonia two of them that ministered unto him, Timotheus and Erastus; but he himself stayed in Asia for a season. 23 And the same time there arose no small stir about that way. 24 For a certain man named Demetrius, a silversmith, which made silver shrines for Diana, brought no small gain unto the craftsmen; 25 Whom he called together with the workmen of like occupation, and said, Sirs, ye know that by this craft we have our wealth. 26 Moreover ye see and hear, that not alone at Ephesus, but almost throughout all Asia, this Paul hath persuaded and turned away much people, saying that they be no gods, which are made with hands: 27 So that not only this our craft is in danger to be set at nought; but also that the temple of the great goddess Diana should be despised, and her magnificence should be destroyed, whom all Asia and the world worshippeth. 28 And when they heard these sayings, they were full of wrath, and cried out, saying, Great is Diana of the Ephesians. 29 And the whole city was filled with confusion: and having caught Gaius and Aristarchus, men of Macedonia, Paul's companions in travel, they rushed with one accord into the theatre. 30 And when Paul would have entered in unto the people, the disciples suffered him not. 31 And certain of the chief of Asia, which were his friends, sent unto him, desiring him that he would not adventure himself into the theatre. 32 Some therefore cried one thing, and some another: for the assembly was confused: and the more part knew not wherefore they were come together. 33 And they drew Alexander out of the multitude, the Jews putting him forward. And Alexander beckoned with the hand, and would have made his defence unto the people. 34 But when they knew that he was a Jew, all with one voice about the space of two hours cried out, Great is Diana of the Ephesians. 35 And when the townclerk had appeased the people, he said, Ye men of Ephesus, what man is there that knoweth not how that the city of the Ephesians is a worshipper of the great goddess Diana, and of the image which fell down from Jupiter? 36 Seeing then that these things cannot be spoken against, ye ought to be quiet, and to do nothing rashly. 37 For ye have brought hither these men, which are neither robbers of churches, nor yet blasphemers of your goddess. 38 Wherefore if Demetrius, and the craftsmen which are with him, have a matter against any man, the law is open, and there are deputies: let them implead one another. 39 But if ye enquire any thing concerning other matters, it shall be determined in a lawful assembly. 40 For we are in danger to be called in question for this day's uproar, there being no cause whereby we may give an account of this concourse. 41 And when he had thus spoken, he dismissed the assembly.