24 February 2018

Today's Readings and Stuff -- Saturday, 24 February 2018

Am not sure how things are going to turn out today.

First, today is the 29th birthday of our younger daughter.  Well, I say "daughter", because she is: the DNA shows that, the physical attributes that I recall from her birth supports that, and the birth certificate issued around that time shows that.  Unfortunately, she fell in with some of the "progressives", the LIE-berals, who have convinced her that she's really a guy.  So she's changed her name from Sarah to Sage, and cut off all contact with those "abusive" types, like us, who can't go along with that.  Not sure what her husband thinks of all this: they've been married since December of 2011.  Yes, it's odd.  We sent a card and something, but it won't be acknowledged and may even be thrown away unopened.  Makes for a tough day.

And last night was tough as well.  As I'd posted last night, we were treated to a free dinner at a nice restaurant, part of the to-do over wife's nephew's wife's birthday this week.  Until next-door niece discovered that their baby, all of 7 months or so, had some unexplained swelling on his head.  Off to the ER at the Children's Hospital south of here, and the party broke up.  We got word during the night that a CAT scan revealed a fractured skull!  And the little guy was immediately transported to the main campus of Akron Children's Hospital.  More than that we do not know at this point.  The little guy has been developing really fast, now pulling himself up on whatever will help him almost stand, and perhaps he's fallen on something.  He's been one of those absolutely fearless ones, really wanting to be up and about and all that stuff.
We've not heard anything further since that last message around midnight, so we're waiting to hear.  Their car is back in the drive, but with a night like they had and who knows what else, we're letting them rest up and then will hear more.


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Our reading today is in chapters 19 and 20 of Leviticus.
I nominate as key here, and to be mindful the rest of the year, the command in verse 2:

Ye shall be holy: for I the Lord your God am holy.

One of the real scandals in our world, and in the institutional church as well, is the open and prevailing tendency to try to get as close to the line of sin as possible.  I can't count all the times I've heard some pretty awful conduct, attitudes, and language excused under the lame excuse of  "it's not THAT bad!".  When we're really supposed to be becoming more and more like Jesus, less and less like the Devil.  I don't think the Lord is honored in that.  Look at the stuff in chapter 18 of Leviticus, for example.  Strictly forbidden practices, but now to be found in all too many churches and synagogues, and that to include the clergy.  And several nominally Christian colleges as well.
By the way, verse 28 would seem to prohibit tattoos.  Now frequently being found in the pews, and the pulpits as well.

Leviticus 19
1  And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying,
2  Speak unto all the congregation of the children of Israel, and say unto them, Ye shall be holy: for I the Lord your God am holy.
3  Ye shall fear every man his mother, and his father, and keep my sabbaths: I am the Lord your God.
4  Turn ye not unto idols, nor make to yourselves molten gods: I am the Lord your God.
5  And if ye offer a sacrifice of peace offerings unto the Lord, ye shall offer it at your own will.
6  It shall be eaten the same day ye offer it, and on the morrow: and if ought remain until the third day, it shall be burnt in the fire.
7  And if it be eaten at all on the third day, it is abominable; it shall not be accepted.
8  Therefore every one that eateth it shall bear his iniquity, because he hath profaned the hallowed thing of the Lord: and that soul shall be cut off from among his people.
9  And when ye reap the harvest of your land, thou shalt not wholly reap the corners of thy field, neither shalt thou gather the gleanings of thy harvest.
10  And thou shalt not glean thy vineyard, neither shalt thou gather every grape of thy vineyard; thou shalt leave them for the poor and stranger: I am the Lord your God.
11  Ye shall not steal, neither deal falsely, neither lie one to another.
12  And ye shall not swear by my name falsely, neither shalt thou profane the name of thy God: I am the Lord.
13  Thou shalt not defraud thy neighbour, neither rob him: the wages of him that is hired shall not abide with thee all night until the morning.
14  Thou shalt not curse the deaf, nor put a stumblingblock before the blind, but shalt fear thy God: I am the Lord.
15  Ye shall do no unrighteousness in judgment: thou shalt not respect the person of the poor, nor honour the person of the mighty: but in righteousness shalt thou judge thy neighbour.
16  Thou shalt not go up and down as a talebearer among thy people: neither shalt thou stand against the blood of thy neighbour: I am the Lord.
17  Thou shalt not hate thy brother in thine heart: thou shalt in any wise rebuke thy neighbour, and not suffer sin upon him
18  Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people, but thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself: I am the Lord.
19  Ye shall keep my statutes. Thou shalt not let thy cattle gender with a diverse kind: thou shalt not sow thy field with mingled seed: neither shall a garment mingled of linen and woollen come upon thee.
20  And whosoever lieth carnally with a woman, that is a bondmaid, betrothed to an husband, and not at all redeemed, nor freedom given her; she shall be scourged; they shall not be put to death, because she was not free.
21  And he shall bring his trespass offering unto the Lord, unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, even a ram for a trespass offering.
22  And the priest shall make an atonement for him with the ram of the trespass offering before the Lord for his sin which he hath done: and the sin which he hath done shall be forgiven him.
23  And when ye shall come into the land, and shall have planted all manner of trees for food, then ye shall count the fruit thereof as uncircumcised: three years shall it be as uncircumcised unto you: it shall not be eaten of.
24  But in the fourth year all the fruit thereof shall be holy to praise the Lord withal.holy…: Heb. holiness of praises to the Lord
25  And in the fifth year shall ye eat of the fruit thereof, that it may yield unto you the increase thereof: I am the Lord your God.
26  Ye shall not eat any thing with the blood: neither shall ye use enchantment, nor observe times.
27  Ye shall not round the corners of your heads, neither shalt thou mar the corners of thy beard.
28  Ye shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, nor print any marks upon you: I am the Lord.
29  Do not prostitute thy daughter, to cause her to be a whore; lest the land fall to whoredom, and the land become full of wickedness.prostitute: Heb. profane
30  Ye shall keep my sabbaths, and reverence my sanctuary: I am the Lord.
31  Regard not them that have familiar spirits, neither seek after wizards, to be defiled by them: I am the Lord your God.
32  Thou shalt rise up before the hoary head, and honour the face of the old man, and fear thy God: I am the Lord.
33  And if a stranger sojourn with thee in your land, ye shall not vex him.vex: or, oppress
34  But the stranger that dwelleth with you shall be unto you as one born among you, and thou shalt love him as thyself; for ye were strangers in the land of Egypt: I am the Lord your God.
35  Ye shall do no unrighteousness in judgment, in meteyard, in weight, or in measure.
36  Just balances, just weights, a just ephah, and a just hin, shall ye have: I am the Lord your God, which brought you out of the land of Egypt.weights: Heb. stones
37  Therefore shall ye observe all my statutes, and all my judgments, and do them: I am the Lord.


Leviticus 20
1  And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying,
2  Again, thou shalt say to the children of Israel, Whosoever he be of the children of Israel, or of the strangers that sojourn in Israel, that giveth any of his seed unto Molech; he shall surely be put to death: the people of the land shall stone him with stones.
3  And I will set my face against that man, and will cut him off from among his people; because he hath given of his seed unto Molech, to defile my sanctuary, and to profane my holy name.
4  And if the people of the land do any ways hide their eyes from the man, when he giveth of his seed unto Molech, and kill him not:
5  Then I will set my face against that man, and against his family, and will cut him off, and all that go a whoring after him, to commit whoredom with Molech, from among their people.
6  And the soul that turneth after such as have familiar spirits, and after wizards, to go a whoring after them, I will even set my face against that soul, and will cut him off from among his people.
7  Sanctify yourselves therefore, and be ye holy: for I am the Lord your God.
8  And ye shall keep my statutes, and do them: I am the Lord which sanctify you.
9  For every one that curseth his father or his mother shall be surely put to death: he hath cursed his father or his mother; his blood shall be upon him.
10  And the man that committeth adultery with another man's wife, even he that committeth adultery with his neighbour's wife, the adulterer and the adulteress shall surely be put to death.
11  And the man that lieth with his father's wife hath uncovered his father's nakedness: both of them shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them.
12  And if a man lie with his daughter in law, both of them shall surely be put to death: they have wrought confusion; their blood shall be upon them.
13  If a man also lie with mankind, as he lieth with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination: they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them.
14  And if a man take a wife and her mother, it is wickedness: they shall be burnt with fire, both he and they; that there be no wickedness among you.
15  And if a man lie with a beast, he shall surely be put to death: and ye shall slay the beast.
16  And if a woman approach unto any beast, and lie down thereto, thou shalt kill the woman, and the beast: they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them.
17  And if a man shall take his sister, his father's daughter, or his mother's daughter, and see her nakedness, and she see his nakedness; it is a wicked thing; and they shall be cut off in the sight of their people: he hath uncovered his sister's nakedness; he shall bear his iniquity.
18  And if a man shall lie with a woman having her sickness, and shall uncover her nakedness; he hath discovered her fountain, and she hath uncovered the fountain of her blood: and both of them shall be cut off from among their people.discovered: Heb. made naked
19  And thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy mother's sister, nor of thy father's sister: for he uncovereth his near kin: they shall bear their iniquity.uncovereth: Heb. hath made naked
20  And if a man shall lie with his uncle's wife, he hath uncovered his uncle's nakedness: they shall bear their sin; they shall die childless.
21  And if a man shall take his brother's wife, it is an unclean thing: he hath uncovered his brother's nakedness; they shall be childless.
22  Ye shall therefore keep all my statutes, and all my judgments, and do them: that the land, whither I bring you to dwell therein, spue you not out.
23  And ye shall not walk in the manners of the nation, which I cast out before you: for they committed all these things, and therefore I abhorred them.
24  But I have said unto you, Ye shall inherit their land, and I will give it unto you to possess it, a land that floweth with milk and honey: I am the Lord your God, which have separated you from other people.
25  Ye shall therefore put difference between clean beasts and unclean, and between unclean fowls and clean: and ye shall not make your souls abominable by beast, or by fowl, or by any manner of living thing that creepeth on the ground, which I have separated from you as unclean.creepeth: or, moveth
26  And ye shall be holy unto me: for I the Lord am holy, and have severed you from other people, that ye should be mine.
27  A man also or woman that hath a familiar spirit, or that is a wizard, shall surely be put to death: they shall stone them with stones: their blood shall be upon them.




23 February 2018

Today's Readings and Stuff -- Friday, 22 February 2018

Late and short and it's been one of "those" days and it's not over yet.

Wife had a bad night.  Littlest cat started to run around the bedroom knocking stuff over, around 03:50.  Wife hadn't been asleep very long, and this did not help.  So, Yours Truly was up, catching cat, putting cat out of bedroom, securing door against further intrusion.  Then, both of us trying to  get back to sleep, not very successfully.  Wife got up around 05:10, deciding that she just couldn't laty there any longer.  So, I helped her move to her recliner, covered her up, got her a dose of the Wally World version of the Alka-Seltzer cold fizzy stuff (works pretty well, actually), a hot drink, a thing of water.  And I went back to bed, actually slept a bit.  I got up a few hours later: having one cat running back and forth on your legs while another one, the one still recovering from upper respiratory infection after a cold, is rubbing his cold snotty nose over one's neck, is not conducive to sleep.
So, I was up.  Fed cats, got Wife, who was now waking up after finally getting a few hours of sleep, a coffee and juice and "morning meds" dose.  I got a coffee and heated up two left over biscuits from the other day.  And the day was under way.
Had started on this posting and then got diverted to some suddenly necessary errands.   It was getting on towards lunch, so in the midst of it I made her a thing of soup, which was some relief to her.
Late afternoon, A Call.  We had a Command Performance, her nephew's wife has her birthday this coming week and they wanted to take us out to dinner (their treat), possibly a payment for "watching" their kids a couple times.  So, we put on better clothes, and headed out to a medium-nice restaurant near the mall on the Ohio side.  Despite  prior arrangements, we sat outside in the semi-covered waiting area for more than an hour awaiting table for 12.  Finally got in, got served, ate.    As promised, they paid the tab.  Good so far.
But next-door Niece and husband and kids were part of the gathering.  Towards the end, they noticed a sudden swelling on the head of the 7-month-old baby, hadn't been there before and he'd not hit it on anything.  Sudden concern.  So, the party broke up and they headed straight for the ER at the Children's Hospital halfway through the county south  of us.  So we're waiting to hear what has been discovered, and the original festive atmosphere has vanished.
It's after 10:30 at night and we're tired beyond measure, but too worried to sleep right now.

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The Old Testament reading for the day is chapters 17 and 18 of Leviticus.
Some of these things, particularly in chapter 18, come under the heading of what I would once have thought "NOBODY would do that sort of awful stuff!"  Except now we know that people are doing that awful stuff.  And much of it now has legal sanction.  Worse, more than a few supposedly Christian (and Jewish) gatherings are now loud in their support for some of these awful things.

Leviticus 17
 1  And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying,
2  Speak unto Aaron, and unto his sons, and unto all the children of Israel, and say unto them; This is the thing which the Lord hath commanded, saying,
3  What man soever there be of the house of Israel, that killeth an ox, or lamb, or goat, in the camp, or that killeth it out of the camp,
4  And bringeth it not unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, to offer an offering unto the Lord before the tabernacle of the Lord; blood shall be imputed unto that man; he hath shed blood; and that man shall be cut off from among his people:
5  To the end that the children of Israel may bring their sacrifices, which they offer in the open field, even that they may bring them unto the Lord, unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, unto the priest, and offer them for peace offerings unto the Lord.
6  And the priest shall sprinkle the blood upon the altar of the Lord at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, and burn the fat for a sweet savour unto the Lord.
7  And they shall no more offer their sacrifices unto devils, after whom they have gone a whoring. This shall be a statute for ever unto them throughout their generations.
8  And thou shalt say unto them, Whatsoever man there be of the house of Israel, or of the strangers which sojourn among you, that offereth a burnt offering or sacrifice,
9  And bringeth it not unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, to offer it unto the Lord; even that man shall be cut off from among his people.
10  And whatsoever man there be of the house of Israel, or of the strangers that sojourn among you, that eateth any manner of blood; I will even set my face against that soul that eateth blood, and will cut him off from among his people.
11  For the life of the flesh is in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls: for it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul.
12  Therefore I said unto the children of Israel, No soul of you shall eat blood, neither shall any stranger that sojourneth among you eat blood.
13  And whatsoever man there be of the children of Israel, or of the strangers that sojourn among you, which hunteth and catcheth any beast or fowl that may be eaten; he shall even pour out the blood thereof, and cover it with dust.
14  For it is the life of all flesh; the blood of it is for the life thereof: therefore I said unto the children of Israel, Ye shall eat the blood of no manner of flesh: for the life of all flesh is the blood thereof: whosoever eateth it shall be cut off.
15  And every soul that eateth that which died of itself, or that which was torn with beasts, whether it be one of your own country, or a stranger, he shall both wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the even: then shall he be clean.
16  But if he wash them not, nor bathe his flesh; then he shall bear his iniquity.


Leviticus 18
 1  And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying,
2  Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, I am the Lord your God.
3  After the doings of the land of Egypt, wherein ye dwelt, shall ye not do: and after the doings of the land of Canaan, whither I bring you, shall ye not do: neither shall ye walk in their ordinances.
4  Ye shall do my judgments, and keep mine ordinances, to walk therein: I am the Lord your God.
5  Ye shall therefore keep my statutes, and my judgments: which if a man do, he shall live in them: I am the Lord.
6  None of you shall approach to any that is near of kin to him, to uncover their nakedness: I am the Lord
7  The nakedness of thy father, or the nakedness of thy mother, shalt thou not uncover: she is thy mother; thou shalt not uncover her nakedness.
8  The nakedness of thy father's wife shalt thou not uncover: it is thy father's nakedness.
9  The nakedness of thy sister, the daughter of thy father, or daughter of thy mother, whether she be born at home, or born abroad, even their nakedness thou shalt not uncover.
10  The nakedness of thy son's daughter, or of thy daughter's daughter, even their nakedness thou shalt not uncover: for theirs is thine own nakedness.
11  The nakedness of thy father's wife's daughter, begotten of thy father, she is thy sister, thou shalt not uncover her nakedness.
12  Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy father's sister: she is thy father's near kinswoman.
13  Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy mother's sister: for she is thy mother's near kinswoman.
14  Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy father's brother, thou shalt not approach to his wife: she is thine aunt.
15  Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy daughter in law: she is thy son's wife; thou shalt not uncover her nakedness.
16  Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy brother's wife: it is thy brother's nakedness.
17  Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of a woman and her daughter, neither shalt thou take her son's daughter, or her daughter's daughter, to uncover her nakedness; for they are her near kinswomen: it is wickedness.
18  Neither shalt thou take a wife to her sister, to vex her, to uncover her nakedness, beside the other in her life time.
19  Also thou shalt not approach unto a woman to uncover her nakedness, as long as she is put apart for her uncleanness.
20  Moreover thou shalt not lie carnally with thy neighbour's wife, to defile thyself with her.
21  And thou shalt not let any of thy seed pass through the fire to Molech, neither shalt thou profane the name of thy God: I am the Lord.Molech: Gr. Moloch
22  Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination.
23  Neither shalt thou lie with any beast to defile thyself therewith: neither shall any woman stand before a beast to lie down thereto: it is confusion.
24  Defile not ye yourselves in any of these things: for in all these the nations are defiled which I cast out before you:
25  And the land is defiled: therefore I do visit the iniquity thereof upon it, and the land itself vomiteth out her inhabitants.
26  Ye shall therefore keep my statutes and my judgments, and shall not commit any of these abominations; neither any of your own nation, nor any stranger that sojourneth among you:
27  (For all these abominations have the men of the land done, which were before you, and the land is defiled;)
28  That the land spue not you out also, when ye defile it, as it spued out the nations that were before you.
29  For whosoever shall commit any of these abominations, even the souls that commit them shall be cut off from among their people.
30  Therefore shall ye keep mine ordinance, that ye commit not any one of these abominable customs, which were committed before you, and that ye defile not yourselves therein: I am the Lord your God.



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Psalm 40
To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David.
1  I waited patiently for the Lord; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry.I waited…: Heb. In waiting I waited
2  He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings.
3  And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the Lord.
4  Blessed is that man that maketh the Lord his trust, and respecteth not the proud, nor such as turn aside to lies.
5  Many, O Lord my God, are thy wonderful works which thou hast done, and thy thoughts which are to us-ward: they cannot be reckoned up in order unto thee: if I would declare and speak of them, they are more than can be numbered.
6  Sacrifice and offering thou didst not desire; mine ears hast thou opened: burnt offering and sin offering hast thou not required
Then said I, Lo, I come: in the volume of the book it is written of me,
8  I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law is within my heart.
9  I have preached righteousness in the great congregation: lo, I have not refrained my lips, O Lord, thou knowest.
10  I have not hid thy righteousness within my heart; I have declared thy faithfulness and thy salvation: I have not concealed thy lovingkindness and thy truth from the great congregation.
11  Withhold not thou thy tender mercies from me, O Lord: let thy lovingkindness and thy truth continually preserve me.
12  For innumerable evils have compassed me about: mine iniquities have taken hold upon me, so that I am not able to look up; they are more than the hairs of mine head: therefore my heart faileth me.
13  Be pleased, O Lord, to deliver me: O Lord, make haste to help me.
14  Let them be ashamed and confounded together that seek after my soul to destroy it; let them be driven backward and put to shame that wish me evil.
15  Let them be desolate for a reward of their shame that say unto me, Aha, aha.
16  Let all those that seek thee rejoice and be glad in thee: let such as love thy salvation say continually, The Lord be magnified.
17  But I am poor and needy; yet the Lord thinketh upon me: thou art my help and my deliverer; make no tarrying, O my God.



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The New Testament reading is chapter 12 in the Gospel of Mark.  Bear in mind that this is occurring during the period we sometimes call Holy Week, that period between Palm Sunday and the Crucifixion.  Yes, just a few days hence, these same  people will be howling for His death.

Mark 12
1  And he began to speak unto them by parables. A certain man planted a vineyard, and set an hedge about it, and digged a place for the winefat, and built a tower, and let it out to husbandmen, and went into a far country.
2  And at the season he sent to the husbandmen a servant, that he might receive from the husbandmen of the fruit of the vineyard.
3  And they caught him, and beat him, and sent him away empty.
4  And again he sent unto them another servant; and at him they cast stones, and wounded him in the head, and sent him away shamefully handled.
5  And again he sent another; and him they killed, and many others; beating some, and killing some.
6  Having yet therefore one son, his wellbeloved, he sent him also last unto them, saying, They will reverence my son.
7  But those husbandmen said among themselves, This is the heir; come, let us kill him, and the inheritance shall be ours.
8  And they took him, and killed him, and cast him out of the vineyard.
9  What shall therefore the lord of the vineyard do? he will come and destroy the husbandmen, and will give the vineyard unto others.
10 And have ye not read this scripture; The stone which the builders rejected is become the head of the corner:
11  This was the Lord's doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes?
12  And they sought to lay hold on him, but feared the people: for they knew that he had spoken the parable against them: and they left him, and went their way.
13  And they send unto him certain of the Pharisees and of the Herodians, to catch him in his words.
14  And when they were come, they say unto him, Master, we know that thou art true, and carest for no man: for thou regardest not the person of men, but teachest the way of God in truth: Is it lawful to give tribute to Caesar, or not?
15  Shall we give, or shall we not give? But he, knowing their hypocrisy, said unto them, Why tempt ye me? bring me a penny, that I may see it.
16  And they brought it. And he saith unto them, Whose is this image and superscription? And they said unto him, Caesar's.
17  And Jesus answering said unto them, Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's. And they marvelled at him.
18  Then come unto him the Sadducees, which say there is no resurrection; and they asked him, saying,
19  Master, Moses wrote unto us, If a man's brother die, and leave his wife behind him, and leave no children, that his brother should take his wife, and raise up seed unto his brother.
20  Now there were seven brethren: and the first took a wife, and dying left no seed.
21  And the second took her, and died, neither left he any seed: and the third likewise.
22  And the seven had her, and left no seed: last of all the woman died also.
23  In the resurrection therefore, when they shall rise, whose wife shall she be of them? for the seven had her to wife.
24  And Jesus answering said unto them, Do ye not therefore err, because ye know not the scriptures, neither the power of God?
25  For when they shall rise from the dead, they neither marry, nor are given in marriage; but are as the angels which are in heaven.
26  And as touching the dead, that they rise: have ye not read in the book of Moses, how in the bush God spake unto him, saying, I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob?
27  He is not the God of the dead, but the God of the living: ye therefore do greatly err.
28  And one of the scribes came, and having heard them reasoning together, and perceiving that he had answered them well, asked him, Which is the first commandment of all?
29  And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord:
30 And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.
31 And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.
32  And the scribe said unto him, Well, Master, thou hast said the truth: for there is one God; and there is none other but he:
33  And to love him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and with all the soul, and with all the strength, and to love his neighbour as himself, is more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.
34  And when Jesus saw that he answered discreetly, he said unto him, Thou art not far from the kingdom of God. And no man after that durst ask him any question.
35  And Jesus answered and said, while he taught in the temple, How say the scribes that Christ is the Son of David?
36  For David himself said by the Holy Ghost, The Lord said to my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, till I make thine enemies thy footstool.
37  David therefore himself calleth him Lord; and whence is he then his son? And the common people heard him gladly.
38  And he said unto them in his doctrine, Beware of the scribes, which love to go in long clothing, and love salutations in the marketplaces,
39 And the chief seats in the synagogues, and the uppermost rooms at feasts:
40 Which devour widows' houses, and for a pretence make long prayers: these shall receive greater damnation.
41  And Jesus sat over against the treasury, and beheld how the people cast money into the treasury: and many that were rich cast in much.
42  And there came a certain poor widow, and she threw in two mites, which make a farthing.
43  And he called unto him his disciples, and saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That this poor widow hath cast more in, than all they which have cast into the treasury:
44   For all they did cast in of their abundance; but she of her want did cast in all that she had, even all her living.

22 February 2018

Today's Readings and Stuff -- Thursday, 22 February 2018

Tuesday, we had a high here of around 67°.  Yesterday, it was around 61° in the morning, falling steadily throughout the day to 32°.  Today's high said to be 44° and low of 38.  Tomorrow's high 57 and Sunday 59.  High next Friday of 40.  At least it's mostly above freezing and above zero.  And we're getting close to running out of February.  The "day today is 10 hours 57 minutes, so we're nearly to the 11 hour "day".  The change to "Daylight Savings Time" is March 11.  The first day of Spring is soon after that, the 20th.  So we're "getting there".  But official spring doesn't mean warm weather in these parts, I've seen Snow for weeks thereafter.  But we have hope.  It does play games with the sinuses and the joints.

Wife is next door with the great-niece and great-nephew.  Much fun for all.  I'm here doing dishes by hand, arranging wet clothes on a drying rack, and other domestic joys.
More "fun" a bit ago.  Last spring, I replaced the entry lock set  on our most-frequently-used door.  Worked find.  Until this morning.  Then, suddenly, it wouldn't latch.  At all.  There's something seriously askew inside it, and nothing that I did would work to get it operating at all.  So I took the $20 in 'emergency" funds that I'd set aside Tuesday, and made the run to the hardware store.  Lockset is now replaced, with one that has lever handles on both sides, which will be MUCH easier for Wife: she can no longer manipulate a knob, especially a recalcitrant one, to open.  Now she'll be able to, and they had them on sale at that.  So it worked out.
We (she) placed the order for the parts to repair our clothes dryer.  Lord willing, it should arrive late next week or so.  Just as well:  I'll probably have to haul it outside to work on it and in that case I'm selfish enough to prefer something better than 27°, snow, and a 20 mph gale.  Selfish of me, I know.
At one time in my life, such matters would have been a "no big deal:  fix it and move on" thing.  That's no longer the case.  Poverty has a lot to do with that, and age does as well.

But this morning I got a couple of e-mails that I should have seen two days ago.  Both concerned a woman from church.  She has suddenly passed over.  We shall see her again, but she was a sweet lady, and will be missed.

Song of the day for me.  Rescue The Perishing.   Fits with my mood lately.

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Today, Leviticus 15 and 16.  No, the Lord is not to be approached casually.  Ever.

Leviticus 15
1  And the Lord spake unto Moses and to Aaron, saying,
2  Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When any man hath a running issue out of his flesh, because of his issue he is unclean
3  And this shall be his uncleanness in his issue: whether his flesh run with his issue, or his flesh be stopped from his issue, it is his uncleanness.
Every bed, whereon he lieth that hath the issue, is unclean: and every thing, whereon he sitteth, shall be unclean.
And whosoever toucheth his bed shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the even.
6  And he that sitteth on any thing whereon he sat that hath the issue shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the even.
7  And he that toucheth the flesh of him that hath the issue shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the even.
And if he that hath the issue spit upon him that is clean; then he shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the even.
9  And what saddle soever he rideth upon that hath the issue shall be unclean.
10  And whosoever toucheth any thing that was under him shall be unclean until the even: and he that beareth any of those things shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the even.
11  And whomsoever he toucheth that hath the issue, and hath not rinsed his hands in water, he shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the even.
12  And the vessel of earth, that he toucheth which hath the issue, shall be broken: and every vessel of wood shall be rinsed in water.
13  And when he that hath an issue is cleansed of his issue; then he shall number to himself seven days for his cleansing, and wash his clothes, and bathe his flesh in running water, and shall be clean.
14  And on the eighth day he shall take to him two turtledoves, or two young pigeons, and come before the Lord unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, and give them unto the priest:
15  And the priest shall offer them, the one for a sin offering, and the other for a burnt offering; and the priest shall make an atonement for him before the Lord for his issue.
16  And if any man's seed of copulation go out from him, then he shall wash all his flesh in water, and be unclean until the even.
17  And every garment, and every skin, whereon is the seed of copulation, shall be washed with water, and be unclean until the even.
18  The woman also with whom man shall lie with seed of copulation, they shall both bathe themselves in water, and be unclean until the even.
19  And if a woman have an issue, and her issue in her flesh be blood, she shall be put apart seven days: and whosoever toucheth her shall be unclean until the even.put…: Heb. in her separation
20  And every thing that she lieth upon in her separation shall be unclean: every thing also that she sitteth upon shall be unclean.
21  And whosoever toucheth her bed shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the even.
22  And whosoever toucheth any thing that she sat upon shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the even.
23  And if it be on her bed, or on any thing whereon she sitteth, when he toucheth it, he shall be unclean until the even.
24  And if any man lie with her at all, and her flowers be upon him, he shall be unclean seven days; and all the bed whereon he lieth shall be unclean.
25  And if a woman have an issue of her blood many days out of the time of her separation, or if it run beyond the time of her separation; all the days of the issue of her uncleanness shall be as the days of her separation: she shall be unclean.
26  Every bed whereon she lieth all the days of her issue shall be unto her as the bed of her separation: and whatsoever she sitteth upon shall be unclean, as the uncleanness of her separation.
27  And whosoever toucheth those things shall be unclean, and shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the even.
28  But if she be cleansed of her issue, then she shall number to herself seven days, and after that she shall be clean.
29  And on the eighth day she shall take unto her two turtles, or two young pigeons, and bring them unto the priest, to the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.
30  And the priest shall offer the one for a sin offering, and the other for a burnt offering; and the priest shall make an atonement for her before the Lord for the issue of her uncleanness.
31  Thus shall ye separate the children of Israel from their uncleanness; that they die not in their uncleanness, when they defile my tabernacle that is among them.
32  This is the law of him that hath an issue, and of him whose seed goeth from him, and is defiled therewith;
33  And of her that is sick of her flowers, and of him that hath an issue, of the man, and of the woman, and of him that lieth with her that is unclean.


Leviticus 16
1  And the Lord spake unto Moses after the death of the two sons of Aaron, when they offered before the Lord, and died;
2  And the Lord said unto Moses, Speak unto Aaron thy brother, that he come not at all times into the holy place within the veil before the mercy seat, which is upon the ark; that he die not: for I will appear in the cloud upon the mercy seat.
3  Thus shall Aaron come into the holy place: with a young bullock for a sin offering, and a ram for a burnt offering.
4  He shall put on the holy linen coat, and he shall have the linen breeches upon his flesh, and shall be girded with a linen girdle, and with the linen mitre shall he be attired: these are holy garments; therefore shall he wash his flesh in water, and so put them on.
5  And he shall take of the congregation of the children of Israel two kids of the goats for a sin offering, and one ram for a burnt offering.
6  And Aaron shall offer his bullock of the sin offering, which is for himself, and make an atonement for himself, and for his house.
7  And he shall take the two goats, and present them before the Lord at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.
8  And Aaron shall cast lots upon the two goats; one lot for the Lord, and the other lot for the scapegoat.
9  And Aaron shall bring the goat upon which the Lord's lot fell, and offer him for a sin offering.
10  But the goat, on which the lot fell to be the scapegoat, shall be presented alive before the Lord, to make an atonement with him, and to let him go for a scapegoat into the wilderness.
11  And Aaron shall bring the bullock of the sin offering, which is for himself, and shall make an atonement for himself, and for his house, and shall kill the bullock of the sin offering which is for himself:
12  And he shall take a censer full of burning coals of fire from off the altar before the Lord, and his hands full of sweet incense beaten small, and bring it within the veil:
13  And he shall put the incense upon the fire before the Lord, that the cloud of the incense may cover the mercy seat that is upon the testimony, that he die not:
14  And he shall take of the blood of the bullock, and sprinkle it with his finger upon the mercy seat eastward; and before the mercy seat shall he sprinkle of the blood with his finger seven times.
15  Then shall he kill the goat of the sin offering, that is for the people, and bring his blood within the veil, and do with that blood as he did with the blood of the bullock, and sprinkle it upon the mercy seat, and before the mercy seat:
16  And he shall make an atonement for the holy place, because of the uncleanness of the children of Israel, and because of their transgressions in all their sins: and so shall he do for the tabernacle of the congregation, that remaineth among them in the midst of their uncleanness.remaineth:
17  And there shall be no man in the tabernacle of the congregation when he goeth in to make an atonement in the holy place, until he come out, and have made an atonement for himself, and for his household, and for all the congregation of Israel.
18  And he shall go out unto the altar that is before the Lord, and make an atonement for it; and shall take of the blood of the bullock, and of the blood of the goat, and put it upon the horns of the altar round about.
19  And he shall sprinkle of the blood upon it with his finger seven times, and cleanse it, and hallow it from the uncleanness of the children of Israel.
20  And when he hath made an end of reconciling the holy place, and the tabernacle of the congregation, and the altar, he shall bring the live goat:
21  And Aaron shall lay both his hands upon the head of the live goat, and confess over him all the iniquities of the children of Israel, and all their transgressions in all their sins, putting them upon the head of the goat, and shall send him away by the hand of a fit man into the wilderness
22  And the goat shall bear upon him all their iniquities unto a land not inhabited: and he shall let go the goat in the wilderness.
23  And Aaron shall come into the tabernacle of the congregation, and shall put off the linen garments, which he put on when he went into the holy place, and shall leave them there:
24  And he shall wash his flesh with water in the holy place, and put on his garments, and come forth, and offer his burnt offering, and the burnt offering of the people, and make an atonement for himself, and for the people.
25  And the fat of the sin offering shall he burn upon the altar.
26  And he that let go the goat for the scapegoat shall wash his clothes, and bathe his flesh in water, and afterward come into the camp.
27  And the bullock for the sin offering, and the goat for the sin offering, whose blood was brought in to make atonement in the holy place, shall one carry forth without the camp; and they shall burn in the fire their skins, and their flesh, and their dung.
28  And he that burneth them shall wash his clothes, and bathe his flesh in water, and afterward he shall come into the camp.
29  And this shall be a statute for ever unto you: that in the seventh month, on the tenth day of the month, ye shall afflict your souls, and do no work at all, whether it be one of your own country, or a stranger that sojourneth among you:
30  For on that day shall the priest make an atonement for you, to cleanse you, that ye may be clean from all your sins before the Lord.
31  It shall be a sabbath of rest unto you, and ye shall afflict your souls, by a statute for ever.
32  And the priest, whom he shall anoint, and whom he shall consecrate to minister in the priest's office in his father's stead, shall make the atonement, and shall put on the linen clothes, even the holy garments
33  And he shall make an atonement for the holy sanctuary, and he shall make an atonement for the tabernacle of the congregation, and for the altar, and he shall make an atonement for the priests, and for all the people of the congregation.
34And this shall be an everlasting statute unto you, to make an atonement for the children of Israel for all their sins once a year. And he did as the Lord commanded Moses.



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Psalm 39

To the chief Musician, even to Jeduthun, A Psalm of David.
1  I said, I will take heed to my ways, that I sin not with my tongue: I will keep my mouth with a bridle, while the wicked is before me
2  I was dumb with silence, I held my peace, even from good; and my sorrow was stirred.
My heart was hot within me, while I was musing the fire burned: then spake I with my tongue,
4  Lord, make me to know mine end, and the measure of my days, what it is; that I may know how frail I am.
5  Behold, thou hast made my days as an handbreadth; and mine age is as nothing before thee: verily every man at his best state is altogether vanity. Selah.
Surely every man walketh in a vain shew: surely they are disquieted in vain: he heapeth up riches, and knoweth not who shall gather them
And now, Lord, what wait I for? my hope is in thee.
8  Deliver me from all my transgressions: make me not the reproach of the foolish.
9  I was dumb, I opened not my mouth; because thou didst it.
10  Remove thy stroke away from me: I am consumed by the blow of thine hand.
11  When thou with rebukes dost correct man for iniquity, thou makest his beauty to consume away like a moth: surely every man is vanity. Selah.
12  Hear my prayer, O Lord, and give ear unto my cry; hold not thy peace at my tears: for I am a stranger with thee, and a sojourner, as all my fathers were.
13  O spare me, that I may recover strength, before I go hence, and be no more.


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Mark 11
1  And when they came nigh to Jerusalem, unto Bethphage and Bethany, at the mount of Olives, he sendeth forth two of his disciples,
2  And saith unto them, Go your way into the village over against you: and as soon as ye be entered into it, ye shall find a colt tied, whereon never man sat; loose him, and bring him.
3  And if any man say unto you, Why do ye this? say ye that the Lord hath need of him; and straightway he will send him hither.
4  And they went their way, and found the colt tied by the door without in a place where two ways met; and they loose him.
5  And certain of them that stood there said unto them, What do ye, loosing the colt?
6  And they said unto them even as Jesus had commanded: and they let them go.
7  And they brought the colt to Jesus, and cast their garments on him; and he sat upon him.
8  And many spread their garments in the way: and others cut down branches off the trees, and strawed them in the way.
9  And they that went before, and they that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna; Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord:
10  Blessed be the kingdom of our father David, that cometh in the name of the Lord: Hosanna in the highest.
11  And Jesus entered into Jerusalem, and into the temple: and when he had looked round about upon all things, and now the eventide was come, he went out unto Bethany with the twelve.
12  And on the morrow, when they were come from Bethany, he was hungry:
13  And seeing a fig tree afar off having leaves, he came, if haply he might find any thing thereon: and when he came to it, he found nothing but leaves; for the time of figs was not yet.
14  And Jesus answered and said unto it, No man eat fruit of thee hereafter for ever. And his disciples heard it.
15  And they come to Jerusalem: and Jesus went into the temple, and began to cast out them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves;
16  And would not suffer that any man should carry any vessel through the temple.
17  And he taught, saying unto them, Is it not written, My house shall be called of all nations the house of prayer? but ye have made it a den of thieves.
18  And the scribes and chief priests heard it, and sought how they might destroy him: for they feared him, because all the people was astonished at his doctrine.
19  And when even was come, he went out of the city.
20  And in the morning, as they passed by, they saw the fig tree dried up from the roots.
21  And Peter calling to remembrance saith unto him, Master, behold, the fig tree which thou cursedst is withered away.
22  And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God.
23 For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith.
24 Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.
25 And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.
26 But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses.
27  And they come again to Jerusalem: and as he was walking in the temple, there come to him the chief priests, and the scribes, and the elders,
28  And say unto him, By what authority doest thou these things? and who gave thee this authority to do these things?
29  And Jesus answered and said unto them, I will also ask of you one question, and answer me, and I will tell you by what authority I do these things.
30 The baptism of John, was it from heaven, or of men? answer me.
31  And they reasoned with themselves, saying, If we shall say, From heaven; he will say, Why then did ye not believe him?
32  But if we shall say, Of men; they feared the people: for all men counted John, that he was a prophet indeed.
33  And they answered and said unto Jesus, We cannot tell. And Jesus answering saith unto them, Neither do I tell you by what authority I do these things.