Today's Readings and Stuff -- Wednesday, 14 March 2018

==>  yet another day when I hit "save" rather than "publish".  Am I losing it or what?

Where's all that "catastrophic global warming" that Al Gore promised us?  You know, the idiot who predicted that the polar caps would be totally ice-free by 2005 or so??  Not far from where I sit, there was a 17-vehicle pileup on the freeway just yesterday, one caused by a combination of a sudden "white out" and vehicles traveling too fast.  That's bad.  But just outside of Columbus, Ohio, on I-71, an 81-vehicle pileup!, with similar causes.  Snow here yesterday and last night and today.  Some "glow-bull warming"!
Yes, Gore is an idiot.  The ones who voted for him are worse, and I know several people who, to this very day, truly believe all that "Catastrophic Anthropogenic Global Warming" nonsense.  Nice people too, some of them.  Unless you disagree with them, then the fangs come out.
But Spring, the official beginning at least, isn't too far off.  Six days now, next Tuesday.  Today, the "day" portion is set to be 11 hours 51 minutes, and tomorrow's to be 2 minutes 46 seconds more.  But the 10-day forecast shows snow today and tomorrow, also next Tuesday and Wednesday, with ice pellets on next Friday, the 23rd.  Some "spring"!  Notice that the prediction is for snow on the first day of Spring!

We made it to Y-town yesterday late afternoon to get the used-but-workable clothes dryer.  Still in the back of the chariot, I have to get busy on pulling the new parts out of the old one, dragging it outside for disposal, and dragging the replacement in.  That will begin, soon.
That was a sad trip in many ways.  The area we went to is one of those that used to be a decent working-class neighborhood, pretty ethnic area with Ukrainian Orthodox church a block or so away, a closed-and-repurposed neighborhood school building nearby, a lot of driveway cuts leading into overgrown weed-covered areas where houses once stood, empty storefronts, all the signs of an area that's been in steep decline for more than 35 years.  Came home by a different route, through another small city, one where Wife had at one time been a police officer 30+ years ago.  More of the same:  vacant boarded-up houses, a "downtown" full of empty store fronts, all of it.  Drove right by a house where a notorious local Mafiosi figure had lived, until other Mafiosi killed him.  Gangs that still exist, and have to this day considerable influence in the locally dominant political party.  (Ask me how I know).  With occasional battles between the groups from Buffalo, Chicago, and Pittsburgh.  With additional competition now from the various Russian, Mexican, Guatemalan, Puerto Rican, Lebanese, and Syrian gangs.  Oh, and a couple with some affiliations with la Corse, the Corsican mafia.  And, of course, locals claiming arrangements with the Crips and the Bloods and, probably, the current incarnation of Blackstone Rangers I guess.  Dogs fighting over scraps.
Out of this, you don't get a good society.


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 Today, Numbers 27 and 28.  Like other parts of the Pentateuch, there is much here, with specifics, about sacrifices and offerings.  Remember that they were wandering around in the wilderness.  Not a whole lot of olive trees and olive oil presses in the desert.  Not much pasturage for sheep either.  So, where do those sacrifices come from?  Where does our offering come from?  Same place.  The Lord. 

Numbers 27

 1  Then came the daughters of Zelophehad, the son of Hepher, the son of Gilead, the son of Machir, the son of Manasseh, of the families of Manasseh the son of Joseph: and these are the names of his daughters; Mahlah, Noah, and Hoglah, and Milcah, and Tirzah.

2  And they stood before Moses, and before Eleazar the priest, and before the princes and all the congregation, by the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, saying,

3  Our father died in the wilderness, and he was not in the company of them that gathered themselves together against the Lord in the company of Korah; but died in his own sin, and had no sons.

4  Why should the name of our father be done away from among his family, because he hath no son? Give unto us therefore a possession among the brethren of our father.

5  And Moses brought their cause before the Lord.

6  And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying,

7  The daughters of Zelophehad speak right: thou shalt surely give them a possession of an inheritance among their father's brethren; and thou shalt cause the inheritance of their father to pass unto them.

8  And thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel, saying, If a man die, and have no son, then ye shall cause his inheritance to pass unto his daughter.

9  And if he have no daughter, then ye shall give his inheritance unto his brethren.

10  And if he have no brethren, then ye shall give his inheritance unto his father's brethren.

11  And if his father have no brethren, then ye shall give his inheritance unto his kinsman that is next to him of his family, and he shall possess it: and it shall be unto the children of Israel a statute of judgment, as the Lord commanded Moses.

12  And the Lord said unto Moses, Get thee up into this mount Abarim, and see the land which I have given unto the children of Israel.

13  And when thou hast seen it, thou also shalt be gathered unto thy people, as Aaron thy brother was gathered.

14  For ye rebelled against my commandment in the desert of Zin, in the strife of the congregation, to sanctify me at the water before their eyes: that is the water of Meribah in Kadesh in the wilderness of Zin.

15  And Moses spake unto the Lord, saying,

16  Let the Lord, the God of the spirits of all flesh, set a man over the congregation,

17  Which may go out before them, and which may go in before them, and which may lead them out, and which may bring them in; that the congregation of the Lord be not as sheep which have no shepherd.

18  And the Lord said unto Moses, Take thee Joshua the son of Nun, a man in whom is the spirit, and lay thine hand upon him;

19  And set him before Eleazar the priest, and before all the congregation; and give him a charge in their sight.

20  And thou shalt put some of thine honour upon him, that all the congregation of the children of Israel may be obedient.

21  And he shall stand before Eleazar the priest, who shall ask counsel for him after the judgment of Urim before the Lord: at his word shall they go out, and at his word they shall come in, both he, and all the children of Israel with him, even all the congregation.

22  And Moses did as the Lord commanded him: and he took Joshua, and set him before Eleazar the priest, and before all the congregation:

23  And he laid his hands upon him, and gave him a charge, as the Lord commanded by the hand of Moses.

Numbers 28

1  And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying,

2  Command the children of Israel, and say unto them, My offering, and my bread for my sacrifices made by fire, for a sweet savour unto me, shall ye observe to offer unto me in their due season.

3And thou shalt say unto them, This is the offering made by fire which ye shall offer unto the Lord; two lambs of the first year without spot day by day, for a continual burnt offering.day by day: Heb. in a day

4  The one lamb shalt thou offer in the morning, and the other lamb shalt thou offer at even

5  And a tenth part of an ephah of flour for a meat offering, mingled with the fourth part of an hin of beaten oil.

6I  t is a continual burnt offering, which was ordained in mount Sinai for a sweet savour, a sacrifice made by fire unto the Lord.

7  And the drink offering thereof shall be the fourth part of an hin for the one lamb: in the holy place shalt thou cause the strong wine to be poured unto the Lord for a drink offering.

8  And the other lamb shalt thou offer at even: as the meat offering of the morning, and as the drink offering thereof, thou shalt offer it, a sacrifice made by fire, of a sweet savour unto the Lord.

9  And on the sabbath day two lambs of the first year without spot, and two tenth deals of flour for a meat offering, mingled with oil, and the drink offering thereof:

10  This is the burnt offering of every sabbath, beside the continual burnt offering, and his drink offering.

11  And in the beginnings of your months ye shall offer a burnt offering unto the Lord; two young bullocks, and one ram, seven lambs of the first year without spot;

12  And three tenth deals of flour for a meat offering, mingled with oil, for one bullock; and two tenth deals of flour for a meat offering, mingled with oil, for one ram;

13  And a several tenth deal of flour mingled with oil for a meat offering unto one lamb; for a burnt offering of a sweet savour, a sacrifice made by fire unto the Lord.

14  And their drink offerings shall be half an hin of wine unto a bullock, and the third part of an hin unto a ram, and a fourth part of an hin unto a lamb: this is the burnt offering of every month throughout the months of the year.

15  And one kid of the goats for a sin offering unto the Lord shall be offered, beside the continual burnt offering, and his drink offering.

16  And in the fourteenth day of the first month is the passover of the Lord.

17  And in the fifteenth day of this month is the feast: seven days shall unleavened bread be eaten.

18  In the first day shall be an holy convocation; ye shall do no manner of servile work therein:

19  But ye shall offer a sacrifice made by fire for a burnt offering unto the Lord; two young bullocks, and one ram, and seven lambs of the first year: they shall be unto you without blemish:

20  And their meat offering shall be of flour mingled with oil: three tenth deals shall ye offer for a bullock, and two tenth deals for a ram;

21  A several tenth deal shalt thou offer for every lamb, throughout the seven lambs:

22  And one goat for a sin offering, to make an atonement for you.

23  Ye shall offer these beside the burnt offering in the morning, which is for a continual burnt offering.

24  After this manner ye shall offer daily, throughout the seven days, the meat of the sacrifice made by fire, of a sweet savour unto the Lord: it shall be offered beside the continual burnt offering, and his drink offering.

25  And on the seventh day ye shall have an holy convocation; ye shall do no servile work.

26  Also in the day of the firstfruits, when ye bring a new meat offering unto the Lord, after your weeks be out, ye shall have an holy convocation; ye shall do no servile work:

27  But ye shall offer the burnt offering for a sweet savour unto the Lord; two young bullocks, one ram, seven lambs of the first year;

28  And their meat offering of flour mingled with oil, three tenth deals unto one bullock, two tenth deals unto one ram,

29  A several tenth deal unto one lamb, throughout the seven lambs;

30  And one kid of the goats, to make an atonement for you.

31  Ye shall offer them beside the continual burnt offering, and his meat offering, (they shall be unto you without blemish) and their drink offerings.

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Psalm 53

 

To the chief Musician upon Mahalath, Maschil, A Psalm of David.

 

1  The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. Corrupt are they, and have done abominable iniquity: there is none that doeth good.

2  God looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, that did seek God.

3  Every one of them is gone back: they are altogether become filthy; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.

4  Have the workers of iniquity no knowledge? who eat up my people as they eat bread: they have not called upon God.

5  There were they in great fear, where no fear was: for God hath scattered the bones of him that encampeth against thee: thou hast put them to shame, because God hath despised them.

6  Oh that the salvation of Israel were come out of Zion! When God bringeth back the captivity of his people, Jacob shall rejoice, and Israel shall be glad.

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The New Testament passage here is  chapter 8 in the Gospel of Luke.
This is one that should really be broken into several smaller sections and each one "chewed on" for a couple of days.

This includes a great story, well, several actually, and a couple of great lessons.
 Think, for example, of the storm they went through.  Great example of the Lord's power, right?  But as we will soon see, when the soldiers came, they ran like rabbits and/or denied knowing Him.  Miracles don't always lead to belief.  By the way, Jesus had to know about the coming storm, even before they got into the boat.  He often takes us through storms, not just around them.
Think of the miracle of the demon-possessed man.  Jesus freed him.  So, the neighbors, rather than giving thanks, demanded Jesus get out of there!  But, that same man, healed, did exactly as Jesus had commanded: he went out and told what the Lord had done for him.  Even non-Biblical records support that.  That man did what we are all of us supposed to be doing: proclaiming what the Lord has done for us.
And what of the young girl brought back from death?  And her family and neighbors?  Her father was a ruler in the synagogue.  Was he one shouting "crucify Him" not long afterwards?

Luke 8

1  And it came to pass afterward, that he went throughout every city and village, preaching and shewing the glad tidings of the kingdom of God: and the twelve were with him,

2  And certain women, which had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities, Mary called Magdalene, out of whom went seven devils,

3  And Joanna the wife of Chuza Herod's steward, and Susanna, and many others, which ministered unto him of their substance.

4  And when much people were gathered together, and were come to him out of every city, he spake by a parable:

5  A sower went out to sow his seed: and as he sowed, some fell by the way side; and it was trodden down, and the fowls of the air devoured it.

6  And some fell upon a rock; and as soon as it was sprung up, it withered away, because it lacked moisture.

7   And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprang up with it, and choked it.

8  And other fell on good ground, and sprang up, and bare fruit an hundredfold. And when he had said these things, he cried, He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.

9  And his disciples asked him, saying, What might this parable be?

10  And he said, Unto you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God: but to others in parables; that seeing they might not see, and hearing they might not understand.

11  Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God.

12  Those by the way side are they that hear; then cometh the devil, and taketh away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved.

13  They on the rock are they, which, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, which for a while believe, and in time of temptation fall away.

14  And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection.

15  But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience.

16  No man, when he hath lighted a candle, covereth it with a vessel, or putteth it under a bed; but setteth it on a candlestick, that they which enter in may see the light.

17  For nothing is secret, that shall not be made manifest; neither any thing hid, that shall not be known and come abroad.

18  Take heed therefore how ye hear: for whosoever hath, to him shall be given; and whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken even that which he seemeth to have.

19  Then came to him his mother and his brethren, and could not come at him for the press.

20  And it was told him by certain which said, Thy mother and thy brethren stand without, desiring to see thee.

21  And he answered and said unto them, My mother and my brethren are these which hear the word of God, and do it.

22  Now it came to pass on a certain day, that he went into a ship with his disciples: and he said unto them, Let us go over unto the other side of the lake. And they launched forth.

23  But as they sailed he fell asleep: and there came down a storm of wind on the lake; and they were filled with water, and were in jeopardy.

24  And they came to him, and awoke him, saying, Master, master, we perish. Then he arose, and rebuked the wind and the raging of the water: and they ceased, and there was a calm.

25  And he said unto them, Where is your faith? And they being afraid wondered, saying one to another, What manner of man is this! for he commandeth even the winds and water, and they obey him.

26  And they arrived at the country of the Gadarenes, which is over against Galilee.

27  And when he went forth to land, there met him out of the city a certain man, which had devils long time, and ware no clothes, neither abode in any house, but in the tombs.

28  When he saw Jesus, he cried out, and fell down before him, and with a loud voice said, What have I to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of God most high? I beseech thee, torment me not.

29  (For he had commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the man. For oftentimes it had caught him: and he was kept bound with chains and in fetters; and he brake the bands, and was driven of the devil into the wilderness.)

30  And Jesus asked him, saying, What is thy name? And he said, Legion: because many devils were entered into him.

31  And they besought him that he would not command them to go out into the deep.

32  And there was there an herd of many swine feeding on the mountain: and they besought him that he would suffer them to enter into them. And he suffered them.

33  Then went the devils out of the man, and entered into the swine: and the herd ran violently down a steep place into the lake, and were choked.

34  When they that fed them saw what was done, they fled, and went and told it in the city and in the country.

35  Then they went out to see what was done; and came to Jesus, and found the man, out of whom the devils were departed, sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed, and in his right mind: and they were afraid.

36  They also which saw it told them by what means he that was possessed of the devils was healed.

37  Then the whole multitude of the country of the Gadarenes round about besought him to depart from them; for they were taken with great fear: and he went up into the ship, and returned back again.

38  Now the man out of whom the devils were departed besought him that he might be with him: but Jesus sent him away, saying,

39  Return to thine own house, and shew how great things God hath done unto thee. And he went his way, and published throughout the whole city how great things Jesus had done unto him.

40  And it came to pass, that, when Jesus was returned, the people gladly received him: for they were all waiting for him.

41  And, behold, there came a man named Jairus, and he was a ruler of the synagogue: and he fell down at Jesus' feet, and besought him that he would come into his house:

42  For he had one only daughter, about twelve years of age, and she lay a dying. But as he went the people thronged him.

43  And a woman having an issue of blood twelve years, which had spent all her living upon physicians, neither could be healed of any,

44  Came behind him, and touched the border of his garment: and immediately her issue of blood stanched.

45  And Jesus said, Who touched me? When all denied, Peter and they that were with him said, Master, the multitude throng thee and press thee, and sayest thou, Who touched me?

46  And Jesus said, Somebody hath touched me: for I perceive that virtue is gone out of me.

47  And when the woman saw that she was not hid, she came trembling, and falling down before him, she declared unto him before all the people for what cause she had touched him, and how she was healed immediately.

48  And he said unto her, Daughter, be of good comfort: thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace.

49  While he yet spake, there cometh one from the ruler of the synagogue's house, saying to him, Thy daughter is dead; trouble not the Master.

50  But when Jesus heard it, he answered him, saying, Fear not: believe only, and she shall be made whole.

51  And when he came into the house, he suffered no man to go in, save Peter, and James, and John, and the father and the mother of the maiden.

52  And all wept, and bewailed her: but he said, Weep not; she is not dead, but sleepeth.

53  And they laughed him to scorn, knowing that she was dead.

54  And he put them all out, and took her by the hand, and called, saying, Maid, arise.

55  And her spirit came again, and she arose straightway: and he commanded to give her meat.

56  And her parents were astonished: but he charged them that they should tell no man what was done.