Today's Readings and Stuff -- Saturday, 02 September 2017

1st Saturday of the month means that the local fire stations "test" their sirens.  So we were treated to all of that earlier today.  We live near some manufacturing operations that also have a variety of siren systems, there for other purposes, and near a navigable waterway (to use the EPA terminology) that is the heart of the line between two states, so we also get to hear the sirens and whistles, etc. from over there.  The world being what it is, and our backgrounds being what they are, we always pay attention to all of the alarms, and always make a point of reassuring each other that it's just the required monthly test of the systems.  And then we go on-line to verify that someone hasn't chosen this particular moment to sneak a missile over the horizon.
And, of course, it hasn't escaped our attention that we are only a week + a few days from 9/11.  As some people, though of course none of the LameStreamMedia types, are aware, the choice of 9/11 in 2001 was not a random date for the Islamo-heathens to launch their attack upon the United States.

• it is the date of the Battle of Zenta (now Senta) now in Serbia, back in 1697, in which event the Ottoman Empire's army suffered a terrible blow, including the death of the Grand Vizier, forcing the Sultan to sue for peace.  This led to the Treaty of Karlowitz, and ceded control of Hungary and most of Transylvania to the Hapsburgs, which reduced the territory groaning under the boot of the Moslems greatly.  They're still mad.  (note the Transylvanian connection here.  Vlad Tepes, a name you might recall, used psychological warfare, as well as more conventional approaches, in fending off the heathens).
• It also marks the date of the announcement of the Moslem expulsion from Spain, back in 1699.   The Spanish, you might recall, had been occupied by these heathens for 800 years, ending in 1492 (remember that date?).  But that had left a Moslem population embedded.  Finally, after 200+years of the sort of thing we're now seeing in Europe from their co-religionists, the Spaniards had had enough, and kicked them ALL out.  And the heathens believe that, once Moslem, always Moslem, and intend to take it back.  Look up, some time, the term "al-Andalusia".  And, yes, they're serious.
• It marks the date of the Siege of Vienna, back in 1683.  Volumes have been written on this, the siege marked the "high water" point of the Moslem expansions into Europe.  Yes, they lost.  And are still mad.  Go read up on it.
• And, finally, it matches the date of the Great Siege of Malta, back in 1565.  200 ships, sent by Suleiman the Magnificent, off the coast intending to destroy the Knights of Malta, that had been thwarting his expansion plans.  They expected to win handily, then to overrun Sicily and invade Italy.  Except that the Knights of Malta and the Knights of St. John had other ideas.  75% of the Moslem attackers went to Hell.

So the choice of that date was no accident.
And that same date is near unto us now.
Since 9/11/2001, the Moslems have carried out (as of this minute) 31667 deadly attacks worldwide.  For the month of July 2017, that is 179 attacks, leading to 1275 deaths, 932 injuries, in 25 nations worldwide.  For the week of 19 August to 25 August, that is 35 attacks with 190 killed, in 16 countries.  See the website www.thereligionofpeace.com for further details.   So we can expect that the tradition may be continued.

So that is on my mind today.

Tomorrow will be a bit odd.  I am intending to attend church services in the morning.  I may have to cut out a few minutes early:  tomorrow early afternoon my nephew and his wife are having a renewal of their wedding vows at the church I grew up in, right on the southern edge of the county south of us.  I have prevailed upon my one brother to pick us up on his way in from Akron, and we'll ride down and back with him, a favor I greatly appreciate.  I expect that my nephew's dad, my youngest brother, will not attend.  Even if he does, his current wife, who hates his kids, and their wives, and me and my wife, will not.  A bit of a strained relationship there, and I wish to say no more.

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Today's reading in the Old Testament is chapters 1 and 2 of the Proverbs.
I am told that at one time, particularly in colonial America, these were taught, including to kids in the school houses.  Which had, certainly, an impact upon the culture.  Today, they are rarely mentioned even in the churches, and certainly not in the public schools.  Which has had, likewise, a different impact -- or lack of one -- upon the culture. And it shows.

Proverbs 1

1 The proverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel; 2 To know wisdom and instruction; to perceive the words of understanding; 3 To receive the instruction of wisdom, justice, and judgment, and equity; 4 To give subtilty to the simple, to the young man knowledge and discretion. 5 A wise man will hear, and will increase learning; and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels: 6 To understand a proverb, and the interpretation; the words of the wise, and their dark sayings. 7 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction. 8 My son, hear the instruction of thy father, and forsake not the law of thy mother: 9 For they shall be an ornament of grace unto thy head, and chains about thy neck. 10 My son, if sinners entice thee, consent thou not. 11 If they say, Come with us, let us lay wait for blood, let us lurk privily for the innocent without cause: 12 Let us swallow them up alive as the grave; and whole, as those that go down into the pit: 13 We shall find all precious substance, we shall fill our houses with spoil: 14 Cast in thy lot among us; let us all have one purse: 15 My son, walk not thou in the way with them; refrain thy foot from their path: 16 For their feet run to evil, and make haste to shed blood. 17 Surely in vain the net is spread in the sight of any bird. 18 And they lay wait for their own blood; they lurk privily for their own lives. 19 So are the ways of every one that is greedy of gain; which taketh away the life of the owners thereof. 20 Wisdom crieth without; she uttereth her voice in the streets: 21 She crieth in the chief place of concourse, in the openings of the gates: in the city she uttereth her words, saying, 22 How long, ye simple ones, will ye love simplicity? and the scorners delight in their scorning, and fools hate knowledge? 23 Turn you at my reproof: behold, I will pour out my spirit unto you, I will make known my words unto you. 24 Because I have called, and ye refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no man regarded; 25 But ye have set at nought all my counsel, and would none of my reproof: 26 I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your fear cometh; 27 When your fear cometh as desolation, and your destruction cometh as a whirlwind; when distress and anguish cometh upon you. 28 Then shall they call upon me, but I will not answer; they shall seek me early, but they shall not find me: 29 For that they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of the LORD: 30 They would none of my counsel: they despised all my reproof. 31 Therefore shall they eat of the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own devices. 32 For the turning away of the simple shall slay them, and the prosperity of fools shall destroy them. 33 But whoso hearkeneth unto me shall dwell safely, and shall be quiet from fear of evil.

Proverbs 2

1 My son, if thou wilt receive my words, and hide my commandments with thee; 2 So that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom, and apply thine heart to understanding; 3 Yea, if thou criest after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for understanding; 4 If thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures; 5 Then shalt thou understand the fear of the LORD, and find the knowledge of God. 6 For the LORD giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding. 7 He layeth up sound wisdom for the righteous: he is a buckler to them that walk uprightly. 8 He keepeth the paths of judgment, and preserveth the way of his saints. 9 Then shalt thou understand righteousness, and judgment, and equity; yea, every good path. 10 When wisdom entereth into thine heart, and knowledge is pleasant unto thy soul; 11 Discretion shall preserve thee, understanding shall keep thee: 12 To deliver thee from the way of the evil man, from the man that speaketh froward things; 13 Who leave the paths of uprightness, to walk in the ways of darkness; 14 Who rejoice to do evil, and delight in the frowardness of the wicked; 15 Whose ways are crooked, and they froward in their paths: 16 To deliver thee from the strange woman, even from the stranger which flattereth with her words; 17 Which forsaketh the guide of her youth, and forgetteth the covenant of her God. 18 For her house inclineth unto death, and her paths unto the dead. 19 None that go unto her return again, neither take they hold of the paths of life. 20 That thou mayest walk in the way of good men, and keep the paths of the righteous. 21 For the upright shall dwell in the land, and the perfect shall remain in it. 22 But the wicked shall be cut off from the earth, and the transgressors shall be rooted out of it.

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Our New Testament reading for today is chapter 12 of 1st Corinthians.
In very many churches today, I hear and see little discussion of the issue.  In others, I hear and see obsession over the matter.  I do believe that the Lord has a purpose and an assignment for each of us, we are not called to be mere spectators.  Or back-seat drivers either. 

I Corinthians 12

1 Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you ignorant. 2 Ye know that ye were Gentiles, carried away unto these dumb idols, even as ye were led. 3 Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed: and that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost. 4 Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. 5 And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord. 6 And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all. 7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal. 8 For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; 9 To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; 10 To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues: 11 But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will. 12 For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ. 13 For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit. 14 For the body is not one member, but many. 15 If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? 16 And if the ear shall say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? 17 If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling? 18 But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him. 19 And if they were all one member, where were the body? 20 But now are they many members, yet but one body. 21 And the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee: nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you. 22 Nay, much more those members of the body, which seem to be more feeble, are necessary: 23 And those members of the body, which we think to be less honourable, upon these we bestow more abundant honour; and our uncomely parts have more abundant comeliness. 24 For our comely parts have no need: but God hath tempered the body together, having given more abundant honour to that part which lacked. 25 That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another. 26 And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it. 27 Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular. 28 And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues. 29 Are all apostles? are all prophets? are all teachers? are all workers of miracles? 30 Have all the gifts of healing? do all speak with tongues? do all interpret? 31 But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet shew I unto you a more excellent way.

Today's Readings and Stuff -- Friday, 01 September 2017

😔
Well, we have "made it" to September.  The first day of Autumn is only a few weeks distant.  The "high" today is predicted to be all of 66°F.  Not my idea of warm & toasty.  Not when the temp at our previous homes is expected to range from 86° in western Arkansas to 82° in central Alabama and a low of 77° in East Tennessee, in the foothills of the Smoky Mountains, and that latter one to hit 85° by Monday.  We're still in Summer!!

And more thoughts along the lines of where my head has been lately.
We currently live near a city that has, in the last few decades, gone from a population of 166,689 in the 1960 census, down to 66,982 in the 2010 census and and estimated 64,312 in 2016.  Quite a collapse!  That is lower than the population in 1910!  And those remaining are increasingly old, poor, uneducated, and unemployed.  I have seen, from my errands and from use of Google Maps and the Google Earth extensions, streets with NO occupied structures and others with virtually none.  Neighborhoods that once thrived (more or less) that are now weed-covered and abandoned.  People without jobs, without hope, and without God.  Places with no groceries, no churches, no positive signs.  Though, all too often, with a nearby bar or "party shop" (need a definition?), and hangouts for the drug dealers and hookers.  And no employment or prospect of it, especially if you don't have a car or access to transport.  Like something from a dystopian movie or novel, except that these are real people.

My background as an engineering manufacturing project engineer and manager might make possible some effort at revivifying some of this.  That was my thought, originally.  But then, in the night, I had a dream.  Saw some of these devastated neighborhoods, with empty factories or shops, boarded-up buildings that had once been neighborhood markets and retail shops, boarded-up or burned out houses or empty weed-covered lots with just the driveway cutout to show that there had at one time been houses there.  Places where people lived, shopped, worked.  All gone now.  I can spot half a dozen within a 10 minute walk from where we live now.  Stark evidence of the collapse of the region.
So, I had at various times in my dreams (or, likely, fantasies), seen myself a potential hero, coming in and restarting some of these abandoned manufacturing operations (or something similar) that could provide a good product, an employment opportunity for that area, and perhaps make possible the recovery of some of these local retailers.  Perhaps even to open one.  And then I thought about the realities of that.  Like, suppose I opened a small grocery to prevent the "food desert" situation.  But no beer, no wine, no lottery tickets, no condoms, no cigarettes, no ..... you get the idea.  Would it succeed?  Doubtful.  And then I realized that things like this, grandiose big projects, are exactly what all the "urban planners" and self-anointed "elites" have been doing for decades.  Wasting billions if not trillions of dollar all around  the country, providing employment and comfort for themselves and their otherwise unemployable relatives, and generally making things worse by far.
Did you see what got left out of all of that?
I somewhat upset an old high school classmate in a meeting a few years ago, the first such in more than 40 years, when I said, "you can't have a good town without good people in it. "  I thought it to be true, and all of that.  Evidently, it's not a  popular position.  But if we don't first, or at least tied for first, address the moral and cultural issues, having better sidewalks and trendy after-school programs isn't going to accomplish anything lasting.

I am reminded of Matthew 6. 

30 Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?

31 Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?

32 (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.

33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

34 Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.

So, how do we, carrying out the Lord's marching orders, empowered and directed by Him, accomplish His plans in this?  Certainly not in our own worldly wisdom and our own strength.  The disasters of the last 40+ years should have taught this, if nothing else.  "Seek ye FIRST ...." has got to be first and foremost, and discovering His will is vital.


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Our Old Testament passage today, completing our annual trek through the Psalms, is Psalms 148, 149, and 150.  These are very definitely songs of praise and adoration of the Lord.  Not focusing on circumstances or anything else, but focused on Him.  Yes, He is worthy.  And it is true, focusing on Him changes us as well.  Puts things into perspective and brings us into closer communion with Him.  Isn't that what we want?  Isn't that what we need?

Psalm 148

1 Praise ye the LORD. Praise ye the LORD from the heavens: praise him in the heights. 2 Praise ye him, all his angels: praise ye him, all his hosts. 3 Praise ye him, sun and moon: praise him, all ye stars of light. 4 Praise him, ye heavens of heavens, and ye waters that be above the heavens. 5 Let them praise the name of the LORD: for he commanded, and they were created. 6 He hath also stablished them for ever and ever: he hath made a decree which shall not pass. 7 Praise the LORD from the earth, ye dragons, and all deeps: 8 Fire, and hail; snow, and vapours; stormy wind fulfilling his word: 9 Mountains, and all hills; fruitful trees, and all cedars: 10 Beasts, and all cattle; creeping things, and flying fowl: 11 Kings of the earth, and all people; princes, and all judges of the earth: 12 Both young men, and maidens; old men, and children: 13 Let them praise the name of the LORD: for his name alone is excellent; his glory is above the earth and heaven. 14 He also exalteth the horn of his people, the praise of all his saints; even of the children of Israel, a people near unto him. Praise ye the LORD.

Psalm 149

1 Praise ye the LORD. Sing unto the LORD a new song, and his praise in the congregation of saints. 2 Let Israel rejoice in him that made him: let the children of Zion be joyful in their King. 3 Let them praise his name in the dance: let them sing praises unto him with the timbrel and harp. 4 For the LORD taketh pleasure in his people: he will beautify the meek with salvation. 5 Let the saints be joyful in glory: let them sing aloud upon their beds. 6 Let the high praises of God be in their mouth, and a two-edged sword in their hand; 7 To execute vengeance upon the heathen, and punishments upon the people; 8 To bind their kings with chains, and their nobles with fetters of iron; 9 To execute upon them the judgment written: this honour have all his saints. Praise ye the LORD.

Psalm 150

1 Praise ye the LORD. Praise God in his sanctuary: praise him in the firmament of his power. 2 Praise him for his mighty acts: praise him according to his excellent greatness. 3 Praise him with the sound of the trumpet: praise him with the psaltery and harp. 4 Praise him with the timbrel and dance: praise him with stringed instruments and organs. 5 Praise him upon the loud cymbals: praise him upon the high sounding cymbals. 6 Let every thing that hath breath praise the LORD. Praise ye the LORD.

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Our reading in the New Testament is verses 16-34 in chapter 11 of 1st Corinthians.
By the way, Corinth at the time was a very wealthy and prosperous place.  A harbor with two arms, one of which was the trade with Rome and that region, one of which was the trade with Asia.  Prosperous and proud and pagan.  And, yes, famous for its immorality.  To call a woman "a Corinthian woman" was essentially to call her a prostitute.  So Paul was by no means addressing a comfortable group lolling around the equivalent of the Bible Belt.  Anything but, and there was definite opposition.  And there were the cultural habits of the  region, even within the church there.  Still happens, even here.

I Corinthians 11:16-34

16 But if any man seem to be contentious, we have no such custom, neither the churches of God. 17 Now in this that I declare unto you I praise you not, that ye come together not for the better, but for the worse. 18 For first of all, when ye come together in the church, I hear that there be divisions among you; and I partly believe it. 19 For there must be also heresies among you, that they which are approved may be made manifest among you. 20 When ye come together therefore into one place, this is not to eat the Lord's supper. 21 For in eating every one taketh before other his own supper: and one is hungry, and another is drunken. 22 What? have ye not houses to eat and to drink in? or despise ye the church of God, and shame them that have not? What shall I say to you? shall I praise you in this? I praise you not. 23 For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, That the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread: 24 And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me. 25 After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me. 26 For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till he come. 27 Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. 28 But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup. 29 For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord's body. 30 For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep. 31 For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged. 32 But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world. 33 Wherefore, my brethren, when ye come together to eat, tarry one for another. 34 And if any man hunger, let him eat at home; that ye come not together unto condemnation. And the rest will I set in order when I come.

Today's Readings and Stuff -- Thursday. 31 August 2017 very slightly modified

VERY late today on this.  I woke up this morning with quite a lot in mind, and some things that I wanted to say, but they just were not quite "there".  During the day, they -- these things -- drew off and left me hanging.  Perhaps a wiser person would have a better handle on things, and perhaps these things just aren't quite "ripe" yet.  Not certain.

We stayed around the house today, she's apparently into a "flare", the accepted term in the field for when one's autoimmune disease(s) pop up and make themselves more known than at other times.  I'd feared what was going on was a recurrence of the nasty sinus-infection-verging-on-pneumonia that she'd just come out of, but she believes it's a lupus flare.  She wants to try to restart her weekly Humira injections tomorrow, so we shall see.

As a few people know, while I was born not too far from where I'm sitting now, I never ever felt it to be "home" in the way that normal people apparently do. I may be colorblind in that spectrum or it may be one of my numerous character defects / weirdnesses.  Don't know.  While I lived a few hundred miles from here in my very early 20's, I didn't really care for that place either.  So when circumstances combined to take us -- me and the family -- far out of the area for 22 years, I felt better.  And, for about the first time in my life, I felt happy about where I was.  When circumstances combined to bring us back to the general area, that left.

And yet .....  as I told our church back there when they had a bit of a going-away service for us, I felt that the move here was not a retreat, but an advance on where we were supposed to be.  Not a retreat in defeat.  I have occasionally lost a bit of that attitude and determination, but it is still there.  The Lord knows full well where we are, and I am convinced that this is part of His plan and will.  Yes, it can be very comforting to be living in the "Bible Belt" regions of the country, which is by no means descriptive of where we now reside.  Anything but, though there are parts of the country where that is even less the case.  But if we were still there, to a great extent we'd simply be lolling around, enjoying the fruits of other people's efforts at outreach and evangelism.  And, most likely, not contributing very much to the advance of the Kingdom.  It's taking me a while, too long really, to even begin to understand that.
I don't know, yet, what I am supposed to be doing in that effort.  I am not a particularly pastoral person, though while in the role I did try to carry out the duties of a deacon.  I am not a evangelist type, never have been.  So I'm not sure what the role and responsibilities are for me.  But I believe firmly that the Lord has something in mind, He never makes mistakes.
The first step is to commit fully to follow His lead and will.  That is a lot like signing a blank check, something that most of us are understandably reluctant to do, having been let down by those humans we once thought trustworthy.  And, yes, following Him can be an adventure.  The history is pretty clear on that at least.
So we shall see.  Lots of inward gazing right now.

And we are winding down the last hours of August.  Lord willing, in a few hours we will have entered into the month of September.  There are those who love Autumn.  I am not one of them, and have never been.  Living in the deep South, it wasn't so bad, because the Winter season following was also not so bad.  Here, particularly given the predictions of the bitterly cold and severe winter season advancing on us, it's bad.  REAL bad.  Too bad Global Warming is utter nonsense, one of history's biggest frauds and lies.  Hard to be charitable about it when the temperature is -15°F, the water pipes are frozen, the door may be frozen shut (we had that a few times the winter before last), and the gas and electric companies are threatening to turn the services off for non-payment.  Which we've gotten VERY close to several times.
So that is also on my mind.  Shouldn't be, probably, but it is.

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The Old Testament reading for the day (and, again, sorry for the late hour) is Psalms 145. 146., and 147.  (Incidentally, tomorrow is schedule to be the final episode in the year's passage through the Psalms)

Psalm 145

1 I will extol thee, my God, O king; and I will bless thy name for ever and ever. 2 Every day will I bless thee; and I will praise thy name for ever and ever. 3 Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised; and his greatness is unsearchable. 4 One generation shall praise thy works to another, and shall declare thy mighty acts. 5 I will speak of the glorious honour of thy majesty, and of thy wondrous works. 6 And men shall speak of the might of thy terrible acts: and I will declare thy greatness. 7 They shall abundantly utter the memory of thy great goodness, and shall sing of thy righteousness. 8 The LORD is gracious, and full of compassion; slow to anger, and of great mercy. 9 The LORD is good to all: and his tender mercies are over all his works. 10 All thy works shall praise thee, O LORD; and thy saints shall bless thee. 11 They shall speak of the glory of thy kingdom, and talk of thy power; 12 To make known to the sons of men his mighty acts, and the glorious majesty of his kingdom. 13 Thy kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and thy dominion endureth throughout all generations. 14 The LORD upholdeth all that fall, and raiseth up all those that be bowed down. 15 The eyes of all wait upon thee; and thou givest them their meat in due season. 16 Thou openest thine hand, and satisfiest the desire of every living thing. 17 The LORD is righteous in all his ways, and holy in all his works. 18 The LORD is nigh unto all them that call upon him, to all that call upon him in truth. 19 He will fulfil the desire of them that fear him: he also will hear their cry, and will save them. 20 The LORD preserveth all them that love him: but all the wicked will he destroy. 21 My mouth shall speak the praise of the LORD: and let all flesh bless his holy name for ever and ever.

Psalm 146

1 Praise ye the LORD. Praise the LORD, O my soul. 2 While I live will I praise the LORD: I will sing praises unto my God while I have any being. 3 Put not your trust in princes, nor in the son of man, in whom there is no help. 4 His breath goeth forth, he returneth to his earth; in that very day his thoughts perish. 5 Happy is he that hath the God of Jacob for his help, whose hope is in the LORD his God: 6 Which made heaven, and earth, the sea, and all that therein is: which keepeth truth for ever: 7 Which executeth judgment for the oppressed: which giveth food to the hungry. The LORD looseth the prisoners: 8 The LORD openeth the eyes of the blind: the LORD raiseth them that are bowed down: the LORD loveth the righteous: 9 The LORD preserveth the strangers; he relieveth the fatherless and widow: but the way of the wicked he turneth upside down. 10 The LORD shall reign for ever, even thy God, O Zion, unto all generations. Praise ye the LORD.

Psalm 147

1 Praise ye the LORD: for it is good to sing praises unto our God; for it is pleasant; and praise is comely. 2 The LORD doth build up Jerusalem: he gathereth together the outcasts of Israel. 3 He healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds. 4 He telleth the number of the stars; he calleth them all by their names. 5 Great is our Lord, and of great power: his understanding is infinite. 6 The LORD lifteth up the meek: he casteth the wicked down to the ground. 7 Sing unto the LORD with thanksgiving; sing praise upon the harp unto our God: 8 Who covereth the heaven with clouds, who prepareth rain for the earth, who maketh grass to grow upon the mountains. 9 He giveth to the beast his food, and to the young ravens which cry. 10 He delighteth not in the strength of the horse: he taketh not pleasure in the legs of a man. 11 The LORD taketh pleasure in them that fear him, in those that hope in his mercy. 12 Praise the LORD, O Jerusalem; praise thy God, O Zion. 13 For he hath strengthened the bars of thy gates; he hath blessed thy children within thee. 14 He maketh peace in thy borders, and filleth thee with the finest of the wheat. 15 He sendeth forth his commandment upon earth: his word runneth very swiftly. 16 He giveth snow like wool: he scattereth the hoarfrost like ashes. 17 He casteth forth his ice like morsels: who can stand before his cold? 18 He sendeth out his word, and melteth them: he causeth his wind to blow, and the waters flow. 19 He sheweth his word unto Jacob, his statutes and his judgments unto Israel. 20 He hath not dealt so with any nation: and as for his judgments, they have not known them. Praise ye the LORD.

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The New Testament passage is verses 1-15 of chapter 11 of 1st Corinthians.
Paul makes a statement in verse 1 that I would fear to make.  And yet ...  if people want to know what Jesus is like, they should be able to look at us and  to see Him.  That's rather scary, and I know that I fall far short on that.  Yet that is our "reasonable service".
Much of the rest of this is also tricky.  I can't remember the last time that I hear sermons and lessons on these subjects.  Land mines and quicksand there.


I Corinthians 11:1-15

1 Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ. 2 Now I praise you, brethren, that ye remember me in all things, and keep the ordinances, as I delivered them to you. 3 But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God. 4 Every man praying or prophesying, having his head covered, dishonoureth his head. 5 But every woman that prayeth or prophesieth with her head uncovered dishonoureth her head: for that is even all one as if she were shaven. 6 For if the woman be not covered, let her also be shorn: but if it be a shame for a woman to be shorn or shaven, let her be covered. 7 For a man indeed ought not to cover his head, forasmuch as he is the image and glory of God: but the woman is the glory of the man. 8 For the man is not of the woman: but the woman of the man. 9 Neither was the man created for the woman; but the woman for the man. 10 For this cause ought the woman to have power on her head because of the angels. 11 Nevertheless neither is the man without the woman, neither the woman without the man, in the Lord. 12 For as the woman is of the man, even so is the man also by the woman; but all things of God. 13 Judge in yourselves: is it comely that a woman pray unto God uncovered? 14 Doth not even nature itself teach you, that, if a man have long hair, it is a shame unto him? 15 But if a woman have long hair, it is a glory to her: for her hair is given her for a covering.

Today's Readings and Stuff -- Wednesday, 30 August 2017

Mid-week now.

We see and hear more of the storms and disasters in coastal Texas centered on Houston, and now that tropical storm (downgraded from hurricane status) has made landfall in coastal Louisiana, with effects along that Gulf Coast region, with the spun-off tropical depression and storms expected to make it into the Tennessee Valley region in a few days.  Lots of stuff going on. Lots of death and damage, misery and loss.  Stories out of a drowned woman found with her small child, alive, still clinging to her.  Stories of ordinary citizens from around the country, unbidden, uncompensated, unofficial, making their way down, often with their own boats, performing rescues and transport.  Blood bank drives springing up around the country.  Donations being made by private citizens to the disaster agencies, church disaster groups (notably to include Regular Baptist Builders Club,  Baptist Global Response and Mennonite Disaster Service, among many others), Salvation Army, and Red Cross.

I woke with a song in the head that had, I think, been running through an often-sleepless night just past.  Andrae Crouch brought it, sang it at a Billy Graham crusade back around 1975 and it's been a favorite of many.  Through It All is the title.  Like most others, I would far prefer that the Lord would guide me around the storms of life.  Sure I would.  Won't deny it.  But, what has more often happened, and many of us know it, is that He more often guides us through those storms.  And, in many ways, we emerge as changed from what we were before.  We understand that He is stronger than the storm, no matter what it is.  Now, it is still hard to thank Him for the storms He's brought me through, and I won't deny it.  But it's how I'm learning daily to trust Him.  And that's worth something.  No matter how big the storm, He's in the boat with me.  He can be in your boat too.
By the way, look at some of the singers in the video I linked.  Some of them, Andrae himself included, are no longer with us on this world, like Joey Feek in the front row, Jessy Dixon beside Andrae, Ben Speer in the front row, and others.  Some were very ill even at that time, others went suddenly.  Some were in the midst of, or were just coming through some awful situations and trials.  But "through it all" was and is the testimony.

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The Old Testament passage here is Psalms 142, 143, 144.
Now, a good bit of this was NEVER spoken of when I was growing up in one of the "peace" churches.  Particularly verse 12 of Psalm 143 and the early parts of Psalm 144.  Never mentioned even once.
But also note verse 15 of 144.  Yes, it's frequently taken out of context, but it's also powerful in the stand-alone sense.  A nation that worships and obeys the Lord will certainly be a happy one, no matter what circumstances come.  

Psalm 142

1 I cried unto the LORD with my voice; with my voice unto the LORD did I make my supplication. 2 I poured out my complaint before him; I shewed before him my trouble. 3 When my spirit was overwhelmed within me, then thou knewest my path. In the way wherein I walked have they privily laid a snare for me. 4 I looked on my right hand, and beheld, but there was no man that would know me: refuge failed me; no man cared for my soul. 5 I cried unto thee, O LORD: I said, Thou art my refuge and my portion in the land of the living. 6 Attend unto my cry; for I am brought very low: deliver me from my persecutors; for they are stronger than I. 7 Bring my soul out of prison, that I may praise thy name: the righteous shall compass me about; for thou shalt deal bountifully with me.

Psalm 143

1 Hear my prayer, O LORD, give ear to my supplications: in thy faithfulness answer me, and in thy righteousness. 2 And enter not into judgment with thy servant: for in thy sight shall no man living be justified. 3 For the enemy hath persecuted my soul; he hath smitten my life down to the ground; he hath made me to dwell in darkness, as those that have been long dead. 4 Therefore is my spirit overwhelmed within me; my heart within me is desolate. 5 I remember the days of old; I meditate on all thy works; I muse on the work of thy hands. 6 I stretch forth my hands unto thee: my soul thirsteth after thee, as a thirsty land. Selah. 7 Hear me speedily, O LORD: my spirit faileth: hide not thy face from me, lest I be like unto them that go down into the pit. 8 Cause me to hear thy lovingkindness in the morning; for in thee do I trust: cause me to know the way wherein I should walk; for I lift up my soul unto thee. 9 Deliver me, O LORD, from mine enemies: I flee unto thee to hide me. 10 Teach me to do thy will; for thou art my God: thy spirit is good; lead me into the land of uprightness. 11 Quicken me, O LORD, for thy name's sake: for thy righteousness' sake bring my soul out of trouble. 12 And of thy mercy cut off mine enemies, and destroy all them that afflict my soul: for I am thy servant.

Psalm 144

1 Blessed be the LORD my strength which teacheth my hands to war, and my fingers to fight: 2 My goodness, and my fortress; my high tower, and my deliverer; my shield, and he in whom I trust; who subdueth my people under me. 3 LORD, what is man, that thou takest knowledge of him! or the son of man, that thou makest account of him! 4 Man is like to vanity: his days are as a shadow that passeth away. 5 Bow thy heavens, O LORD, and come down: touch the mountains, and they shall smoke. 6 Cast forth lightning, and scatter them: shoot out thine arrows, and destroy them. 7 Send thine hand from above; rid me, and deliver me out of great waters, from the hand of strange children; 8 Whose mouth speaketh vanity, and their right hand is a right hand of falsehood. 9 I will sing a new song unto thee, O God: upon a psaltery and an instrument of ten strings will I sing praises unto thee. 10 It is he that giveth salvation unto kings: who delivereth David his servant from the hurtful sword. 11 Rid me, and deliver me from the hand of strange children, whose mouth speaketh vanity, and their right hand is a right hand of falsehood: 12 That our sons may be as plants grown up in their youth; that our daughters may be as corner stones, polished after the similitude of a palace: 13 That our garners may be full, affording all manner of store: that our sheep may bring forth thousands and ten thousands in our streets: 14 That our oxen may be strong to labour; that there be no breaking in, nor going out; that there be no complaining in our streets. 15 Happy is that people, that is in such a case: yea, happy is that people, whose God is the LORD.

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Our New Testament reading today, verses 10-33 of 1st Corinthians chapter 10.
Verse 31 is a great "life verse".  Yes, WHATEVER we do, do it all for the glory of God.  Not for our own or for the praise of men or whatever.  For Him, and the smallest thing be done as being done directly for him.  He deserves our very best in everything, no matter how small or lowly.  And that attitude percolates through our very being, and shows, and further glorifies Him as people notice there's something different about him or her.  And there is, or should be.  Our faith and our walk, our daily moment-by-moment connection with the Lord should put Him on display.

I Corinthians 10:14-33

 

14 Wherefore, my dearly beloved, flee from idolatry. 15 I speak as to wise men; judge ye what I say. 16 The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ? 17 For we being many are one bread, and one body: for we are all partakers of that one bread. 18 Behold Israel after the flesh: are not they which eat of the sacrifices partakers of the altar? 19 What say I then? that the idol is any thing, or that which is offered in sacrifice to idols is any thing? 20 But I say, that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to devils, and not to God: and I would not that ye should have fellowship with devils. 21 Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils: ye cannot be partakers of the Lord's table, and of the table of devils. 22 Do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? are we stronger than he? 23 All things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but all things edify not. 24 Let no man seek his own, but every man another's wealth. 25 Whatsoever is sold in the shambles, that eat, asking no question for conscience sake: 26 For the earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof. 27 If any of them that believe not bid you to a feast, and ye be disposed to go; whatsoever is set before you, eat, asking no question for conscience sake. 28 But if any man say unto you, This is offered in sacrifice unto idols, eat not for his sake that shewed it, and for conscience sake: for the earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof: 29 Conscience, I say, not thine own, but of the other: for why is my liberty judged of another man's conscience? 30 For if I by grace be a partaker, why am I evil spoken of for that for which I give thanks? 31 Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God. 32 Give none offence, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God: 33 Even as I please all men in all things, not seeking mine own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved.

Today's Readings and Stuff -- Tuesday, 29 August 2017

Today is a bit of a somber day for me.  Today, 29 August, would have been my father's birthday, had he lived to see it..  It was six  years ago that my youngest brother made the long-distance call to say, "Dad's gone".   We were living nearly a thousand miles away, under less-than-great circumstances.  We had been up over the July shutdown to see family and friends, so Dad and I had been able to spend a few minutes together, though not the private time that I desperately wanted and needed, but was not able to get.  It was evident that he was in pretty bad shape, and I pretty well knew that it would be our last chance on this earth. but wasn't to be.  I envied, then and now and long before, those who had a good relationship with their dad.  I never did.  Perhaps we were too different, two very different people.  But I felt the loss and still do.  So a day like today is a bit of somber wishing for what never had, and feeling of failure for never having been able to bridge the gap.
But I shall see him again, and then we'll have the time, if it still matters to us.  Perhaps we'll be beyond such things.

Sunday, a bit of a celebration.  My brother, the same one who had made the call mentioned above, had three sons.  Two are in the military on active duty, both on their second wives.  The third, the oldest, lives in the area.  He and his wife and son are active in the church I grew up in (his dad, my brother, has rejected the faith, abetted by his current -- 2nd -- wife).  They are having a renewal of their wedding vows on Sunday afternoon and we hope to be able to attend.  Wife believes, at this point anyway, that she'll be well enough to attend.  My brother, his dad, won't.  My other brother lives a few hours away and probably won't either.  My sister and her husband live in central Virginia and can't.  So I'll be the symbolic one on my nephew's side.
If we can.

Next-door nephew-in-law was able to put a pressure tester on our overheating cooling system on our vehicle yesterday, and confirmed our fears: the radiator itself has a real leak.  Will need to be replaced, which will take money we don't have until the 3rd week of September.  Bobby is going to pick up a thing of radiator sealer which will, we hope, hold things together well enough to get us back and forth the 30 miles each way of the trip.  We hope so, anyway.  A bit far to walk and I don't think Wife could operate a bicycle that far, not sure that I could even.  So our intent is to take the vehicle and pray for mercy.  We're grateful that it wasn't worse, which it could have been.

And in any event, other people are having it worse.  There are landslides in Sierra Leone, killing many, in a land with more than enough problems already.  And the awful storm that hit coastal Texas, dumping some 2 TRILLION gallons of rain (yes, that is 2,000,000,000,000 gallons, a block of water roughly 8 cubic miles in volume, in a very short time.  With loss of life whose numbers will not be known for some time, awful damage, much of it uninsured, and the disruption of many lives.  The storm is, I am told, now heading back to sea, meaning it can menace places on the Gulf Coast like New Orleans and Mobile, places where we have friends.  And much else.

Oh, and for those of us far from there, do you remember what happened after Hurricane Katrina in the Gulf?  Disrupted a whole lot of petroleum wells and refining capacity.  Leading to huge increases in gas prices.  Which is already happening in places.  I remember also that the collateral damage included the company that had just hired me and relocated us hundreds of miles.  And then shut down in the middle of our move.  Yes, I remember that.

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The Old Testament reading is Psalms 139, 140., 141.  Psalm 139 is an old favorite of mine.  But it does make you think.

Psalm 139

1 O lord, thou hast searched me, and known me. 2 Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off. 3 Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways. 4 For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O LORD, thou knowest it altogether. 5 Thou hast beset me behind and before, and laid thine hand upon me. 6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain unto it. 7 Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence? 8 If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there. 9 If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea; 10 Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me. 11 If I say, Surely the darkness shall cover me; even the night shall be light about me. 12 Yea, the darkness hideth not from thee; but the night shineth as the day: the darkness and the light are both alike to thee. 13 For thou hast possessed my reins: thou hast covered me in my mother's womb. 14 I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well. 15 My substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. 16 Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them. 17 How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God! how great is the sum of them! 18 If I should count them, they are more in number than the sand: when I awake, I am still with thee. 19 Surely thou wilt slay the wicked, O God: depart from me therefore, ye bloody men. 20 For they speak against thee wickedly, and thine enemies take thy name in vain. 21 Do not I hate them, O LORD, that hate thee? and am not I grieved with those that rise up against thee? 22 I hate them with perfect hatred: I count them mine enemies. 23 Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: 24 And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.

Psalm 140

1 Deliver me, O LORD, from the evil man: preserve me from the violent man; 2 Which imagine mischiefs in their heart; continually are they gathered together for war. 3 They have sharpened their tongues like a serpent; adders' poison is under their lips. Selah. 4 Keep me, O LORD, from the hands of the wicked; preserve me from the violent man; who have purposed to overthrow my goings. 5 The proud have hid a snare for me, and cords; they have spread a net by the wayside; they have set gins for me. Selah. 6 I said unto the LORD, Thou art my God: hear the voice of my supplications, O LORD. 7 O GOD the Lord, the strength of my salvation, thou hast covered my head in the day of battle. 8 Grant not, O LORD, the desires of the wicked: further not his wicked device; lest they exalt themselves. Selah. 9 As for the head of those that compass me about, let the mischief of their own lips cover them. 10 Let burning coals fall upon them: let them be cast into the fire; into deep pits, that they rise not up again. 11 Let not an evil speaker be established in the earth: evil shall hunt the violent man to overthrow him. 12 I know that the LORD will maintain the cause of the afflicted, and the right of the poor. 13 Surely the righteous shall give thanks unto thy name: the upright shall dwell in thy presence.

Psalm 141

1 Lord, I cry unto thee: make haste unto me; give ear unto my voice, when I cry unto thee. 2 Let my prayer be set forth before thee as incense; and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice. 3 Set a watch, O LORD, before my mouth; keep the door of my lips. 4 Incline not my heart to any evil thing, to practise wicked works with men that work iniquity: and let me not eat of their dainties. 5 Let the righteous smite me; it shall be a kindness: and let him reprove me; it shall be an excellent oil, which shall not break my head: for yet my prayer also shall be in their calamities. 6 When their judges are overthrown in stony places, they shall hear my words; for they are sweet. 7 Our bones are scattered at the grave's mouth, as when one cutteth and cleaveth wood upon the earth. 8 But mine eyes are unto thee, O GOD the Lord: in thee is my trust; leave not my soul destitute. 9 Keep me from the snares which they have laid for me, and the gins of the workers of iniquity. 10 Let the wicked fall into their own nets, whilst that I withal escape.

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Our New Testament passage for the day is verses 1-13 in chapter 10 of 1st Corinthians.

I Corinthians 10:1-13

1 Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea; 2 And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea; 3 And did all eat the same spiritual meat; 4 And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ. 5 But with many of them God was not well pleased: for they were overthrown in the wilderness. 6 Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted. 7 Neither be ye idolaters, as were some of them; as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play. 8 Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed, and fell in one day three and twenty thousand. 9 Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed of serpents. 10 Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer. 11 Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come. 12 Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall. 13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

Today's Readings and Stuff -- Monday, 28 August 2017

Counting down the days to the end of August.  Then September.  Then, a few weeks later, the official first day of Autumn on 22 September..  And the change to "Standard Time" thereafter on 5 November.  Christmas is 118 days from now.
No, I'm not in my best mood.

And I've been thoughtful today, in no small part from our readings for the day.
In this case, Psalm 137.  Which, in a roundabout way of things, led be also to Psalm 19:14

Psalm 137 was composed out of the Babylonian captivity.  Their nation and homes destroyed, wholesale and gruesome slaughter before their eyes, including of babies and pregnant women, and taken away as slaves to a far-off land.  Utter hopelessness.  Except for their faith in the Lord.
And, then, their captors wanted to hear them sing.  How could they sing in joy?
There are some things that vary greatly between cultures and between individuals.  I am not one who has or ever really has had a sense of "this is home".  Never have had.  Part of that came out of life, having attended three different schools as a kid and 3 colleges as an adult, having lived in six different houses as a kid, and now twenty-two places as an adult, I have understanding of being an outsider.  Can still recall in 4th grade, moving to a new district, a different house, a new school, and immediately being tagged as a stranger.  A "distinction" that I held until high school graduation, and got beat up at lunch time more often than not.
Wife, in contrast, was accustomed to living next door or VERY close to extended family, and suffered greatly from that lack during our decades of living far away.  That is common in many cultures.
The Jews, then and even today, by and large regard Israel, the Promised Land, as their only legitimate home.  To be taken by force from a place almost in their DNA was painful in the extreme.  Even today, many conclude a gathering with the words, "Next year in Jerusalem!", and mean it.  So how can they sing?
Which led me to a different sort of "song of the day".  "By the Rivers of Babylon".  It's not, strictly, a hymn, but pretty much follows the words of that Psalm 137, and includes the words of Psalm 19:14 as mentioned.
Which gets me into another train of thought.  Psalm 19:14 has these words,

"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."

 And THAT gets us into some stuff.  Heavy stuff.  Look-at-your-heart stuff.  Are the meditations of my heart, ALL of them, be acceptable in His sight?  I have to admit that is not always the case, and that is putting it mildly.
And then, there is that word "Redeemer".  We don't hear it much any more.  The very concept is foreign to many of us, if not utterly objectionable.  Yet it is real, and it is there, and it is true.  Just as slaves were redeemed by the payment of a price, we too are redeemed from slavery to our inherent sin nature.  That sin nature is, itself, a currently out of favor idea and concept, and one little heard or considered.  And has inspired several songs, "Redeemed How I Love to Proclaim It" is one.  Or this one, and don't skip the brief intro.  Jessy has passed over, but he left some good memories.

As I said, a day for some deep thoughts.

Oh, and lest I forget.  Yes, the imagery in the last verse of Psalm 137 is gruesome itself.  I can not imagine doing such a thing.  But such things were done, matter-of-factly in that place and time, and still occur today, notably where the heathens of Islam hold sway.  It was and is part of a pattern of attempts to destroy a people group utterly.  Still happens, ask the Yazidi, the Kurds, and Hindus, for example,  Or in the Philippines on Mindanao.  And MANY other  places.

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The day's reading in the Old Testament is Psalms 136, 137, and 138.

Psalm 136

1 O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever. 2 O give thanks unto the God of gods: for his mercy endureth for ever. 3 O give thanks to the Lord of lords: for his mercy endureth for ever. 4 To him who alone doeth great wonders: for his mercy endureth for ever. 5 To him that by wisdom made the heavens: for his mercy endureth for ever. 6 To him that stretched out the earth above the waters: for his mercy endureth for ever. 7 To him that made great lights: for his mercy endureth for ever: 8 The sun to rule by day: for his mercy endureth for ever: 9 The moon and stars to rule by night: for his mercy endureth for ever. 10 To him that smote Egypt in their firstborn: for his mercy endureth for ever: 11 And brought out Israel from among them: for his mercy endureth for ever: 12 With a strong hand, and with a stretched out arm: for his mercy endureth for ever. 13 To him which divided the Red sea into parts: for his mercy endureth for ever: 14 And made Israel to pass through the midst of it: for his mercy endureth for ever: 15 But overthrew Pharaoh and his host in the Red sea: for his mercy endureth for ever. 16 To him which led his people through the wilderness: for his mercy endureth for ever. 17 To him which smote great kings: for his mercy endureth for ever: 18 And slew famous kings: for his mercy endureth for ever: 19 Sihon king of the Amorites: for his mercy endureth for ever: 20 And Og the king of Bashan: for his mercy endureth for ever: 21 And gave their land for an heritage: for his mercy endureth for ever: 22 Even an heritage unto Israel his servant: for his mercy endureth for ever. 23 Who remembered us in our low estate: for his mercy endureth for ever: 24 And hath redeemed us from our enemies: for his mercy endureth for ever. 25 Who giveth food to all flesh: for his mercy endureth for ever. 26 O give thanks unto the God of heaven: for his mercy endureth for ever.

Psalm 137

1 By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down, yea, we wept, when we remembered Zion. 2 We hanged our harps upon the willows in the midst thereof. 3 For there they that carried us away captive required of us a song; and they that wasted us required of us mirth, saying, Sing us one of the songs of Zion. 4 How shall we sing the LORD's song in a strange land? 5 If I forget thee, O Jerusalem, let my right hand forget her cunning. 6 If I do not remember thee, let my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth; if I prefer not Jerusalem above my chief joy. 7 Remember, O LORD, the children of Edom in the day of Jerusalem; who said, Rase it, rase it, even to the foundation thereof. 8 O daughter of Babylon, who art to be destroyed; happy shall he be, that rewardeth thee as thou hast served us. 9 Happy shall he be, that taketh and dasheth thy little ones against the stones.

Psalm 138

1 I will praise thee with my whole heart: before the gods will I sing praise unto thee. 2 I will worship toward thy holy temple, and praise thy name for thy lovingkindness and for thy truth: for thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name. 3 In the day when I cried thou answeredst me, and strengthenedst me with strength in my soul. 4 All the kings of the earth shall praise thee, O LORD, when they hear the words of thy mouth. 5 Yea, they shall sing in the ways of the LORD: for great is the glory of the LORD. 6 Though the LORD be high, yet hath he respect unto the lowly: but the proud he knoweth afar off. 7 Though I walk in the midst of trouble, thou wilt revive me: thou shalt stretch forth thine hand against the wrath of mine enemies, and thy right hand shall save me. 8 The LORD will perfect that which concerneth me: thy mercy, O LORD, endureth for ever: forsake not the works of thine own hands.

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The New Testament reading today is chapter 9 of 1st Corinthians. 
Another one that merits being chewed on for a good bit.  Paul did not make the mistake that all too many of us make, that of going only to his own kind.  No, he went where the Lord directed him, to where the real need was.  That's not often the case any more, is it?


I Corinthians 9

1 Am I not an apostle? am I not free? have I not seen Jesus Christ our Lord? are not ye my work in the Lord? 2 If I be not an apostle unto others, yet doubtless I am to you: for the seal of mine apostleship are ye in the Lord. 3 Mine answer to them that do examine me is this, 4 Have we not power to eat and to drink? 5 Have we not power to lead about a sister, a wife, as well as other apostles, and as the brethren of the Lord, and Cephas? 6 Or I only and Barnabas, have not we power to forbear working? 7 Who goeth a warfare any time at his own charges? who planteth a vineyard, and eateth not of the fruit thereof? or who feedeth a flock, and eateth not of the milk of the flock? 8 Say I these things as a man? or saith not the law the same also? 9 For it is written in the law of Moses, Thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox that treadeth out the corn. Doth God take care for oxen? 10 Or saith he it altogether for our sakes? For our sakes, no doubt, this is written: that he that ploweth should plow in hope; and that he that thresheth in hope should be partaker of his hope. 11 If we have sown unto you spiritual things, is it a great thing if we shall reap your carnal things? 12 If others be partakers of this power over you, are not we rather? Nevertheless we have not used this power; but suffer all things, lest we should hinder the gospel of Christ. 13 Do ye not know that they which minister about holy things live of the things of the temple? and they which wait at the altar are partakers with the altar? 14 Even so hath the Lord ordained that they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel. 15 But I have used none of these things: neither have I written these things, that it should be so done unto me: for it were better for me to die, than that any man should make my glorying void. 16 For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of: for necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel! 17 For if I do this thing willingly, I have a reward: but if against my will, a dispensation of the gospel is committed unto me. 18 What is my reward then? Verily that, when I preach the gospel, I may make the gospel of Christ without charge, that I abuse not my power in the gospel. 19 For though I be free from all men, yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I might gain the more. 20 And unto the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain the Jews; to them that are under the law, as under the law, that I might gain them that are under the law; 21 To them that are without law, as without law, (being not without law to God, but under the law to Christ,) that I might gain them that are without law. 22 To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some. 23 And this I do for the gospel's sake, that I might be partaker thereof with you. 24 Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain. 25 And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible. 26 I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air: 27 But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.

Today's Readings and Stuff -- Sunday, 27 August 2017

This has been an odd day on several counts.

I recommend a re-read of  yesterday's posting and the reference to the latter half of chapter 7 of 1st Corinthians.  Paul was speaking there of the inevitable issues that arise when we are pulled in separate directions -- not necessarily opposite but separate -- trying to uphold our responsibilities to serve the Lord while also honoring our spouse and all those issues.
I had that today.
Today, Sunday, is the day we set aside to gather together to worship the Lord, to study His word, to pray and praise, to take up one another's burdens and cares, and to hear the proclamation of the message and the exhortation to carry us through.  It's important, and I look forward to it.
But, like others, I have some family, in this case in-law family, stuff going on.
Dear Wife's nephew's daughter just turned 6 years old, and they decided to have the big "do" at a township park some 20 miles distant, halfway through the county south of us.  Said Great Event to start at noon.  Or, in other words, while we would normally still be in the morning worship.  Meaning I'd "get" to leave the church house at around 12:15, make a 15 minute drive home, pick up Dear Wife, drive 20 miles through several construction zones, and, courtesy of a mystical Time Machine, arrive there before we left.  Neat trick.  With an overheating car.
So I'd planned to attend the morning Bible study, duck out, and do all the above but make it. 
Not a bad plan, until we got "volunteered" to do some things in prep.  So ......  I missed church services totally. 
We made it to the Big Do, only 10 minutes late, which put us ahead of several of the attendees.  Hung around for 3-1/2 hours of all this family stuff, and escaped.  Making the trip home, exhausted from all the festivities.

We lived far from here for many, many years.  Gatherings like this are important to Dear Wife, she greatly missed being around for many years of these and I understand that.  I also understand the need to "not neglect the gathering together of yourselves", and thus the separate pulls.
I used to think that the Roman Catholics were silly (or worse) for requiring priests and nuns to be unmarried and celibate.  Perhaps,  But perhaps they're not as silly as I once believed.

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Our Old Testament reading today is Psalms 132, 133, 134, and 135.

Psalm 132

1 Lord, remember David, and all his afflictions: 2 How he sware unto the LORD, and vowed unto the mighty God of Jacob; 3 Surely I will not come into the tabernacle of my house, nor go up into my bed; 4 I will not give sleep to mine eyes, or slumber to mine eyelids, 5 Until I find out a place for the LORD, an habitation for the mighty God of Jacob. 6 Lo, we heard of it at Ephratah: we found it in the fields of the wood. 7 We will go into his tabernacles: we will worship at his footstool. 8 Arise, O LORD, into thy rest; thou, and the ark of thy strength. 9 Let thy priests be clothed with righteousness; and let thy saints shout for joy. 10 For thy servant David's sake turn not away the face of thine anointed. 11 The LORD hath sworn in truth unto David; he will not turn from it; Of the fruit of thy body will I set upon thy throne. 12 If thy children will keep my covenant and my testimony that I shall teach them, their children shall also sit upon thy throne for evermore. 13 For the LORD hath chosen Zion; he hath desired it for his habitation. 14 This is my rest for ever: here will I dwell; for I have desired it. 15 I will abundantly bless her provision: I will satisfy her poor with bread. 16 I will also clothe her priests with salvation: and her saints shall shout aloud for joy. 17 There will I make the horn of David to bud: I have ordained a lamp for mine anointed. 18 His enemies will I clothe with shame: but upon himself shall his crown flourish.

Psalm 133

1 Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity! 2 It is like the precious ointment upon the head, that ran down upon the beard, even Aaron's beard: that went down to the skirts of his garments; 3 As the dew of Hermon, and as the dew that descended upon the mountains of Zion: for there the LORD commanded the blessing, even life for evermore.

Psalm 134

1 Behold, bless ye the LORD, all ye servants of the LORD, which by night stand in the house of the LORD. 2 Lift up your hands in the sanctuary, and bless the LORD. 3 The LORD that made heaven and earth bless thee out of Zion.

Psalm 135

1 Praise ye the LORD. Praise ye the name of the LORD; praise him, O ye servants of the LORD. 2 Ye that stand in the house of the LORD, in the courts of the house of our God. 3 Praise the LORD; for the LORD is good: sing praises unto his name; for it is pleasant. 4 For the LORD hath chosen Jacob unto himself, and Israel for his peculiar treasure. 5 For I know that the LORD is great, and that our Lord is above all gods. 6 Whatsoever the LORD pleased, that did he in heaven, and in earth, in the seas, and all deep places. 7 He causeth the vapours to ascend from the ends of the earth; he maketh lightnings for the rain; he bringeth the wind out of his treasuries. 8 Who smote the firstborn of Egypt, both of man and beast. 9 Who sent tokens and wonders into the midst of thee, O Egypt, upon Pharaoh, and upon all his servants. 10 Who smote great nations, and slew mighty kings; 11 Sihon king of the Amorites, and Og king of Bashan, and all the kingdoms of Canaan: 12 And gave their land for an heritage, an heritage unto Israel his people. 13 Thy name, O LORD, endureth for ever; and thy memorial, O LORD, throughout all generations. 14 For the LORD will judge his people, and he will repent himself concerning his servants. 15 The idols of the heathen are silver and gold, the work of men's hands. 16 They have mouths, but they speak not; eyes have they, but they see not; 17 They have ears, but they hear not; neither is there any breath in their mouths. 18 They that make them are like unto them: so is every one that trusteth in them. 19 Bless the LORD, O house of Israel: bless the LORD, O house of Aaron: 20 Bless the LORD, O house of Levi: ye that fear the LORD, bless the LORD. 21 Blessed be the LORD out of Zion, which dwelleth at Jerusalem. Praise ye the LORD. 

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Our New Testament reading is chapter 8 of 1st Corinthians.
Here, part of the issue is the attitude that Christians need to have with respect to the practices and practioners in the worship of false gods.  The eating of meat sacrificed to idols is specifically mentioned here, but the implication seems to be that in consuming such, how much are we participating in these rites?  This is not a far-off remote matter as I once believed.  Particularly as some putatively Christian leaders seek to make common cause with  false and evil doctrines.  Islam is certainly one of these, but I have in the past heard rumors of all-too-close relations with practioners of evil doctrines like voodoo, Santeria, and others.  Including in places you might not expect, courtesy of the easy movement of various people groups.    We do well to be careful.  Other people are watching.
And, of course, there is the opposite issue.  The Jews certainly, being Paul's background and heritage, made (and still make) a Very Big Deal over foods that are permitted and foods that are forbidden.  Are we really more holy because we forbid bacon, lobster, shrimp, and clams?  Does avoiding them, or other foods, make us better in the Lord's eyes?


I Corinthians 8

1 Now as touching things offered unto idols, we know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffeth up, but charity edifieth. 2 And if any man think that he knoweth any thing, he knoweth nothing yet as he ought to know. 3 But if any man love God, the same is known of him. 4 As concerning therefore the eating of those things that are offered in sacrifice unto idols, we know that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is none other God but one. 5 For though there be that are called gods, whether in heaven or in earth, (as there be gods many, and lords many,) 6 But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him. 7 Howbeit there is not in every man that knowledge: for some with conscience of the idol unto this hour eat it as a thing offered unto an idol; and their conscience being weak is defiled. 8 But meat commendeth us not to God: for neither, if we eat, are we the better; neither, if we eat not, are we the worse. 9 But take heed lest by any means this liberty of your's become a stumblingblock to them that are weak. 10 For if any man see thee which hast knowledge sit at meat in the idol's temple, shall not the conscience of him which is weak be emboldened to eat those things which are offered to idols; 11 And through thy knowledge shall the weak brother perish, for whom Christ died? 12 But when ye sin so against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, ye sin against Christ. 13 Wherefore, if meat make my brother to offend, I will eat no flesh while the world standeth, lest I make my brother to offend.